A Starbrite Man: A Cyberpunk LitRPG Audiobook By Warby Picus cover art

A Starbrite Man: A Cyberpunk LitRPG

Slumrat Rising, Book 1

Preview

$0.00 for first 30 days

Try for $0.00
Access a growing selection of included Audible Originals, audiobooks, and podcasts.
You will get an email reminder before your trial ends.
Audible Plus auto-renews for $7.95/mo after 30 days. Upgrade or cancel anytime.

A Starbrite Man: A Cyberpunk LitRPG

By: Warby Picus
Narrated by: Todd Haberkorn
Try for $0.00

$7.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $33.90

Buy for $33.90

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use, License, and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

In a magical dystopia, one young man would sell his soul to save his siblings—and the Starbrite Corporation is buying—in this all-too-real urban fantasy.

Seventeen-year-old Truth Medici scavenges for scraps to eat; weathers his parents' abuse; and battles derelicts, killer pimps, and demons in the soul-crushing stretch of desperation he calls home. Even the cops steer clear of the toxic Harban slums.

But just across the canal live the magical elite, with their wealth, flying carpets, gorgeous mages, and custom spell beasts, all thanks to the patronage of the almighty Starbrite Corporation. Getting there, and taking his three vulnerable siblings with him, is Truth's only dream.

When Truth's performance on the Starbrite Aptitude Test surpasses all expectations, it's the start of a new life. Granted use of the System Astrologica, his access to spells, cultivation tonics, and knowledge—not to mention real food—is limitless. But in Harban, even dreams come with a price tag . . .

Turns out, something more than power has been implanted in Truth. Something beyond his control. As the motto goes, "A Starbrite Man Is Always Ready." But for what? Truth is about to find out. Because he's not just fighting to break free from the slums and save himself and his sibs anymore. Now he's fighting the world itself.

The first volume of the hit cyberpunk fantasy series—with more than 900,000 views on Royal Road—now available on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and Audible!

©2023 Warby Picus (P)2023 Podium Audio
Adventure Cyberpunk Dystopian Fantasy Hard Science Fiction Paranormal & Urban Science Fiction Urban
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro805_stickypopup
Unique Genre Blend • Compelling Worldbuilding • Exceptional Narrator • Dark Humor • Creative Writing • Emotional Range
Highly rated for:
All stars
Most relevant  
This is a hidden gem for sure. I whole heartedly recommend anyone who is a fan of this genre to give it a whirl because it’s unique fresh take on a niche genre of fantasy. This book was brilliant and narrated phenomenally as well. Only downside is lack of description.

Inspiringly original and downright prophetic

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

you know it, clap your hands, if you're a murder hobo and you know it, clap your hands, if you're a murder hobo and you know it, then your headspace will woe it...

Warby Picus is a creative writer and this noir cyberpunk novel highlights that fact extremely well. There's no getting around that the MC is mentally unstable and "the system" exploited that fault to drive him into a one-dimensional killing machine, all the while convincing him he was helping his siblings. The author, along with an equally excellent performance by Todd Haberkorn work to keep the story compelling and, odd as it may seem, hilarious at times. The MC seems to be a mash-up between Halo's Master Chief and Kurt Russell in the 1998 movie Soldier.

What is really interesting is that the MC, for all the wrongs he committed, comes across as a tortured soul. One who can't be forgiven his past murders - as he, himself, accepts - one is left with a sense of pity for how he was exploited.

Looking forward to book 2.

If you're a murder hobo and ...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This book was really just a prelude IMO, because nothing is explained (mainly because the main character is slum rat that doesn’t know much) and the story starts in chapter 47. I really wasn’t in the mood for a LitRPG when I started but the Narrator did SUCH an amazing job and had a huge range of voices that I wouldn’t stop. I did have to rewind a bunch of times because I kept getting lost, I kept hearing the narrator change a voice but couldn’t understand why. It would’ve been nice to understand certain things sooner and I’m still lost as to how the world actually works but hopefully that’s taken care of in the second book.

Top notch narration

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Very compelling world building, dystopian sci-fi world, the combat system is magic but with a sci-fi twist.
My only complaint the dialogue between MC and system was really cringe worthy at some point. I Am So Glad that was a plot point and temporarily, not sure if I can go through a whole series if that was the conversation style.

Great world building

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Crummy parents crummy life looks after the siblings keep going achieves his dream. A life blows up again and he’s got a crawl out well this time at least he’s not alone.

The underdog makes it

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Absolutely. Down-to-earth, dirty dark humor main character has no true social skills or intelligence. He's got love for his siblings and a whole lot of kick a$$

A whole lot of something

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Very well written and well narrated. Totally original world and story. I was drawn in and kept interested from page one to the end. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of urban fantasy/ LitRPG. However, this is not cyberpunk. All technology is magic based, that's fantasy, not cyberpunk. Again, it's a very good book, just be aware that the title is misleading.

Not cyberpunk, but good

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I think this book has a lot of neat ideas, and the style is super weird but ends up being kind of funny

Weird but good

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Well narrated, Todd is great and how he portrays the story! Great story! I'll be wait for the next book!

The way Todd narrates the story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This is the first time hearing this narrator and I am amazed by his talent! Effort and diverse voices, mixed with believable emotional range. I will be watching his works from now on. Now the story is dark and an emotional roller coaster from start. I had to take some breaks every now and then. I enjoyed the mix of cyberpunk magitech mixed with high fantasy voodoo shamanism, the author mixes and matches different genres and timepieces to create this dystopian universe. The mix of litrpg/progression fantasy and cultivation is a very welcome addition. It is not without fault though, the transitions from scene to scene sometimes is jarring. Lack of description about the environment or the situation causes confusion. Overall I love the book, give it a try. To the author, please don't give him too much of a conscience. I love how realistic and gritty the universe is in terms of how people are really. It is a bleak world where power is everything. I hope he doesn't go full lawful good. I really do hate morality talk when I want the mc to be badass.

Dark and gritty! Superb!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews