Manipulation

Magic Eater, Book 1

By: Sean Oswald

Narrated by: Giancarlo Herrera, Hannah Schooner

Tad doesn't have any memory before waking up on the beach, apparently the sole survivor of a shipwreck. All he has from his past is a necklace with a symbol no one recognizes.

After growing up in the orphanage, he takes a job managing inventory for a merchant catering to adventurers. He knows he's a bit off, the world just smells different to him.

When he's confronted by a group of adventurers with more power than ethics, he learns that it's been magic he is smelling all along. As the confrontation builds he learns that he can eat that same magic, but it isn't enough to keep him from being taken.

Waking up in a dungeon, he quickly learns they are more than monster filled pits. They are tools of the Great System and just maybe doorways through the multiverse.

Now he must struggle to prove his worth, grow in power, and master his strange ability, all complicated by the fact that the enchantments on his gear might just be alive.

©2025 Sean Oswald (P)2025 Royal Guard Publishing LLC

Pretty good

I like the story and the abilities. Wasn’t quite as good as some of the other titles. Wasn’t the biggest fan of the voice acting. The self loathing type of speech throughout the book felt like too much. Good story decent book. But out of the authors titles this one isn’t one of my favorites.

the whole way I asked myself one thing.

I enjoyed it very much and am looking forward to the next book! I really hope it picks up from the second this one ends or at least with the day or something. now months or weeks. the Way it ended with not finishing the Arc between the two and you will know who I'm talking about and won't spoil it now it different and I get it's a book that's the start of a bigger narrative but we could have had a small encounter before the end of the book set up or interlude with just what happened to her when she Left Tad's room that evening! but wonder book definitely a great start and looking forward to the next part of his adventure 🤔

Now this is a fantasy story!

This is definitely a book you need to check out. It breaks the typical fantasy mold. The MC does not use magic actually is the complete opposite the story. Also does a good job is slowly evolving the MC overtime and building up his power. I look forward to book to to see what happens next. You definitely need to check this book out.

Awsome

this book was amazing! loved the characters and their progression. I can't wait for the next one in this series

great story and narration

fun to hear Oswald audiobbok in duet narration. as always Sean writes an incredible story. can't wait for book 2

Loved it.

A new way to look at litrpg. It’s got it all. Character building is really unique. I enjoyed the book . Now waiting on book 2.. Tim V

Oswald Delivers Again in a New World

As a big fan of Sean Oswald’s Welcome to the Multiverse series, I picked up Magic Eater: Book 1 expecting similar LitRPG mechanics — and I wasn’t disappointed. While I’m not sure if it takes place in the same universe, the DNA feels familiar: a progression-heavy narrative with system prompts, interface elements, and a slow but rewarding power climb.

This book stands on its own though. The protagonist starts out extremely weak and gradually uncovers mysteries that tie into his strange status. The pacing works — a nice blend of action, progression, character introspection, and enough time spent with supporting characters to give the world texture, but not so much that it pulls focus away from the MC. Oswald nails the balance again.

🔸 Mild Spoilers Ahead

Now, my one gripe: the MC’s lack of curiosity about his clearly weird character sheet is a little hard to buy. He’s got obvious outlier traits and access to information that practically screams, “You are not normal,” but his reaction is kind of... nothing. There's a passivity to him at times that doesn't quite gel with the tension of the story.

Also, his chosen path — focused on buffing enchantment items — felt underwhelming compared to what could have been a more inventive route. It does come together eventually, but early on it feels like a missed opportunity. Add to that a bit of the tired “reluctant hero” trope (“I just want to be a shopkeeper...”), and yeah, I rolled my eyes a few times. I’m not asking for cocky power fantasies, but I prefer my MCs to have a bit more drive in worlds where strength is everything.

That said — the writing, worldbuilding, and system design are great. Oswald’s style is confident and immersive, and the story kept me engaged the whole way through.

Final Verdict: 5 stars. Despite a few quirks, Magic Eater hits all the right LitRPG notes and is a strong start to what looks like another killer series from Oswald. If you liked Welcome to the Multiverse, this is a no-brainer.

How to eat magic

Manipulation

Tad has no memories from before he woke up on a beach clutching a pendant. With no known family, he grew up in an orphanage before getting a job with a merchant to manage inventory. It helps that he has always been able to smell magic. That was when an adventuring party decided that he would be joining them in the dungeon to help sniff out magic items, whether he wanted to or not.

This is the start to a great litrpg series! The magic system is well defined and the enchantments even more so. Tad is a very interesting character and I’m looking forward to seeing him develop more. It is not official, but I suspect that this series will be attached to Welcome to the Multiverse. One side note, the bonus chapter at the end is a preview for a different book all together. Giancarlo and Hannah Schooner do a great job with the duel narration.

Content Warning: none in Manipulation, but language in the bonus chapter

I caught a lucky break with this one.

Sometimes things just work out. I got really lucky and received a free code for this audiobook. I had it in my TBR list for KU and was looking forward to it. I'm a big fan of Sean Oswald's writing and have many of his ebook and audiobooks. This one did not disappoint. It was a little slow to start and the MC was starting to get on my nerves. I'm a firm believer that your upbringing and personal journey determines how you relate to characters in a story. I'm a born and bred city boy from NYC and I felt like the mc should man up and deal with it already. Well, spoiler, he finally does at some point in the book. I just won't say where, when or the circumstances. That's for you to experience for yourself.

Okay, back t the review. The fight scenes were well written the narration was excellent and the character development is a slow build. This was a great way to spend 20 hours and I'm looking forward to bk2.

Come on Sean, write faster!

DNF

I hated this book, but couldn't really find any fault with it. Up until a certain point, it was very much a 'me' thing.

I can't stand simpering, cowering protagonists. Tad comes off more like an abused dog than someone I can get behind. I can't stand professional victims, especially in my protagonists.

I stuck around though, because it was mostly pretty competent-if not to my tastes.

Then the weird sexual tension with the lizard girl started. This isn't an anime style lizard girl (read: basically human with a few reptilian features), but-at least the way I understood it-anthropomorphic reptile. Like a dragonborn from DnD.

Personally, that's enough to make me want to throw up in my mouth, but given Tad is basically child-presenting for the entire book, and, if not an actual child, then incredible child-like, it was extra gross.

I noped out hard there. I was already pretty miserable reading this, I didn't want to be grossed out too.

Very much not for me.