The Selected #1

The Selected #1

by Vasily Mahanenko, Yuri Vinokuroff, Rudy Sanda (Reader)

Hi, my name’s Max and I’m one of the Selected.

What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you read those words? A great hero, chosen from among all the billions of people on Earth? A lucky man who has ended up on an unknown world and gained superpowers? An explorer of new worlds who has discovered his destiny?

Well, that’s all true, but there is one but... Actually, if I’m honest, there are a whole load of buts. And there are rules. And the first rule of the Selected is:

“Try not to die. It is expensive and impractical.”

1 pages, Audio CD

First published December 28, 2024

About the author

Be the first to know when Vasily Mahanenko’s next book is available! Follow him at https://www.bookbub.com/profile/v-mah... to get an alert whenever he has a new release, preorder, or discount!

Vasily Mahanenko is a fantasy author working in the new genre of LitRPG - the MMO-based fantasy and sci fi. His Way of the Shaman series took Russian literature by storm in 2012.

Vasily dipped into his college-days insider knowledge as a hardcore gamer in order to create a believable world of the virtual-reality MMO game. His bestselling series combines fiction and video games, telling the story of Shaman and his friends stuck in the ruthless reality of Barliona. He used his more than ten years' experience as an ERP implementation project manager to approach his writing in a well-organized manner, working to a strict schedule, a set of deadlines and even a budget. At the moment, the series boasts six novels with the seventh one in the works - this time the author expands on stories of Shaman's companions and those who helped and supported him in his trials and tribulations.

The first book of the series has already been translated into English, with more translations to follow, aiming to make the Way of the Shaman series available to the English-language reader in its entirety.

Vasily's other passion is space exploration which is why he now works on a follow-up series entitled Galaktiona. Set in a space-simulator based world, the first book of the series in already finished while Vasily works on its sequel.

Reviews

[Murphies_law · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 50%

The plot would be okay but the characters are super annoying.

It seems as if that author intentionally weakend the companions, by making one slow and submissive and the other excessively superficial and brain dead, to make the very average protagonist stand out more. As the saying goes: in the land of the blind, the one eyed is king..

In the end i could not stand reading about the super girlie elf anymore. She just was too stupid and annoying..

[Akshay · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Selected (Book 1): A LitRPG Action Adventure Series by Vasily Mahanenko and Yuri Vinokuroff introduces readers to a new saga within the LitRPG genre. Known for his contributions to this niche, Mahanenko embarks on a fresh narrative journey, blending virtual reality elements with traditional fantasy tropes.

Plot and World-Building

The story centers around Max, an ordinary individual who becomes one of the "Selected," thrust into a world where he must navigate challenges reminiscent of MMORPG mechanics. The premise offers potential for exploring themes of destiny, survival, and personal growth within a gamified universe. However, the world-building, while expansive, occasionally leans heavily on familiar genre conventions, potentially limiting its uniqueness.

Character Development

Max's journey from an average person to a figure of significance in this new realm is central to the narrative. While his transformation is evident, deeper emotional and psychological exploration could enhance reader connection. Supporting characters, though present, often serve functional roles without substantial development, which might affect the story's emotional depth.

Writing Style and Pacing

The authors employ a straightforward prose style, making the book accessible to a broad audience. The pacing maintains a consistent rhythm, balancing action sequences with moments of introspection. However, certain sections may benefit from more dynamic progression to sustain heightened engagement.

Integration of LitRPG Elements

The novel incorporates standard LitRPG features such as level-ups, skill acquisitions, and system notifications. These elements are well-integrated, providing a familiar framework for genre enthusiasts. Nonetheless, the reliance on established mechanics might limit innovation, potentially affecting the story's freshness.

Overall Assessment

The Selected (Book 1) offers a solid entry into the LitRPG genre, presenting a narrative that combines action, strategy, and virtual world-building. While it adheres to genre norms, opportunities exist for deeper character exploration and innovative plot developments in subsequent installments.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

For readers seeking a traditional LitRPG experience with clear mechanics and a straightforward storyline, this book delivers. Those looking for groundbreaking narratives or profound character studies might find it aligns more with genre expectations than transcends them.

[Starr · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have tried a few Russian litrpg and hated them all I'm not a feminist by any means but wth they write women like we are just good for a hole to f and beauty is overly important the very judgemental mc shamefully talked about is ex gaining weight and acted like it was the most disgusting thing in the world 🌎 plus it was just cringe I hope Russian men don't think or act like this gross.i listened to one litrpg book with zombies and the loot drops were werid matches and barely. I already hate the mc he thinks he smart wants to be the boss but the orc is way smarter and likeable than him the elf is portrayed as a useless female not surprising 😒 I listened for awhile but 🙅‍♀️ nope

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a review copy of this book.
If you guys are tired of the same old same old when it comes to LitRPG, then you owe it to yourself to grab a copy of this book. It's funny, entertaining, and a fresh perspective on the LitRPG genre. Plus, there's a whole lot of world building. I always like the world building, this one does it great. And, you can never go wrong with a team that does things they aren't supposed to be able to do. I'll leave it at that, but just know, if you pick up this one, you'll have a story you won't want to miss.

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an arc, I don't remember when. I thought I had already written a review for it. turns out I was wrong. I was wondering why it kept showing up on my to read list. anyway it was decent from what I can remember. I can't give you an in-depth review unless I reread it and I don't reread books. anyway I'm pretty sure it's good enough to burn a couple hours on. I'm putting the date started and date finished as today because I don't remember the actual date that I read it. I am much further along in the series. anyway enjoy your adventures as all books allow us to do.

[Bert Babb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had its moments with lots of tongue-in-cheek and pop references

People qre being kidnapped by as system for unknown purpose and the MC and his cohort are among them. The system has set them up to fail by stacking the deck against them. They are intended to die attempting to collect mana by fighting beasts and monsters with neither equipment, food, water, nor training. Against all odds, they succeed. Part of their success is due to their sheer incompetence, yet they stagger into completing their quests.

[Queen Suga · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read!

This was NOT what I was expecting but in all the best ways. And alien orb shows up by the moon that takes 1,000 people from around the world every year. In year 20 our mc is selected. He stops to help a girl and ends up being sent to the middle of nowhere with an AI out to kill him, a brainless bimbo, and a giant who can’t fight. It’s do or die from beginning to end and an absolute treat to read

[Zayn Bakir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool world and can’t wait for the selected to grow

I really love the way the world is set up and I love the dynamic between the three, but I feel Gor needs some more combat abilities because I don’t believe his primary class is should have some and maybe get him to use other weapons besides melee otherwise can’t wait to see how the group is going to fair in the future.

[Barak · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is so bad that it is... well... simply bad
I felt it was written in Russian then translated to English and then sprinkled with more errors.
Let alone the totally inane, misogynistic and illogical developments.

The fact that this has an average rating of more than 4 means I will need to do much more due diligence before choosing my next LitRPG series to tackle.

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The world setup is new and has a lot of potential. Unfortunately, the writing is pretty low quality, and the MC becomes more and more a-hole further you read into the book:(.

[Richard Chappell · Rating 3 out of 5]

decent

Good promise but childish characters. I hope follow on books have better writing. The MC has the thought processes and leadership ability of a 12 year old.

[Jim Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting

Not many typos which was nice. The concept was hilarious. No epilogue at all the story just slams into a cliff at the end.

[MG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way too corny.

[Joel Kiselewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting take on litrpg, I really enjoy when characters get shoehorned into a role that doesn't fit them.

[Ron · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @66%. The writing was very good, the premise was interesting, but the whole plot stalled out in a dungeon dive that was just not entertaining at all.

[Monty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just far too stupid!

It gets slightly better by the last third but.. For many that's probably unacceptable.

[Jon Sears · Rating 2 out of 5]

The main character is way too juvenile.

[Will Knight]

Note to self: nope. One of those books where 15 minutes in, I heard enough to know I wasn't going to be listening to anything else.

[meeque · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was defo funny as hell!