OYENTE

Coralie Crumrine

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  • 19
  • votos útiles
  • 36
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Narrator takes it to the next level

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 03-20-25

The MC is a bitter, jaded guy from Earth that finds out he has more morals and compassion for his fellow humans than he thought when he is cast into the role of Dark Lord in a "game" of 2 goddesses. He recognizes he comes across as crude and sarcastic but it's how he deals with life and especially uncomfortable situations, in which he seems to find himself in more and more in this new world. Being one of the "chosen" of the goddess he has a familiar which when described sounded like the Salandit from Pokemon and made me laugh every time I pictured this little guy. The MC is early on "gifted" some magical spells, one of which is healing. Being inquisitive, he tries to combine the spells and gets some unique results. He quickly confronts a bandit gang and through gruesome consequences he gains power and realization that he has no desire to be the Dark Lord. The only way out is forward and so he continues in his role but uses it to try and better the world around him just to spite the goddess. To his dismay, it takes very little to lift the citizens up out of their horrible living circumstances. His jaded bitterness takes on a sharper edge and a plan starts to form to take his vengeance but first he must recruit an army and to do that he must overcome the strongest bully in his way, Lady Gray.

The overall story is well told but the narrator takes it to the next level. He keeps the different voices straight throughout the story and even adds secondary sound effects like when the MC is wearing a mask his voice is muffled just enough to give you the effect but not make it hard to understand. The voices he chooses for all of the characters fits and makes the story that much better.

There is killing, the description of some is horrible. There is abuse. There is descriptions of children living in the streets. This is not a book for young ears or those that may be triggered easily by descriptions of these things. The book is gritty and unfortunately, real when it comes to the suffering of the lowest in society but it is what makes it work.

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Don't listen while driving!

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
1 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 03-12-25

Most Dean Koontz books are exciting and this one is no exception. The story is great. Gripping, thrilling, intense (as the title indicates). However, the narrator somehow puts the listener to sleep. It's not quite monotone but there is no inflection, there is no pacing, there is no...intensity. During one of the most thrilling parts of the book my mind kept wandering because the narration was just SO BORING. I give a lot of leeway to narrators because I get that it's a hard thing to do but this one totally failed. And also ruined the book.

The story itself is a decent thriller. The main character finds herself in a desperate situation and makes decisions that are understandable. It's not one of the best Koontz books but it's not his worst either. There are graphic scenes and descriptions so I would say make sure younger audiences are not able to listen until you have had a chance to preview it.

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Almost too cozy

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-18-25

I've read my share of cozy RPG slice of life books and this one does not disappoint but at times it is almost...to cozy? Is that a thing? Seriously, I felt like I had been transported somehow to an episode of Bewitched with it's crazy but supposed to be lovable magic-wielding bumbling sorcerers. The main character has just arrived and he is told throughout the book that there are people that have been there for years and years that can't afford to do anything yet he somehow goes from 100 MLUs to 4000 within weeks. I got the feeling that the author had an idea for a story arc but didn't want to jump right into it and wanted instead to build up suspense (and maybe wordcount for a series instead of a standalone book). There is also the question of mechanics. How does the MC find his parents? HIs best friend? Well...and a bunch of world building ensues but it feels hurried and pieced together because this part needs to be explained and that part needs to be explained. The end result isn't bad but it isn't seamless either. As cozy RPGs go, I didn't mind this one but it also wasn't one of my favorites. Throughout the book the impending invasion is approaching and that's the hook for the next book but I'm not sure it's big enough for me to want to read more. The flirting between the MC and his girl is cute but there's not enough of a relationship that makes the reader want to know will they or won't they? I'll put the next book on my wishlist and may get it if it goes on sale but it's not one that I'm jumping to go buy right now.

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Decent start

Total
4 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 02-18-25

Aliens suddenly take over the world and create a "gaming" scenario in which humans fight for survival and perhaps to retake their world. It's not original but doing it with children is a new twist. The kids are portrayed as kids, the mom has to deal with mom life along with adulting in a strange new world. The acceptance of the new system is a bit abrupt but if you can get past that, the rest of the story is well done and believable. Interesting solutions to common problems like how to create weapons and armor as well as forming alliances with fellow survivors.
This is not a stand alone book but does end at a nice break point. I already have the next 2 book in my wish list and I'm interested enough to want to continue with the series.

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Meh

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 04-16-24

If you can get past all the F-bombs, the story still isn't that great.

We follow Victor, a human that is summoned accidently to a new world that has energy, leveling, cores, and stats. He comes from a "no-energy" world, yet somehow always comes out on top. He is thrown into a fight-to-the-death pit and comes out covered with blood and gore yet this doesn't seem to bother him. He's 19. Sorry, but there's going to be some emotion there. I don't want him to be a traumatized mopey character but he ends up being the other end of the spectrum. NOTHING bothers him. At all. He gets a little sad when a certain character dies but it doesn't stop him from laughing and being a dork a few minutes later. There is just no emotional engagement which turns me off. One of the draws to this genre is how the MC deals with a new foreign way of living, a new "planet" (in this case, yes, a new planet), and a new reality. Victor's over-the-top happiness and shrugging off whatever comes his way is too over-the-top. He goes through several very trying events but there's very little growth. He does calm down in the later half of the book and only f-bombs once in awhile instead of twice a sentence but I hardly consider that any kind of character arc.

I didn't hate the book but I was ready to be done with it. I'm vaguely interested in what happens next but not enough to pay to find out. If there was a way to find these types of books at a library I'd probably listen to the next book...but maybe not. Depends on how boring of a chore I'm doing at the time if listening to Victor F-bomb through a dungeon would be worth finding out what happens to his companion.

