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Alpha World #2
Forming the Company
How does Alburet feel about Stacia suddenly becoming his Succubus? How will her family react to her sudden change? While trying to handle this sudden transition, Mindblown is also going to take the server down for maintenance.
Alburet will have to deal with emotional turmoil, all while continuing to play the game he has been sentenced to play for life. What else is about to change in Alpha World?
Mindblown announces the ability to form guilds. Alburet sees an opportunity to form a guild himself and takes it.
This is a continuation of the Alpha World saga. It contains real life situations, including sensual scenes that don’t get fully graphic but might make you uncomfortable. It also contains hunting monsters and gaining levels, but not at a break neck pace.
(There are a number of hugs and kisses, numerous fade to black scenes that hint at sex, and three times where oral sex is found but not graphically described. Please remember, there is a Succubus in this story, aka a SEX DEMON, as such sex is referenced frequently.)
Alburet will have to deal with emotional turmoil, all while continuing to play the game he has been sentenced to play for life. What else is about to change in Alpha World?
Mindblown announces the ability to form guilds. Alburet sees an opportunity to form a guild himself and takes it.
This is a continuation of the Alpha World saga. It contains real life situations, including sensual scenes that don’t get fully graphic but might make you uncomfortable. It also contains hunting monsters and gaining levels, but not at a break neck pace.
(There are a number of hugs and kisses, numerous fade to black scenes that hint at sex, and three times where oral sex is found but not graphically described. Please remember, there is a Succubus in this story, aka a SEX DEMON, as such sex is referenced frequently.)
406 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 27, 2017
945 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Daniel Schinhofen
69 books1,305 followersDaniel James Schinhofen is a self-published author in the burgeoning genre of LitRPG/Gamelit. He published his first book, Last Horizon: Beta, in October of 2016, and has recently published his fifteenth book. A best-selling author on Amazon multiple times, his four series have achieved name recognition in the genre. When not slavishly typing away at the next book, Daniel tries to unwind with video games, playing with his dog Sugar, or going for walks around his neighborhood. His books can be found easily via his website http://schinhofenbooks.com/. Daniel can be found via Twitter using the handle @DJSchinhofen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 134 reviews
January 11, 2018
The F*** Alpha World... I can see an interesting story line in there somewhere, if only it wasn't burred under all the TMI fetishistic crap.
Schinhofen really REALLY wants you to know just how much his character loves his AI minion. I mean REALLY . It's so excessive, it's well beyond the level of creepy (and Alburet is already creepy enough).
So, here's the story:
25% Alburet explains how much he loves Stacia
25% Alburet explains how lucky he is to have Stacia
15% S** scene
5% People tell Alburet not to hurt Stacia and one of them responds that he never will
5% Alburet does guild paperwork
5% Alburet L4G
5% Alburet sells trash loot
5% Eating scene
5% Grinding for Levels.
3% Half interesting Dungeon Run.
2% Plot advancement.
100% Innuendos
Here's all the plot advancement I could actually find: That's all. It's so minimal I'm not entirely sure what the plot is supposed to be. Most of the time it seems like Schinhofen just published his wanking fantasies.
I mean, I get the human designed AI not acting like real people, but the way he writes even player women comes off like a perpetual horny 16 year olds fantasy of how he wishes women were. It's eye-rollingly bad more off putting that titillating. Stacia being the absolute worst.
A close second for worst character though is Alburet. Some how Schinhofen has managed to Frankenstein together the most cringy extremes of ultra alpha male dominance exerting and fedora tipping beta whipped male possible.
It's sad because the writing and detail is decent, and what little plot manages to surface is interesting. It's just not worth all the nonsense and cringe you have to dig through to get to it.
Schinhofen really REALLY wants you to know just how much his character loves his AI minion. I mean REALLY . It's so excessive, it's well beyond the level of creepy (and Alburet is already creepy enough).
So, here's the story:
25% Alburet explains how much he loves Stacia
25% Alburet explains how lucky he is to have Stacia
15% S** scene
5% People tell Alburet not to hurt Stacia and one of them responds that he never will
5% Alburet does guild paperwork
5% Alburet L4G
5% Alburet sells trash loot
5% Eating scene
5% Grinding for Levels.
3% Half interesting Dungeon Run.
2% Plot advancement.
100% Innuendos
Here's all the plot advancement I could actually find: That's all. It's so minimal I'm not entirely sure what the plot is supposed to be. Most of the time it seems like Schinhofen just published his wanking fantasies.
I mean, I get the human designed AI not acting like real people, but the way he writes even player women comes off like a perpetual horny 16 year olds fantasy of how he wishes women were. It's eye-rollingly bad more off putting that titillating. Stacia being the absolute worst.
A close second for worst character though is Alburet. Some how Schinhofen has managed to Frankenstein together the most cringy extremes of ultra alpha male dominance exerting and fedora tipping beta whipped male possible.
It's sad because the writing and detail is decent, and what little plot manages to surface is interesting. It's just not worth all the nonsense and cringe you have to dig through to get to it.
August 4, 2017
2.5 Stars (Kindle Unlimited)
I know it's a theory that most books in the middle of a trilogy are fillers. It's not always true. It is true for this series. I read this book because I wanted to see if the hunches formed in the first one will pan out. If the third book ever gets published, I may pick it up to skim-read because that's where the answers will be.
