A Hard Reset cover art

A Hard Reset

The System Integration Chronicles, Book 1

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A Hard Reset

By: Drew McGunn
Narrated by: Joshua David Palpallatoc
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About this listen

The world didn't end. It just leveled up in this epic LitRPG adventure.

Fourteen-year-old Caden Taylor was more worried about his grades than his stats. But that was before the universe hit the reset button. Now, the world he knew is gone, replaced by a new reality governed by a game-like System. With stats, skills, and quests, it's the ultimate Gamelit challenge where survival is the only goal.

When the timer hits zero, the world he knew is deleted. Monsters straight out of a nightmare now prowl his suburban neighborhood, and the chaos pulls his father, a game warden, into the heart of the storm.

Now, with only his ride-or-die best friend, Jayden, and Jayden's sharp-witted older sister, Hanna, at his side, Caden has to level up, pick a class, and learn the rules of this new System. Together, they begin the ultimate base-building challenge: turning their ruined neighborhood into a defensible fortress.

But as they fortify their settlement against goblins and other System-spawned monsters, they learn a hard truth: something truly massive is carving a path of destruction across the land. It’s an apocalyptic force that dwarfs any monster they've faced, and it's coming straight for them.

Experience the start of a new hit series perfect for fans of Tao Wong, Shirtaloon, and Zogarth. It’s a must-listen for anyone who loves action-packed stories with detailed game mechanics, a relatable main character, and a world where every single stat point matters.

©2025 Drew McGunn (P)2025 Drew McGunn
Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction Emotionally Gripping Fantasy Game LitRPG
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Listener received this title free

Loved the premise. can't wait to see what happens next! the world was developing nicely and the stats weren't overly done at all.

great new series

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Listener received this title free

Disclaimer: I recieved my copy of the book for free to review. In no way does that affect my opinion.

Characters: The MC and friends are primarily teenagers. That might sound off putting but they're written pretty well and, other than the incessant gamer references, they're quite likable. System: It's very hands off compared to other litrpg. There is levelling, stats, loot, and base building, but it's very much secondary to the story. I'm not a fan of that but others might appreciate the brevity. Story: Overall, the story is interesting, following the group struggling to survive when civilisation has collapsed. There's plenty of drama, comedy, teen angst, and even darkness to keep you interested. Performance: I definitely like the actor's performance, with each character sounding unique. They convey emotions with nuance and bring each character to life in a distinct way. Issues: The main issue for me is the editing and mastering of the audio. There's a lot of 'breathiness' at times, odd spacing between sentences, and the system voice is just SLOW. The breathiness in particular can become obnoxious, detracting from the listening experience. And, just to be clear, that is a mastering/editing issue; it's not a dig at the actor. The only issue I have with the story is - SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS - is the lack of reaction when the siblings don't find their mum at the hospital. It's almost outright forgotten and it's jarring - END OF SPOILERS END OF SPOILERS END OF SPOILERS - Overall: I'd recommend this if looking for an Earth-based, lightweight system, Story-focused, litrpg. The story is interesting, the characters likeable, and the pacing is well done.

Great story, average audio

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Listener received this title free

A Hard Reset is a classic LitRPG with a younger protagonist and a lighter system focus. The mechanics are there, but they don’t overwhelm the story, making it easy to follow even if you’re not deep into stat-heavy LitRPGs. What really stands out is the mix of fighting, village-building, and coming-of-age elements.

The narration is calm and clear, with clean language throughout, making this a good choice for background listening or long sessions. The setting has a very American flavour, with a strong emphasis on guns, which fits the tone but may not be for everyone.

Overall, it’s a solid 9/10 with decent re-listening potential enjoyable, steady, and a good start to a series I’d return to.

A calm LitRPG with strong worldbuilding

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Listener received this title free

being the first entry of the story I found the beginning to be slow as the characters found their footing. As the story progressed and the characters started to learn the system, which was a very interesting take compared to other litrpgs I've read, I found myself immersed in the story. I'm looking forward to what comes next in the series.

Slow start with great immersion

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"base" building YAY, wish it was a little more in focus but I understand it can get boring. likable characters, the story has no big 2 page tangent in the middle of a fight. now the bad. Narration, now I know this is down to taste but I like emotion in my narration but this narrator is monotone, and the system narration is terrible, i hear what he is going for but he does not make it, now I understand not every one can afford a top of the line studio but pleas edit out the coffe cups hitting the desk and weak voices in the background, while it's only 3-4 times I head it. story except for some repetition here and there it's not bad (written on a mobile phone)

rough around the edges but I enjoyed it very mutch

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