What do you think?
Rate this book
The Cursed Codex
Fantasy roleplayers often get deep into their games, but thirteen-year-old Keith Croft is about to take it to a new level.
He’s been invisible for seven years, smart but not working hard, athletic enough, but too lazy to excel. His parents are sorta cool, but only two weeks into his eighth-grade year, his friends are all busy with sports or projects and can’t hang out. On the way home one day, he stops at a neighbor’s yard sale and discovers a book for Crypts & Creepers that the lonely old woman says belonged to her granddaughter who disappeared a long time ago.
Days after he convinces his friends to try this bizarre game that doesn’t require electronics, strange noises in his closet wake him. His increasing inability to focus on anything other than the girl who vanished before he was born―and his obsession with her NPC ranger―drives him to dig deeper into the past, searching for the answer to what really happened.
By the time he realizes the Gamemaster’s Codex holds something darker than rules within its pages, the curse that claimed the soul of a girl in 1987 has its claws in him. When the kids find themselves trapped inside the game world, Keith vows his friends will escape―even if he can’t.
He’s been invisible for seven years, smart but not working hard, athletic enough, but too lazy to excel. His parents are sorta cool, but only two weeks into his eighth-grade year, his friends are all busy with sports or projects and can’t hang out. On the way home one day, he stops at a neighbor’s yard sale and discovers a book for Crypts & Creepers that the lonely old woman says belonged to her granddaughter who disappeared a long time ago.
Days after he convinces his friends to try this bizarre game that doesn’t require electronics, strange noises in his closet wake him. His increasing inability to focus on anything other than the girl who vanished before he was born―and his obsession with her NPC ranger―drives him to dig deeper into the past, searching for the answer to what really happened.
By the time he realizes the Gamemaster’s Codex holds something darker than rules within its pages, the curse that claimed the soul of a girl in 1987 has its claws in him. When the kids find themselves trapped inside the game world, Keith vows his friends will escape―even if he can’t.
312 pages, Paperback
First published November 27, 2018
About the author
Matthew S. Cox
501 books266 followersBorn in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 18, 2019
Treating both childhood and roleplaying games with seriousness while remaining aware of their more absurd aspects, Cox creates a fantasy tale that is accessible to younger readers without sacrificing the tension and complexity more mature readers seek.
Thirteen-year-old Keith Croft has been invisible for his entire school life: not a brainiac; not a jock; not an arts kid; not a dropout; good enough not to fail, but too lazy to excel. The only thing that does motivate him to act is people bullying Tira, his friend’s sister. Until he finds a copy of the Crypts & Creepers Gamemaster book at a yard sale. The sudden strong interest that motivated his purchase quickly becomes almost an obsession with both playing the game and with the mysterious disappearance of Sarah, the girl who owned it previously. So much so, he dreams about her attempts to escape from an unspeakable horror—at least, he hopes they’re just dreams.
After an introduction to Keith’s life and friends, the book divides into three interwoven narratives: Keith’s daily life, Keith’s dreams of a fantasy realm, and the ongoing Crypts & Creepers game he runs for his friends.
This third narrative is told from the point of view of the characters in the game as if events were real, but it features multiple breaches of the fourth wall such as events rewinding and playing out differently or creatures suddenly appearing, each presaged by arguing of ethereal voices or the clatter of huge objects. While readers are aware that it is the game, Cox consistently describes these interjections as if they were being experienced by real and sympathetic people, preventing the objective fact that it is a game from deflating the tension.
Where the interjections might affect immersion is in their frequency: true to the tropes of LitRPG, Cox provides plentiful evidence that it is a game; plentiful enough that readers who both got it at the first mention and aren’t enthralled by all the jokes might find the initial density of similar interjections distracts them from the story. However, the interjections soon become less frequent and more diverse, making this—at worst—a transitory issue.
As in many of Cox’s other works, there is a strong thread of humour: both character and world based. In this case, this is a mix of things thirteen-year-olds find immensely funny, things thirteen-year-olds do that appear immensely funny to observers, and things roleplayers find amusing. Although this does include a quantity of jokes based around the intersection of bodily functions and magic, the humour is nuanced and varied enough that it offers equal entertainment to those who have no interest in multiple variations of ‘summon poisonous cloud’.
Cox’s portrayal of thirteen-year-olds—and the younger Tira—will similarly both immediately resonate with readers of a similar age and sustain the interest and sympathy of more mature readers.
The skilful mix of humour, accurate portrayal of the cusp between child and teenager, and broad accessibility is perhaps best indicated by the romance arc: Keith’s focus on Sarah has the consuming intensity and uncertainty of first love, but the grand imaginings of being her hero that can seem overblown to mature readers are undercut by Cox’s subtle reminder that—in this case—he might genuinely have to rescue her from vast danger.
