Excise (A Post-Apocalyptic LitRPG) Audiobook – Ether Collapse, Book 2

One rainy afternoon in Portland, with thunder rumbling faintly through the windowpanes, I found myself reaching for a different kind of escape—one that offered both adrenaline and intrigue. That’s how I stumbled into Ryan DeBruyn’s Excise (A Post-Apocalyptic LitRPG), headphones firmly in place as outside, the world seemed to mirror the chaos within the story. From those first charged moments, when Rockland Barkclay confronts mutated beasts and shifting reality, I was hooked—pulled not just into another apocalypse but one tinged with unpredictable magic and game-like rules.

As someone who adores audiobooks for their ability to immerse me fully while my hands are busy or my mind needs to wander beyond daily life, Excise quickly satisfied both my curiosity and love for narrative risk-taking. What stood out most is DeBruyn’s deft blending of post-apocalyptic grit with exhilarating LitRPG mechanics: skill levels tick upward; new abilities unlock just as all seems lost; decisions feel weighty, alive with consequence. This felt less like passively listening to a novel and more like being part of a vast—and dangerous—role-playing game.

Rockland himself is an unexpectedly complex protagonist: battered but never broken by relentless trials, haunted by trauma yet driven by hope—not only for his own survival but also for those he leads. The psychological toll of watching civilization unravel is palpable throughout; having faced periods of personal upheaval myself (though thankfully far removed from monster-infested ruins), I resonated deeply with his resilience and the moments where despair threatens to win out over determination.

DeBruyn deserves real credit for his world-building here. Everything feels meticulously designed—from ever-shifting power structures down to resource scarcity and even the haunting emergence of Atlantean conspiracies—which keeps each chapter fresh without overwhelming the reader (or listener). As a teacher who loves introducing students to layered stories where every detail matters, I appreciated how Excise rewards close attention while still keeping action at its forefront.

Unfortunately, information on the narrator remains elusive—a rare letdown since so much rides on their delivery in audiobooks—but whoever brought this story to life did so admirably well. Characters’ voices were distinct enough that dialogue never became confusing during complex scenes or tense standoffs. There’s genuine urgency in moments of crisis, counterbalanced by quieter introspection when our hero must process grief or strategize anew.

Were there parts that fell short? At times the sheer density of system messages—the classic trappings of LitRPG—momentarily slowed momentum or distracted from emotional beats. Still, fans hungry for crunchy RPG logic will be thrilled rather than daunted. For me personally, it was easy enough to forgive once major plot developments regained center stage.

What lingers after finishing Excise isn’t just memories of battle scenes or intricate quests—it’s a fascination with how people adapt under pressure: what skills we uncover when pushed beyond limits; whether community can flourish even amidst devastation; how hope persists despite near-constant loss. If you’re searching for an audiobook that challenges assumptions about strength while sweeping you along on waves of adventure (and perhaps leaving you glancing nervously at your surroundings afterward!), this one is well worth your time.