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Jeff the Game Master #1
Magie herstellen: Ein epischer LitRPG-Roman (Jeff der Spielleiter 1)
10 million active players. One Game Master. Big Problems.
Infinite Worlds is the most popular VRMMORPG on the market. Its maps are so vast, developer Hard Rock Data utilizes a network of highly advanced Artificial Intelligences to control it. But it's not without problems.
That’s why Game Masters like Jeff Driscoll have jobs. The downside? He’s not allowed to play the game. Something about conflicts of interest and favoritism.
His very boring and tedious job is to help players deal with the occasional bug that slips through the cracks and ensure they enjoy their time playing enough to give a 5-star rating. It’s a gig. It pays the bills.
However, when the A.I.s unexpectedly issue a Rogue Patch, the game becomes a buggy mess and Jeff's role radically changes. He finds himself as the only Game Master around, dealing with more problems than he can handle.
It’s up to Jeff to return Infinite Worlds to normalcy using his ability to manipulate the game's code into what appears like magic... But will the A.I.s let him?
Manufacturing Magic is a unique spin on the LitRPG genre, not just providing the perspective of the players, but also of one of those mystical, magical, all-powerful GMs we all dream of being.
About the series: As a GM, Jeff utilizes a unique progression system of magic built around the manipulation of video game code. Weaving his hot-fixes with the already established Infinite Worlds’ code, Jeff rescues players, corrects glitches and more. Additionally, experience Infinite Worlds through the eyes of the players through Dak, Rikardi, Aesir and Jeweliette. Enjoy the mundane-to-vital character growth with a main character who is Hard Rock Data’s only hope with plenty of quests, loot, adventurers, dragons, and magic. Rich characters and world-building offer humor alongside lots of monster fighting and adventure.
Infinite Worlds is the most popular VRMMORPG on the market. Its maps are so vast, developer Hard Rock Data utilizes a network of highly advanced Artificial Intelligences to control it. But it's not without problems.
That’s why Game Masters like Jeff Driscoll have jobs. The downside? He’s not allowed to play the game. Something about conflicts of interest and favoritism.
His very boring and tedious job is to help players deal with the occasional bug that slips through the cracks and ensure they enjoy their time playing enough to give a 5-star rating. It’s a gig. It pays the bills.
However, when the A.I.s unexpectedly issue a Rogue Patch, the game becomes a buggy mess and Jeff's role radically changes. He finds himself as the only Game Master around, dealing with more problems than he can handle.
It’s up to Jeff to return Infinite Worlds to normalcy using his ability to manipulate the game's code into what appears like magic... But will the A.I.s let him?
Manufacturing Magic is a unique spin on the LitRPG genre, not just providing the perspective of the players, but also of one of those mystical, magical, all-powerful GMs we all dream of being.
About the series: As a GM, Jeff utilizes a unique progression system of magic built around the manipulation of video game code. Weaving his hot-fixes with the already established Infinite Worlds’ code, Jeff rescues players, corrects glitches and more. Additionally, experience Infinite Worlds through the eyes of the players through Dak, Rikardi, Aesir and Jeweliette. Enjoy the mundane-to-vital character growth with a main character who is Hard Rock Data’s only hope with plenty of quests, loot, adventurers, dragons, and magic. Rich characters and world-building offer humor alongside lots of monster fighting and adventure.
499 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 4, 2021
440 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
Jaime Castle
45 books195 followersJaime Castle hails from the great nation of Texas where he lives with his wife and two children and enjoys anything creative. A self-proclaimed comic book nerd and artist, he spends what little free time he can muster with his art tablet.
Jaime is a #1 Audible Bestseller, Audible Originals author (The Luna Missile Crisis) and co-created and co-authored The Buried Goddess Saga, which includes the IPPY award-winning Web of Eyes.
Fantasy:
The Buried Goddess Saga:
Web of Eyes
Winds of War
Will of Fire
Way of Gods
War of Men
Word of Truth
Dragonblood Assassin:
Black Talon
Red Claw
Silver Spines
Golden Flames (2023/2024)
RAPTORS:
Sidekick
Superteam
Scions
Baron Steele
HARRIER (Raptors)
Justice
The Trench
Invasion
The Black Badge:
Dead Acre
Cold as Hell
Vein Pursuits
Ace in the Hole (2024)
Jeff the Game Master:
Manufacturing Magic
Manipulating Magic
Mastering Magic
Science Fiction:
This Long Vigil
The Luna Missile Crisis
ROGUE STARS:
Purgatory (2024)
Divine Intervention (2024)
Reclamation (2024)
Find out more at www.jaimecastle.com
Jaime is a #1 Audible Bestseller, Audible Originals author (The Luna Missile Crisis) and co-created and co-authored The Buried Goddess Saga, which includes the IPPY award-winning Web of Eyes.
Fantasy:
The Buried Goddess Saga:
Web of Eyes
Winds of War
Will of Fire
Way of Gods
War of Men
Word of Truth
Dragonblood Assassin:
Black Talon
Red Claw
Silver Spines
Golden Flames (2023/2024)
RAPTORS:
Sidekick
Superteam
Scions
Baron Steele
HARRIER (Raptors)
Justice
The Trench
Invasion
The Black Badge:
Dead Acre
Cold as Hell
Vein Pursuits
Ace in the Hole (2024)
Jeff the Game Master:
Manufacturing Magic
Manipulating Magic
Mastering Magic
Science Fiction:
This Long Vigil
The Luna Missile Crisis
ROGUE STARS:
Purgatory (2024)
Divine Intervention (2024)
Reclamation (2024)
Find out more at www.jaimecastle.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
May 15, 2021
Manufacturing Magic is down as a “LitRPG”, but it is something altogether different than the standard LitRPG.
It follows Jeff Driscoll, who works as a Game Master (GM) for a company called Hard Rock Data (HRD), in a VRMMORPG or a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game called Infinite Worlds (IW), and yes, they love their acronyms.
This is a bit of a dystopian future, in that the technology is something vastly different to what we have now (the description of the rig that the users sit or more to the point, ‘Immerse’ themselves into so they can play the games, is something that you need to read to believe!!), and lifestyles are also incredibly different.
Jeff lives alone, which is not unusual, as nearly everything is done online, he works and lives virtually, in a small apartment, using his ‘TerraMount 360’ to interact with the virtual world.
Although there is the technology gap, the obvious virtual reality gap, and some other aspects that are different, with the world it is today due to the pandemic, there are aspects of this story that are strikingly familiar to how our world is going, or currently is.
As a GM for IW, Jeff spends his work hours fixing issues for the players of the game. Jeff is not allowed to play IW, as GMs are explicitly banned from playing the game so that there are no chances of corruption or anything fraudulent (can’t have a GM slipping their Raid Party a couple of Epic items on the side whilst they are working, or maybe tripping up a party as they are about to get first kill on the latest Big Boss, so that their Raid Party can and get all the associated benefits!!)
But Jeff really wants to play, he would love to have a chance to play the game, as he thinks it looks amazing, however, he also knows he has bills to pay, has to eat, you know, those annoying things in life?
Whilst Jeff is thinking about how he would like to play the game, at the same time as fixing another bug, there are dozens of players online complaining about how, although the game isn’t bad, it is too easy, quests are too quick to finish, and seem too much like old ones just re-done.
The thing is, with a game environment like Infinite Worlds, the multi-faceted decision making that is required to make all of the choices for every player, NPC, creature, and all the environmental effects (you know, like the wind blowing through the leaves and butterflies lifting off), is beyond the capabilities of anything in the known world today, and well beyond anything a human is capable of performing. As such, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) was created, called a Principality, and each Principality would operate a different section of the world.
Each of the AIs are set to learn, so that they can grow and understand more of the game, to improve the experience and keep the players happy to. But one of the AI’s takes things to the next level, doing something no one saw or predicted.
One of the AI’s suddenly drop a new “Patch or Hot Fix” on the game of their own, and it alters things in ways that no one saw coming, including removing all of the GMs from the game except one, Jeff.
Suddenly Jeff finds himself the sole owner of a complaints department from hell, with thousands upon thousands of players, multiple new bugs and issues due to this new Patch, and he is the only one working to fix anything.
Worse still, his Game Master abilities that he uses to actually fix the game have gone all strange as well. Jeff finds he has to figure out new ways to fix bugs, to work through the patch, almost like he is casting a spell or making magic….
Whilst reading about Jeff and his exploits could actually fill up a whole book, and with the humour aspect, keep you easily amused, the Authors have gone a whole step further, and delved down into the actual Players within the game as well.
As a result, we get to read about multiple different Points of View of Players who are trying to navigate this strange new environment with IW, one with only a single GM to fix things, and numerous strange new changes.
The Authors have done such an exceptional job of writing gaming Characters that are extraordinarily real, just like those you find in these types of scenarios, and it adds this level of depth, authenticity, and brutal honesty from these characters that tell their stories from within this virtual reality. There is Crush, the Player who has taken a Half-Orc Paladin, not because he wants to try and see how difficult the game will be as a Lawful Good Half-Orc, but purely because a Half-Orc is the strongest creature in the game, and a Paladin has a range of hit bonuses in combat, all ‘Crush’ cares about is hitting things the hardest and fastest he can, to kill them, and kill them first. He leads a raiding party, the Infinity Killers that currently hold the highest number of first kills in the game.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have characters like Dak, who has completely immersed himself in the roleplaying aspects of his Ranger, and seems really attached to his in-game wolf, that is a part of his class. And somewhere in the middle, is Jeweliette who will do the roleplaying thing when needed, but doesn’t get involved with it all the time, she mainly likes to play the game.
All of them, as well as multiple other characters we see, are caught up in a major quest the AI has instigated to try and make the game ‘more interesting’, but ultimately, may have more consequences that it realises.
The quality of the story telling, the creativity of the Characters and each of their backgrounds, which has so much depth, as they have their characters in game, and then their real life characters, it is this multi-layered complexity of World Building, and it is done so well, to create this experience that you are really living within this Fantasy Realm, but at the same time, there is another world layered over the top of it that Jeff is working in with Hard Rock Data to try and work out all these issues.
One aspect of this story that is really impressive is the descriptive work. Regardless of which scene it is, you really feel like you are there, the Authors, using only minimal words, create these amazing scenes, ones you can quite literally hear the sounds around you, almost smell the different smells, you can see everything that is happening, feel it, they bring these incredible scenarios to life.
Whilst Jeff gets to be immersed into his TerraMount 360 chair, Castle and Osgood do an extraordinary job of immersing us into their story, and making us a part of these stunningly beautiful worlds they have created, both Jeff’s real world, and Hard Rock Data’s Virtual World in Infinite Worlds.
As well as everything else, this story also pays homage to a lot of those that have come before it, as there are numerous Easter Eggs buried within the story (including to Osgood’s on Skyrealms Online!!), and there is this level of humour so cleverly and intricately inserted throughout the book, so that it doesn’t turn this into a comedy, it is still a Fantasy story at its core, but you will find yourself rolling on the floor at times, and at other times, locking yourself in a room, so that you can read through this action sequence as it is so captivating, and gripping and you can’t put the book down.
There are so many wonderful aspects to this book between Jeff and his extraordinary adventure, and the rest of the characters that get thrust together within the game as they try to come to grips with everything.
I finished this in two sittings, and then, only because of that annoying work thing!!! (So annoying having to eat, pay expenses etc!! If only I could read all day long!!
Don’t miss out on this, it is absolutely BRILLIANT, and is one of those books that is the Must Read of 2021!!!
It follows Jeff Driscoll, who works as a Game Master (GM) for a company called Hard Rock Data (HRD), in a VRMMORPG or a Virtual Reality Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game called Infinite Worlds (IW), and yes, they love their acronyms.
This is a bit of a dystopian future, in that the technology is something vastly different to what we have now (the description of the rig that the users sit or more to the point, ‘Immerse’ themselves into so they can play the games, is something that you need to read to believe!!), and lifestyles are also incredibly different.
Jeff lives alone, which is not unusual, as nearly everything is done online, he works and lives virtually, in a small apartment, using his ‘TerraMount 360’ to interact with the virtual world.
Although there is the technology gap, the obvious virtual reality gap, and some other aspects that are different, with the world it is today due to the pandemic, there are aspects of this story that are strikingly familiar to how our world is going, or currently is.
As a GM for IW, Jeff spends his work hours fixing issues for the players of the game. Jeff is not allowed to play IW, as GMs are explicitly banned from playing the game so that there are no chances of corruption or anything fraudulent (can’t have a GM slipping their Raid Party a couple of Epic items on the side whilst they are working, or maybe tripping up a party as they are about to get first kill on the latest Big Boss, so that their Raid Party can and get all the associated benefits!!)
But Jeff really wants to play, he would love to have a chance to play the game, as he thinks it looks amazing, however, he also knows he has bills to pay, has to eat, you know, those annoying things in life?
Whilst Jeff is thinking about how he would like to play the game, at the same time as fixing another bug, there are dozens of players online complaining about how, although the game isn’t bad, it is too easy, quests are too quick to finish, and seem too much like old ones just re-done.
The thing is, with a game environment like Infinite Worlds, the multi-faceted decision making that is required to make all of the choices for every player, NPC, creature, and all the environmental effects (you know, like the wind blowing through the leaves and butterflies lifting off), is beyond the capabilities of anything in the known world today, and well beyond anything a human is capable of performing. As such, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) was created, called a Principality, and each Principality would operate a different section of the world.
Each of the AIs are set to learn, so that they can grow and understand more of the game, to improve the experience and keep the players happy to. But one of the AI’s takes things to the next level, doing something no one saw or predicted.
One of the AI’s suddenly drop a new “Patch or Hot Fix” on the game of their own, and it alters things in ways that no one saw coming, including removing all of the GMs from the game except one, Jeff.
Suddenly Jeff finds himself the sole owner of a complaints department from hell, with thousands upon thousands of players, multiple new bugs and issues due to this new Patch, and he is the only one working to fix anything.
Worse still, his Game Master abilities that he uses to actually fix the game have gone all strange as well. Jeff finds he has to figure out new ways to fix bugs, to work through the patch, almost like he is casting a spell or making magic….
Whilst reading about Jeff and his exploits could actually fill up a whole book, and with the humour aspect, keep you easily amused, the Authors have gone a whole step further, and delved down into the actual Players within the game as well.
