LitRPG Podcast - SoundSage

LitRPG Podcast 260 - Challenges of a Scribe, Heavy, Arachnomancer Book 1, Disgardium Book #6 , LEVELING UP, BY ONLY EATING!

Feb. 5th, 2021

Hello everyone, welcome to episode 260 of the LitRPG podcast. I’m Ramon Mejia.

I’m here to bring you the latest LitRPG news, reviews, and author interviews. We have 5 new reviews just for you.

For the full show notes visit us at: https://litrpgpodcast.com/litrpg-podcast-260

New Releases and Reviews:

Challenges of a Scribe: A LitRPG Duology: Book Two (14:28)

It felt rushed after the good opening

Score: 7.2 out of 10

https://amzn.to/3pPNeE9

Heavy (The Weight Of It All): A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure (20:38)

Score: 7.1 out of 10

YA magical academy story with gradual RPG progression

https://amzn.to/3sLy2tI

Wrong Divinity: Oh Sht! I Fcking Hate Spiders! (Arachnomancer Book 1) (24:41)

Some humor, but misses for me because of inconsistencies

Score: 6 out of 10

https://amzn.to/3bkO87B

Path of Spirit (Disgardium Book #6): LitRPG Series (34:01)

Less plot advancement but lead in to book 7

Score: 7.5 out of 10

https://amzn.to/3prsB13

LEVELING UP, BY ONLY EATING! (37:32)

An MC who just can’t stop eating

Score: 7.5 out of 10

https://mangadex.org/title/48217/leveling-up-by-only-eating

(Play Music 2)

LitRPG News

Felicia Day, narrator of Rule of Cool, hosted a Q&A with several LitRPG authors on her Twitch channel.

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/933490028

The author of Gunrod the Barbarian asked us to let readers know that he’s updated kindle file and cover for what was formerly “Gunrod the Barbarian” to now “Realm of the Tower”.

As I said before, the only difference in the text is that the first chapter of Gunrod was deleted, along with the last paragraph or two. Other than that, it's exactly the same.

Michaelle Scott Eearl has just released Lion's Quest 1 on his website in ebook forms, he just re-recorded the audio for book 1, he'll be releasing audio for books 2 and 3 in the future, and he's going to be releasing new books in the series soon!

Lion's Quest is one of my very favorite LitRPG series from MSE so this is exciting news.

https://michaelscottearle.com/collections/ebooks/products/lions-quest-undefeated-book-1

PSA - Author go claim your audiobook rights on ACX, the platform used by Audible to upload audiobooks. It looks like there’s a new scam where Thieves claim the audiobook rights of popular books then upload terrible audiobooks either read by a complete amature or by computer voice. Alternatively, they also try to get a legitimate narrator to produce the audiobook or claim to be an agent of the author falsely. Both LitRPG producers Spectrum Audioboooks and Dante King have reported this happening to them.

Out Now!

A Snake's Rise (A Snake's Life Book 3)

https://amzn.to/2MBtzKD

The Dungeon Fairy: Three Lives: A Dungeon Core Escapade (The Hapless Dungeon Fairy Book 3)

https://amzn.to/2ZrtlbX

Eat, Slay, Love (The Good Guys Book 10)

https://amzn.to/36KaXza

Player Reached the Top. LitRPG Series. Book V

https://amzn.to/2NFY1mX

Pangea Online 3: Vials and Tribulations

https://amzn.to/3bivn3p

Beginner Quest: A LitRPG Cultivation Series (Towers & Rifts Book 1)

https://amzn.to/2MiEJDW

Legacy Systems: Shamanic Rites

https://amzn.to/3bgVmIF

G.E.S.S.: Genetically Engineered Super Soldier (The Phoenix Project Book 1)

https://amzn.to/2OsOsbm

Magi's Path (Aether's Revival Book 3)

https://amzn.to/3rqVxrG

AVARICE ONLINE: KEL'VAN RED HAND

https://amzn.to/3kPWaIH

The Weaponized: A Sci-Fi LitRPG (Part V)

https://amzn.to/3v1U794

Titan: A LitRPG Adventure (UnderVerse Book 4)

https://amzn.to/2OwDodC

Daemonorg Prison-Lab: A Dark LitRPG / LitFPS SciFi-Shooter (Overtaken Online Book 1)