There's not a lot of story development in this book. Just a bunch of minor adjustments and add-ons that could have been done in a quarter of the pages published. The awkward mix of Out of Character actions mixed in with the gameplay became an irritating factor. The majority of the book is focused on describing the leveling up process and it made the book boring. Gameplay was established in the first book. This book should have given highlights on the more interesting fights.
I thought the author started off strong with the Harem Anime theme and backed off from it by leaps & bounds in this book. That decision has made the story flat and less engaging.
It's cool that the Alburet/Seamus wants to treat NPC's like they are real people. Cool. It's fine to choose to fully immerse yourself into the VR experience. If I had a choice between playing a challenging game and being stuck in jail, I would pick playing a game too. However, I don't buy the relationship that Alburet has with his succubus because Alburet has been established as a practical, to go it kind of man. It's hard for me think to he would really fall in love with a programmed entity. It's not real. The fact that they are playing a game is brought up constantly by how the players interact and play the game. It's brought up all the time by the author. It's hard to believe that Seamus is completely caught up by the game when he talks about it as a game all the time.
A huge portion of both books were about the game mechanics and interface. It's impossible to be immersed into the role playing part of the story because it is too obvious that it is a game fantasy.
It's a shame. The original concept that I read in the beginning of this series had a lot of promise but I feel like it diverged from it a great deal until it barely resembles where it started.
I know it's a theory that most books in the middle of a trilogy are fillers. It's not always true. It is true for this series. I read this book because I wanted to see if the hunches formed in the first one will pan out. If the third book ever gets published, I may pick it up to skim-read because that's where the answers will be.
There's not a lot of story development in this book. Just a bunch of minor adjustments and add-ons that could have been done in a quarter of the pages published. The awkward mix of Out of Character actions mixed in with the gameplay became an irritating factor. The majority of the book is focused on describing the leveling up process and it made the book boring. Gameplay was established in the first book. This book should have given highlights on the more interesting fights.
I thought the author started off strong with the Harem Anime theme and backed off from it by leaps & bounds in this book. That decision has made the story flat and less engaging.
It's cool that the Alburet/Seamus wants to treat NPC's like they are real people. Cool. It's fine to choose to fully immerse yourself into the VR experience. If I had a choice between playing a challenging game and being stuck in jail, I would pick playing a game too. However, I don't buy the relationship that Alburet has with his succubus because Alburet has been established as a practical, to go it kind of man. It's hard for me think to he would really fall in love with a programmed entity. It's not real. The fact that they are playing a game is brought up constantly by how the players interact and play the game. It's brought up all the time by the author. It's hard to believe that Seamus is completely caught up by the game when he talks about it as a game all the time.
A huge portion of both books were about the game mechanics and interface. It's impossible to be immersed into the role playing part of the story because it is too obvious that it is a game fantasy.
It's a shame. The original concept that I read in the beginning of this series had a lot of promise but I feel like it diverged from it a great deal until it barely resembles where it started.
November 28, 2018
Rating 3.0 stars
Not as good as the first book. There were multiple issues with this book. Usually when I come up with as many issues as I had with this book I give it a much lower rating, but while most of those issues were annoying, it didn't quite get to the point of making me upset, and there were still a few things I liked about it.
As for the issues:
- The story did not go anywhere. Alburet started a guild and got married. That's pretty much it
- I hated the nicknames and they used them all the time. I think Alburet said "kitten" about 1000 times. Who talks like that?
- I was super tired of hearing how much Alburet loved "kitten" and how thankful he was. On the flip side, I got exhausted listening to her worry if Alburet was sure he was coming back when he logged off.
- Stacia's father and friends always threatening Alburet about what they would do to him if he ever hurt Stacia
- Too much sex talk and sexual innuendo without any actual sex scenes. There was always buildup for sex that was going to happen later and then "yadda, yadda, yadda" we spent the next 3 hours having sex.
- Too much of the same thing happening over and over again and the same conversation. Karen would say something provocative to Alburet. Fluff ball was get embarrassed and turn a different color, Alburet would tell Karen he is a one woman man now, Stacia would look on him with love in her eyes, then Alburet would apologize to fluff ball about Karen's comment. That could have been half the story right there.
- Also what it up with Alburet bowing to everyone. That's a little weird. There were a couple of times it seemed like a good idea, but I thought it made him look like an ass. You don't have to bow to everyone in order to show respect. If someone did that IRL all the time it would come off as super patronizing, which it did for him as well.
There were a couple of story points that I were hoping were going to develop but didn't actually Bob and Tiny were of course the best parts of the story.
I am probably going to read the next book at a later date, but I can see if these issues I listed above continue in the next book, I could become frustrated and give up on the series. Hopefully it gets better and these issues resolve if not lessen in the next book.
Not as good as the first book. There were multiple issues with this book. Usually when I come up with as many issues as I had with this book I give it a much lower rating, but while most of those issues were annoying, it didn't quite get to the point of making me upset, and there were still a few things I liked about it.
As for the issues:
- The story did not go anywhere. Alburet started a guild and got married. That's pretty much it
- I hated the nicknames and they used them all the time. I think Alburet said "kitten" about 1000 times. Who talks like that?
- I was super tired of hearing how much Alburet loved "kitten" and how thankful he was. On the flip side, I got exhausted listening to her worry if Alburet was sure he was coming back when he logged off.
