The Secret of the Dark Forest Audiobook By Vasily Mahanenko cover art

The Secret of the Dark Forest

Way of the Shaman Series, Book 3

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The Secret of the Dark Forest

By: Vasily Mahanenko
Narrated by: Jonathan Yen
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The virtual world of Barliona is a place of rest and entertainment - but not for everyone. It has become a survival arena for Daniel Mahan after he was sentenced to eight years in its virtual jail. Mahan has been through it all: the back-breaking work in the mines, betrayal by other prisoners, and finally, the retrial which has released him into Barliona's common world. What more could one want? Mahan could have kept a low profile and enjoyed relative freedom while serving the rest of his time. But being a Shaman, he can't help himself. Soon he's a clan leader, taking 50 of the continent's top players to claim the secrets of the Dark Forest.

©2016 V. Mahanenko; English translation copyright 2016 by Natalia Nikitin (P)2016 Tantor
Contemporary Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Paranormal & Urban Science Fiction Virtual World LitRPG

Featured Article: Level up with 25+ awesome litRPGs


LitRPG means Literary Role Playing Game. Simply put, it’s the book version of watching someone play a video game, usually one that’s set up like an MMO (massively multiplayer online) RPG. It’s a blend of sci-fi and fantasy, depending on how it comes to be that our main character ends up living inside a virtual reality. the point of LitRPG is not how we get there, but that we get to be in this virtual reality period, living life as a badass video-game character. Beat the grind and submerse yourself in these addictive LitRPGs.

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Engaging Storyline • Complex Quests • Exceptional Narration • Immersive Worldbuilding • Unique Fantasy Elements

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While i wouldn't call it a cliffhanger, the ending leave you with so many questions and urge to know more.

Still the best LitRPG series to date, as always i'm really looking forward to the next book
I hope we don't have to go another 7 months for the next one...

Awesome, but ending felt rushed and unfinished.

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Loved this book and waiting for the next in the series! Great characters and story flows very well!
Will recommend to others!!!

Great series, looking forward to the next book!

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It is not often to have an author that is able to embody the feeling and actions of RPG from a video game to a book. Bravo!

Lit RPG Trailblazer

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Was having some concerns with the "epicness" of this series' main story and contemplating how to put it down to switch to another series. This book changed all that. Performance and story aligned here in book 3 and sold me on getting the rest of the series.

Best so far

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I have continued to enjoumy the story and character progression. The MC hasnt become overwhelmingly overpowered in no time as it seems most Lit RPGs seem to go.

Hasnt failed to disappoint

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