Empire of Exiles

By: Bastian Knight

Narrated by: Raya Kane

Jason Drake's life ended when a drunk driver killed his family and ruined his dream of playing pro football.

Ten years later, death finally claimed him.

When a goddess offered him a second chance, he took it without hesitation, finding himself restored to his prime in a fantasy world. As her Champion, trading an easier start for an Achievement system that promises greater growth seemed the obvious choice.

But Falerith is a brutal world filled with danger and magic. Savage Gnolls pillage the land, and sinister monsters rise from the depths, hinting at even darker threats.

Fortunately, the goddess twisted the threads of fate, so that powerful allies are drawn to him. Now, if only he can survive long enough to meet them.

Spawning alone in the desert without a scrap of equipment, can he learn quickly enough to not only survive but build an empire?

©2024 Bastian Knight (P)2024 Royal Guard Publishing LLC

Wonderful Performance, fantastic story!

I listened to Bastian Knight's other series, finding it a fun ride so I gave this one a go. The instant the book started, I became hooked and found myself getting to the end too quickly, which is hard to do on a 20 hour audiobook. The characters were great, the story compelling, and I eagerly await book 2.

If you can get past the first 15 chapters, this book is very good

I really love this book from chapter 16 through the last chapter 60 something. The first 15 chapters are a slog to get through. I blame the editor for this. They should’ve told the author to condense the first 15 chapters into three chapters. So much of it is just repetitive and the MC thinking to himself.
However, once you get through those first 15 chapters of this book it is EXCELLENT! I have added it to my favorites list, but I will never listen to the first 15 chapters again.

The female narrator was superb while the male narrator was not as good. I will definitely buy the next book in the series.

Wonderfully performed and a good story

First, let me see that raya Kane was an amazing choice for the solo female narrator. She has a great range of voices, can do a good male voice, and really lends the erotic oomph to those sexy scenes and characters.

I enjoyed the setting and the different characters. if I have to lay a criticism I only have two really.

One, Jason being a former athlete and relating everything back to sports is something I cannot relate to and probably most of your readership are the same. The idea that the Jock got an Isekai afterlife really grinds my gears.

The second is Syndi, I enjoy her character and dynamic greatly as I love the domme drow archetype and enjoy the way she calls Jason "Male". The downside for me was their first scene where we find out...

(Spoilers ahead)

..that she is used to high priced giggalos and to be able to even keep up with her he has to get a magic boon from a goddess. Like. really? was that necessary? It's one thing to realize in the back of your mind that being as old as she is, she probably has a sexual past, but to throw it in the readers face and make the Mc need magic to keep up to her standards paints Syndi in a bad light and I think will ruin her for a lot of readers beyond her personality.

Again, I enjoy a dark elf Domme mommy and can see the hints of care beyond the front she puts on, but I'm already a fan and enjoy the Tsundere archetype as well (looking at you little lioness) so I'm not the one you ha e to win over.

but yes, I am picking up what your putting down, I enjoyed this book immensely and can't wait for a follow up.

Main Character's tenacity.

The graphic sexual encounters were minimal, and not a wash, rinse, repeat thing.
Narration was good though there was some dialect influence on a few words strange to me in their pronunciation. For instance Brazier pronounced as Brassiere.
Yes indeed it a keep to me. I found it overall to be a good listen

Weak Dialogue and characters

First of all, this book wasn’t completely awful but the dialogue, weak MC and some female characters were as usual damaged and underwhelming which ruined the story for me. Moreover this book was long and boring at times and not very impactful.