First Song

Anthem of Infinity Series, Book 1

De: Blaise Corvin, Outspan Foster, Blaise Corvin - foreword

Narrado por: Ramon De Ocampo

It has been two years since the Shift - when most technology stopped working, and the laws of physics changed. Humanity has been brought to its knees. Like other survivors, Noah Henson has heard rumors of the Aelves. Among other guesses, predatory aliens seem as good as any other theory for what caused the Shift.

But for Noah, everything else takes second place to survival, sometimes even self-respect... or any sort of decency. Lawless, post-apocalypse America had forced Noah to make many difficult decisions, and he has never seemed to choose correctly. However, despite hating himself, he doesn't have the strength or the courage to change.

He will get a lucky break in a big way, through a mysterious orb with otherworldly power.

In time, perhaps Noah will find another path. And if he does die during the Shift, maybe it won't be the end of his story. Sometimes, another chance can be an opportunity for redemption.

©2018 Blaise Corvin (P)2019 Tantor

what a change

forewarning I did not like the beginning until the thing what happens to him not going to say it the rest of the book what's great I want more can't wait I will say this has some fucked-up things what happened in the story and the character is definitely in the beginning unlikable but once the changeover does happen in the book you realize this book has promise

One of the best gamelit stories out there

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this story. I found myself caring about what happened to the different characters. The story is original and turns the post-apocalyptic gamelit genre on its head.

Ramon De Ocampo did a great job narrating this. I think he was a good pick for this story.

This is one of Blaise Corvin's best works. Highly recommended.

Truely Amazing

The biggest problem with this book is who knows if a second one will come or when.

The authors claimed to have an unlikable character in the beginning of the story. They failed in that regard. The character isn't unlikable - - he's just realistic. I hardly ever write reviews but this book was just amazing with incredible amd believable characters.

Awesome, crazy, post apocalyptic, gamelit mashup!

I have listened to 100's of gamelit books in the past couple years, and this one stands out for its unique approach and the topics it explores (as well as how much I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the next one!). As with Blaise Corvin's other books, it is light on the game mechanics, focusing more on their implications than listing off a bunch of numbers. I really enjoyed the story, and the execution was fantastic! As others have noted, the beginning is frustrating, but honestly, that's a huge part of how great the book is overall: it is a perfect setup in a very unexpected way that I don't want to spoil.

Really good

First a word of warning this book starts out with you probably not liking the main character, but he gets much better. A lot of this book is really set up but I really enjoyed it. It’s fascinating and I can’t wait to listen to how the prep work pans out in the next book. Give it a shot and I’m sure you will like it too.

Amazing

Man what a ride. Glad I gave it a shot and I’m excited to continue the story!

Loved it!

Interesting take on the post apocalyptic theme. Especially the start of the book had a 'postman' vibe. Can't say much more without spoilers. Just give it a go.

read the reviews

i now understand what everyone was eluding to with this book. you have to understand the first bit of this book the mc is super unlikeable. Now i also will not be giving any spoilers but i understand how bad it may be listening to this so i will give u a goal. At least listen to the part where the main character has first contact with the alves. That's all ill say. Don't stop listening. i hated him too i know just trust me...and if u cant do that trust Blaise Corvin.

FS won't be the last in this series you read

I have to say this was a weird book for me, in fact, I kinda think it was a first. I am always going to be truthful about things and I have to admit that when the book first started I wasn’t a fan. The writing was good, but I really hated the entire apocalyptic setting. The MC, who pretty much lived out the embodiment of the name worm that was given to him by some raiders wasn’t someone I cared about. I actually hoped he’d die, and I actually thought that he would since he very clearly was not the dude on the book’s cover. I enjoy bleak, but I don’t enjoy weak or whiny and that was what worm was, he was a punk.
SO, I don’t want to hit you with spoilers, but I will say that the book makes for a huge change part way in, and the Worm turns. Yes, I went there. Worm then sort of becomes Noah, the guy he should have been all along. And in that instance the entire tone of the book shifts. Worm dries up in the sun and Noah takes his place. Noah is a take no BS kinda guy who sets about taking care of business. See, he can do things to prevent the events that created worm and crushed humanity in a punked out apocalypse from being quite so harsh because of a little thing called . . . ah, ah, spoilers. (Maybe add in the tardis sound just as a hint maybe let it run about 5 seconds). Anyway, Noah very calculatingly implements a 20 year plan to help prep and prepare for an invasion of alien beings called Aelves. No these guys are tougher, faste, and stronger than humans, they can perform magic, and they like to eat humans. So baddies all around. I have to say that it is the building aspect that I truly loved so much. The planning, the prep, the sacrifice, that is the stuff I am a sucker for and I loved it. My favorite part of the book was the scheming baby, you’ll know it when you get there. That was the best. And, when we finally return to the apocalypse I actually found myself looking forward to it. That was when the book really hit 3rd gear and started moving because I was admittedly in need of some action.
So, while the book might have started off a little slow with an unlikable character (for me, and I have to say I really don’t believe that we were ever supposed to LIKE Worm. Sympathize? Yeah, but not like.) He was cowardly and did some reprehensible stuff like going along with the slave trade. So, I really had no empathy for the dude, but once he transformed himself from a spineless wimp into a determined Noah I was cheering him on all the way.

The aelves seem to make some pretty good villains, and I highly anticipate more of them in book 2, because Noah has a bond with one of the higher ups that he is going to have to deal with at some point.

Corvin and Foster do an admirable job here tag teaming this piece of writing. I know I generally praise James Hunter for how well he meshes his writing with his partners so flawlessly, but I have to say that the pair here did a seamless job, and that I would be hard pressed to pick who did what or whose voice it was that we were really hearing. I honestly think that Corvin gave Foster his head, and allowed him just go crazy and if that is the case it was a wise move. It totally worked, and it is awesome to see a collaboration come together a well as this.

Ramon De Ocampo’s narration took me a little while t get used to, he was new to me, and I had to settle in and really listen, and I have to say that he grew on me the longer we went. I appreciated his voice, and the acting that he put into it. Everyone stood out as individual characters, and I never wondered who was speaking. The only thing I wish that he had done was to give the Aelves a distinctive accent. That would have really made them stand out to me, much in the way that all dwarves are Scottish sounding (even though I hate that trope). I kept going to Londo Mollari from Babylon Five, and how Peter Jurassic worked so hard to create a distinctive accent for his race, and then no other Centauri that appeared on the show ever used it. I would have really liked to have had something to say that it was an aelf speaking before I ever heard the character’s race mentioned. Otherwise, great job, and I look forward to more from him.

Overall, even though I was not a fan of the first part of the book just because I didn’t like Worm I think that it worked in making me hate him, because I liked him a lot by the end, and anticipated the Aelves attacking. Final score, 8.5.

If this review helped, please press the YES below. Thank you immensely!!!

As seen on the LITRPG AUDIOBOOK PODCAST, please check it out on Youtube.com

great apocalypse

absolutley love the story, nice to see a main character from the area I call home as well. love the preapoclypse story going into the events leading to the end of life as we know it. cannot wait for the next in the series