Keith is a well-crafted protagonist: his initial lack of success is paired with a sense of being comfortable with his life, making it plausible he can face real obstacles without making him implausibly unaware of his own potential or unsympathetically self-entitled. This entirely realistic result of twenty-first century, middle-class childhood both provides an opportunity for him to grow into his best self when he does find a goal that requires true struggle and creates some of the obstacles that drive that struggle.
The supporting cast will be immediately recognisable both to those of Keith’s age and roleplayers; from the friend who does something because you do rather than they love it to the younger sibling whom parents say must be included to parents who just don’t understand; from the player who can’t roll high unless a low number is needed to the player who’s memorised all the rules and thought out how they fit together for the best result to the GM who gets a little too into the story. However, they also remain distinct characters rather than stereotypes.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers from childhood up seeking a fast-paced fantasy adventure or loving pastiche of roleplaying games.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
Thirteen-year-old Keith Croft has been invisible for his entire school life: not a brainiac; not a jock; not an arts kid; not a dropout; good enough not to fail, but too lazy to excel. The only thing that does motivate him to act is people bullying Tira, his friend’s sister. Until he finds a copy of the Crypts & Creepers Gamemaster book at a yard sale. The sudden strong interest that motivated his purchase quickly becomes almost an obsession with both playing the game and with the mysterious disappearance of Sarah, the girl who owned it previously. So much so, he dreams about her attempts to escape from an unspeakable horror—at least, he hopes they’re just dreams.
After an introduction to Keith’s life and friends, the book divides into three interwoven narratives: Keith’s daily life, Keith’s dreams of a fantasy realm, and the ongoing Crypts & Creepers game he runs for his friends.
This third narrative is told from the point of view of the characters in the game as if events were real, but it features multiple breaches of the fourth wall such as events rewinding and playing out differently or creatures suddenly appearing, each presaged by arguing of ethereal voices or the clatter of huge objects. While readers are aware that it is the game, Cox consistently describes these interjections as if they were being experienced by real and sympathetic people, preventing the objective fact that it is a game from deflating the tension.
Where the interjections might affect immersion is in their frequency: true to the tropes of LitRPG, Cox provides plentiful evidence that it is a game; plentiful enough that readers who both got it at the first mention and aren’t enthralled by all the jokes might find the initial density of similar interjections distracts them from the story. However, the interjections soon become less frequent and more diverse, making this—at worst—a transitory issue.
As in many of Cox’s other works, there is a strong thread of humour: both character and world based. In this case, this is a mix of things thirteen-year-olds find immensely funny, things thirteen-year-olds do that appear immensely funny to observers, and things roleplayers find amusing. Although this does include a quantity of jokes based around the intersection of bodily functions and magic, the humour is nuanced and varied enough that it offers equal entertainment to those who have no interest in multiple variations of ‘summon poisonous cloud’.
Cox’s portrayal of thirteen-year-olds—and the younger Tira—will similarly both immediately resonate with readers of a similar age and sustain the interest and sympathy of more mature readers.
The skilful mix of humour, accurate portrayal of the cusp between child and teenager, and broad accessibility is perhaps best indicated by the romance arc: Keith’s focus on Sarah has the consuming intensity and uncertainty of first love, but the grand imaginings of being her hero that can seem overblown to mature readers are undercut by Cox’s subtle reminder that—in this case—he might genuinely have to rescue her from vast danger.
Keith is a well-crafted protagonist: his initial lack of success is paired with a sense of being comfortable with his life, making it plausible he can face real obstacles without making him implausibly unaware of his own potential or unsympathetically self-entitled. This entirely realistic result of twenty-first century, middle-class childhood both provides an opportunity for him to grow into his best self when he does find a goal that requires true struggle and creates some of the obstacles that drive that struggle.
The supporting cast will be immediately recognisable both to those of Keith’s age and roleplayers; from the friend who does something because you do rather than they love it to the younger sibling whom parents say must be included to parents who just don’t understand; from the player who can’t roll high unless a low number is needed to the player who’s memorised all the rules and thought out how they fit together for the best result to the GM who gets a little too into the story. However, they also remain distinct characters rather than stereotypes.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel. I recommend it to readers from childhood up seeking a fast-paced fantasy adventure or loving pastiche of roleplaying games.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
May 8, 2019
This was such a fun book. There's some violence and cussing (but no f-bombs) so in movie ratings it would probably be a PG13, but like Harry Potter I think it really is for the 3rd grade reader and up to adults. I read this with my 3rd grader and he loved it! He even commented that it was like the second Jumanji movie because they get sucked into their Crypts and Creepers (D&D) game. I would definitely recommend this book to those who like video games, Harry Potter, and fantasy lit.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
February 11, 2019
The basic premise is simple enough: A kid finds a DnD analogue and things transpire which make it clear it's more than a simple game, he and his friends are sucked in... if that sounds familiar - that's ok. The premise itself makes a natural combination and it's a trope that's hardly been overused. The execution was solid and even as a 38 year old I quite enjoyed it.
