Brightblade (2nd Edition)

UnderVerse, Book 1

By: Jez Cajiao

Narrated by: Wayne Mitchell

A realm aside from our own. The center of the realities. Home to every spectrum of magic.

From the beautiful to the terrible, it was all held in delicate balance by the Eternal Emperor and his immortal children. For 10,000 years, the empire was the bastion that protected the sentient races from the darkness, but the revolution, and the War of the Gods has changed all that . . .

Jax seems like a regular guy, except that he fights creatures from a strange place called the UnderVerse in his sleep, leaving him covered in horrific scars when he wakes up. The mysterious disappearance of his brother five years prior has forced Jax into a holding pattern, with a job he tolerates, a girl he kinda, sorta loves . . . until he's kidnapped and given a stark choice by his asshat of a father: Go to the UnderVerse in reality, travel to the capitol of that ruined realm at the center of reality, and open a portal for the Noble Houses to return home . . .

Or die, slowly.

That's the good news. The bad is that he has to survive the arena first, to prove his right to go. Twelve will enter, only one can leave . . .

©2022 R J Cajiao (P)2022 Tantor Audio

Please use a female for female voices

The girl voices are really really bad sounds like they have beards. The male voices are good though with a heavy South African accent. The stats are unnecessary if he didn't upgrade them saying zero many times doesn't make it better when he finally gets a stat point. I wish these books would just do the whole stat sheet once at the beginning and once at the end

Wonderful

I love the stories each book gets better and better. The first books of the series is always hard for me to get through because of the intensity of the narrator. But in the later stories it becomes necessary couldn’t get through the next book without his dramatic flair.

Interesting story arc. Poor narrator

The story has a really interesting plot. The narration was very cringe worthy. The MC is a true idiot that is hard to stomach.

Horrendous narration

What is this accent? Sounds like a bad rendition of Russel Crowe fighting around the world from South Park. So so so bad.

This narrator is truly something special.

Sure it was a great book and boon to the LitRPG genre, but that Narrator! Over 10 years of listening to audiobooks and I've never had an experience like that. Cheers and kudos!

Drama Queen Narrator ruins the book.

The story, while not original, is solid. It would be worth reading it. However, for the audio, the narrator decides that everything needs to be said in a voice thick with emotion. While this might sound great, imagine reading about the main character sitting down for dinner and the narrator gasping the words out like bending his knees to sit were the act of a true hero risking his life and limb. I hope that gets you the picture. Not for me. I could not finish it.

Wow... Worst narator on audible?

Its unlistenable. Trully horid narator, has no clue whatsoever. If angry british drunk yelling at you is your fetish you might enjoy this. Otherwise stay away.

Fast paced, amazing adventure!

The changes made to version two are incredible! The story was always great, but you can truly see the great improvement in writing style in these new versions, I love the new content, and feel like I was even more deeply immersed into the world. Wayne rocks the narration, each character with a unique and different voice, making it easy to follow and engaging! If you've listened to the first version - totally worth listening to the new version. If you haven't listened to any of them- what are you waiting for?

Doesn't let up, narration is great!

I have listened to all the other series by Jez Cajiao and I was hesitant to start this one, mainly due to the unique narration by Wayne Mitchell. Boy, am I ever glad to have purchased and listened fully to the story and Wayne's narration.

The story is great, MC grows, has some soft heartedness, but is merciless with those who would harm others.

As you listen you get to really appreciate Wayne Mitchell's performance. The brogue of the dwarves is hilarious and really makes you listen! Jacks exclamations are intense, funny, and appropriate (at least for his character) all at the same time.

Thank you Jez Cajiao for the story and thank you Wayne Mitchell for an original and amazing narration!

Great performance and story

5 hours in:
I enjoy the story & the performance of the narrator. Some have complained about the main characters accent but most of the voices remind me of European accents & mannerisms which I enjoy.

So far I highly recommend this audiobook. I will update this review roughly every 5 hours.

10 hours in:
This audiobook was so enjoyable I stayed up til 6am or so last night to listen to it. Story & MC still great.

Rest of the book:
Was a great listen to the end, One certain female companion is annoying but other then that it is amazing.