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Kingdom of Heaven #1
The Skull Throne
The skull throne sits empty and the Kingdom of Heaven is in turmoil.
Enter "iron" Jack Russo. able to drop newbs with a single headshot and the king of online games. At least he used to be before his sister got pregnant, and he had to get a job to help take care of them.
But when a particle accelerator explodes, causing Jack to get stuck in his favorite game “Kingdom of Heaven” he'll have to conqueror Heaven and seat himself on the skull throne. If not, he'll be trapped in the game forever.
Enter "iron" Jack Russo. able to drop newbs with a single headshot and the king of online games. At least he used to be before his sister got pregnant, and he had to get a job to help take care of them.
But when a particle accelerator explodes, causing Jack to get stuck in his favorite game “Kingdom of Heaven” he'll have to conqueror Heaven and seat himself on the skull throne. If not, he'll be trapped in the game forever.
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2017
146 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Cipriano
91 books583 followersWhen New York Times Bestselling author, J. A. Cipriano was in second grade, his teacher gave everyone in class a journal to write down whatever they wanted. Their first subject was to write about something they didn’t like. J. A. chose to write about why he didn’t like writing. His reasoning was simple. He had bad handwriting. Even then, he was destined to be an engineer due to his messy scrawl.
Unfortunately, he found through the course of this little adventure that he actually liked writing. That year was sort of the high point for his writing career because he won a writing contest for the state. He got to go to a big dinner and his teacher was all dressed up.
He kept writing little stories, year after year, and in sixth grade, won another contest. In seventh grade, he broke his arm and got the cast signed by both Dean Koontz and Stan Lee. It is, by far, the coolest cast he’s owned. That was about the time he found video games and anime. His writing turned mostly toward fanfiction until about ninth grade when he wrote his first novel, a small book about twenty thousand words called Revelations. In sophomore year, he wrote two more books to complete the trilogy because he saw Star Wars that year and learned trilogies were the cool thing to do.
He rewrote Revelations during his senior year, and his wife swears it is the best thing he’s written. J.A. is not so sure. Every time he reads it, he cringes, but then again, he hates everything he writes, so there is that.
It was about that time, he got heavily involved in a fanfiction writing group, but that isn’t one hundred percent accurate. It was a world based on a popular anime but everything was created especially for this world. It made it so that every story someone wrote was unique.
Imagine writing a Star Wars novel set 1,000 years after A New Hope, where everything that happened was a distant memory and you get the idea. You have the force, some distant memories of the past, and that’s pretty much it.
He wrote about a million words (863K to be exact) for them before he decided to do his own thing. He wrote another novel. He put it in a drawer. He wrote another one that eventually became the basis for The Hatter is Mad. His next novel was Kill It With Magic, his first real novel. It’s not bad, but it’s bumpy. This is unfortunate because the books get loads better as the series progresses.
Since then, he’s written six more novels, four of which are in the Lillim Callina Series, and one in the Abby Banks series. The other is stuck in a drawer for time undetermined. He’s writing his next book now which is about werewolves fighting mummies in Ancient Egypt. After that, he will move onto Abby Banks 2. The Spy Within will come out in June or July.
J.A. also has three chinchillas. Two of them are grey, and because of this, they are named Slate and Cadmium. The third is named Jet because he’s black, and Jet is old English for black. See, creative. He also has a cat named Turtle. This does pose problems for his two-year-old from time to time.
Unfortunately, he found through the course of this little adventure that he actually liked writing. That year was sort of the high point for his writing career because he won a writing contest for the state. He got to go to a big dinner and his teacher was all dressed up.
He kept writing little stories, year after year, and in sixth grade, won another contest. In seventh grade, he broke his arm and got the cast signed by both Dean Koontz and Stan Lee. It is, by far, the coolest cast he’s owned. That was about the time he found video games and anime. His writing turned mostly toward fanfiction until about ninth grade when he wrote his first novel, a small book about twenty thousand words called Revelations. In sophomore year, he wrote two more books to complete the trilogy because he saw Star Wars that year and learned trilogies were the cool thing to do.
He rewrote Revelations during his senior year, and his wife swears it is the best thing he’s written. J.A. is not so sure. Every time he reads it, he cringes, but then again, he hates everything he writes, so there is that.
It was about that time, he got heavily involved in a fanfiction writing group, but that isn’t one hundred percent accurate. It was a world based on a popular anime but everything was created especially for this world. It made it so that every story someone wrote was unique.
Imagine writing a Star Wars novel set 1,000 years after A New Hope, where everything that happened was a distant memory and you get the idea. You have the force, some distant memories of the past, and that’s pretty much it.
He wrote about a million words (863K to be exact) for them before he decided to do his own thing. He wrote another novel. He put it in a drawer. He wrote another one that eventually became the basis for The Hatter is Mad. His next novel was Kill It With Magic, his first real novel. It’s not bad, but it’s bumpy. This is unfortunate because the books get loads better as the series progresses.
Since then, he’s written six more novels, four of which are in the Lillim Callina Series, and one in the Abby Banks series. The other is stuck in a drawer for time undetermined. He’s writing his next book now which is about werewolves fighting mummies in Ancient Egypt. After that, he will move onto Abby Banks 2. The Spy Within will come out in June or July.
J.A. also has three chinchillas. Two of them are grey, and because of this, they are named Slate and Cadmium. The third is named Jet because he’s black, and Jet is old English for black. See, creative. He also has a cat named Turtle. This does pose problems for his two-year-old from time to time.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 2, 2017
The Skull Throne
Kingdom of Heaven, Book 1
By: J.A. Cipriano, Conner Kressley
Narrated by: Jeff Hays
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
This book I found to be much more personable for a LITRPG. The characters seemed more real and and I picture them as a person when they were not playing and experienced the fun and excitement when they were playing. Because it was more personal, the team playing was more interesting and more dramatic. Plus, no one knew that one of there friends was in the game for real! He was really feeling the hits, falls, and battles. There was humor too. A good all around fun read!
The narrator made this extra great! All the voices, emotions, sounds,....just perfect! Loved it, tipped it up a notch or two!
Kingdom of Heaven, Book 1
By: J.A. Cipriano, Conner Kressley
Narrated by: Jeff Hays
This is an audible book I requested and the review is voluntary.
This book I found to be much more personable for a LITRPG. The characters seemed more real and and I picture them as a person when they were not playing and experienced the fun and excitement when they were playing. Because it was more personal, the team playing was more interesting and more dramatic. Plus, no one knew that one of there friends was in the game for real! He was really feeling the hits, falls, and battles. There was humor too. A good all around fun read!
The narrator made this extra great! All the voices, emotions, sounds,....just perfect! Loved it, tipped it up a notch or two!
October 24, 2017
OH MY GODS!
I know it's another book by J.A. Cipriano and that by this point I shouldn't really even be getting surprised like this. His writing just keeps getting better, and even if I actually read it I don't think I'd be able to put it down.
But as an audiobook? Un-be-lievable!
The voices, the acting, the emotion... Oh man!
Stephen Colbert himself just confirmed!
Narrators can bring so much goodness to a book and make it so much more than it ever could have been if you read it for yourself. And if they're on top of their game, the whole thing becomes a theater in your mind.
This book you simply have to listen. If you don't, you will still enjoy it, but you will have no idea what you've missed.
Let me get this straight - I've never heard Jeff Hays in my life. I had no idea what to expect of him and his performance. When the book offer came up, I just saw Cipriano wrote it and didn't even check the audio sample. He always gets great people to read his books, and he's one hell of a writer, so why even bother, right?
My first minute of listening was "Hm. OK. There's something unusual about this guy's voice."
And then, another voice joined in. And it was a female voice. And it was a very good female voice! Generally, male narrators do better female voices than the other way around, but this was really good. Like, Ray Porter or Marc Thompson-level good.
And so the story continued, and every single goddamn voice in there was epic in its own right! Up and coming narrators - listen and take notes.
Characters are well written, but Jeff gave them life and uniqueness. I should probably give a huge credit to Conner Kressley too, as he co-authored this awesome book. With Cipriano and his frequent co-writing deal I never know who works on which part. And I'm not sure I even care. End result is always awesome.
Book starts the second LitRPG series I've read from Cipriano - first one being Soulstone - and it's the second one done right.
Character introductions are seamless, have a purpose and are not overly dramatic during their initial appearance as we tend to see nowadays. Well formed, built over time, and definitely not forgettable.
Majority of the story plays out in the virtual world, as we've come to expect with LitRPG genre, but as this is the exact reason I'm reading it I couldn't find any faults with it :-)
There's an immediate fork which differentiates The Skull Throne from Soulstone, and it's a good thing. Similarities of the virtual world quickly end, and I was left to enjoy the new world without having to subconsciously compare them.
Writer definitely isn't a one-trick-pony when it comes to similar subjects. Something I feel should be pointed out.
If anything, the book kind of expects you to have an MMO experience of sorts. If not, then an open mind is required so you can actually enjoy it. If not, you're definitely holding/listening the wrong book.
But I think the preamble takes care of that. "Enter "Iron" Jack Russo. Able to drop newbs with a single headshot and the king of online games." Yep, you're in the right place :-)
There's even a glossary of game terms at the end! Second-to-last chapter. Read first. I wish I did :-)
I couldn't help but feel how stuff, which is generally visual, got conveniently formed to accommodate narration. For example, combat logs, when you see something like:
Goblin Thief hits you for 2432 Physical damage.
You are Poisoned.
You take 200 Poison damage.
12378 energy remaining.
A special voice is used for events like this, and it works surprisingly well!
Congratulations! You have reached level 53!
The Principalities smile on you. You gain 2 attunement ranks.
You gain 2 Essences of Principalities
Yes, it's actually "listen-able". Jeff the Wizard makes it so! Even the glitching characters are awesomely "converted".
IronJack! Who is your best friend? Jackal cracked me up every time. Ridiculously funny character. Also, made 50x better by hero-level voice acting.
Sequel cannot come soon enough. It's written already, but I'll absolutely wait for the audiobook to come out of production! Hope it arrives before holidays :-)
So, now I'm going to chase down books voiced by Jeff, as I simply have to confirm that this isn't a fluke. If he's really of Ray Porter's or Marc Thompson's caliber, I'll spend my entire Audible credit bank getting new stuff.
I'll have to find more time for reading, too. Perhaps hit the gym, as I've been planning for months now, and listen while on a treadmill.
How do you find time for listening? And how much time per day you set aside for books? What are your tricks to get more listening time out of your day?
- I want you to be happy Jackie.
- Don't call me Jackie!
- Why not? You can call me Chuck!
I know it's another book by J.A. Cipriano and that by this point I shouldn't really even be getting surprised like this. His writing just keeps getting better, and even if I actually read it I don't think I'd be able to put it down.
But as an audiobook? Un-be-lievable!
The voices, the acting, the emotion... Oh man!
Stephen Colbert himself just confirmed!
Narrators can bring so much goodness to a book and make it so much more than it ever could have been if you read it for yourself. And if they're on top of their game, the whole thing becomes a theater in your mind.
This book you simply have to listen. If you don't, you will still enjoy it, but you will have no idea what you've missed.
Let me get this straight - I've never heard Jeff Hays in my life. I had no idea what to expect of him and his performance. When the book offer came up, I just saw Cipriano wrote it and didn't even check the audio sample. He always gets great people to read his books, and he's one hell of a writer, so why even bother, right?
My first minute of listening was "Hm. OK. There's something unusual about this guy's voice."
And then, another voice joined in. And it was a female voice. And it was a very good female voice! Generally, male narrators do better female voices than the other way around, but this was really good. Like, Ray Porter or Marc Thompson-level good.
And so the story continued, and every single goddamn voice in there was epic in its own right! Up and coming narrators - listen and take notes.
Characters are well written, but Jeff gave them life and uniqueness. I should probably give a huge credit to Conner Kressley too, as he co-authored this awesome book. With Cipriano and his frequent co-writing deal I never know who works on which part. And I'm not sure I even care. End result is always awesome.
Book starts the second LitRPG series I've read from Cipriano - first one being Soulstone - and it's the second one done right.
Character introductions are seamless, have a purpose and are not overly dramatic during their initial appearance as we tend to see nowadays. Well formed, built over time, and definitely not forgettable.
Majority of the story plays out in the virtual world, as we've come to expect with LitRPG genre, but as this is the exact reason I'm reading it I couldn't find any faults with it :-)
There's an immediate fork which differentiates The Skull Throne from Soulstone, and it's a good thing. Similarities of the virtual world quickly end, and I was left to enjoy the new world without having to subconsciously compare them.
Writer definitely isn't a one-trick-pony when it comes to similar subjects. Something I feel should be pointed out.
If anything, the book kind of expects you to have an MMO experience of sorts. If not, then an open mind is required so you can actually enjoy it. If not, you're definitely holding/listening the wrong book.
But I think the preamble takes care of that. "Enter "Iron" Jack Russo. Able to drop newbs with a single headshot and the king of online games." Yep, you're in the right place :-)
There's even a glossary of game terms at the end! Second-to-last chapter. Read first. I wish I did :-)
I couldn't help but feel how stuff, which is generally visual, got conveniently formed to accommodate narration. For example, combat logs, when you see something like:
Goblin Thief hits you for 2432 Physical damage.
You are Poisoned.
You take 200 Poison damage.
12378 energy remaining.
A special voice is used for events like this, and it works surprisingly well!
Congratulations! You have reached level 53!
The Principalities smile on you. You gain 2 attunement ranks.
You gain 2 Essences of Principalities
Yes, it's actually "listen-able". Jeff the Wizard makes it so! Even the glitching characters are awesomely "converted".
IronJack! Who is your best friend? Jackal cracked me up every time. Ridiculously funny character. Also, made 50x better by hero-level voice acting.
Sequel cannot come soon enough. It's written already, but I'll absolutely wait for the audiobook to come out of production! Hope it arrives before holidays :-)
So, now I'm going to chase down books voiced by Jeff, as I simply have to confirm that this isn't a fluke. If he's really of Ray Porter's or Marc Thompson's caliber, I'll spend my entire Audible credit bank getting new stuff.
I'll have to find more time for reading, too. Perhaps hit the gym, as I've been planning for months now, and listen while on a treadmill.
How do you find time for listening? And how much time per day you set aside for books? What are your tricks to get more listening time out of your day?
- I want you to be happy Jackie.
- Don't call me Jackie!
- Why not? You can call me Chuck!
May 20, 2017
Too many issues with this book. I tossed it a few chapters in. I allow for a greater number of grammar/spelling/formatting mistakes when reading a self-published or indie press book, but this book had hit that limit within the first few chapters. I noticed on an FB group that a new edit had replaced the initial one released on Amazon, but I didn't go back and check it out. My Mt. TBR is too large and there are too many other options- other books out there in both the genre and in general to be bothered on one whose author or publisher did not do due diligence before releasing it.
The other problem was an issue raised in the first couple chapters. The protagonist gets thrown out of what I assume is HIS place by his YOUNGER sister whom he sacrificed for in his own life to take care of after the loss of their parents because he enjoys playing an MMORPG in his spare time. He gets kicked out by a younger sister who throws all that sacrifice away by getting herself knocked up in her last year(s) of college. Give me a break- it just does not make sense. If the author was so intent on it playing out that way, more needed to be explained. A poor set up to expedite the reason behind why the protagonist gets 'transported' into the game and the major plot does not bode well.
I gave this book three stars on Amazon because I liked the basic idea behind the game world that the author created. Great potential there that just crashed on take off.
The other problem was an issue raised in the first couple chapters. The protagonist gets thrown out of what I assume is HIS place by his YOUNGER sister whom he sacrificed for in his own life to take care of after the loss of their parents because he enjoys playing an MMORPG in his spare time. He gets kicked out by a younger sister who throws all that sacrifice away by getting herself knocked up in her last year(s) of college. Give me a break- it just does not make sense. If the author was so intent on it playing out that way, more needed to be explained. A poor set up to expedite the reason behind why the protagonist gets 'transported' into the game and the major plot does not bode well.
I gave this book three stars on Amazon because I liked the basic idea behind the game world that the author created. Great potential there that just crashed on take off.
November 19, 2017
starts ok.. then immediately turns into a dud get coned by everyone in the book into servitude' it's the only nice way to put it.. stuff happens, then feels.. o god how much I hate this main character' the adventure in the books is passable.. and the stats are not over used that much like in other books, but to be sincere when the bad guy appears from the first time I started rotting for the bad dud.. at the end of the story I wanted Jack dead and forgotten! the Epic kindergarten level romance did not help one bit'
September 29, 2018
I honestly only listened to the book because of Jeff Hays. I had major reservations about the series because the author's other books appear to be giant misogynist shitpiles and, well, this one really isn't any different but its tolerable.
May 22, 2017
Meh. This book is a boring, torturous read. I just don't care about this world, this MC, or even the side characters.
June 3, 2017
Eh
Mc is manipulated and idiotic. Far too much of the story is his own rambling thoughts. The characters are one dimensional plot devices.
Mc is manipulated and idiotic. Far too much of the story is his own rambling thoughts. The characters are one dimensional plot devices.
October 28, 2017
“The Skull Throne” is the first book in the “Kingdom of Heaven” series. It is a well-crafted story co-written by J.A. Cipriano and Conner Kressley. The audiobook edition is once again masterfully narrated by Jeff Hays and produced through Soundbooth Studios. The book is a blending of Literary Role-Playing Game (LitRPG) with a dark fantasy feel. The created world was rather unique and interesting, including the many creatures the main character faces while on his journey. The first book is a bit short being just shy of three-hundred pages while the audiobook is just under six hours in length. If you are a fan of the LitRPG genre and/or if you are a fan of Jeff Hays’ narrations, this book is one you will want to pick up and give it a listen. It should be noted that this is a book series where the story does not conclude the various open plot-lines. Instead, it ends with a cliffhanger which expect you to pick up the second book titled “Escape from Hell”; which is currently available on Audible.
The book follows our main character “Iron Jack” as he struggles with his desires to play online games to the determent of life events occurring around him. As with many books in this category, Jack comes from a broken family and uses gaming as a means of escaping the pains of reality. Things quickly change when he is mysteriously brought into a world much like the game he had been playing with his friends. Jack’s eyes are opened to the real meaning of the game world by a stranger he meets one night. After this encounter, his life and the world he is a part of are turned upside down and he goes from not caring to full survival mode. The story can be seen as a typical good vs. evil, yet at times it is hard to know which side is the right one. I found the means by which Jack learns of his new reality quite different from others I have read. The book quickly hooks you and brings you into the story, always a sign of good storytelling.
Although the world is quite unusual from other books in the genre, I found that its addition of somewhat familiar creature such as ogres, ghosts, and dragons with a blending of angles and demons to be helpful in my understanding of the world and its inhabitants. The book has rather interesting magic and weapon systems, however I found the life system to be a bit more complicated to follow then a simple hit counter. Iron Jack has always been a warrior class character in other games and he was very good a min/maxing his game characters requiring him to be dependent on others when in a battle. Yet, in this world, magic rules, and Jack needs to find a way of enhancing this part of his skill set if he has a hope of survival. I will say that the authors did a good job of giving the listener a feeling of the character’s leveling process as not only did he get stronger as he increased, the creatures he faced later in the book are more fierce and unforgiving as those found earlier.
For me, I found the wit a bit lighter and less funny as I would have hoped. That is not to say the book is not humorous, just that some of the one-liners did not have me laughing out loud. But, where the book lacks in humor, it more than makes up for it in its battles, intrigue, and suspense. The book includes some rather powerful and impactful emotional times where I could understand and feel the pain the character was experiencing. In a book that is filled with action and adventure, there is also a fair amount of love and tragedy. For a rather short book I found I was often on an emotional rollercoaster, and I think the authors did a good job of giving the characters depth and life.
It is no surprise that I’m a fan of LitRPG books and as I have said in many of my previous books, I feel Jeff Hays is the Boss Monster when it comes to narrating these types of books. He is so talented in his ability to voice the many characters differently and he gives them each a very unique personality and feel. The audio itself is what I have come to expect from Mr. Hays and Soundbooth publishing. It was professional, clean of any audio artifacts, and crisp. The audio quality is what one would expect from a much larger publishing house and it sets the standard by which I often compare other books.
For parents or younger readers, be aware that the book contains vulgar language along with sexual references and innuendos. There are a few scenes of graphic violence that may be inappropriate for younger readers. If these items are not something you enjoy or expect in a series, I would recommend you find a different series to listen too.
In summary, for people who like the LitRPG genre and more importantly Mr. Hays narration, this book is one I would recommend you pick up. Again, it is not intended for younger listeners, but more mature people will find the story compelling and the gaming system quite exclusive from others.
Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
The book follows our main character “Iron Jack” as he struggles with his desires to play online games to the determent of life events occurring around him. As with many books in this category, Jack comes from a broken family and uses gaming as a means of escaping the pains of reality. Things quickly change when he is mysteriously brought into a world much like the game he had been playing with his friends. Jack’s eyes are opened to the real meaning of the game world by a stranger he meets one night. After this encounter, his life and the world he is a part of are turned upside down and he goes from not caring to full survival mode. The story can be seen as a typical good vs. evil, yet at times it is hard to know which side is the right one. I found the means by which Jack learns of his new reality quite different from others I have read. The book quickly hooks you and brings you into the story, always a sign of good storytelling.
Although the world is quite unusual from other books in the genre, I found that its addition of somewhat familiar creature such as ogres, ghosts, and dragons with a blending of angles and demons to be helpful in my understanding of the world and its inhabitants. The book has rather interesting magic and weapon systems, however I found the life system to be a bit more complicated to follow then a simple hit counter. Iron Jack has always been a warrior class character in other games and he was very good a min/maxing his game characters requiring him to be dependent on others when in a battle. Yet, in this world, magic rules, and Jack needs to find a way of enhancing this part of his skill set if he has a hope of survival. I will say that the authors did a good job of giving the listener a feeling of the character’s leveling process as not only did he get stronger as he increased, the creatures he faced later in the book are more fierce and unforgiving as those found earlier.
For me, I found the wit a bit lighter and less funny as I would have hoped. That is not to say the book is not humorous, just that some of the one-liners did not have me laughing out loud. But, where the book lacks in humor, it more than makes up for it in its battles, intrigue, and suspense. The book includes some rather powerful and impactful emotional times where I could understand and feel the pain the character was experiencing. In a book that is filled with action and adventure, there is also a fair amount of love and tragedy. For a rather short book I found I was often on an emotional rollercoaster, and I think the authors did a good job of giving the characters depth and life.
It is no surprise that I’m a fan of LitRPG books and as I have said in many of my previous books, I feel Jeff Hays is the Boss Monster when it comes to narrating these types of books. He is so talented in his ability to voice the many characters differently and he gives them each a very unique personality and feel. The audio itself is what I have come to expect from Mr. Hays and Soundbooth publishing. It was professional, clean of any audio artifacts, and crisp. The audio quality is what one would expect from a much larger publishing house and it sets the standard by which I often compare other books.
For parents or younger readers, be aware that the book contains vulgar language along with sexual references and innuendos. There are a few scenes of graphic violence that may be inappropriate for younger readers. If these items are not something you enjoy or expect in a series, I would recommend you find a different series to listen too.
In summary, for people who like the LitRPG genre and more importantly Mr. Hays narration, this book is one I would recommend you pick up. Again, it is not intended for younger listeners, but more mature people will find the story compelling and the gaming system quite exclusive from others.
Disclaimer: I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator.
November 4, 2017
Jack Russo is a pretty average guy, supporting his sister and nephew and spending all of his spare time playing the MMORPG Kingdom of Heaven. Inside the game he's Iron Jack, an awesome knight and member of one of the top guilds in KoH. When Jack's sister objects to him spending all his time in game with no real world friendships, she kicks him out of their house.
Jack meets a stranger who claims to work for the developers who created Kingdom of Heaven. The stranger takes him back to the studio where an explosion traps Jack in the actual game. No respawning, no communication with the outside. His only chance to go home is to capture the Skull Throne. Iron Jack is the biggest baddie in Kingdom of Heaven, but that still may not be enough to win the Throne.
I've read a few LitRPG books by these authors and they are really all about the slow burn. They put so much time and thought into developing the characters and their motivations, it's really well done. Jack spends a lot of time in his own head, beating himself up for the situation he's in. He makes some silly decisions, but he's really just a good guy at heart. I liked watching him come to terms with the reality of what he thought was a game. He's a character I want to root for.
The game side of the book is great, a world with a heaven, hell, mortal plane, and portals between them, and all the fantasy creatures that reside there. There weren't too many stats to drag down the action scenes, which I always appreciate. It doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but it's a great setup for the rest of the series.
I thought the narration was awesome. The narrator had a great range of character voices, even performing different voices for each female character which was really impressive. There were some cool sound effects that enhanced the story. I think I would have enjoyed reading the book, but I loved listening to it. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
Jack meets a stranger who claims to work for the developers who created Kingdom of Heaven. The stranger takes him back to the studio where an explosion traps Jack in the actual game. No respawning, no communication with the outside. His only chance to go home is to capture the Skull Throne. Iron Jack is the biggest baddie in Kingdom of Heaven, but that still may not be enough to win the Throne.
I've read a few LitRPG books by these authors and they are really all about the slow burn. They put so much time and thought into developing the characters and their motivations, it's really well done. Jack spends a lot of time in his own head, beating himself up for the situation he's in. He makes some silly decisions, but he's really just a good guy at heart. I liked watching him come to terms with the reality of what he thought was a game. He's a character I want to root for.
The game side of the book is great, a world with a heaven, hell, mortal plane, and portals between them, and all the fantasy creatures that reside there. There weren't too many stats to drag down the action scenes, which I always appreciate. It doesn't end on a cliffhanger, but it's a great setup for the rest of the series.
I thought the narration was awesome. The narrator had a great range of character voices, even performing different voices for each female character which was really impressive. There were some cool sound effects that enhanced the story. I think I would have enjoyed reading the book, but I loved listening to it. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
November 26, 2017
This is a new genre for me, I've also never played any RPG games, so this book is very different to what I normally listen to.
I found the concept both interesting and weird. My lack of knowledge definitely affected my experience but I found the book surprisingly good. I found it more difficult to connect emotionally to the characters but I was still curious about what was going to happen next.
It's well written and the plot seemed creative. I'm interested to see what happens in the next book.
The narration was excellent, the character voices are clear and the delivery was engaging.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I found the concept both interesting and weird. My lack of knowledge definitely affected my experience but I found the book surprisingly good. I found it more difficult to connect emotionally to the characters but I was still curious about what was going to happen next.
It's well written and the plot seemed creative. I'm interested to see what happens in the next book.
The narration was excellent, the character voices are clear and the delivery was engaging.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and/or narrator and/or publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 22, 2017
Sacrifice Builds Character
Leveling up can be a bitch when you're alive in the game and can't respawn. Iron Jack is basically a good guy. He sacrificed his own life to take care of his younger sister who made a mistake and is a single mother. In the game he learns to have compassion for the native characters that die for real in the game. He gets stronger and draws out his concern for others to cover a wider constituency. I like the smartass comments and humor in the story. I really got into the action scenes. Will he save Ori and Hectate and get together with either one of them romantically? I look forward to the next book.
Leveling up can be a bitch when you're alive in the game and can't respawn. Iron Jack is basically a good guy. He sacrificed his own life to take care of his younger sister who made a mistake and is a single mother. In the game he learns to have compassion for the native characters that die for real in the game. He gets stronger and draws out his concern for others to cover a wider constituency. I like the smartass comments and humor in the story. I really got into the action scenes. Will he save Ori and Hectate and get together with either one of them romantically? I look forward to the next book.
February 15, 2018
It reminds me of sword art online." Audio version.
It's a little like the anime sword art online centering on one person.
I've been waffling back and forth between giving it a 4 or a 5. I hate cliffhanger endings. I would have given it a 4 1/2. I really enjoyed it otherwise. I can't wait to get the next part.
The narrator brings the story to life.
This Audiobook was given to me for free at my request from the publisher, author or narrator and I provided this unbiased voluntary review.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Entertaining, Wonderful characters, Easy-to-read, Page-turner, Action-packed, Great world building, Funny.
It's a little like the anime sword art online centering on one person.
I've been waffling back and forth between giving it a 4 or a 5. I hate cliffhanger endings. I would have given it a 4 1/2. I really enjoyed it otherwise. I can't wait to get the next part.
The narrator brings the story to life.
This Audiobook was given to me for free at my request from the publisher, author or narrator and I provided this unbiased voluntary review.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Entertaining, Wonderful characters, Easy-to-read, Page-turner, Action-packed, Great world building, Funny.
May 15, 2017
Is another good read from Mr. Cipriano. You can say that the MC is like any other person and even handles the situation much better than any other of us could but his "helpers" is still unsatisfied. And that drove me crazy. They just wanted a puppet that does whatever is told to him to do without any question or hesitation. That behavior pissed me off big time. After this, i can say that i could understand the main evil of the book. And if a book can make me feel this than that deserves at least a 4 star here.
