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Metamorphosis Online #3
Reign with Axe and Shield
No one wanted Gracie to become the Queen - hell, Gracie didn’t want to be the Queen.
She is, though, and people are just lining up to take shots at her. Some want her gone, some want what she has…
…And one of them is determined to destroy the entire game if he can’t get what he wants.
Which means that Gracie might just have to team up with the absolute last people she wanted to: Dan and Dhruv.
Her only consolation? They hate the idea, too.
- GenresFantasyScience Fiction
Audible Audio
First published May 8, 2019
104 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Grey
43 books92 followersNatalie Grey grew up in rural New England, surrounded by a lot of vegetables and relatively little excitement. Therefore, she was obliged to make up excitement by pretending to be a knight, mage, jet-setting international assassin, jedi, or (occasionally) a shape-shifting dragon. She read everything she could get her hands on, from Lord of the Rings to Modesty Blaise, and eventually started writing her own stories full of what-ifs and snarky put-downs. Now she lives with her two German Shepherd mixes in the frozen wilds of Minnesota, and does a lot of inventive swearing while she shovels.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 2, 2021
This was so kickass and entertaining.
I really enjoyed the banter and camaraderie between Gracie and the members of the Red Squadron Guild she helped create with her friends. The fact that they all got to meet one another face to face towards the end was so sweet.
My only complaint is that I would have liked to have seen Thad and Harry's reactions when they realise they lost to Gracie.
I really enjoyed the banter and camaraderie between Gracie and the members of the Red Squadron Guild she helped create with her friends. The fact that they all got to meet one another face to face towards the end was so sweet.
My only complaint is that I would have liked to have seen Thad and Harry's reactions when they realise they lost to Gracie.
June 26, 2019
A fun trilogy
Three series tackles a few themes and experiences that old time gamers will recognise. There's interesting topics and a fast paced plot. I'd like a little more detail about combat scenes times, but not a major comparing. Overall, really enjoyed it.
Three series tackles a few themes and experiences that old time gamers will recognise. There's interesting topics and a fast paced plot. I'd like a little more detail about combat scenes times, but not a major comparing. Overall, really enjoyed it.
July 16, 2021
Wait! It's over? But....but... I wasn't through READING!
Another great series from Natalie. (and Michael. Sheesh) You can always tell it's a good book; when you get to the end, you're looking to see if theres more.
For this one, I want more!
For those for whom GameLit isn't their genre, or who don't play video games, don't let it stop you from reading the stories. It still has the same awesome characters and plots as a normal tale, only with 3-letter acronyms!
Another great series from Natalie. (and Michael. Sheesh) You can always tell it's a good book; when you get to the end, you're looking to see if theres more.
For this one, I want more!
For those for whom GameLit isn't their genre, or who don't play video games, don't let it stop you from reading the stories. It still has the same awesome characters and plots as a normal tale, only with 3-letter acronyms!
October 9, 2023
Introduction:
Greetings, fellow readers, from the icy realms of HowlStrom! I am Kiba Snowpaw, your furry alpha lone male Ice Wolf, ready to embark on a frosty adventure through "Reign with Axe and Shield" by Natalie Grey and Michael Anderle. This book has taken me on a journey like no other, and I'm eager to share it with you.
Basic Plot Summary:
In this epic finale, we find Gracie unexpectedly crowned as the Queen, a role she never desired. However, it seems everyone wants a piece of her newfound power, and not all have her best interests at heart. As threats mount against her and the game itself, Gracie must team up with the last people she ever thought she'd rely on: Dan and Dhruv. Despite their shared reluctance, they unite to face a common enemy threatening to unravel the entire gaming world.
Analysis/Evaluation:
"Reign with Axe and Shield" brings the Metamorphosis Online trilogy to a thrilling close. The banter and camaraderie among Gracie and her guild members, the Red Squadron, add layers of depth to the story. The authors expertly weave together themes of friendship, ethics, and power, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. While the finale ties up some loose ends, it also leaves room for future adventures.
Characters:
Gracie's character development shines as she navigates her newfound responsibilities. The authors have created a compelling protagonist, and the chemistry among the characters adds to the enjoyment of the story.
Structure:
The book maintains a fast-paced plot, immersing readers in the world of MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) with a blend of action, humor, moral dilemmas, and even romance. The balance between gaming and real-life scenarios is well-executed.
Impact:
"Reign with Axe and Shield" caters to both gamers and non-gamers, making it accessible to a broader audience. It offers relatable characters and a captivating plot that resonates with the shared love of virtual worlds.
Hook and Thesis:
The story's hook lies in its relatable themes and engaging characters. Gracie's journey from an ordinary gamer to an unexpected queen forms the heart of the narrative, exploring power dynamics, ethics, and the bonds of friendship.
Praise:
The series is a delightful blend of gaming culture and storytelling, making it enjoyable for gamers and non-gamers alike. The characters' complexity, humor, and relatability shine throughout.
Critique:
While the ending is satisfying, it leaves room for more stories in the Metamorphosis Online universe. Some readers might desire a tidier conclusion, but the potential for future adventures is exciting.
Comparison:
Compared to its predecessors, this finale offers a grand culmination of the series' themes and character arcs. It's a fitting conclusion to a thrilling trilogy.
Conclusion:
"Reign with Axe and Shield" is a triumphant finale to the Metamorphosis Online trilogy, filled with action, camaraderie, and ethical dilemmas. Whether you're a gamer or not, this series offers a captivating adventure that will leave you wanting more. As I return to the frozen landscapes of HowlStrom, I eagerly await future tales from the gaming realm. Until then, may your quests be epic, and your victories sweet!
Greetings, fellow readers, from the icy realms of HowlStrom! I am Kiba Snowpaw, your furry alpha lone male Ice Wolf, ready to embark on a frosty adventure through "Reign with Axe and Shield" by Natalie Grey and Michael Anderle. This book has taken me on a journey like no other, and I'm eager to share it with you.
Basic Plot Summary:
In this epic finale, we find Gracie unexpectedly crowned as the Queen, a role she never desired. However, it seems everyone wants a piece of her newfound power, and not all have her best interests at heart. As threats mount against her and the game itself, Gracie must team up with the last people she ever thought she'd rely on: Dan and Dhruv. Despite their shared reluctance, they unite to face a common enemy threatening to unravel the entire gaming world.
Analysis/Evaluation:
"Reign with Axe and Shield" brings the Metamorphosis Online trilogy to a thrilling close. The banter and camaraderie among Gracie and her guild members, the Red Squadron, add layers of depth to the story. The authors expertly weave together themes of friendship, ethics, and power, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. While the finale ties up some loose ends, it also leaves room for future adventures.
Characters:
Gracie's character development shines as she navigates her newfound responsibilities. The authors have created a compelling protagonist, and the chemistry among the characters adds to the enjoyment of the story.
Structure:
The book maintains a fast-paced plot, immersing readers in the world of MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game) with a blend of action, humor, moral dilemmas, and even romance. The balance between gaming and real-life scenarios is well-executed.
Impact:
"Reign with Axe and Shield" caters to both gamers and non-gamers, making it accessible to a broader audience. It offers relatable characters and a captivating plot that resonates with the shared love of virtual worlds.
Hook and Thesis:
The story's hook lies in its relatable themes and engaging characters. Gracie's journey from an ordinary gamer to an unexpected queen forms the heart of the narrative, exploring power dynamics, ethics, and the bonds of friendship.
Praise:
The series is a delightful blend of gaming culture and storytelling, making it enjoyable for gamers and non-gamers alike. The characters' complexity, humor, and relatability shine throughout.
Critique:
While the ending is satisfying, it leaves room for more stories in the Metamorphosis Online universe. Some readers might desire a tidier conclusion, but the potential for future adventures is exciting.
Comparison:
Compared to its predecessors, this finale offers a grand culmination of the series' themes and character arcs. It's a fitting conclusion to a thrilling trilogy.
Conclusion:
"Reign with Axe and Shield" is a triumphant finale to the Metamorphosis Online trilogy, filled with action, camaraderie, and ethical dilemmas. Whether you're a gamer or not, this series offers a captivating adventure that will leave you wanting more. As I return to the frozen landscapes of HowlStrom, I eagerly await future tales from the gaming realm. Until then, may your quests be epic, and your victories sweet!
September 15, 2019
Great Finish to a Strong Trilogy
Great story of a near future MMORPG, female lead character. Lots of common tropes here, mysterious assists from programming "bugs", Game office politics interfering with game players in (seemingly) random ways, corporate sponsors being corrupt, etc. But the author still manages to pull it all together into a compelling read.
Sadly this is the last book of the series, but it is brought to a reasonable stopping point. Even more frustrating was a note at the end from the author saying she's stepping back from full-time writing for a while. So sequel opportunities look pretty dim, though hopefully we'll occasionally see a few new things come up from Natalie.
I gave this book a 5* which is rare for a LMBPN book. They tend to be kinda formulaic and strongly favor action over ideas. But, hey - that's their gig, and they generally do it competently, if not inspirationally This series, and especially this finale takes that a step up.
Great story of a near future MMORPG, female lead character. Lots of common tropes here, mysterious assists from programming "bugs", Game office politics interfering with game players in (seemingly) random ways, corporate sponsors being corrupt, etc. But the author still manages to pull it all together into a compelling read.
Sadly this is the last book of the series, but it is brought to a reasonable stopping point. Even more frustrating was a note at the end from the author saying she's stepping back from full-time writing for a while. So sequel opportunities look pretty dim, though hopefully we'll occasionally see a few new things come up from Natalie.
