What do you think?
Rate this book
World of Chains #1
The Wayward Bard
Daniel's Guide to Early Retirement:
1: Intercept illegal money transfer from mafia boss.
2: Hide out in super exclusive Full Immersion Virtual Reality game until the heat is off.
3: Roll a bard. Max out charisma. Live it up.
4: Profit.
With all the pesky planning out of the way Daniel set out to realize his ultimate dream: gaining enough money to buy a tropical island and spend his days playing the violin and RPGs. What could possibly go wrong?
Disclaimer: There shall be no harems in this series. Overpowered, perfect protagonists will not be tolerated and excessive cursing will result in donations to the swear jar.
1: Intercept illegal money transfer from mafia boss.
2: Hide out in super exclusive Full Immersion Virtual Reality game until the heat is off.
3: Roll a bard. Max out charisma. Live it up.
4: Profit.
With all the pesky planning out of the way Daniel set out to realize his ultimate dream: gaining enough money to buy a tropical island and spend his days playing the violin and RPGs. What could possibly go wrong?
Disclaimer: There shall be no harems in this series. Overpowered, perfect protagonists will not be tolerated and excessive cursing will result in donations to the swear jar.
381 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2018
347 people are currently reading
351 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
February 28, 2023
Daniel is a stupid loser. He messes up pretty much everything, including his character build and you can see the landmines he's putting in front of himself. I had enough when he burned his bridges in an emotional outburst in his starting area. One star and I'm glad it tanked fast enough I didn't waste a ton of time on it.
January 2, 2024
01/02/2024 Notes:
- Adding to Favs
The re-read was fun, and the story made me want to slow down the audio speed a few times to soak in the details. Story setup and constancy stand well in re-reads.
- Appreciating the variety of fantasy races and quirky attributes of the side characters.
01/15/2021 Notes:
Timing is interesting. I noticed that some of my re-reads end up landing around the same time as the 1st read. I found out yesterday that there were more books for the World of Chains series. =)
The re-read was fun, and I'm excited to see what will happen in #2.
01/23/2019 Mini-Review:
4.5 Stars for Narration by Soundbooth Theater Team
4.5 Stars for Game World, Mechs & Lore
4 Stars for Main Character & Secondaries
4 Stars for Fun Bard Training
-1 Star for MC being very aggravating arsehead but that was intentional so I'll not add that to the score.
A fun LitRPG and start to a series. A solid intro that pulls you in from the get go. An unlikely hero that definitely did not intend to be a good guy. It's really easy to dislike him. Really. Hah! Good mix of humor, action and fun bard moments. I'll keep an eye out for future books in the series.
- Adding to Favs
The re-read was fun, and the story made me want to slow down the audio speed a few times to soak in the details. Story setup and constancy stand well in re-reads.
- Appreciating the variety of fantasy races and quirky attributes of the side characters.
01/15/2021 Notes:
Timing is interesting. I noticed that some of my re-reads end up landing around the same time as the 1st read. I found out yesterday that there were more books for the World of Chains series. =)
The re-read was fun, and I'm excited to see what will happen in #2.
01/23/2019 Mini-Review:
4.5 Stars for Narration by Soundbooth Theater Team
4.5 Stars for Game World, Mechs & Lore
4 Stars for Main Character & Secondaries
4 Stars for Fun Bard Training
-1 Star for MC being very aggravating arsehead but that was intentional so I'll not add that to the score.
A fun LitRPG and start to a series. A solid intro that pulls you in from the get go. An unlikely hero that definitely did not intend to be a good guy. It's really easy to dislike him. Really. Hah! Good mix of humor, action and fun bard moments. I'll keep an eye out for future books in the series.
November 13, 2018
Lars M. has entered the audiobook scene with his premiere work, “The Wayward Bard”. I will say up front that this is one of the better books I have listened too in the genre in quite some time. It is the first book in a number of stories expected in the “World of Chains” series. I can also say that the author has partnered with one of the best narration companies out there. They have made a name for themselves in the Literary Role-Playing Game (LitRPG) genre; Soundbooth Theater. The book includes voicing by Jeff Hays for a few of the book’s characters, he is one of my all-time favorite narrators out there. The book’s main narration is performed by two others from the Soundbooth production house, Justin Thomas James and Laurie Catherine Winkel. If you are looking for a new LitRPG series to start listening too, I would say you should have a serious look at this one. Many books in the genre feel like you are a third-person watching a Twitch stream of another playing the game. This book instead has all the items one expects from a book in the genre, yet it feels vaster and story-like similar to playing the video game Skyrim. A great job for a first book, I look forward to others in the series yet to come.
In all areas, one sees how gaming has influenced the author and he is able to transfer this experience (pun not intended) very well to the pages of the book. The story does not feel stiff or robotic in its telling like a few others I have listened too. Instead, this book feels vast, detailed, and full of life. Even from the opening few scenes where we are dropped into this new world, it felt right, and I wanted to learn so much more about it. The first book in this series mainly takes place as a remote rather quiet town, but that does not mean that the action was limited. Not at all. Our characters struggled as they were often on their own from the protection of a large city and the author did a great job of revealing details as one progresses thought the text. There are a number of directions this series could take, and I hope the author spends as much time on future works as this one.
