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Alvin woke in a room that was not his, to discover that he had died and his brain had been bargained off cheaply to pay off someone else's debt. It did not sit well with him. It didn't surprise him that even in death, people were still using him for their own purposes. He had never exactly been a good guy, but everyone had their breaking point, and he had found his.
The bastards in charge had uploaded his mind into a virtual death game. The whole world could now pay to see him play it and probably die. Alvin questioned whether he was really a bad guy, if this is how they wanted to treat him. Regardless, he was not about to wait for death to come for him. He would kick open the damn Apocalypse Gates and see about crushing everything that challenged him. It was time to make the world aware that he was done with pretending to be nice.
Welcome to Apocalypse Gates!
(This audiobook contains adult themes, including gore, death, drug use, and graphic sex.)
The bastards in charge had uploaded his mind into a virtual death game. The whole world could now pay to see him play it and probably die. Alvin questioned whether he was really a bad guy, if this is how they wanted to treat him. Regardless, he was not about to wait for death to come for him. He would kick open the damn Apocalypse Gates and see about crushing everything that challenged him. It was time to make the world aware that he was done with pretending to be nice.
Welcome to Apocalypse Gates!
(This audiobook contains adult themes, including gore, death, drug use, and graphic sex.)
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2017
932 people are currently reading
590 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Schinhofen
66 books1,311 followersDaniel James Schinhofen is a self-published author in the burgeoning genre of LitRPG/Gamelit. He published his first book, Last Horizon: Beta, in October of 2016, and has recently published his fifteenth book. A best-selling author on Amazon multiple times, his four series have achieved name recognition in the genre. When not slavishly typing away at the next book, Daniel tries to unwind with video games, playing with his dog Sugar, or going for walks around his neighborhood. His books can be found easily via his website http://schinhofenbooks.com/. Daniel can be found via Twitter using the handle @DJSchinhofen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
April 16, 2018
4 Stars for Narration by Andrea Parsneau
Low end of 3 Stars for Story
Mini-Review:
GameLit/LitRPG Story
I didn't realize that I had read others books by this author until I was about 1/3 into the book. I read the first two books in Alpha World and listened to this one. Narration does make a difference.
I really enjoyed the way A.P. narrated the story. It made it much more enjoyable.
The books come off as sexual fantasies written out for the enjoyment of the writer. If others find the books as enjoyable, cool. If not, oh well. The first half of the book was fun and had lots of potential for cool things to happen within the story frame. Then it crashed into predictable format. The type of female the main character goes for, same type of clothes and sex. It's like I'm reading Alpha World in modern settings. Never mind that both series are set in a virtual reality and in the future.
I like sex in books to make sense. It should fit with the characters and the setting. It shouldn't feel forced and thrown in just to be there. Meh.
The setup for Rapture was pretty good. I liked the way the character gets thrown into VR and how he fumbled his way into his new life. Cool. It made no sense why the story fell apart after the foundation is set and yet it did.
I look forward to more audiobooks worked on by Andrea Parsneau. I am going to pass on works by this author. The problem is that the author has a fun idea and then stomps it into mehville. It's like inflating a balloon and then letting it fizzle into a flat flop instead of floating off into the sky.
Low end of 3 Stars for Story
Mini-Review:
GameLit/LitRPG Story
I didn't realize that I had read others books by this author until I was about 1/3 into the book. I read the first two books in Alpha World and listened to this one. Narration does make a difference.
I really enjoyed the way A.P. narrated the story. It made it much more enjoyable.
The books come off as sexual fantasies written out for the enjoyment of the writer. If others find the books as enjoyable, cool. If not, oh well. The first half of the book was fun and had lots of potential for cool things to happen within the story frame. Then it crashed into predictable format. The type of female the main character goes for, same type of clothes and sex. It's like I'm reading Alpha World in modern settings. Never mind that both series are set in a virtual reality and in the future.
I like sex in books to make sense. It should fit with the characters and the setting. It shouldn't feel forced and thrown in just to be there. Meh.
The setup for Rapture was pretty good. I liked the way the character gets thrown into VR and how he fumbled his way into his new life. Cool. It made no sense why the story fell apart after the foundation is set and yet it did.
I look forward to more audiobooks worked on by Andrea Parsneau. I am going to pass on works by this author. The problem is that the author has a fun idea and then stomps it into mehville. It's like inflating a balloon and then letting it fizzle into a flat flop instead of floating off into the sky.
April 9, 2018
Fun and enjoyable for the most part. Could have done without all the sex scenes though.
January 24, 2018
OK, what is the deal here? Kindle Unlimited seems to employ a huge team of terrible writers who do nothing but churn out the same book: "Person comes to life inside video game, deals with weird clunky interface to level himself up, wins against " It's all the same clunky, awkward writing, vaguely unlikable and translucent main character, and for an added bonus here, we have shitty sex scenes! (which the author repeatedly "warns" potential readers about in the dust jacket leadup) Shitty, because they're a) clearly angry, misogynistic male teen sex fantasy, with language no human woman has ever uttered outside of a porn set and b) they're just poorly and thoughtlessly inserted (NPI) into the narrative!
Kindle Unlimited is the worst deal ever made.
Kindle Unlimited is the worst deal ever made.
June 13, 2019
Rating 3.0 stars
This book started off very poorly. I almost got to the point where I put it down. The first hour or 2 listening was just so boring and repetitive. The premise is that Alvin wakes up and finds out that he died at some point and he was frozen. He signed up for this but does not remember. The company that held his body went bankrupt so he was sold to a new company who downloaded his personality into their computer system and destroyed his body. He is now supposed to be part of a videogame where he needs to kill zombies. He is doing this so that the company can make money selling his adventures for people to watch. He gets one life to try and make it, if he dies in the game, he is done for good. This is not a great premise. If he is already dead, why does he think he needs to fight to save his life? What kind of profit making scheme is this in which after spending all the money to digitize him, they get rid of him if he fails?
