K.J. Simmill's Blog, page 47

Book review: J.A. Hunter’s Viridian Gate online: Cataclysm

It was the end of the world, and those who didn’t win the survivor lotto were given an [image error]option, a 100% fatality or an 88.3% chance of surviving by uploading themselves into Viridian Gate Online. Of course to do this, you had to have the gear, fortunately for Jack he had been given the full immersion pod. Jack, a former EMT, decides to roll the dice. with great care he creates his character, adding minimal tweaks and preparing himself for this new life, hoping he is not the one in six who don’t make the transition. What he discovers is a gaming world beyond belief, more real than any he has played. He is overwhelmed by the sights and sounds, and the impact of his choices. This game is now his life and he must play it carefully. But something else is afoot, his IRL friend, the one who sent him the pod, has discovered a darker secret hidden within the coding, just borderline on what the AI beings running the game would detect as cheating. It seems there’s more to this than first meets the eye, after all, for those of means, perhaps simply living is not enough. Those accustomed to a certain lifestyle will want to keep it, and the game designers have found a way to reward its investors. Things don’t bode well for the common folk. Jack must find a way to survive, to beat the system, before it beats him.

By now, I can honestly state I am a fan of litRPG, it’s a genre I haven’t really explored until recently, and several books in I am asking myself why I didn’t start reading them sooner. I can certainly add, Viridian Gate online: Cataclysm, into one of the deciding factors. This book is really well written, the gamers will find familiar mechanics and a great transition from IRL to in game, and fantasy fans are rewarded with great world building, deep characters, and an engrossing plot. For me this book ticks all the boxes for being a good read. It’s one of those books that, once you start, you don’t want to put down. I’ve already added the next instalment to my KU library and I can’t wait to see where J.A. Hunter takes me next. 

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Book review: Peter Meredith’s Infinite Reality: Daggerland Online Novel 1 (@petermeredith01 )

Roan had never been much of a gamer, in fact, he’d never been a gamer at all. He was [image error]quite happy grounded in reality, that was, until his work with the FBI forced him to hook up and join the popular gaming realm of Daggerland. The FBI had been called to investigate a series of suspicious deaths, it almost appeared as if someone was using the game to manipulate the actions of people in the real world, something that was meant to be impossible. With no clues to follow in the real world, Roan and his team are recruited to partake in the first ever online investigation. Out numbered, under-resourced, and with no idea where to start they must learn to use the game, and its people, NPC and player alike, to their advantage, and for Roan, it is one heck of a learning curve. Infinite Reality is the most popular game in the world, and he is nothing but a noob amidst a sea of experienced players, yet it is his sworn duty to track down and stop the person who created the very world he finds himself within.

The gamer in me loved this book, as did the fantasy fan and reader. There are enough gaming elements to make you smile, and enough fantasy adventure to sate even the most avid fans of the genre. It took a short while for the characters to grow on me, but as the book progressed I was really rooting for them. I enjoyed watching how each of the characters changed and grew, from the adapting relationships to the change in perspectives. The game mechanics were well considered, as were the attitudes of many of the players. Roan’s initial reluctance to a proper character creation made me chuckle, I know a few people who been guilty of skipping everything only to find themselves unhappy with a character, unfamiliar with the game, and needing to head back to the tutorial. He makes a brilliant reluctant gamer, and the growth and adaption seems as he begins to lose himself in the game is well transitioned. As a reader you’ll have no problem slipping into the world created, and visualising its every detail. I’m certainly considering picking up number two in the near future.

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Book review: Madge H. Gressley’s Inescapable ~ The Beginning (@mgressley1 )

Darcey had found the man of her dreams in Brad. He lit a fire in her like no one else [image error]could. But Lily’s appearance In their life had marked trouble. Darcey knew very little about his job, only that it was ‘classified’. When he tells her he once more has to return to sort out some trouble, she knew from his expression there was more to it than that, and she was worried. It seemed her instincts had been right on the mark, Brad goes missing, and she moves mountains in an attempt to track him down, unaware that she is playing directly into the enemies’ hands. After a horrific traffic accident, being kidnapped, and drugged, her mind shuts down, robbing her of all memories. The only thing she knows for sure, she’s being held against her will. Can she find the strength to escape, will she uncover her forgotten memories, can Brad find her before a fate worse than amnesia befalls her? Unravel the mystery in Madge H. Gressley’s Inescapable ~ The Beginning.

Mystery fans, and those who enjoy a good tale of intrigue will certainly find Madge H. Gressley’s, Inescapable ~ The Beginning, ticks a lot of their boxes. There is some great character development, complex relationships, betrayal, hope, devastation, suspicion, a hint of honour among ‘thieves’, and romance, all creating a starting a foundation for the next book in the series. Inescapable ~ The Beginning is a good first book with plenty to  keep a reader entertained, you’ll be drawn into the plot,  and find yourself rooting for the characters and watching their relationships change and grow shaped by their experiences. There are parts of this book, and the interactions between the characters that feel very real, and thus create a good atmosphere an enjoyable read that will make many readers want  to pick up the second book.