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No character arc and VERY repetitive

Total
2 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 03-26-24

SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW

The premis of the book is that a group of office workers get zapped into a game world and are told they have 30 days to survive the tutorial. Ok, good. The group meets up with another group and the MC butts heads and takes off on his own. Then, he sits in a cave for 3 week but is somehow as strong or stronger than everyone that has been out hunting?? The only backstory is that he loved archery and was going to go pro until something happened. We are told this at least 4 times but never what happened or anything else about his former life. His character is quite dull really. There's absolutely NO character arc at all. Meanwhile, back in the group there is a guy that is a psychopath through and through. We get back story, we get development, we get a very big character arc. Guess who I would rather follow in the story? You got it, the "bad" guy.

Every time (and I mean EVERY TIME) the MC goes hunting he kills animals that are "above his level" and the AI says the same lengthy award for each animal he kills with the minimum being 3. EVERY TIME. Then Ding, you have gained a level. 5 unallotted points awarded. EVERY! TIME! The repetition was boring, then annoying, then maddening. I dreaded the POV going to the MC because I didn't want to listen to the Dinging. He wasn't even smart with the points. He played the short game and used them to satisfy short term goals every time.

The cover art was awesome. The premise hooked me. The book itself will go on the "probably won't ever read again" pile. I felt like the author had a really good 100 page story but needed it to be 300 pages and so just repeated stats and award phrases to get the word count up. It added nothing to the story and just became unbearable to listen to. Unless you are really hard up for something to listen to, take a pass on this one. There are SO many other, in my opinion better, choices out there.

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Wasn't the worst

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
3 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-27-23

This wasn't the worst RPGLit book I've listened to but is by far not the best. The main character's plight and reason for being in the game is interesting but after he is actually in the game he only thinks about the outside a couple of times. For someone who dedicated his life and sacrificed his freedom for his mother he doesn't really seem to care much about her.

I don't know if the author has even played a RPG before but someone should tell him that achievements are NOT stats and they don't need to be listed everytime the stat sheet is read off.

I'm also aggravated by these "hero" players that are at level 1 but can beat level 10, 20, or even 30 monsters. There's no way. And if there is a way, why hasn't anyone ever done it before? what's the point of levels?

I did appreciate the tutorial guide for fighting. I laugh at the books where the characters just know how to sword fight and live out in the forest. The author covered that very well.

The secondary characters are interesting enough but not so much that I was emotionally upset when something happened to them.

I really liked the incorporation of pop culture references. Bit of a Ready Player One vibe there but the narrator kinda killed it. Just watch at least ONE episode of the show so you can get the accent right. Al from Quantum Leap and Dr Who David Tennet are pretty distinguished voices so it is more of a distraction than immersion when the accents are off.

I would listen to the second book but I'm not ready to spend a credit on it. Maybe if I can get it for $5 or less, otherwise, meh.

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POWERS REVEALED

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
4 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-13-23

Ok, first things first. It had to go woke. Doesn't everything? Girls kissing girls. Blargh. If you can overlook that, the rest of the story is just as good as Season 1. The Winter Child is revealed and gains power. Impatient as always, she then goes after the queen. Secondary characters are not forgotten and their storyline is maintained as well. I gobbled this season up just as fast as first season and am now impatiently waiting for season 3, which I see has been approved. The voice acting is AMAZING again. They really bring this story to life. The sound effects are even more superb than last season.

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Excellent

Total
5 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
5 out of 5 stars
Historia
5 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-13-23

For anyone like me that likes to multitask by putting on a show and working on something this is the perfect audiobook. It is immersive in that the sound effects and voices are like watching a TV show but there is nothing to watch and distract you from the other task you are working on. I went into this thinking I'd give it a try, maybe listen to the first episode. I'm now tapping my foot waiting for the next season (season 3) to be released. The characters draw you in. The story is not all it seems to be and the twists keep everything interesting, even the ones that you figure out and are anticipating. The voice actors are A+ I would recommend this to anyone that likes a good story. Yes, it's apocalyptic, but that's not it's focus. Yes, it has vampires, but it's not all seduction and sex. Relationships, love, and what you would do for those people closest to you is what the story is all about. There are mature themes and language so not recommended for kids.

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Great if you like stats but not much else

Total
3 out of 5 stars
Ejecución
4 out of 5 stars
Historia
2 out of 5 stars

Revisado: 10-06-23

The premise is good. A group of gamers are kidnapped from Earth to serve a succubus. She is described as evil but the MC goes to her at the first sign of trouble. As a group, none of them are the least bit concerned that they have been kidnapped, they just simply start "playing". The MC goes off alone and even tho he's a noob he defeats a monster 100 levels above him which gives him much more power than any of the others in his group. He then doesn't want to fight with them because it would slow him down. But he also wants to be their leader. How does that work? I don't know because it was never explained. What else was never explained was any battle. Every battle is very briefly described, if at all, yet there are 100's of monsters to be looted. TONS of time is spent describing how the MC considers each type of magic however and there are several. Overall, there is so much more telling than showing that I became bored with the story about 1/2 through and I've stuck with some pretty bad stories. I did make it through this one but really don't care about the MC enough to listen to any more. He will obviously beat anything he goes up against with little to no harm to himself or any of his mates all the while both sucking up to and saying he hates the woman that brought him here. There are SO many other books to explore, I'm not wasting any more time on this one. Very glad it was a freebee for members.

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