Storm Strider

Storm Strider, Book 1

De: Maradina

Narrado por: Rachel Leblang

Five thousand kilometres from shore. A sea of leviathans snapping at her heels. Marisol has never felt more alive.

Nearly a century ago, rifts opened and giant magic-blooded bugs descended upon humanity. They were named the "swarm" for their fierce, insatiable hunger for human flesh. Born and raised in a small desert village, Sand-Dancer Marisol wants nothing to do with them. All she wants to do is sail to a legendary island city and bring a vial of healing seawater back to her sickly mama. Who has time to care about some distant war?

Just when she earns enough to pay for her once-in-a-lifetime trip to the city, a swarm of leviathans attacks her ship and strands her in the middle of the sea, forcing her to pick a class from a system. Three out of four classes will save her life and bring her home, but only one will let her stand on water, move forward, and save her mother.

So what if her system tells her she has a less than one percent chance of making the journey? Marisol will skate to the city or die trying.

The Storm Strider series is a high-octane adventure that mixes LitRPG elements with magic, mutations, power progression, oversized enemies, and a war-torn fantasy world where factions are based around different types of bugs. Come for the nail-biting human versus insect battles, stay for the incredibly wicked insect trivia.

©2025 Maradina (P)2025 Podium Audio

A fantastic story with interesting world building and unique takes on magic/abilities.

Overall I enjoyed the narrative and the voice actor was fantastic. I very much enjoy a story about the generation after the disaster and how civilization has adapted. The world is intriguing and fascinating enough for me to want more. The main character is easy to get behind and likable.
However there are things that make this book a difficult listening experience. One the objectives as all system story's have are redundant and immersion breaking as they feel tagged on to fit the system novel type. Two the references to how much time has passed and the discussions and event that take place are often wildly disproportionate to each other. Finally is just feels like a few more like a polished draft of a book, things like references to in world locations, events and characters feel retcond in to explain things that have already taken place instead of woven into the story.
But at the end of the day it was a good listen and I'll definitely be getting the second book when it releases or mabey skipping straight to Royal Road.