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  • A Dark Path (Grimdark LitRPG)

  • Forsaken Talents, Book 1
  • By: Stuart Thaman
  • Narrated by: J. Scott Bennett
  • Length: 13 hrs and 15 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (35 ratings)

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A Dark Path (Grimdark LitRPG)

By: Stuart Thaman
Narrated by: J. Scott Bennett
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Summary

From International Best-Selling Author Stuart Thaman:

The Seven Portals to Wonder changed the world. The most advanced AI ever created powered the worlds, bringing infinite possibilities and endless adventure to everyone across the globe. War on Earth practically ceased as most of the planet's population became addicted to the game.

Ben Hales was no different. He spent a few years saving enough money to buy lifetime passes for himself and his daughter, Ingrid. Now he has the cash, and Ingrid just turned 16, the minimum age required to play.

Not everything - or everyone - in Wonder is quite as it seems. Evil lurks both inside and outside the game, and that evil finds Ben all too soon.

Ravaged by loss and consumed by hatred, Ben awakens an ancient necromancer and a host of long-forgotten classes. Now he's building his citadel of darkness and raising an army of the dead with a singular goal: revenge.

If it means the death of everyone inside Wonder...so be it.

Check out Stuart Thaman's other epic fantasy and LitRPG novels!

©2019 Stuart Thaman (P)2019 Stuart Thaman
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What listeners say about A Dark Path (Grimdark LitRPG)

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

What a great listen!

Such a great, enjoyable listen. Made a great change having an anti-hero and a nice twist on the LitRPG and I thought it was a lot of fun.
Filled with tons of adventure and character building.
Scott does a fantastic job with narration and all his characters are easily identifiable, he’s just a great storyteller!!
I must just add though, despite it being great, I wouldn’t really call it Grimdark. It does follow a dark path, there’s acts of dark violence and the MC definitely doesn’t have any morals but it doesn’t have the grim/gritty feel I usually expect from grimdark.
This is my honest opinion of a free review copy.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Let's be evil

I recieved a review copy of this book, it's well written and narrated, but the main character is quite irredeemably unlikeable. Given the choice between right and wrong, he chooses wrong, flimsily justifying it. Its a testament to the quality of the writing and performance that story remains interesting despite this and I look forward to the next installment.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Dark litrpg

I did enjoy this book, although I did find it tough to listen to in long sessions because of how dark it was. The main character is intentionally (I think!) unlikeable: he is admittedly evil and seems to care little for others. His motivations for his evil actions are explained, but I didn't feel this justified his callous behaviour and sociopathic tenancies. It was interesting though to explore the mind of sociopath - this is the first litrpg I've read/listened to that features an unreliable narrator, and I commend the author for taking such a risk!

The plot was really good - fast paced and an interesting take on an established rpg trope of settlement building. The narrator was also excellent.

Even though the book was gripping and engaging, I will not be purchasing other books in this series as I find myself disliking the main character so much that I'm just not interested in what happens to him. I recommend this book to listeners who are fans of both litrpg and books such as Hannibal etc.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request via Audioboom and have voluntarily left this review

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great book loved it

loved the story nice to see a book from the bad guys side of things and not all goody goody

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

awesome

one of the most enjoyable litrpg's I have had the pleasure of listening too, 5 well deserved stars, an awesome listen

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

dark and dirty, but interestingly done

In the Future, everyone really wants to live in a semi-real virtual rpg, where you can respawn back in your home, so the consequences are relatively low.
The world has gone through some nasty times and everyone is happy to see that most people's urges to murder/steal and otherwise fight are in the virtual world where there is little consequence, until it goes all wrong!

A great take on an evil character, that still occasionally falls back to "is what i'm doing actually okay?".
While some of the moral dilemma's are shoved aside too easily occasionally, it doesn't impact the story too much.

Well narrated, well written and fun with not too much side-tracking, fun and hopefully continues the same in book 2 as well.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

One for the Gamers...

This was a fun and weird read. I play a lot of video games, and this was reminiscent of missions/quests I would have to do in ones such as Fallout and/or Skyrim. What I particularly liked about this book is we're basically shown the conception of a Raider gang, and it's rather refreshing having that point of view.
Narration was done well and suited the style of book.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request via Audioboom and have voluntarily left this review.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
Listener received this title free

This book blew me away!

I rad the synopsis and somehow it just doesn't do the book justice.

The twist this story takes early on and how the storyline just keeps delivering twists and turns even when it seems predictable.
It has been enjoyable and I couldn't put it down.

The narrator performance is great and you could believe a team created all of the voices for various characters.

Please give this book a chance I don't think you will be disappointed.

I received a free copy of this audiobook. I have left this unbiased review of my own volition.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Unrealistic Emotions

I'm about 4 hours into this and I'm really bothered by the unrealistic portrayal of emotions. The story starts out with a widowed father playing a game with his daughter teaching her the ropes, when suddenly a bug in the game kills her in real life. How long does he grieve? About 2 seconds.

Instead he's just like "Oh I guess I'll keep playing this game. Lah di dah, not a care in the world. Oh I better start thinking about my class and finding a trainer! Never mind that the last living member of my real life family is dead. Nevermind that the girl I raised from birth just died because I encouraged her to play this game with me."

A sob story that reads like a cliff note does not make good writing. I'll keep listening and finish, but at about a third of the way in this is mediocre at best.

The book ends on a lame cliffhanger with no goals accomplished. There's nothing really there to compel me to keep on with the series.

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2 people found this helpful