The Elder Lands: A Kingdom Building LitRPG

The Elder Lands, Book 1

By: B. Salem

Narrated by: Raphael Corkhill

Length: 15 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

The cost of ambition is often less flowery than the dreams that gave birth to it.

Lucan is the son of a landed knight in a kingdom that is surrounded by diverse threats. As he comes of age, he must make peace with both the tasteful and distasteful of his responsibilities. Most important of all, he must find a way to either tame or accept his own ambitions.

In a realm where an underground labyrinth births monsters that hunger to climb into the world of man, it's difficult to be a noble and dangerous to be a warrior. Lucan must navigate a maze of mortal peril and political intrigue if he is to survive and, perhaps someday, thrive.

Enjoy this smooth LitRPG taking place in a gritty medieval setting, featuring allies and enemies that fight with the sword, the word, and, sometimes, the arcane. The people of this realm are no strangers to monsters that prowl the night.

©2024 B. Salem (P)2024 Podium Audio

The realism that I've been looking for

Overall a great story with elements of litrpg in a realistic medieval setting. Adding the intrigue of Court with a extensive emphasis on trading and realm building.

Cant wait for book 2

It’s so hard to find a good kingdom building story, this one is perfectly balanced you can enjoy the world, there is no wild power rush and you actually see how the MC gets to the place he is

Not an Isekai

There are very few books that I genuinely can't stop listening to, and there are even fewer that I leave a review for.

This is a great Litrpg book and I hope to see it become a great series. It isn't your average Isekai that you see in the genre. The characters have all lived their entire lives in this world and continue to do so, yet there is still a reason given for the stats.

The world feels alive and like it has history. The characters feel like people. And the details of the story are both focused enough to be interesting. But don't go so in depth that your stuck listening for an hour without anything substantial happening.

I will be happily awaiting the next installment.

Below average MC

I though the MC as reading tons would be some bright kid with innovated ideas. Sadly this book seems to go for medieval realism. Sure he is above commoner but below most nobles in wit. By today's standards he is below average. Even his scores in test are mediocre. He also acts his age of 16. Sullen whiny overeager and thinking his plans cant fail. And his ideas are just copied from books.

it's a good kingdom builder story but it is also meh average there seems to be nothing special about the MC.

As for the narrator, dont listen to this on headphone or direct. Listen to it from speakers or something because of bad editing or some reason the narrators deep inhale breaths at the end of every line were left in. It is super annoying if your listening closely. Some white noise helps.

Excellent read

Really good story, should make for a great series, created a very likable and intelligent protagonist.

good boook..narrator needs to hydrate

book is a great listen and love the world building...however, this was first book where the narrator kept taking swigs of water..it got annoying

Excited for more

Natural blended elements of typical fantasy lit RPG and a compelling zero to hero story I’m gonna be keeping an eye out for this one

I felt the MC should be smarter given...

I felt the MC should be smarter given that he reads a lot. He comes across as a person who takes in knowledge but can't apply it properly. Then still thinks hes smarter than he is. Doesn't really think things threw fully.

fairly decent will buy book 2

the narrating and story telling got better as the book progressed. the coming of age aspect has me hooked easy 8/9-10

Slow but interesting

Not epic fantasy but follows the realistic development of a realistic kingdom. Good narration and interesting problems throughout.