This book really shines with the well though out characters. The time and attention paid to the game itself makes it obvious that the author played quite a bit of DnD himself and if you are looking for a faithful portrayal of how a real gaming session and some of teamwork, strategy and imagination that goes into it- you could not do better. The author threw in a nice nod to creator Gary Gygax as well.
Disclaimer: The ability of the game to draw you into itself is a big YMMV. Here it's a nice way to ratchet up the stakes considerably.
The character dynamics were a joy and the highlight was the 9 year old younger sister of one of the characters. Rather than being the annoying kid sister who tags along and gets in over her head - she's the min-maxer and really holds her own. the character moments are all earned and I felt a real connection to the play group. I'd read a sequel about their adventures games - mundane or no.
This book is written for the 12 or 13 year old gamer - male or female. It's an inclusive group. There is some teenage romance and kissing if you are a parent and want to know about that kind of content.
If you like LitRPG, paper and pencil RPGs, YA, or 80's kids adventure movies you are in the right place.
The narrator did an excellent job. He was friendly and handled the cast well
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
This book really shines with the well though out characters. The time and attention paid to the game itself makes it obvious that the author played quite a bit of DnD himself and if you are looking for a faithful portrayal of how a real gaming session and some of teamwork, strategy and imagination that goes into it- you could not do better. The author threw in a nice nod to creator Gary Gygax as well.
Disclaimer: The ability of the game to draw you into itself is a big YMMV. Here it's a nice way to ratchet up the stakes considerably.
The character dynamics were a joy and the highlight was the 9 year old younger sister of one of the characters. Rather than being the annoying kid sister who tags along and gets in over her head - she's the min-maxer and really holds her own. the character moments are all earned and I felt a real connection to the play group. I'd read a sequel about their adventures games - mundane or no.
This book is written for the 12 or 13 year old gamer - male or female. It's an inclusive group. There is some teenage romance and kissing if you are a parent and want to know about that kind of content.
If you like LitRPG, paper and pencil RPGs, YA, or 80's kids adventure movies you are in the right place.
The narrator did an excellent job. He was friendly and handled the cast well
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
August 27, 2018
This is a YA book. It has very well developed characters. It was a very quick read but a very detailed read. The story finds our hero as a 14 year old ordinary boy named a Kevin who finds a book at a yard sale that belonged to a missing young lady. He feels a connection to the book and eventually finds himself playing a D&D like game in a fight for his life, the life of his friends, and a girl he falls for. Will they survive? Will they find the missing girl? Only time and reading this amazing page turning book will tell you for sure! My lips are sealed! All in all this book was great. It kept both myself and my 14 yr old son reading and sucked into the plot to the very end. I can not wait to read the next book!
March 4, 2019
I was not expecting such a good book... Man this was a good book and a good introductory into dungeons & dragons. Well at least the basic mechanics and storyteller. Here it's called C&C (crips and creepers) I really enjoyed this book and Hope to fine more stories in this same style.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
January 18, 2019
Fun and adventure
Read this with my 10year old. Great story. He hopes for a series out of this. He has his own ideas for the series.
Read this with my 10year old. Great story. He hopes for a series out of this. He has his own ideas for the series.
November 12, 2018
“The Cursed Codex” is a book that’s a lot different than the other’s that I’ve read, written by author Matthew S. Cox. Following a boy named Keith, he feels completely invisible at school, aside from breaking up fights that the bullies start with his friends. After a particularly brutal fight, leading to a black eye on his part, he decides to take the long way home from school, and stops at a garage sale along the way, buying a board game to play with his friends. Little does he know, it’ll change his life forever.
Check out my full review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
Check out my full review here!
https://radioactivebookreviews.wordpr...
January 1, 2020
With the popularity of the 80's nostalgia and dungeons and dragons,this is sure to be a hit with pre teen kids.A book is found at a yard sale that is involved in why a girl went missing in 1987. Well written with good characters. Christopher James Mayer was a fine narrator. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
January 10, 2020
Finally the perfect explanation.
