Beta Life

Digital Sorcery, Book 1

By: David M. Zahn

Narrated by: Matt Weight

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Old and about to die, Christopher Ryland is digitized in the new beta program offered by the Everlast Corporation. The beta promises eternal life in a video game, but as Ryland is soon to discover, he should’ve read the instruction manual first.

The corporation failed to mention that it populated his new world with slavers, sadists, supremacists, and one very trollish elf. All right, that last one isn’t really their fault. Sure, he might live forever, but with a serious lack of RPG knowledge, this isn’t going to be the fun and relaxing retirement he imagined.

He might not be the world’s greatest gamer, but he won’t let anything keep him down -not even fish herpes.

©2019 David M Zahn (P)2019 David M Zahn

Interesting & Funny

Not my typical type of read, but found this really interesting and a good introduction to this genre. While some of the humor was over the top, overall it was pretty fun and lighthearted. Definitely interested to read the rest of the series!

loved it!

I am an avid LIT-RPG listener. With this being said. I really enjoyed this book! The story line is refreshing and the main character is far from being over powered. He doesn't obtain any OP abilities, skills, or items by happenstance. and he doesn't have any real pre information about the game.

the characters are unique and bring the story gumption and humor. The storyline itself has some interesting aspects which causes the listener to want the next book.

the only thing I'd like to have seen is a female doing the vocals for the female characters. however, the narrator does a good job with the skills he has.

so so

narration was fine but the story is too slow the exclamation of each stat and the fact the main character isn't a gamer causes the book to Drift Away.

fantastic

this is an honest review as i received a code for doing so.

92 year old man playing a new school rpg game with slavery/debauchery/hate/racism/adventure/laughs and friends thats what this tight ball of a story gives.

the narrator did a good job in my eyes at letting you know what charavter is currently speaking and how they felt in the moment.

story had purpose and goals, first book is 1 long ass quest with lots of mayhem.

characters were funny and unique not copy and paste of each other but I was hoping for MC to have more growth I hope we get to see in the second book.

This Author Exceeded My Expectations!

I really enjoyed this Audible book! The main characters were entaining which helped hold my interest. You quickly learn the main character, Ryland, is skeptical about digitizing himself to become immortal as a gaming player. The author cleverly details Ryland's trials and tribulations as he travels through a fantasy world he would have never imagined possible. The plot was interesting and imaginative and I couldn't wait for more mayhem to unfold. Along Ryland's journey he meets other species ... trolls, elves, other digitized humans, etc. Together these characters enhance one another, even though all have different perspectives of each other and the world in which they live. There was humor, suspense, death and intrique; all of which make for a great read! I'm looking forward to Book 2 of the Series and how the author will 'grow' his characters. Lastly, the narrator greatly aided in my enjoyment by his tone, inflection of the author's words, and the expressiveness of the author's humor!

some running gags get old

there is a troll trope character in the story that is annoying beyond reason. enough so that it is a distraction that undermines the story progression by being an actual antagonist in her own right.

Good LitRPG with alot of humor

This novel is a slow starter. you need to stick with it. once the side character Eldertits is introduced, get ready to laugh your butt off for the rest of the novel. Now, here is a disclaimer -- not everyone will like the humor in this book. It is very raunchy and sex laced. However i found it absolutely hilarious. I am looking forward to book 2. Eldertits is one of my favorite characters now.

Fun book with a few issues.

I enjoyed the story overall. I personally don't usually care for pure mage class main characters, and the narrator's voice used for the Elder Tits character was horrible, and took me out of the story just about every time. Otther than that I thought it was fine.

Story premises good but…

The narrator has a good voice, however Talking With that cadence of captain Kirk gets tiring real fast.

The story line is good but the attempt at comic relief with one of the main characters is too over the top.

not a family option.

story line was intriguing but characters personality was NOT something I would want my kids listening to and therefore I shouldnt either.