I felt the author did a good job or creating a unique and different reason for entering the game. Most authors have a character enter for health issues or a way of escaping a dystopian world, but this one starts with a unique reason and purpose which only get better as the story progresses. For those familiar with role-playing games, one often starts with the worst armor and weapons. This book is no exception as the main character starts with nearly nothing for protection but a trusty and rusty knife, a poor bow with crooked arrows, and not much else. One thing I liked setting this story apart from other is that we often see warriors, fighters, or other more common character classes being played by the main character. However, in this story, as the title suggests, the main character plays a bard. Even with my experience of playing RPG games, I never really thought of being a Bard and I can say that I learned some new things about this class from the book. The joke is always that no one plays a bard, but in this story, it felt right and immersive.
During a battle with a rather large cat during one quest, I had to laugh out loud when the main character says, “Not today Garfield”. The author throws in the kitchen sink when it comes to emotions. There is action, romance, suspense, intrigue, and so much more. The book is not all about stats and equipment, but it does include these in infrequent updates to keep the traditional feel of a LitRPG book, but the lack of this is more than made up in the storytelling found in the book. As with a number of RPG type literature, things start off slowly, but ramp up quite quickly as our character is thrust into a quite large quest that takes the rest of the book to complete. There are a number of side quests keeping the book moving, and many were detailed and well thought out. I also liked how the main quests was slowly revealed in bits and pieces reminding the listener of the main purpose or driving force for the main character.
As I stated previously, I’m a big fan of Soundbooth Theatre productions, yet this book had a few issues that felt less professional then others I have listened too; a bit unusual for this team. I quite enjoyed the multiple narrators and an appearance from Jeff Hays. The use of inflection and emotion showed me that the narrators understood their material before recording. However, the final product felt a bit unfinished or unpolished. At times, the added sound effects or musical playing drowned out speaking parts. The start and finish of extra items such as sound effects felt unnatural or stiff the way they were inserted. Often with Soundbooth Theatre productions, these items are skillfully inserted to enhance and not take away from the story. The issues I raise above would not stop me from listening to this great book, but with the high standards this group has set for themselves, I simply expected more.
For parents and younger readers, be aware that this book contains some use of light vulgar language, graphic violence, along with some sexual over and undertones. There were also aspects of crude humor that may not be appropriate for younger listeners. Although it is a great story, I would recommend it only be listened too by more mature audiences.
In summary, the book is very well crafted, and I liked the more storytelling format from other LitRPGs I have listened too. You want to follow along with the main character as he not only learns about his new environment, but also many hidden things what begin to reveal how and why this town exists. I will be quite interested in the direction the author takes in future books. It is well worth an Audible credit.
In all areas, one sees how gaming has influenced the author and he is able to transfer this experience (pun not intended) very well to the pages of the book. The story does not feel stiff or robotic in its telling like a few others I have listened too. Instead, this book feels vast, detailed, and full of life. Even from the opening few scenes where we are dropped into this new world, it felt right, and I wanted to learn so much more about it. The first book in this series mainly takes place as a remote rather quiet town, but that does not mean that the action was limited. Not at all. Our characters struggled as they were often on their own from the protection of a large city and the author did a great job of revealing details as one progresses thought the text. There are a number of directions this series could take, and I hope the author spends as much time on future works as this one.
I felt the author did a good job or creating a unique and different reason for entering the game. Most authors have a character enter for health issues or a way of escaping a dystopian world, but this one starts with a unique reason and purpose which only get better as the story progresses. For those familiar with role-playing games, one often starts with the worst armor and weapons. This book is no exception as the main character starts with nearly nothing for protection but a trusty and rusty knife, a poor bow with crooked arrows, and not much else. One thing I liked setting this story apart from other is that we often see warriors, fighters, or other more common character classes being played by the main character. However, in this story, as the title suggests, the main character plays a bard. Even with my experience of playing RPG games, I never really thought of being a Bard and I can say that I learned some new things about this class from the book. The joke is always that no one plays a bard, but in this story, it felt right and immersive.
During a battle with a rather large cat during one quest, I had to laugh out loud when the main character says, “Not today Garfield”. The author throws in the kitchen sink when it comes to emotions. There is action, romance, suspense, intrigue, and so much more. The book is not all about stats and equipment, but it does include these in infrequent updates to keep the traditional feel of a LitRPG book, but the lack of this is more than made up in the storytelling found in the book. As with a number of RPG type literature, things start off slowly, but ramp up quite quickly as our character is thrust into a quite large quest that takes the rest of the book to complete. There are a number of side quests keeping the book moving, and many were detailed and well thought out. I also liked how the main quests was slowly revealed in bits and pieces reminding the listener of the main purpose or driving force for the main character.
As I stated previously, I’m a big fan of Soundbooth Theatre productions, yet this book had a few issues that felt less professional then others I have listened too; a bit unusual for this team. I quite enjoyed the multiple narrators and an appearance from Jeff Hays. The use of inflection and emotion showed me that the narrators understood their material before recording. However, the final product felt a bit unfinished or unpolished. At times, the added sound effects or musical playing drowned out speaking parts. The start and finish of extra items such as sound effects felt unnatural or stiff the way they were inserted. Often with Soundbooth Theatre productions, these items are skillfully inserted to enhance and not take away from the story. The issues I raise above would not stop me from listening to this great book, but with the high standards this group has set for themselves, I simply expected more.