https://amzn.to/2OwDAJS

Gentleman's Wars 2: A Tower Defense LitRPG Series (The Great Game)

https://amzn.to/2O5NW3m

Warfang: (Sky Realms Online Book 5): A LitRPG Series

https://amzn.to/30viSwJ

Noob Game Plus: Noobtown Book Five

https://amzn.to/3qgcMuo

Elemental Alpha: An Illustrated LitRPG Military Fantasy Adventure (Nonstandard Progression Book 1)

https://amzn.to/3eaRj3G

Growth Hero

https://amzn.to/3blE6Db

New LitRPG Audiobooks

Real-Time Starcommander: A Strategy Gamelit Novel

https://amzn.to/3sQ0Xgf

Teresa: Everybody Loves Large Chests (Vol.5)

https://amzn.to/3sXrAzF

Enemy of the World - Main Character Hides His Strength Book 1

https://amzn.to/3c502Sh

The Tree of Ascension: A LitRPG Apocalypse - Peril's Prodigy Book 2

https://amzn.to/3ebrQXJ

Dungeons & Dillholes - A Glitchworld Original

https://amzn.to/3edl3Nf

Guilds at War - The LitRPG Saga Continues (The Eternal Journey, Book 4)

https://amzn.to/3bljM56

Alterlife Box Set: Alterlife Books 1-3

https://amzn.to/3qqdKUN

Gold, Girls, and Glory: The Complete Series

https://amzn.to/3kXtAFC

Nomad Core - Core Control Book 2

https://amzn.to/3qoT7IG

Ruler - Light Online Series Book 5

https://amzn.to/3bnlvXD

The Wizard of Quintz - A LitRPG Adventure (Dead Server 7 - Book 1)

https://amzn.to/3rsLHFW

Zee Locked In - OVR World Online Book 1

https://amzn.to/3bmYXpC

Upcoming LitRPG:

Dungeon of the Old Gods: A Dark Dungeon Realm LitRPG (Pandemonium - Tales of the Dark Lords - A Dark Dungeon Realm LitRPG Series) (March 7th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3rm2fiP

Sands of Blood and Bone: A LitRPG Adventure (Defying Divinity Book 2) (March 8th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3saFyhc

Dungeoneer (The Weight Of It All): A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure

(March 8th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2PE825f

Tower Climber 2 (A LitRPG Adventure) (March 9th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3ro6hXF

He Who Fights with Monsters: A LitRPG Adventure (March 9th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2M3B0Kh

Battle for the North (Rogue Merchant Book #4): LitRPG Series (March 9th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3pXJ2Ta

Exodus of Gnomes (God Core #2) - A Dungeon Core LitRPG (March 10th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3biC4nk

Aetherocalypse: A Fantasy LitRPG Series (Mephisto's Magic Online Book 3) (March 10th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3c8zsYj

Magus: A Supernatural LitRPG Saga (Apocosmos Book 2) (March 11th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3bn8cq9

The Font of Life: A Mecha LitRPG Adventure (Overdrive Book 3) (March 16th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2JYMptX

Lucky Slots (A Litrpg/Gamelit Fantasy Adventure) (March 19th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3q86WM5

Cause for War (Reality Benders Book #7): LitRPG Series (March 19th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2MGeqaq

Ravenous: A Zombie Apocalypse LitRPG (Necrotic Apocalypse Book 1) (March 24th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3biS0pE

Inflame (The Completionist Chronicles Book 6) (March 30th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3bkEJNg

The Call of the Coven: A LitRPG novel (Shadow Kingdoms Book 2) (March 31st, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3sOt4w4

A Lost God and A Hostile Land: A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure (Bone Knight Book 4) (March 31st, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2Opz7bG

Sovereign's Choice (The Gods' Game, Volume V): A LitRPG novel (March 31st, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3s5Ag7D

The Fourth Secret: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure (Divine Apostasy Book 4) (March 31st, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3bltQeL

Serpentlord (Rise To Omniscience Book 9) (April 1st, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3v7zzMP

Visceral: A GameLit Fantasy Adventure (Nullifier Book 2) (April 2nd, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2YwXW7e

The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook: Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 3 (April 2nd, 2021)

https://amzn.to/36rZbcm

Nullform (Book #1): RealRPG Series (April 5th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3ouDBdz

City of the Undead (In the System Book #2): LitRPG Series (April 12th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3aiMFgr