This is a game lit RPG style book. With these types of books there is always something someone can complain about. Either the stats or too simple or too complex, the characters can be too OP or too weak. Because of that, I don't like to complain to much about that, unless there is something that is really off. Most of the books I have read in this genre have some sort of magic system associated with the lit RPG aspect. This one did not. This stat system was way too hard in the beginning and then way to simple in the end The stats were kind of useless in this game as well. Most games require players to perform tasks in order to increase their strength or stamina. That didn't happen in this book. The only way to increase ones stats was to use experience points to buy them. That was not practical though, since it cost so damn much and since the goal is to kill zombies it was more important to buy weapons instead of increasing strength by 1/2 a point or something. for the first 1/4 of the book, the same thing happened over and over again. Al went to a training scenario to build up exp points. He was dropped into a situation and had to save people from zombies. Most of the people were stupid idiots and quite a few tried to attack Al even after he saved their lives. He must of went through about 5 practice scenes and listening to those became tedious. The goal was to build up enough exp points so that he could survive in World mode of the game.
One of the most interesting differences in this game was that Al was able to tell the NPCs that this whole thing was a game and prove it to them. So almost all the NPCs were walking around knowing this was some kind of game. That was a weird twist. Most of the time the NPCs in other books are programmed to not understand that their world was not real.
Once Al made it to world mode, all the characters that he helped in the practice scenarios showed up again. This made it a little more interesting, though the repetitive aspect of the story continued.
There was one scene in the story that made me think. Towards the beginning when the group was relatively small there were maybe 10 people all together; 5 women and 5 men. The women almost immediately got together to decide which guy they were interested in. This is something I can see women doing. If it was the end of the world, I can see women being practical enough to do something like this right away to avoid any problems later. Then I was thinking about if there was a situation with 5 women and 6 men. How shitty would that last guy feel? People think getting picked last in school for playing dodgeball felt bad, how about getting picked last or not at all to partner up with someone for the end of the world.
Once Al was able to interact with others more consistently and the story didn't keep popping around, I became more interested. The relationship with Al and Gothy was kind of awesome. The sex was hot and they both knew they were broken and embraced that about themselves. He even asked her if she would be his Harley Quinn to his Joker. There were still problems with the story though. Al was only in the game 4 days and the zombies already seemed to level up. They started off as walking slowly, then they walked at normal speed, then they used weapons, then animals started to attack, then the animals mutated, and in the last scene there was a dragon. That seemed pretty quick to me.
Initially I would have said there was no way I would pick up the second book. I am still not very excited about it. The only reason I am even considering it is the relationship between Al and Gothy. Everything else wasn't that great. I have changed my mind before, but for now I think it is a no on reading the next book.
This book started off very poorly. I almost got to the point where I put it down. The first hour or 2 listening was just so boring and repetitive. The premise is that Alvin wakes up and finds out that he died at some point and he was frozen. He signed up for this but does not remember. The company that held his body went bankrupt so he was sold to a new company who downloaded his personality into their computer system and destroyed his body. He is now supposed to be part of a videogame where he needs to kill zombies. He is doing this so that the company can make money selling his adventures for people to watch. He gets one life to try and make it, if he dies in the game, he is done for good. This is not a great premise. If he is already dead, why does he think he needs to fight to save his life? What kind of profit making scheme is this in which after spending all the money to digitize him, they get rid of him if he fails?
This is a game lit RPG style book. With these types of books there is always something someone can complain about. Either the stats or too simple or too complex, the characters can be too OP or too weak. Because of that, I don't like to complain to much about that, unless there is something that is really off. Most of the books I have read in this genre have some sort of magic system associated with the lit RPG aspect. This one did not. This stat system was way too hard in the beginning and then way to simple in the end The stats were kind of useless in this game as well. Most games require players to perform tasks in order to increase their strength or stamina. That didn't happen in this book. The only way to increase ones stats was to use experience points to buy them. That was not practical though, since it cost so damn much and since the goal is to kill zombies it was more important to buy weapons instead of increasing strength by 1/2 a point or something. for the first 1/4 of the book, the same thing happened over and over again. Al went to a training scenario to build up exp points. He was dropped into a situation and had to save people from zombies. Most of the people were stupid idiots and quite a few tried to attack Al even after he saved their lives. He must of went through about 5 practice scenes and listening to those became tedious. The goal was to build up enough exp points so that he could survive in World mode of the game.
One of the most interesting differences in this game was that Al was able to tell the NPCs that this whole thing was a game and prove it to them. So almost all the NPCs were walking around knowing this was some kind of game. That was a weird twist. Most of the time the NPCs in other books are programmed to not understand that their world was not real.
Once Al made it to world mode, all the characters that he helped in the practice scenarios showed up again. This made it a little more interesting, though the repetitive aspect of the story continued.
There was one scene in the story that made me think. Towards the beginning when the group was relatively small there were maybe 10 people all together; 5 women and 5 men. The women almost immediately got together to decide which guy they were interested in. This is something I can see women doing. If it was the end of the world, I can see women being practical enough to do something like this right away to avoid any problems later. Then I was thinking about if there was a situation with 5 women and 6 men. How shitty would that last guy feel? People think getting picked last in school for playing dodgeball felt bad, how about getting picked last or not at all to partner up with someone for the end of the world.
Once Al was able to interact with others more consistently and the story didn't keep popping around, I became more interested. The relationship with Al and Gothy was kind of awesome. The sex was hot and they both knew they were broken and embraced that about themselves. He even asked her if she would be his Harley Quinn to his Joker. There were still problems with the story though. Al was only in the game 4 days and the zombies already seemed to level up. They started off as walking slowly, then they walked at normal speed, then they used weapons, then animals started to attack, then the animals mutated, and in the last scene there was a dragon. That seemed pretty quick to me.
Initially I would have said there was no way I would pick up the second book. I am still not very excited about it. The only reason I am even considering it is the relationship between Al and Gothy. Everything else wasn't that great. I have changed my mind before, but for now I think it is a no on reading the next book.
December 4, 2017
I really enjoyed the book overall, uses similar template to Galactic Fist of Legend by Scottie Futch. In fact loved the references in general as added a good bit of comedy if you are familiar with his books.
I also made the mistake of reading this book late and had crap sleep.