For parents and younger readers, be aware that this book contains some use of light vulgar language, graphic violence, along with some sexual over and undertones. There were also aspects of crude humor that may not be appropriate for younger listeners. Although it is a great story, I would recommend it only be listened too by more mature audiences.
In summary, the book is very well crafted, and I liked the more storytelling format from other LitRPGs I have listened too. You want to follow along with the main character as he not only learns about his new environment, but also many hidden things what begin to reveal how and why this town exists. I will be quite interested in the direction the author takes in future books. It is well worth an Audible credit.
May 4, 2018
Fun
It was amazingly fun. I even enjoyed the horrible horrible puns of a certain character. I’m sure you will love this book too!
It was amazingly fun. I even enjoyed the horrible horrible puns of a certain character. I’m sure you will love this book too!
December 3, 2021
Daniel stumbles across an illegal transaction at the bank he works and decides to take the money for himself. Yet since the funds belong to an infamously cruel mafia boss, where to hide out for a few years until things cool down? The answer: in the most elite Full Immersion Virtual Reality game in the world. Yet nothing in the game and in real life seem to go Daniel's way.
This is a wonderful fantasy LitRPG that is rare in the genre in that the protagonist chooses his avatar to be a bard. There's character building, leveling, skill development, and quests. Daniel, himself, isn't too likable at first. He steals the money and makes a break for it, just barely getting out with his life. Yet it is when he is playing his character, Arcangelo, that he starts to redeem himself. I like the fact he's a bard who is good at investigating and not all problems have to be solved with violence. I also really like the fact that the small town he starts off in is the one he stays. Usually we see characters moving right into the bigger cities, but I love a small town mystery. This is a fantastic first book in the World of Chains series, and I will happily pick up the next book.
This is a wonderful fantasy LitRPG that is rare in the genre in that the protagonist chooses his avatar to be a bard. There's character building, leveling, skill development, and quests. Daniel, himself, isn't too likable at first. He steals the money and makes a break for it, just barely getting out with his life. Yet it is when he is playing his character, Arcangelo, that he starts to redeem himself. I like the fact he's a bard who is good at investigating and not all problems have to be solved with violence. I also really like the fact that the small town he starts off in is the one he stays. Usually we see characters moving right into the bigger cities, but I love a small town mystery. This is a fantastic first book in the World of Chains series, and I will happily pick up the next book.
May 11, 2018
Starts with a decent hook. Then proceeds into an exposition dump and I got bored fast.
January 9, 2020
second read and this time with the audio book
Great listen with the music really adding to the story. This is now a 5 star book for me.
Great listen with the music really adding to the story. This is now a 5 star book for me.
October 15, 2018
Good story
A very good story, plenty of action, adventure and even a few mysteries. The only negative to me were some of the minor plot holes. Still, looking forward to book two.
A very good story, plenty of action, adventure and even a few mysteries. The only negative to me were some of the minor plot holes. Still, looking forward to book two.
July 22, 2022
Who'd a thunk that with the terrible blurb found on the book World of Chains Compendium that the Wayward Bard bk1 would actually be really good. It was great it exceeded my expectations and it became one of my favorite books I've read this year! This is the story about David a numbers specialist aka Arcangelo (gamer name) who after getting caught with his hand the cookie jar by discovering a mobsters money laundering scheme went into the game World of Chains to hide. Only to discover that he was stuck in a dead end town with no way to access his money and dead broke. It's up to David to make the best of his situation. How? Well, he starts by powering up his bardic skills... and magic... David/Arcangelo takes on every quest that comes along including Chronicler quest to create goodwill in Grant's Crossing and actually solves an age old mystery!
Wayward Bard was soooooooo good there was no way that I could stop reading and I immediately jumped right back into the Compendium after telling to my daughter to get the set. And The Fallen Bard does what so many authors fail to do which is to keep the reader entertained! Other writers only write a book that is more filler than story a bridge, just to get to the other side and the next book.
But Lars Machműller is too good a writer for that! He wrote a book that was engaging and again wonderful... and yes it's chock-full of new challenges, new quests, new characters were introduced, of course existing relationships changed making even stronger bonds with the friends he's earned, and he even gets a pet companion a chameleon named Atlas! And throughout the book our Bard improves his skills and his magic as his bardic skills are woven around his magic!
Although I generally hate boxed sets (too many words, and what if I don't like the first book), I grabbed World of Chains Compendium because of 3 reviews I found written back to back by a friend I trusted on FB and yes I seriously couldn't wait to binge the Emissary Bard.
With the mobsters trying to close in on David's location he's feeling a little claustrophobic in Grant's Crossing a place he now considers home, plus there's still plenty of quests to finish before he's ready to take his leave. However there's one quest that he can finish that'll get him outta the town for a while helping out Grant's Crossing. David is to be the Emissary to broker a mutual and beneficial agreement with High Hold a Harpy town and the closest Chronicler repository. David grabs his team of adventurers including Atlas his pet companion and set off... with a shaky introduction to High Hold all of them set off to learn all they can. But hopefully he can seal the deal soon.
Yeah and I can't say enough about Soundbooth Theater is awesome. Justin Thomas James is great narrating David story. Jeff Hays has an incredible range as he narrates all other male characters in the book. Jeff is just crazy good! I really don't quite have a handle on Laurie Catherine Winkle as she mostly did the AI but she did the other female voices too and I have a good impression about her. But here's where Soundbooth Theater really shone weaving a story of a Bard with music. It's a perfect combination of words and music, making their own magic, it was AwesomeSauce! My hat's 👒 off to the violinist!
Wayward Bard was soooooooo good there was no way that I could stop reading and I immediately jumped right back into the Compendium after telling to my daughter to get the set. And The Fallen Bard does what so many authors fail to do which is to keep the reader entertained! Other writers only write a book that is more filler than story a bridge, just to get to the other side and the next book.
But Lars Machműller is too good a writer for that! He wrote a book that was engaging and again wonderful... and yes it's chock-full of new challenges, new quests, new characters were introduced, of course existing relationships changed making even stronger bonds with the friends he's earned, and he even gets a pet companion a chameleon named Atlas! And throughout the book our Bard improves his skills and his magic as his bardic skills are woven around his magic!
Although I generally hate boxed sets (too many words, and what if I don't like the first book), I grabbed World of Chains Compendium because of 3 reviews I found written back to back by a friend I trusted on FB and yes I seriously couldn't wait to binge the Emissary Bard.
With the mobsters trying to close in on David's location he's feeling a little claustrophobic in Grant's Crossing a place he now considers home, plus there's still plenty of quests to finish before he's ready to take his leave. However there's one quest that he can finish that'll get him outta the town for a while helping out Grant's Crossing. David is to be the Emissary to broker a mutual and beneficial agreement with High Hold a Harpy town and the closest Chronicler repository. David grabs his team of adventurers including Atlas his pet companion and set off... with a shaky introduction to High Hold all of them set off to learn all they can. But hopefully he can seal the deal soon.
Yeah and I can't say enough about Soundbooth Theater is awesome. Justin Thomas James is great narrating David story. Jeff Hays has an incredible range as he narrates all other male characters in the book. Jeff is just crazy good! I really don't quite have a handle on Laurie Catherine Winkle as she mostly did the AI but she did the other female voices too and I have a good impression about her. But here's where Soundbooth Theater really shone weaving a story of a Bard with music. It's a perfect combination of words and music, making their own magic, it was AwesomeSauce! My hat's 👒 off to the violinist!
April 16, 2024
This is I believe whate called a 5 star shit, if a newcommer to the litrpg read this, they might just give it 5stars, reason is simple, it's competent writing, the narrative flows nicely, the characters are well defined, the world is interesting enough, the motivations I love, so why did I give it 5 stars?, well one thing i realised after reading most of the reviews, is that they are too generic to be even close to being real, more like someone told them the premise and paid them to go write a review, some 5 stars are geniune, the ones that talk of certain details, now I get it, avoiding spoilers and all, but that is diffrent from what they wrote.
Now on to the 1 star, imagine u hear about a new food place, and u hear that they serve some food that u like, but this new shop is like a nice place with above avarage price and all that, and then u realise that u have had stuff from there at some friend's place, and it was something u enjoyed , so now when u decide to go to this place to get this favourite dish of yours, u would expect it to be good if not even better, so u go and u sit there and your dish arrives, and it looks epic, the presentation, the crispiness of the plating, and then u take a bite, and u go"hmm, it's a bit diffrent", but u carry on, after all it something u like, so a few changes is nothing big right?, and u carry on and early on u realise that it's more of a reinvention of the dish, and while having all the same ingredients of higher quality then average and made by a competent cook, something is just not right, and then it hits u, it's a reinvention for the sake of reinvention, not an experiment to see if it works, but more of a "I made it this way to make it this way, since I wanted to do something different for the sake of being called diffrent", and that is this book in absolute.
This book has a good start, then it falters and it falters fast, it goes from a dude over his head, but smart enough to do something crazy cause he is bored, to a dude who is in over his head cause he is clumsy and forgot to post documents, that he clearly would have remembered since his life depended on it, and no I am not talking hyperbolic, he literally forgot to post documents that give him access to his funds inside the game, and the whole story just falls apart from there, it goes from a man with a plan to a man had a plan now he has stupid.
Then he becomes a bard/documentarian, and it's just infuriating to see the list potential, and the mob still finds him, the book went from an adventure with smart writing to a typical mc reacts to every second and gets lucky ALWAYS.
But then again based on the self description of the writer above, what was I even expecting, rather than reinventing or reimagining, the writer just made all the same choices like most lazy writers and just costed it with a "not op, not a hero" tag make, and went down the hill. Infact he was so busy not making the mc op or competent, that he messes up the rest of the story.
