How I Built a Magic Empire, Book 1

By: Konstantin Zubov, Ben Hooson - translator

Narrated by: 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

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.

One of the best undiscovered new LITRPG series.

Great world, great MC. Fun journey watching him mix knowhow from prior life & world with new situation where magic is still an emerging thing. Don't want to give any spoilers, but this series avoids the bog down & slow progression issues where many litrpg's turn into a boring grind and struggle to give any real challenge or meaning to journey of the MC. This continues to be fun with a blend of keystone cops, combat & satisfying scheming by a competent MC.

I have over 1,200 books on Audible and have bothered with doing less than 10 reviews. This series is a promising one in a genre starting to get cluttered with copy cats.

lays the groundwork for what the title says

overall, I will say that it is an ok book and that I did buy the second book. I have been searching for a while for a fantasy kingdom from scratch story, so I am glad I found this.

Narration wise, I did find understanding the differences between some of the voices. Some translations seemed a bit off, but they were minor and could just be the writing, tonal stuff like would a fancy Barron really be that informal in word choice.

There were some odd fixations in the story on things that make me wonder if the author is super young or just from a different culture. for example an odd fixation on alcohol. yes, people drink socially. why feel the need to express that MC didn't always drink, but when making deal do as the romans do. It is a magic world, we are suspending our disbelief already, why is that the thing we need to explain?

That being said there are a handful of tropes that I had to get past here. I see them as things I have to look past to get through, but if they are show stoppers for you, give this one a pass. potential spoilers ahead.

-It feels like every attractive women seems to want to get with the MC. It gives little to no reason why. He isn't overly charismatic or trying to make this happen, yet everyone seems to fine him irresistible for some unexplained reason.
-This is a story where a person is transitioned into a new world. his knowledge is more advanced than the new one. That is fine and I actually think the lack of description of how that happens, due to it being a month before the book starts works out fine. it explains some of his advanced magical knowledge. I am for that, it is pretty much half this genre. However he seems to be a social adept and master strategist and tactician too and it doesn't explain why his previous world made that the case.
- the story ends on a cliff hanger making you need to get the next book to see if it is related to the book 1 plot point or a new one kicking off.

So overall, due to the topic being one I have wanted to see, it was fine. I did get the next one, so it wasn't all bad. Just an ok book.

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.

Story was kinda standard.

The book is alright but i found the story to be rather standard and nothing really stood out other than the crystal and cystal portals. Even then the whole portal/rift thing is pretty common in thses types of books, I didnt really learn much of the mc to care what he does in book 2. And the story is just to grow the village.