As a result, we get to read about multiple different Points of View of Players who are trying to navigate this strange new environment with IW, one with only a single GM to fix things, and numerous strange new changes.
The Authors have done such an exceptional job of writing gaming Characters that are extraordinarily real, just like those you find in these types of scenarios, and it adds this level of depth, authenticity, and brutal honesty from these characters that tell their stories from within this virtual reality. There is Crush, the Player who has taken a Half-Orc Paladin, not because he wants to try and see how difficult the game will be as a Lawful Good Half-Orc, but purely because a Half-Orc is the strongest creature in the game, and a Paladin has a range of hit bonuses in combat, all ‘Crush’ cares about is hitting things the hardest and fastest he can, to kill them, and kill them first. He leads a raiding party, the Infinity Killers that currently hold the highest number of first kills in the game.
On the other end of the spectrum, we have characters like Dak, who has completely immersed himself in the roleplaying aspects of his Ranger, and seems really attached to his in-game wolf, that is a part of his class. And somewhere in the middle, is Jeweliette who will do the roleplaying thing when needed, but doesn’t get involved with it all the time, she mainly likes to play the game.
All of them, as well as multiple other characters we see, are caught up in a major quest the AI has instigated to try and make the game ‘more interesting’, but ultimately, may have more consequences that it realises.
The quality of the story telling, the creativity of the Characters and each of their backgrounds, which has so much depth, as they have their characters in game, and then their real life characters, it is this multi-layered complexity of World Building, and it is done so well, to create this experience that you are really living within this Fantasy Realm, but at the same time, there is another world layered over the top of it that Jeff is working in with Hard Rock Data to try and work out all these issues.
One aspect of this story that is really impressive is the descriptive work. Regardless of which scene it is, you really feel like you are there, the Authors, using only minimal words, create these amazing scenes, ones you can quite literally hear the sounds around you, almost smell the different smells, you can see everything that is happening, feel it, they bring these incredible scenarios to life.
Whilst Jeff gets to be immersed into his TerraMount 360 chair, Castle and Osgood do an extraordinary job of immersing us into their story, and making us a part of these stunningly beautiful worlds they have created, both Jeff’s real world, and Hard Rock Data’s Virtual World in Infinite Worlds.
As well as everything else, this story also pays homage to a lot of those that have come before it, as there are numerous Easter Eggs buried within the story (including to Osgood’s on Skyrealms Online!!), and there is this level of humour so cleverly and intricately inserted throughout the book, so that it doesn’t turn this into a comedy, it is still a Fantasy story at its core, but you will find yourself rolling on the floor at times, and at other times, locking yourself in a room, so that you can read through this action sequence as it is so captivating, and gripping and you can’t put the book down.
There are so many wonderful aspects to this book between Jeff and his extraordinary adventure, and the rest of the characters that get thrust together within the game as they try to come to grips with everything.
I finished this in two sittings, and then, only because of that annoying work thing!!! (So annoying having to eat, pay expenses etc!! If only I could read all day long!!
Don’t miss out on this, it is absolutely BRILLIANT, and is one of those books that is the Must Read of 2021!!!
August 26, 2021
This was a short book, so I binged it.
I'll be honest, I was disappointed.
Nick Podehl does an excellent narration job. Full marks there.
I liked the way the story began, the starting intrigue was very interesting.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem of this book reared its head pretty quickly: GM mechanics were just... beyond ridiculous.
It looks like the Matrix has affected people to the extent that they they've internalized its fanciful representation of "code". My eyes went to the back of my skull everytime I read "orange code", "blue code" or "green code" nonsense. I'm convinced that the author has absolutely No Idea what "code" means, and I kept getting more and more annoyed every time the word was thrown about. The author might as well have called it magic instead and be done with the whole idiotic concept. A better attempt would have been to present the blue and orange and green... whatevers as some form of "visual handlers for programmatic intent": that at least would have had the merit of remaining safely vague enough. But floating lines of characters? That was just ridiculous, man...
Lots of plot holes.
Lots of inconsistencies. .
POV jumping was really annoying as well. We even got chapters of random POVs that brought absolutely nothing to the narrative . As if the author had planned to make them relevant... but then forgot.
I liked the idea of a rogue AI. I even liked the idea of an AI becoming sentient, even it I found the execution quite gauche . But the lack of an actual confrontation was a big letdown.
The dragon quest was mediocre, and having the protagonists acknowledge the drudgery doesn't make it all more palatable for me. They not having any fun doesn't mean that I shouldn't either.
The book finished with a Deus Ex Machina "manipulation", zero feeling of accomplishment, and absolutely no point to it all.
I think one of the characters sums it up better than I ever could:
Is that it?
I'll be honest, I was disappointed.
Nick Podehl does an excellent narration job. Full marks there.
I liked the way the story began, the starting intrigue was very interesting.
Unfortunately, the biggest problem of this book reared its head pretty quickly: GM mechanics were just... beyond ridiculous.
It looks like the Matrix has affected people to the extent that they they've internalized its fanciful representation of "code". My eyes went to the back of my skull everytime I read "orange code", "blue code" or "green code" nonsense. I'm convinced that the author has absolutely No Idea what "code" means, and I kept getting more and more annoyed every time the word was thrown about. The author might as well have called it magic instead and be done with the whole idiotic concept. A better attempt would have been to present the blue and orange and green... whatevers as some form of "visual handlers for programmatic intent": that at least would have had the merit of remaining safely vague enough. But floating lines of characters? That was just ridiculous, man...
Lots of plot holes.
Lots of inconsistencies. .
POV jumping was really annoying as well. We even got chapters of random POVs that brought absolutely nothing to the narrative . As if the author had planned to make them relevant... but then forgot.
I liked the idea of a rogue AI. I even liked the idea of an AI becoming sentient, even it I found the execution quite gauche . But the lack of an actual confrontation was a big letdown.
The dragon quest was mediocre, and having the protagonists acknowledge the drudgery doesn't make it all more palatable for me. They not having any fun doesn't mean that I shouldn't either.
The book finished with a Deus Ex Machina "manipulation", zero feeling of accomplishment, and absolutely no point to it all.
I think one of the characters sums it up better than I ever could:
Is that it?
May 9, 2021
I started this series on royal road and loved the introduction. It’s clear they know what LitRPG readers are looking for: an endearing character who quickly enters the game. I wasn’t sure what to expect with a game master being the focal character, but found myself really enjoying his quest as the sole problem solver in a game that’s taken on new life. The forum comments section has hilarious tidbits that any customer service rep can laugh at. Or anyone really. I loved the ending and how it sets up our game master for books to come. Nick Podehl is top notch as always, with hilarious character voices and gritty action performance. Osgood and Castle are the new co-author powerhouse for LitRPG!
May 10, 2021
*Audiobook review*
This was somewhat of a difficult review because if you go in with a Troy Osgood and Jaime Castle, expect a mediocre (meh level) fantasy book. I went a head and got this on a whim because I somewhat hoped a collaboration might perk up the over all story. It did not; as I could only give it a 2 star. The concept had true potential but as usual, the authors fell short on what they tried to achieve.