I lived through the religious aftermath of the urban myth. I couldn't understand why they were so upset. Some game kids play involving 🎲, math, thinking and social interaction. Youth leaders nearly digging through our backpacks to confiscate it? If one child actually was stuck... 🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
I lived through the religious aftermath of the urban myth. I couldn't understand why they were so upset. Some game kids play involving 🎲, math, thinking and social interaction. Youth leaders nearly digging through our backpacks to confiscate it? If one child actually was stuck... 🤦🏼♀️🤷🏼♀️
December 30, 2019
•audiobook•
February 25, 2019
Thirteen year old Keith is your average kid with normal parents and a tight circle of friends, but he never really seems to stand out. The only time the teachers seem to notice him is when he stands up to the bullies at school to protect his friend. One day after a particularly rough fight, he takes a new route home and stumbles on a yard sale run by a lonely old woman. There Keith finds a book, Crypts & Creepers, that introduces him to a whole new world.
This is a YA GameLIT with little violence or cursing, it's appropriate for all ages. I'd definitely recommend it for adults too, even if you've never played Dungeons and Dragons. I've never played, and I didn't even know what a module was, but I had no trouble playing along. One thing I like about this author's writing is that it's obvious he's passionate about gaming and genuinely loves it, and wants to share that with his readers. By the time the book ended, I was tempted to look up a local group to play myself!
I was really surprised by this book, I didn't expect it to be so darn funny! This book proves that you're never too old to appreciate a good fart joke. There were so many times I was laughing out loud and missed the next sentence, and rewound the audio only to crack up again. I loved every one of those teen boys, and Tira especially was a treat. Their conversations were so real and relatable, the author did a great job bringing them to life. Usually when I read a book for the first time, I'm eager to reach the ending, but this time I just wanted it to keep going. It was a really great read.
The narration was really well done, with a warm voice that wasn't young but still fit the story perfectly. It drew me right into the story. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a YA GameLIT with little violence or cursing, it's appropriate for all ages. I'd definitely recommend it for adults too, even if you've never played Dungeons and Dragons. I've never played, and I didn't even know what a module was, but I had no trouble playing along. One thing I like about this author's writing is that it's obvious he's passionate about gaming and genuinely loves it, and wants to share that with his readers. By the time the book ended, I was tempted to look up a local group to play myself!
I was really surprised by this book, I didn't expect it to be so darn funny! This book proves that you're never too old to appreciate a good fart joke. There were so many times I was laughing out loud and missed the next sentence, and rewound the audio only to crack up again. I loved every one of those teen boys, and Tira especially was a treat. Their conversations were so real and relatable, the author did a great job bringing them to life. Usually when I read a book for the first time, I'm eager to reach the ending, but this time I just wanted it to keep going. It was a really great read.
The narration was really well done, with a warm voice that wasn't young but still fit the story perfectly. It drew me right into the story. I requested a copy of the audiobook, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review.
October 16, 2019
The Devouring
This is a stand alone novel.
Keith's whole life changed when he saw the Codex at the rummage sale and decided to buy it. It called to him in a way nothing else ever had. It was special and he couldn't wait to talk his friends into playing! It was sad that it belonged to a girl his age who went missing and was never found but it couldn't be the Codex's fault! Strange things start happening once they start playing the game. What is going on? Is there really something in his closet? What has he gotten him and his friends into? What really happened to Sarah?
This is a unique and funny adventure perfect for anyone who enjoys fantasy or role playing! I adored the way you get sucked into the story as the characters encounter stranger and stranger things. To say any more would be spoilers...
***This book is suitable for middlegrade through adult readers who enjoy modern fantasy and/or role playing games of all kinds and is filled with mystery, suspense, terror and humor with a dash of romance :)
This is a stand alone novel.
Keith's whole life changed when he saw the Codex at the rummage sale and decided to buy it. It called to him in a way nothing else ever had. It was special and he couldn't wait to talk his friends into playing! It was sad that it belonged to a girl his age who went missing and was never found but it couldn't be the Codex's fault! Strange things start happening once they start playing the game. What is going on? Is there really something in his closet? What has he gotten him and his friends into? What really happened to Sarah?
This is a unique and funny adventure perfect for anyone who enjoys fantasy or role playing! I adored the way you get sucked into the story as the characters encounter stranger and stranger things. To say any more would be spoilers...
***This book is suitable for middlegrade through adult readers who enjoy modern fantasy and/or role playing games of all kinds and is filled with mystery, suspense, terror and humor with a dash of romance :)
March 30, 2019
Pretty good read. I think is targeted at a younger audience than me but I enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews