A Fist Full of Credits

A New Apocalyptic LitRPG Series (System Apocalypse - Relentless, Book 1)

De: Craig Hamilton, Tao Wong

Narrado por: Shamaan Casey

Bail bondsman. Veteran. Survivor.

Hal Mason's still going to find surviving the System Apocalypse challenging.

While bringing in his latest fugitive, Hal's payday is interrupted by the translucent blue boxes that herald Earth's introduction to the System - a galaxy spanning wave of structured mystical energy that destroys all electronics and bestows game-like abilities upon mankind.

With society breaking down and mutating wildlife rampaging through the city of Pittsburgh, those who remain will sacrifice anything for a chance at earning their next Level. As bodies fall and civilization crumbles, Hal finds himself asking what price is his humanity. Are the Credits worth his hands being ever more stained with blood?

Or does he press on - relentless?

A Fist Full of Credits is the first book in a new series in the System Apocalypse universe. Written by debut author Craig Hamilton in Tao Wong's best-selling post-apocalyptic LitRPG universe, System Apocalypse - Relentless is another glimpse into what humanity will do when the chips are down and the monsters are crawling from the shadows.

©2021 Tao Wong, Craig Hamilton (P)2025 Starlit Publishing

Great addition!

Fun addition to the System Apocalypse universe. Hal, the protagonist, is a really cool character to follow. This novel is packed full of action and adventure. The plot was worked into the book pretty nicely by following connecting quest-lines. I really enjoyed the narration too.

I love it

I love the system apocalypse world. it's expansive and comprehensive and leaves a lot of room for spin offs

Decent start to the series...

This audiobook was a bit two-sided when it comes to its focus on being a lit RPG. I really enjoyed a good portion of the story and its RPG elements. However, I wanted more in a few places making it feel like the character was maturing as he leveled up. The audiobook, “A Fist Full of Credits” appears to be the premiere release for one of the two authors (Craig Hamilton and Tao Wong) while the other has experience with the genre and most of his works are highly rated. What I did not have a problem enjoying, was the narration. It is professionally performed by Shamaan Casey, who I have enjoyed many of his other narrated audiobook in the past. If you are in the look for a potentially new lit RPG series, you may want to give the first book in the series a listen.

I appreciated learning more about the system and the people dealing with their new apocalyptic world. I found many of the creatures faced by our characters both fresh and in place familiar. Large stink bugs and killer plants made the attacks fun, while we also had wild dogs and goblins. With some of the writing, I struggled to understand the characters and their drive. I felt most characters, outside of the main character, lacked dimension, personality, and purpose. A few emotionally charged event occur that tried to bring one back around to caring, but with the lack of background, it was hard to fully enjoy. Although there was a main quest, along with many side quests, I did not feel that all of them connected to the main character as they should have. Even with plenty of action and adventure, I wanted to have a more descriptive world which painted a picture of things outside of the main character’s immediate view.

When we did get a glimpse into the main character’s life, we see his ex-military drive and training help him to be the best bounty hunter the system could expect. We are given a few flashbacks for background, but I really wanted more of his past life, things prior to entering the system. He steps in and the system quickly throws increasing level of difficulty at him (much like in an RPG), yet I did not feel overall that he was ever vulnerable. I like a strong hero, but one that faces difficult challenges and potential failure. Teetering on the edge of death makes for more suspense and tension for the listener. I liked that mana (or magic) was used to power objects much like batteries, so that helped to blend fantasy with science fiction. Much of the book is a blending of fantasy, sci-fi and apocalyptic genres, and I’m not sure that this did the story justice as much as it would if focused on a single genre.

I’m not saying that I disliked the audiobook, I listened from start to finish. However, I am saying I expected more based on my knowledge of one of the authors and his rated works. I liked the journey and adventure the story took me on. Yet, I wanted more action, suspense, adventure, and excitement. The story seemed to pace itself from the start and continue to travel at that set speed until the end.

Regarding the audiobook’s narration, I have always found Shamaan Casey’s works to be performed with passion, knowledge of the work he was reading, and his ability to give unique character to the different people in the book. Sometimes that was even his voicing of non-humans. I like his deep and rich voice that is also clean and sharp when he reads. I do not recall any audio artifacts or other issues with the audio itself either.

For parents and younger listeners, I would suggest you shy away from this if you have any concerns or issues with drug use or graphic violence. The book does not have a bunch of this type of activity, but there is enough that I would not recommend it to younger audiences.

In summary, the entry book in the series was OK, but I expected and wanted more from it. Some of this may come in future books in the series. I wanted more character development, more on the system, more on the people running the system, and even some on the others our main character ran into. What make it better was the narration by Mr. Casey, he kept the story going and made it more alive and entertaining.

Disclaimer: This audiobook was provided free of charge by the author, narrator and/or publisher in exchange for posting a non-bias review.

amazing

inspiring author frfr listened to all the system apocalypse series so far and amazing is all I can say

Good

This is a really good book, showing a very different prospective from the cores of both the main series and the other side series. It’s fascinating that the system throws violence on them all, but they react in different ways due to their emotional state and the pasts they have.

This book stars a bounty Hunter war vet, someone who’s seen combat before in a way unmatched by either the MC of the main series or the other side series. His background informs how he works towards his goals.

The system is the same, and we don’t really get any more additions to it here. Instead we get a deeper glimpse at golacric society than we do in the equivalent main book and a part of society that we never get from the main series.

The main charecter is relatable and fallible, a great combination of course. We get to see him broke and how he holds the pieces together.

More in spoilers, TTYL!

wow nice suprise

Could not haved picked a better narrator. Look so forward to next book. Not sure I would have a drink with our protagonist. But so worth the listen!!

worth a listen

was hard to get into the book initially. I didn't know this book was a spin-off. Once I realized the pacing of the narrator was a little slow for me, I changed the speed to 1.1 and the book got a lot better.

great addition to the system apocalypse world.

Really love Hal as a character and the adventures he has. Can't wait to listen to more.

HAVE TO GIVE IT 5 STARS

Read Tao Wong's books first (have to admit, not quite finished), but picked up Craig's book on Audible after discovering he was writing in Tao's universe. Great writer, good imagination - the story folds in with Tao's quite well. Hoping to see the stories and threads overlap more in the future.

KEEP 'EM COMING!

Great book

Not a bad first book for a series. I will be ordering the next book this afternoon. Can’t wait to see what adventures he runs into next.