Fateless: Book One

By: Martin McKenzie

Narrated by: Neil Hellegers

Length: 18 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Graeme only wanted a pint.

He'd even have taken one of those fruity craft beers in a pinch, but it seemed Fate had other plans...which is strange, because as it turns out, Graeme is possibly the only being in the universe unaffected by the otherwise divine and tangible force of destiny. Immune to its machinations, he is Fateless.

So, when he inadvertently disrupts his best friends summoning into another world, the Gods offer him a choice. Fix the mistake, or sentence said friend and world he's destined to save to a particularly nasty end.

Reborn into a new world in the body of Minotaur, Graeme will have to survive frozen wastes, vicious slavers, and perilous dungeons. All whilst adapting to strange game-like powers, delivered and explained to him by an overly enthusiastic voice in his head.

It's not all bad news though. Sure he might be the only Scotsman he knows with horns, but this lack of Fate seems to come with some benefits. The ability to wreak havoc with the pre-ordained plans of the Gods might just give him the edge he needs.

Guess the pint will have to wait.

©2023 Martin McKenzie (P)2023 Portal Books

Nice to have a minotaur MC.

As some of the other reviews have stated, this book is a bit of a slow starter. Quite a bit of info before it gets into the substance and action.
Two good friends die and get sent to another world in different and more powerful bodies than they had before, on Earth.
Our MC, the minotaur, needs to find his friend to protect him, but he has to find him first, and he doesn't even know what his friend looks like or what he's calling himself.
The MC starts off in chains as a slave and escapes with some others so he can get started finding his buddy. One big problem is that he's having serious issues figuring out his powers and stats.
Pretty good book. I'm definitely going to get book 2.

Good start

In some ways this is your typical isekai-style LitRPG but it scores some novelty points with its protagonist. Our MC is a Scottish Minotaur, which is a first for me. He brings some humor, especially with his interaction with the snarky system. The first part was mired down with him being a slave. I wish that part wasn’t so long. It got a lot better when it got to some of the dungeon diving. Overall, this is a fun, fate fulfilling vs fate breaking story. The narration was good.

Great Start

I came into this with an open mind. LITRPG has basically become the only genre I read any new books in lately so I was interested to see one where the main character was something other than a human or goblin. The minotaur concept was great as I have always loved them in mythology. Combining that mythology with a burly Scotsman looking for his friend just made it that much better. While he chose to name his character after Bran gotta say he gives off more of a Wallace vibe. Overall, I liked the story even if it got a little jumbled sometimes. This was the first time I had heard Neil Hellegers do something other than The Realm Between series so that was strange for me. The only things I would change would be more of an alignment in the timeframes when jumping between Graham and Angus. Because the difference in time is so jarring by the end you feel like you missed huge parts of the story. Also as a LITRPG person I wish it were a little more "Crunchy" with the stats and skills. Otherwise, nothing to complain about and I will happily be picking up book two whenever it is released!

pretty good

I'll be honest based on the description. I didn't have high hopes for this book. But I was presently surprised at how much I got into it. I hope there's a next book soon.

An MC I could drink with.

Awesome narrator! This book left me thinking I need a Scottish drinking buddy to keep me out of trouble hehe. The MC is working his way up the OP charts to save a buddy. I will need more!

Fun and unique

This is a nice change from a lot of litrpgs out there. A non human main character and supporting characters in the main group. I particularly like the system that is used. an interesting twist with having to sleep to level up like many tabletop RPGs.

I highly recommend giving it a try and look forward to the next one.

I was given a free sample of this audiobook with no requirement to review.

starts off slow

the book is good it does start off pretty slow it gets better the longer you listen about halfway through starts actually making more sense and then see actually starts understand what's going on I liked it overall and I will get the next book

This was good

It's super annoying when people don't review good books and I have to muster the willpower to do the thing...

A decent progression fantasy, even if the mc's growth to relevant power levels is a bit force marched. Enjoyable humor and "'member berries".

Neil crushing it as always.

Slow burn… Fiery finish

As others have stated, this starts somewhat slow if looking at it from usual progression fantasy / LitRPG standards. Yet that slow start is part of what makes the finish all the better.

Neil Hellegers and studio do a masterful job portraying the characters and setting as usual.

Very much looking forward to the next book in this series.

The MC is a Minotaur Highlander. Freaking awesome!

This story really got my Scottish blood pumping! I found the book on a Facebook post from the author. As soon as I saw the cover... I was instantly intrigued! A Minotaur in a Highland Kilt, with a broadsword. Eat your heart out Braveheart. After reading the book's summery; I had to have it. And I was NOT disappointed!

The story is well written, and so immersive. You get to know the characters so well. It is by no means rushed. Plenty of details to flesh out everything around you; drawing you in. The MC is a big lug, but an endearing one. Which really fits well with the fact that he is a Minotaur. He was just your average pub owner before being Isekai'd. Reincarnated; but without being born as a baby. But the fact that he knows nothing about this new world sets him at a serious disadvantage right from the start! He has 1 mission: to save his best friend from dying a second time (in this world this time). His friend has been properly reincarnated into this world... as a hero and prince. Who is fated to die. And everyone in this world is dead set to all follow their given fate of how they will meet your end. Talk about a real ball buster! Get to find out your future; but only how you will meet your end. And you're gonna like it!

This one stands on it's own with how the whole world is set up; and the main characters. You can't rush a good story. It takes time to tell it proper. This story does a magnificent job of doing just that. There is an offset of time between the 2 stories that are unfolding. The MC and his hero buddy are being told at different periods of time. Which are really being tied together well. The time offset between the 2 only adds to the details as they flush out. The MC is trying to get stronger and find his best friend. While the hero is oblivious to the possibility of his friend being in the same world with him. He's busy trying to do his hero/prince duties. Moving forward to his inevitable destiny. Because Fate is NOT letting him veer from his appointed destiny.

The world build is intriguing. As is the magic system. The leveling up system stands apart from other books. A nice job done with how that process works. A plethora of different species. There isn't a definitive main antagonist yet. Which is always a big hang up for me. I feel that a hero can only be a good as his main antagonist makes him. But this story is so well done; that I didn't have an issue with that at all. A true 1st for me. However; there will need to be one established as the story progresses. But there are some really good antagonists in this one. Plenty to keep our MC busy. The narrator does a really solid job. He's no Travis Baldree. But seriously... who is?

I don't know how I can do a better job of reviewing this book without giving the dreaded "spoilers". So basically: I love this book. I immediately bought the sequel after finishing this one. I'm really hoping the rest of the series is already written; and just waiting to stagger out the publishing dates. Just not to staggered out. Because I want more! This is a must have in any library for fans of fantasy, Isekai, and/or LitRPG.