Something

I’ll admit, I side-eyed the premise at first: *leatherworking as a fantasy hero’s skill?* But Krout sells it with relentless specificity. Luke’s knowledge of hides and stitching isn’t just worldbuilding fluff—it’s the lens through which the entire story’s economy and survival mechanics unfold. When the group faces a monster whose acid spray dissolves metal armor, it’s Luke’s improvised *treated leather shields* that save them. That kind of concrete problem-solving makes *Something* feel fresher than yet another chosen-one epic. Gilliland’s narration amplifies this grounded approach; his voice for Andre, the group’s reluctant strategist, carries the weight of a guy who’s *actually* tired of being the responsible one, not just a stock “wise friend” archetype. The audiobook isn’t without stumbles. Krout’s combat scenes, while visceral, occasionally suffer from *too* much tactical detail—listening to a five-minute breakdown of positioning during a skirmish can feel like overhearing a D&D session gone granular. And Gilliland, usually pitch-perfect, sometimes rushes through exposition-heavy passages, leaving key worldbuilding beats (like the rules of the dungeon’s “System”) a little murky on first listen. That said, the friend group’s dynamics are *electric*—their bickering feels earned, their loyalty tested in ways that go beyond “we’re friends because the plot says so.” By the time the final act hits, you’re as invested in their *craft* as their survival. If you’re hungry for fantasy that treats skills like *skills*—not just stat blocks—this is your next obsession.