However I couldn't give it 5 stars, because as with many of the author's other books I felt that the romance of the MC overtakes the main storyline took much. To the point where the romance shifts to the main focus and detracts from the storyline. The conclusion would have been better served with a boss fight or a big fight to bring out the storyline and plot more away from the romance.
I also made the mistake of reading this book late and had crap sleep.
However I couldn't give it 5 stars, because as with many of the author's other books I felt that the romance of the MC overtakes the main storyline took much. To the point where the romance shifts to the main focus and detracts from the storyline. The conclusion would have been better served with a boss fight or a big fight to bring out the storyline and plot more away from the romance.
May 13, 2018
A little too sappy towards the end. Less is more when it comes to romance in my opinion. The story would have felt more balanced if you added a 100 pages of non-romance/sex in between all the mushiness. As it is, the book starts as a litrpg/litrts and then turns into pure romance/erotica. That can ofcourse be a part of a good book, but I missed the upgrading and exploring that we started off with. I really liked the game setting (maybe because I'm currently playing through Fallout 3 again), and will get book 2 when it gets released on Audible.
December 13, 2017
Captivating beginning but about 60% in everything went a bit shit with all that sexy relationship stuff, didn`t care about that at all, 2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 because there is potential- not very hopeful about that though, nothing really happened after settlement started and everything became very 1 dimensional relationship-wise, wanted more development with Jarvis...not much of unresolved story lines going forward to next book either...so yeah, drop that porno stuff and give some adventures/hard choices/actual real relationships in next book. Language and writing style was pretty good.
March 30, 2019
I really tried to like this book, it got off to a bit of a generic start but it showed a lot of potential. I initially like the idea of a zombie enemy in a modern setting as apposed to the sci fi or fantasy tropes too often seen but the whole story too quickly turned into The Walking Dead with level grinding.
Admittedly I didnt finish the book, got about 65% of the way through amd just couldn't find a reason to care anymore.
Audible voice acting was top notch though!
Admittedly I didnt finish the book, got about 65% of the way through amd just couldn't find a reason to care anymore.
Audible voice acting was top notch though!
February 14, 2018
I rather liked this book. I'm interested in knowing where the rest is going to go. What I also like is how they explain all of the other "AI's" in the story. This book has an interesting premise and I'm looking forward to seeing where this is going to go.
December 22, 2018
I have mixed feelings on this one. I'm not really a zombie /ed of the world type person, but I'm a big fan of building scenarios, and this book has both, so it's kind of a love hate thing. Well, not really hate, zombie stories aren't really into the hate zone for me, but I don't really care for them all that much. However, this book combines both the zombies, the building, the LitRPG aspects, and a couple other things tossed in as extras. I can't say I loved the book, but it's certainly worth the read to be sure. I think I like this book well enough to look for more in the series, but it'll be a when I get around to it type thing, instead of a I must go grat them now type of thing. If you like zombie stories, you should find this one entertaining. If you like building scenarios, you will probably like this one as well, if you like both, then you'll love this one. If adult themes bother you, this book may not fit your tastes, but if you don't mind a bit of rated R content, you should be fine.
December 2, 2017
Nice litrpg zombie story
I had trouble putting down the book and made the mistake of picking it up late at night. So I got a great read but crap sleep.
I had trouble putting down the book and made the mistake of picking it up late at night. So I got a great read but crap sleep.
December 20, 2018
Pretty Damn Good, with two, Okay three gripes. This review is for the Audiobook
I liked this book for the most part. I immediately started reading book 2 if that tells you anything.
I've read so many LitRPG books in a row that they are blending together into one pulpy mass, But my reading habits are not the fault of this book. The premise and world building are all above average although standard fare. The author actually did quite a few thing I've been wondering why nobody does and they worked out great. Thanks for reading my mind Dan, for that alone this book was a treat.
This is my first book by Daniel Schinhofen, I like his stuff so far, but man can this guy write A-holes ( figurative, not literal rectums). He writes them a little too well. I was getting a little sick of them. I was tempted to put this book down a few times just get away from these bastards. Thank god not every character is a jerk. I actually liked how 80% of the people are average to good folks. But Damn me if the few A-holes aren't concentrated turbo charged A-holes who interrupt you with a megaphone shouting obscenities into your face.
Still I liked this book. I LOVED that the MC isn't building a harem. and cheers and applause for making Rebecca voluptuous. Can't wait to see where this goes.
The audiobook gripe
The Voice acting by one of my favorite narrators Andrea Parsneau is truly great with one glaring exception. The voice of Rebecca/ Gothy is so sarcastic and fake breathless babydoll that it distracts from the story. In the audiobook, Gothy sounds like a bored stripper who can't muster the energy to hide her contempt and is amusing herself by taking the piss out of the punters with an exaggerated "I looove you soooo much". You can hear her eye roll and pantomime jerk off hand motion. It's a double shame because Andrea Parsneau is a master at voicing characters and dramatic reading. I love her narration, but here she added a layer of subtext that I don't think she intended. The second reason this is a bummer is that the character Rebecca/Gothy is really HOT. I love this chick, but she sounds like she's just stringing Alvin (MC) along wile laughing at him behind her hand. When a girl calls you "Hero" in that tone of voice it's equivalent to an old New England man calling you "Chief".
I liked this book for the most part. I immediately started reading book 2 if that tells you anything.
I've read so many LitRPG books in a row that they are blending together into one pulpy mass, But my reading habits are not the fault of this book. The premise and world building are all above average although standard fare. The author actually did quite a few thing I've been wondering why nobody does and they worked out great. Thanks for reading my mind Dan, for that alone this book was a treat.
This is my first book by Daniel Schinhofen, I like his stuff so far, but man can this guy write A-holes ( figurative, not literal rectums). He writes them a little too well. I was getting a little sick of them. I was tempted to put this book down a few times just get away from these bastards. Thank god not every character is a jerk. I actually liked how 80% of the people are average to good folks. But Damn me if the few A-holes aren't concentrated turbo charged A-holes who interrupt you with a megaphone shouting obscenities into your face.
Still I liked this book. I LOVED that the MC isn't building a harem. and cheers and applause for making Rebecca voluptuous. Can't wait to see where this goes.
The audiobook gripe
The Voice acting by one of my favorite narrators Andrea Parsneau is truly great with one glaring exception. The voice of Rebecca/ Gothy is so sarcastic and fake breathless babydoll that it distracts from the story. In the audiobook, Gothy sounds like a bored stripper who can't muster the energy to hide her contempt and is amusing herself by taking the piss out of the punters with an exaggerated "I looove you soooo much". You can hear her eye roll and pantomime jerk off hand motion. It's a double shame because Andrea Parsneau is a master at voicing characters and dramatic reading. I love her narration, but here she added a layer of subtext that I don't think she intended. The second reason this is a bummer is that the character Rebecca/Gothy is really HOT. I love this chick, but she sounds like she's just stringing Alvin (MC) along wile laughing at him behind her hand. When a girl calls you "Hero" in that tone of voice it's equivalent to an old New England man calling you "Chief".
February 7, 2019
I read books 1-3 of this series one right after another so I'm doing a group review. The author tells a fairly interesting story but has some real problems. First, the author appears to have no concept of story resolution. I read another series by this author it had the same problem. Here the example I will use is the end of book 3. I don't really consider it a spoiler since there really isn't anything to spoil but, if you don't want to know how book 3 ends skip the next paragraph.
So the MC & his SO rescue an elf near the portal to her world. She was a scout sent through the portal to check it out. So all three rest up, gear up, head back to the portal and step through into a battle. THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS. DOES THAT SOUND EVEN REMOTELY LIKE A COMPLETE STORY TO YOU???
The next issue is one I've never said about a book before- it has too much sex. I enjoy a well written sex scene and the author does well with them. The problem is that sex scenes really don't advance the story. Here the MC hooks up with his SO about halfway through book one and since they are both young, healthy and magically maintained they have sex all the time. The author only "fades to black" about three times which means roughly half of books 2 & 3 are sex scenes. The author does relate the sex scenes to character development but that just amounts to repeated commenting on the characters' compatibility (so not so much character development as character repetition).
The MC is told that cryogenically preserved brains, like his, were determined to be property and so his incarnation in this game world is owned by the gaming company. The MC needs to perform well, attract viewers or face perma-death. However, his AI assistant then drops large hints that something bigger is going on than just the game/entertainment stuff the MC has been told about. This is handled in a pretty annoying manner and a pretty good case can be made that the AI really shouldn't be able to drop such hints, but, if the reveal turns out to be worthwhile these hints will be a lot less annoying.
Bottom line: Not great but mildly interesting enough that you may wish to give it a go if you don't have something actually good to read.
So the MC & his SO rescue an elf near the portal to her world. She was a scout sent through the portal to check it out. So all three rest up, gear up, head back to the portal and step through into a battle. THAT'S WHERE IT ENDS. DOES THAT SOUND EVEN REMOTELY LIKE A COMPLETE STORY TO YOU???
The next issue is one I've never said about a book before- it has too much sex. I enjoy a well written sex scene and the author does well with them. The problem is that sex scenes really don't advance the story. Here the MC hooks up with his SO about halfway through book one and since they are both young, healthy and magically maintained they have sex all the time. The author only "fades to black" about three times which means roughly half of books 2 & 3 are sex scenes. The author does relate the sex scenes to character development but that just amounts to repeated commenting on the characters' compatibility (so not so much character development as character repetition).
The MC is told that cryogenically preserved brains, like his, were determined to be property and so his incarnation in this game world is owned by the gaming company. The MC needs to perform well, attract viewers or face perma-death. However, his AI assistant then drops large hints that something bigger is going on than just the game/entertainment stuff the MC has been told about. This is handled in a pretty annoying manner and a pretty good case can be made that the AI really shouldn't be able to drop such hints, but, if the reveal turns out to be worthwhile these hints will be a lot less annoying.
Bottom line: Not great but mildly interesting enough that you may wish to give it a go if you don't have something actually good to read.
January 11, 2019
What a weird book. Listened to the audiobook.
Narration: I didn't particularly enjoy the narration. Andrea Parsneau is a fine narrator, I just found the male protagonist's voice hard to work with.
The story. This is Jekyll and Hyde for me. The story is interesting. The universe is one I kind of liked...the class structure and rules were all new; I really enjoyed the idea of Jarvis, again, in spite of disliking the narration. So storyline, characters, pacing, ending, all pretty good.
But the sex scenes? Any chapter that had any romance or sex....just beyond awful. I'm not saying that an author can't use those devices; I'm not preaching morals or being prudish...but sweet jebus they were cringey, superfluous, forced, and just pace breaking. Jarring. Off-putting. Juvenile even. It's like a junior high-school student jumped in; wrote the sex scene's based on his internet viewing habits, then jumped out and let the author get back to the story.
I read the second book in this series as well, and it just got worse...there was a solid story there, but for some reason the author decided to include some penthouse letters grade poor writing in to book-end the good parts...I'm unfortunately done with the series.
Narration: I didn't particularly enjoy the narration. Andrea Parsneau is a fine narrator, I just found the male protagonist's voice hard to work with.
The story. This is Jekyll and Hyde for me. The story is interesting. The universe is one I kind of liked...the class structure and rules were all new; I really enjoyed the idea of Jarvis, again, in spite of disliking the narration. So storyline, characters, pacing, ending, all pretty good.
But the sex scenes? Any chapter that had any romance or sex....just beyond awful. I'm not saying that an author can't use those devices; I'm not preaching morals or being prudish...but sweet jebus they were cringey, superfluous, forced, and just pace breaking. Jarring. Off-putting. Juvenile even. It's like a junior high-school student jumped in; wrote the sex scene's based on his internet viewing habits, then jumped out and let the author get back to the story.
I read the second book in this series as well, and it just got worse...there was a solid story there, but for some reason the author decided to include some penthouse letters grade poor writing in to book-end the good parts...I'm unfortunately done with the series.
