Shadeslinger Audiobook By Kyle Kirrin, Portal Books cover art

Shadeslinger

The Ripple System, Book 1 (A Fantasy LitRPG Series)

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Shadeslinger

By: Kyle Kirrin, Portal Books
Narrated by: Travis Baldree
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$8.99/mo. after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends July 5, 2026 at 11:59pm PT.

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Corporate flameout Ned Altimer dreams of leaving his world behind. So, when Earthblood Online splashes onto the VRMMO scene, he dives in and never looks back.

His advantages are twofold: exclusive access to the game’s three-day Head Start period, and a ridiculously handsome talking axe named Frank who has knowledge of the game’s deepest secrets...if the magnificent Frank ever feels like sharing them.

But those advantages also make Ned a target. Once the Head Start period ends, his fellow players will stop at nothing to rip that suave, violent, yet disarmingly charismatic axe right out of his hands.

In 72 hours, the greatest manhunt in gaming history is set to begin.

It’s gonna be a lot of fun.

©2021 Kyle Kirrin (P)2021 Portal Books Action & Adventure Cyberpunk Fantasy Fiction Science Fiction Game Suspenseful Adventure Litrpg System
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Featured Article: Level up with 25+ awesome litRPGs


LitRPG means Literary Role Playing Game. Simply put, it’s the book version of watching someone play a video game, usually one that’s set up like an MMO (massively multiplayer online) RPG. It’s a blend of sci-fi and fantasy, depending on how it comes to be that our main character ends up living inside a virtual reality. the point of LitRPG is not how we get there, but that we get to be in this virtual reality period, living life as a badass video-game character. Beat the grind and submerse yourself in these addictive LitRPGs.

Featured Article Level up with 25+ awesome litRPGs
Witty Dialogue • Immersive Worldbuilding • Distinct Character Voices • Hilarious Sidekick • Fresh Litrpg Approach

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one of the best litrpg books I've listened to. I have found this book to be very entertaining. the narrator is excellent. well worth the credit. enjoy

great litrpg

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If you're working on a book or are interested at all in the LITRPG genre this is the book for you.

This book kept me engaged from start to finished, the characters are well written, well thought out, deep and with a nuance to their character that is desperately needed in more books.

I am wholeheartedly looking forward to the next in the series and cannot recommend this book enough for what it brings to the table.

A shining example of the peak of the genre

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First about the story & narration: These characters are so much fun. There's a great balance of personality between the main characters, & I was laughing out loud many times. From the start, I was invested in the story & personal growth. I've listened to Travis Baldree's work for the excellent Cradle series and Elder Gate, & he's one of my favorite male narrators. I have a library of around 1000 books on here, more than 95% being fantasy. Here, he does the same excellent job and gives perfect differentiation to each character. Importantly for me, he is one of those rare narrators who has figured out how to clearly voice the opposite gender without ridiculous high or low pitch.

Now some more about the genre: I've loved litrpg but all the quirks that make the genre so enjoyable also easily turn into unbearable nuisances. One example is the stat lists & changes. In audio form, this is excruciating b/c the entire list is read. Maybe some readers do analyze these minute changes, but I do not. It's like being forced to hear someone's blood pressure, respiratory rate, temp, etc, at least once per chapter. When reading, I skip these lists except for the most recent or large changes.

Some authors have managed to handle this aspect, but this particular book is EXCELLENT b/c of the way it perfectly balances the necessity of the updates without overdoing it.

I highly recommend this book for anyone new to litrpg as well as anyone familiar with other series on that area. I'm looking very forward to the next book.

Refreshed my love if the genre

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Loved this accidental choice. Just go for it and experience what I did. It's worth the three day lead time.

Once in a blue moon, you get that ONE!

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Somewhat slow start but it opens up very nicely and once it finally grabbed me I couldn't put it down. Blood is the best- Frank

Worthy addition to my 86 book collection

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