I gave this book a 5* which is rare for a LMBPN book. They tend to be kinda formulaic and strongly favor action over ideas. But, hey - that's their gig, and they generally do it competently, if not inspirationally This series, and especially this finale takes that a step up.
February 4, 2024
This book reminds of the movie Ready Player One where a live action player is submerged into a fantasy gaming world. This LitRPG - Literary Role Playing Game combines RPG with this fantasy science fiction novel. This book about a group of people from different backgrounds and personalities from all over the world compete with other gamers to have fun and start developing friendships with each other. This is a different genre of books I am use to reading and will continue to read future books in this genre. I had the pleasure of meeting the authors at a book signing event and I really enjoyed this fantastic cyberpunk science fiction novel. I received this free e-audiobook and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
May 12, 2019
Absolutely Great Trilog
Gracie and the Red Squadron are having a lot of fun together. Enemies, however, lurk who want to bring her and maybe the whole game down. Ethics is the name of the game. Will she be able to resist using her absolute power? The characters are well written and fleshed out. Gracie's character is competent, compelling, yet vulnerable. I like the action, humor, moral dialogue, and romance. I will miss these characters, but look forward to others in this universe.
Gracie and the Red Squadron are having a lot of fun together. Enemies, however, lurk who want to bring her and maybe the whole game down. Ethics is the name of the game. Will she be able to resist using her absolute power? The characters are well written and fleshed out. Gracie's character is competent, compelling, yet vulnerable. I like the action, humor, moral dialogue, and romance. I will miss these characters, but look forward to others in this universe.
June 1, 2019
MMORPG FTW!
Weather you're a gamer or not this series is outstanding! Strong characters and real life scenarios that we all may have experienced, combine to make an exciting read for anyone! Being a gamer only makes it even more of a pleasure to read, as we can definitely relate to Gracie,her friends, and a shared love of the "world" we play in. Even if you've never played an MMORPG game, don't pass this series up! You will be missing a great read if you do. I'm so looking forward to more!
Weather you're a gamer or not this series is outstanding! Strong characters and real life scenarios that we all may have experienced, combine to make an exciting read for anyone! Being a gamer only makes it even more of a pleasure to read, as we can definitely relate to Gracie,her friends, and a shared love of the "world" we play in. Even if you've never played an MMORPG game, don't pass this series up! You will be missing a great read if you do. I'm so looking forward to more!
May 23, 2023
A lovely finish to the story (the gay couple eeeeee!!) but maybe the ending was a little too tidy. I loved the story regardless and had a great time listening along!
It felt weird to me that an online game company would fly people out in person to play online, and I wish they hadn’t offered to hire the whole team. I was kind of expecting Dragon Soul would sponsor them as a ‘look what you can do with our game!’ Kind of team (excluded from the ranking of course) and I feel a little let down that they’re just going to fade into ‘play the game and we’ll pay you for feedback and bugs found’.
It felt weird to me that an online game company would fly people out in person to play online, and I wish they hadn’t offered to hire the whole team. I was kind of expecting Dragon Soul would sponsor them as a ‘look what you can do with our game!’ Kind of team (excluded from the ranking of course) and I feel a little let down that they’re just going to fade into ‘play the game and we’ll pay you for feedback and bugs found’.
May 11, 2019
Awesome trilogy,
I am not a gamer, but I loved this series. Thankfully my oldest is & he happily explained what I didn’t get. I think he liked knowing something I was clueless about. The characters were complex & the plot pulled you in so the book was hard to put down when real life called.
I am not a gamer, but I loved this series. Thankfully my oldest is & he happily explained what I didn’t get. I think he liked knowing something I was clueless about. The characters were complex & the plot pulled you in so the book was hard to put down when real life called.
May 15, 2019
Hated to see it end
A seriously amazing book, as always. But...also a wonderful story. It made me laugh, and groan, and all around enjoy. If you are, or have ever been, any kind of a gamer, especially any kind d of RP...you need to read this series.
I can't wait to see how they start the next round of tales.
A seriously amazing book, as always. But...also a wonderful story. It made me laugh, and groan, and all around enjoy. If you are, or have ever been, any kind of a gamer, especially any kind d of RP...you need to read this series.
I can't wait to see how they start the next round of tales.
May 22, 2019
Awesome book
Another awesome book in the Metamorphosis Online TRILOGY! I think we were robbed! It CAN'T just be a trilogy! You left CLIFFHANGERS at the end! What will the characters decide to do? What about the romantic entanglements? Please, please, PLEASE write at least one more. I love these characters!
Another awesome book in the Metamorphosis Online TRILOGY! I think we were robbed! It CAN'T just be a trilogy! You left CLIFFHANGERS at the end! What will the characters decide to do? What about the romantic entanglements? Please, please, PLEASE write at least one more. I love these characters!
