TL;DR Review: Ridiculous and hilarious, action-packed and heartfelt.
Synopsis:
A magical new world. An ancient power. A chance to be a Hero.
Danny Kendrick was a down-on-his luck performer who always struggled to find his place. He certainly never wanted to be a hero. He just hoped to earn a living doing what he loved.
That all changes when he pisses off the wrong guy and gets transported to another world.
Stuck in a fantasy realm straight out of a Renaissance Fair, Danny quickly discovers that there’s more to life. Like magic, axe-wielding brutes, super hot elf assassins, and a talking screen that won’t leave him alone.
He’ll need to adapt fast, turn on the charm, and get stronger if he hopes to survive this dangerous new world.
But he has a knack for trouble. Gifted what seems like an innocent ancient lute after making a questionable deal with a Hag, Danny becomes the target of mysterious factions who seek to claim its power.
It’s up to him, Screenie, and his new barbaric friend, Curr, to uncover the truth and become the heroes nobody knew they needed. And maybe, just maybe, Danny will finally find a place where he belongs.
Don’t miss the start of this isekai LitRPG Adventure filled with epic fantasy action, unforgettable characters, loveable companions, unlikely heroes, a detailed System, power progression, and plenty of laughs.
Full Review:
I was not prepared for just how much fun I had reading this book!
At the beginning, Danny the washed-up rockstar playing Friday night gigs for soccer moms at some dive bar does not seem your typical hero. Even when he’s isekaied (in true portal fantasy fashion) to another world, he’s nothing but a pathetic, no-talent, starving bard who can’t even entertain a crowd of drunken barbarians.
At his lowest moment, he finds himself striking a deal with a mysterious hag, Phlegm, and comes into possession of a marvelous lute…which he has no idea how to play.
Like any RPG video game, Danny has to “grind” to level up his survival and abilities, and this is where the LitRPG aspect comes into play. Danny’s world is narrated by a much-too-sarcastic “blue screen” that displays everything from his far-too-few hit points to his woefully underpowered stats.
Helpless and hapless as he is, Danny gloms onto Curr, a barbarian with limited social skills and a grim sense of humor that makes him as terrible a companion as he is powerful a protector. But as they journey together and face many foes—well, Curr faces them, Danny mostly just gets in his own way—they develop a friendship that may or may not survive the bloody adventures ahead.
The dynamic between Danny and Curr was hilarious. Curr is entirely literal and his social awkwardness makes him incredibly straightforward and not afraid to point out all the many, many ways Danny is inadequate. It’s never done cruelly, merely as a statement of fact, and in so doing, brings levity to pretty much every moment.
But Curr is also a loyal friend, powerful fighter, and a staunch ally. The bond between him and Danny evolves slowly but really nicely over the course of the story. Theirs is a friendship based not on equality, but the small give-and-take in life that makes for a longer-lasting, more durable relationship. Those who know the authors can absolutely see how certain aspects of these characters may be drawn from real life, and it makes for a truly fun read.
The world is colorful and silly at times, but in the best ways possible. Any chance these authors can get, they will lean into ridiculous settings and situations—some of which had me laughing out loud.
The characters you meet along the way—from Garvis the halfling to Lilla the dream-girl-slash-badass-elf-warrior—are a whole mess of fun, too, adding life and breadth and, most important of all, emotional depth to the story.
My favorite part, though, was definitely the sarcastic narrator, Screenie. Think of the AI from Dungeon Crawler Carl—with all its weirdnesses and mockery—and you’ll get an understanding of what this voice in Danny’s head is. It’s a hilarious and delightful blend of pop culture references, semi-helpful game instructions, and running commentary on Danny’s absolute uselessness. Definitely the funniest moments in the book were the snarky remarks and quips.
But make no mistake: while An Unexpected Hero leans into the ridiculous and hilarious, it’s also got great action, an intriguing mystery (or three), and excellent character depth. By the end, you’ve had an immensely emotionally satisfying journey. The climactic ending had the fast-paced violence and threats I was hoping for, even a few really good gut-punchy moments.
I had so much fun with this book and can’t wait to find out what comes next for Danny our now-only-slightly-less-incompetent bard and his magical lute.
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