Frostburn

Shaman's Call, Book 1

By: Sean Oswald

Narrated by: Daniel Wisniewski

What happens when the game isn't a game?

After a bait and switch, Frank ends up transformed into an HI. That's a hybrid intelligence: part AI, part organic. He finds himself at the mercy of the system fulfilling the role of an ogre shaman meant to create fun opportunities for the purely organic players. Except not everything is what it seems to be. The very system may not be what he thinks it is. Breaches into the game world prove there are other forces at work. This game may be more of an isekai.

Not that Frank wants to save the world. Before he just wanted to play his games, now he just wants to be left alone to explore his new life. One thing he does know for sure, he can't spend the rest of his existence in the company of ogres. Their conversation leaves much to be desired, and that's not even considering how bad their food is.

This story features a monster MC unlike others you may have seen before. There is fantasy violence, character sheets, levels, and XP. It is single POV and has no harem elements.

©2022 Sean Oswald (P)2022 Podium Audio

Stumbled on this book

I've read a couple other books by this author and saw this one was on audible plus for a bit. Definitely worth the read! I had to buy more credits so I could continue with the second book in the series.

Frosty!

First off, I've been skeptical of "turned into a monster in a game" themed LitRPG. However, this series takes a VERY interesting approach in pitting the main character against not just the human players in the game, but primarily the AI which seeks to fully integrate all other Human-AI entities, coined "hybrid intelligence". The way Sean Oswald executes the development of the plot through Frank's interactions with the AI and the very short interludes between chapters is excellently done and really gets you invested in the story very early on. There's almost zero filler content that isn't in some way meaningful for further developing the story. The only real time-consuming content in the audiobook is the semi-frequent stat sheet reading that goes over every single stat and ability of the character. Aside from that, which if I'm being honest, I completely understand that it's a difficult translation from physical book form to audio format, the story is fantastic!

Daniel Wisniewski does a GREAT job narrating this story and is top-notch in his execution of different voices for different characters, communicating emotion and feeling through the voices he performs. He definitely makes the story that much more fun to listen to and get immersed in.

Overall, for being a <15 hour (I like to get around 12 hours of true listening time at 1.3-1.5x playback) audiobook, it's a well written and expertly performed book that leads into an even better second book!

good

I really don't like the minimum word count requirements for audible reviews. . . .

Another fantastic series!

I know it might sound kind of lame, but one of my favorite things about all of Sean Oswald's writing is that unlike most authors, he intentionally does not use loads of gratuitous foul language in his books yet when a player is angry, excited, etc. you still know it. anything he writes I am going to buy and enjoy thoroughly!

AWESOME

Definitely a LITRPG worth reading... it's survival of the strongest. filled with fights, mystery and drama, you will definitely be sucked into this story of one's attempt at survival in the game.