Reborn as a Space Mercenary

I’ll be honest: I went into *Reborn as a Space Mercenary* expecting another overpowered protagonist mowing down enemies with zero stakes. Instead, I got a story that *earns* its action. Hiro isn’t just strong—he’s *smart*, and the audiobook excels in scenes where he outmaneuvers opponents with cold calculation rather than brute force. The imperial capital arc, in particular, feels like a high-stakes chess match, with Berman’s narration amplifying the tension by underplaying Hiro’s reactions. His delivery is so deadpan during negotiations that you *feel* the threat lurking beneath every polite phrase. That said, the worldbuilding occasionally stumbles into info-dump territory, especially around the crystal life-forms’ lore. A few chapters drag when the story pauses to explain tech or politics, and while Berman’s performance keeps it engaging, you might find yourself wishing for more *show* than *tell*. The production quality is flawless, though—no distracting edits or volume spikes—just crisp, immersive audio that makes the space battles *pop*. If you love sci-fi that’s equal parts *Starship Troopers* and *The Expanse*, but with a protagonist who’d sell his own crew for the right price, this is your next listen. Just don’t expect warm fuzzies.