Not a five star book but I definitely would have given it a 4.5 for the promise this book shows. It’s well written and the scope is broad. It has a unique twist on the LitRPG format. The stat/skill element has great bearing on the story but the typical loot and leveling shtick and long lists of stats is toned way down so as not to interfere with the plot and character development. The system is more like Bio-Shock than Elder Scrolls (if this comparison makes no sense to you then you clearly need to waste more time playing video games)… and as a result the “skills” have a much greater impact on the story without superseding the plot and immersion in the story.
Definitely worth the credit. I will be purchasing the next installment.