May 17, 2020
So disappointed in the abruptness of the ending and the complete lack of satisfying resolution.
Sometimes it feels like authors get to a point where they have either grown tired of the story or they just don’t know how to finish it. I enjoyed the trilogy. I felt it was well written and it held my interest. This last book just felt empty to me.
Sometimes it feels like authors get to a point where they have either grown tired of the story or they just don’t know how to finish it. I enjoyed the trilogy. I felt it was well written and it held my interest. This last book just felt empty to me.
September 16, 2021
Great conclusion to a trilogy
Really enjoyed this trilogy as a gaming story that was character focused. Great character development with some excellent action mixed in. And I especially love that the author decided to keep this as a trilogy, instead of trying to keep the story going beyond the original vision. Great stuff!
Really enjoyed this trilogy as a gaming story that was character focused. Great character development with some excellent action mixed in. And I especially love that the author decided to keep this as a trilogy, instead of trying to keep the story going beyond the original vision. Great stuff!
May 21, 2019
A LitRPG accessible to non-gamers
Enjoyed this series quite a lot. Good characters both in and out of the game and a satisfying conclusion. The outcome was somewhat predictable but how it was achieved was not. Good YA work.
Enjoyed this series quite a lot. Good characters both in and out of the game and a satisfying conclusion. The outcome was somewhat predictable but how it was achieved was not. Good YA work.
May 24, 2019
Great completion to the trilogy, and an excellent story to boot. You really can't go wrong with this whole trilogy, and this book in particular. If you're an LitRPG fan, you won't want to miss this one.
May 25, 2019
Finishing move
I enjoyed this series a lot. The dynamics of a gaming team. What do you do when you win? Whats more important winning or doing the right thing? A great story here. I'm glad I tried it out.
I enjoyed this series a lot. The dynamics of a gaming team. What do you do when you win? Whats more important winning or doing the right thing? A great story here. I'm glad I tried it out.
May 28, 2019
Nice way to end
Less game elements and more wrapping up characters. It is a short read, but I am glad the authors finished it up here. It seems like a good place to close. Nothing amazing, but a good quick read.
Less game elements and more wrapping up characters. It is a short read, but I am glad the authors finished it up here. It seems like a good place to close. Nothing amazing, but a good quick read.
July 8, 2019
Incredibly interesting series!
I loved these books, not much of a gamer, but the human interaction was phenomenally good. Anderle's books are all pretty god, but this series is almost as good as Josh's!😅
I loved these books, not much of a gamer, but the human interaction was phenomenally good. Anderle's books are all pretty god, but this series is almost as good as Josh's!😅
July 14, 2019
Great series!
I just hope Dragon Souls doesn’t have a no fraternization policy! I love LitRPG and this was a good mix of that and regular fiction. I hope to see more in this story world!
I just hope Dragon Souls doesn’t have a no fraternization policy! I love LitRPG and this was a good mix of that and regular fiction. I hope to see more in this story world!
July 15, 2019
Especially good
Loved this trilogy, even though I have never been into those type of games. I don't do online but that's because I'm an anti social get.
Great characters with lots of action and adventure. Loved how the team interacted with each other.
Loved this trilogy, even though I have never been into those type of games. I don't do online but that's because I'm an anti social get.
Great characters with lots of action and adventure. Loved how the team interacted with each other.
August 27, 2019
Excellent and a great end to the series
Two great authors, one series, action, lore, great worldbuilding, characters you remember, the list of great things just goes on and on. Definitely worth a read!
Two great authors, one series, action, lore, great worldbuilding, characters you remember, the list of great things just goes on and on. Definitely worth a read!
October 15, 2020
What an ending
I feel that this was definitely a bit rushed but incredibly written. The only a few things could have made it better is more conflicts in other guilds and Thad getting fired. Still it was awesome. JL
I feel that this was definitely a bit rushed but incredibly written. The only a few things could have made it better is more conflicts in other guilds and Thad getting fired. Still it was awesome. JL
May 25, 2024
Great series
An outstanding read. The characters were interesting and the storyline intense. I have never played a video game but felt like I was in this one. Lots of action. Hard to put down.
An outstanding read. The characters were interesting and the storyline intense. I have never played a video game but felt like I was in this one. Lots of action. Hard to put down.
April 7, 2020
Good third book
Would be nice to have more in this universe. But based on how the trilogy went, it was a good ending. Still, I would buy more if there is a second series for it. 😃
Would be nice to have more in this universe. But based on how the trilogy went, it was a good ending. Still, I would buy more if there is a second series for it. 😃
June 18, 2021
Not as good as the first book IMO. Liked the mixture of life drama and online drama but the end battle seemed a bit rushed. A trilogy build up to the big bad and doesn't put up that much of a fight.
February 25, 2026
potencially cute
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews