Clan Dominance: The Sleepless Ones, Book 4

By: Dem Mikhailov, Mikhail Yagupov - translator

Narrated by: Phil Thron

Length: 10 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

Being a unique player has its advantages but comes fraught with quite a few problems. Having become the owner of a spell capable of removing the magic veil from an unexplored continent, Rosgard has to prepare himself for the role of the Navigator, the only one who can lead the expedition across the ocean. Should he fail to do so, the spell will be taken away by the game's administration. The desire to become a game legend conflicts with the protagonist's adventurous spirit, which gets in the way of leveling up the character consistently. The virtual world of Waldyra is full of secrets, after all - such as the Silver Legend, a mysterious set of armor that's been scattered all across the virtual world; some of the items no longer traceable.

Rosgard's love for adventure is shared by kindred spirits who gather around him, ready to take any risk and dive headfirst into any rabbit hole just to see how far it goes. In the meantime, top clans are still looking for the Great Navigator to either convince or coerce him into joining them. There's never a minute's peace for him in either world - the real or the virtual. The clan of the Sleepless Ones is hot on his trail, while the game presents Rosgard and his friends with another challenge they find hard to resist.

©2020 Dem Mikhailov; English translation copyright 2020 by Mikhail Yagupov (P)2021 Tantor

Great storytelling

Four books in and this is the first lit RPG series I’ve read with actual video games as video game that’s worth the read. Amazing storytelling. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is there are a handful of contextual translations that don’t quite flow in English. Still, amazing work.

DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK

Starting at the end of the last book, the writing gets lazy and characters are introduced for filler. The first 20 minutes of the story are a description of a city that was previously described in the first book. Annoying prolonged dialogue that doesn’t do anything but fill space. The characters introduced are just to fill space “showing their personality”. Which consists of caricatures doing typical dialogue. Like sassy girl, nerdy guy, and gruff dwarf. It’s the only reason they were added. Annoying filler dialogue on an already short book. The fights also get nonsensical and the character development is barely thought through. No consistency In skill level ups or experience. And when they need to beat someone strong, the person/monster just gets dumb enough for them to beat. Having no self preservation or tactical thought.