Now on to the 1 star, imagine u hear about a new food place, and u hear that they serve some food that u like, but this new shop is like a nice place with above avarage price and all that, and then u realise that u have had stuff from there at some friend's place, and it was something u enjoyed , so now when u decide to go to this place to get this favourite dish of yours, u would expect it to be good if not even better, so u go and u sit there and your dish arrives, and it looks epic, the presentation, the crispiness of the plating, and then u take a bite, and u go"hmm, it's a bit diffrent", but u carry on, after all it something u like, so a few changes is nothing big right?, and u carry on and early on u realise that it's more of a reinvention of the dish, and while having all the same ingredients of higher quality then average and made by a competent cook, something is just not right, and then it hits u, it's a reinvention for the sake of reinvention, not an experiment to see if it works, but more of a "I made it this way to make it this way, since I wanted to do something different for the sake of being called diffrent", and that is this book in absolute.
This book has a good start, then it falters and it falters fast, it goes from a dude over his head, but smart enough to do something crazy cause he is bored, to a dude who is in over his head cause he is clumsy and forgot to post documents, that he clearly would have remembered since his life depended on it, and no I am not talking hyperbolic, he literally forgot to post documents that give him access to his funds inside the game, and the whole story just falls apart from there, it goes from a man with a plan to a man had a plan now he has stupid.
Then he becomes a bard/documentarian, and it's just infuriating to see the list potential, and the mob still finds him, the book went from an adventure with smart writing to a typical mc reacts to every second and gets lucky ALWAYS.
But then again based on the self description of the writer above, what was I even expecting, rather than reinventing or reimagining, the writer just made all the same choices like most lazy writers and just costed it with a "not op, not a hero" tag make, and went down the hill. Infact he was so busy not making the mc op or competent, that he messes up the rest of the story.
January 20, 2024
Navigating the Melodic Maelstrom - "The Wayward Bard" by Lars Machmüller
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⚝ (4/5)
Lars Machmüller's "The Wayward Bard," the inaugural entry in the World of Chains series, offers a harmonious blend of fantasy, music, and intrigue. While the novel captivates with its unique premise, it also grapples with certain challenges that prevent it from soaring to the heights of its genre contemporaries.
The narrative follows the journey of our protagonist, a bard navigating a world steeped in musical magic and political machinations. Machmüller's concept is undeniably refreshing, intertwining music and fantasy in a way that sets it apart from the standard tropes of the genre. The magic system, fueled by melodies and chords, provides a symphony of creativity that resonates with readers.
However, where "The Wayward Bard" encounters discord is in its pacing. The narrative, while rich in detail, occasionally meanders, leading to moments where the plot loses momentum. This inconsistency in pacing hinders the immersive experience, preventing the story from reaching the full crescendo it deserves.
Characterization is a notable strength, with Machmüller crafting a diverse cast that breathes life into the World of Chains. The protagonist's struggles and growth are relatable, but some secondary characters feel underdeveloped, lacking the depth necessary to fully engage readers in their individual arcs.
Comparing "The Wayward Bard" to its contemporaries in the fantasy genre, it stands out for its innovative use of music as a magical element. However, it faces stiff competition when it comes to the intricate political landscapes and character dynamics found in other popular series. The narrative, while compelling, doesn't quite reach the complexity and depth seen in some of its peer works.
Machmüller's writing style exhibits a lyrical quality that aligns seamlessly with the musical themes of the novel. Descriptive passages evoke a vivid imagery of the World of Chains, allowing readers to immerse themselves in its enchanting melodies. The author's ability to convey the emotional resonance of music through words is a testament to his creative prowess.
In conclusion, "The Wayward Bard" is a harmonious debut in the World of Chains series, introducing readers to a fantasy realm where music wields magical power. While facing challenges in pacing and character depth, it distinguishes itself with a unique concept that sets it apart from its contemporaries. With a more refined tempo and further exploration of character intricacies, subsequent entries in the series have the potential to elevate this musical fantasy into a symphony of epic proportions.
November 29, 2018
It annoys me that I have to give this book so low a rating.
It could have been a good book, but it is so bogged down in item and skill boxes, character sheets, quest prompts and the like. It slows down the pace of the book immensely, and breaks all immersion in the story. I did not finish the book, simply because I came to a place with 2 full character sheets in a row, with complete skill descriptions, and they were for random NPC's; it was the straw that broke the camels back.
If that was removed it would be much better, not perfect, but better. It suffers from something that a lot of LitRPGs do: The MC apparently is the first person to look around and find all the hidden things, because everyone else is stupid?
More could be said, but the rest is pretty standard, and could be the building blocks of a better book. Let me just finish with this: Authors should avoids speaking in specifics about anything unless they are certain they know what they are talking about, it is annoying to find factual errors (there are much worse culprits of this than Lars M. though).
It could have been a good book, but it is so bogged down in item and skill boxes, character sheets, quest prompts and the like. It slows down the pace of the book immensely, and breaks all immersion in the story. I did not finish the book, simply because I came to a place with 2 full character sheets in a row, with complete skill descriptions, and they were for random NPC's; it was the straw that broke the camels back.
If that was removed it would be much better, not perfect, but better. It suffers from something that a lot of LitRPGs do: The MC apparently is the first person to look around and find all the hidden things, because everyone else is stupid?
