A Harsh Welcome

The Systemic Lands, Volume 1

By: Mister Vii

Narrated by: Jeremy Frazier

Length: 14 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

In a fake world, Michael must confront his fears and overcome personal challenges to survive. Along with other unfortunate individuals from Earth, he finds himself suddenly teleported to a mysterious realm where danger and opportunity are intertwined.

Struggling with his weight and insecurities, Michael sets out to unravel the secrets of this unfamiliar world. He faces the desolate stone city, monstrous threats lurking beyond its borders, and the enigmatic System Store, each presenting unique challenges and prospects for growth.

The Systemic Lands is a dark, progressive LitRPG that delves into the grittier side of survival progression stories. It offers a refreshing perspective as the protagonist grapples with his vulnerabilities rather than embodying the archetypal super athlete, ready to face adversity at the drop of a hat.

©2023 MisterVii (P)2023 MisterVii

Definitely on the darker side of LitRPG…

The book is well written and adequately performed. There’s not much to like about the MC, but I’ll take that over a bumbling moron or character incongruity any day. Not sure why those two flaws pop up so regularly in this genre but “praise the system” that this author has more sense.

This is a dark, plodding story with no fully like-able characters. Normally those kinds of books don’t appeal to me. However the author managed to thread the needle with decent pacing, a unique world, and just enough justification for the main character to seem more like a somewhat sociopathic (but not psychopathic), damaged person that you can root for, albeit deservedly.

I found this book somewhat refreshing with its completely different take on an adventure fantasy to the mostly glib and poorly written examples that have been flooding the GameLit genre since it’s inception.

I don’t think this book will be for everybody, but for those of us who don’t drop five star reviews on any audiobook that they manage to finish regardless of how unlistenable they may be, A Harsh Welcome is probably worth checking out.

Never give up

This story is great. The narrator is great story really captures never giving up and doing what it takes. 

Almost a classic antihero archetype

I didn’t enjoy it but it was well written and narrated if you like the antihero. This might be a story for you. The main character is extremely selfish, and only does things if it benefits him yet does not go out of his way to be cruel, unless he sees it as a requirement and is never kind, unless he sees a benefit to himself. He makes mistakes and lives by them.
The main downside to the story is everyone is a selfish idiot or for the most part portrayed as one. When the characters have more than one option, they always selfishly choose the morally grey one. I get it the story is written from the perspective that bad things happen and people do bad things to survive. There’s nothing meaningfully positive to work towards it just seems like a pointless waste.

Took me a minute to like the MC

At the start, I really didn't like the MC but once I understood the new world they live in it was survival of the fittest or should I say might make right, and at that time I wormed up to the MC and began to understand why he did some of the things he did...overall I really enjoyed the book and I do look forward to the next book with the hope that the author stays on point with the first book without trying to change the MC or should I say try to nerf him down for no reason. and I hope the author doesn't try to have any romance added to the second book which I feel would be unnecessary.

Definitely a realist take on litrpg

Damn I enjoyed this book. The mc is a pragmatic asshole and I love it. It’s also not fluffed up with some hero saves the day nonsense. And don’t get me wrong I enjoy the hero tale as much as the next guy but sometime you need to be pulled back down to earth and I think this book nails that. It’s gritty and dark not graphically but realistically. It shows the mc with fear and the decisions and consequences that become of him acting on that fear. It’s just written so well in that regard. So it has my vote.

A comment for the author not the consumer

I hate this. I hate that I like this book. I recently had a trash tv show that I love picked up by someone I love more and the reason is the same as to why I personally love this book.
The story and narrative, the plots of the main and the overarching subplot is the strongest element of this book. I hate the people written, I love that they make the choices they do. I can see why this book is controversial but don’t care. Their just characters and like game of thrones they get consequences not justification for their actions. Thank you mysterv

Unique and engaging

Author did a great job of creating characters that actually behaved realistically. In most of these transported to a dangerous game world stories everybody risks their lives fighting without a care in the world. In reality most people of today's world just wouldn't react that way. The MC is a pragmatic asshole and thus survives where the naive characters fail to make it. Reminds me a bit of the nightcrawler MC. An inarguably terrible person, but making choices that are likely to lead to his survival. If you like antiheroes definitely a solid one to follow.