- Stacia's father and friends always threatening Alburet about what they would do to him if he ever hurt Stacia
- Too much sex talk and sexual innuendo without any actual sex scenes. There was always buildup for sex that was going to happen later and then "yadda, yadda, yadda" we spent the next 3 hours having sex.
- Too much of the same thing happening over and over again and the same conversation. Karen would say something provocative to Alburet. Fluff ball was get embarrassed and turn a different color, Alburet would tell Karen he is a one woman man now, Stacia would look on him with love in her eyes, then Alburet would apologize to fluff ball about Karen's comment. That could have been half the story right there.
- Also what it up with Alburet bowing to everyone. That's a little weird. There were a couple of times it seemed like a good idea, but I thought it made him look like an ass. You don't have to bow to everyone in order to show respect. If someone did that IRL all the time it would come off as super patronizing, which it did for him as well.
There were a couple of story points that I were hoping were going to develop but didn't actually Bob and Tiny were of course the best parts of the story.
I am probably going to read the next book at a later date, but I can see if these issues I listed above continue in the next book, I could become frustrated and give up on the series. Hopefully it gets better and these issues resolve if not lessen in the next book.
July 2, 2017
Tedious!!!
This was quite a tedious read. There was little if any movement in the story line with the exception being how much you learn to dislike the main character. The conversations are childish... Referring to a woman as Kitten.... Seriously? Repeating the same things over and over and over again? Ugh!
This was quite a tedious read. There was little if any movement in the story line with the exception being how much you learn to dislike the main character. The conversations are childish... Referring to a woman as Kitten.... Seriously? Repeating the same things over and over and over again? Ugh!
June 22, 2018
I think I have a love/hate relationship with this series. On the one hand, the writing is good with minimal grammar issues. Alburet and Stacia's dialogue grates on my every last nerve...I mean I could really do without them calling each other their nicknames on 90% of every line that comes out their mouths. Does anyone actually talk like that? While a part of me would consider this lack in dialogue writing skill, since the rest of the book and even other dialogue don't suffer from this I lean towards this just being a thing the author is doing intentionally. So yeah, the book is well written but ugh I honestly can't stand the whole Alburet/Stacia stuff.
Which leads me to the next gripe...I feel like I've been honeydicked with this series. I'm just an innocent boy trying to find some fun litrpg to read that has all the stuff a litrpg normally has. This book has that stuff, but it seems that the author is really prioritizing the wish fulfillment aspect of the story. There will be an extremely elaborate scene describing all of the dishes brought out during a lunch with each character taking turns talking about the food....then you get a battle scene that kind of gets breezed through with exposition as if it's necessary to tell for the story but not something the author wants to put much energy into.
I feel like there is a good overall story developing in the background and I also really enjoy the interactions with Tiny and Bob, but honestly I could do without Alburet being this Gary Stu white knight character and just following him as he spends half his day in bed or being sensitive with women.
I like this story and want to see where it goes in the grand scheme of things, but some elements of it just get in the way. I will probably pick this series back up to continue it, but for now I need to cleanse all the "Kitten" and "asthore" from my palette.
Which leads me to the next gripe...I feel like I've been honeydicked with this series. I'm just an innocent boy trying to find some fun litrpg to read that has all the stuff a litrpg normally has. This book has that stuff, but it seems that the author is really prioritizing the wish fulfillment aspect of the story. There will be an extremely elaborate scene describing all of the dishes brought out during a lunch with each character taking turns talking about the food....then you get a battle scene that kind of gets breezed through with exposition as if it's necessary to tell for the story but not something the author wants to put much energy into.
I feel like there is a good overall story developing in the background and I also really enjoy the interactions with Tiny and Bob, but honestly I could do without Alburet being this Gary Stu white knight character and just following him as he spends half his day in bed or being sensitive with women.
I like this story and want to see where it goes in the grand scheme of things, but some elements of it just get in the way. I will probably pick this series back up to continue it, but for now I need to cleanse all the "Kitten" and "asthore" from my palette.
February 2, 2018
So, I can say that for once that I like one of those trapped in a VR world series. This actually has me invested in the well being of the characters. Fluff is all and THE IMP IS THE SHIZNIT. I really do wish there was more of a way to visit their world to see how they act. I can actually say that I have a vested interest in all of the characters in this story which is weird for me because I generally can't stand someone and in this one, all the characters that are "main characters" are pretty much worth the time to read about them. I'm looking forward to seeing if the MC becomes what I think he's going to become and I love how the relationships all stack on top of each other instead of just are forced. You actually feel like you care about...well, I do anyway. *runs off to read book 3*
October 7, 2017
Sorry but I couldn’t finish this book it was putting me to sleep. The interaction between the main character and the NPC were all pretty good. Even the soft sex scenes but once you get into the gaming scenes it becomes boring and tedious and just drags on it’s like the author is trying to give you a lecture on how to defeat the boss in a game. It’s like somebody showing their vacation videos or reading from the diary.
October 8, 2017
Too much sex and mostly cringe worthy. The story is also very boring. I’m quitting the series.
January 8, 2018
I enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first half.
It's a good story throughout, and there's some fun thumbing at genre tropes throughout. Will be starting on the next one soon.
It's a good story throughout, and there's some fun thumbing at genre tropes throughout. Will be starting on the next one soon.
