Industrial Mage 2 audiobook review — a solid LitRPG sequel

Intro

Industrial Mage 2: A LitRPG Adventure is presented as an Audible audiobook with Eric Jason Martin credited as narrator and Aethon Audio as publisher. Owners who follow the series call this a satisfying second entry: the progression-driven LitRPG beats and engineering-focused worldbuilding keep fans engaged, while several listeners warn the sequel sometimes slows into long introspective or multi-POV stretches.

What it is / first look

Format and credits come straight from the listing: this is an Audible audiobook credited to Nectar (author), read by Eric Jason Martin, and published by Aethon Audio. The listing shows a discounted purchase option relative to its list price (the listing provides both a current price and a list price).

Beyond those basics the public product copy in the listing is sparse; there isn’t a plot summary or chapter list provided in the available listing fields, so this review leans on owner feedback for practical listening notes.

Who this is a good gift for

Make the match, not the guess. Below are the recipient types who are a good fit and the key assumption you should check before buying.

The LitRPG / progression fan

Why it fits: owner feedback repeatedly calls the book a solid LitRPG with clear progression mechanics and action-heavy sequences. Assumption to verify: the recipient enjoys progression-focused fantasy and serial storytelling (this is a sequel).

The reader who likes engineering/worldbuilding details

Why it fits: owners mention enjoyment of engineering terms and the protagonist’s creative problem-solving in the series, which suggests the world leans into practical, tech-like details. Assumption: the giftee appreciates worldbuilding that reads like applied tinkering rather than purely mystical exposition.

The audiobook listener who values a strong single narrator

Why it fits: the narrator’s performance earns praise from multiple listeners for being solid and engaging. Assumption: the recipient is comfortable with a single narrator handling all parts — some owners wished for a second reader for female voices.

The serial-reader who wants more of the series

Why it fits: owner enthusiasm centers on being hooked and wanting the next installment. Assumption: the recipient likes following series and waiting (or pre-ordering) the next book.

The casual gift for a friend who likes action fantasy

Why it fits: owners describe strong action beats and recommend it to anyone who likes action-forward fantasy. Assumption: the recipient won’t be put off by occasional long introspective passages or POV detours.

In daily use

Listening experience is the main “daily use” here. Owners say the narrator delivers an enjoyable single-voice performance and that the story has strong action and progression elements that keep momentum for many listeners. At the same time several owners call out places where the book slows: long internal monologues and frequent point-of-view shifts in battle-heavy sections prompt some listeners to skim or lose momentum.

For gifting this means the audiobook is likely to be enjoyed in commutes, workouts, or evening listening sessions — provided the recipient tolerates occasional pacing dips and multi-POV passages.

Materials & build quality

For an audiobook, “build” equals narration and production. The listing names Eric Jason Martin as narrator and Aethon Audio as publisher. Owner feedback praises the narrator’s solo performance overall but repeatedly notes that female voices are handled in a similar register, and some owners say they would have preferred a second reader to better distinguish female perspectives. There are no listing details on runtime, chapter layout, editing notes, or bonus material, so those production specifics should be checked on the current listing if they matter to your recipient.

Safety considerations

Physical safety issues don’t apply, but consider listening comfort and content pacing as the primary “safety” flags for a gift buyer. The pattern in owner feedback is clear: some extended battle scenes become heavy on introspection and viewpoint switches, which a listener can find fatiguing or lead to skimming. If the giftee prefers brisk, continuous action without repeated internal monologue, this might frustrate them.

Also note the narrator is single-voiced; owners who like distinct multi-voice audiobooks may feel certain characters blur together. Those are not production defects so much as stylistic fits to consider before gifting.

Who should skip it

• Anyone who dislikes LitRPG or progression-based fantasy — owners recommend it specifically to fans of those subgenres.
• Listeners who require multi-actor audiobooks — multiple owners wished for a partner to voice female parts rather than one narrator doing all roles.
• People who dislike repeated internal monologues and frequent POV switches during fight scenes — a common negative recurring in owner notes.
• Giftees who prefer physical books only — this is sold in Audible audiobook format per the listing.

Verdict

Buy for a LitRPG fan who likes progression, engineering-flavored worldbuilding, and a competent single-narrator performance. Owners report enjoyable action and clever problem-solving elements, and many are eagerly awaiting the next book. Maybe skip or at least check first if the recipient is sensitive to long introspective passages or expects a multi-voice audio performance.

Check before you buy

• Confirm the recipient enjoys LitRPG / progression-style fantasy (this is a sequel).
• Play the sample narration on the listing to verify the single narrator’s style fits the giftee.
• Verify the recipient is happy with an Audible audiobook format rather than a physical copy.
• If multi-voice audiobooks matter, check the listing credits — the narrator is Eric Jason Martin and the production is listed under Aethon Audio.

Colors / cover variants: the listing does not provide image filenames or colorway variants; no cover colorways are specified in the available listing data.