So ill preface that i almost never review (but I should more often) and that I have read other LitRPGs books in the genre.
World-Tree Online is easily tied for the best, if not the best though it is hard to choose.
I’ve read Travis Bagwells Awaken Online Series (all the books, side books and his new Tarot series).
Dakota Krout’s Dungeon series and the Ritualist books. Life Reset by Shemer Kuznits.
V Mahankenho Shaman books (Stopped at the end of book 5 as that ending killed any more interest in his writing)
The Chaos seed books by Aleron Kong.
And a few others that caught my interest.
E A Hooper has created a unique take on the genre. it is solo refreshing to not have endless waves of numbers of the main character’s stats, mana, damage etc thrown at the reader or listener (though mainly listener Aleron I’m looking at you!)
There was one section where there is an extended information drop, and the narrators did a lovely job of informing you that it was coming with how long it would take! that’s the first time that’s happened in an audiobook and please can more LiT RPG books have this. Especially those that do Pages of tables, diagrams and stat blocks? (again sorry for picking on you Aleron)
Any spell or ability descriptions are quickly explained and then it goes back to the action.
The Narrators also did a wonderful job. The only criticism I have is near the end of the book where one characters sound begins to echo and it becomes difficult to determine if he is thinking those thoughts or speaking them aloud, That might be the location of where that character was at the time (I don’t want to go into details as I don’t want to spoil the excellent story).
Each character had a distinct voice and feel. Even the AI system has its own voice.
The characters are all believable and human. The antagonist is what happens when you get Hitler and Stalin to create the perfect dictatorship with the best intentions in mind and utterly screwup,
This book is an excellent starting point to the genre as well giving an excellent story.
An excellent listen and I can’t wait to start the next one!