September 30, 2018
I really enjoyed this story. I've loved video games for awhile and I'm beginning to realize that I love listening to story's in video game worlds. Jack getting dropped into this world and facing all these challenges is pretty cool. I really enjoy the video game mixed with reality because to me that's just awesome. I love how it explains the video game along the way, but at the same time you have no clue what's going to happen next. Jeff did a great job narrating. I've heard him narrate before , but this was like he was an entire different person and it was awesome.
May 10, 2017
What an addicting snarky novel. The writing is great and just sucked me in from the first chapter. Easy to follow even if you are not a gamer like me and just know the basics. Full of action and thrills that kept me rooting for Jack. Jack's interactions with Hecate and his dream girl/angel Orgina are an absolute hoot as they try to work with Jack to take the Skull Throne. I cannot wait for the next book to see what happens next. I expect it to be just as good. Great read!
September 24, 2017
Gaming turned into Reality..
This book centered around the main lead, Jack, and his love of the game, "Kingdom of Heaven".
The story line is filled with suspense, action and sacrifice.
It was well written and the characters were extremely likable.
Jeff Hays did really well with the narration.
Note:
"This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review."
September 26, 2017
Brilliant
I've read a few rpg novels now, and I really like them! This was no exception! Great pace and brilliant story telling make this an excitable read.
I love J.A's books and have devoured all of them literally.
He introduced me to Connors books before and he is another great author.
The two of them together make a brilliant team with superb story telling.
well worth reading! Well done guys!
I've read a few rpg novels now, and I really like them! This was no exception! Great pace and brilliant story telling make this an excitable read.
I love J.A's books and have devoured all of them literally.
He introduced me to Connors books before and he is another great author.
The two of them together make a brilliant team with superb story telling.
well worth reading! Well done guys!
January 19, 2018
My review was based on the Audiobook. The Skull Throne is a faced paced tale that will keep you captivated from start to finish. The gaming aspects did not take over the story like some in this genre. There was a great mix of fantasy, action and even a little romance thrown in. The narrator did an excellent job at bringing the story and characters to life. I look forward to more from this Author and Narrator.
August 15, 2018
Well.. This wasn't exactly within the realm of what I'd normally read (book material wise), seeing how I never got on the Computer Gaming Train like Warcraft & the such. However, if I were to base my rating on the storyline & its progression alone, the I'd say it wasn't bad at all. I feel bad for Iron Jack though, kid can't seem to catch a break & keep it going for a while, or at least that's what I got from the book.
January 25, 2019
This is a bad book.
Just setting that start off.
Like too much of the isekai-type books, the MC is kidnapped. He then convinces himself that being an obedient little slave-soldier is the best way to show he's not a "whiny little bitch in front of [his kidnapper]".
The initial betrayal by his sister is obvious. The dumb insta-lusts are dumb.
The book is bad, Cipriano should feel bad, and I have become worse for having read some of it.
Just setting that start off.
Like too much of the isekai-type books, the MC is kidnapped. He then convinces himself that being an obedient little slave-soldier is the best way to show he's not a "whiny little bitch in front of [his kidnapper]".
The initial betrayal by his sister is obvious. The dumb insta-lusts are dumb.
The book is bad, Cipriano should feel bad, and I have become worse for having read some of it.
July 11, 2018
Kingdom of Heaven: the Skull Throne is an intense, fun fantasy game adventure. This is the first part of the series, and the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, so be prepared to dive into the next book when you finish this one. The narrator of the audio book is very good.
Contains adult language, violence, and sexual situations. I would recommend this book for adults and teens.
Contains adult language, violence, and sexual situations. I would recommend this book for adults and teens.
November 11, 2017
I sort of liked it, but I REALLY didn't like how often the MC threw what I call "trust tantrums". JFC, either don't trust them and walk away or do trust them and stay. HOW many times must he suddenly change his mind? It's annoying
June 3, 2019
May 2 or 2.5 Stars but I did not finish it so hard to say. I could not really get into this one. I have liked other books by this author but was not a fan of this one.
December 23, 2017
Bored
It's probably me and not the book. I remembered that I liked role playing games but I've since discovered that I don't like reading them.
I only read a few pages, so I can't say much more.
It's probably me and not the book. I remembered that I liked role playing games but I've since discovered that I don't like reading them.
I only read a few pages, so I can't say much more.
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