How I Built a Magic Empire, Book 1

De: Konstantin Zubov, Ben Hooson - translator

Narrado por: Hannibal Hills

I have been reborn from an advanced techno-magic world into a world where magic is still in its infancy.

In this new world I have the body of a young baron and my entire worldly possessions are one village—a village surrounded by monsters and hostile aristocrats on the fringes of a young, rapidly expanding empire.

The other thing I have, though, is knowledge beyond what this world has dreamt of, and nothing will stop me from building my own magic empire!

©2024 Konstantin Zubov; English translation copyright 2024 by Ben Hooson (P)2025 Tantor Media

Enjoyable story ruined by narrator

I really wanted to return this book but I enjoyed it so much I couldn't stop listening to it. However, the narrator absolutely ruined it for me. The narrator has talent but he decided to incessantly scream. I kept repeating in my mind for him to just shut up and voice the characters. I doubt that I'll ever purchase a book narrated by this same individual unless he learns to control the shouting. I hope the author replaces the narrator for any future books in this series.

narration could use work, nothing special yet

the narrator seems to enjoy making it so literally every character sounds like a 90 year old man trying to yell. Story isnt terrible but also isnt really that good yet as of this book. probably going to skip the next ones.

good story, but

I read this book when it first came out and enjoyed it so decided to give the audio a try. it was OK. honestly if I didn't enjoy the story I'd have quit listening. the narrator did a terrible job. the MC is supposed to be 19 years old but the voice the narrator uses when speaking as the MC makes him sound either very old or like he's talking with his nose pinched together. a very weird voice for a teenager regardless. then for some reason he's yelling almost every bit of the MC s dialog through almost the first 3/4 of the book. his attempt at female voices is cringe worthy. the only saving grace to the narration is when he's just reading the story. he does great there. but as soon as character dialog comes around it goes downhill fast. I hope book 2 improves but I won't hold my breath on that.

performance need work

it's a great city building story but the narrator reads like there are "!" randomly scattered on the pages makes it seem like he's over acting. the other issue the inner monolog and when the characters talk sound like two different ages. Almost like there is no young people in the world.

narrative horrible

A struggle to listen to because of the narrator... this guy somehow over acts and under perfom at the same time

Very fun story with great narration

I'm just sad I have to wait until July for the next one to come out.

The rich bombastic tone, the narrator used most of the time.

The narration isn’t terrible unless you listen to it at 1.0 speed because the bombastic tone the narrator uses sounds drawn out and slurred. I found that 1.2 to 1.3 speed was more natural sounding for narration. The downside to this is a story is really only about 9 to 10 hours long which makes sense most people don’t drop a credit for a book under 10 hours. The story is pretty good if you like the Russian genre which I do. I’ll probably buy the next book but if I’m going to lose 2 to 3 hours from narration speed, I’ll probably wait till it’s on sale.

Horrible voice acting

The voice actor couldn’t keep the voices straight and just made it way too confusing to understand who was saying what.

Underwhelming

Over acted and weak story with a lead who’s own village would over throw. The author seems to think no one could see the advantage that the lead was taking of everyone.

narrator

the narrator, one minute there yelling so you turn down the volume, the next you can't hear so you have to turn it up. I like the book so I just read it