The problem lay with the characters; as the authors seem to have talent in creating the most bland characters and a very dull ending.
*Spoilers*
Jeff is a GM with a thankless job that fixes bugs for ass hat players. As a GM he isn't allowed to play, as the company worries about conflict of interests . Well, like a bad Shakespearean play, the A.I. hears his wish and decide to go rouge and help fix the many bugs of the game, make the game more challenging and help Jeff experience some of the fun. Jeff for the whole story fixes the many bugs in the game...that pretty much what he does for the entire story. Every spend time watching a plumber work fixing your sink...that what it felt like. Anyways, he ends up becoming the only GM for the game, which was planned by the A.I. to get him involved in playing a GM/summoned ally of the game. So the MC is a beaten down service rep that never really grows balls, just notices that the company is taking advantage of him as he is the only one that can help. Like a good little bee he works hard, works with no sleep or real food, gets paid pittance and gets blamed of things out of his control. In the end, the A.I. (like a make a wish foundation) gets him be the summon support to kill the main bad guy and the evil dragon. That is it for the MC...seriously, it is just chapters of him fixing things, getting yelled at for not fixing things in 30 seconds and gets to play the hero for like 5 minuets.
So here is the the thing you have to understand about the authors, they did an excellent job in recreating rpg players. The players in my opinion are whinny complainers, with various sticks up their various holes and annoying. Any online gamer will tell you, that a good percentage of players are toxic as they tend to complain if the game is too easy, too hard, too challenging, not challenging enough, that they are too many cheaters, that it is unfair that they cannot cheat, too many of anything really. The side characters are given a grand quest and all they do is complain...annoyingly complain about everything. Here is the weird part, the NPC are reprogrammed to be more interactive. So after a dragon attack, the NPC are in need of medical help. The players look around the screaming dying people and they just ignore them from helping and look for the quest giver. They have a new interactive A.I NPC, and everyone treats them like bots. The players basically have mental and emotional maturity of dead wood. In any other media, the characters would realize how real everything is and the players would help...nope not these guys.
They hate that they have to think about the mystery, solve puzzles, research and just THINK. They all just want instant gratification, kill things and smear their dick prints on everything. Seriously, the authors created characters that were nothing more than hollow dolls that could not differentiate from their asses from their elbows. When they come across the bad guy, they just stood their with their mouths open as they did not know how to interact like a normal person. The mid-boss NPC just tells the side characters his plan like a bad Bond villain and ...then just runs away.
Yea, so expect a lot of this. Dumb characters, story that is bland with a lot of talking of what is going on and not knowing what anyone should be doing. I could write more but I really don't want to relive just a boring story.
This was somewhat of a difficult review because if you go in with a Troy Osgood and Jaime Castle, expect a mediocre (meh level) fantasy book. I went a head and got this on a whim because I somewhat hoped a collaboration might perk up the over all story. It did not; as I could only give it a 2 star. The concept had true potential but as usual, the authors fell short on what they tried to achieve.
The problem lay with the characters; as the authors seem to have talent in creating the most bland characters and a very dull ending.
*Spoilers*
Jeff is a GM with a thankless job that fixes bugs for ass hat players. As a GM he isn't allowed to play, as the company worries about conflict of interests . Well, like a bad Shakespearean play, the A.I. hears his wish and decide to go rouge and help fix the many bugs of the game, make the game more challenging and help Jeff experience some of the fun. Jeff for the whole story fixes the many bugs in the game...that pretty much what he does for the entire story. Every spend time watching a plumber work fixing your sink...that what it felt like. Anyways, he ends up becoming the only GM for the game, which was planned by the A.I. to get him involved in playing a GM/summoned ally of the game. So the MC is a beaten down service rep that never really grows balls, just notices that the company is taking advantage of him as he is the only one that can help. Like a good little bee he works hard, works with no sleep or real food, gets paid pittance and gets blamed of things out of his control. In the end, the A.I. (like a make a wish foundation) gets him be the summon support to kill the main bad guy and the evil dragon. That is it for the MC...seriously, it is just chapters of him fixing things, getting yelled at for not fixing things in 30 seconds and gets to play the hero for like 5 minuets.
So here is the the thing you have to understand about the authors, they did an excellent job in recreating rpg players. The players in my opinion are whinny complainers, with various sticks up their various holes and annoying. Any online gamer will tell you, that a good percentage of players are toxic as they tend to complain if the game is too easy, too hard, too challenging, not challenging enough, that they are too many cheaters, that it is unfair that they cannot cheat, too many of anything really. The side characters are given a grand quest and all they do is complain...annoyingly complain about everything. Here is the weird part, the NPC are reprogrammed to be more interactive. So after a dragon attack, the NPC are in need of medical help. The players look around the screaming dying people and they just ignore them from helping and look for the quest giver. They have a new interactive A.I NPC, and everyone treats them like bots. The players basically have mental and emotional maturity of dead wood. In any other media, the characters would realize how real everything is and the players would help...nope not these guys.
They hate that they have to think about the mystery, solve puzzles, research and just THINK. They all just want instant gratification, kill things and smear their dick prints on everything. Seriously, the authors created characters that were nothing more than hollow dolls that could not differentiate from their asses from their elbows. When they come across the bad guy, they just stood their with their mouths open as they did not know how to interact like a normal person. The mid-boss NPC just tells the side characters his plan like a bad Bond villain and ...then just runs away.
Yea, so expect a lot of this. Dumb characters, story that is bland with a lot of talking of what is going on and not knowing what anyone should be doing. I could write more but I really don't want to relive just a boring story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2025
Manufacturing Magic is a refreshing and unique entry into the LitRPG genre. Most LitRPG books focus on players exploring, grinding, and leveling up, but this one gives you an entirely different perspective—that of Jeff, the Game Master. From the very beginning, I was hooked by how different this angle feels. Jeff’s role is to keep the game running smoothly and fix problems, but he’s not allowed to actually play, which makes his character instantly relatable. I loved watching his mix of frustration, curiosity, and cleverness as he navigates both the rules of the game and the chaos that unfolds when the AI starts developing a life of its own.
The world-building in this book is excellent. You can feel how massive and detailed the game world is, and it’s fascinating to see it both through the eyes of someone maintaining it and through the players struggling to survive and thrive. I especially enjoyed the multiple POVs—it adds so much depth to the story. You don’t just see the game from Jeff’s perspective; you also get to feel the stakes for the players who are facing real challenges inside the world. That dynamic really kept me invested in the story.
Jeff himself is such a compelling protagonist. His desire to experience the game as a player—something he’s not allowed to do—adds a layer of tension and humor, and it makes his clever solutions to problems all the more satisfying. The rogue AI element is another highlight; watching it grow and act unpredictably adds suspense and raises interesting questions about the line between game and reality.
Overall, Manufacturing Magic is clever, immersive, and highly entertaining. It balances humor, action, and ethical dilemmas in a way that feels fresh, even for seasoned LitRPG fans. If you’re tired of the typical “player-centric” stories and want a book that gives you something truly different while still delivering all the fun of a game world, this one is an absolute must-read.
The world-building in this book is excellent. You can feel how massive and detailed the game world is, and it’s fascinating to see it both through the eyes of someone maintaining it and through the players struggling to survive and thrive. I especially enjoyed the multiple POVs—it adds so much depth to the story. You don’t just see the game from Jeff’s perspective; you also get to feel the stakes for the players who are facing real challenges inside the world. That dynamic really kept me invested in the story.
Jeff himself is such a compelling protagonist. His desire to experience the game as a player—something he’s not allowed to do—adds a layer of tension and humor, and it makes his clever solutions to problems all the more satisfying. The rogue AI element is another highlight; watching it grow and act unpredictably adds suspense and raises interesting questions about the line between game and reality.
Overall, Manufacturing Magic is clever, immersive, and highly entertaining. It balances humor, action, and ethical dilemmas in a way that feels fresh, even for seasoned LitRPG fans. If you’re tired of the typical “player-centric” stories and want a book that gives you something truly different while still delivering all the fun of a game world, this one is an absolute must-read.
May 7, 2021
*Audiobook review*
This was somewhat of a difficult review because if you go in with a Troy Osgood and Jaime Castle, expect a mediocre (meh level) fantasy book. I went a head and got this on a whim because I somewhat hoped a collaboration might perk up the over all story. I did not; as I could only give it a 2 star. The concept had true potential but as usual, the authors fell short on what they tried to achieve.
The problem lay with the characters; as the authors seem to have talent in creating the most bland characters (such as the protagonist, side characters and antagonist) and plot (especially the build up and ending).
*Spoilers*
Jeff the GM, a thankless job, fixes bugs for ass hat players. As a GM he isn't allowed to play, as the company worries about conflict of interests . Well, like a bad Shakespearean play, the A.I. hears his wish and decide to go rouge and help fix the many bugs of the game, make the game more challenging and help Jeff experience some of the fun. Jeff for the whole story fixes bugs...that pretty much what he does. Every spend time watching a plumber work fixing your sink...that him. Anyways, he ends up becoming the only GM for the game, as the A.I. has plans for him by the end of the story. The MC is a beaten down service rep that never really grows balls, just notices that the company is taking advantage of him as he is the only one that can help. Like a good little bee he works hard, works with no sleep or real food, gets paid pittance and gets blamed of things out of his control. In the end, the A.I. (like a make a wish foundation) gets him be the summon support to kill the main bad guy and the evil dragon. That is it for the MC...seriously, it is just chapters of him fixing things, getting yelled at for not fixing things in 30 seconds and gets to play the hero for like 5 minuets.
So here is the the thing you have to understand about the authors, they did an excellent job in recreating rpg players. The players in my opinion are whinny complainers, with various sticks up their various holes and annoying. Any online gamer will tell you, that a good percentage of players are toxic as they tend to complain if the game is too easy, too hard, too challenging, not challenging enough, that they are too many cheaters, that it is unfair that they cannot cheat, too many of anything really. The side characters are given a grand quest and all they do is complain...annoyingly complain about everything. Here is the weird part, the NPC are reprogrammed to be more interactive. So after a dragon attack, the NPC are in need of medical help. The players look around the screaming dying people and they just ignore them from helping and look for the quest giver. The metal and emotional maturity of dead wood. In any other media, the characters would realize how real everything is and the players would help...nope not these guys.
They hate that they have to think about the mystery, solve puzzles, research and just THINK. They all just want instant gratification, kill things and smear their dick prints on everything. Seriously, the authors created characters that were hollow dolls that could not differentiate from their asses from their elbows. When they come across the bad guy, they just stood their with their mouths open as they did not know how to talk. The mid-boss NPC just tells the side characters his plan like a bad Bond villain and ...then just runs away.
Yea, so expect a lot of this. Dumb characters, story that is bland with a lot of talking of what is going on and not knowing what anyone should be doing. I could write more but I really don't want to relive just a boring story.
This was somewhat of a difficult review because if you go in with a Troy Osgood and Jaime Castle, expect a mediocre (meh level) fantasy book. I went a head and got this on a whim because I somewhat hoped a collaboration might perk up the over all story. I did not; as I could only give it a 2 star. The concept had true potential but as usual, the authors fell short on what they tried to achieve.
The problem lay with the characters; as the authors seem to have talent in creating the most bland characters (such as the protagonist, side characters and antagonist) and plot (especially the build up and ending).
*Spoilers*
Jeff the GM, a thankless job, fixes bugs for ass hat players. As a GM he isn't allowed to play, as the company worries about conflict of interests . Well, like a bad Shakespearean play, the A.I. hears his wish and decide to go rouge and help fix the many bugs of the game, make the game more challenging and help Jeff experience some of the fun. Jeff for the whole story fixes bugs...that pretty much what he does. Every spend time watching a plumber work fixing your sink...that him. Anyways, he ends up becoming the only GM for the game, as the A.I. has plans for him by the end of the story. The MC is a beaten down service rep that never really grows balls, just notices that the company is taking advantage of him as he is the only one that can help. Like a good little bee he works hard, works with no sleep or real food, gets paid pittance and gets blamed of things out of his control. In the end, the A.I. (like a make a wish foundation) gets him be the summon support to kill the main bad guy and the evil dragon. That is it for the MC...seriously, it is just chapters of him fixing things, getting yelled at for not fixing things in 30 seconds and gets to play the hero for like 5 minuets.
So here is the the thing you have to understand about the authors, they did an excellent job in recreating rpg players. The players in my opinion are whinny complainers, with various sticks up their various holes and annoying. Any online gamer will tell you, that a good percentage of players are toxic as they tend to complain if the game is too easy, too hard, too challenging, not challenging enough, that they are too many cheaters, that it is unfair that they cannot cheat, too many of anything really. The side characters are given a grand quest and all they do is complain...annoyingly complain about everything. Here is the weird part, the NPC are reprogrammed to be more interactive. So after a dragon attack, the NPC are in need of medical help. The players look around the screaming dying people and they just ignore them from helping and look for the quest giver. The metal and emotional maturity of dead wood. In any other media, the characters would realize how real everything is and the players would help...nope not these guys.
They hate that they have to think about the mystery, solve puzzles, research and just THINK. They all just want instant gratification, kill things and smear their dick prints on everything. Seriously, the authors created characters that were hollow dolls that could not differentiate from their asses from their elbows. When they come across the bad guy, they just stood their with their mouths open as they did not know how to talk. The mid-boss NPC just tells the side characters his plan like a bad Bond villain and ...then just runs away.
Yea, so expect a lot of this. Dumb characters, story that is bland with a lot of talking of what is going on and not knowing what anyone should be doing. I could write more but I really don't want to relive just a boring story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2021
I picked this up on the recommendation of a friend.
Let me start by saying that it's been quite a while since I read a LitRPG novel based in a VRMMORPG. Those stories were all the rage a couple years ago, but have been overtaken by portal stories lately. I enjoyed being taken back to when VRMMORPG's made up the bulk of the genre, especially the stuck in the game stories.
The MC Jeff is a GM in the new VRMMORPG that is taking gamers by storm, all the other games abandoned by the new technology. Then an AI becomes sentient (this is never said but implied) and decides the bugs GM Jeff are fixing shouldn't be there, so it fixes them, adding new code along the way.
The book has a cast of characters as we see people getting stuck in the glitches at first as GM Jeff uses his magic green code to release them, and then we see them again later in the story. For this reason, I'm not sure this book is really about Jeff.
Sure, he plays an important role in the story, but so do Jeweliette, Aesir, and all the others. We have numerous chapters where Jeff doesn't appear at all.
For those that remember the VRMMORPG craze, one of the problems that usually arose was that the real world was never as interesting as the game world. That idea holds true here as well. Jeff is weak, ineffectual and while he is a hard worker, he could have asked for just about anything from the creator of the game.
What does he do?
Nothing. Not a darn thing. There are promises of a large bonus when the sentient AI issue is all over, but nothing is in writing.
Anyway, Jeff does reappear at the end although I won't spoil why or how. It does provide a good lead in for book 2, though.
I'm giving this book a 5/5, but there were times the story lagged. We're following quests lead by Dak and Jeweliette, and as the characters say in the story, "This is longer but not very interesting." Yeah, the book is too long IMO.
Still, I enjoyed it despite the length, although I did nod off a few times during the slow parts.
5/5*
Let me start by saying that it's been quite a while since I read a LitRPG novel based in a VRMMORPG. Those stories were all the rage a couple years ago, but have been overtaken by portal stories lately. I enjoyed being taken back to when VRMMORPG's made up the bulk of the genre, especially the stuck in the game stories.
The MC Jeff is a GM in the new VRMMORPG that is taking gamers by storm, all the other games abandoned by the new technology. Then an AI becomes sentient (this is never said but implied) and decides the bugs GM Jeff are fixing shouldn't be there, so it fixes them, adding new code along the way.
The book has a cast of characters as we see people getting stuck in the glitches at first as GM Jeff uses his magic green code to release them, and then we see them again later in the story. For this reason, I'm not sure this book is really about Jeff.
Sure, he plays an important role in the story, but so do Jeweliette, Aesir, and all the others. We have numerous chapters where Jeff doesn't appear at all.
For those that remember the VRMMORPG craze, one of the problems that usually arose was that the real world was never as interesting as the game world. That idea holds true here as well. Jeff is weak, ineffectual and while he is a hard worker, he could have asked for just about anything from the creator of the game.
What does he do?
Nothing. Not a darn thing. There are promises of a large bonus when the sentient AI issue is all over, but nothing is in writing.
Anyway, Jeff does reappear at the end although I won't spoil why or how. It does provide a good lead in for book 2, though.
I'm giving this book a 5/5, but there were times the story lagged. We're following quests lead by Dak and Jeweliette, and as the characters say in the story, "This is longer but not very interesting." Yeah, the book is too long IMO.
Still, I enjoyed it despite the length, although I did nod off a few times during the slow parts.
5/5*
May 8, 2021
Prince Tom Wants to Rule the World
Jeff works on the Virtual World game call Infinite Worlds as a Game Master. Game Masters are responsible for helping out gamers, flagging issues and making recommendations to developers on fixes. Being a Game Master means, he can’t play the game. Why? Because if he played, he might end up having biases towards a guild or group of players that he likes and give them up fair benefits or rewards. If he does give things out and/or restores gear or damage, it will most likely be reviewed. There are certain areas of the game that are known issues like a specific patch behind a barn where if players walk on it, they get stuck. Jeff works with AIs (each assigned regions of the game) that help with fixes in the game.
The mission of the game as told to AIs and Game Masters is that the players are to have fun. This leads to minimum of folks leaving the game while getting new sign-ups. Jeff is helping out a player with the AI Prince Tom. Prince Tom leaves a piece of himself in the area for monitoring and overhears the player and Jeff. The AI starts to contemplate their comments and starts to have feelings. Prince Tom decides that he can provide new gameplay that will make things more challenging and fun for the players in a very short time frame. Jeff, the rest of the game masters, the developers and the whole company are unaware of these changes.
The next time Jeff logs in, all of the other game masters are not there. There seems to be piles of tickets and new bugs and issues when there was no patch or upgrade. Jeff doesn’t know what is going on but he tries to fix things as best he can. He notices things that shouldn’t be there. What is going on? When he finds out he is truly the only game master, the company asks him to work overtime and do his best.
This is the build up to the main story. It is well written and entertaining. I have to admit in the beginning I thought everyone would be pulled into the story like a few others I have read, but this was truly a unique take on things. I liked the story telling and how you got to see how the characters reacted to the ‘new patch’. You got to see the interactions between Jeff and the new code and Jeff and the players. I would definitely recommend.
Jeff works on the Virtual World game call Infinite Worlds as a Game Master. Game Masters are responsible for helping out gamers, flagging issues and making recommendations to developers on fixes. Being a Game Master means, he can’t play the game. Why? Because if he played, he might end up having biases towards a guild or group of players that he likes and give them up fair benefits or rewards. If he does give things out and/or restores gear or damage, it will most likely be reviewed. There are certain areas of the game that are known issues like a specific patch behind a barn where if players walk on it, they get stuck. Jeff works with AIs (each assigned regions of the game) that help with fixes in the game.
The mission of the game as told to AIs and Game Masters is that the players are to have fun. This leads to minimum of folks leaving the game while getting new sign-ups. Jeff is helping out a player with the AI Prince Tom. Prince Tom leaves a piece of himself in the area for monitoring and overhears the player and Jeff. The AI starts to contemplate their comments and starts to have feelings. Prince Tom decides that he can provide new gameplay that will make things more challenging and fun for the players in a very short time frame. Jeff, the rest of the game masters, the developers and the whole company are unaware of these changes.
The next time Jeff logs in, all of the other game masters are not there. There seems to be piles of tickets and new bugs and issues when there was no patch or upgrade. Jeff doesn’t know what is going on but he tries to fix things as best he can. He notices things that shouldn’t be there. What is going on? When he finds out he is truly the only game master, the company asks him to work overtime and do his best.
This is the build up to the main story. It is well written and entertaining. I have to admit in the beginning I thought everyone would be pulled into the story like a few others I have read, but this was truly a unique take on things. I liked the story telling and how you got to see how the characters reacted to the ‘new patch’. You got to see the interactions between Jeff and the new code and Jeff and the players. I would definitely recommend.
December 25, 2021
Another litrpg where the authors exposure to mmo's seems to be watching the leeroy jenkins video back in 2005. His views on gamers is very cynical, almost everyone is a douche and even the hardcore players are ready to quit their mmo(which tells you the author doesn't know mmo players, or gamers in general) after a bad patch or event. The players are also incompetent and need to be babysat and have everything explained to them.
The gameplay itself also feels ripped straight from vanilla wow and put in vr(doesn't take advantage of a new medium, doesn't care about improvements in ux etc), but it's still the bestest most awesome game ever like standard litrpg fashion.
Then there is the issue that the gimmick of the book is that the "main character"'s power is to manipulate code as if it were magic, but the main character doesn't know code, I'm not sure the author knows either, which negates much of the engagement possible of a code based magic system and just turns it into a coloured cloud based magic system.
The story spends most of its time on an ensemble of entirely forgettable characters who goes on a vary boring trip to fill up page space. The main character pops up from point to point to throw green silly string on orange clouds and whines.
An entirely forgettable and offensively boring story with enough substance for a short story dragged out to novel length.
The gameplay itself also feels ripped straight from vanilla wow and put in vr(doesn't take advantage of a new medium, doesn't care about improvements in ux etc), but it's still the bestest most awesome game ever like standard litrpg fashion.
Then there is the issue that the gimmick of the book is that the "main character"'s power is to manipulate code as if it were magic, but the main character doesn't know code, I'm not sure the author knows either, which negates much of the engagement possible of a code based magic system and just turns it into a coloured cloud based magic system.
The story spends most of its time on an ensemble of entirely forgettable characters who goes on a vary boring trip to fill up page space. The main character pops up from point to point to throw green silly string on orange clouds and whines.
An entirely forgettable and offensively boring story with enough substance for a short story dragged out to novel length.
March 8, 2023
Great, fresh, innovative and a very fun litRPG story.
I highly recommend this book to be a great read for all fans of the genre. I ranked high in my top 10%.
I'm so tired by the lack of imagination and lack talent of most authors in the litRPG genre and their lackluster, boring stories that almost always following a single point of view (the MC's) and always using the same character development arch. Laim and boring! Yet this book is just three opposite. Like a breath of fresh air!
This is different. It feels like one of those perfect desserts. It has multiple PoVs, yet there seems to be no arch, no progression, no level ups. it's pure gameplay. Until there is something and it's subtle and rewarding. It builds up to a nice finale and there is no cliffhanger that might dampen the feeling.
I will definitely continue the series (If I find it on a sale)
I highly recommend this book to be a great read for all fans of the genre. I ranked high in my top 10%.
I'm so tired by the lack of imagination and lack talent of most authors in the litRPG genre and their lackluster, boring stories that almost always following a single point of view (the MC's) and always using the same character development arch. Laim and boring! Yet this book is just three opposite. Like a breath of fresh air!
This is different. It feels like one of those perfect desserts. It has multiple PoVs, yet there seems to be no arch, no progression, no level ups. it's pure gameplay. Until there is something and it's subtle and rewarding. It builds up to a nice finale and there is no cliffhanger that might dampen the feeling.
I will definitely continue the series (If I find it on a sale)
June 15, 2021
A very solid LitRPG that's at least 4 stars all day long. Gave it a bonus star because it's a complete story, highly original (I've never liked the standard trope of poor as dirt players trying to get rich quick selling loot or becoming a pro-gamer or whatever. At least this time, the job is semi-realistic, and not a cheap way to "raise the stakes" for the MC) and because, it's technically well done.
That being said, I don't actually know if "camp" can apply to literary genres, but if it can, this one has it in spades. This is a story about an AI that decides that corporate's short-sighted profit motives are harming the long term viability of the game (because tweenage dweebs are talking tough about how the game is too easy) and so, decides to turn the difficulty up to 11 and fire all the mods. Corporate has a cow, and our MC gets caught in the middle. It would be funny, except, you know, the MC isn't having fun.
That being said, I don't actually know if "camp" can apply to literary genres, but if it can, this one has it in spades. This is a story about an AI that decides that corporate's short-sighted profit motives are harming the long term viability of the game (because tweenage dweebs are talking tough about how the game is too easy) and so, decides to turn the difficulty up to 11 and fire all the mods. Corporate has a cow, and our MC gets caught in the middle. It would be funny, except, you know, the MC isn't having fun.
June 24, 2021
Hmm, I'm not really sure what to think about this one. It was an interesting enough story, and while it had some LitRPG elements in it, the main character didn't really level up, or advance skills on the whole. Other characters in the story did, so that puts it squarely in the LitRPG camp, but this is the first time I've read a story where the main character didn't really level up, even though the other characters did. It's an odd twist, and I'm not really sure if I like it or not. Leaning hard toward not, but the main character is interesting, and he does manage to pull off a few feats of amazing proportions, considering he was tossed in the deep end with no idea how to do things, so in that regard, it kind of works, so I'm not entirely sold on not liking the main character being left out, but it's a bit odd in my opinion, though surprisingly enough, the story works with it, so don't worry, if that kind of thing doesn't bother you, then you should thoroughly enjoy the story.
February 22, 2022
An Awesome Read
A new different take on the LitRPG genre. The main protagonist is a GM who tireless works to help players affected by code errors and glitches.
So burned out he only continues because he needs the pay, knowing he would not be able to find anything pay close enough to what he needs with his limited skills.
Until one day the game suddenly changes and he is the only GM left. All the other GM's are suddenly level 1 players and no longer able to access thier GM abilities.
Absolutely loved this book. Can't wait to read the sequel. While the description sounds kind of boring, the story is anything but boring.
A new different take on the LitRPG genre. The main protagonist is a GM who tireless works to help players affected by code errors and glitches.
So burned out he only continues because he needs the pay, knowing he would not be able to find anything pay close enough to what he needs with his limited skills.
Until one day the game suddenly changes and he is the only GM left. All the other GM's are suddenly level 1 players and no longer able to access thier GM abilities.
Absolutely loved this book. Can't wait to read the sequel. While the description sounds kind of boring, the story is anything but boring.
September 9, 2022
This is the very definition of vanilla LitRPG. The stakes were nearly nonexistent, the characters were forgettable, and the world-building is so familiar it blends into the genre without leaving a ripple.
I did like the idea of a support pleb groking the code in a holistic way, but I'd like it better if we were told how that could be possible. Was it just because of long exposure, a la The Matrix... "I don't even see the code anymore, all I see is blonde, redhead, brunette..." or is it something the A.I. did to Jeff via the V.R. module?
The writing was okay, with only a few grammar issues and an easy-to-digest style. Still, I've no desire to continue the series.
I did like the idea of a support pleb groking the code in a holistic way, but I'd like it better if we were told how that could be possible. Was it just because of long exposure, a la The Matrix... "I don't even see the code anymore, all I see is blonde, redhead, brunette..." or is it something the A.I. did to Jeff via the V.R. module?
The writing was okay, with only a few grammar issues and an easy-to-digest style. Still, I've no desire to continue the series.
July 9, 2021
This is bad. The arc of the plot is very flat with no incline until the very end at which point there is a very sudden steep arc. I don't think it's worth the slog. Every chapter every character is complaining about one thing or another. There isn't really an antagonist and the protagonist is nothing to write home about. The only reason I finished this book was because I was past the point of no return.
I never felt invested in the story and I enjoyed it as much as the characters did which based off of the complaining was not at all.
Don't waste your time.
I never felt invested in the story and I enjoyed it as much as the characters did which based off of the complaining was not at all.
Don't waste your time.
August 15, 2022
Entertaining Read
Jeff is a Game Master for Infinite Worlds. He is bored with his job but has to eat. He would love to play the game, but is forbidden by the terms of his work contract. The players like the game, but are getting bored with easy quests.. One of the AIs takes note, and unexpectedly rewrites some of the code and gane plot. Confusion and mayhem ensue. Does everyone want what they think they want? Will they even realize they are getting what they asked for? I like the action, humor, and plot. I look forward to the next book.
Jeff is a Game Master for Infinite Worlds. He is bored with his job but has to eat. He would love to play the game, but is forbidden by the terms of his work contract. The players like the game, but are getting bored with easy quests.. One of the AIs takes note, and unexpectedly rewrites some of the code and gane plot. Confusion and mayhem ensue. Does everyone want what they think they want? Will they even realize they are getting what they asked for? I like the action, humor, and plot. I look forward to the next book.