More could be said, but the rest is pretty standard, and could be the building blocks of a better book. Let me just finish with this: Authors should avoids speaking in specifics about anything unless they are certain they know what they are talking about, it is annoying to find factual errors (there are much worse culprits of this than Lars M. though).
October 21, 2021
2.5 stars.
Good enough to satisfy LitRPG enthusiasts but little else, The Wayward Bard sorely under-delivers on an amazing, unique take of the genre hitting notes of brilliance that are ultimately drowned out in tropic mediocrity. To be frank, the concept of following a bard character is supremely interesting and integrating the violin performances into the audiobook is a whole new experience, but around that there was nothing interesting to latch on to. The magic system, the game world, the story plots, and the characters felt completely milquetoast and lifeless, while the positive points (the realism of the game mechanics and the unique Bard gameplay) were glanced over in favor of uninspired tropes. The overall inviting incident of the book is also handled very poorly and shows either a complete lack of cohesion or pacing by the author.
This still barely gets to the 2.5-3 star range purely on the back of the intriguing concept and strong narration, but the untapped potential makes it feel like even more of a disappointment.
Good enough to satisfy LitRPG enthusiasts but little else, The Wayward Bard sorely under-delivers on an amazing, unique take of the genre hitting notes of brilliance that are ultimately drowned out in tropic mediocrity. To be frank, the concept of following a bard character is supremely interesting and integrating the violin performances into the audiobook is a whole new experience, but around that there was nothing interesting to latch on to. The magic system, the game world, the story plots, and the characters felt completely milquetoast and lifeless, while the positive points (the realism of the game mechanics and the unique Bard gameplay) were glanced over in favor of uninspired tropes. The overall inviting incident of the book is also handled very poorly and shows either a complete lack of cohesion or pacing by the author.
This still barely gets to the 2.5-3 star range purely on the back of the intriguing concept and strong narration, but the untapped potential makes it feel like even more of a disappointment.
October 19, 2018
Entertaining!
Fans of MMOs and Fantasy should try this engaging story.
As a fantasy fan and avid RPG game player, this story was a nostalgic run through the good early days of WoW. The writing was entertaining and the sci-fi fantasy mix ode to Heroes Never Die style with a very likable main character made me make time in my schedule for this story.
I had the pleasure of enjoying the soundbooth audiobook production of this story. The small elements they added made the story just another step towards story immersion.
This was also my first experience into LitRPGs and if Lars M. is characteristic of the genre, I will be reading more.
I can't wait for more from Lars M and the next quest line in World of Chains. There is so much potential with the World of Chains story and Lars' writing ability. I am looking forward to what they do next.
Thank you Lars for this story. I am going to try to get as many people as possible to share in the Wayward Bard's journey.
Fans of MMOs and Fantasy should try this engaging story.
As a fantasy fan and avid RPG game player, this story was a nostalgic run through the good early days of WoW. The writing was entertaining and the sci-fi fantasy mix ode to Heroes Never Die style with a very likable main character made me make time in my schedule for this story.
I had the pleasure of enjoying the soundbooth audiobook production of this story. The small elements they added made the story just another step towards story immersion.
This was also my first experience into LitRPGs and if Lars M. is characteristic of the genre, I will be reading more.
I can't wait for more from Lars M and the next quest line in World of Chains. There is so much potential with the World of Chains story and Lars' writing ability. I am looking forward to what they do next.
Thank you Lars for this story. I am going to try to get as many people as possible to share in the Wayward Bard's journey.
July 12, 2021
A whodunit inside of a litprg novel!
Great premise. Decent writing and editing. I read these things for the story. I tend to read quickly. Good writing and editing are like running in a well paved path.
These story has unique perspectives, fun interactions and well drawn characters. It finished strongly leaving the reader looking for more.
I liked the main character’s personality; clever but not sophomoric. He’s humble and arrogant like a person in his situation might really be. Selfish and yet kind.
Happy to not have him be oversexed or overpowered. We can see where he might go… I hope for more of the same but can imagine him growing into a powerful middle aged bard, wise, mischievous, mysterious to all but the reader and a leader who leaves a trail of subtle progress on his world.
A more dynamic, much less pious brother cadfael.
Nice job! More please.
Great premise. Decent writing and editing. I read these things for the story. I tend to read quickly. Good writing and editing are like running in a well paved path.
These story has unique perspectives, fun interactions and well drawn characters. It finished strongly leaving the reader looking for more.
I liked the main character’s personality; clever but not sophomoric. He’s humble and arrogant like a person in his situation might really be. Selfish and yet kind.
Happy to not have him be oversexed or overpowered. We can see where he might go… I hope for more of the same but can imagine him growing into a powerful middle aged bard, wise, mischievous, mysterious to all but the reader and a leader who leaves a trail of subtle progress on his world.
A more dynamic, much less pious brother cadfael.
Nice job! More please.
May 2, 2019
Interesting story
I was hesitant to read this story at first, considering how Daniel starts out, and am really glad I decided to take a chance on the book. Daniel is a good person, for the most part, and while he takes some borderline actions at times (e.g. lying to the bad guys, in order to learn more details and try to bring their nefarious activities to a halt) he generally works to do the right thing.