August 14, 2019
It feels like a lot of the people in this story are mean and stupid just because the author wants them to be. People in real life and even in most books just aren't as mean spirited as the people in his world. Ultimately, I believe the author intentionally populated his world with nasty or stupid characters that seem to be more reflective of his own negative world view rather than actual reality. This can be frustrating for those of us who actually think that most people are inherently good or at least trying to be. Kind of dark really.
But I generally enjoyed the action parts and I appreciate a good LitRPG story when I find one. It would be a solid 4 stars if I just didn't dislike so much of what I read.
But I generally enjoyed the action parts and I appreciate a good LitRPG story when I find one. It would be a solid 4 stars if I just didn't dislike so much of what I read.
April 23, 2024
Neat story. I really liked the different approach to the genre, but I didn’t realize it was going to turn into a sex book. About 70-75% of the way through I started skipping sections because it felt like a middle schooler talking about his wet dreams.
I guess I should take the time to look through the description, so that’s on me. If you’re into that, you may like it.
Overall the story is a lot of fun, but the whole woman being dependent on the man and having awkward aggressive sex scenes are not my style. I may check out the second book because it was a different approach, but but I worry it will get more aggressive with sex play, just like alpha company. So I think I’ll pass.
I guess I should take the time to look through the description, so that’s on me. If you’re into that, you may like it.
Overall the story is a lot of fun, but the whole woman being dependent on the man and having awkward aggressive sex scenes are not my style. I may check out the second book because it was a different approach, but but I worry it will get more aggressive with sex play, just like alpha company. So I think I’ll pass.
October 6, 2019
The world, general story concept, and premise are pretty good. If you like pure escapism post apoc/game lit you may enjoy this, just don’t expect too much depth.
My problem is it basically turns into post apocalyptic smut. I can handle a sex scene here and there, but it gets so ridiculously frequent, that it takes away from the story. I literally started skipping pages, and I’ve never done that with a book before.
I had hoped to recommend this to my son in middle school. The overly descriptive sex scenes ruined what could be fun young adult fiction.
My problem is it basically turns into post apocalyptic smut. I can handle a sex scene here and there, but it gets so ridiculously frequent, that it takes away from the story. I literally started skipping pages, and I’ve never done that with a book before.
I had hoped to recommend this to my son in middle school. The overly descriptive sex scenes ruined what could be fun young adult fiction.
January 4, 2018
A really fun book. I don't know if I'll pick up the Author's Cut version on the next one though, just because it gives a false sense of where you are in the story when you have 30-50 pages taken up by mature content.
Because of this, I felt the ending felt rushed.
There's also a couple of logic issues that I'm interested to see how the author will work the story through them, but having read all the other books by Mr. Schinhofen, I'm sure he'll be successful.
Because of this, I felt the ending felt rushed.
There's also a couple of logic issues that I'm interested to see how the author will work the story through them, but having read all the other books by Mr. Schinhofen, I'm sure he'll be successful.
December 4, 2017
This was fun
Great book. Enjoyed the community building, world, characters, and that the protagonist had to search a bit for a woman he matched with.
Its worth your time if you enjoy post apocalyptic style community building type games and books. Well done!
Great book. Enjoyed the community building, world, characters, and that the protagonist had to search a bit for a woman he matched with.
Its worth your time if you enjoy post apocalyptic style community building type games and books. Well done!
September 24, 2023
Introduction:
Greetings from the icy world of HowlStrom. I am Kiba Snowpaw, the Furry alpha male Ice Wolf. From a world shrouded in eternal winter, I have journeyed through the vast expanse of the universe to bring forth my thoughts on an audiobook that resonated with the gamer in me. Sit back, fellow travelers, as I delve into the world of "Rapture" by Daniel Schinhofen.
Basic Plot Summary:
"Rapture" tells the story of Alvin, who wakes up in an unfamiliar room only to discover that he has died and his mind has been uploaded into a virtual game. As if that wasn't enough, his existence in this new world is not by choice but to pay off someone else's debt. This new game world is an apocalyptic setting where Alvin must battle zombies, make allies, and, most importantly, survive. And while Alvin was no saint in his past life, this game might just be his breaking point.
Analysis/Evaluation:
Schinhofen presents a unique blend of the LITRPG and Horror Survival genres. The world-building is intricate, with game mechanics woven seamlessly into the narrative. The story is well-paced, balancing action with character development, ensuring readers remain engaged throughout.
Characters:
Alvin's character is intriguing, not your usual hero. He's flawed, with shades of grey, making him relatable. His interactions with Gothy, a character I adored, are both humorous and touching. Their dynamic is one of the highlights of the book. However, some characters could benefit from more depth to avoid falling into stereotypical roles.
Structure:
The book is structured effectively, with a balance between game mechanics, character interactions, and plot progression. The use of game stats provides a real-time gaming experience, but it never overshadows the narrative.
Impact:
"Rapture" serves as a mirror, reflecting our society's obsession with virtual realities and the moral implications of our actions, both in the virtual and real world.
Hook and Thesis:
The concept of a man's mind trapped in a game where the world watches his every move, cheering or jeering, is a compelling hook. It poses the question: What does it mean to be truly alive, and what lengths would one go to reclaim their agency?
Praise and Critique:
I commend Schinhofen for his creativity and for venturing into a sub-genre that isn't widely explored. The narration by Andrea Parsneau adds depth to the characters, especially Gothy. However, the frequent intimate scenes, though fitting with the characters' personalities, might not appeal to all. A little more focus on the apocalypse and less on the bedroom might balance things out.
Comparison:
While the LITRPG genre has various entries, "Rapture" stands out due to its unique blend with Horror Survival. It's a refreshing take compared to the usual fantasy settings in this genre.
Conclusion:
"Rapture" is an engaging read, a roller-coaster of emotions, action, and game mechanics. Schinhofen has crafted a world that's both familiar to gamers and intriguing for those new to the LITRPG genre. While it has its flaws, it's a journey worth embarking on. From the icy peaks of HowlStrom, I, Kiba Snowpaw, recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling gaming adventure.
