Viridian Gate Online: The Jade Lord: A litRPG Adventure

Series Keeps on improving

This is one of those rare series that just keeps on improving and improving as time goes on. The characters continue to grow, the plot is like a brick wall being filled in piece by piece with some solid mortar, and the action almost makes YOU bleed. Hunter is pretty slick,as he adds pieces from prior books to build the momentum, and then leaves you with a completed story that has a few plotlines that are unfinished so that you know where the next book is going to start.

The characters are really fun personalities, each distinct and outstanding in their own way. Each makes you laugh a little, grit your teeth some, and sweat a tad too. I think what is best about the characters is that they learn from their mistakes, and in this book they make a one whopper of an error, but they can use their intellects to overcome their adversity. That is why I really anticipate the battle that may be occuring in the next book! Gah, I hate waiting, but the build up is soooo good. I rate Hunter among the ranks of Blaise Corvin, Harmon Cooper, and J.A. Ciparino for the world building and characterizations. This is just pure fantasy at its finest, with just a touch of gamer thrown in for fun. VC is really beginning to carve out a name for itself for good reason.

By the way, Taylor just nails the narration. His voices make each and every character unique and fresh. If I went back to the first book I could admit that his voice for the Spider Queen was enough to admittedly make my skin crawl. I think I just want to hear him make Cutter say something like, "I can't get no satisfaction." Because everytime I hear that thief speak I hear Mick Jagger! Bloody brilliant, that is. Taylor is the man, and he knows how to pace a tale. I laugh everytime he does his "yelling over noise" voice, because I did that when I was a kid playing, too.

The series keeps getting better and better, and if this pace continues I think that we are in for some awesome stories! Even though I did receive a promo code for this review it in no way influenced my considerations of the material, and in fact, inspired me to be more honest. In fact, getting a code generally makes me harsher as a reviewer as I am more often concerned what someone like Me will decide based on my review.


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3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Steryotypical

The series started out good but now it feels so standard, like a perfect fantasy. The conflict and tension started to feel pointless as you know everything would end in the most predictable fashion.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Loved It!

Just like the last book, and the one before that, this book is amazing.

Again, only one minor gripe with the narrator's performance.... STOP WHISPERING WHEN THE CHARACTERS ARE YELLING! That's not how yelling works and it drives me insane!

Other than that though, the book was flawless and amazing.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Yessss

I love listening to the story unfold and all the interesting powers of the main characters I would recommend this too a friend but only certain friends

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

as always an amazing book

this book is as usual amazing it has some pretty good fights and is very imaginative in the problem solving

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

great narration and book

I really like the series so far and I'm pretty happy with how this book ended.

Huge plot holes and lazy story development

Great narration – poor story.

The premise is good, but the writing is way too formulaic. Plot holes – ugh, plot holes and lazy writing for days!

So the main character is supposed to be an experienced gamer, but is constantly making mistakes that would make even a casual gamer cringe.

He is presented as this genius smart guy, and all of his friends and associates are impressed with his ideas, strategy, and wit. He makes ridiculous far fetched plans and decisions that always work out, but when faced with simple problems with glaring answers are presented to him, he ALWAYS (as in every single time) makes the obviously bad choice and has to be bailed out by his friends or “barely scrape through.”

Let's talk about his outlook/attitude: he flips between arrogantly cocky, a beacon of virtue, even keeled, constantly second guessing himself, and full of self doubt. Instead of choosing a character mentality (smart guy, cocksure asshole, Mr. Virtue, emo kid, etc.) the author tried to do it all, and it leaves you with a bi-polar, sometimes schizophrenic who is frequently high on coffee and sugar. Be ready for some whiplash.

Is there a serious/semi-serious fight happening? Things start off well – take a turn for the worst – and right at that point where things are going to go terribly wrong or maybe somehow work out – this is when the main character decides to ponder the meaning of life – or the price of beans – or what his favorite color is or should be (you know – to build suspense) – then he makes the right choice and hooray it somehow works out. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.

It is very frustrating because the premise is great, and the overarching story isn't bad either. It is the details that ruin this series.

Does it get better later on in the series?

No.

It doesn't.

The author uses the same old formulas and patterns over and over. Which is a shame because with just a little bit of rewriting this could be one of the best series in the genera. It really had that much potential, but I'm 5 books in and it is just the same pattern repeating endlessly.

looking forward to next book

This book managed to get my emotions running up and down. Great addition to Viridian Online.

Incredibly Generic

this is the most generic litRPG book I've read in a long time. The main character is so bland and boring I actively to against him, and the RPG elements are generic cut and paste.

it follows on the wake of every other litRPG main character becoming a warlock that summons things way more powerful than he is.

The setting is insanely unrealistic (well beyond the normal amount in these types of books). For example, the world ends, but that pretty much means nothing, there is no interaction between the real world and the in game one.

The main bad guy is the CEO of a game company that... killed himself so he can play his own game? Because even though you can play the game normally, that's no fun. Then he decides to cheat when it means nothing, but follow the rules when plot is involved. This guy was in charge of the most important company in the planet, with an army of game developers capable of doing whatever he wanted, but he decides to try to be a tyrannical dictator while playing by all the rules just because.

There is a generic love interest that is supposed to be a super smart hacker, but as soon as she meets Mr generic MC, does literally nothing but instantly fall in love with him. She is technically in the rest of the plot, but contributes nothing and I guess we are supposed to ignore the fact that she literally helped develop the game, cause that never come up again.

The narrator does a good job, but the book is so weak I had to force myself to power through this book, which is a rarity.

If you watched Sword Art Online and thought that it was great, this might be for you. If you want a main character with any personality or interesting RPG elements, steer clear of this one.

fine book

it's a fine book, but the vo artist does a stupid whisper yell. I've listened to enough audio books to know there are better ways for this to come across,.