The Experimental Alchemist

A LitRPG Adventure

By: K. Dimmick

Narrated by: Jessica Almasy

Length: 35 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

Born to die in the game. One chance to solve the riddle that’ll save her life....

Orianna, born a slave who could be sacrificed into a deadly virtual world at any moment, still dares to dream of a better life. But when she’s finally uploaded into a land of magic and monsters, she has six days to solve an impossible riddle before nanotech destroys her body from within. 

Lagging far behind her fellow adventurers, Orianna joins the domineering Dragon Hunter’s Guild in an effort to survive. But when she realizes the guild leader will do anything in his bid for power, she’s faced with sacrificing an innocent to save herself. Her risky plan to use magic and pass through the Dragon Gate will either save her or wipe her from existence. 

Will Orianna solve the riddle in time to prevent her from dying for good? 

The Experimental Alchemist is an epic fantasy LitRPG, containing stat tables, guild building, and magic. If you like game mechanics, crafting, pets, gutsy heroines, cool Easter eggs, and unique healing systems, then you’ll love this.

Buy The Experimental Alchemist today, and start the adventure of a lifetime! Also included is an unforgettable bonus novella called "Dragon Hunters".

©2021 Aethon Books (P)2021 Aethon Audio

Bland but not bad

The book is bland and without much that makes it unique, the game world stuff tends to take away from the story, and has foreshadowing more obvious than a hammer to the face. The mc falls right into the dumb smart for plot zone, solving complex riddles but unable to tell who the traitors are. Narrator is so British it hurts, and therefore every other character regardless of attempts otherwise, not to mention her odd tempo.

it's hard to passively listen to

it is hard to finish. The grammar style and the characters seem to need to half explain everything and then forget half the potions they made. probably just not a title I can appreciate. There are also way too much reaffirmation of what she is doing.

Was good at first...

The book was good at first. I liked the character and the storyline up until I was about a third in. Everything after that point I started noticing was so conveniently placed you could predict absolutely everything. Oh no, the main character is in trouble and needs something. Immediately following She obtains said missing thing and all is well! How convenient. It got very old after that and I had such high hopes for this book

Epic Length Fun

For fans of fantasy and LitRPG, this epic-length book (along with bonus novella) is sure to delight. Intriguing setup, good pacing, excellent narration, and while the issues of the moment are resolved, the story leaves it wide open for more stories with these characters and others in this world. Personally, I am hoping for many more stories!

Disclaimer: I was given a review copy for free and have voluntarily left this review.

A great book

Great story, great pace. Even at over 30 hours it is too short. I hope there will be a sequel soon.

Good read but with some errors

I really liked the story and character. Only issue is at one point the MC creates a certain kind of potion time skip but then later they have to experiment to figure out how to make one. It really frustrated me.

okay💙

This book is aimed at young adults and quite enjoyable. I found it a bit slow particularly around midway.
Yhe narrator performed very well with clear distinction voices.
I listened at 1.20X
I was kindly given this book at my request and am voluntary leaving a review.

Great Concept

I wish this was a real way to "move on" from this existence... I love the idea of eternal life in a video game world, that said this book was great from the start to the finish though I do wish there was more at the end. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who likes LITRPG.

excellent LitRPG

this is LitRPG for LitRPG fans, very much down the center line of the genre tropes except with a female protagonist for flavor. my only complaint is the novella at the end fixes the holes in the story. Why complain about something fixed? The novella takes place before the main story, and therefore if simply included before the start the whole tale would flow better. Yes there would be a minor spoiler, but nothing in this book is suprising so there really is not anything to spoil...

I need more!!!

loved it! great narration, relatable characters, and a great lit.rpg. I need more of the zones of Alacria!

loved it

It's a really well crafted world and the novella backstory was a nice touch. No cliff hanger ending here - the main story was wrapped up but lots of loose ends to lead into the next book, which I'm looking forward to

Great Story, Excellent Listen.

This is my first LitRPG Book, I had never heard of this style of book before and was unsure of what to expect. I was never one for Role Playing Games, so was doubly unsure how this book would work in an audible format.

For those of you that have the same question. It is the same as any other audio book, you listen to. The difference is you through the skills, statistics, and bonds, see the decisions and actions that the Characters takes as they develop and the impact that makes on the challenges they face and how they interact with the other characters. It is hard to describe but it certainly added a lot to the book.

I do not know if other LitRPG will create the same experience or I was lucky to find this book.

Loved the story

This was a good listen with interesting twists and turns. The novella at the end gave the back story which was really good.
What I didn't like, was the narrator. She had an amazing range for voices but the accent was awful. I now hate the word forward. Each time she said it my hackles went up. There is an R in forward but she said if like faux-wad.
Not sure if there is another book coming and if there is, I will look forward to reading/listening to it too.

What goes through your head while playing WoW

Wasn't sure what to make of this to start with, but took it for what it was and settled into it. Probably would have engaged with it more when I was playing things like WoW but it did take me back there and brought back some good memories. It is not exactly complex but does develop some novel ideas whilst working within the familiar MMO mechanics which when playing are a little silly and cliché are even more so when vocalised in an audio book, but that in the end become part of its charm. So as an easy listen, and something that will bring a knowing smile to your face if you played MMOs then it is worth the purchase and listen.

An enjoyable LitRPG

Caveat. I'm 7.5 hours in and enjoying the journey. That said this review will be updated on completion.

The book starts in a novel setting for LitRPGs in some form of post-apocalyptic but stable society. Our heroine for plot reasons, I'll leave for you to discover finds herself translated into an RPG, aware of one thing about the world she finds herself in. If she doesn't solve the riddle she was given in six days, she WILL die.
As a setting for a LitRPG this is rather novel and adds a sense of urgency and importance to the events going on. Our protagonist is not only trying to adapt and learn about the world, but is constantly aware that she has no time to waste. The RPG world is interesting enough, with some nice features. This leads to an entertaining story, which I'm enjoying. The feel of the story is more of that of a YA novel, this is in no means a bad thing, but there are certain levels of complexities missing and certain tropes are drawn on that one would expect.

The narrator is solid. She takes a little while to get going but her narration improves as the book progresses. She dances between different voices with ease and her pacing and dramatic flare is present. This leads to her pulling you into the story and I'll definitely look for more of her work to listen to.

Overall if you enjoy the genre, I would recommend this novel, giving it a low 4*, in contrast to Sky Realms Online which I would give a high 4*. I'm enjoying the ride and for a 35 hour novel, I am breezing through it with a sense of immersion and not feeling of drag.