I have to admit to have been waiting to listen to this book since it first came out. I’d heard a ton of positive things about it, and the premise seemed pretty cool. I was doubly excited that we got the Adult and Uncensored version as well. I don’t see a need to tone things down, and in the day and age when Harem lit is popular and even MSE goes graphic I think it is fine to go grown up. After all, this is a book about people playing a game in which headshots are a common thing. I still would have liked to have heard the mature cut! I can’t imagine what we are missing!!

My first comment regards the cover. Covers are meant to grab your attention, and make you want to read the blurb. If it can draw you in that far then it has done its job. Without a doubt this is one of the best covers I have seen. It is wall worthy, meaning I would absolutely hang that on my wall. I appreciate art that isn’t cartoony or doesn’t tell you anything about the book itself. If you read this book you will know exactly who that is, and the cover does tell you a lot about what goes on inside. The light coming through the shades is atmospheric and seductive. Again, this is a great piece of artwork.

Next, how can I not comment on the narration? Barnett was a wise man, and went through Soundbooth Theater, and in this case got not one, but three narrators! Annie Ellicott, Justin Thomas James, and the ever amazing Jeff Hays all work their butts off, and bring you some of the best vocal readings I have ever heard! This book is like a reverse image of their usual work, as Hays generally reads the bulk of the story and Ellicott backs him up with the female voices. Here, however, Annie gets her gun, and takes the lead. Jeff does most of the male voices, and James locks and loads in as backup on one other voice. This is the triple threat of narration right here. Jeff is far and away my favorite narrator. I never fail to mention that, and Annie is coming up on my list as well. James does a great job, I just haven’t heard enough of him to really dole out the praise he assuredly deserves. Hopefuly he’ll solo a book and I can tell you just how incredible I know him to be. As it stands, the work he does is awesome. Anyhow, this combination is like alternating mortar shells and napalm on your ears. They won’t know what hit them. Annie really pushes the story forward, and Jeff makes you believe he is the Meister we all want to be. I love hearing this talanted troupe working together, it really brings more to the table than your standard fare.

Have I even mentioned Barnett’s writing yet? Nope? Well, I should have. As a fledgling author this cat has really got it together. He knows how to pace a plot, and build tension. He adds humor in where it is needed (“I surrender”), and he doesn’t hold back on the big story. There is a lot more going on here than a guy rotating in and out of death duel gun matches. He is also pretty creative with his gaming system. The players don’t build up, but their weapons do. Their weapons are sentient, and require some love to keep them happy and tied to their owners. This is a creative world, and a unique game. He really has the ammo necessary to write a Gunventure like this. I like that it takes time for the protagonist to go from being a doofus to being a leader of men. The ragtag group that he ends up with are all interesting characters, and I found it humorous that out of all the people in the game there is at least one powder loading dude keeping things real with the old timey gun. I could totally see my father carrying a flintlock into the game, and using the tag of Hawkeye. The action scenes are not Michael Bay stupid, but more of the Die Hard first and second movie type. The big fights are brutal and fun, all three of them, and I must say that I was glad to have so much content. Anything over 7 or 8 hours of run time is a blessing.

You want to know the best way I can tell you to get this book and read it? The simple fact that I really want a sequel ASAP. This book blows you off of your arse, and makes you peek around corners as you listen. You will feel the bullets zip by, and feel the shrapnel of ricochet’s spatter your face. You will fall in love with Elva (sorry, audio book so not sure about the spelling), and wish you could just “holster” her one time. This is a frantic and frenetic story that locks and loads you in and never lets you up. You will be pinned down by cover fire, and have no chance of backup coming to save you. Only thing is, you won’t want rescued. You will want to join in the fun, and deal out your own grevious headwounds. Even though I did receive a promo code for this review it in no way influenced my considerations of the material, and in fact, inspired me to be more honest. In fact, getting a code generally makes me harsher as a reviewer as I am more often concerned what someone like Me will decide based on my review.

If this review helped, please press the YES below. Thank you immensely!!!