Rune Seeker 2 Audiobook – Rune Seeker, Book 2

There’s a particular thrill in listening to an audiobook like “Rune Seeker 2” on a misty, pre-dawn jog through my Portland neighborhood—the city quiet and the world around me still half-asleep, while Hiral and his companions dash desperately through dungeons and dying landscapes. As someone who lives for both adventure stories and the introspective moments that come with good fantasy, I found myself wholly absorbed by J.M. Clarke and C.J. Thompson’s exhilarating sequel.

What immediately struck me about this installment is how it seamlessly picks up after the heartbreak of book one, plunging us right into higher stakes without losing its emotional core. Hiral’s journey feels even more urgent now—not just because Fallen Reach is literally under threat from a plummeting sky-island (a concept as breathtaking as any painting I’ve seen), but also because he carries real wounds from past losses. His sense of responsibility and drive to become “overpowered”—and probably explode!—give the story both humor and heartache.

I relate deeply to characters who aren’t naturally heroic but are forced by circumstance to grow into their strength; it mirrors so much of what adulthood feels like sometimes: stumbling through unfamiliar terrain, wrestling with doubts, determined not to let others down even when you’re at your weakest. Hiral embodies this beautifully. The authors let him struggle openly—with grief for fallen friends, with moral choices about how far he’ll go for power—which makes his eventual triumphs feel well-earned rather than convenient.

The LitRPG elements are impressively handled in this sequel—they don’t overwhelm the narrative but instead enrich it, weaving mechanics like classes, skills, achievements, survival systems, even dungeon runs directly into Hiral’s evolution as both character and fighter. It gives every victory or setback a satisfying weight; stats matter here not just as numbers but as markers of growth earned through sweat (and sometimes blood). For fans of progression fantasy—and especially those who crave detailed systems without losing sight of plot or personality—this book nails the balance.

Narrator Ralph Lister brings another level of immersion that surprised me in all the best ways. His delivery has an energy perfectly suited to tense fight scenes yet shifts smoothly into softer tones when we get glimpses inside Hiral’s mind or those rare breathers between disasters. Lister handles different character voices distinctively without ever dipping into caricature—a big plus given the expanded cast since book one—and really draws out every ounce of suspense during critical moments.

If I have any criticisms, it would be that occasionally there’s so much action or so many system updates close together that quieter scenes risk feeling rushed—or maybe I just wanted more space to linger with these characters before they were swept onward again! Still, Clarke and Thompson’s pacing mostly hits that sweet spot between pulse-pounding urgency and reflective interludes.

What lingers most after finishing isn’t simply excitement over monsters vanquished or powers gained—it’s admiration for how thoughtfully these authors explore loss alongside hope; how Hiral keeps going despite everything stacked against him; how teamwork remains central amid epic chaos. That combination hooked me completely…and left me counting days until book three lands!

In short: whether you’re already invested in Rune Seeker or looking for your next great LitRPG listen—preferably somewhere you can gasp aloud at plot twists—I wholeheartedly recommend “Rune Seeker 2.” Just make sure your morning coffee is strong enough…because once you hit play on Ralph Lister’s narration, you won’t want to stop until dawn breaks.