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  • Shade's First Rule: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure

  • Divine Apostasy, Book 1
  • By: A. F. Kay
  • Narrated by: Travis Baldree
  • Length: 11 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (142 ratings)
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Shade's First Rule: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure cover art

Shade's First Rule: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure

By: A. F. Kay
Narrated by: Travis Baldree
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Summary

A new LitRPG world has arrived!

It's Ruwen’s Ascension Day, and he finally dies for the first time. His newly revived body can learn spells and abilities for the class given him by the Goddess Uru, and dying is no longer permanent.

Ruwen’s high intelligence makes becoming a Mage inevitable. With his new powers, he will locate his parents and clear their family name. But nothing goes as Ruwen imagined, and when a rival God tries to kill Ruwen shortly after his disastrous Ascension, his focus turns from his future to just surviving.

His choices place him in the middle of an ancient war, and he must overcome the limitations of his unexpected class to reach level five. Only then will he have the tools needed to survive. But dying now comes with a terrible penalty, and failing Uru might not only cost him his life and loved ones but his entire world.

It turns out dying on your Ascension Day is the easy part.

*****

Hey, LitRPG readers! I've created an FAQ for Shade's First Rule to answer some of the common questions and to help you decide if this book is for you. It can be found at: afkauthor.com/faq.

©2019 A. F. Kay (P)2020 A. F. Kay

What listeners say about Shade's First Rule: A Fantasy LitRPG Adventure

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Better as it goes on

I believe this is the most underrated litrpg I’ve listen to. I don’t understand why it has so few ratings compare to others.
The magic and world building systems along with his characters help you dive right into the story. The overall storyline keeps getting better with the more you uncover from book to book. I just hope the newest book eventually becomes an audiobook.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

a great start to a long story

it's a solid first book with a lot of room for a characters and the world to grow which makes me excited for the second one. the main character needs to improve a lot in the second book and to increase his common sense for it to stay interesting. my only disappointment if the ending which doesn't make sense at all and is stupid😮‍💨

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW, WOW

Honestly this was just a book that looked a little interesting, it seemed like it had a good story and Travis is an amazing narrator so I thought it would be a good time waster.
Little did I know that this book was just mind blowing, I love the story, characters, character development, magic *systemS* and the whole 'this is all a game for the gods'. Absolutely worth the time, only disappointment is that the next book isn't out yet.

I need the next book like now please.

NOWWWWWW!!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

I love love love it

Cannot recommend this book enough! There aren’t many series I can listen to on repeat and still enjoy as much as I did the first time. The story makes me smile, I love the little sayings such as “snap my dagger” and “shades first rule” make the world relatable and fun.
The central characters throughout the series are cool and people I’d love to hang out with, which is saying something as I’m not a people person.
The concept of the story again is great and develops really well. Can’t wait for the next in the series! I would totally drop the credits into this series, you won’t be disappointed! unless of course your one of those people who just likes to be miserable!
Massive thumbs up and praise to you mr AFKay for your talent and to Mr Baldree for your superb narration.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

creative ideas, immersive, real characters

mc's starting weakness and difficulty makes the story that much more compelling, he has a bunch of flaws to overcome but is very likeable, some really creative ideas over use of magic and monsters. some real woah moments, interesting relationships developing and exploration of different cultures, was already gonna read the next book but the ending really hit me and now I am desperate to do so.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

I have 216 books on audible

Out of 216 books and 30+ series I’ve never listened to a series with such a dumb mc. He is supposed to be smart but idk if all that’s just a joke or if the author has negative IQ. U can’t even say he has common sense

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
  • MK
  • 12-05-20

Beat me to unconsciousness

at least that's how I feel at halfway point in the book it's just not good.

Firstly everyone sucks except the MC which is a shallow character because he has no choice in anything. the reason everyone sucks is because there all horrible people not in the obvious villain way but in the I don't think though my plot as a author kind of way let me explain...

Head priest, definitely cast as a villain but his deeds are completely out of proportion to his 'motivation' he forces MC to become a worker a really bad class ruining his life. then we never hear about the head priest again not a throw away sentence or anything he just no longer is plot relevant because the author can't be asked.

Assassin Kia, leader of a group of 'good guys' she is a monster I don't know what it is with authors and accidentally creating cults but Kia has her cult in a dungeon. Kia drags MC down a path to become a spy 'a useless class' because she wants more members of her cult... AcTuallY ItS BeCausE ThE GoddEss AsKeD To hELp MC wiTH SurViVinG. That brings us on to the...

Goddess, using a goddess as a all encompassing figure of good is a common trope but it's done so poorly here it makes me want to tear my eyes out and puncture my ears so I can't ever experience this bullshit again. The goddess takes a personal interest in the MC after his death and revival a coming of age ceremony as the Head priest forced the MC to become a worker does the Goddess who has taken a interest change this and make his main class mage the only thing he will ever be good at? does the goddess dismiss her High priest for his crime of treason against a herself and her champion now being MC? NOoooOoOOO SHE DOES FUCKING NOTHING ohh wait that's not quite true granting him as her champion status means he can have a second class which will reset on his death also doubling his death penalty making him a potato after a single death and being her champion means he's being targeted by pretty much every one good at anything and funny thing is he can't defend himself because he is a FUCKING WORKER. Stupid incompentant goddess with out a single shred of remorse in there stupid body for ruining a innocent boys life who have lost there parents. the point I've been trying to make is that this is a fantasy book where MC has his life ruined repeatedly by others and thanks them and even prays to them for the privilege.
Railroading plots without thinking of the characters or what's happening often ends up like this book infuriating because the author is portraying a group of poorly though out characters and going though the motions of a story but never actually really telling a story rather allowing a series of unfortunate events to fall on a orphans shoulders.

if it wasn't obvious I wont be going past the 3/4 mark of the book I dislike this authors writing style intently its disingenuous and annoying.

This is a poor man's dante's immortality so read that if you haven't already.

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7 people found this helpful