The Rules: The Complete Series

A LitRPG Epic

By: Aaron Oster

Narrated by: Doug Tisdale Jr.

Length: 30 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

Welcome to Somerset.

A land of mystery and magic!

You have been chosen by our Illustrious Overlord to take part in The Rules: a no holds barred death-match, to see who among you is the most powerful. You have been transported here against your will. The only way back is to reach level 100 and defeat the final boss. Please do be careful with your life, as it is the only one you’ll get. 

Have a pleasant match, and remember, we’re always watching....

When Sam wakes up in a strange new world with a message floating before his eyes, he thinks he's hallucinating. However, he soon discovers a land filled with dungeons, monsters, angry gnomes, and even worse, talking dogs!

Warning: This is a LitRPG book, containing multiple stat sheets, message windows, dungeons, and epic loot. This book contains excessive amounts of profanity, so if you're a delicate flower, be advised to listen to something else. You have been warned.

©2019, 2020 Aaron Oster (P)2020 Aaron Oster

Author needs a thicker skin.

I liked the first book in this series but this series just turned into a way for the author to bash people who leave bad reviews. The ending is also a rushed here I finished from the author with no intent to finish the series well. Don't waste the credit.

Mixed

I like the first two books and most of the 3rd. The story was good and the progression as a smooth one even between all the killing of bunnies. lol.

The third book as where this changed. Half way through the book the author just took random jabs at critics of the books and went on rants. The last half of the third book just tossed out the premise of the book, granted I know this is due to the last two books being canceled and he wanted to end the series, but I think this could of been done better without attacking those that don't matter (trolls as in the negative posters).

My thoughts on the authors hate towards his thin skin in regards to critics happened after the book when he had his main character roast a critic. Funny yes but re-enforced the thin skin.

Ending ruined by trolling...

I really actually laughed at the MC and the main girl's antics... for a bit...

Once the 3rd book came and I heard the intro about the trolling the author received, I actually felt bad for him. Unfortunately, I value professional integrity more... When the third book ended devolving into a constant jabs at said internet troll, I began to lose faith. While I finished the book, I really wish I could have finished the intended book instead... I will continue being a fan with the SuperMage series and won't ask for a refund on this one as the laughs were really needed right now, but I hope that the author learns from this unfortunate mistake... At least he did finish the work in manner of speaking...

The Hot Fuzz for LitRPG Books

These books are like the Hot Fuzz for LitRPG books identifying many of the tropes and memes for LitRPG books and then being guilty of so so SO many of them.

The main protagonist is not an overachiever, he does not acclimate to his forced insertion in to a game like world and is guilty of excessive sarcasm and profanity. He wants out of the world and he is wiling to step all over the locals to accomplish that goal. If you expect this guy to become a hero of his little game world community and acclimate to the world then this LitRPG book is not for you. If you can appreciate the satire and tolerate the profanity then this three book combo is worth the credit as it is hilarious.

Probably won't be read by anyone.

I loved this series so much I've bought the rest of his books. wish.it.would.have.continued

The reason they needed to sell all 3 at once....

This is a horrible book. The book is about a person who constantly gets shat on, over and over. Like purposefully. In order to get the stupid funny type comedy laugh you do when the three stodges hit each other. It is so bad, so unrealistic, and then the MC just does so many stupid things you want everybody to just be killed off. The reason they need to put all these three books into a publishers pack is because if you even try to read book 1 you won't buy the other two. So they trick you into thinking you bought something of value when you bought crap. I really don't kid you that this story is just how the MC gets screwed over and over without break. Each he gets screwed over event just goes into the next one and he just lets it happen. I will be returning this the same day I bought it. Now you know why this ISN'T 5 stars. Only the people who like that stupid funny comedy would ever waste their time on this crap disguised as books. Don't waste your time. If however you do like stupid comedy where someone acts dumb and bad things happen to them and you find this funny then this is comedy gold for you and you should buy this ASAP (There are people out there like that so this is for you).

How the f does this book have a 4.1 rating!?!

This books is probably one of the funniest and most money worthy on audible! The hate should go back to there harry potter. "Good but still not a funny masterpiece like this." If you like the blue mage raised by dragons you would like this!

3 Book series about an angry incel.

This book unfortunately reads like a horny teenage boy screaming in impotent rage at everything they disagree with in the world. Constant jabs about the genre it exists in, but not to the point of parody. Unfortunately it simply sounds as though the writer is unable to accept that their views of society are not universal and attack their readership for it. Constant 4th wall breaks and overly aggressive narrative voice.

The voice actor did what they could with this, but unless you're interested in hearing a 3 book long angry rant about the horrible wrongs of feminism I wouldnt subject myself to it.

Written by a 15 year old?

I have not finished the series yet, I will only because it’s 30 hours long for 1 credit. But this feels and sounds like it was written by a newly pubescent boy who is comfortable with swearing but knows that if he says anything too sexual his mother will get mad at him. Story is drivel, characters are trash so far, the narrator is ok but not great although it’s not really his fault he’s trying to deliver a fun story out of a burning bag of excrement. I will finish and edit if my mind is changed in the next 20 hours.

buyer beware

It is good that many people have access to write and make their own stories and characters, to Express their ideals and craft tales never heard of before. I would not deny anyone that privilege. however people are free to Express the views they have of a story or work of art to which Aaron Oster feels personally offended by. I had a really hard time dealing with the whiny voice narrator, the insufferable characters, the continued "jokes" that play out time after time after time. one thing I hated most was Aaron's temper tantrum state that he would continue to insult reader or listeners that would dare to not enjoy his story. I wish Mr. Oster a good life, however I will be sure not to delve into anymore of his works if his others are even slightly similar to the annoyance I have had to go through.

Enjoyable and worth a listen

Overall, I enjoyed the listen and the different characters and the personality’s. I did chuckle multiple times at the responses from many as well as the different plots.
Only thing I didn’t enjoy was knowing that the author decided to end the story short by a couple of books. It would have been nice to hear the MCs full journey rather than it feeling like it had to end due to other people’s dislikes with the books. As I knew it was coming to a short end it did ruin the last book slightly for me because of this.
But will def give this a re listen in the future as I did enjoy it.
Thank you for all your hard work to both the author and narrator

the rules

well some might not have enjoyed this book but I did don't read if you don't like swearing or else you will be offended and it will be your own fault my favourite part is probably book free chapter 37 and also sounds good bye

Can’t believe

I can’t believe this book series hasn’t done well tbh the bad reviews on the individual books put me off despite loving this authors other work but I saw the box set and got it a gotta say I love it the characters and there interactions with each other the mad plot that makes fun of its self the protist get bullied and blessed by fate the world it’s self and the obvious way he let loose even more on the third with the four wall humor because of the trolls and not bridge type it is sad this won’t continue but understand that books that don’t do well arnt only unprofitable but damage his reputation as a amazing author

Liked it pretty much, rushed at the end

The Book was fun to listen to, the Narrator is brilliant. The first 26 hours were fun to listen. Then it was a bit rushed, as it was planned as a 5 Part series. As such the last four hours were okay for an ending.... but I would have loved to see this finished and more things explained. If you can life with a rushed end, this is a great trilogy to listen to.