Sentenced to Troll

By: S.L. Rowland

Narrated by: Eric Martin

Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

Who says a troll can’t be the hero?

Chad Johnson built his following by being a troll. Online games, social media, you name it—he's there with a witty comeback. But when he goes too far during a televised stream, he's handed a punishment unlike any other.

Instead of the usual ban or suspension, Chad's sentenced to 30 days of full immersion therapy in Isle of Mythos—a world of epic fantasy filled with dungeons and mythical creatures. The twist? He's forced to embody a forest troll, one of the most despised races in Mythos.

At least the punishment fits the crime.

Now, Chad's on a quest, slaying monsters and aiding his troll tribe. It's different, but not necessarily in a bad way, especially with a mischievous little imp as his sidekick. For the first time in his life, Chad's found something more than just trolling—he's found purpose.

Rehabilitation? Call it what you want, but Chad's all in. Who knows? Maybe this troll is a hero.

©2019 Steven Rowland (P)2022 Steven Rowland

Definitely Recommend This One!

Chad is an aspiring pro gamer but his short temper and bullying manner keep him from the pro teams. When he goes too far in his bullying one day, he's arrested and charged with online griefing and faces up to a year in prison. Instead, he's sentenced to a month of full immersion rehab in a new game. The catch is that he'll be playing a troll, a hated race, and will face discrimination and hatred in an effort to teach him to treat people with respect.

The author made an interesting choice to make Chad a real life internet troll who shouts racial slurs and tells his teammates to kill themselves. To a gamer audience, this is just the sort of person who embodies the worst of us and I was worried I wouldn't like Chad. But I started this book expecting a great character arc redemption and I wasn't disappointed, Chad really steps up and shows his greatness and leadership qualities.

The gaming part was detailed and necessary to the plot, and the stats weren't repeated too often. The world was immersive and one I'd love to visit myself. I love LitRPGs that create a world I'd love to live in, and this book made me wish this game existed, which is a total win in my book. The narration was really well done with different voices for each character and race type, and pulled me right into the story. I'm joining the rest of the fans eagerly waiting for book 2!

Full Dive VR, where you're the "bad" guy

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

I loved this, the full-dive VR concept is becoming a bit of a troupe at this point, but it works extremely well as a basis for the main character knowing things they shouldn't. No time travel, new world, nonsense, just a smooth explanation.

Getting on topic, the main character is sentenced (literally by a judge) to sever time in a VR simulation. The idea is to use VR to rehab criminals, the main character is barely a criminal (I enjoyed the direction the author took here), but ends up in the VR anyway. He's stuck as the most hated race in that world, a troll. There's a healthy mix of gaming, fantasy, and enjoyable characters. There are a lot of chances for this to be pretty comedic, but the author plays the situation straight, and I think that really helps the story. There are no forced jokes, everything progresses in a way that makes sense (in a video game world anyway). Given the ending there almost has to be a sequel and if it holds up as well as the first this will be a series to get invested in.

This is the first time I've listened to Eric Martin, and he did an excellent job on the voices. Making them feel and sound like trolls must have been tough on his voice after a while.

TLDR; If you like fantasy, and particularly the out of time/world genre, you won't regret this one.

What a LitRPG Should be!

Sentenced to Troll is a masterful LitRPG. Having read dozens of books in the genre, it has become exceedingly rare that I find one that becomes an instant favorite. This is as close to perfect as I could ask for. With interesting and endearing characters, Artful world building, and a unique plot, this story bring it all together to tell one entertaining tale. The writing is polished, the pacing is superb, and it is apparent that this is an author who is excellent at his craft. If you like LitRPGs that take place entirely in the game world, like the Chaos Seeds or Play to Live series than this book is not only for you, but be prepared to be pleasantly surprised with just how enjoyable this genre can be.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Content Warning- This book contains mild violence and some language.

very good start

Boy I cant wait for next one. please don't wait so long between books bra. u killing me just waiting for it. I had to read last one four times so I can remember. But thanks really it was a treat.

Mostly new take on an old genre

*** I RECIEVED THIS BOOK FOR FREE IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW ***

"A company is testing out a new full-dive video game before releasing it to the public. They recieve criminals to test on. A famous online gamer is sentenced to a month of the game for trolling. The sentence? To actually play as a troll, the race hated the most in the game world. How will he survive the month with everyone gunning for him?"

The plot was interesting. While I think it is a bit of a stretch for the main character to get sentenced for trolling, I love the poetic justice of him becoming a troll in the game. I would have liked to have learned more about the human side as well as the trolls, but I do understand a human isn't the main character. I will look forward to listening to book 2, though it was a bit cliche that the system would need him to return.

The magic system is a basic magic system of MP, so it was a bit lackluster in my opinion. I am a huge fan of interesting magic systems.

The narrator was the highest point of the book. He was fairly good. A lot of narrators have problems with certain emotions, or too many of their characters sound the same, but Eric Martin didn't have that problem.

Overall, I'd give the book a 3 and the narrator a 4, giving the total audiobook a score of 3.5. Since I can't give half stars, I will round up to a total of 4 stars.

Great Story Narrator ok

The story was good characters grew and it was well told no one being super over powered or anything crazy sorta the mc could've been but he doesnt use his skills that way so it's quite nice. However my biggest problem is the Narrator he does a ok job but the way he tells the story is almost like every sentence is a breath and their isn't a clear change when he is narrating or the mc is talking other than that it's a good story

I NEED A SEQUEL!!

I really liked this book. I've read other LITRPG novels where the MC becomes a non human character. Without spoilers, I just want to say, I really liked the world the author builds, and the connection you feel between the MC and those around him.

You See Me Trolling

Chad is a gamer, not a great one but a decent one with a following. Most of his following is because he becomes too harsh while gaming. He tells one of his teammates (in nice terms) that they were worthless. The Judge had a child kill themselves due to cyber bullying so she sentences Chad to 30 days virtual gaming as the my hated type of character in the game, a troll.

As a troll, he is not trusted by the tribe of trolls that he finds and when anyone else sees him, he is attacked. He later finds out that the other players are felons in an experimental program as well. Some play nice, and some don’t. He has to level and prove his loyalty to the trolls.

A troll changes his colors!

This book was a good listen. The required placement in a game has become a standard in game lit but it was done well here. After Chod is in game the fun really takes off. Character and relationship development was well done. If you are into game lit this is a must listen. If you are new to the brand it’s a good one to try the genre out. Well worth the time to read or listen.

Outta Con-Troll

This book was an amazing romp not only through the mind of a man finally finding himself but also of what it takes to make friends and become family.

Looking at the title I did not have high hopes for this book. Just being honest. But within ten minutes I realized that this was not your run of the mill story. This is an amazing story.

Chad is a game streamer who goes to far running his mouth and is sentenced to rehabilitive full game immersion where he has to play one of the most hated classes ever known, a troll.

However, he finds out that even the underdogs and the hated have feelings and have families. So he sets off to right a wrong his race was unjustly accused of and finds that he can love people and be loved by others. I truly recommend this book if you enjoy incredible character arcs and creative world building.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.