Greetings from the icy world of HowlStrom. I am Kiba Snowpaw, the Furry alpha male Ice Wolf. From a world shrouded in eternal winter, I have journeyed through the vast expanse of the universe to bring forth my thoughts on an audiobook that resonated with the gamer in me. Sit back, fellow travelers, as I delve into the world of "Rapture" by Daniel Schinhofen.
Basic Plot Summary:
"Rapture" tells the story of Alvin, who wakes up in an unfamiliar room only to discover that he has died and his mind has been uploaded into a virtual game. As if that wasn't enough, his existence in this new world is not by choice but to pay off someone else's debt. This new game world is an apocalyptic setting where Alvin must battle zombies, make allies, and, most importantly, survive. And while Alvin was no saint in his past life, this game might just be his breaking point.
Analysis/Evaluation:
Schinhofen presents a unique blend of the LITRPG and Horror Survival genres. The world-building is intricate, with game mechanics woven seamlessly into the narrative. The story is well-paced, balancing action with character development, ensuring readers remain engaged throughout.
Characters:
Alvin's character is intriguing, not your usual hero. He's flawed, with shades of grey, making him relatable. His interactions with Gothy, a character I adored, are both humorous and touching. Their dynamic is one of the highlights of the book. However, some characters could benefit from more depth to avoid falling into stereotypical roles.
Structure:
The book is structured effectively, with a balance between game mechanics, character interactions, and plot progression. The use of game stats provides a real-time gaming experience, but it never overshadows the narrative.
Impact:
"Rapture" serves as a mirror, reflecting our society's obsession with virtual realities and the moral implications of our actions, both in the virtual and real world.
Hook and Thesis:
The concept of a man's mind trapped in a game where the world watches his every move, cheering or jeering, is a compelling hook. It poses the question: What does it mean to be truly alive, and what lengths would one go to reclaim their agency?
Praise and Critique:
I commend Schinhofen for his creativity and for venturing into a sub-genre that isn't widely explored. The narration by Andrea Parsneau adds depth to the characters, especially Gothy. However, the frequent intimate scenes, though fitting with the characters' personalities, might not appeal to all. A little more focus on the apocalypse and less on the bedroom might balance things out.
Comparison:
While the LITRPG genre has various entries, "Rapture" stands out due to its unique blend with Horror Survival. It's a refreshing take compared to the usual fantasy settings in this genre.
Conclusion:
"Rapture" is an engaging read, a roller-coaster of emotions, action, and game mechanics. Schinhofen has crafted a world that's both familiar to gamers and intriguing for those new to the LITRPG genre. While it has its flaws, it's a journey worth embarking on. From the icy peaks of HowlStrom, I, Kiba Snowpaw, recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling gaming adventure.
December 5, 2017
Another new world to explore...
I cut my LitRpg teeth on Daniels work. Being drawn in by an interesting cover buried deep in my recommendations pages in Amazon. I actually passed by his works three times before giving in to curiosity, and by doing so added an entire new addiction.
Rapture has met and exceeded all my expectations for Daniels work. Not only bringing a new world and new characters to life, but experiencing the main characters entire interactions change as easy as a click of a button, and making it happen in a natural and appealing manner.
The premise of the story isn't new (i.e. person caught in a game world) but I still find myself longing to find out more as the book progresses. While this is only book 1, it is easily eluded to that there is far more going on in the game world as well as the "real" world. I look forward to reading more about this world our wonderful word-smith has created.
Finally, as for the directors cut aspect. I found at first that I could easily see where a section of writing could easley have been left out for the "faint of spirit" (or those that are too young). However, I find myself wanting to read the cut version if for nothing more than to see how he pulled off some off the emotionally charged bonding moments.
All this having been said, I am glad I preordered this book as in have never done so before, and never imagined doing so with a new series, regardless of the author. I have gone from reading all of his books on KU for free tot buying then outright, and I have never been let down yet. Keep up the good work Mr. Schinhofen, I can't wait to see what happens next.
I cut my LitRpg teeth on Daniels work. Being drawn in by an interesting cover buried deep in my recommendations pages in Amazon. I actually passed by his works three times before giving in to curiosity, and by doing so added an entire new addiction.
Rapture has met and exceeded all my expectations for Daniels work. Not only bringing a new world and new characters to life, but experiencing the main characters entire interactions change as easy as a click of a button, and making it happen in a natural and appealing manner.
The premise of the story isn't new (i.e. person caught in a game world) but I still find myself longing to find out more as the book progresses. While this is only book 1, it is easily eluded to that there is far more going on in the game world as well as the "real" world. I look forward to reading more about this world our wonderful word-smith has created.
Finally, as for the directors cut aspect. I found at first that I could easily see where a section of writing could easley have been left out for the "faint of spirit" (or those that are too young). However, I find myself wanting to read the cut version if for nothing more than to see how he pulled off some off the emotionally charged bonding moments.
All this having been said, I am glad I preordered this book as in have never done so before, and never imagined doing so with a new series, regardless of the author. I have gone from reading all of his books on KU for free tot buying then outright, and I have never been let down yet. Keep up the good work Mr. Schinhofen, I can't wait to see what happens next.
May 16, 2021
Currently at book 6, and love it, finally a book that actually uses game mechanics as a basis for world building and actual progression, and the whole devs tweaking things due to playes breaking things is just gold.
Could have done better with the characters other than the mc.
The mc is an ahole, but a smart and competent ahole.
The others however, well without any spoilers, to put it simply, imagine being in a burning building, then a firefighter comes and tries to save u, u being a stupid person, try to resist, the firefighter says k, and then tries to leave, and u being such a smart person u are, blame the fire on the firefighter, then when the firefighter tries to fight back, u call him an ahole, and then when finally he saved ur sorry ass, u turn around and pick a fight with him, and again when he tries to fight back, the rest of the people ask him to stop being an ahole and causing trouble.
That in a nutshell is almost every character in this game.
I am not sure what it is, but it would seem the writer has some deep mental projection issues, cause no matter how mentally challenged u are, if someone literally saved your life, and gives u an extremely fair chance to survive and thrive in the apocalypse, u don't just turn around and pretend as if killing him would solve all your problems.
