I have been listening to many audiobooks during my time off from writing. I am reviewing a few of the ones I love. The first is by the author, Shirtaloon, and the book’s name is He Who Fights with Monsters. The series just published its tenth book, and I am currently listening/reading it.

This series started on the web series site Royal Road and is currently continuing on said site.

Like most of my reviews, I will avoid spoilers while giving you more of an emotional review over a technical one.

This series is a genre called litrpg, a literary role-playing game to get this out of the way. This is a literary genre combining the conventions of computer RPGs with science-fiction and fantasy novels.  

The main character is Jason Asano, a Japanese Australian transported into a world of magic and monsters. Now, if you are Australian, who will love Jason, as Shirtaloon capsulised the larrikin of Australia’s society. From sarcasm to his apparent disregard for social or political conventions, this is only a tiny part of his personality. I cannot tell you how many laugh-out-loud moments I had listening to this series. 

Now, MC is only complete with some fantastic supporting characters. These range from the first magic users he meets in the series, Gary, the jolly Lion-man, Rufus, the straight man, and Farrah, his female Gandalf. 

Then there is the world, and wow! How to create such a vibrant world is marvellous. The magic system is more akin to cultivation fantasy, as there are tiers in power than levels like other litrpgs. This makes reading more fluid than crunchy, like some heavy stat-based books.

From some other reviews I have read, it can be challenging for people to get into, but I promise you will love this series. 

Shirtaloon Website: https://hewhofightswithmonsters.com/
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08WF8SB71
Royal Road: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/26294/he-who-fights-with-monsters
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Shirtaloon