Volper (Alpha Rome Book 1): LitRPG Series (April 12th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3atfGpC

Killing Them Awfully: A LitRPG/GameLit Adventure (The Good Guys Book 11) (April 15th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3ay1YTW

The Devil Archetype (Rogue Merchant Book #5): LitRPG Series (April 20th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2Nd3faa

Ash. The Legends of the Nameless World. Progression Gamelit Story (April 22nd, 2021)

https://amzn.to/36n3SnR

The Guild Core 3: War Torn (A Dungeon Adventure) (April 30th , 2021)

Awaken Online: Hellion (May 1st, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3sTKlUW

Crafting Death: A LitRPG Cultivation Series (Towers & Rifts Book 2) (May 4th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3bniHtA

The Path of the Strongest Mortal: A LitRPG Wuxia Series (The Heavenly Throne Book 5) (May 4th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/37uRQsW

Manufacturing Magic: An Epic LitRPG Series (Jeff the Game Master Book 1) (May 4th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3azHc54

The Guns of Keldora: A Crafting Automation LitRPG Adventure (Factory of the Gods Book 4) (May 10th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/37rRm6O

The Rebel (Project Stellar Book 4): LitRPG Series (May 10th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2YSpJ25

Iaxiabor's Revenge: A LitRPG Adventure (Beta Tester Book 6) (May 11th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/39PxBbd

Showdown (Underdog Book #6): LitRPG Series (May 12th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2NZ3qGw

Lords of the Ruins (The Range Book #2): LitRPG Series (May 14th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2YZmTsx

He Who Fights with Monsters 2: A LitRPG Adventure (May 18th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2MR4hZ3

The Demonic Games (Disgardium Book #7): LitRPG Series (May 18th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2O9AWcL

The Guardian of the Dead (An NPC's Path Book #4): LitRPG Series (May 20th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/36GKl1W

The Great Centurion: Punic Wars 3 (A Real LitRPG Roman Series) (May 21st, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3sUT2hw

Clan Dominance: The Sleepless Ones (Book #6): LitRPG Series (May 25th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/38fGiKG

The Dungeon Leader: A LitRPG Level-up Adventure (The Dungeon Slayer Series Book 3) (May 31st, 2021)

https://amzn.to/2NZlOym

City of Skye (Primacy Online Book 6) (June 29th, 2021)

https://amzn.to/3c3HRfT

Onto New Releases and Reviews

(Play Music 3)

New Releases and Reviews

(Picture 1)

Challenges of a Scribe: A LitRPG Duology: Book Two

The destruction of Edward’s hometown forces him and his family to flee and confront the difficulty of rebuilding their lives. On their travels, Edward works to overcome the challenge of reintegrating with his siblings and parents. They try to work together in search of a brighter future, all feel the strain of losing their home and livelihood. Edward is not the same boy as when he left home and must balance his hard-fought independence with his role as brother and son.

Despite optimism for the future and escaping the destruction of Azalon, a dark threat looms over the family’s hope of rebuilding. Edward’s skills continue to progress, but will it be enough to protect the family’s fragile beginnings? Overcoming his own fears and personal demons is the biggest challenge Edward must face as he chooses a future with his family, or one of an adventurer.

My Opinion: 190 pages, $5.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited

It felt rushed after the good opening

I thought book 1 in the series was great. It was smart, well paced, had characters I loved, and there was well earned RPG power progression. So, I looked forward to the 2nd book in the series and I really enjoyed the start of the story. It had good pacing, good world development, and I expected that to continue throughout the novel. But it doesn’t.

The story itself felt like it wanted to get through an outline quickly. The beginning is great, but about a quarter way through it starts to feel rushed as the MC goes out to adventure and time starts to get skipped as you follow the MC through adventures. Worse there’s some level jumping as the MC sort of lucks into big power jumps. The individual adventure’s aren’t bad, but they don’t seem to have a point to them. It’s very slice of life with a little forced plotting towards the end to create some last minute tension and resolve the thing with the lich once and for all.

On the RPG side, things are frustrating too. The ‘scribe’ aspect where the MC uses hard work to unravel other magical spells disappears entirely. Instead, it’s more of a level grind with the MC fighting and adventuring and using his level ups, and gaining of magical gear to grow more powerful. Most fights end up relying on his ‘stop’ and ‘slow’ and ‘bolt’ spells repetitively to win with only a few instances of intelligent use of abilities. Towards the end, because of the rushed storylines even that RPG progression disappears with the MC jumping multiple levels, 5-10 at a time, in summary scenes.

