Harbinger of Destruction

A LitRPG Adventure

By: Robert S. Keene

Narrated by: J.S. Arquin

Length: 13 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Hirrus Callabryn is cursed. Afflicted. Infected.

He’s also aware. For once.

After a player-led event turns his once peaceful town into a band of ravenous monsters, Hirrus obtains a sentience usually unobtainable by non-player characters. It might be a gift of the gods or a mistake, but Hirrus doesn’t care. It means he can track down and find the players responsible and stop them from doing it again.

Thing is, players don’t like their plans being interrupted. And in this game, there’s no resurrection until the weekly reset. Will Hirrus be able to cut a path of destruction across the land to get his revenge, or will the players be able to overwhelm him and bring him to justice?

Experience the start of a new EvP LitRPG series about a warrior's quest for revenge against cruel players.

©2022 Aethon Audio (P)2022 Aethon Books

Soooooooo much fun and action!

What a fun-filled story! This is the story of Hirrus an abused broken NPC who gains sentience and decides to stop obeying the AI and to actually make his own decisions. This is the story of Hirrus rise to become the Harbinger of Destruction. By his own actions and to make his own fate, the AI accepts him like any other player, instead of treating it like the aberration or glitch that it is. But, as player he now has player status he can now begin the process of powering up and if he can he'll exact his revenge on the adventure team that destroyed his town...
So I say get the book, or better yet get the audiobook and let JS Arquin tell you a story!

what a fun book

I really hoped this was going to be a good listen and I wasn't disappointed! the main character is so fun because who hasn't looked at an NPC and tapped their chin in thought about them being more? great perspective and I unexpectedly like GM Dave a lot, too. narration is solid.

NPC awakened

NPC mc. Very interesting story. AI becoming more than just machine.. NPC verse humans. Humorous with good action. This series could become a whole lot more with Npcs become sentiment alluding to AI rights and/or an AI God of the game.

Better than expected

Loved it! Want more! Will definitely buy sequel! Highly recommend! Will recommend to others alot!

Memorable character, fun ride

First chapter or two was slow to me but really happy I stuck with it. I like that the ability points are not the traditional strength, agility, etc. The game system is unique and doesn't require the constant reading of ability updates for pages that others do in this genre. Looking forward to book 2.

Not What I Was Wanting

First of all I want to say I love the narrator and because of that I stuck with this book for as long as I could the story's the problem though. It's so off, I want spoil the plot for those who decide to get the book anyway, but will point out little. The MC is a NPC that broke free of his restrictions and OP from lv 1 then proceeds to take his revenge on adventurers/player's. Some parts are just so unbelievable and off, I don't know how to explain with out giving away the rest of the story.

Decent, but unbelievable

The book is a good listen and I had problems putting it down.. In the start at least.

Then its flaws became more and more apparent.
The way the players are depicted in this game make it seem like the author has only heard about how players act online, and only the toxic ones at that.

Everything seem so exaggerated. The way the author writes about them crying and begging for their death is just unrealistic.. The author makes it seem like the players cant just shoot the players that are on a respawn timer a message outside the game.. I mean, more than once its mentioned there are forums and that people can look at them ingame.. So why would the antagonists start crying and act like their guild members are dead to them permanently?

I donno.. It seems like the author wanted to write a book that has all the emotions of permanently killing off the cast, but didnt want to deal with the consequences of them being gone permanently.

I pose this question to you;
Have you ever felt such strong emotions over a guild member dying in a game that you started crying, raging and throwing yourself into a suicidal battle? I get that losing the gear they worked to get sucks and can likely infuriate certain types of players.. But crying and raging over someone else dying and being unable to play for a few days? Seems over the top..

Only realistic part was about how a bill to protect self aware A.I would likely get crushed by lobbyists throwing millions at the senate.

Humor in the contrast

Performance raises this book to 5+ stars. Hilarious contrast between the narrative and dialogue. Loved the humor in the contrast between the MC and other characters. Worthwhile listen if you like textbook PvP LitRPG based in VRMMORPG.

An original concept wrapped in a LitRPG framework

I wanted to put a review up for a book that doesn't have a lot yet, especially compared to a lot of others in the genre. This is a well-done effort and an original story/take on the genre. This is not a RPG progression story or cultivation and the mechanics of the game are broken with the MC. The story rather revolves around the journey and growth of the MC as a person. I found a lot of great prose and writing, fun references, and some deep thoughts in the writing.

There are elements of the game world and rules that you are better off just not overanalyzing and there are also archetypes and over the top drama from "players". I do wonder though how normal player behavior would look to the MC though and so can accept that I am sure there are trolls in games as bad as these.

The narration is also fantastic and quite frankly fun to have a totally new set of voices from some of the most popular narrators, who I love also.

I have already started on the next book. I have found few LitRPGs that I really care about what is next in the story and plot. Well done and thank you for the enjoyment.

Great Story

It was really enjoyable to hear a story from an NPC perspective and how the impact free will would have on them.