The Bystander

The Game at Carousel, Book 1

De: Rob M. Lastrel

Narrado por: Adam Sims

Duración: 11 h y 40 m

Resumen del Editor

In a town where horror movie tropes come to life, one’s only chance to survive is to play their role, in the first book of a spine-tingling gamelit series.

When horror-obsessed Riley Lawrence and his group of college friends arrive in the small town of Carousel for their Centennial Celebration, the few decrepit cars parked in the street don’t scare them. But when they enter a locked building, an animatronic usher hands them each a ticket, and the lights dim, Riley realizes they’ve entered the inescapable patchwork of a horror movie set. And they’ve each been assigned an archetype—Scholar, Athlete, Eye Candy, Final Girl—to play out as the curtains rise.

Assigned the Film Buff archetype, Riley’s doomed to repeat a pattern: knowing exactly who the killer is but never surviving the attacks himself. After all, film buffs may know what’s coming, but they’re always the first to be hunted down. Until, that is, Riley learns he can avoid a death or two by exploiting the Oblivious Bystander trope. It seems monsters and killers won’t harm him as long as he can convincingly pretend he hasn’t noticed them.

To make it through this deadly game, Riley and his friends will need to leverage their tropes effectively to determine what’s trapping them there in the first place. But as the rounds continue and escape seems farther and farther out of reach, they’ll be forced to ask themselves: Would they survive in a horror movie?

The first volume of the hit LitRPG horror series—with more than three million views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!

©2024 Rob M. Lastrel (P)2024 Podium Audio

So original!

A fantastic read. Very engaging in a unique setting. I can’t wait for the next one!!!

unique look at litrpg

this one is definitely for those looking for a unique twist to this genre. I enjoyed it yet want to see how it develops

loved everything about it

fresh idea in the crossroads of horror fiction and litrpg, but mostly its good because of the obvious Love of the genre and talent the author has. highly recommend

A Fresh take on the litrpg genre

This story is a really unique one in this genre instead of swords and sorcery you get horror movies and clichés the trope system is a really cool take on classes and skills. There are a few points where a decision doesnt make perfect sense to me but that happens in horror movies all the time so it still fits and is nothing that really brings the story down. The narrator does a good job though an occasional line lacks some of the emotion that seems like it should be present, though its rare. Definitely recommend this book and hope to see the sequel soon

Living the movie life isn’t as glamorous as you might hope!

If you’re not sure about the story because of the horror, don’t even worry about it, give it a try. This story is more about characters having to ‘live’ through movies as if it was real life, with all that entails. Lots of mystery, character deaths that aren’t necessarily permanent, and a rewarding outcome when the players do well in their assigned roles.

Well worth it.

That said, the narrator may have struggled a little bit with all the voices of different characters. Still enjoyed it though so your mileage may vary.

I love the Trope System

I was following this story back when it was on Royal Road and the edits for publication have only made it better! I love the added story bits and the expanding background! Truly an excellently horrifying tale of people stuck in the worst situation!

A unique and new take on LitRPG 4.5 stars

Being the first book in a web novel, I’m not surprised at the fact that the story feels incomplete or maybe just a bit like a lot of set up. I’ve noticed that is what usually happens with this format of story (web novels).

Nonetheless I thoroughly enjoyed it, mostly off of the uniqueness of the concept alone. “Would you survive a horror movie?” We’ve all thought it. This book is that question with stats and skills added on. I am very much excited for the next book in the series.

There are many questions about Carousel that I am excited to have answered. And I am hoping that the author gives us some deep lore on Carousel. I think that this world is truly brimming with possibilities. Unfortunately though, having no the other works from this author to look at as a measure of his skill I can only hope that he will tap into the depths that I feel are within the world he has made.

The main character is also interesting and feels pretty human, unlike the usual LitRPG MC’s who are overpowered from the get go and are more or less emotionless psychopaths, he plays a bit more of a support role and doesn’t start out with a broken ability though I feel as though his “oblivious bystander” skill can be broken later down the line. There are also a lot of questions about him and his role in Carousel that I am excited to have answered.

Finally the narration is top notch, i like the narrators voice and almost instantly started to look for more works by him. I was pleasantly surprised to have found he narrated a book I had in my library that I had listened to some odd years ago, so I might give that another listen.

All in all, I’d give the book a solid 4.5 stars out of 5. Quite enjoyable and I’m excited for what’s to come.

Very good story

It's such a unique setting and system, one of the best executed LitRPGs! I love this so much! Voice was a bit dull to me at first, but it gets normal and I think it fits the tone of the story.

Shlock Horror LitRPG Greatness

I discovered this book before it was officially published and loved every second of the journey - the uniqueness of the setting and the twist of litRPG on top just scratch an itch I didn’t know I had.

Can’t wait for the next book!

Great horror themed litrpg

I really liked the book and how it transforms a horror movie setting to a litrpg style world.
you wont be dissapointed