So I'm still in a mood and Medrano still has the key to it. This was interesting as it is explicitly LitRPG*. It isn't explicitly Isekai**, though I've noticed a lot of LitRPG fits (this story certainly fits, I think), if only because the portal transition gives excuse for all the relevant exposition. Marie/Talyn is a bit unique for the genre (both of them) for coming from a world that is very much Shadowrun with fantasy races, magic, and cybernetics all thrown into a pot and set to boil. We start with her senseless death in that semi-fantasy world and meeting her celestial mediator. Who offers her a deal.

And I d Marie and Melody's interactions from the start. Melody is compassionate, but straightforward, telling Marie how it is with no varnish on it. She also acts as an advocate for Marie from the start, helping her find options that would appeal to her. And I kind of Melody asking to come along for the ride as Marie's companion (for a holiday from the Celestial Bureaucracy—because who wouldn't want a holiday from that job?).

So Talyn enters a world that has a creator who has odd ideas for how the world should run. , for example, there's a "system" in place that gives an interface for people to view their current status. Which includes class and skill selection options as they "level up". So all the people in the world are conscious of skill and class and levels and terms power leveling and dungeon delving are actually current in every-day life. And things level 0 onion monsters (biting your ankles) can pop up on a trail out of nowhere and the discussion is about how it sucks when they're higher level and have gas attacks rather than "what the heck is an onion doing biting my ankles?!?"

So Talyn enters play with her companion Melody and they stumble around looking for level opportunities and ways to be challenged without dying; because Talyn/Marie only gets one shot at this thing and when she dies, she goes back to the afterlife she was originally slated for. So permadeath, which I hate in a game, but kind of prefer in my stories. With this setup, the story is a lot of life-living events, though there is an overarching plot. I enjoyed all the discussions of things "where will we live" and "what are our goals" and "who is trustworthy". But then, I'm a game system nerd and reading game manuals for RPGs.

I'm going to give this five stars because it was engaging for what it is and it's a quality entry for that sub-sub genre. I d both main characters and the friends that they found and the world Medrano has established. I particularly how he's thought through some of the social consequences of having explicit and measurable leveling and skills in a world.

A note about Steamy: Talyn is a succubus, though not very adventurous on the sex side of things. But there's a scene with a courtesans (a character class because why not?) that has enough detail to trigger the steam tag. But only just barely. I particularly the hints of developing trust with Melody and that there may one day be more there.

* LitRPG is a subgenre of GameLit and I'm not going to distinguish them except to say that LitRPG has an expectation that the players can interact with an interface that gives them information and allows selections and other game- things. It's a growing genre for a certain flavor of nerd and has the limitations you get with a very small niche while it grows. I'm seeing some quality stories there, but most of it not so much.

** Isekai is portal fantasy that is often LitRPG as well. They don't have to be the same, but they are often in the same space. Isekai tends to have people sucked into a game world where they become players/avatars and that's a natural fit for GameLit in general and LitRPG in particular. I've seen people use all three terms interchangeably. Which makes sense as they're pretty interrelated. And to be honest, I'm not terribly certain any of my definitions hold up to scrutiny and all, so bear that in mind if you're taking my little synopsis here as gospel.fantasy lgbt litrpg ...more10 s Tony Hisgett2,777 33

I’m not a great fan of LitRPG books as they usually involve bizarre characters just aimlessly running around killing things and constantly worrying about their level. However I really enjoyed this author’s ’Beesong’ books, so I gave this one a try.
Unfortunately Talyn wasn’t as interesting as I hoped, even with a ‘Goddess’ for a companion and was not a patch on ‘Joy’ from ’Beesong’. It didn’t help that there is very little development in the relationship between the two of them, for most of the book they were really just acquaintances.
Also a massive chunk of this book seemed to be about imparting information and presumably setting the scene for the rest of the series, but it didn’t make it a particularly interesting read. Perhaps if you are a fan of LitRPG you might find this fascinating.
Overall it wasn’t a bad read, but I was probably generous giving three stars.
fantasy review1 John875 12

Well written but no point

While this book was well written there was no point. So its a rebirth/reincarnation of the MC Talyn. Ummm so. There are a lot of this type of books out there but something is happening. This is slice of life for the MC and mostly boreing and unmotivated. The MC is both with no drive it seams. There is nothing special yet about her nor her story. The book sets no plot for the series and only acknowledge problems at end with nothing in sight to remedying the problems. The system is fairly non existant and the reader is left with few bits for class names and abilities. The magic is nebulous and no real idea whats available or nor what it can do. I normally the authors works but Not sure of the second book if there is one. Just dont see the point of where this is going. Im quite disappointed Mary Good228

Lovely book

I really enjoyed reading this book. I d the premise of dying and being given a choice to go live in a new world governed by classes and levels. The species and class she takes are intriguing. I haven't read a LitRPG quite this one. It's different but fun. I d that it didn't constantly spit stats in your face everytime something happens in the story. Made for an easy read. The MC's tail is cute and I'm hoping she can resolve the charisma issues. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Jamie8

Info dump start
Great middle
Bit of a cliffhanger ending

I wasn’t sure about this book because the description didn’t give me a lot, but I’ve been reading a ton of isekai/transmigration novels so I had a few assumptions going in. Not as OP as I was hoping for but the power levels weren’t surprising when I thought about the other books I’ve read by this author.lesbian-bisexual-female tbc james griggs16

A Good Start

I enjoy the author’s other works and was looking forward to the story. I found that the story was a fast read and easy read. Had some of the RPG feel, but didn’t dominate the story, more of just a side note. Looking forward to reading the next story because I didn’t get enough. Tracy S McCoy1,192 9

An enjoyable beginning!

As you'd expect in a new series a few minor editing hiccups but nothing that take away from the story! I for none definitely enjoyed the story and can see it becoming a series I'd enjoy reading!! I enjoyed the character interactions and the more complex magic usage!! Leslie99

Definitely picking up the second

Following.

It started a little too slowly, I felt. Or maybe I was just in an impatient mood. But once the actual story set in I loved the characters and development. Good story. I suppose now I have to choose which of the author’s other series’s to start on while waiting for book two! Danae573 4

The MC gets a new chance for a second life in a fantasy world. The goddess at the afterlife counter offers herself as companion.
Slice of life story that takes its time... takes a lot of time and at the end i have way too many open questions. But I the MC very much and cannot wait to see what happens to her.female-leading-character litrpg M168

Best of the genre that I have read so far. A main character that is full of good and bad qualities and not overpowering. The system is well explained. I am really looking forward for more books in this series.elf-ff fantasy-ff historical-ff ...more Ted7

Good but…

I d the book alright and I was invested in the characters and the mystery introduced later in the book. My biggest complaint is that the book doesn’t come to any kind of conclusion it just ends. William447 1 follower

meh

Not much to say of this, as there isn’t anything worth comment written. The entire “book” is basically an intro chapter. Nothing really happens. If food, it’s be bad gas station food. Jerome35

A disappointment

While I normally enjoy slice of life novels this one was quite dull. The characters were rather shallow and the world just didn't appeal to me. Add to that the LitRPG elements were lackluster and superfluous. helen loennig7 1 follower

Disappointed in the beginning

This was a slow read for 220 pages, then I found it more in line with the Chaos series I read. I have moved on to the 2nd book because of the last 80 pages. Jen1,281 2

Interesting beginning

An action-packed, entertaining story with interesting characters & riveting plot lines made for an unique & interesting start to this series. Very much anticipating what the next part of this story will bring.
Gregory190

Not bad, not good

The story was only mildly interesting. It felt I was reading a long drawn out setup, and was left waiting for the plot to start. Vincent366 4

Great book!

A great beginning to a new series by Benjamin Medrano, a good LITRPG but with little stats and game mechanics to distract from the story. Great book! Thomas M5 1 follower

Awesome

I throughy enjoyed what I'm hoping is the start of a newsletter series, it sets the world and characters nicely Donald Clark369 3

Quirky different with great potential. Focus is on a good story and character not the litRPG mechanics and that makes it better then most of the genre. Ti87 1 follower

Introducing a new world in detail. That’s probably why the main arc didn’t move forward as I would’ve d. It definitely has potential but to confirm it, I need to read the second book.demon lgbtq magic ...more Mac McDonald27

Not what I expected from the synopsis. Couldn't finish. Susan M. McDonald17

What the.. ?

It just ends there?? There's no explanation??? If I wanted a Shaggy Dog story I'd watch Disney+!!! This USED to be one of my favorite writers! Used to be... Isaios121 2

Quite dull tbh, and does not end so much as peters out.

Not dreadful by any means, but the weakest I've read of Medrano.litrpg Laura10

Lukewarm Slice of Life

It implies a lot while not saying a lot of what it should and instead spending a lot of time talking about nothing of import. Renae J Standen86

Nice start!

I'm looking forward to the next part of the series. I Talyn, the character is very interesting to me. M L Brooks 523 8

Kind of boring

This book really falls quite flat. The MC barely had a personality of her own and most interesting things come from Melody who isn't even there all the time. 3DKing197

Too slow for my taste. rkfs8

Basically "He Who Fights With Monsters" redone in boring, with the main character saving the lives of her enemies. Cloak88967 16

A good slice-of-life LitRPG book.

Marie dies unexpectedly, but a goddess gives her the opportunity to be isekei-ed into a gameworld with the goddess herself as a tag-along. A simple concept, but done quite well. The world has game mechanics, but most of the emphasis is on characters and story rather than numbers and crunching.

In this Medrano makes this a relaxing read with cool characters going about their life, getting slowly stronger and living in a world that actually seems to work despite the game mechanics.

A good series opener, and a good means of wetting my appetite for the sequel. 2023 adventure fantasy ...more Nora Rockwell39 2

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