Duskbound 2: A LitRPG Adventure

I’ll be honest: I went into *Duskbound 2* expecting another stat-screen-heavy slog, but Sherman subverts that early. Velik’s struggle isn’t against some cosmic horror (though there’s plenty of that lurking) but against the guild’s *spreadsheets*—and Bennett sells this absurdity perfectly. His performance is a masterclass in contrast: when Velik snarls, *“I didn’t join to fill out *forms*,”* you *feel* the spit hit the mic. The combat scenes are where Bennett truly shines, though; his timing during Velik’s ambush tactics makes the audiobook feel like a tactical RPG unfolding in your head. That said, the political intrigue sections occasionally drag—Sherman’s worldbuilding is rich, but some guild meetings could’ve been tightened without losing the satire. The production is flawless (no awkward edits or volume spikes), but my one gripe is the female voices. Bennett’s gruff baritone works for 90% of the cast, but his attempts at higher-pitched characters occasionally veer into caricature. Still, it’s a minor quibble in an otherwise stellar performance. What really stuck with me was how Sherman uses the LitRPG framework to explore *institutional rot*—Velik’s rage at the guild’s inefficiency mirrors real-world frustrations with bureaucratic systems, and Bennett’s delivery ensures you *share* that rage. If you’re tired of chosen-one narratives and want a protagonist who’d rather burn the system than game it, this is your audiobook. Just be warned: you’ll never look at a HR department the same way again.