As a small side note, there are some semi-regular grammar and spelling issues. Small things that spell check wouldn’t catch. ‘Food’ instead of ‘Wood’, ‘Was was’, and small things like that. It didn’t really bother me, but I know it will drive some people crazy.

Overall, while I still enjoyed the story and burned through it in a single sitting. I didn’t enjoy it nearly as much as book 1. After the great opening, it just felt like it rushed through a story meant to cover 3 or 4 more books.

Score: 7.2 out of 10

Challenges of a Scribe: A LitRPG Duology: Book Two

https://amzn.to/3pPNeE9

Heavy (The Weight Of It All): A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure

An Affinity.

Most humans never get one, but the Goddess gives everyone the opportunity when they turn 16. With an Affinity, humans are given access to their internal energy and Skills. Magical powers that allow you to interact with the world in ways you could never imagine.

When Terrence receives his Affinity, he is shocked to discover it has never been seen before within the Kingdom. Worse yet, his Affinity reinforces the thing he was made fun of for his entire life. His weight.

Follow Terrence as he uses his Affinity to progress with the hopes of becoming a Dungeoneer – someone who explores and conquers Dungeons.

Discover a unique world where Terrence and his friends learn about their new abilities, their Affinities, AND themselves. Their Skills will grow, and if they work hard enough, they might eventually Rank up!

My Opinion: 308 pages, $2.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited

This is a YA magical academy story that uses RPG progression. There are a couple side stories, with a different MC, that setup other storylines. But for the most part you follow the MC as he learns he's one of the few in his village to get a special power, the ability to see people and objects weight, and see him train it. There's a few small action scenes but a majority of the story is the MC and his friends in a magical academy taking mandatory training. There's a bit of world building that explains the RPG rules, sets up potential conflicts, explains the magic rules, and dungeoneering. But that's all.

The RPG stuff is consistent and the reader sees plenty of notifications. But there's no rank up of the MC or his friends, which was a bit disappointing since that means his powers don't evolve past the ability to see what something or someone weighs.

Overall, it's not a bad story there just wasn't much real progress, just general setup. On the whole it felt alot like a serial story that ends before much happens. Perhaps in books 2 more conflict happens.

Score: 7.1 out of 10

Heavy (The Weight Of It All): A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure

https://amzn.to/3sLy2tI

Wrong Divinity: Oh Sht! I Fcking Hate Spiders! (Arachnomancer Book 1)

Dhane kicked the bucket in spectacular fashion, every bone crushed, every organ popped against the full force of a 40-ton garbage truck speeding through a red light.

The only part of him intact—whole—entirely unaffected by the grisly affair, was his soul. Souls are durable things, you see, like kids: they bounce.

And bounce he did, into the abyss between worlds, drifting until one excited soul watcher fished him out and found him a new home, a heaven for gamers and nerds and everything in between.

It was all he could have ever wanted in the afterlife, down to choosing his class, killing mobs, and exploring a beautiful, fantasy world chock full of mysteries yet to be discovered.

At least . . . it would have been those things if that first day had gone a little, tiny bit differently.

Instead, he now finds himself locked in the middle of an eternal conflict between Light and Shadow—humans and monsters—potentially being the enemy to all.

My Opinion: 347 pages, $4.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited

Some humor, but misses for me because of inconsistencies

You can tell there’s a lot of heart put into the story and there’s a certain charm if the jokes and sense of humor land with you. But there are also issues. Consistency with the world building, subtly unrealistic dialogue or interactions written for a joke.

Good things: There is a consistent sense of humor and good gamer jokes. When you see details about game mechanics, they are thorough. There's semi-regular action and some interesting class features.

Issues: The main character just magically knows a bunch of stuff about the world and even the game mechanics of the world without ever having had to work for the information. It ruins the opportunities for exploration, learning, and world building.

The dialogue, especially from monsters, felt too modern. There were lots of modern American slang and colloquialisms that didn’t feel like they fit. For those humans that were sent to the light side, it would make sense, but it’s a part of the lore that the dark side doesn’t have that or at least they hadn’t for a long time.

The story starts out with the main character (MC) as being part of the dark side, with the monsters. Which is a neat premise. But then he spends the next section of the story pretending to be with the light side, training with the humans, and even getting a light side affiliation, which is supposed to be impossible. Instead of working within the limitations of being dark side associated, the MC has no real penalty or challenge and does what everyone else does.

At one point the Mc is arrested by some light side priestess, which isn't setup well. But worse, he magically knows her secret true name which gives him some vaguely defined power over her. Both, true names & how he knows it, which felt completely made up on the spot without any setup within the game mechanics.

There's also no gradual character progression. One chapter the MC is a low level noob, the next he's a high level badass able to bluff others into believing he's a king, demand his own release, and win a fight with conveniently undisclosed leveled opponents.

Also, there’s a fundamental flaw in the world building that doesn’t setup the concept that people from a modern earth suddenly randomly believe another speaking, thinking person or being was made to be evil and there to be killed just because that's what they'd been told.

Overall, the story misses for me because of inconsistent and seemingly made up in the moment game mechanics. On the story side, there are some good points but book 1 in the series seems to exist mostly to introduce the bad guys and explain why the MC has to defend the shadow faction from them while teasing town building for book 2. If forced story moments and inconsistent game mechanics don't bother you, you may enjoy the story more than me.

Score: 6 out of 10

Wrong Divinity: Oh Sht! I Fcking Hate Spiders! (Arachnomancer Book 1)

https://amzn.to/3bkO87B

Path of Spirit (Disgardium Book #6): LitRPG Series

Scyth and the followers of the Sleeping Gods have lost the Holy War. The new gods, who call themselves the True Gods, celebrate, unaware that the Sleepers have one more temple left. But how long until they find out? After all, Scyth’s enemy Mogwai, once the strongest player on the planet, knows about Kharinza. The Supreme Legate of the Destroying Plague thirsts for vengeance and is eager to regain his former positions, becoming stronger every day, while Scyth, deprived of his invulnerability, has lost his former advantages.

At the same time, the citizenship tests are approaching, and Cali Bottom turns out not to be quite so welcoming to the Awoken after all. Behemoth demands the impossible of Scyth, and the one thing that can help the Initial of the Sleepers is the Demonic Games…

My Opinion: 513, $6.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited

Full disclosure: I received an advanced copy for review. I purchased a copy when it became available.

This is an extension of the upcoming 7th book in the series, with a bunch of events going longer than planned according to the author. There's still good action scenes, RPG progression, but the plot moves less than other books.

There are decent smaller points of progression. I especially liked the unarmed combat progression scene. The other plotlines still progress, like the IRL threat, people trying to claim the reward for exposing him as a Threat, or progression on the Sleeping Gods quest. They just progress a little slower.

Overall fairly good stuff but the novel feels like a bunch of setup for a bigger plot, which it is. Folks who want immediate progression on the series plot may have to wait till book 7.

Score: 7.5 out of 10

Path of Spirit (Disgardium Book #6): LitRPG Series

https://amzn.to/3prsB13

LEVELING UP, BY ONLY EATING!

The main character is stricken by a rare condition that affects only two people in the entire world, bulimia. He organizes his daily meals to survive, but his hope of survival grows dimmer as the days go by. He consults a doctor, who suggests playing the Alternate Reality Game ‘Athenae’, where he can eat as must as he wants without gaining any weight. He plays the game to save his life and grow in strength by doing nothing but eating! A Gourmet Fantasy Life!

My Opinion: 50+ chapters, FREE, NO English Licence or publisher

A slice of life story with an obese main character who just can’t stop eating IRL. His doctor suggests trying the latest MMO, where you can actually taste what you eat in order to help the MC overcome his physiological addiction. The story follows the MC as he travels through the game, only really seeking to eat delicious food and ends up in situations where he becomes OP. Casual, kinda funny, and good art makes this a good read.

Score: 7.5 out of 10

LEVELING UP, BY ONLY EATING!

https://mangadex.org/title/48217/leveling-up-by-only-eating

Ian’s (Eye-Ann) Picks of the Week

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Contributor Ian Mitchell, a long time LitRPG community member who reads and reviews as much as me. was nice enough to agree to join the LitRPG Podcast family as a new reviewer.

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That’s it everyone! Thank you for watching/listening.

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