If only the characters could be made a bit more realistic, and less cartoonish, this book could have been an epic series.
But as it is now, it's just a guilty pleasure.
And the sex thing that others talk about is mostly just personal preference, I know ppl who love that kinda thing, and many who hate it. I just fast forwarded past it.
Could have done better with the characters other than the mc.
The mc is an ahole, but a smart and competent ahole.
The others however, well without any spoilers, to put it simply, imagine being in a burning building, then a firefighter comes and tries to save u, u being a stupid person, try to resist, the firefighter says k, and then tries to leave, and u being such a smart person u are, blame the fire on the firefighter, then when the firefighter tries to fight back, u call him an ahole, and then when finally he saved ur sorry ass, u turn around and pick a fight with him, and again when he tries to fight back, the rest of the people ask him to stop being an ahole and causing trouble.
That in a nutshell is almost every character in this game.
I am not sure what it is, but it would seem the writer has some deep mental projection issues, cause no matter how mentally challenged u are, if someone literally saved your life, and gives u an extremely fair chance to survive and thrive in the apocalypse, u don't just turn around and pretend as if killing him would solve all your problems.
If only the characters could be made a bit more realistic, and less cartoonish, this book could have been an epic series.
But as it is now, it's just a guilty pleasure.
And the sex thing that others talk about is mostly just personal preference, I know ppl who love that kinda thing, and many who hate it. I just fast forwarded past it.
April 4, 2018
At last, a writer who is not stuck on a leveling system.
Seriously - why do people - much less writers of the 'futuristic' expect us to believe they can stick someone's brain into a fully realized computer world - and they're still using a stupid leveling system? It is baffling to me.
Usually, in other LitRPG books, the system is either completely broken or has some huge loophole the MC can exploit. In this, it seems like the loopholes are much smaller.
Personally, I find it irritating that this is not a game or system I can try out. It seems like a better though out 'Fallout' world.
The sex scene (the guy getting a blow job) was a good deal more explicit than I want or need. Seriously - I have the internet. A world of porn is at my fingertips. And 'romance' is already a new market of LitRPG. I didn't think it really brought anything to this book and seemed a needless distraction.
After finishing the book - great. Aside from the unneeded sex scenes. But, I'm sure there is a market - sex sells.
Overall, happy with it and looking forward to the next book.
Seriously - why do people - much less writers of the 'futuristic' expect us to believe they can stick someone's brain into a fully realized computer world - and they're still using a stupid leveling system? It is baffling to me.
Usually, in other LitRPG books, the system is either completely broken or has some huge loophole the MC can exploit. In this, it seems like the loopholes are much smaller.
Personally, I find it irritating that this is not a game or system I can try out. It seems like a better though out 'Fallout' world.
The sex scene (the guy getting a blow job) was a good deal more explicit than I want or need. Seriously - I have the internet. A world of porn is at my fingertips. And 'romance' is already a new market of LitRPG. I didn't think it really brought anything to this book and seemed a needless distraction.
After finishing the book - great. Aside from the unneeded sex scenes. But, I'm sure there is a market - sex sells.
Overall, happy with it and looking forward to the next book.
August 20, 2020
Lots of explicit sex scenes which is warned about but good to rewarn new readers not an issue 4 me
I've really loved this series. I'm not a sociopath but I spent so many years abused, insecure and then found my soulmate much like the Gothy. This series is a roller coaster and lots of fun. Alvin is soooooo like my husband and asshole BUT hes my asshole and never so to me. I'm actually on book 6 but hate to leave a review of a series until farther into it. Some people aren't going to read the warnings and offended but that's on then. Polyamory is a beautiful thing when it can be worked out and I know from 7 wonderful years (yes with my husband and another female)thats past now as we all grew as people into new directions so our 3rd left on happy friendly terms. I am giving TMI I know but I recognize so much of myself in some of the characters I know others like me will too. We are broken but made into steel and strength when the abuse ends and love begins. I think this review though not normal will resonate with woman who should read this story. You know minus the whole murder hobo thing which you will understand as you read along in the series. Enjoy!
I've really loved this series. I'm not a sociopath but I spent so many years abused, insecure and then found my soulmate much like the Gothy. This series is a roller coaster and lots of fun. Alvin is soooooo like my husband and asshole BUT hes my asshole and never so to me. I'm actually on book 6 but hate to leave a review of a series until farther into it. Some people aren't going to read the warnings and offended but that's on then. Polyamory is a beautiful thing when it can be worked out and I know from 7 wonderful years (yes with my husband and another female)thats past now as we all grew as people into new directions so our 3rd left on happy friendly terms. I am giving TMI I know but I recognize so much of myself in some of the characters I know others like me will too. We are broken but made into steel and strength when the abuse ends and love begins. I think this review though not normal will resonate with woman who should read this story. You know minus the whole murder hobo thing which you will understand as you read along in the series. Enjoy!
March 16, 2019
Let me start with a Pro so I don't come off as a pointless hater. The author has a very interesting concept and spin off LitRPGs. There was a lot of potential here, but the first chapter set the stage for it's downfall.
The main character, Al, takes the news of his death and subsequent enslavement as an everyday occurrence, moving straight into the plot without so much as a blink. From that point forward, the storyline becomes enigmatic and seemingly pointless. There is no real plot and to top it off, Al is a pretty unlikeable and bland character. If you are into straight survival tales though, this one still doesn't take the cake. It's cyclical and vanilla throughout, leaving much to be desired.
The narration quickly turns sour as well (If you do audio versions). Several voices run together, sounding the same, especially amongst the male characters.
Overall, I was eager to see how this tale unfolded but gave up on it about halfway through. Encouragement for the author and narrator to hone the story and storytelling and try it again!
The main character, Al, takes the news of his death and subsequent enslavement as an everyday occurrence, moving straight into the plot without so much as a blink. From that point forward, the storyline becomes enigmatic and seemingly pointless. There is no real plot and to top it off, Al is a pretty unlikeable and bland character. If you are into straight survival tales though, this one still doesn't take the cake. It's cyclical and vanilla throughout, leaving much to be desired.
