Crystal Core

Crystal Core, Book 1

By: David Burke

Narrated by: Daniel Wisniewski, Rebecca Woods

Length: 14 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Ryan lived his life on Earth trapped in his own body.

The doctors couldn't explain what was happening to him, but slowly, his body was crystallizing.

Then, a portal opened up on the ceiling of his hospital room. He'd seen that one in enough anime to recognize what was happening. It couldn't possibly be worse than the hell that was his life on Earth, not that he was given any choice.

Now, those who summoned him expect some type of hero. That isn't Ryan. Ryan wants freedom. He wants to live his life his way. He'll do the right thing when confronted with it, but he isn't out to be anyone's savior.

Of course, in a world under a brutal siege and surrounded by powerful cultivators, Ryan realizes the only path to freedom is becoming strong enough to make his own path. For once, the mysterious disease will work in his favor as he forms his Crystal Core.

This story features slow-burn romantic interests, world-building, a cultivation system with LitRPG framework, making fun of cultivation tropes, powerful supporting characters who have their own motivations and backgrounds, and an MC who has potential, but is still growing in power. Be warned, there is some mild cussing from some of the characters, and the MC undergoes a great deal of personal growth in this book so that he will be in the place he needs to be for the rest of the series.

©2023 David Burke (P)2024 Podium Audio

Great start to a fun world

Enjoyed the world building and characters. The system seems fun and I can’t wait to read the next book

Can't wait for the next book.To come out

I listen to the story i'm very happy Just waiting for the next one to come out.

Progression Fantasy at its finest!

The author constructed a well conceived story with characters to cheer for and a page turner plot. Five stars across the board!

Now this is a cultivation story! But no smut to be found.

After reading Jack Bryce’s barely a cultivation series, this showed me the exact opposite while being just as entertaining if not more so. This was a great start to a series, however, it barely feels like a harem story. The MC has multiple girls, theoretically speaking. In book 2, this better become more practical than theoretical or they need to stop calling it a harem.

No smut happens in this book. I’m used to Prism Academy, so I had expectations that may have been too much for the MC’s starting point. A bit of nudity or near nudity is all you’ll get here.

The narrators did a good job overall.

I’m looking forward to book 2. I also enjoyed the pop culture references and modern day-isms that were sprinkled throughout the story. It gave the MC much more of a story. I appreciated those bits and pieces of the characterization to show how much different the cultivation world is.

Anyway, it starts off quite well. I’m going to start book 2.

it's a harem novel

when i picked it up i didn't realize that, but yes...harem. not an extremely gross one, but not my thing.

MC is weird, but not terribly so. story is alright, but i won't get the next one because i don't like harem stories personally. if that's your thing, this is a good book for you.

Great story!

The story was awesome and voices were well done. The only drawback was the audio at times was not level

Great stuff

This was just a fun story with what is really a pg-13 rating. It had some elements of romance but no insta-love. It had a hero with power, but not so much that he was overwhelming. He just definitely hits above his weight class.

The first 3/4 weren’t good

Hated the MC. So much whining. You would’ve thought he would’ve grown a pair early on. I almost quit the book. The MC was so bad but the last 25% of the book somewhat redeemed the character, but I am still not a fan.

Fantastic book one!

Original take on the sickly main character summoned from earth to another universe. In this case the main character is likable, honorable and honest. Plenty of scheming and conniving characters surround the main to keep things interesting

The dialogue and underpinnings of the magic system

I liked everything about the book from the pace to the dialogue and world building.I read the original book and am surprised by how much I liked the audiobook.