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Book review: Anthea Sharp’s Spark: Feyguard Book 1

Spark Jaxley was a professional gamer, and boy did she draw in the crowds. With the [image error]upcoming release of FullD and the awesome game Feyland, her schedule was more hectic than ever. The last thing she needed was to cross paths with a Hacker, intent of finding the cheats and selling them before the game was released. Feyland had a secret, it was interfaced with the real land of the fey. So strong was the foundation of the game that it had once drawn beings form that realm through, and a crack remained, with one perfect exploit the barrier separating the game world and the Dark Court could be torn asunder, and who better to find such a cheat than a hacker? Aran did not know what he was getting himself into, and Spark’s attachment to the gaming world goes deeper than any would imagine, she is part of the Feyguard, an elite force of seven charged with returning those mortals who stray to far into the game and end up in a place they should not tread, and now she must risk her life to pull him back to their world, before the fey can utilise his skills to their advantage.

This is a brilliant read. Whilst it is book one in the series Anthea Sharp does an excellent job in creating epic events that preceding the story, without having to actually recap. A nice touch which adds depth and reality to the characters. As a gamer myself I loved in in game applications, the skills, and abilities possessed within Feyland. There had clearly gone a lot of thought into how best to write parts of a game as a book, something which if often lost in transition, but not here. As a reader you will find yourself turning page after page watching the growing relationships, the friendships, companionships, even the adversaries, all developing and escalating. Spark is a brilliant female lead, and is well supported by Aran as a secondary character. Great storytelling, with a fun enjoyable plot.

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Book review: Robert E Kreig’s The Huntress of Woodmyst, (@robertekreig )

Alice was the very image of her father, from her looks, to her heart. She had even taken [image error]his old sword and learnt from the blacksmith in order to melt it down and make something more suitable for her to wield. Recently her thoughts had turned to concern, her home was expanding, the forest was shrinking, and soon she worried the trees would be gone. There was one tree, however, she would protect, the one standing in the place the Great Hall had been. It was here she felt closest to her father. Even though she had yet to turn thirteen she possessed exceptional skills, and the more people begin to notice her difference the more they begin to fear. Some fed this fear, while others attempted to assure them that her heart is for her people. Some amongst Woodmyst respected her more than any member of their council. But it was impossible to hide the animosity, they wanted her dead, but would settle for exile given that she was likely to leave without any persuasion. Little did they know an ancient enemy had returned, and Alice is their best, perhaps only, hope of survival. Even if her skills do surpass their own army, can a young girl really protect them from what is coming? Find out in Robert E Kreig’s The Huntress of Woodmyst, The Woodmyst Chronicles: Book V.

From her kinship with animals to her skills with hunting, forging, and leather making Alice will not fail to surprise you. I loved her character, and found her skills and development enjoyable to witness. Robert E Kreig writes an action packed adventure, filled to the brim with conflict, battle, survival, and surprising allies. The Huntress of Woodmyst is book five in The Woodmyst Chronicles, and yet it flowed seamlessly, and at no point did I feel the need to have read the other books to understand events. There’s a good sense of world building, complete with feuds, legends, and myths, and a very realistic cast of characters who act and respond appropriately. Their attitudes and actions serve to add depth, and whilst you’ll find yourself frustrated with choices made you’ll also understand them. This character-driven story will keep you on the edge of your seat as Alice faces overwhelming odds.

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Book review: Darren Hultberg Jr’s Realmbound

Dark, terrifying, horned demons emerged the world over on the day the world ended. But these seemingly [image error]invulnerable creatures were different to the other monsters that appeared, they didn’t hunt just any running flesh, they hunted those of power, politicians, figureheads, leaders, so why had one pursued Rian. He was nothing special, an eighteen year old grocery store clerk with no idea what he was going to do with his life. With some help he managed to escape, but when he awoke he no longer recognised his home. Six months had passed, and the world was in ruin. Those who survived did so in groups, finding a new place in this strange world. Reunited with his roommate and best friend, Angelo, Rian discovers what had befell the world, but he also brought danger to their door. Rian Asher no longer needs to ask what to do with his life, he is already being guided to his destiny. He is the last hope, the one who will stand against the beasts in an attempt to drive the evil forces back.

Well paced and carefully considered in order to weave a well designed plot. As a gamer there were certain parts of this that really appealed to me, and I enjoyed how the truth behind things are implied before being told allowing me to piece together the information given to create my own conclusions into the How’s and whys of things before the truth is revealed. A fun read for fans tasty lovers and gamers alike.

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Book review : C. A. Pack’s Fourth Chronicles of Illumination

The Library of Illumination is in danger. Knowledge is power, and with each one having [image error]their own diversity there is a danger of one becoming supreme. Why should they not all be the same when uniformity would answer questions with one decisive stroke, and how can this uniformity be brought about? The answer is simple, to destroy them all but one . And someone plans to do just that. War is coming, a war that will decide the fate and wisdom allowed to be retained in all the realms, and it falls to Johanna to intervene, but she has her own problems, whisked away and imprisoned by the Terrorians she must first find a way to free herself and her unexpected allies. Will the realms lose all they fought to protect, or can those on the side of wisdom and freedom of information prevail against astounding odds? Find out in C. A. Pack’s Fourth Chronicles of Illumination, The Third Book of the Knowledge is Power Trilogy (Library of Illumination 9) .