There are now at least three background plots, in addition to his quests, and it will be really interesting to see how he proceeds. I’m really hoping what he learns in the game will translate to the real world somehow! Because, while it is still a long ways off, his two year ‘vacation’ will be up eventually..
I was hesitant to read this story at first, considering how Daniel starts out, and am really glad I decided to take a chance on the book. Daniel is a good person, for the most part, and while he takes some borderline actions at times (e.g. lying to the bad guys, in order to learn more details and try to bring their nefarious activities to a halt) he generally works to do the right thing.
There are now at least three background plots, in addition to his quests, and it will be really interesting to see how he proceeds. I’m really hoping what he learns in the game will translate to the real world somehow! Because, while it is still a long ways off, his two year ‘vacation’ will be up eventually..
January 24, 2019
The Wayward Bard was very interesting. Most LitRPG as you may know, take the role of either an enchanter/crafter or an attack based role.
I look forward to seeing how this character and the story develops and possibly the expanse of music that is played. But I'd advise great care in doing that as everyone has varied and strick tastes
Note: Minor early spoilers to follow)
This is the first time I've come across that a musician is the central role of the story. The music accompaniment let me feel that I was there in the story (and I'm also a fan of Scarborough Fair).
The investigative role was also a great addition to the story that expanded his role to not just a music player.
I look forward to seeing how this character and the story develops and possibly the expanse of music that is played. But I'd advise great care in doing that as everyone has varied and strick tastes
Note: Minor early spoilers to follow)
This is the first time I've come across that a musician is the central role of the story. The music accompaniment let me feel that I was there in the story (and I'm also a fan of Scarborough Fair).
The investigative role was also a great addition to the story that expanded his role to not just a music player.
August 17, 2022
DNF
Quit on page 8.
The author/narrator talks to the reader constantly. This author stays on a thread of thought for about as long as a 5 year old on crack before getting sidetracked and going off on a tangent.
Sorry isn't even believable from the start. MC is a musician that is "intrigued" by computers so everyone comes to him with computer problems.
To get away from Mafia guys who came to his work, he calls IT to set off a fire alarm? If this is how it works in Copenhagen, I don't want to ever visit there.
I stopped when the two Mafia guys started shooting down teenage girls in the middle of crowds and the MC blacks out and wakes up safe.
Quit on page 8.
The author/narrator talks to the reader constantly. This author stays on a thread of thought for about as long as a 5 year old on crack before getting sidetracked and going off on a tangent.
Sorry isn't even believable from the start. MC is a musician that is "intrigued" by computers so everyone comes to him with computer problems.
To get away from Mafia guys who came to his work, he calls IT to set off a fire alarm? If this is how it works in Copenhagen, I don't want to ever visit there.
I stopped when the two Mafia guys started shooting down teenage girls in the middle of crowds and the MC blacks out and wakes up safe.
October 27, 2018
Starts off great and even has some music in it for audible listeners. But like some new litrpgs it gets boring really damn fast. What I mean by that is 8 hours in and this guy is still lvl 3 and every little nuance is being explained.
That and I have a issue with the game company not being able to access his funding, I call BS because if this game was so freaking expensive to play and only 200k of people in the entire world played it, then someone from the company would be walking there ass down to his apartment to get the documentation for him to deliver it to the bank.
That and I have a issue with the game company not being able to access his funding, I call BS because if this game was so freaking expensive to play and only 200k of people in the entire world played it, then someone from the company would be walking there ass down to his apartment to get the documentation for him to deliver it to the bank.
May 12, 2019
A pleasant diversion, which was better crafted than most. Enjoyed the story and the storytelling. Didn't love it but I certainly liked it.
MC embezzles a lot of money from Bad People™ and then enters a virtual world. The setup is boring, the story offers more as creating a bard-based character with actual performance skills felt fresher than usual. Add in that bard-based and lore-based development did not go in the direction I expected, and this was a pretty pleasant discovery.
So long as your expectations are modest, this is a recommended read.
MC embezzles a lot of money from Bad People™ and then enters a virtual world. The setup is boring, the story offers more as creating a bard-based character with actual performance skills felt fresher than usual. Add in that bard-based and lore-based development did not go in the direction I expected, and this was a pretty pleasant discovery.
So long as your expectations are modest, this is a recommended read.
May 6, 2019
Fun story of song
Really enjoyed this novel. It is a litrpg with a different take. You still have heroics, but at a most normal level. In some ways, it is a detective story with rpg elements thrown in. I enjoyed this because you don’t fall into overpowered character trap.
That said, if you want pure strategizing about character development, this is probably not for you (though it does have it).
If you want a fun tale written in a distinctive voice true to a witty and devious character, give this one a read.
Really enjoyed this novel. It is a litrpg with a different take. You still have heroics, but at a most normal level. In some ways, it is a detective story with rpg elements thrown in. I enjoyed this because you don’t fall into overpowered character trap.
That said, if you want pure strategizing about character development, this is probably not for you (though it does have it).
If you want a fun tale written in a distinctive voice true to a witty and devious character, give this one a read.
February 7, 2021
It's an okay story, but the synopsis a slightly misleading and disappoint me when it is not what I'm looking for. Maybe I'll give another try and continue the series later on.
The synopsis described the protagonist sort of an anti-villain that crazy enough to steal from the mafia and greedy guy that always tried to get money. But what we get is a normal guy that always tried to be nice and selfless.
I am sure these traits is good and nice to read a character that's virtuous, but to me it come as a goody two-shoes.
The synopsis described the protagonist sort of an anti-villain that crazy enough to steal from the mafia and greedy guy that always tried to get money. But what we get is a normal guy that always tried to be nice and selfless.
I am sure these traits is good and nice to read a character that's virtuous, but to me it come as a goody two-shoes.
April 23, 2022
A very entertaining read
I started and stopped the book 3 times. I did not enjoy the book until he got the quest for becoming a bard. After that it was so great!
If you read this and feel like it's not exciting enough or do not initially like the main character, keep reading to the tunnel for the bards quest. After that it's non stop action and a fantastic read. I'm glad Amazon kept on showing it to me.
And someone from the LitRPG group on Facebook recommended it. So I'm looking forward to book 2 which I believe is already out. Reading that book next.
I started and stopped the book 3 times. I did not enjoy the book until he got the quest for becoming a bard. After that it was so great!
If you read this and feel like it's not exciting enough or do not initially like the main character, keep reading to the tunnel for the bards quest. After that it's non stop action and a fantastic read. I'm glad Amazon kept on showing it to me.
And someone from the LitRPG group on Facebook recommended it. So I'm looking forward to book 2 which I believe is already out. Reading that book next.
April 29, 2018
Fun book
The character grows throughout the story, a good mix of conversation, problem solving, and combat. I liked the lack of other player characters, and that npcs were still people, with the whole "they are not actually human" thing being unemphasised. Focused on telling a good story, with good characters, not on moralizing or ramifications of the technology. For me, this was very refreshing.
The character grows throughout the story, a good mix of conversation, problem solving, and combat. I liked the lack of other player characters, and that npcs were still people, with the whole "they are not actually human" thing being unemphasised. Focused on telling a good story, with good characters, not on moralizing or ramifications of the technology. For me, this was very refreshing.
April 30, 2018
A good laugh
A great LitRpg, an awesome bard, a less than perfect town and some fun and charismatic townsfolk. A laid back, slice of life story about a guy that wants to enjoy the bard life and run some cool quests. The main character solves some cryptic quests with the help of some NPCS another PC and some good old fashioned Detective work. Would definitely recommend as a fun LitRpg.
A great LitRpg, an awesome bard, a less than perfect town and some fun and charismatic townsfolk. A laid back, slice of life story about a guy that wants to enjoy the bard life and run some cool quests. The main character solves some cryptic quests with the help of some NPCS another PC and some good old fashioned Detective work. Would definitely recommend as a fun LitRpg.
May 5, 2018
One of the best litRPGs I've read
Wayward Bard is a great book, and one of the best litRPGs I've come across primarily because it manages to advance the story without advancing the character unduly.
Too many similar stories have the MC become overpowered, so that by the last couple chapters along with any sequels, the protagonist is simply ridiculous and the enemies must be similarly ridiculous, and that doesn't go anywhere good for the story.
Wayward Bard is a great book, and one of the best litRPGs I've come across primarily because it manages to advance the story without advancing the character unduly.
Too many similar stories have the MC become overpowered, so that by the last couple chapters along with any sequels, the protagonist is simply ridiculous and the enemies must be similarly ridiculous, and that doesn't go anywhere good for the story.
May 6, 2018
Fun with nice sci-fi and fantasy references
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes litrpg stories. Main character driven with good attention to supporting characters. I really like that the MC did not go from level 1 to 50 in no time and is not perfect or OP. I had fun reading and am looking forward to the next book. This is good has the potential for an interesting and fun series.
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes litrpg stories. Main character driven with good attention to supporting characters. I really like that the MC did not go from level 1 to 50 in no time and is not perfect or OP. I had fun reading and am looking forward to the next book. This is good has the potential for an interesting and fun series.
March 16, 2019
Bluegh. I did not enjoy this very much. I didn't get the MC and his choices. Honestly didn't care what happened during the story and was watching a movie while reading this. I guess that says it all right there, huh? Too much stats about everyone (who we don't care about) and a bard character that "somehow" gets all kinds of special things no one else even knows are there. Yeah, right. Nope, not for me.
July 31, 2020
Hey this game has a broad variety of species to play with lots of different bonuses and interesting designs and lore and back story. With such variety I bet you can't guess what species the hero will, Half elf. -_-
Great setup, but the rest of the story is a bit slow. I do like how the audio book has multiple readers and they hired a violinist to play the songs. Just goes to show the superiority of audio books ;)
Great setup, but the rest of the story is a bit slow. I do like how the audio book has multiple readers and they hired a violinist to play the songs. Just goes to show the superiority of audio books ;)
April 7, 2024
A very pleasant surprise. Though I didn't like the initial plot device of how the titular Bard ended up stuck in the small noob village (reacting out of pure anger at the mayor and losing his chance of leaving for a big city), this book really grew on me. Loved the setting and the trials of the Bard. Almost had a cozy feel to it as he chipped away at quests, expanded the lore of the village and minorly of the world as well.
Will happily read more of this series
Will happily read more of this series
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews