The plot is fairly standard "you're special just because" type of chosen one vs great evil.
The game the LitRPG concept is based off of combines the AR/mobile aspects of PokemonGO with the demon-in-real-world aspects of Shin-Magami-Tensei.
The writing of the MC is ambiguous about age, except for some target remarks about being 21, college (which Henry seems to quit without notifying anyone), a part time job (which he also seems to quit without notifying anyone), and a blatant disregard for taking care of himself.
Random-hookah-hooked-white-21-year-old-guy is going to save the world... using his... dislike of confrontation and inability to lie? I guess.
Also, the unregimented aspects of the lower ranks of Exorcist? Apparently the fate of the world rests on some "government" agents who don't know how basic tool-box-theory works.
Bonus "as if". Henry doesn't ask any real questions about his new "employment" upon being told that he's been pressed into service, seriously a college kid having to work a part time job to make ends meet and he doesn't ask about pay or benefits?

Once you're past that particular suspension of disbelief, it gets better. Mostly still revolving around drama, Henry's apparent "nothing bad has ever happened to me" reactions, and combat. Lots and lots of combat.

Though the author likes adding in problematic things and letting them linger long enough to deeply concern you, before having them be confronted by something to put them in their place (I am looking at you John).

TLDR: a solid enough LitRPG, I enjoyed reading it enough that I am curious to see where the series goes, but will likely just be borrowing this from my local library.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.75)

Resonance is an exciting addition to the LitRPG genre, blending elements of monster-taming games like Pokémon/Pokémon Go with the immersive mechanics of an augmented reality world.

The story follows Henry, a college student who’s always been a fan of monster RPGs. When he downloads the latest AR game, D.E.D. Exorcists, his life takes a shocking turn as the game becomes real. Henry is suddenly thrown into a secret world where demons are tangible, and his gaming knowledge becomes his most valuable asset.

The concept of the book is a lot of fun, especially for anyone who enjoys games that involve catching, leveling up, and training creatures. The monsters themselves are well-crafted, with detailed descriptions that make them come to life on the page. The world-building is solid, giving the whole story that anime-esque feel, where everything feels larger than life. This made the book feel vibrant and immersive, like stepping into a cool alternate reality.

However, Henry as a character starts off a bit bland. He feels like the "perfect" person for this situation, but doesn’t show a lot of agency or personality in the beginning. As the story progresses and heads toward its climax, he does improve, becoming more active in the plot, and by the end, he’s a more interesting character. The slower development of his personality was a bit of a drawback for me, though.

The pacing also has some ups and downs. The book starts and ends on high notes, moving quickly with plenty of action and tension. However, the middle section can drag a bit, especially if you’re not particularly into the intricate leveling and strategy elements of monster games. These sections are crucial to the LitRPG style but may feel a little tedious for readers who aren’t as invested in those aspects.

Despite these issues, the book’s climax was strong, surprising, and really sets up future installments well. The cast of characters, monsters, and locations all contribute to making this world feel dynamic and full of potential. I'm excited to see where the story goes from here and how Henry's role will evolve.

The audiobook, narrated by Austin Rising, is a great way to experience Resonance. Rising’s narration captures the energy and tension of the story, adding extra depth to the characters and making the action-packed scenes more thrilling.

If you’re a fan of LitRPGs or monster-taming games, this is definitely worth reading. For those less familiar with these genres, it may take a little more patience to get fully immersed, but the payoff is well worth it. All in all, Resonance is a solid start to what could be a very exciting series!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC of this audiobook for my honest review

I can’t even find the words to say how much I absolutely love this book. Fell in love with the characters they’re all so interesting especially JJ, the whole idea of the secret government stuff is so unique and interesting. The game idea to keep it secret, the writing ! The leveling up is Awesome ! Just list everything that happens in this book ever and I’ll love it, it was incredible and I was hooked the whole way through and I can’t wait to read the rest of the books. Definitely top 10 books ever read wow!

I'll be publishing my review on Goodreads and StoryGraph 24th September and on Tik tok most likely will add to a monthly wrap up post with review the beginning of October.

At the beginning the story sounds like an episode of Pokemon. The collecting of demons, hp, mp, fighting type etc. It is definitely a gamer story. The story got better as it went on when it got past the whole Pokemon aspect, so much Pokemon influence that Pokemon is referenced several times. The narrator was ok, but the voice used for the main character's best friend is really annoying and stereotypical geeky boy voice, but the friend is supposed to be charming. At no point did that come across in the reading and that could be mostly because of the weasely voice that was used. The story didn't get better until almost the end when a lot of action happened.