War Aeternus: The Beginning

By: Joshua Swayne, Charles Dean

Narrated by: Jeff Hays Soundbooth Theater

Lee is a quiet and unassuming office worker who leads a life of solitude, comfort, and routine. Day in and day out, he shuts off his brain, keeps his head down, and goes about doing his job and minding his own business. That is, he does until a drunken god shows up randomly one day and whisks him off into another world, demanding that Lee serve as his pawn in a game between the gods. Now, trapped in a completely different world full of danger, magic, and creatures he's never imagined outside of fairy tales and video games, Lee has to figure out how to stay alive long enough to make it back home.

Soundbooth Theater dives into another instant RPG Gamelit classic in War Aeturnus. With this piece of reverent comedy and philosophy about the role of belief in our modern times, Charles Dean has filled a void in the world of Gamelit by creating a Candide for the genre. Not only will Lee's exploits with his psychotic sidekick, Miller, make listeners laugh and spit out their Mountain Dew, it may even convince them to get off the couch for a little while and explore the world outside of video games and fantasy.

The Soundbooth Theater team for this production:

• Jeff Hays - Narration, Characters, Production Supervision
• Dalton Lynne - Proofing
• Alex Tate - Production, Editing, Mastering

©2017 Charles Dean (P)2018 Charles Dean

a very interesting story

a well written take on the reluctant protagonist, good game design and a nice premise on the world itself

Amazing Performance

The Story was good, a good mix of seriousness and Comedic relief. But the performance and tuning of the audio really brought the work to life. looking forward to buying the next 2 books in the series!

Good story, with a twist from other LitRPG

Liked the book, and glad the author kept it PG13. I hope he stays consistent, and doesn't give into using strong language as the go to adjective like so may other LitRPG authors do. Also, Audible you really need to QA this record, it has a lot of skips.

Liked it but didn't love it

Do you have any additional comments?

It was one of those novels that I really wanted to love but settled with a liking. It had all the special ingredients. An unlikely hero, a justice seeking bloodthirsty barbarian, even a love interest or two. Heck the meddling gods were just about as awesome as could be described.

But it just didn't come together in the way I would have loved. Let me say it was a very good listen. I actually went through Jeff Hayes new novels to find this one and bought it on the spot. He never lets me down with his narrations.

The problem was the disconnect with the story and the main character. He was such an unlikely hero that he didn't want to be there. There were moments he would spring into action and make it seem like he could become better than himself, say like a hero should. But then wham I do not want to be a hero I wanna go home. And that really left a bitter taste in the mouth sometimes.

Without spoilers more than I already have alluded to I gotta say it does redeem itself in the later stage of the novel. He grows up, character growth is really important and maybe I'm just so used to clear concise goals that this novel left me a little off.

I will of course get the next book when it comes out to audible. It was by no means bad it just wasn't a shining beacon,, I have a feeling the next book the hero will be the hero I thought he could be from the beginning.

The Power of Bacon Compels You

Charles Dean Strikes Again! A fresh new LitRPG story from the writer of Bathrobe Knight. The protagonist is a pawn in a game played by gods and all he wants is to go home. The only way that his patron god will let him go is if he gathers followers.

I enjoyed the characters, the situation, and Jeff Hays's amazing voice acting. I can't recommend this audiobook enough. Looking forward to the upcoming sequel.

4.5 stars- worth the credit!

My only complaint is there is no sequel out yet! The author portrays the caraters well, the auther keeps the story moving along with out any dead spots, and all in all it was a great book.

A real Page turner!

Great story, wonderful narrator who really brought the characters alive.
Can't wait to turn the page on the next book.

Good story

In the beginning it's a slow build but after that the ideas the story has is soon fun and the situations interesting and entertaining while there are a few areas that make me cringe booth because of awkwardness and reference to something I believe in this book is actually a pretty good one ill be reading the next one

One of the best LitRPGs ever

It took me a few to get completely into the book. It hits you out of nowhere and you just start laughing. I laughed so much listening to this book and the voices I can’t wait for the next one!

What A Great F***ing Book!

Wow. I am entranced by the imagination, creativity and depth at which this story was told, the narrator was the perfect choice. I have already purchased the second book and am hoping for a 3rd to be released soon, I am a huge fan of this author after 1 book. Well done good sir. Well done.