The Great Core's Paradox

A LitRPG Adventure

By: Zendran

Narrated by: Peter Berkrot

Length: 19 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Just because he's small doesn't mean Paradox can't level up big-time. The Great Core demands it!

Name: Paradox

Species: Snake

Description: A tiny snake with great potential.

That was who I was. That was what I was, a tiny snake with great potential. The sole creation of the Great Core. It was just us—the great core and I—tucked away in our little corner of the world dungeon. Together, we hid from the bad things and the Coreless of the world outside, safe from the horrors that would consume us. Until one day, the Coreless found us. Until they tried to steal away my creator. Until with no other option, I swallowed the Great Core that had made me. Only after that, did I become what I was always meant to be.

At last, I became the Great Core's Paradox in more than name.

Thus begins the story of a little snake zealot and his journey to greatness in Book One of a crunchy time-loop LitRPG series perfect for fans of Kenneth Arant, RinoZ, and Jonathan Smidt. Get your audiobook today!

©2022 Aethon Audio (P)2022 Aethon Books

The cutest dungeon monster evarrr...

Surprisingly I didn't know that the protagonist was gonna be a cute little danger noodle, a snek! I didn't know the author, but I did suspect that Zendran posted on the Royal Road because of the nom de plume. What I did know was that the amazing Peter Berkrot was the narrator, and the book was published by Aethon, who tends to provide amazing books for the discerning SF&F reader!
This book just takes my breath away, a whole book written from a Snakes POV. How amazing is that? I ask you?!? And it's a very small snek, with a humongous amount of confidence in both the Great Core and in it's own ability, as is fitting for a dungeon boss named Paradox Ouroboros. A boss who can control destiny and thus honor the Great Core. So with his pet hooman adventure team, they set out for adventure. The humans of course have their own notions of what's goin on, but they all realize that their chances of survival has dramatically increased with the "tame" dungeon monster's help!
Ohhhh and yeah, I was right Zendran is a Royal Road author! And RR has yet to fail me!

great adventure

started out a little slow for my taste, but glad I stuck with it. once I got past it I was hooked and then I couldn't stop. Definitely recommending oh giving this book a try

Adorable fun

Hearing the snake misinterpret the humans over and over kept making me chuckle and the bonding that happened later was touching. Can barely wait for book 2

incredibly its funny and very intertaning

loved this book already read both the first and second and am wait very u pationetly for the 3rd this is a book that will make you wanna finish it its a lit rpg non human main character and absolutely just fun to read

really great!

This book really reminded me of chrysalis, for those who read my chrysalis review you'd know i loved chrysalis. This book was so good!!!. Certainly one of my favorites, zandran brought alot to the table, and I don't know which one I like more. I'll certainly be getting the sequel, I can't wait to see how this story progresss!!!.


The Narration is so good!, Peter berkot performed this book so well, Peter is a superb narrator with alot of voices at his disposal. he has something that other narrators don't have. Do you wanna know what that is? it's the way he can put emotion into his voice. it's like nothing I've ever heard before, he can put such raw emotion into his voices, it gives the characters a depth that alot of narrators just can't do. I certainly give Peter a 5 star.



i like the characters, certainly the mc. he is written with depth and I personally like how he rolls. some of the stuff he thinks is just downright funny, I really felt a connection with our awesome mc. I also like some of the side characters, I don't feel a connection with them like I do with the Mc, but there pretty good, and I think that there written really well.
I give the characters a 4.8 star.


the plot is good, certainly one of the better things about this book, I really liked it. it follows without much guidance from the author, it has alot of depth to it, and it's honestly just entertaining.
I really like the world building, it's detailed, and intriguing. I feel the author explains just enough to keep us on our toes. the world building is excellent in this book, and I rate it a 5 star. the plot is a 4.8 star.


this book was really good, i really liked it. I actually loved it, I can't wait for the sequel. I recommend this story to anyone who likes chrysalis or anyone who wants to hear a paradox find his way in the world.

Amazing and Engaging

A fresh and delicious approach to experiencing a story. Early on in the story it was a little challenging to understand the terms used by the MC, which is a snake. But as the snake’s understanding grew so did mine. The story and characters became more developed and simultaneously became a joyous addition for me to keep going. The Audible narration was fabulous. I highly recommend the book and the narration.

Beginning can be dull, but improves

First impressions so far (roughly 4 to 6 hours in), while the perspective is interesting its very repetitive and dragged out. The story doesn't really pick up fast. It's kinda dull listening to the narrator performing this character and with it being a character we don't get a break from it kinda hurts. Will most likely edit this review later, hopefully with more positive response.

Finished the book and once the MC gets to the city everything gets better.

A surprisingly great and humorous book!!!

I went in with very little expectations from this book as I only found it by coincidence. So it was with an overwhelming delight that I got hooked straight from the start. The world building was great, the plot was amazing and very unique. So many twists and turns I didn't see coming at all. So many feelgood moments in this book. The emotions it invoked are real. It was funny and had me laughing out loud many times through out the entire book. The action and obstacles Paradox had to overcome was amazingly well written and detailed. I really felt a connection too the characters in the world. I can't wait for the next book in the series. This is probably one of the most underrated books I've seen in a long time.

Very enjoyable

I’m very happy I have this book a listen. It was a interesting take on the core troupe and I enjoyed listening to the story from the snakes pov.

Extreme Cute MC

This has been one of the more enthralling books I have gone through of late. The MC is indeed a "Little Cutie" with a personality to match his adorable little character. I love how much we get to go through his experiences as well as those that witness what he does or goes through. I love the means of his evolution and his cores initial designation plus how it affects him.

Personally, I enjoyed a lot of the abilities/skills plus their detrainments though like every mc he falls to the uses of magics more the physical transformations which has become a bit sadder to see. It's a cliche when there is so many other things that could be done. Though some of these magical means he finds his way into the hearts of many more then he might have.

Sadly, it goes mainly from dungeon delving to somewhat more of a lighthearted cult building story for a lot of the last part of the book. I mean do not get me wrong it was very character development driven and heart felt. I just can't help feel that the poor things needs a respec.

This is a must grab book for all litrpg lovers especially those wanting a heartwarming tale of a little animal with a nice dash of fantasy!