Competitive Advantage

Nora Hazard Series, Book 2

By: Blaise Corvin

Narrated by: Emily Beresford

Length: 7 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's summary

Nobody likes an escort mission. Nobody.

Unfortunately for Nora, she'll be stuck travelling with Jessica, an American gamer, and Christopher, a Filipino man with a mysterious past. Somehow, the former Jackals gang leader must keep the two Terrans alive while heading south for Enheduanna's new, insane mission.

Nora will have no time to prepare, or even to stay in Soron to enjoy her unexpected celebrity status. Instead, she will need to leave for Tolstey after healing from injuries sustained in battle, wounded while protecting Soron.

Despite what some may say about her now, Nora knows she is no hero. People expecting too much from her will probably be disappointed. But with the help of some new weapons and greater orb-Bonded power, surviving her new, suicidal quest might be merely improbable, not impossible.

One thing is for sure: Regardless of what happens - whether fulfilling her mission or learning to trust again - Nora will do things her own way, on her own terms. 

Contains mature themes.

©2018 Blaise Corvin (P)2018 Tantor

i hate this MC

I love these books, but this MC is just so annoying. The only reason I'm finishing these is I love the world its placed in and I want to know how this ties into the main books. Also, please quit screaming hazard, God you sound dumb.

BadA** female MC in the world of Delvers

I have been wanting to get to this book for a while, but for some reason I did Asgard Awakening first and then never was able to get back to it. So, my deepest apologies to Blaise Corvin for taking so long, I was trying to be fair, but then I look at some people that output a lot of books and I do get to them quickly. So again. Apologies. Anyway, this is the second novel in the Nora Hazard series, and if you know Corvin you know he says he doesn’t write fast, but he is well worth the wait. Ludus is an amazing place to visit, even if it doesn’t star Jason and Henry, and he proves this with Nora.
Speaking of Whom, I have to say that Nora is actually one of the better built characters that you will find. I don’t mean she’s built like a brick house, but rather her character is believably defined and grows in a sensible manner. For example, Nora lived on the streets and so had a mindset that dealt with her surviving from one moment to the next. This instinct has both benefitted her and been a drawback as she developed. For example, it made her a great fighter who wasn’t worried about what was going to happen AFTER the fight, but rather what was going to happen DURING the fight. The drawback was the same thing. I don’t believe that she really thought all that far ahead in book one. She was basically stuck in the moment, mourning her friend for most of the book and struggling to survive one encounter after another.
In this book we see her shed this mentality. Partially because of her powers, but also because of the way her powers have allowed her to change. She has what one might call photographic reflexes, if you are a Marvel fan, in which you can learn to do something just by watching someone else do it. So kung fu, archery, gymnastics, even drawing are within her perview. This makes her much more dangerous than just another sword hand. Secondly, she has hypervigilance, which allows her to speed up her consciousness so that things appear far slower than they are, which is another boon when in battle. So, her powers develop along with her character. She no longer feels like a street rat who got lucky, but rather someone who is about to grasp her destiny by the shorthairs and pull it along in the direction she wants it to go. I honestly don’t know if PewPew is a nod to Willmarth or not, but it is awesome nonetheless. Finally, Nora says some very powerful and poignant last words, not as in I’m dying last words, but as in the last thing she says, at the end.
The book has amazing pacing, believable dialogue, great action scenes, and some downright auspicious world building that really helps to flesh out the world of Ludus and its inhabitants. Corvin was one of my gateway LITRPG drugs. He’s a total red pill if ever there was one, because the once you’ve swallowed the little red bugger you find yourself in a world that you won’t want to leave. Five Delvers books are simply not enough. One more Nora to go? Only reason I want this trilogy completed is so that we can get back to the gang at Delvers, but I would be happy to get more Nora in the future. If you are getting this book I have to ask why? You are only hurting yourself.
As for the narration portion I have to say that Emily Beresford nails it. She is a total pro, and really gave life to the novel. I have to say that I find her voice were pleasant and soothing to listen to, but she knows how to elevate a menacing moment or interject actual danger into an action scene. She can get plain mean when she needs to or as menacing as a rabid vampire bat is to a naked man in room full of razor blades. She’s versatile.
My final score is 8.4 stars. This is a great book that is really building to something special, and I don’t really see anything wrong here. Side characters like Jessica were fun and the direction of the tale is on course for epic level story telling. Go get it now.

ehh

I listened to this audio book because I enjoyed delvers llc. it is hard to believe This book was made by the same author. I understand it is a battle cry but Nora screaming hazard all the time has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever experienced. The author also goes out of his way to change common Earth slangs and substitute them for ludan. Or take common expressions or thoughts from Earth that are derogatory towards women and reverse them for man. I understand the lore. (more women and they are in charge. I dont take issue with that) but a lot of this book feels forced. I am also not sure why every single female character has to be portrayed as the most annoying and disrespectful person. Nora is definitely a badd ass and there are a lot of redeeming qualities of this book specifically that it takes place in the same world as delvers. However it does not seem as though the author really understands women and portrays them very strangely in my opinion. Lastly although I eventually got used to the narrator she really only has about 2 voices and it shows. I also I'm not a fan of her inflections which make every statement sound like a question. Over all it is a good read however in order to get through it you will need to be like myself and have the ability to ignore entire chapters because of the over all desire to finish. If you are like so many that pay for a book and don't even finish it I would not recommend this purchase

I really wanted to enjoy this series...

My main issue with this book is that the main character makes either stupid or normal decisions and then gets praised for being a genius. I had the same problem with the first book, but I couldn't overlook it in this one because it got so bad. I can usually power through the okay writing style if the concept behind the book is interesting, but now this tine

Why?

There's a lot in here that just kinda doesn't need to exist. Ar this point I'm more convinced that Nora could have just been introduced in a few chapters before the rest of the events start in book four of Delvers. Jessica is everything bad about "nerd" culture personified and rolled into one character. Nora still makes terrible life choices then complains that nothing goes her way, people being mean and random childish outbursts followed by regret. Why she continues ignoring all advice from her orb then grouse about the orb not helping her is beyond me. Because she never listened we get to hear her say "pew pew" a lot.... like a lot. Her shouting her last name as a battle cry is also really cringy. You almost get into the intense fight but then hear her shout her own name and then it's gone. I enjoyed her character more not knowing her background. I only want to know how she ends up where she does in Delvers now so I'll finish out the series.

Horrible main character

Very difficult main character to enjoy. Even though she gains power and experience her thought processes never improve or develope. She's annoying and very hard to care about.

loved

the only thing i could really complain about is the main character's battle cry being her just shouting her last name rapidly gets a bit cheesy for my taste

do yourself a favor and read all of them

absolutely amazing I loved it why does this have to be 15 words I'm not a writer im not even a reader I listen!!

another one

another great addition to the delvers universe I cant wait to see nora meet up with the A team.

Excellent

I like that she doesn't have everything going for her. Nora is a great hero and this series inside the Delvers LLC world is fan-*******-tastic.

grudge against the protagonist?!

Why is that the writer has a grudge against the protagonist?!

Treating her as a dimwit!?