What do you think?
Rate this book
DungeonCrawl #2
Patch Day
Gamer Elijah Burrows has rather seamlessly taken over the life of his game character, Elian Surgis, in the world of Timiria. Alongside his lover, the lupine mage Sarin Eckhert, Elijah leads survivors of Sarin's mystical order through the wilds of the province of Tasmorum. They manage to stay just one step ahead of Timiria's monarch, King Mirov, who seeks to destroy every magic-wielding soul connected to the Labyrinthine Order.
From encounters with a mysterious group of traders on the road, to a revelation of epic proportions, it's a miracle Elijah has any time to explore his relationship with Sarin. Then Fate throws a wrench into the mix: the appearance of another "traveler" -- another gamer stuck in the game world Elijah now calls home. But this particular gamer has ulterior motives that have nothing to do with the Order's survival.
From encounters with a mysterious group of traders on the road, to a revelation of epic proportions, it's a miracle Elijah has any time to explore his relationship with Sarin. Then Fate throws a wrench into the mix: the appearance of another "traveler" -- another gamer stuck in the game world Elijah now calls home. But this particular gamer has ulterior motives that have nothing to do with the Order's survival.
39 pages, ebook
First published May 23, 2014
About the author
Mychael Black
339 books114 followersFormerly known as Kay Derwydd
Myc has been writing professionally since 2005, solo and with Shayne Carmichael. Genres include pretty much anything (no steampunk yet), though Myc is well known for paranormal stories. When not writing, Myc is usually playing PC games, reading, editing, watching movies and shows on Netflix and Amazon, or spending way too much time on Facebook.
Myc has been writing professionally since 2005, solo and with Shayne Carmichael. Genres include pretty much anything (no steampunk yet), though Myc is well known for paranormal stories. When not writing, Myc is usually playing PC games, reading, editing, watching movies and shows on Netflix and Amazon, or spending way too much time on Facebook.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 21, 2016
This second installment of Elijah’s journey into the world of DungeonCrawl, a computer-based adventure game here on Earth, was as much fun as the first. And once the initial shock and amazement about what happened is over, Elijah now gets fully immersed into the details of the “game” that is no longer a game for him but his new reality. The seemingly clear plot deepens, a few twists and turns begin to happen, and, as usual with a series of shorter stories like this, everything ends on a mini-cliffhanger that has me eagerly hoping the next volume will be released soon.
Elijah is beginning to think that his “real life” is not all that interesting and worthwhile. Timiria offers him a lot more excitement, a very skilled lover, and a task that, if completed, will truly change everything for people he already cares more about than many of the ones he left behind. The game character whose life Elijah took over, so to speak, when he entered this world, was a well-known and notorious thief of books and jewels. Now Elijah is beginning to put his skills to better use…
Sarin is amazingly patient with Elijah being somewhat different in temperament from Elian, then again, according to him there are more similarities than differences. Sarin is a talented mage as well as a lycan, and his help is very much needed in this installment as he and Elijah begin to figure out who is on whose side, what the villain’s real objective is, and who else needs to be involved in their fight. Actually, there is a major revelation what the fight is really all about—which is quite a surprise!
If you’re into gaming and want to know what happens when a gamer suddenly comes to life inside his game, if you’d like to see a gay hero battle seemingly overpowering odds, and if you’re looking for a read that is a cute combination of action and a blossoming love story, then you will probably enjoy this short story.
NOTE: This book was provided by Changeling Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Elijah is beginning to think that his “real life” is not all that interesting and worthwhile. Timiria offers him a lot more excitement, a very skilled lover, and a task that, if completed, will truly change everything for people he already cares more about than many of the ones he left behind. The game character whose life Elijah took over, so to speak, when he entered this world, was a well-known and notorious thief of books and jewels. Now Elijah is beginning to put his skills to better use…
Sarin is amazingly patient with Elijah being somewhat different in temperament from Elian, then again, according to him there are more similarities than differences. Sarin is a talented mage as well as a lycan, and his help is very much needed in this installment as he and Elijah begin to figure out who is on whose side, what the villain’s real objective is, and who else needs to be involved in their fight. Actually, there is a major revelation what the fight is really all about—which is quite a surprise!
If you’re into gaming and want to know what happens when a gamer suddenly comes to life inside his game, if you’d like to see a gay hero battle seemingly overpowering odds, and if you’re looking for a read that is a cute combination of action and a blossoming love story, then you will probably enjoy this short story.
NOTE: This book was provided by Changeling Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
June 7, 2014
I received my copy from Love Romances and More and rated it 3+ stars.
Dungeon Crawl is probably best described as a serial novel and as such should be read from the start. I would strongly advise against reading ‘Patch Day’ if you haven’t read ‘Loading, Please Wait’ yet.
Elijah Burrows has very quickly settled into his new life in Timiria. The world that up until recently only existed in his game console is now his reality and he is more at home here than he has been in his ‘real’ life for a long time. That’s not to say life as Elian Surgis is easy. Under threat from King Mirov’s army and assassins, Elijah has to rely on skills he barely knew he had in order to keep the people travelling with him as well as himself and the man he is starting to love, safe.
At the same time, his relationship with Sarin, a Lycan as well as a mage, is anything Elijah could have dreamed up and than some. With danger lurking around every corner and other ‘travellers’ working for the king who would destroy Sarin and all other mages, it is a miracle the two men have time to grow the relationship between them.
I’m enjoying this story. I like the concept – a man ending up inside his favourite game – and the way the author applies it. The story is well written and very easy to read. I also enjoyed the lighter moments in this story such as the reaction of some characters to Elijah’s ‘other world’ language and Elijah’s reflection on food:
“Though he had to admit, fresh, fire-roasted rabbit tasted a hell of a lot better than boxed macaroni and cheese.”
While there is a lot happening in relatively few pages, there is time for more tender and sexy moments as well. In fact, I think the balance between action and intimacy was just about spot on in this instalment.
“Sometimes, Sarin said. Words aren’t needed.”
Having said that, I do think publishing this story in instalments has one real down-side. Certain elements have to be present in each short novella in order to keep the reader fully in the story. The format means that scenes feel rushed at times. I would have like more detailed and longer descriptions as well as more time to settle into a scene before the next one starts.
Mind you, I am now rather fascinated with Elijah, Sarin and the world they’re trying to save and want to know what is going to happen next. I may wait until the full story is available before reading on though, provided I can keep my curiosity under control.
June 7, 2014
This is the second installment in what can best be described as a serial novel and should not be read out of sequence.
This is a well written and interesting story. The world the story is set in as well as the characters inhabiting it are slowly but steadily coming alive before my eyes. And I'm very curious to find out how this tale is going to unfold.
Having said that, I think I would enjoy this reading experience more if I could read the whole book in one go rather than fragmented as I'm doing now.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews