This is a well-written, excellently performed story. The game world is very condensed, as it all takes place in a small, specific area. It works in the context of the story (and fits the title). There is very much a feel of Die Hard, but with a rather immature kid instead of a grizzled cop with anger management problems. I overall enjoyed the book, though it definitely leans in to several litrpg tropes, and I don’t recall being surprised. It’s a fun journey to ride along on, and the MC does seem to progress/grow a bit.
I wish the crafting had been a bit more structured and detailed, but I’m a nerd for that stuff and actually enjoy some grind and slice of life aspect- the hard work being put in leading to rewards. Obviously, in the context of this story’s timeline, that would not be possible. Crafting is a key component, so I won’t deride the subtitle, just express mild disappointment.
SBT did a great job on this one, and the sound effects felt balanced (something they have struggled with a bit lately IMO), so I give that a perfect score. They continue to set the industry standard for gamelit audio productions.