Level Up

The Knockout, Book 1

By: Dan Sugralinov, Max Lagno, Mikhail Yagupov - Translator

Narrated by: Ramon De Ocampo

Mike Hagen, an American nicknamed "Crybaby", became one of those chosen to be given an augmented reality interface. However, his favorite game was an MMA fighter - possibly, for the reason that he'd never fought in real life, and the interface adapted itself to him.

Will Hagen be able to use it right? And will it help him to crawl out of the dreary pit of his existence?

©2019 Dan Sugralinov and Max Lagno; English translation copyright 2019 by Mikhail Yagupov (P)2019 Tantor

Change of Heart

I first reviewed this series unfairly and gave it one star. Maybe my interface (brain) was disconnected at the times.

This is a really good follow up for the restart series. Sugralinov did a good job transitioning from an RPG mindset. Taking a “weakling” to a “strong” MC was masterfully done. The characters come to life and one can feels the sensations of each fight. Whereas the last series mainly focused on the “interface”; this series focuses more on the MC and his psychological and physical shape. This book was well done.

good side quest to the original series

I hesitated at getting this but it was very good a neardy guy gets the thing in his head like Phil in the original series. yes he gos from wimp to a fighter . but for him everything deals with fair fights ect . nd the fight are always exciting all most like you are right there to see . if you liked the original an remember the worm mike from the original series this is a good side story well worth a person time to listen to it

Very good book

It was a good book, but the very ending was kind of stupid without signing over the deed the truck could be reported as stolen.

Excellent, heartwarming, and inspirational

I really put off reading this because it was written in conjunction with someone other than Dan Sugralinov. But audible had it in its monthly rotation, and I really wanted more stories in his universe, so I gave it a shot.

Initially, I hated Mike. I don’t think I’ve ever loathed a main character before. Which is how the people around Mike also felt about him.
And then. Somewhere in the story, I stopped loathing him, and really liking him. And then rooting for him.

As a stand-alone novel, this book is great. But integrated into the Universe Mr. Sugralinov has built over the last several years, it becomes something even better. I like it a lot. I liked the different tale of growth, I loved seeing him struggle to choose courage. And I loved the hints at the wider world of Sugralinov and the different portrayal of the UIF interface from Phil’s.

It’s brilliant. And Ramon DeOcampo did an excellent job performing it.

10-25-24: I'm coming back to it a second time after a year, and it's even better. I absolutely loved this book, and I hope you do too. 5 stars.

A nice spin-off of the Restart/level up series

This book is for those who have finished the Restart trilogy and are looking for something more. I wouldn't recommend it as a standalone book, because there parts to the story (albeit, miniscule parts, not integral to the story) that are presented without context and you would only understanding having read the preceding trilogy. Furthermore, although a decent book, I don't feel like it has the charm that the Restart trilogy has.
This book is centered around Mike Hagan, a boxer who was given an interface. Unlike in the Restart series where Phil was given the socially meaningful interface, Hagan instead receives the fighting interface that the majority of interface users have. While he does progress, it's almost unlistenable in the beginning. The MC starts off too weak and too pathetic. I'll take it for what it is, a decent spin-off, but lacking the charm of Restart.

Motivation in a book

This and the other parts of this series are a great push to get me off my butt and do more with what I have
Hard to give up the games but it’s been a push in the right direction to stop wasting my time with video games and make more of my life
Not just for my self but my family also
Thanks Mr. Sugralinov

Great Series

This was my 1st light RPG and I didn't know that they could be that good. This is a great series I recommend it to everybody. What a great character. I wish i could learn things that quick.

Not bad Litrpg

The MC was little to focused on ladies when he could do better. But a different take on Litrpg

Pretty Good book with a Lackluster Ending

The book was pretty good. There were several parts about the book that were rough to listen to. The ending was probably the hardest part of the book. I purchased this and book #2 on sale, and it was ok but not great.

I did not like what the main character was put through for motivation.

Well written story about an actual moron...

The idea is solid but I actively wanted the Main Character to just get hit by a car so he could stop being a poor pathetic insufferable douche. Its supposed to come across as a weakling getting stronger in many ways... he was gifted the literal best motivational device and performed at mid-level. He wastes so much time moaning and whining and being trash in a dozen ways. He isn't inspirational at all... he should be a damn ninja/monk/mma machine. He is not. He is mediocre and thats being kind.