The Valens Legacy

By: Jan Stryvant

Narrated by: Leland King

Length: 11 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

Black Friday, book 1:   

In his junior year at college, the only things on Sean's mind are doing his homework and getting out of college to get a real job. A gamer and a bit of a nerd, Sean's philosophy in life has been to keep his head down and get his work done: He doesn't have the time or money for anything more after his father died in an industrial accident when Sean was eight.   

But when a failed kidnapping attempt leaves him with a gaping hole in his memory, his oldest friend dead, and his mother missing, Sean suddenly finds his whole world turned upside down as he's thrust into the hidden world of magic and the supernatural. Apparently he's now wanted, dead or alive, by all of the magical societies, though he has no idea why. About the only thing going for him is what his friend did for him just before he died and the cute track star who lives in the room next to his, who has suddenly taken a very personal interest in his problems.   

Perfect Strangers, book 2:   

During his junior year in college, Sean finds himself suddenly dropped into the middle of a world that he didn't even know existed. A secret world of magic and magic users, lycanthropes, goblins, and all the other things that go bump in the night. To make matters even more difficult, the very same magic users who had Sean's father killed now believe that Sean will somehow inherit his father's work when he turns 21, which is just a few days away. 

Needless to say most of the magic users' councils seem to be in two camps: The first camp wants him dead. The second camp wants him captured and will probably kill him after they've learned his secrets. The only solution Sean sees to any of this is to finish his father's work, the very thing that got his father killed. But in order to do that, Sean must first find out just what his father was working on! He's also going to need to learn magic himself, find a safe place to stay, raise some money, and gain a lot of allies.   

Fortunately for Sean he's got two good women at his side: Roxy, a cheetah lycanthrope with a lot of experience in fighting; and Jolene, a tantric witch with more than a few connections in the supernatural black market.   

WARNING: The Valens Legacy contains explicit sexuality, nudity, violence, bad language, attempted murder, actual murder, self-defense, proactive self-defense, destruction of private property, vandalism, breaking and entering, tantric magic, polyamory, mayhem, gratuitous sex and violence, littering, breaking speed limits, a used car dealer, one Plymouth hemi, and some poor guy who just wants to earn a paycheck as a cashier.  

©2018 Jan Stryvant; 2017 Jan Stryvant (P)2018 Podium Publishing

Sumtime' s you just want to have fun!

This is a fun, sexy male fantasy, with I believe tongue firmly planted in cheek! That being said I found the plot interesting, and the characters (if a bit two dimensional) entertaining. I found myself wanting to know what happens next!. I think another reviewer described it as fast food literature in the best possible way, and I find that I agree in the fact that sometimes you just want a good burger and fries. not every thing has to be China plates and 13 pieces of silverware. Just as not all books need to be To Kill A Mockingbird. it is a fun romp, yes this book has adult material in it so please know that going in. I hate when people bag on a book or movie when they know, going in, they will find some of the themes offensive. just relax and don't take yourself or the book to seriously, and enjoy.

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

Wow, I want the next one.

This is a cheap, cliche, fast-food driven work of erotic fiction. I mean this in the absolute BEST way possible.

The characters are a little 2D and the writer knows it. But I still end up caring about what happens to them. This is partly due to the excellent narration.

I honestly wish each individual book was longer and more fleshed out with action/ erotic scenes. And other species interactions could be played up a bit. That said I'm happy with it and I will buy the next one.

15 of 16 people found this review helpful

I'd Love to see more of this author!

I really like the premise and as far as "lit RPGs" are concerned, it is worth the buy. I wish audible/Kindle would make a genre for lit RPG or at least a sub genre; it would make finding books like this one much easier. Narrator did a fine job, the writing is passable, and the story is great.

13 of 14 people found this review helpful

love it

I love this series. Does a good spin on the urban fantasy, harem, and action. The characters grow and learn from there experiences in a believable manner. also the world changes as they affect it and it affects them. also the narrator does an excellent job with the characters voices.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

excellent and lewd in the right places

Gods this book kept me in an iron hold it seems since i couldn't seem to stop listening to it. honestly i was saddened that it's the only book from the author on this site....i just have a craving for more.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

You are going to love this book it was fantastic<br />

I would recommend this highly hope they put the rest on audible please and thank you!!!

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

pure fluff

**********WARNING*************
IF SEX AND VIOLENCE OFFEND YOU, THIS IS NOT THE BOOK FOR YOU! NO KIDDIES!

This is a straight up adult male fantasy. That's the bad news. The good news is that it's a straight up adult male fantasy. The action is over the top, and you just can't help rooting for the heroes (Anti-heroes?) The protagonist's are way over powered, and male dominated. It is reminiscent of laurel K Hamilton's writing style insofar as the sex is concerned. While I understand the necessity of sex to the storyline, I feel that the sex is too graphic, too often, and way too long. After a point it just becomes tedious, and detracts from an otherwise good story. Even so, the story line itself is a good one. I liked it, and I can't wait for the next installment. Want a serious book? This ain't it. Want non stop action, gratuitous sex,and a really bad good guy? then this one is for you.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

So good i started it over 3 hours after i finished

Where does The Valens Legacy rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

For pure entertainment value, this book is up there with the best :D
There are some flaws in the world building of it, but this isn't a book you read for the epic universe building you get with some other 50 hour + audiobooks that go into detail. It is for the pure entertainment and joy of going from awesome to something even better with every minute that goes by.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Valens Legacy?

For me, it has to be the amazing moment where a bunch of "terrorists" starts shooting at the Hero in a mall, in an open carry state.
This went as well for the "terrorists" as could be expected haha!.
This moment had me laughing hard and it is the first time I have ever read or listened to something so great being added to a book.

What about Leland King’s performance did you like?

I feel like I have heard this guy before, have I heard this guy before?
If Leland King isn't MacLeod Andrews then someone's parents have some explaining to do!
The performance was superb though!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Bring tissues and not your girlfriend.
I for one don't ever want to see a book being made into a movie or a tv series, especially with the garbage that is being passed off as watchable today.

9 of 11 people found this review helpful

Speedy and Wayyy too sexual. :/

The premise was a good story, though a little cliche. still, I would've dug right in! Except... about 3 hours in, I feel like 2:30 of that was straight sex scene after another and very little of what happens to the protagonist is explained! And to top it off, he just accepts the idea of a new reality with zero qualms. Not gonna rant. I was disappointed. Returned this one for my credit back after 25% completion.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Not an edge of your seat thriller

What did you like best about The Valens Legacy? What did you like least?

The added sexual references were refreshing. Sadly human sexuality is left out of so many good sci-fi/fantasy books for fear of censorship. I especially liked the addition of some of the "little things" like Maxwells Silver Hammer and the Hemi 'Cuda. Did not care for the having to figure out the "gaming" references.

Would you be willing to try another book from Jan Stryvant? Why or why not?

I'd listen to more of this series if it was on audio but sadly it's not.

Did Leland King do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

Not bad, but certainly not a Jeffery Kafer or Luke Daniels.

Did The Valens Legacy inspire you to do anything?

nothing comes to mind.

Any additional comments?

none

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Funny Book

The sex could take more of a back seat and this would be even better.

It's no Bill the vampire. No real humour.

This book is honestly very slow and quite forgettable. I didn't care about any character.

0 of 2 people found this review helpful