Im not always a huge fan of this genre, because with the exception of “Ready Player One” they tend to turn into the same juvenile nerd harem NPC porn fantasy. I don’t know what’s worse, the thought of these lonely guys having gaming fantasies about what amounts to a low grade AI, or a foxy vixen hybrid who is really a fat guy named Steve from New Jersey.
At any rate this book does a great job focusing on action and adventure to engage the listener. There is just enough sexual tension to keep characters interesting, but the author doesn’t rely on it as a crutch. I enjoy the anti-hero angle, and they lean into the role very well. Jeff Hays is one of my favorite narrators and although I’m not usually a big fan of ensemble studio productions, they did a great job of not overdoing it. I look forward to listening to the next book in the series.