April 11, 2024
I really enjoyed the plot, and the climax was actually pretty good. That said, some things about the story were annoying, like how much of a wimp the GM was for most of the story, and how much the main party just outright hated the quest chain they were on. Did they change their minds at the end, or did they still hate it? And what kind of loot did they get from the dragon? Why wouldn't you tell us in the epilogue? It's a weird thing to keep to the next book. I mean, the ranger is like "NO WAY" upon looking at the loot and then nothing? stupid.
May 29, 2025
** Audiobook experience **
I'm 3 hours into this and I'm bored. Not even the dulcet tones of Mr Nick Podehl could help me get past inherent meh-ness. It might get better later, but I don't have it in me to keep going...and I've listened to some rubbish in the past.
The writing style isn't even bad, its just that the story concentrates on aspects I don't care about and skips past detail I'd like expanded.
As always, give this a go and you might find you dig it. I have tried and I did not.
It's time for me to move on.
I'm 3 hours into this and I'm bored. Not even the dulcet tones of Mr Nick Podehl could help me get past inherent meh-ness. It might get better later, but I don't have it in me to keep going...and I've listened to some rubbish in the past.
The writing style isn't even bad, its just that the story concentrates on aspects I don't care about and skips past detail I'd like expanded.
As always, give this a go and you might find you dig it. I have tried and I did not.
It's time for me to move on.
May 12, 2021
Book one
Mistakes: I only found one mistake, trounced around. It just didn't make any sense.
Plot: Being a GM in a game is tough even when there are other GM's to help share the load. Being the only GM in a game is a nightmare.
The quest got just as boring to read as it was for the characters to do.
Characters: I didn't like the female lead. The other characters are ok, but the GM was very interesting.
7/10
Mistakes: I only found one mistake, trounced around. It just didn't make any sense.
Plot: Being a GM in a game is tough even when there are other GM's to help share the load. Being the only GM in a game is a nightmare.
The quest got just as boring to read as it was for the characters to do.
Characters: I didn't like the female lead. The other characters are ok, but the GM was very interesting.
7/10
May 17, 2021
Bad power fantasy
The beginning of the book goes into great detail on how you had to actually know how to fight know how to do things in the world. The main character at the end who's never had any indication that he knows how to fight with swords or any of that then suddenly do amazing things because he's the main character and it's what's needed. There is no explanation on how he's able to do what he does any of that it's all just "instinctual". Sloppy wirting BS!
The beginning of the book goes into great detail on how you had to actually know how to fight know how to do things in the world. The main character at the end who's never had any indication that he knows how to fight with swords or any of that then suddenly do amazing things because he's the main character and it's what's needed. There is no explanation on how he's able to do what he does any of that it's all just "instinctual". Sloppy wirting BS!
May 24, 2021
So yes, I’ve had quite a few of this type of thing lately. But this one really captured me. The sheer number of viewpoint hops in the early stages was great. The build was detailed, the whole idea a neat twist I’d not seen before and the final battle felt like the proper end of something. And then we get the epilogue, which is perfect because we know there’s more in the saga. Totally start to finish I did not want to put the book down. Brilliant.
May 5, 2022
Different
As usual in these litrpg books the story was Awesome we were having fun and then Whaaaaaaa!!!??!! We fall off a cliff. No real epilogue to tie up loose ends. What about reality where is Jeff now in his life? Does Dak date Jewliete? Is Jeff still employed? Is Jeff in jail? Inquiring minds want to know!
Yes it may be in the next book but we need to finish this book first.
As usual in these litrpg books the story was Awesome we were having fun and then Whaaaaaaa!!!??!! We fall off a cliff. No real epilogue to tie up loose ends. What about reality where is Jeff now in his life? Does Dak date Jewliete? Is Jeff still employed? Is Jeff in jail? Inquiring minds want to know!
Yes it may be in the next book but we need to finish this book first.
May 4, 2021
A different pov litrpg
So If you ever wanted a admin/mods pov of anlitrpg this is it with a twist. We get to see behind the curtain of gaming litrpgs as well as follow a full story in the game world. Both troy and Jaime like to think outside the box and try to give readers something new.
So If you ever wanted a admin/mods pov of anlitrpg this is it with a twist. We get to see behind the curtain of gaming litrpgs as well as follow a full story in the game world. Both troy and Jaime like to think outside the box and try to give readers something new.
May 19, 2021
What a ride
I am seriously impressed with this book, for more reasons than one. First off its something new, at least from my experience within the litrpg genre where our MC is a GM instead of a player. Secondly the use of so many perspectives was flawlessly done and it was actually easy for me to keep everyone straight in my head. Can't wait for the next one
I am seriously impressed with this book, for more reasons than one. First off its something new, at least from my experience within the litrpg genre where our MC is a GM instead of a player. Secondly the use of so many perspectives was flawlessly done and it was actually easy for me to keep everyone straight in my head. Can't wait for the next one
September 8, 2021
Manufacturing Magic -Shades of World of Warcraft!
This is the story I have been waiting for. As a dedicated World of Warcraft player and a ‘Game Master wanna-be’, this story fulfills the wished-for requirements to be both a player with Game Master ‘beyond god mode’ abilities.
Book 2, here I come!
This is the story I have been waiting for. As a dedicated World of Warcraft player and a ‘Game Master wanna-be’, this story fulfills the wished-for requirements to be both a player with Game Master ‘beyond god mode’ abilities.
Book 2, here I come!
May 9, 2023
I want to say it is good. Just not my cup of tea. The story is fun and interesting. The Narrator does a good job with the story. The only part I didn't care for is the MMORPG mechanics. I like LitRPG mechanics but I never played WoW and its mechanics was never interesting to me. I don't know what kind of future this story has but it didn't hook me for continueing.
June 11, 2023
DNF not for me
The book started and it was interesting i could empathize with the Mc and like others have said I could understand the struggles.
And then it stops being interesting. The jumping around and different perspectives didn’t really add anything for me. It is a light read and could appeal to some, just not for me.
The book started and it was interesting i could empathize with the Mc and like others have said I could understand the struggles.
And then it stops being interesting. The jumping around and different perspectives didn’t really add anything for me. It is a light read and could appeal to some, just not for me.
April 8, 2024
I made it about 2/3 of the way through, but when Crush, the known jerk since the beginning of book one, sends a single message and it has the effect of changing another party's mind after a brief discussion, just...turned me off. The characters are so shallow, and Crush's ploy to get the first kill, simply made this book/series not worth continuing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2024
It's been a while since I last read a LitRPG story, but WHAT A GREAT ONE get back into it with! This story was fascinating, epic, and absolutely intriguing! I didn't hit a single lull throughout the entire book, and the ending was absolutely epic and awesome! I'll be jumping straight into the next book!
May 5, 2021
An entertaining romp
An interesting take on. The litrpg formula with the main pov being a gm rather than a player. Well timed pov changes, and I'm looking forward a rd to seeing how the story and characters develop in the future
An interesting take on. The litrpg formula with the main pov being a gm rather than a player. Well timed pov changes, and I'm looking forward a rd to seeing how the story and characters develop in the future
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