Humble Beginnings: A Town Building LitRPG

Village Manager, Book 1

By: Andrew Karevik

Narrated by: Stewart Crank

Length: 11 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

I guess trying to catch the bus with your laces undone isn’t such a smart decision after all…

One fatal collision later, and I’m facing my judgment. As it turns out, I’ve been a lazy sob, and my short, uneventful life of playing games and getting up late wasn’t worth much. And so I don’t qualify to move on to the afterlife.

I try to argue to the goddess in front of me that I do have skills, that it was hard work playing those simulation and management games. But she will not concede.

In the end, I manage to get the benefit of the doubt, and a wager is made. To test my claims, I’ll be sent to a desolate, Level 1 village with the mission to make it thrive. If I fail or die, the goddess will bring me back to my old life, back to the drudge of working at the grocery store.

But that’s not going to happen. I will prove that all these countless hours spent in front of my computer were not in—

Ack, my head! Where the hell have I landed? Looks like a dilapidated farm, with a few huts scattered about. Qualifies as a desolate village, alright. I can’t believe it. This is it! I’m actually doing this! But where do I even begin…Yes, first, find the Mayor…but then what, convince her to hand over the keys so I can work my magic? Could it be that simple?

Oh, there she is. Uh, hello? Hmm, why isn’t she waking up? Maybe I should go look for some quest to do in the meantime. Uh, are these goblins I see there on the road?

“You are under attack!”

Dang.

©2022 Andrew Karevik (P)2023 Podium Audio

Easy Start

This was a good start to a new series, but it wasn't great. The main character had no real conflict or antagonist to slow him down. He also seems to have all the answers for every problem.

First-time listener to civilization building litrpg along with main character being character charisma.

great book

it was a well written story and excellent narration. I can't wait for the next book I will definitely buy it.

Enjoyable Village building

I really loved this book. Kept my attention the entire time. I liked the main character and it was fun to see his ambitions and ideas play out. I think he could negotiate stinger business deals but I felt he was growing and becoming more organized in the end. I had fun and I would love to see where else this story is going. Also interested in seeing a lot more of the lit rpg aspects in the next book. The village interface is not used very often. Overall I’ll definitely be interested in book 2

Looking forward for more

I'm looking forward for the world to grow. This story has some good bones to it but left so much unexplored and untouched. The witches and the dungeon, in particular, beg for more attention. I'll keep tuning in to see where it goes.

Not entertaining

This is an alright book. I found myself getting bored often, stoping and starting the book.

meh

no real conflict. everything works out. Narration was done well. good story for the Y.A. crowd.

Good start to a new series

Good storyline, clearly one of the plots centered on growth by negotiation and as such was interesting and atypical as a book.

Great start

This was a great start to a series, looking forward to the next book.

Really enjoyed the audiobook.

Worth it?!

Seen this in my suggestion feed for books I might like for a while. The title was interesting and I finally decided to get it after months of thinking about it. Love the story. The narrator was pretty good I'd say 7.1 out of 10.
Definitely worth the read. I hope this series continues.

I cant wait for more

This story was enjoyable and exactly what's advertised. If you like settlement building and economic/political deal making you will love it. it has some magic and theres also some slice of life elements. The side characters from the village and witch woods are all well done.