Within the pages of Fourth Chronicles of Illumination you will find an enormous universe filled with different species, cultures, understandings, technology, advancements, and beliefs. Certainly an impressive undertaking which C.A. Pack does not shy away from. The complex design of the work is a testament to the sheer amount of time and consideration that would have gone in to its production. Wars and battles, alliances and prejudices, this book has everything you would find in the real world, but on a monumental scale. Good and bad, it is there for you to discover. As the third book in the Knowledge is Power Trilogy, during the first part I felt I would have benefitted from have read the preceding books, the plot does come into its own to a level you can almost forget others came before it. Some of the characters have a very distinctive style of dialogue, some of which would draw similarities to popular movies in the science fiction genre, but whilst dialect is similar, the individual characters are in themselves unique. This is a massive adventure, with lots to be take in, possibly the kind of book you’d want to read more than once to get a full appreciation for everything that happens. Characters develop nicely and relationships change, as would be expected. This book was a good read, and I am curious to know all the details that led to the current predicament. If you like science fiction which has some great depth then you’ll find Fourth Chronicles of Illumination has a lot to offer.

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Book review: The Last City (THE COLONY Book 2) by Roslyn M Gilmour (@RMGilmour )

Lydia knew there was something important she should remember. Her I don’t kept [image error]returning in to it over and over again, yet each time it slipped her recollection. Her world was nothing more than a painted dream, but she couldn’t help but wonder what their home had been before they had altered it, what lay beneath the layers, or beyond the sky shield. The more she wonders the more questions she has about these lands and its people. She finds herself immersed in history, thinking she would learn to better understand her surroundings, but instead she learns of a threat, one which could mean the end of all. War was coming, and it threatened to destroy everything.  What will it take to survive, and can Lydia do what would be needed? Find out in Roslyn M Gilmour’s  The Last City (The Colony book 2)

Loyalties are questioned and doubts force a wedge between even the strongest of allies. Schemes, deception, and betrayal make up but a fraction of an intricate plot. The first person narrative style of Roslyn M Gilmour really lets you get a feel for Lydia, and through her interactions you witness the bonds of friendship and the sting of betrayal. There’s a good balance between description and allowing the reader’s mind to fill in the gaps, as well as an array of ‘technologies’ that would satisfy many lovers of science fiction. The Last City is the second book in The Colony series, and while I feel I would have benefitted from reading the first book initially, the author does touch upon the important events that had been missed if you’d not read the first.

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Book review: Headshot: One in the Gut by Matthew Siege

Ryan had always been a gamer, he had tried so many AR games, but none of them had [image error]been quite like Headshot. It was free to play, if you were willing to play a zombie that is. Who better to provide sport and populate the world with zombies than the ‘mindless masses’? The name of the game was to make it to the end of the week, taking down as many Survivors as you could. Death meant you couldn’t log in again until the servers reset, and each week you started right back at level one. The Survivors were those with money, the privileged few who could afford the enormous annual fee. Ryan had played the Beta, but now the game had gone live there was a whole new side to the game. He had always heard that this style of gaming was addictive, but there was more to this than an obsession, yes he wanted to win, to show there was a way to ‘win’ if you didn’t pay, but something else was happening, and it seemed he was central to it all, whether he wanted to be or not.

I have no shame in openly admitting that I really loved this book. Written in a very immersive first person narrative you get all the problems of being a zombie, but from the perspective of a human, travelling the post-apocalyptic game world and unlocking new features of the game. The gamer in me loved it, as did the reader. You don’t have to like LITrpgs to enjoy this book, it’s easily one of the better zombie based books I have read. Dare I say it, an epic drop!

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Book review: Shadowfest by D.J. Reid

An old woman was seen fleeing the scene following the murder of a temple guard, and [image error]soon fingers are pointing towards Brona, the old apothecary. There is a great divide between those who can wield magic, and those who cannot, and the murder has caused great unrest, especially given the approach of Shadowfest. The timing of  this murder  seems a little suspect, and whispers of the return of a long dead killer echo through the silent corridors. But it has been a long time since evil forces breached the wall, but when the view between worlds is attacked its thinnest anything can happen, especially if it is all in the design of a being seeking their own darkest desires. Join the adventure in D.J. Reid’s Shadowfest, and see if agendas can be set aside in order to prevent the worst possible outcome.

Shadowfest is written in alternating first person and third person perspectives focusing on the characters central to the plot, clear headings make it easy to follow whose perspective you are reading, and with subtle differences in style between each one you really start to get a feel for the individual personalities of the characters. As a tale of magic and betrayal with some good attention to culture, world building, and magical application D.J. Reid  crafts a book that will appeal to fantasy fans. There is some beautiful descriptive, scene setting writing in places that really give you a feel for what is occurring and the environment. The steady pace gains a steady momentum, and in a story with dark forces, prejudices, suspicion and dark happenings afoot this servers to draw the reader deeper into the finely woven tale.

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