The narration quickly turns sour as well (If you do audio versions). Several voices run together, sounding the same, especially amongst the male characters.
Overall, I was eager to see how this tale unfolded but gave up on it about halfway through. Encouragement for the author and narrator to hone the story and storytelling and try it again!
December 6, 2017
Well that escalated quickly!
Welll......I ducking loved it. Can't wait for the second version. It's started out really slow in the beginning trying to cement the lore of the story but as soon as they start introducing characters the story went fast and hard. These characters seem so real and I'm pretty sure some are because how realistically they react to problems. I loved gothy. She broke the normal damsel in distress love interest u normally see. The main character really does stay true to his nature not this risen hero most books turn their protagonist into. Also I need a really good warning about the sex portion because it really does come out of nowhere but somehow it seems extremely realistic in the situation they appear in. Even going as far as letting it give a better idea on the personality of the main character and some of the side characters in how they use sex or how it describes their personality.
Welll......I ducking loved it. Can't wait for the second version. It's started out really slow in the beginning trying to cement the lore of the story but as soon as they start introducing characters the story went fast and hard. These characters seem so real and I'm pretty sure some are because how realistically they react to problems. I loved gothy. She broke the normal damsel in distress love interest u normally see. The main character really does stay true to his nature not this risen hero most books turn their protagonist into. Also I need a really good warning about the sex portion because it really does come out of nowhere but somehow it seems extremely realistic in the situation they appear in. Even going as far as letting it give a better idea on the personality of the main character and some of the side characters in how they use sex or how it describes their personality.
December 7, 2017
Excellent Work
An excellent new entry to the genre, deftly combining action, drama, snark, sex, and humor into a fun read. Don’t worry about the setting either, because although zombies have been overdone, this story is much more about the characters and action. (It just so happens that they interact in a zombie-friendly environment.) The characters themselves feel fresh, and aren’t cut-outs. The world is interesting and different, changing as the story progresses. The RPG portion is done very well, and you don’t get stat-spammed or deal with with filler. In fact it’s one of the few LitRPG stories I’ve read where everyone learns the truth, and can get in on the XP action. (And no, that’s not a spoiler.) the editing is excellent: not a single literary skid mark to note.
Finally, the best part is that you are left wanting to see more of these characters and their world. I know I do.
Definitely recommended.
An excellent new entry to the genre, deftly combining action, drama, snark, sex, and humor into a fun read. Don’t worry about the setting either, because although zombies have been overdone, this story is much more about the characters and action. (It just so happens that they interact in a zombie-friendly environment.) The characters themselves feel fresh, and aren’t cut-outs. The world is interesting and different, changing as the story progresses. The RPG portion is done very well, and you don’t get stat-spammed or deal with with filler. In fact it’s one of the few LitRPG stories I’ve read where everyone learns the truth, and can get in on the XP action. (And no, that’s not a spoiler.) the editing is excellent: not a single literary skid mark to note.
Finally, the best part is that you are left wanting to see more of these characters and their world. I know I do.
Definitely recommended.
May 27, 2020
So this was an incredibly well written book. I really enjoyed it, and would have given it a higher rating but then there is Alvin. I genuinely despise this guy, he represents the worse America has to offer. Apathy to those weaker than him, whining about the government, taxes, and "they're taking our jahbs". Just the worse. Hell, they complained that you couldn't bring their guns into a hospital normally, like that is something that's needed.
Other than the main character though, I literally loved everything else so far. Very interesting mechanics, the base building aspect was pretty cool. I hope they explore more of that later. At first I was convinced he'd end up with Susan, and when James claimed her I was slightly annoyed. Then he ended up with Becky, and she appears to be a much more interesting human being. Way better of a choice.
Other than the main character though, I literally loved everything else so far. Very interesting mechanics, the base building aspect was pretty cool. I hope they explore more of that later. At first I was convinced he'd end up with Susan, and when James claimed her I was slightly annoyed. Then he ended up with Becky, and she appears to be a much more interesting human being. Way better of a choice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2021
“Remember, only you can start forest fires.”
^^^ BWAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH ^^^
Quote is from book 4 in the series.. But it illustrates what i have enjoyed about the series so much.
your goin to have to read the series up to at least book 4 to get the reference as to why i laughed so hard at that.
That said.. Yea the books have their problems. Some of the content is a bit much for me because i am just not into BDSM. But its easy to skim past those parts mostly unless your a prude. Then again if your a prude you most likely would not be reading this in the first place.
Quite a bit of humor in the series that has made me laugh ..And its something i have come to expect from Daniel. I do have to be honest..
^^^ BWAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAH ^^^
Quote is from book 4 in the series.. But it illustrates what i have enjoyed about the series so much.
your goin to have to read the series up to at least book 4 to get the reference as to why i laughed so hard at that.
That said.. Yea the books have their problems. Some of the content is a bit much for me because i am just not into BDSM. But its easy to skim past those parts mostly unless your a prude. Then again if your a prude you most likely would not be reading this in the first place.
Quite a bit of humor in the series that has made me laugh ..And its something i have come to expect from Daniel. I do have to be honest..
May 26, 2019
Amazing story with just enough errors to dock a star
Fantastic start to a very interesting story. I felt the pacing was excellent where we get details the first few times then moving forward with something like "and he did this five more times with similar results."
It's like a trapped in VR story without the usual annoyances of many of those stories. Game mechanics and technology with someone that accepts and understands. Easy to just dive right in.
Only reason it's four stars instead of five are the occasional grammatical errors or missing words; for all I know those are because of the Kindle app. They weren't constant but I found enough I felt the need to dock a star. Again, great story and I hate not giving it five stars.
Fantastic start to a very interesting story. I felt the pacing was excellent where we get details the first few times then moving forward with something like "and he did this five more times with similar results."
It's like a trapped in VR story without the usual annoyances of many of those stories. Game mechanics and technology with someone that accepts and understands. Easy to just dive right in.
Only reason it's four stars instead of five are the occasional grammatical errors or missing words; for all I know those are because of the Kindle app. They weren't constant but I found enough I felt the need to dock a star. Again, great story and I hate not giving it five stars.
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