It's tough being a country girl in the big city, especially when werewolves are murdering their way through the underworld! Chase Berrymore must bring all her divination skills to bear in order to survive both wild werewolves and murderous mafiosos.
She's got a shot at finding steadfast allies along the way, but at great cost; the mysterious entities that call themselves 'players' are involved. And where they go, chaos follows...
The sequel to a new litrpg saga, Small Medium: At Large serves up a large helping of action, cunning plans, and mystery...
Once upon a time there was a halven who desired adventure. And she got her wish. After saving her village from a necromancer, Chase Barrymore joins Tomasi and Remy on a trip to the big city. It's not long before Chase finds herself with a werewolf problem. Mysterious entities calling themselves "players" also keep popping up, bringing chaos in their wake. It's a tricky situation for one small halven with no combat skills to solve.
At Large is the second book in the Small Medium series by Andrew Seiple. I am really enjoying where Seiple is taking Chase's story. Since I read a lot of action oriented fantasy it is refreshing to have a character without combat skills having to manage these types of situations using mostly her brains with other people's brawn from time to time. It put me in mind of the planning for a clever heist though there is no heist involved.
The situation in the city is more complicated that it appears at first with the mix of Italian-style mafia family politics along with the werewolf threat and the chaos the players. I love how Seiple continues to mash unique classes together for his main characters to embrace that, with a lot of creativity, work out fabulously. I also can't believe it took me a book and a half to understand the joke behind the series title. Small. Medium. hehe
Even better than Chase herself were the additional characters we meet along the way. Bastien the Muscle Wizaard is easily my favorite. I also continue to enjoy the punny jokes. Operation Gimli! More about how "players" work is revealed though the greater mystery of why they're here still remains. I am looking forward to where Chase's story takes her next.
I listened to the audio book narrated by Tim Gerard Reynolds. He gives a phenomenal performance as always.
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Initial thoughts: Chase sure had a werewolf problem on her hands. I like where the new classes she's unlocked are going. I especially loved the side characters. Bastien is easily my favorite. Some interesting reveals about how players work though I'm still curious how they ended up stuck. Hopefully more is revealed in book 3.
Really enjoyed the little training session at the beginning of the book & making of the group. A couple of interesting twists on jobs/skills and overall world information, but the story does not engage my attention well. Chase doesn't feel as well developed character as the side characters. The idea of who/what Chase is does not match in how she is in the story.
Seiple is doing a pretty good job sprinkling his story tidbits of lore about what might be going on. It's still difficult to say what's happening. Every time he seems to be moving towards one explanation (The world being a game) he mixes in doubt, like the level of reality just being far too high for a patch and the "AI" out stripping what should be possible. So by the end, even with the results, I'm still left wondering if this is an advanced simulation, or a Forever Fantasy Online situation where a computer simulation of a world has been layered on top of a real one resulting in a clash of realities.
The second volume of the Small Medium trilogy puts Chase Berrymore and the cast of the previous book in a new settings, with new and different objectives and challenges (there's a god that might disagree about "different"). Adds a few colorful characters and places a number of obstacles as our heroine has to become her better version.
Kudos also to the mechanics introduced here. The results are full of natural feeling, but you need humor to have the class of Oracle and Grifter to combine to make a... Medium (and that finally gives the source of the trilogy name).
Con artist, oracle and halven (halfling) as an adventurer build. It works here. With a ringmaster and strongman, she's up against mobsters, werewolves, and players. I was sucked in. I really like the multiple class system used here with stat bumps based on the class leveling. Everybody loves large chests uses a similar one. I find i prefer this to the allocation of points each level. A very fun read that's hard to put down once you start.
Another great installment in the small medium series. I could gush about the wonderful setting, referential humor, and quirky characters, but the real attraction to this book is Chase, she small medium! I love her sensible attitude and cleverness giving her a unique approach to conflict. She knows her weaknesses, so she plays to her strengths, and it's glorious. Such a lovable liar! The muscle wizaard is a wonderful new addition, and I couldn't help but read his dialogue in a Randy Savage voice. I'm already pumped for the next book; Small Medium: Well Done!
I love this series and I love the characters. The new ones had me laughing out loud a fair few times really hope they stay in the next book. I found it a little slow at times however sadly but that is more because the mystery sides of things never really appeal. Chase is growing so much it is hard to see the final form hidden behind the clouds. I can’t wait to see how this trilogy in the series will end!
Mr. Seiple is simply writing some of the best stories out there right now.
The Threadbare series and now this one are just a delight to read - turning tropes on their head and mixing humor, puns, pop culture references from all the way back to the 60s, and grand adventures up into one wonderful set of stories
Continuing the story of Chase Barrymore, Oracle and adventurer. Chase and her friends are on the run from a dangerous pack of werewolves. And then there are the mysterious players, seemingly immortal and all powerful. Chase wanted adventures, be careful what you wish for.
Andrew Seiple's 2019 novel Small Medium, Book 2: At Large is yet another really good book. As usual, the LitRPG world and plot he's produced are great, and the characters really good. Besides some slight confusion I had with the fortress scene (could be me), I have nothing to complain about and really enjoyed reading it. So, I'm happy to rate the book at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5.
I was enjoying it but I stopped halfway through with this one. Can't put my finger on why except that perhaps I wanted a change of speed, i'll probably return to this one.
This story (really the last two) shows the NPC’s perspective of life in general if blessed with a gamers ability to level. More importantly it shows how they would react when they became aware of Players stuck in their world. The theme of the series is essentially - What happens when the NPC’s set upon immortal players. I honestly don’t think it would be feel good story most authors present. Which is why this story is so good. The Author has touched on the ways the immortal player could be contained and/or eliminated.
Oh my... Several years ago i dropped it and thought it was boring (compared to Threadbear Series). What's wrong with me? I'm rereading the whole universe right now and it's great!!! Love it! One of these audiobooks i can't put down and have to rewind back every time i misheard or missed even a little thing. Totally gonna read a paper copy. It's probably not as funny and cute as Threadbear (though it still is), but it's smart and imaginative. Several years ago i wasn't particularly fond of Chase, now i want to be like her)). She is simply smart!
A well paced romp through an Italian city with crime, cons, werewolves, and fast talking and thinking by the Small Medium, Chase Berrymore. The author doesn't neglect developing the characters either, as Chase finds more friends and enemies. Well done!
What do you get if you build your party with a sightseeing gambler, an WWE style Wrestler, a Toy Golem Illusionist and a Circus Ringmaster? Exactly. Very much fun. Recommended.
Great story. Fun with a lot of heart The story of Chase Barrymore continues with solid character development and the mysteries surrounding the world of Generica are explored further.