Audiobook Review: Bookworm to Badass by Dustin Tigner, Narrated by Reba Buhr

Bookworm to Badass by Dustin Tigner, audiobook narrated by Reba Buhr, is part of a new GameLit series. Sarah snuffed it, expired, breathed her last breath—also known as died, if you need it spelled out—in the most unlikely of places, the library. But do not fret! This is perfectly normal. What is not normal, however, is the persistence of one’s soul after shuffling off this mortal coil. To break the Cycle is strange and wrong and perverse. It goes against the very nature of existence: lives must eventually be recycled (responsibly). Lucky or unlucky, Sarah finds herself Cycle-broken and very much alive, depending on how strict you wish to be with that definition. Turns out, heaven has a return policy better than Costco. And souls are terribly expensive. So if Sarah doesn’t win some forthcoming contests, she is to be flushed back to the Primordial Sea of Souls, back to the Cycle to eventually be reincarnated as whatever the RNG gods have in store for her. A slug, most likely. Join Sarah on her crazy and hilarious adventure into a new fantasy world, where she learns to swear, kill cute monsters, and fight for her survival.

Bookworm to Badass is the start of Sarah's story, and what a start. Having read, or listened to Wrong Divinity (same world, related but not yet reliant on each other) first I knew that Sarah would survive and that she would figure out life as a vampire going into this story. However, I thought Sarah was a charming and, at least for me, very relatable character. I felt bad for her, and angry for her in turn. There were some moments that had me physically reacting, clenching my jaw and getting stressed, when big things were happening. There were some serious twists, and some secondary characters that I kind of what to go back to and see if there is another layer to their story and what might happen to them next. Honestly, I am still trying to figure out what the long game for the gods and mad queen of this world are playing at. I am deeply invested in the larger story line, and cannot wait to see what happens next with Sarah, and how the bigger picture might come together.

Bookworm to Badass is an engaging and entertaining read. I cannot wait to see how this and the Wrong Divinity series come together, because I am sure they will (again).