Binks

pop culture overload.

Revisado: 03-14-25

So litrpg/gamelit/iseakai fantasy etc are my favorite reading genres. In my library these series are the vast majority. And one fun aspect of these books is the expectation for some level of real world leakage in the form of references, in jokes and such. Some excellently done examples of this include the naming sense in BoC, the running jokes about sand in PH, and many many others.

What is not fun, is an author using similes over and over and over to directly reference every popular IP of the past century by name. Leaning on reader knowledge of situations in other media to explain what is going on or how a character feels is lazy writing. Rise of the Grandmaster can't go more than 10 min without a reference.

It's unfortunate really, bc delete the other IPs from this book and there is an interesting story there. In addition to the expected battle and stats this book deals with politics, finance, morality, intrigue, and romance. It's a really interesting premise with the time dilation and the ensemble of characters.

I was so excited for this series.. but I just can't.
-apologies for the harshness, but you deserve my candor.

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quintessential litrpg

Revisado: 10-08-24

The Primal Hunter series is one of my all time favorites (up there with HP, the Bobiverse, and BOC). There are nearly a dozen books and counting, and with each new release I re-listen to the whole series again. My sole complaint is that the audiobook releases tend to fall behind - so be ready for that.

The story is set in an AU of earth where a "system" has arrived and we follow Jake Thane and those close to him through the integration of earth into the wider multiverse. Travis Baldree does an incredible job as always with bringing these characters to life. The world Zogarth has built in this series is detailed and dense and so easy to picture. It truly is a delight to delve into over and again.

If you enjoy litrpg with elements of fantasy, sci-fi, action and adventure- give this a shot.

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unabridged! excellent and hilarious

Revisado: 01-19-24

This was my first time reading Northanger and I had no idea how Funny it was! The story is about a young (17) innocent girl who loves reading gothic novels - think dark academia horror. She's a sweetheart with a wild imagination. This is her first trip away from home and she's going to find out just how similar (or not) the world is to her literary standards.
I feel like Northanger hits home for those of us who have been avid readers of the rest of Austen's material and find ourselves comparing our realities to her various and sundry romantic literary notions. Austen uses meta humor to ground us all.
If you've not read any other works in this genre (regencyish romance), save this for later. It's probably even better enjoyed by those who also have read some gothic horror. When you do get to it- it's fantastic.
I laughed, I cried, I cringed then laughed some more.

Nadia May is superb in her voicing of all the characters for this book. Also, the recording itself is apparently from 95?! I'd never have known. You can feel the editing cuts if you're looking for them, but it's not uncomfortable. Highly Recommend.

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5 stars all round

Revisado: 01-17-24

Austen and Pike are both in top form in this unabridged audio of our beloved P&P.

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reposting of The Ascension Game

Revisado: 01-14-24

The Uncharted Territory podcast is a Reposting of the book series: The Ascension Game written by Ace Arriande with narration by Giancarlo Herrera and Hannah Schooner.

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copy paste someone's book as your podcast?

Revisado: 01-14-24

When I read the blurb for Uncharted territory, I was happy to have found another cutesy isekai/litrpg type adventure light novel. Unfortunately, this podcast is Not an Original work.

The Uncharted Territory podcast is a Reposting of the book series: The Ascension Game written by Ace Arriande with narration by Giancarlo Herrera and Hannah Schooner. It's available here on audible at https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Ascension-Game-Volume-1-Audiobook/B0BZ57BMYM?action_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

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antics of the crazy twin teen (19)

Revisado: 01-02-24

omg. fair warning: read this one with tissues.
So Bargain with a Beast is a direct continuation of the family that's established in Big Bad Beast. There's a bit of time between them (the chronological list shows 2 books between), but I could've gone seamlessly from one to the other and when re-reading probably will. The female protag here is one of Vivian's twin daughters, Adrian- the quieter more analytical one. The girls are teenagers (19) who are in college on Earth (hurray wealthy Warlord stepdads) and visiting Atlan for the first time. Most of the IBP books feature women who seem to be in their 20s-30s many of whom are in the plus sized realm. This book stands out for featuring someone so young who views her body as just plain. She doesn't carry with her the decades body shaming and general mistreatment that most of the other mated Earth women do. The voice of this book felt a lot more.. fun, with pop culture references and college girl antics. Between Grace's writing and the Excellent performance from Shiloh James it Felt like listening to a teenager. Of course all of this makes the heavy parts of the book that much darker (I'm serious about the tissues). It's the most emotional I've gotten over a Grace Goodwin book. Tor Thom is also wonderful - as always.

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a rustic flavor in the Interstellar Brides series

Revisado: 01-02-24

The Alien's Mate is a "historical prequel" to the entire Interstellar Brides Program series from Grace Goodwin. So it's totally removed from the main storyline of the Hive war, Coalition planets, and Earthen politics. Set in the 1800s way out in the Montana Territory, this book is the story of an orphaned widowed descendant of Everian colonists who thinks she's human and her Hunter mate who's come to Earth from Everis to catch a killer.
After having read a Lot of IBP books, the historic western flare is a very cool change of pace. I can also see it as a good starting point for those wanting to read IBP in chronological order.
Something of note- for some reason The Alien's Mate is set as book 1 of "The Virgin's Series" of IBP however, as stated Very early on Cassie is in fact a widow. :)
Speaking to the Audiobook performance, most of Grace Goodwin's works get separate VAs for the 2 protagonists' perspectives. (This has pros and cons of its own when only listening and not reading along) However, The Alien's Mate is narrated entirely by Joshua Macrae and he does a lovely job of it.

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romantic sci-fi smut with irritation

Revisado: 12-16-23

The least fun and shortest of the bunch, Starfighter 3 is full of the American impression of a repressed Brit. We again have a situation of missed potential. There's so much trauma and drama that I would have Loved for the author to explore. Instead, the bulk of the book is spent wanting to toss the masc mc off a cliff. If anything, the interpersonal situations in this one and ensuing smutty times made really start to wonder how the alien tech was starting to affect them and their decision making.
Avery Reid does better with the accents this time, especially when all 3 girls appear together.
Still sad Tor Thom didn't bother with the 3 guys.

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more cute sci-fi erotic romance

Revisado: 12-16-23

The beginning of this book starts out great with a check-in on the earth girls and a very unique origin for our guy. There's intrigue and drama and it's all quite exciting. Unfortunately some things just started getting.. repetitive. Of the 3 books- this one def wins the award for most smut. lol.
At the opening of the first book, Avery Reid does an excellent job of distinguishing the 3 future fem mcs who are American, German, and British. After that intro, I was so looking forward to books 2 & 3 in the accents. It comes an goes.
Also Tor Thom just doesn't really bother distinguishing between the male mcs. :/

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