July 19, 2018
2.5 stars to 3, not as good as the first book but still okay and I will continue with the series.
August 29, 2019
3.25☆
August 28, 2017
Well, I can’t say the author didn’t warn me. This book’s description says its story is about a man who plays a highly-advanced type of MMO, and that’s exactly what I got. The premise interested me because I had played Final Fantasy 14 for about half a year and had fun with it; I had also read a YA trilogy about teens playing an MMO with real dangers within. So “Alpha World” seemed right up my alley.
Well, okay, the cover art also influenced my decision. ’Nuff said.
Problem is, it turns out that reading about people playing a game can be really dull. I said “can be” because even in a story like this, there is plenty of room for interesting action and drama—potential that D. Schinhofen doesn’t take advantage of. In spite of this book promising adventure, the story focuses mostly on numerous mundane tasks such as our heroes going to a guild hall to register, dropping coin to buy new equipment, having a four-course meal with a records-keeper, and going to lunch with a friend.
As if to make up for this mediocrity, the author has his lead hero indulge in an extremely healthy sex life, complete with morning “wake-up calls” and a threesome. Not that it actually goes anywhere; I get the feeling this is simply a private fantasy put into words and made public.
There are signs of a good, competent story here, since there’s sufficient albeit one-dimensional characterization, and there’s a budding conflict with a noble family. But the conflict mostly consists of gamers trying to level up and then tackling a dungeon with strong bosses, which is hardly compelling. Much of the dialogue also needs work, especially early in the story, since it tends to sound less like natural wording and more like carefully prepared statements given behind a podium.
Overall, this was dull and disappointing. I’m glad I read it, though, because it’s given me a new appreciation for the fantasy books I have and will read. The fantasy genre is full of stories about good versus evil with shades of gray thrown in, which can get monotonous. But if an alternative is to read about gamers dealing with imaginary monsters and NPCs (no matter how real they seem), I’d rather read The Lord of the Rings for the thousandth time any day.
Also, try saying “asthore” three times fast and see what two words it starts to sound like.
Well, okay, the cover art also influenced my decision. ’Nuff said.
Problem is, it turns out that reading about people playing a game can be really dull. I said “can be” because even in a story like this, there is plenty of room for interesting action and drama—potential that D. Schinhofen doesn’t take advantage of. In spite of this book promising adventure, the story focuses mostly on numerous mundane tasks such as our heroes going to a guild hall to register, dropping coin to buy new equipment, having a four-course meal with a records-keeper, and going to lunch with a friend.
As if to make up for this mediocrity, the author has his lead hero indulge in an extremely healthy sex life, complete with morning “wake-up calls” and a threesome. Not that it actually goes anywhere; I get the feeling this is simply a private fantasy put into words and made public.
There are signs of a good, competent story here, since there’s sufficient albeit one-dimensional characterization, and there’s a budding conflict with a noble family. But the conflict mostly consists of gamers trying to level up and then tackling a dungeon with strong bosses, which is hardly compelling. Much of the dialogue also needs work, especially early in the story, since it tends to sound less like natural wording and more like carefully prepared statements given behind a podium.
Overall, this was dull and disappointing. I’m glad I read it, though, because it’s given me a new appreciation for the fantasy books I have and will read. The fantasy genre is full of stories about good versus evil with shades of gray thrown in, which can get monotonous. But if an alternative is to read about gamers dealing with imaginary monsters and NPCs (no matter how real they seem), I’d rather read The Lord of the Rings for the thousandth time any day.
Also, try saying “asthore” three times fast and see what two words it starts to sound like.
February 15, 2022
3 What's Mine Is Hers Stars
Forming the Company is the second book in the Alpha World series by Daniel Schinhofen.
I didn't like this book as much as the first. There was a lot of repetitive conversation that piled on and made me skim for a bit to just escape it. Which is disappointing when there's so much character development left for our main cast of characters. Along these same lines, while I understand dedicating the next book to influx of more longer staying characters, that we still have yet to reach much development on a worldwide scale in Alpha World or irl.
The biggest entertainment was definitely the wedding. I enjoyed the byplay of intermingling Two-Souls and native Alpha World people, and broadening their guild's influence. Getting to know all of Stacia's sisters on a deeper level.
I'm intrigued with this race change quest that Alburet received recently, and it's wide reaching detractions and bonuses. I'm thinking he will come to be the savior of the Summoners, Necromancer, and Demons alike. Allowing them all a more amicable foothold within the games world.
Forming the Company is the second book in the Alpha World series by Daniel Schinhofen.
I didn't like this book as much as the first. There was a lot of repetitive conversation that piled on and made me skim for a bit to just escape it. Which is disappointing when there's so much character development left for our main cast of characters. Along these same lines, while I understand dedicating the next book to influx of more longer staying characters, that we still have yet to reach much development on a worldwide scale in Alpha World or irl.
The biggest entertainment was definitely the wedding. I enjoyed the byplay of intermingling Two-Souls and native Alpha World people, and broadening their guild's influence. Getting to know all of Stacia's sisters on a deeper level.
I'm intrigued with this race change quest that Alburet received recently, and it's wide reaching detractions and bonuses. I'm thinking he will come to be the savior of the Summoners, Necromancer, and Demons alike. Allowing them all a more amicable foothold within the games world.
May 20, 2019
The second book in this great series STILL has no monkeys throwing banana's. But hey! Other than that it like the first is a awesome book!! If you have not read this.. Or the first book. I highly recommend you do so.
July 9, 2018
More world building as Alburet deals with the nobles and ends up forming a guild for those who have elected for long term immersion in Alpha World. Decent story line with lots of foreshadowing of adventures to come.
February 7, 2019
I went through all the Alpha World books one right after another. I considered going back and giving specifics for each book but the simple truth is that each book has the same positives and negatives. The negative is that the author doesn't actually care about telling a story. None of his books involve any kind of a resolution. Normally this is an automatic 1 star since this is essentially novel writing 101. Here, however, the author writes in what I think of as a pseudo-travel style. By this I mean that the author emphasis the journey which takes some of the sting out of failing to reach a destination.
The positive is that the author is a fairly good writer other than his complete blind spot for resolution. The characters and scenes he writes are interesting, which is why I was able to complete the series (at least as much of it currently available). The author does repeatedly hint at some big reveal to come about the MC in the future and the jury is still out on this. The repeated hints are annoying since it is basically the author repeatedly saying to the reader "there's something I'm not telling you" and could be handled better. Still, part of the reason the hints keep coming up is the care with which the author is developing his MC. Therefore it will depend on what is actually revealed to know whether this is a good or bad part of the story.
Bottom line: Not terrible but not great either and lacks resolution.
The positive is that the author is a fairly good writer other than his complete blind spot for resolution. The characters and scenes he writes are interesting, which is why I was able to complete the series (at least as much of it currently available). The author does repeatedly hint at some big reveal to come about the MC in the future and the jury is still out on this. The repeated hints are annoying since it is basically the author repeatedly saying to the reader "there's something I'm not telling you" and could be handled better. Still, part of the reason the hints keep coming up is the care with which the author is developing his MC. Therefore it will depend on what is actually revealed to know whether this is a good or bad part of the story.
Bottom line: Not terrible but not great either and lacks resolution.
August 2, 2021
At the end of Gamer for Life, Alburet was whisked back to earth and Mindblown for his planned physical/mental check-up. His absence from Alpha World turned out to be two weeks instead of the suspected one or two days. Also, Stacia’s true Succubus form was dramatically revealed to Alburet and her family. Alburet returns to Alpha World, receiving angry words from Stacia’s father and overjoyed tears from Stacia. Although I think Alburet was a bit dense as far as Succubus Stacia goes, their budding relationship is quite heart-warming once all is revealed. The assassin, Karen was a real piece of work and quite enjoyable. Fluffball is a very interesting character and I was wondering what her real story was and curious how her character would develop. Alburet adventuring/hunting with three women was a hoot! The tale would not be complete without a pinch of mystery and a dash of political intrigue. Alburet continued leveling and gaining skills. He formed a close group of friends to adventure with, eventually wanting to create a guild. I found the game mechanics, statistics, and talents to be right on, finding no problem with how they were explained or used in the game. It reminded me of my days in Ultima or World of Warcraft. It is a wonderful story so far. The narrator did an excellent job with the pace and voices as well. After completing this series, I shall have to look for more of Schinhofen’s novels.
January 7, 2025
📚 Title: Forming the Company (Alpha World #2)
Author: Daniel Schinhofen
Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Paws from your favorite Ice Wolf 🐺❄️)
Genres: LitRPG, Harem, Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Romance, Virtual Reality, Adult Themes
❄️ Introduction:
Howl-lo, fellow adventurers and furries! It’s your alpha wolf from the icy realm of HowlStrom, Kiba Snowpaw. With over 38 winters of experience in gaming, storytelling, and audiobook listening, I’m here to give you a review that’s as cold as my homeland’s blizzards and as fiery as a freshly looted legendary item. We’re diving into “Forming the Company”, the second installment of the Alpha World series by Daniel Schinhofen.
If you’re into VRMMORPGs, harem romances, and emotional depth, then strap in. This book delivers epic quests, emotional twists, and of course, succubus antics. Grab your enchanted hot chocolate and let’s dive into the frosty review! ☕🐺
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⚔️ Basic Plot Summary:
In Forming the Company, Alburet Two-souled continues his journey in Alpha World, but things are about to get complicated. The game developers at Mindblown take the servers offline for a massive maintenance update, giving Alburet time to ponder his new reality. The story takes a deeper dive into the emotional complexities of Alburet’s bond with Stacia, a succubus who now calls him her husband.
Mindblown introduces a guild system, and Alburet seizes the opportunity to create his own guild: Alpha Company. But while Alburet is busy forming alliances and grinding mobs, he must also grapple with his feelings for Stacia and navigate the murky waters of virtual love and loyalty. 🖤
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🎮 Game Mechanics & World Building:
The in-game mechanics in this book are a gamer’s dream come true. The balance of questing, grinding, and leveling is masterfully done. There’s a tangible sense of progression as Alburet levels up, earns gold, and unlocks new spells. The game world feels alive, with NPCs that have their own personalities and quirks.
The guild system is a fantastic addition to the story, adding layers of strategy and social interaction. The way guild management is handled mirrors real-life MMORPGs, giving readers a nostalgic hit of managing their own virtual clans.
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🧊 Originality and Themes:
This book stands out in the LitRPG genre for its focus on emotional depth and relationships. While many LitRPGs focus solely on stats and battles, Forming the Company delves into themes of identity, loyalty, and love.
The relationship between Alburet and Stacia, though unconventional (hello, succubus wife!), is explored with care. The emotional connection between them feels genuine, adding a layer of humanity to this virtual fantasy world.
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🐾 Characters & Development:
Alburet Two-souled: Our protagonist is evolving from a lonely, bitter man to someone capable of love and loyalty. His internal struggle between his real-world self and his in-game persona is a fascinating arc.
Stacia: The succubus wife who’s more than just eye candy. Her loyalty and love for Alburet add emotional weight to the story. She represents the blurred lines between NPCs and real emotions.
Bob the Imp: Comic relief at its finest. His snarky comments and unwavering loyalty make him a fan-favorite.
Fluffball (Julia): Her emotional journey is heart-wrenching, and her interactions with Alburet add depth to both characters.
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📚 Analysis & Themes:
One of the core themes of the book is the exploration of identity. Alburet is trapped in a virtual world, but his emotional journey feels very real. The book poses thought-provoking questions: What makes us human? Can love transcend the boundaries of code and programming?
The guild system represents community and belonging — something Alburet lacked in the real world. By forming Alpha Company, he’s not just building a team; he’s building a family.
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🛡️ Praise & Critique:
Praise:
Immersive world-building that feels like a real MMORPG.
Emotional depth in character relationships.
Unique blend of action, romance, and psychological exploration.
Critique:
The frequent use of endearments like "kitten" might annoy some readers.
The pacing slows during some of the romantic scenes.
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💬 Personal Opinion:
As a seasoned gamer and audiobook enthusiast, I found Forming the Company to be an emotional rollercoaster. It’s rare to find a LitRPG that balances game mechanics with emotional storytelling so effectively.
Sure, the romance can be cheesy at times, but it’s part of the charm. The book captures the essence of what it means to be human — even in a virtual world.
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📖 Similar Books for Comparison:
The Land: Founding by Aleron Kong — Similar game mechanics, but with more focus on action.
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman — Another emotional LitRPG with a unique twist.
Awaken Online by Travis Bagwell — A darker exploration of virtual reality and morality.
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Final Verdict:
If you love LitRPGs with heart, soul, and a touch of spice, Forming the Company is a must-read. It’s more than just a game; it’s a journey of self-discovery and emotional growth.
Final Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5 Paws 🐾)
May the frosty winds of HowlStrom guide you to your next great adventure. Until we meet again, adventurers! 🐺❄️
November 1, 2019
Review for complete series Books 1 - 8
Mr. Schinhofen's Alpha world series is an epic tale of pain, suffering, discrimination, and the healing through love and support. . A word of warning though the earlier books contain a moderate to extreme, depending on your view points, amount of erotica in them. This tapers off near the end of the story and I recommend readers not to judge harshly. I found the scenes to fit within the flow of the story and within scope of the personality of the characters involved.
It is my recommendation that these scenes be simply skimmed over by readers who might be put off by them. The series contains so much more than erotica that readers would miss out on. Mr. Schinhofen's series delves into the darker side of human nature and the traumatic wounds of the mind that we not only inflict upon others, but ourselves as well. I applaud Mr. Schinhofen for showing such trauma and how with help such conditions can be mitigated.
Mr. Schinhofen borrows heavily from World of Warcraft for his class system and for some points of his story. I believe he is a great author regardless and look forward to additional works he might create.
Very Respectfully,
Shea
Mr. Schinhofen's Alpha world series is an epic tale of pain, suffering, discrimination, and the healing through love and support. . A word of warning though the earlier books contain a moderate to extreme, depending on your view points, amount of erotica in them. This tapers off near the end of the story and I recommend readers not to judge harshly. I found the scenes to fit within the flow of the story and within scope of the personality of the characters involved.
It is my recommendation that these scenes be simply skimmed over by readers who might be put off by them. The series contains so much more than erotica that readers would miss out on. Mr. Schinhofen's series delves into the darker side of human nature and the traumatic wounds of the mind that we not only inflict upon others, but ourselves as well. I applaud Mr. Schinhofen for showing such trauma and how with help such conditions can be mitigated.
Mr. Schinhofen borrows heavily from World of Warcraft for his class system and for some points of his story. I believe he is a great author regardless and look forward to additional works he might create.
Very Respectfully,
Shea
June 29, 2017
Perfect.
KIndle Unlimited - Yay!
Pretty much everything I'd want in a book. When you're coming to the end of a book and are dreading hitting the last page, you know the author has some serious skills and talent, AND the story is really, really good.
Love the balance of RL and the VR world building, slice of life, adventuring, etcetera. Characters are wonderfully done. The reveals hints and teasers couldn't be done any better. The whole wedding scenario was a total treat.
I especially like what I didn't find. There's conflict, but not the perpetual angst and unrelenting bullying and abuse found in so many LitRPG stories that makes you wonder why anyone would want to spend time gaming. And, it's so refreshing to find an author who can write "adult" sex banter and scenes without writing overly detailed how-to manuals that best serve to pad page counts. Also, this author has figured out that you don't need to clobber the reader with a ridiculous cliffhanger. We'll be back for more because the storyline is just that good and we like spending time with these characters.
KIndle Unlimited - Yay!
Pretty much everything I'd want in a book. When you're coming to the end of a book and are dreading hitting the last page, you know the author has some serious skills and talent, AND the story is really, really good.
Love the balance of RL and the VR world building, slice of life, adventuring, etcetera. Characters are wonderfully done. The reveals hints and teasers couldn't be done any better. The whole wedding scenario was a total treat.
I especially like what I didn't find. There's conflict, but not the perpetual angst and unrelenting bullying and abuse found in so many LitRPG stories that makes you wonder why anyone would want to spend time gaming. And, it's so refreshing to find an author who can write "adult" sex banter and scenes without writing overly detailed how-to manuals that best serve to pad page counts. Also, this author has figured out that you don't need to clobber the reader with a ridiculous cliffhanger. We'll be back for more because the storyline is just that good and we like spending time with these characters.
January 4, 2020
Wonderful continuation from Gamer for Life
I love this series and honestly having read all of it save for the last book which I am working my way towards now as I reread them all before moving on to the end of this amazing tale and I can honestly say that it is hands down one of my favorites and the only thing that I could ever say that I disliked at all other than a few little editing hiccups is I have mixed feelings on a few points which really tore at my heart because of having experienced something similar or the same thing in my own past with my family and friends and few people LIKE things that make them sad but at the same time such things can be good after you get past the initial pain as it can remind you of all the good things also related to the reason you were sad. Simply put if you like games and fantasy and aren't a sexual prude then READ THIS! Though do try to read them in order unless you just don't care about spoiling the story for yourself.
I love this series and honestly having read all of it save for the last book which I am working my way towards now as I reread them all before moving on to the end of this amazing tale and I can honestly say that it is hands down one of my favorites and the only thing that I could ever say that I disliked at all other than a few little editing hiccups is I have mixed feelings on a few points which really tore at my heart because of having experienced something similar or the same thing in my own past with my family and friends and few people LIKE things that make them sad but at the same time such things can be good after you get past the initial pain as it can remind you of all the good things also related to the reason you were sad. Simply put if you like games and fantasy and aren't a sexual prude then READ THIS! Though do try to read them in order unless you just don't care about spoiling the story for yourself.
April 13, 2023
The story continues...
Fun to read like the first one - but the whole marriage thing was not my preferred theme. a) it wasn't his idea but the idea of his future mother-in-law. How romantic - not.
and b) during the marriage his throughout "I hope i am worthy of her" claims are just annoying at some point. I can live with a lot of "I am lucky to have her" but this is borderline to put himself down and it also seems so fake. This whole relationship is not a relationship of equals. he is superior in every direction and it is like he married his pet.
I also would have wished to get one or two new strong characters in this. When the guild thing start in earnest in the next book i fear for a flood of new ones. But we will see.
Overall still a joy to read. (I try to take those ratings serious - if it get 3 starts i liked it. )
And it is to mention that this is a long book. not some 150 pages thing. If you buy it you have to read for some time.
Fun to read like the first one - but the whole marriage thing was not my preferred theme. a) it wasn't his idea but the idea of his future mother-in-law. How romantic - not.
and b) during the marriage his throughout "I hope i am worthy of her" claims are just annoying at some point. I can live with a lot of "I am lucky to have her" but this is borderline to put himself down and it also seems so fake. This whole relationship is not a relationship of equals. he is superior in every direction and it is like he married his pet.
I also would have wished to get one or two new strong characters in this. When the guild thing start in earnest in the next book i fear for a flood of new ones. But we will see.
Overall still a joy to read. (I try to take those ratings serious - if it get 3 starts i liked it. )
And it is to mention that this is a long book. not some 150 pages thing. If you buy it you have to read for some time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2017
This book goes straight on from where number 1 leaves off, I won't give any clues in case you haven't seen my review for book 1, it would spoil things for you. Just suffice it to say that this is another fantastic romp through Alpha World with Alburett, Stacia, their family and friends. There are more monsters to fight, wiley people to be kept an eye on, alliances to make, friendships to forge and fun and adventures to be had. I didn't ever want this to end. I was waiting for it all to go wrong. For things to be messed up, for a war to start, for someone to do something really bad, for something to ruin it and let me down but it didn't happen. The story kept on being exciting and there was none of the darkness and bleakness I hate so much. I see enough of that in the real world. This was just lovely escapism and I can't wait for book 3.
May 10, 2018
Ok...this one was terrible. I kinda liked the first one so i picked up the second one, and where the first one had some pretty good sequences that balanced out the shitty bdsm (I love kink and BDSM but this was shitty kink and BDSM), this one was mostly just crap on every level (for the first one, the kink was a bit better and i minded it less).
Sexy writing is awesome as long as it is GOOD writing, and the sex/kink in this book was NOT good writing. All of these women who just need this "dom" to come and save them (i put "dom" in quotes because he's kinda crappy at it) have little to no character or motivation and it was so ridiculously boring.
Full disclosure, i stopped reading half of the way through. i was having to force myself to read it and i was just ridiculously bored.
Sexy writing is awesome as long as it is GOOD writing, and the sex/kink in this book was NOT good writing. All of these women who just need this "dom" to come and save them (i put "dom" in quotes because he's kinda crappy at it) have little to no character or motivation and it was so ridiculously boring.
Full disclosure, i stopped reading half of the way through. i was having to force myself to read it and i was just ridiculously bored.
May 19, 2018
I wanted to see if its was going better than the first one: RUN AWAY! This is not worth your time!
So we have a former jail officer who likes military life surrounded by women... One is a shy one, one is a dominant one and the third one is a NPC which happens to be a sex demon which happens to like to do things with girl n°2 while girl n°1 likes to do things with the sister of n°3.... And the plot? Which plot? The RPG part? Which one? The non consistent one with the lame world build?
Good for you only is you are a frustrated guy with a (a lot of) problems with women. All otehr ones, run away and read better Lit-RPG.
So we have a former jail officer who likes military life surrounded by women... One is a shy one, one is a dominant one and the third one is a NPC which happens to be a sex demon which happens to like to do things with girl n°2 while girl n°1 likes to do things with the sister of n°3.... And the plot? Which plot? The RPG part? Which one? The non consistent one with the lame world build?
Good for you only is you are a frustrated guy with a (a lot of) problems with women. All otehr ones, run away and read better Lit-RPG.
February 1, 2019
I liked this better than the first one
My only real complaint with book 1 was the way a wholesome erotic fantasy novel with delightful sex scenes got all gross and creepy at the end. Book 2 on the other hand, was down right sweet and sentimental. Wile it did have a dearth of sex scenes, witch were not the problem with book 1, It did have a lot more romance and just heart warming tenderness. Something that I rarely expect in an Erotic LitRPG book.
This book was more empire building and character development, with plenty of enjoyable monster slaying action. Yeah and tits. I liked it. on to book 3.
My only real complaint with book 1 was the way a wholesome erotic fantasy novel with delightful sex scenes got all gross and creepy at the end. Book 2 on the other hand, was down right sweet and sentimental. Wile it did have a dearth of sex scenes, witch were not the problem with book 1, It did have a lot more romance and just heart warming tenderness. Something that I rarely expect in an Erotic LitRPG book.
This book was more empire building and character development, with plenty of enjoyable monster slaying action. Yeah and tits. I liked it. on to book 3.
September 14, 2022
It was kinda slow of a book. I still have the same complaint of some days being too similar where the only difference is the change of 1 or 2 people in the fighting party, or something different happens in the evening. Would've loved more development for how long the book is.
Especially fluff, I really wanted to know more about her, and want her in the harem or open up more, but most her development or progress is happening off screen.
However I do very much like the characters in this book, no matter player or NPC.
I also wouldve preferred more sex and more significance put on it since it feels like there's only casual sex which gets glossed over in 1-2 sentences.
Especially fluff, I really wanted to know more about her, and want her in the harem or open up more, but most her development or progress is happening off screen.
However I do very much like the characters in this book, no matter player or NPC.
I also wouldve preferred more sex and more significance put on it since it feels like there's only casual sex which gets glossed over in 1-2 sentences.
November 1, 2025
Book was ok. Some gripes
Karen being Bi alright was in first book, push to make maybe Fluff bi as well with Karen working on her, eh, then one of Stacia's sisters being lesbian. Little too much forced representation.
Main character does start to loose some of his uniqueness as other players are about to start month long continuous immersion.
Continual over usage of "Kitten" was cringe
The interplay with Bob always wanting hugs from the chicks was getting old.
Too much time spent on food, for example going to pasta restaurant etc.
I get that they are ahead, but world feels empty of players, sure see some at Portal guild, then nothing
Karen being Bi alright was in first book, push to make maybe Fluff bi as well with Karen working on her, eh, then one of Stacia's sisters being lesbian. Little too much forced representation.
Main character does start to loose some of his uniqueness as other players are about to start month long continuous immersion.
Continual over usage of "Kitten" was cringe
The interplay with Bob always wanting hugs from the chicks was getting old.
Too much time spent on food, for example going to pasta restaurant etc.
I get that they are ahead, but world feels empty of players, sure see some at Portal guild, then nothing
October 18, 2017
Alpha World Rocks
Rarely the second book in a series out shines the first, but this has happened with the second book of the Alpha World. Gamers may have some issues with some of the details, those mean nothing to me, however, the story behind the story and the great cast of supporting characters keeps me coming back. There's a lot of potential here because it's a fun read. A good mixture of humour, action, politics and relationships, just a little more plot development and we will have something special here. Already started book three.
Rarely the second book in a series out shines the first, but this has happened with the second book of the Alpha World. Gamers may have some issues with some of the details, those mean nothing to me, however, the story behind the story and the great cast of supporting characters keeps me coming back. There's a lot of potential here because it's a fun read. A good mixture of humour, action, politics and relationships, just a little more plot development and we will have something special here. Already started book three.
November 10, 2017
Overall: The story is ramping up to a larger more epic scale, making me look forward to book 3.
Pros: I was relieved there weren't' any two chapter long bodice ripper tangents and the adult content dialed back to a normal "adult fiction" level. Our hero is settling into a more endearing character who is less "perfect" which I think is also an improvement.
Cons: There was a slight dial back of the other players other than some backstory.
Still not my favorite narrator either but I've gotten used to his style.
Pros: I was relieved there weren't' any two chapter long bodice ripper tangents and the adult content dialed back to a normal "adult fiction" level. Our hero is settling into a more endearing character who is less "perfect" which I think is also an improvement.
Cons: There was a slight dial back of the other players other than some backstory.
Still not my favorite narrator either but I've gotten used to his style.
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