Die Zitadelle

Mirror World #2

by Alexey Osadchuk, Tanja Braun (Translator)

Bist du ein Krieger, den es nach ruhmreichen Heldentaten dürstet? Dann brauchen wir dich! Für die Mauern der Zitadelle von Maragar werden stets Helden benötigt!

Oder bist du ein Zauberer, der danach strebt, vergessenes Wissen zu entdecken? Ein Besuch in unserer historischen Bibliothek enthüllt dir eine Fülle an großen Geheimnissen!

Oder bist du ein Online-Spieler, der auf Spannung aus ist? Dann mach schnell! Die Zitadelle von Maragar bietet zahllose Abenteuer – wähle dir ganz nach Belieben eines aus!

Online tapfere Taten vollbringen ist allerdings das Letzte, was Oleg im Kopf hat. Auch für arkanes Wissen interessiert er sich nicht. Und überhaupt stand er Abenteuern stets misstrauisch gegenüber. Die Spiegelwelt ist kein Ort für jemanden wie ihn. Trotzdem ist und bleibt er hier – auf Verlangen der Reflex-Bank, die ihm einen Kredit für die Krankenhauskosten für seine Tochter gewährt hat. Was der einzige Grund dafür ist, dass er sich den Verteidigern der Zitadelle von Maragar angeschlossen hat.

Genres: Litrpg, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Virtual Reality, Role Playing Games

547 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 10, 2016

About the author

Alexey Osadchuk was born in 1979 in the Ukraine. In the late 1990s his family moved to the south of Spain where they still live today.

Alexey was an avid reader from an early age, devouring adventure novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Jack London and Arthur Conan Doyle. In 2010 he wrote his first fantasy novel which was immediately accepted for publication.

He also used to be a passionate online gamer which prompted him to write the story of a man who joins an MMORPG game hoping to raise money for his daughter’s heart surgery. The first book of Mirror World was published In 2013. The English translation of the series is now available on Amazon in its entirety, prompting a reviewer to call Alexey “one of the best LitRPG authors to date”.

Reviews

[Veronika · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐

[Johnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series

Work hard and be smart enough and you can achieve anything.
This is really well translated. A good read. I highly recommend this series.

[Akshay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Title: The Citadel (Mirror World #2)

“In the game world, leveling up isn’t just about experience—it’s about survival, trust, and making your own rules.”

Overview and Premise

The Citadel picks up immediately after the events of Project Daily Grind, expanding both the protagonist’s in-game journey and the stakes of the Mirror World. Our hero, Olgerd—or “Goblin” as some refer to him—has now fully embraced the treacherous life of a mobster-turned-heroic-underling, navigating the ruthless, immersive, and politically chaotic VR world where failure often means permanent consequences.

In this installment, Olgerd's goal shifts from survival to ascendance. The plot centers on his efforts to strengthen a struggling clan based in the titular Citadel, a strategic fortress with crumbling defenses, surrounded by hostile guilds. The mix of tactical warfare, city-building, and high-stakes political drama gives the narrative a more structured and expansive feel than the sandbox-style narrative of Book 1.

Plot Progression Compared to Book 1

While Project Daily Grind felt like an introduction to the Mirror World—with a heavy focus on grinding, systems, and the shock of transition from real to virtual—The Citadel dives into layered objectives and deeper character evolution. It’s no longer just about escaping drudgery; it’s about shaping a legacy.

Book 1: Focused on basic survival, NPC status, and personal adaptation to VR life. Book 2: Emphasizes leadership, PvP and PvE politics, alliances, and inter-guild warfare.

This evolution reflects a broader LitRPG trend where protagonists transition from “zero to hero,” and Osadchuk executes this shift without losing sight of Olgerd’s gritty pragmatism and moral ambiguity.

Character Development

Olgerd continues to be a grounded, reluctant leader—a contrast to LitRPG heroes who acquire power too easily. His cynicism is balanced by glimpses of compassion and camaraderie, particularly with his growing inner circle. The new characters introduced—such as aspiring mages, quirky craftsmen, and rival players—are more distinct and narratively essential than in Book 1.

Game Mechanics and World-Building

Osadchuk's attention to the mechanics of clan management, defense building, and strategy simulation is meticulous. The Citadel feels alive—with economic challenges, siege threats, NPC migrations, and real-time decision-making. The game system’s realism adds tension and immersion without ever bogging the pace.

Writing Style and Translation

The translation (from Russian to English) remains serviceable. While occasionally stiff or literal in phrasing, it maintains clarity and action momentum. The prose is functional—descriptive enough to conjure scenes but never overly elaborate. The tactical sequences are a highlight, balancing game logic with narrative drama.

Comparison to Contemporaries

The Citadel compares favorably to works like The Land by Aleron Kong or Soulstone by J.A. Cipriano. However, unlike Kong’s humor-infused epic or Cipriano’s pop-culture-rich romp, Osadchuk’s world is grimmer, more Eastern European in sensibility. That grounded tone sets it apart in the increasingly saturated LitRPG market.

Quote: “The system didn't care how noble you were. It rewarded results. You either built something—or died trying.”

Final Verdict

The Citadel is a strong continuation of the Mirror World series. It moves from raw escapism to complex strategy without sacrificing the tension or stakes that made the first book so gripping. The layered character arcs, combined with economic and military progression systems, give it long-term potential as a cornerstone LitRPG series.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆ ☆

Recommended for:

Fans of gritty, tactical LitRPG with clan-building mechanics Readers who enjoy strategic warfare blended with personal stakes Those who appreciated Book 1 and want higher stakes, better world-building

Not recommended for:

Readers seeking romance or comic relief Newcomers to the genre (start with Book 1 first) Those uncomfortable with slower economic arcs mixed into the action

[Angela Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Great second book on poor Olgard. He finds many new places and faces but still can't seem to catch a break. I can't wait to see what he does next.

[Lucie Aran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Po předchozím díle jsem už věděla, do čeho jdu, a ani tentokrát mě autor nezklamal. Příběh sice nepřináší do žánru nic zásadně nového, ale právě u této série mi to vůbec nevadí. Baví mě její herní svět, postupný vývoj hlavního hrdiny a především způsob, jakým se obyčejné plnění úkolů začíná měnit v něco podstatně většího. Tentokrát navíc děj působil o něco živěji a měl větší spád.

Nejvíc mě zaujalo množství nových intrik, vztahů a situací, do kterých se Oleg postupně zaplétá. Z původně poměrně jednoduchého konceptu se začíná stávat komplexnější příběh, ve kterém už nejde jen o získávání zkušeností a přežití, ale také o reputaci, aliance a rozhodnutí, která mají následky. Některé části jsou stále více zaměřené na herní mechaniky a budování pozice než na samotnou akci, ale tentokrát mi to vyhovovalo.

Série mě zatím baví a to je přesně to, co jsem u ní hledala a potřebovala. Neočekávám od ní žánrovou revoluci ani dokonale originální zápletku, chci především čtivý příběh, do kterého se dokážu ponořit, a to se mi zatím daří.

[Gaylen Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a LitRPG genre which I'm really enjoying these days.

[Robert Spellmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

No will power!

Not Olgerd the character, or Osadchuk the writer - me! I stated my view on vulgar language in my review of the first book. But, while reading this second book, I decided two bars of Ivory are needed. The interpreter merits one, too.

Through the last third of the book I was thinking I would not wade through more verbal feces; this was my last read of Osadchuk. Then I hit the ending of this book and found myself swiping through the epilog in a hurry to start the third!

Whatever else I think, I can't praise Osadchuk's writing enough. He grabs you and races through the drama and intrigue of his tale like his character, Olgerd's, dizzying leveling up.

Fine, I will read the third. But I am not exaggerating that I intensely resent the superfluous use of R-rated expletives. That will Cost Osadchuk future purcases. And that is a disappoing loss to both of us.

[Rhys Reardon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Roberto · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked him ok in the first book! mostly because of the situation "I'll do whatever is necessary to save my kid" but then Oleg turn into a whiner.. too much' whimpering, o poor me' I have an epic pet!.. ò poor me now I have a belt that gives 100+ stats in everything .. o POOR ME now I have an egg of a legendary mount.. it looks like a lion with a bird beak for mouth (a griffin!!) 3 evolutions later.. it looks like a griffin!... trust no one, have no friends. Taking the family out of the picture was a mistake, including them more should have given' a better reason for him to be an act like a coward, having the looming fear about the lack of money, yet he has a cheat ability that makes this concern null'

[Seth Silvernail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Further Adventures of a 0-Level Grinder

I thoroughly enjoy this particular LitRPG series. We follow the continued adventures of a 0-Level character whose sole job is to grind resources and sell them to others and yet he may be a part of so much more!

I won't spoil the major plot elements of this book but will say that I very much enjoyed the further depth and developments which took place in the world and story arc for this novel and highly recommend the series as a whole to LitRPG fans looking for a twist on "the usual" we've seen so far in LitRPG stories.

[M.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the first installment. It seems most of the basics regarding digging is left to the wayside and instead the protagonist goes on wild adventures without actually being a combat character. It is in some ways amusing but I feel like the only reason he gets out of these situations is due to his cheats rather than his ingenuity alone.

[Daniel Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome

The book was a great follow up to one of the best LitRPGs. This book, while being a setup book, really kick things into high gear. I can not recommend this book highly enough. If your a fan of the genre you owe it to yourself to get it.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cant wait for next book!

Was so absorbed into the story that when i hit the end of the book it took me by surprise. I was actually disappointed that i could not currently continue on.

[Awan · Rating 4 out of 5]

"listen, when book 3 showing up?"

[Kiba Snowpaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Final Rating: 2.72/5.00
Starting score: 2.50
+0.27 for the convincing connection between financial desperation and coercion within the game
+0.23 for NPC relationships that give loneliness, trust, and grief emotional weight
+0.19 for the supporting players' practical solidarity and distinct priorities
+0.24 for resourceful noncombat solutions built from established game mechanics
+0.21 for Prankster and Boris as affectionate companions with meaningful roles
+0.15 for the hostile frontier atmosphere and the sense of freedom in exploration
+0.12 for final revelations that connect earlier mysteries to the larger conflict
-0.34 for prolonged explanations, transactions, and repetitive internal deliberation
-0.27 for exceptional advantages that weaken the satisfaction of earned progression
-0.14 for keeping Sveta and Christina largely outside the developing story
-0.10 for an unexamined failure of loyalty when Oleg ignores his companions' urgent warnings
-0.09 for repetitive English wording and inconsistent character details
-0.25 for ending on another undertaking while deferring the payoff to the central family crisis
Calculated final score: 2.72/5.00

There is a warm little pack forming around Oleg, and I care more about it than the next menu. This continuation gives me stronger companionship, a harsher frontier, and several satisfying examples of a vulnerable man finding ways through problems he cannot simply hit. It also keeps stopping to explain the next price, restriction, purchase, suspicion, and possible consequence until the movement starts sinking into deep snow again. Oleg is still trying to secure help for his daughter, with reputation, employment, and prolonged immersion standing between him and the loan he needs. Moving toward the Citadel places that effort inside a world where danger has become somebody else's entertainment and somebody else's business opportunity. That is a strong situation for this character. I wanted the story to press harder on what living inside it costs him. Too often, it gives me another explanation of how it operates.

The financial pressure has real teeth because the people offering Oleg security also want control over him. Tanor's approach is particularly effective: better working conditions, protection, money for treatment, and an apparently sensible future arrive wrapped around an increasingly ugly assumption that Oleg's freedom is negotiable. The conversation becomes colder as the reassuring language falls away. Knowledge of his family becomes bargaining power. His unusual abilities become an asset other people discuss owning, and even the institutions around ordinary employment help make him visible to those people. This develops the exploitation established in the previous volume into something more organized and harder to escape. A single bully can be avoided; a network that has already discussed your future behind your back is a different kind of enclosure. My fur bristles at an offer that promises to keep the pack warm while somebody else takes possession of the den. As an Alpha, I recognize that trap. Help that needs my leash attached is already asking too much. Oleg's need makes that principle painfully difficult to defend, which gives these negotiations their force.

His fear also has a substantial basis. He has already experienced what powerful players can do to someone whose account leaves him vulnerable, and this volume makes the cruelty of those restrictions immediate again. Being unable to die normally offers very little comfort when pain, injury, lost equipment, and a forced interruption of his immersion can wreck the work he is doing for his family. His caution belongs to a man who cannot afford to treat a disaster as an amusing evening in a game. I find the difference between his priorities and those of the recreational players convincing. They can seek excitement in situations he needs to survive without losing his livelihood. The story is strongest when that difference shapes a decision: what information he withholds, which offer he questions, or how he approaches someone who might help him. He can negotiate firmly and make practical arrangements even while frightened. That combination gives me a more interesting protagonist than his repeated descriptions of himself as a helpless little worker suggest. His actions sometimes show more backbone than his own running commentary allows.

Uncle Vanya, Liz, and Rrhorgus give the human side of the supporting cast something solid to stand on. Vanya's affection for Kosma makes his working life feel personal; the animal is his breadwinner, his responsibility, and a creature he has spent time raising. His arguments with Liz show the limits of his otherwise generous nature. He knows the route that worked for him and wants her to take it, while she has ambitions he keeps trying to redirect. Liz gradually becomes more than the silent archer Oleg first judges from the outside. Her attention to danger and her commitment to her own progress give her a role beyond receiving his help. Rrhorgus brings a different kind of loyalty: practical concern, useful knowledge, and the willingness to tell a friend something frightening. His refusal to be reduced to an object of pity also gives him a firmness I appreciate. These people have their own work and priorities. Cooperation grows through exchanges that matter to both sides, and that is where I begin to feel a dependable pack forming around Oleg.

The NPC relationships reach further into the book's loneliness. Gard's response to a message from home briefly exposes the person beneath his military manner, making the distance between a husband and his family matter inside a world supposedly built from programmed roles. Oleg's own separation gives that encounter its emotional pressure. Tronus is even more valuable because their relationship has room for ordinary company. His curiosity, his pleasure in conversation, and his growing willingness to share his space turn the tower into somewhere Oleg can breathe. Adkhur carries the ache of a lost people into quieter scenes, especially when something connected to that heritage becomes alive and present again. I care about those small shifts in belonging. Oleg repeatedly tells himself that these beings are software, yet he brings food, stays to talk, and responds to their needs. The affection exists in what he does. In HowlStrom, a place in the den means someone has noticed your absence and is glad when you return. These relationships begin to create that feeling, even while the game keeps translating acts of kindness into rewards.

Prankster and Boris are central to that warmth. Prankster's appetite, curiosity, and habit of treating furniture as his personal lookout give Oleg company during an otherwise isolated working routine. Boris develops through feeding, attention, movement, and discovery, with Oleg gradually learning what kind of creature he is caring for. Their interactions develop through small, repeated acts of care. The two animals play together, investigate their surroundings, and carry recognizable habits from one scene into the next. I particularly like the practical tenderness of Oleg staying ready to catch a young creature learning to climb. That is a small action with more emotional value than another declaration that he is a decent man. Their usefulness grows out of time spent together, even when the advantages attached to them become excessive. I have room in my ice wolf heart for companions who make an exhausted person's solitude less empty. Give the little troublemaker his cheese. He has done more for this man's spirits than half the reward screens. The affection is one of the most convincing things here.

The frontier also feels different enough from the capital to give the journey a physical character. Drammen's rain is a persistent nuisance with practical consequences: equipment deteriorates, travel becomes uncertain, and ordinary movement costs more effort than Oleg expects. Around the Citadel, damaged buildings, repair work, exposed streets, and the failing protection overhead make danger part of the local routine. The siege is effective because Oleg experiences it from below, trying to understand where shelter actually exists while much stronger people also struggle. That scale makes his body feel small. Later, the contrast between the oppressive weather and the space above it gives exploration a welcome release. The forests, mountain ranges, and vast water beyond familiar territory suggest a world that continues far past his current problems. My HowlStrom instincts respond to the cold and the heights, but the important effect is the change in perspective. For a while, Oleg gets to experience wonder instead of being confined to the next obligation. Those passages let the fantasy breathe.

The best action makes use of the particular character the series has created. Mining becomes valuable in the aftermath of destruction, when recovering other players' possessions requires work that warriors cannot simply replace with another attack. Oleg can repay help through a skill of his own, and the Citadel has a place for somebody who contributes behind the fighting. Elsewhere, a trapping device introduced during an earlier encounter gains a practical use through observation and planning. His companions' different abilities become part of a solution, and an escape depends on understanding the immediate threat well enough to choose a moment to act. I like that kind of resourcefulness. The rules provide something to work with instead of existing only as figures to recite. Oleg also makes useful social deductions, turning knowledge of how a quest is assigned into cooperation and a valuable arrangement with the caravanners. These are moments when the novel gives him initiative. He notices an opportunity, assembles what he has, and makes a decision that changes his situation. That is the progression I want more of.

The scale and exclusivity of Oleg's opportunities repeatedly weaken that satisfaction. The rare creature available to him alone, unusually accommodating routes into valuable content, and enormous resource haul push his progress far beyond the ordinary working life that originally gave the series its identity. One expedition produces reputation value that dwarfs the earlier accumulation of small errands and labor. The contrast is so large that the patient climb begins to look like preliminary inconvenience before the privileged route opens. His account blocks him from using several valuable discoveries, while the advantages he can exploit are enormous. Other workers are living inside the economy; he increasingly has access to an exceptional path through it. The late explanation gives this pattern a place in the larger story, but it cannot supply the missing experience of earning those advantages. I want effort, judgment, and consequence to carry more of the ascent. My claws cannot get much purchase when the mountain keeps producing a staircase reserved for one climber.

There is also a specific moment when Oleg falls short of the loyalty his situation asks me to value. During an expedition, his companions send urgent messages telling him to return, and he continues searching because he may not get another opportunity. He does this while relying on those same people to make the trip possible and watch for danger. He does not first establish what has happened or give them a useful response. That choice deserves more attention than the story gives it. I can understand wanting to finish a difficult task; I also understand what it means to be the person waiting for someone to answer while the situation is changing around you. This is where my pack instincts dig in. If I trust you enough to guard my back, I owe you an answer when you call. The episode could have exposed a selfish edge under his desperation and allowed the relationship to deal with it. Instead, the narrative moves on without giving that breach of responsibility a meaningful reckoning.

Sveta and Christina remain the reason everything matters, but they receive too little space as people in this volume. Oleg's memories of happier times with his wife give his longing a recognizable texture, and even a short message about his family carries weight after so much isolation. The desire to show them something beautiful in this world is especially human. He wants a future in which they can enjoy something together, beyond the immediate struggle to pay for survival. Yet the ongoing relationship largely stays outside the story. Sveta is carrying her own burden, and Christina has a life beyond the medical urgency, but our access to both remains narrow. Their absence becomes a repeated explanation for Oleg's determination while the developing companionship is concentrated among the people and animals he meets in the game. That leaves an emotional imbalance. I want the central family to feel as individually present as the companions who now share his daily routine.

The pacing spends far too much time processing ordinary business. The opening stages linger over travel, weather protection, equipment requirements, and the explanations attached to each purchase. Later, quests come with extended discussions of access, reputation, capacity, and possible rewards. Oleg frequently reaches a decision only after working through several branches of speculation that have little dramatic difference between them. The repeated structure becomes tiring: an unfamiliar feature appears, someone explains it, he considers the implications, and the next layer needs another explanation. The most damaging example arrives around the bank visit, where the urgent financial objective shares space with a prolonged comparison of storage sizes, prices, and rental conditions. The costs are understandable well before the discussion is finished. As an audiobook, this asks me to carry a great deal of temporary administrative detail while the emotional question waits. I want the system to put pressure on a choice. I do not need every piece of routine administration expanded into its own deliberation. Several of these stretches are simply boring.

Oleg's internal commentary also keeps returning to conclusions already established. He worries about exposure, suspects another complication, reminds himself that he is inexperienced, and considers whether he should have stayed somewhere safer. The danger is real, but explaining the same defensive position again adds little once his circumstances have made it clear. Some recollections deepen the character, especially when the present pressure connects with earlier experiences of being powerless. Others interrupt a simple transition for a lengthy memory or general reflection, such as the extended appreciation of buying a new book during an errand for writing supplies. The accumulation loosens the tension. I would rather spend more time watching a relationship change or a decision become difficult than receive another full account of why Oleg would prefer a quiet life. His longing has already been established. Repetition keeps pulling the story back to the same patch of snow after it has finally started moving forward.

The English prose has a related habit of filling conversational space with familiar responses. Exchanges repeatedly lean on phrases such as "How interesting," while "admittedly" becomes a conspicuous recurring qualification in Oleg's narration. These habits give several explanations a similar texture, regardless of the subject. There are also concrete slips in character detail. Uncle Vanya is introduced as a gnome and later described as a dwarf without a corresponding change being established. During another confrontation, arrows are attributed to Morph in a passage that has positioned Phil as the archer and Morph as the physical attacker. Those are avoidable failures to keep track of the people in a scene. They matter in a story where race, role, and equipment are repeatedly presented as useful information. I want that information handled consistently. The looseness compounds the impression of a narrative willing to explain a great deal while occasionally losing its grip on the simpler details that would make the explanation clear.

The final revelations do valuable work by connecting several of the earlier mysteries. The peculiar opportunities around Oleg gain a more coherent place in the larger conflict, and the pressure on his freedom acquires another layer. That gives the volume a stronger sense of direction than its succession of errands initially suggests. The immediate payoff remains limited, however. The ending arrives through an explanation and another undertaking, with the family's hoped-for relief still ahead rather than given room to become a lived result. After following so much preparation across two volumes, I want more than the arrangement that makes the next stage possible. That is why the greater warmth and stronger episodes only carry this audiobook so far for me. I can feel a pack worth caring about beneath all the transactions. Back in HowlStrom, I would gladly make room for these companions by the fire. I am considerably less eager to hear another promise about when we might finally get home.

[Douglas · Rating 1 out of 5]

The author fails to tell a complete story, for the second book in a row. This book ends with the MC agreeing to take on a major new role in the online world. Does that sound like it any story lines were resolved? The author does an okay job writing scenes but has no concept how to write a book. I'm a reader, not a gamer, and I can only guess that it is the gamer community giving this book such good reviews because it is a complete waste of time as a book. (The first book was so terrible I never would have read this book except it was available for free).

While the inability to tell a story is this book’s major failing, it has other problems, like the main character being unlikeable. For example: What constitutes a “good guy”? This author and I disagree on this point. The MC gets help from two other players to get to a hard to reach place. At which point the MC goes on alone to the goal. Minutes later the MC receives panicked calls from his party members to come back immediately WHICH HE JUST IGNORES. Of course, this proves to be the correct course since they then end up just hiding for a long period but that doesn’t change the fact that ignoring panicked calls from your party members is a real dick move.

MC also seems just stupid at times. The MC gets a special animal that can’t harm him but the author wastes time telling how the MC is afraid of his own animal anyhow. Apparently the author doesn’t want us to think too highly of his MC? The MC character is also in the game world to make money for his daughter’s surgery but considers just ignoring a free steed? It’s a “bound” item so it can’t be sold but does the MC not understand the advantages of being able to move from place to place faster? (Which, of course, is how the MC ends up using his steed, the author just felt the need to make him look stupid first.) I didn’t take notes as I went so my example here isn’t the full story, but the net impression is this MC is just stumbling from one encounter to another in spite of the fact that he is supposedly in the game to make money.

Bottom line: this book is a complete waste of time, primary because it fails to actually tell a story. Essentially the author has now had a two book lead up to whatever story (if any) he actually wishes to tell.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 That's Human Nature For You Stars

The Citadel is the second book in the Mirror World series by Alexey Osadchuk.

I am flabbergasted at the discrepancies between this and the first book. The author managed to completely shift the feel of the story, for me. These pages are jam-packed with action and adventure. So many mysteries and surprises came out of the woodwork to tantalize the mind. While our little Grinder is about to move up in the world, it is no lie to say he attempted to stick to his "quiet life" plan.

I was honestly hoping for some save to take him out of the reach or influence of some troublesome richies.. I suppose I should have realized the theme of this book does not support easy wins or even miraculous hard fought ones, in all honesty. That it's taken two books for him to finally be forced out of his player accounts limited ability.

Perhaps we will see more of the Guiding Eyes? I get the distinct feeling that this friendly group and Olgerd's previous acquaintances in game are possibility going to step up and side with his new mission.

Finally, I just want to go on record saying that I fully suspect some player trying to combine all the mirrors and bring about untold devastation. Perhaps that d-bag Raven?

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delving deeper into the game world’s mysteries, what could go wrong

For a level 0 noob Grinder, this world is meant as a workplace not a leisure activity. The grind through resources to earn their wages and work virtually just as humans have in real life to earn enough to feed and care for themselves and their families. Doesn’t seem like a lot to ask from a digital full immersion game world. Sadly the real world matches only too well and the rich continue to try to exploit the poor.
The only question for Oleg is whether he can get enough to save his daughter’s life through the game world as he has ran dry his real world options and is now taking his chances with the online realm’s banks since the money transfers between them once is nearly as good as the other. So now he must raise his reputation in game as well as find permanent employment and finally last 30 days straight without a logout to earn what they need for his daughter Christina’s heart problems. It’s going to be a wild ride as he won’t let anything stop him.

[Chris Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

More of the same from the first book. This one takes place over the month Olgard spends in the game, set up at the end of book 1. This, in part, detracts a little from the charm of the story, but it also resulted in a smoother narrative so I guess it's a wash.

As for the story, where the first book focused on leveling up his mining skill, the second is all about building reputation with his skills taking a back seat. I was a little disappointed in this, to be honest, as I wanted to see what he could do with high level mining events.

The ending certainly explains a lot, and is a good setup for a change of pace in book 3.

[Scott Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the Best

Mr. Osadchuk is one of the best writers I have read recently in this genre. He keeps the verbiage clean, unlike many other LITRPG writers. He weaves a believable story that incorporates “real world” issues into motivation in the virtual and take the reader on a journey with the main character.
This Mirror World Series is fantastic. He has created intrigue, adventure, in-depth characters, and a main character that reflects the fears of real people.
Well done and I look forward to the next book.

[Atousa Karimi · Rating 2 out of 5]

What is wrong with this main character? He is 40 years old for f*ck's sake, but always act more like a teenager, shaking, cowering towards everything and hiding from every shadow. I mean he even is scared of installing an application in a game! He often

forgets very crucial things and behave in a very stupid way. He is constentanly nagging and whining about everything without even trying to understand them. All in all he is totally pathetic.

[Jeff Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very different suit of LitRPG

This and the previous book in the series are one of the few VR type LitRPGs that still feels like it has property real life stakes. It's also fun following a non gamer figuring this stuff out and doing well without the common know-it-all expert perspective.

I've read a few of Alexi Osadchuk's books now and he's a real talent in the genre. Looking forward to book 3.

[Michael Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one came very close to earning a 5 star rating and this is a series that has me hooked for sure. In this book the pace slowed down quite a bit and the MC did a lot of 2nd guessing and suddenly became a little dense at times. I also felt like some light plot armor was being being applied but in the end things were properly worked out and setup. Still, having said that I used every opportunity to listen to this one and burned right through it.

[Stile Teckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I can't compare this to Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, I can say that I read a lot in the genre. Almost everything I can find on Amazon actually. This is the best in the Genre I have read since Ready Player One. I literally threw my money at each sequel, read all three books in just a few days, and have pre-ordered the next.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way too many adjectives, some of which didn’t make sense for the story: “surprisingly” for events that weren’t surprising, ditto for “admittedly”, “mechanically”, and “suddenly”. Maybe something just got lost in translation.
ADMITTEDLY who am I to complain? The story is SURPRISINGLY as addictive as the first book, and I’m definitely reading the third. Hopefully not mechanically.

[Austin McCutcheon · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I didn’t have work tomorrow my friend..

I’ve got work early tomorrow but I’m downloading the next book as soon as I finish this. I can’t wait to see what curves you’ll throw into the next one. When is his family going to join him!? Every other player seems to have their family in and if that’s not foreshadowing then I don’t know what kind of reader I am.

[Meggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book continues just after the first book ended, with Olgard spending a whole month in the game, to get a new bank loan. Olgard does his best in every situation, he lands in, which is fun to fallow. I liked this book and will continue on. I wont say much about ending just that it's partly positive one for Olgard's family.

[Scycer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The series does follow a lot of similar light novel tropes. The MC being overpowered and escaping from impossible situations but the setting and actions primarily being in a game lends a lot of credibility.

Enjoyed the quest for an Ennen and what the protagonist has to do to maintain status quo.

Looking forward to reading the entire series.

Good Read. Do pick it up.

[Wilhelm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much better than the first book. Honestly the only reason I’m going to keep reading this series is because he will finally be more active in the game.

Story is still all over the place the characters are growing a bit but still seem off. Not sure what I’m expecting for next book but hopefully it’s not as full as the first two.

[Joel Stanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read!

I love this series! Very unique take on LitRPG and I love the concept of the Grinder classes. Lot’s of unique, and well considered aspects to the story, class, and leveling systems that all very neatly tie together.