LitRPG Podcast - SoundSage

LitRPG Podcast 247 - City of Goblins, Pal-Tee Planet Book 2, Twilight of Midgard, The Strongest Florist

Oct. 9th, 2020

Hello everyone, welcome to episode 247 of the LitRPG podcast. I’m Ramon Mejia.

I’m here to bring you the latest LitRPG news, reviews, and author interviews. We have 4 new reviews just for you.

For the full show notes visit us at: https://litrpgpodcast.com/litrpg-podcast-247

New Releases and Reviews:

City of Goblins (In the System Book #1): LitRPG Series (09:33)

Transported to goblin RPG Apocalypse world

Score: 7.6 out of 10

https://amzn.to/2XyhiJs

Guardians (Pal-Tee Planet Book 2) (15:34)

Good action, but overall a miss for me

Score: 6 out of 10

https://amzn.to/2GnG8Wt

Twilight of Midgard: A LitRPG Fantasy Series (20:29)

SAO premise, very bored

Score: 5 out of 10

https://amzn.to/3cPUMSA

The Strongest Florist (24:32)

Tough guy can only be florist in MMO

Score: 7.6 out of 10

https://mangadex.org/title/46688/the-strongest-florist/chapters/

(Play Music 2)

LitRPG News

LitRPG Sales

Vestiges: Portal to the Apocalypse is FREE

https://amzn.to/33MyZZ0

𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐦 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬, is on sale this week. Right now, you can get the ebook for only $0.99!

https://amzn.to/30Rbw72

Harmon Cooper Annual Box Set Sale!

The Feedback Loop (Books 1-3) $0.99

https://amzn.to/3ltMO4E

The Last Warrior of Unigaea Box Set $0.99 https://amzn.to/30QST3o

Cherry Blossom Girls Box Set $0.99

https://amzn.to/2GzneMV

More Plagiarized stories

The Primal Hunter is taken from an ongoing Royal Road story of the same name. The plagiarist changed the name of the author and added cover content claiming its an “#1 International Bestseller”, which is false on many levels.

Original: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/36049/the-primal-hunter

Plagiarized: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08KYDJP1L/

Rangers of Fantastica is taken from an ongoing Watts Pad story of the same name. The plagiarist changed the name of the author.

Original: https://www.wattpad.com/story/240851155-rangers-of-fantastica

Plagiarized: https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Fantastica-Mike-Hatch-ebook/dp/B08KTP9M2S/

Synergy is taken from an ongoing Royal Road story of the same name. The plagiarist changed the name of the author.

Original: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/35374/synergy

Plagiarized: https://www.amazon.com/Synergy-Ray-Carson-ebook/dp/B08KSFKGHF/

Out Now!

Awaken Online: Inferno (Tarot #3)

https://amzn.to/31UjQUE

Gundertaker: Monster Girl Galaxy (Book One)

https://amzn.to/3ddTd0V

Watcher’s Fate: A LitRPG Saga (Life in Exile Book 3)

https://amzn.to/3g05cPT

Pawn: A LitRPG Adventure (Monsters, Maces and Magic Book 5)

https://amzn.to/2FLJ2nE

Hung Ogre (Caverns and Creatures)

https://amzn.to/36SZvlo

Veil Online - Book 2: An Epic LitRPG Adventure

https://amzn.to/3jPC8gf

Dross Brings the Bones: Adversary Volume I: A LitRPG Series

https://amzn.to/2GLyYM9

Cinnamon Bun (Volume Two): A Wholesome LitRPG

https://amzn.to/34CRtKK

Quick Change Volume 2: Spire

https://amzn.to/30RUcin

The Tower: Volume 1

https://amzn.to/30RVQk3

Word Fu! An Epic LitRPG Fantasy Novel: Chapter 1-10

https://amzn.to/3nzE12X

Dungeons & Dillholes: Humorous Sci-Fi GameLit / LitRPG Glitchworld 1-3

https://amzn.to/3iMzkiP

New LitRPG Audiobooks

Pyramid Game - Fantasy GameLit RPG Series (Pixel Dust, Book 2)

https://amzn.to/3iPoDMa

Uru's Third Temple: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure

Divine Apostasy, Book 3

https://amzn.to/2GAyoRD

Chrysalis (A Fantasy LitRPG) - Beast Realms, Book 1

https://amzn.to/3lvP3UZ

Invasion - Limitless Lands, Book 5

https://amzn.to/3dcXTEp

Upcoming LitRPG:

86-Neon: An Epic LitRPG Adventure (King's League Book 2) (Oct. 13th, 2020)

https://amzn.to/33qODsV

Carnival of Fear: A Paranormal LitRPG Dungeon Core (Spirit Core Book 3) (Oct. 14th, 2020)

https://amzn.to/3dgjGLk

Respawn: The Last Crossing (Respawn LitRPG series Book 6) (Oct. 21st, 2020)

https://amzn.to/3lAqZAf

Seas the Day: A LitRPG/GameLit Adventure (The Bad Guys Book 5) (Oct. 22nd, 2020)

https://amzn.to/2XIrTl0

The Otherworld (Underdog Book #4): LitRPG Series (Oct. 26th, 2020)

https://amzn.to/3gU9d9R

The Fallen God: A LitRPG Adventure (Eternal Online Book 3) (Oct. 27th, 2020)

https://amzn.to/2WQUNPm

The Master of Metal: A LitPPG Wuxia Series (The Cards of Fate Book 1) (Nov. 3rd, 2020)

https://amzn.to/2REKzyx

The First Peak of the Force: A LitRPG Wuxia Series (The Heavenly Throne 3) (Nov. 10th, 2020)

https://amzn.to/3hSt0GJ

Date: A LitRPG Adventure (Monsters, Maces and Magic Book 6) (Nov. 10th, 2020)

https://amzn.to/2RG7pGc

Isr Kale's Journal (The Alchemist Book #4): LitRPG Series (Nov. 10th, 2020)

https://amzn.to/2HyoMH3

Dungeon Seeker: A Reborn Online Book 2 LitRPG Adventure (Nov. 23rd, 2020)

https://amzn.to/3a8x16F

Biomedical Self-Engineering : Book 2 (Nov. 23rd, 2020)

https://amzn.to/2FbX7uP

The Twilight Hatchling: A LitRPG Adventure (Dream Stream Reality Book 2) (Dec. 1st, 2020)

https://amzn.to/3i0VoX6

In Service of the Pharaoh (League of Losers Book #2): LitRPG Series (Dec. 3rd, 2020)

https://amzn.to/2QSdgaR

The Tribute (Project Stellar Book 3): LitRPG Series (Dec. 10th, 2020)

https://amzn.to/32UEALb

The Keepers of Limbo (The Range Book #1): LitRPG Series (Dec. 14th, 2020)

https://amzn.to/2ZPbA6V

Drawing the Line: A LitRPG/GameLit Novel (The Underhill Chronicles Book 2) (Dec. 15th, 2020)

https://amzn.to/2FIxstF

The Dark Champion (Interworld Network Book #3): LitRPG Series (Dec. 16th, 2020)

https://amzn.to/3hWduK4

Small Unit Tactics (Volume #2): LitRPG Series (Dec. 28th, 2020)

https://amzn.to/359GV7X

Spear of Destiny: A LitRPG Dragonrider Adventure (The Archemi Online Chronicles Book 5) (Dec. 31st, 2020)

https://amzn.to/2Z4XPAE

Onto New Releases and Reviews

(Play Music 3)

New Releases and Reviews

(Picture 1)

City of Goblins (In the System Book #1): LitRPG Series

Ivan Susanin, a typical guy and unemployed techie, is initiated by the System and transported, together with a thousand other players, to an unknown location beyond Earth. Ivan has an interface, a spear, and basic weapon skills. All he has to do to return to Earth is complete a simple quest and reach the second level. But experience points are only awarded for kills in this game, and the clock is ticking. Whoever doesn’t score within 24 hours will remain in the location forever.

The game takes places in the ruins of a massive city, where the undead lurk in the central districts and the outskirts are raided by the descendants of past owners. The undead are strong, while the goblins rarely move around alone and aren’t worth much XP. The most valuable prey under these conditions are formal allies, i.e. the other players. If a player is capable of killing a fellow human, of course. Even if they aren’t planning to go against their own nature by murdering innocents, who said that they will have a choice? It’s kill or be killed!

Those who complete the quest will be returned to Earth, where they can rest and prepare for the next attempt. Beyond the local objective is also a global one. In the center of the city stands a temple to a fallen god, and until one of the players captures the Altar, the mission will be repeated again and again. But when all you’re holding is a spear, your allies can’t be trusted, and resurrection is nearly impossible, this isn’t much more than a delayed death sentence…

For the first seven players, who become the Earth Gods, this mission is a chance to rapidly gain power and take charge of a united Pantheon. A chance to escape death and protect our world from invasion. Although there is only one altar and the Gods make others do their work. Ivan must make a choice and decide whose pawn he will become. Or should he take a risk, refuse their patronage and keep his options open?

My Opinion: 328 pages, $3.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited

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

This is a Russian translated novel that is most closely related to the RPG Apocalypse sub genre. It has a thousand people from earth transported to a different world where they get RPG powers and an interface and are given quests to survive and other objectives. Only the world isn’t empty and the main character (MC) has to survive the goblin hordes that are trying to kill all the humans. It’s kinda like an RPG Apocalypse, just not set on earth.

The scope of the story goes from the survival of the MC and him learning about this new system he’s gotten to large groups of humans trying to survive on this new world against an army of goblins. It doesn’t have a proper ending, instead it feels like a ‘part 1’ or a place a serial story was just paused to become a novel.

The game mechanics are an intricate part of the story and their exploration is a good bit of the early section of the novel. But there’s nothing too new with any many familiar elements like levels, stats, abilities that increase with practice, XP from killing. There is a loot system that is a little different with cards dropping from killed opponents that contain system equipment or more rarely skills.

Overall, this is an action focused story that has a good apocalypse survival vibe when the characters are on the goblin world. Aside from the abrupt ending, its pacing is pretty good, though I liked the solo journey section more than the later one.

Score: 7.6 out of 10

City of Goblins (In the System Book #1): LitRPG Series

https://amzn.to/2XyhiJs

Guardians (Pal-Tee Planet Book 2)

After their invasion of the Academy and Sig's betrayal, Zundy and his crew head off toward Cointown, where they are supposed to meet a contact of the crime boss, Big Fish.

Things in the Giantlands are never as they seem, and their careful plans are soon derailed. With a new crew member in tow, Zundy and company set out on a harrowing journey to clear the first section of their Great Journey toward the Green Sea.

Massive Guardians stand in their way, however, the first major test for any crew. Does Zundy have what it takes to lead his crew to victory? Or, will he, like so many others, fail to make the cut, and prematurely end his quest for the Viridian Core?

My Opinion: 296 pages, $4.99, Available on Kindle Unlimited

In the review for book 1, I mentioned that in the later half of it, I’d started to lose a little interest. The story shifted from an underdog coming of age to a more slice of life story with some regular fighting. Book 2 continues that trend with some seemingly random adventures broken up with some fighting and dungeon crawling. Unfortunately it completely loses the part I loved about book 1 the best, the gritty violence of a kid who despite all the abuse heaped upon him, triumphs over the odds and makes his weakness into his greatest strength. I mean, the main character (MC) still fights and upgrades his power structure and adventures but the tone of the story is definitely more casual and it just didn’t entertain as much as book 1. I found myself struggling to care about the MC and his quest, and while the fighting was still a highlight, there wasn’t enough to carry the story. It was a near thing, but it just missed being entertaining this time for me.

Score: 6 out of 10

Guardians (Pal-Tee Planet Book 2)

https://amzn.to/2GnG8Wt

Twilight of Midgard: A LitRPG Fantasy Series

Somewhere between the glitched logout, the illegible devnote, and the missing teammates, Roland decided he needed a nap.

At the height of Twilight III, the team was a five-man avalanche of brutal violence, a squad of peerless gankers and griefers. They were the Greatest Villains of the Nine Realms.

This is the story of the sequel.

Twilight of Midgard IV has just dropped, and Roland and his team are about to hit the first level cap.

This team of veterans and friends will face their greatest challenge yet, wrestling their useless early game builds into something functional while guiding a noob down the path of min-maxing and violence.

But, when the squad receives a mysterious note, they learn that not everything in Twilight IV is as it seems.

My Opinion: 177 pages, $2.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited

Boy was I bored with this one. It reads like you are watching a YouTube video of someone playing an MMO. The main character (MC) and her group are on a quest and fight monsters. Except, there's no context for the quest, nor is there any character development or world building. There's decent banter between group members and the fights are very MMO. But as a story it was frankly boring.

About 20% in the story shifts to a trapped in the game permadeath bit that doesn't make sense, but it's there. It’s also kinda predictable and by the end of the story there isn’t really a resolution. Maybe I’ve read too many stories that try to copy the premise of Sword Art Online, but I just wasn’t entertained by this one.

Score: 5 out of 10

Twilight of Midgard: A LitRPG Fantasy Series

https://amzn.to/3cPUMSA

The Strongest Florist

Hwang Jae-Ho joins a game and wants to open a flower shop, thus begins his long journey of being a florist in a virtual world.

My Opinion: 18+ Chapters, Free, No English Publisher

The main character (MC) of this webcomic is a musclebound tough guy who just wants to open a flower shop. But IRL, he lives with his dad who’s trained him to be an amazing fighter, plus he has severe allergies and whatever the opposite of a green thumb is. Only by trying the most realistic MMO ever can he fulfill his dream of growing plants and opening up a flower shop.

The story is a super casual slice of life story set in an MMO. It doesn’t take itself seriously at all and is very funny sometimes. The RPG stuff is very regular but the MC is kinda OP. The art is in full color and it does add a bit something extra, even if it does also likely make the production take a bit longer.

The Strongest Florist

Score: 7.6 out of 10

https://mangadex.org/title/46688/the-strongest-florist/chapters/

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

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