Book Review: Overgeared, Vol. 1 Art by Team Argo, Adapted by Monohumbug, Story by Saenal

Overgeared, Vol. 1 Art by Team Argo, adapted by Monohumbug with story by Saenal is a manga style graphic novel. Youngwoo Shin is a deadbeat in real life, working odd jobs to fuel his video game addiction. But inside the VR game Satisfy, he becomes Grid the Warrior, who is also painfully ordinary. Everything changes when he discovers the tome of a legendary blacksmith. Who needs skills when you have god-tier items, right?

Overgeared is a fun read for gamers. I liked the set up and the story and could understand Shin's frustration and struggles as he tries to level up his player in the game, and make enough money through the game not to have to do manual labor to pay the bills. I think I would have liked a bit more back story for Shin, not just that it took him years to get to the point readers meet him in the beginning of the story. I also felt a bit like things were just getting past the set up and into the story when the volume ended. The story pretty much ended mid-fight. I get wanting to hook readers so they want the next volume, but at least get us to a reasonable stopping point rather than a complete cliff hanger. That always drives me crazy. I did like the story, and would love to see how Shin gets to the point we see him in the opening teaser. I think I will keep reading this if I find the next volume, but I will not be hunting it down. 

Audiobook Review: Pirates, Parley, Plunder! (Dungeon Runner) by Dustin Tigner, Narrated by Jackie Meloche

Pirates, Parley, Plunder! is the second book in the Dungeon Runner series by Dustin Tigner, the audiobook is narrated by Jackie Meloche. This book picks up right where the first left off, and I highly recommend reading them in order.

Entin’s guild flourishes, eager to face the untamed dungeons of Eternal Fantasy Online. These dangerous places are worlds within worlds, each presenting unique themes that truly stretch the definition of what a dungeon should be. All seems well until Entin meets a young woman by the name of Aymie Avys. She brings a wealth of knowledge and secrets that challenge everything he thought he knew. There is something dark in this world, a festering corruption that might hold the answers to questions no one is asking. But pursuing these answers could threaten everything Entin and his Runners have built and force him to choose between who he was in the past life and who he is now.

Pirates, Parley, Plunder! is a much more cohesive and engaging read than the first book in the series for me, mostly because it was written to be. I enjoyed getting to know the characters more and seeing them grow as individuals and as a team. I am glad that the author continued to give us the story through several points of view. This gave me a much better understanding of the bigger picture and each character's emotions well before the rest figured things out. I like that while there is romance, and in some sections very important, I like that the book did not become all romance. The pairing off did not derail the other aspects of the story, instead just made the mundane interactions more intense and important.  I think readers that enjoy fantasy and Game lit will enjoy this very much. I am grateful that the author unearthed the stories that became the first book in this series and continued it. 

Pirates, Parley, Plunder! is a fabulous follow up to the first runners book. I cannot wait to see what Entin, Aymie, and the rest get up to next.

Audiobook Review: Wrong Divinity: Oh Sh*t! I F*cking Hate Spiders! by Dustin Tigner, Narrated by Qarie Marshall; Reba Buhr

Wrong Divinity: Oh Sh*t! I F*cking Hate Spiders! by Dustin Tigner is narrated by Qarie Marshall and Reba Buhr. It is the start of a new GameLit series that balances comedy with serious themes. It's an isekai—a portal fantasy—to the spirit realm. Join Dhane, our underdog, as he explores his new world, a world full of unique characters, RPG mechanics, and spiders—ugly, terrifying spiders—while he learns what it means to be an Arachnomancer.

Dhane kicked the bucket in spectacular fashion, every bone crushed, every organ popped against the full force of a 40-ton garbage truck speeding through a red light. The only part of him intact—whole—entirely unaffected by the grisly affair was his soul. Souls are durable things, you see, like kids: they bounce. And bounce he did, into the abyss between worlds, drifting until one excited soul watcher fished him out and found him a new home, a heaven for gamers and nerds and everything in between. It was all he could have ever wanted in the afterlife, down to choosing his class, killing mobs, and exploring a beautiful fantasy world chock full of mysteries yet to be discovered. At least…it would have been those things if that first day had gone a little tiny bit differently. Instead, he now finds himself locked in the middle of an eternal conflict between Light and Shadow—humans and monsters—potentially being the enemy to all.

Wrong Divinity is a fun and entertaining listen. I enjoyed Dhane's voice and personality, and hope I would be half so entertaining in his place. I thought the world building was well done, and followed the rules of most online sand table top games so that anyone with a basic understanding or enjoyment of either could really enjoy hat aspect of the story without leaving those with a less than extensive knowledge lost since explanations are made well and brief. I was quickly drawn into Dhanes drama, eager to see how everything paned out for him. Even after finishing the listen I am left hoping to dig into the next installment so I can see how everything works out. I thought the narrators did a great job with the book, but I think that most listeners will find their attention drifting during some of the stat building stuff, which I find much easier to tackle on paper. There is a PDF with that information for those looking to delve in.  My only real complaint is that while I enjoyed Dhane's character and some of his creative cursing, that was one phrase- that while it made me smile the first time- I found to be used way too often and started to get annoying by the end of the book. I think if there had been one other phase so that they alternated that would have made me happier. However, that was my biggest complaint and I greatly enjoyed the listen on several levels. I think there is a great audience for this style and subject and that they will enjoy the series. 

Early Book Review: Out of Character by Annabeth Albert

Out of Character by Annabeth Albert is the second book in the True Colors series and is scheduled for release on July 6 2021. You do not have to have read the previous book in order to enjoy this one, but knowing the characters and some history does make it even more enjoyable. 

Milo Lionetti is not a gamer. Not even close. But when a stupid bet costs him his brother's prized cards, he'll do anything to replace them before anyone notices they're gone. To do that, he'll need a little help from the best gamer he knows, who also happens to hate him. Jasper Quigley is known for moonlighting on a popular gaming blog, but he's eager to stop playing the sidekick. The last thing he wants is to help out Milo and dredge up feelings he'd rather forget. But helping Milo comes with some perks, including getting his help running a cosplay event at the local children's hospital. All that forced proximity was not supposed to come with kissing, and definitely not falling in love.

Out of Character is an enemies to lovers romance that hit just the right notes for me. I like that both Milo and Jasper grew in the story- it was not all Milo's changing after not being the greatest guy in the past. They both had to come to terms with their past, their present, and what they wanted from the future. Sometimes in these enemy to lovers stories only one of the characters needs to change for things to work, and I simply loved that growth was seen on all sides. I also adore the depth the author gives to secondary characters- everyone is well fleshed out even if they do not seem to have a big role to play in this story. It makes me want to know even more about them and hope that some might have a role to play in future book in this series- or maybe in one of the author's other series (which I badly need to catch up on). 

Out of Character is exactly what I wanted from this read. It is a must read for fans of the author and series, and a good read for just about everyone else. 

Early Book Review: Make Your Move (Gamer Girls) by Laura Heffernan

Make Your Move is the third book in the Gamer Girls series by Laura Heffernan. I have read the second book in the series, but not the first. All of the books seem to stand up well on their own. There is significant character overlap so returning readers will get some bonuses from that aspect, but new readers will still be able to fully enjoy the story. This book is currently scheduled for release on December 17 2019.

At twenty-eight, Shannon has yet to fall in love. Which is fine, since she’d rather spend her evenings creating games than swiping right or going on awkward blind dates. Right now though, she has two little problems. First, she’s stuck for a new game idea. Second, the only candidate in her roommate search is Tyler, the gaming buddy who’s long had an unrequited crush on her. It should be awkward. But when Tyler moves in, the situation doesn’t go at all the way Shannon expected. Between helping her deal with coworkers and fixing the bugs in her latest game, Tyler’s proving to be damn near perfect. Except for the fact that he’s falling for someone else. Maybe Shannon has already forfeited her turn. Maybe she’s playing for nothing but heartache. But the best games have endings you can never predict.

Make Your Move is a romance that handles the friends to more trope beautifully and treats the spectrum of sexuality with honesty and respect. I really enjoyed getting to see Shannon's character as she struggled with so much all at once. The back stabbing and issues at work were sadly very realistic, and there were a couple times I had to walk away from the book for a minute because it was stressing me out. Similarly there were a couple moments that made me want to kick Tyler. Even though he is an extremely well written character, and one I would like to have in my circle of friends, there were moments that he really made me angry. Both characters were very concistand in their personalities, and their actions were on point throughout the story. I think my liking for both characters made the conflicts of the story that much harder to bear. I was completely engaged in the story right from the start, and really enjoy the group of characters that this series follows. I can think of a few secondary characters that I would love to read about next, and I will continue to read Hefferman's books. 

Make Your Move is a fantastic read that had me emotional enough that I had to close the book a few times. 

Early Book Review: Against the Rules (Gamer Girls) by Laura Heffernan

Against the Rules is the second book in the Gamer Girls series by Laura Heffernan and is currently scheduled for release on October 15 2019. I did not read the first book in the series, and while it is about a circle of friends I was able to fully enjoy the book without having read the first.

Holly has taken herself out of the dating game since breaking up with her cheating, thieving ex. She barely notices Marc, who comes into the game store every week, hoping to get her attention. Her friends insist it’s time to take on a new role, to leave Quiet Holly behind and embrace her inner flirt. And on paper, Marc’s great: cute, funny, and a hardcore gamer just like Holly is. Then there’s Nathan. He’s everything twenty-eight-year-old Holly wants, except he’s also her friend’s father. Absolutely off-limits. But as she and Nathan playtest a new legacy game together, they’re growing closer. The game is complex and intriguing, and there’s no way to know how choices will pan out. What seems like a good idea could lead to disaster or sweet victory. But in gaming, as in love, sometimes you have to roll the dice and take your chance.

Against the Rules worked really well on some levels, and fell flat for me in others. I really liked Holly, she has had some serious challenges in life lately and is doing her best to keep moving forward in life. She is a little oblivious sometimes, but in ways many of us are. I liked her intelligence and spirit, and found her insecurities to be realistic and relatable. Nathan seemed like a smart, good guy with issues of his own. I felt like I did not get to know him all that well, since we only saw him through Holly's eyes- I would really have liked to have seen the world through his eyes once and awhile o see his take on Holly. Yes, he was open with her about his feeling once things started happening- but a better look at the attraction and his worries would have brought the whole story together more for me. I liked them together, and understood the worries and hesitancy about becoming involved, and the complications it would create. I did like the glimpses of the horrors on online dating and the real lives of gamers. I found these bits of the story to be well done and realistic, as anyone that has been involved in either can attest. 

Against the Rules is a good contemporary romance that had some fabulous moments, but did not wow me. I am glad I picked it up, but am not sure I will be going back to read the first in the series.

Book Review: The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive: Tips and Tricks for Every Kind of Player by Damien Kuhn

The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive: Tips and Tricks for Every Kind of Player by Damien Kuhn

What do World Cup soccer players, Drake, and 125 million other people have in common? They all play Fortnite! And now with The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive, anyone can survive the island and take their game to the next level. This must-have guide has something for every kind of player: game mode overviews for Battle Bus beginners, detailed weapon and item stats for initiates, and advanced building strategies for veterans. With The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive, you have everything you need to max out each season and have fun doing it.

The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive: Tips and Tricks for Every Kind of Player is a book that was very helpful to me. My son and husband started playing over the summer, and I have not been of much help to them when they got stuck or fustrated- or had a question. The information is laid out in a logical and accessible format, which made it easy to find specific topics or information as I needed it. I think the general information gives new players a good information base with which to start and to find their own preferences and playing style.  However, some of the information and formatting is off. In particular they list the game as being available for Android, which it is not yet. I know because I am waiting to be able to download it for my Chromebook. I have not been playing myself so I am unsure if any of the other information is inaccurate. There were a few spots where the header for an image was on the page before the actual image and related information- which could have easily been fixed. The images and the descriptions themselves seemed to be well done.

The Fortnite Guide to Staying Alive: Tips and Tricks for Every Kind of Player was a useful, but not perfect resource. I think it is a solid introduction for those that are just getting started, or that have jump in but need more information to succeed. 

Book Review: Justice Calling (The Twenty-Sided Sorceress) by Annie Bellet

Justice Calling is the first book in The Twenty-Sided Sorceress series by Annie Bellet. Jade Crow lives a quiet life running her comic book and game store in Wylde, Idaho. After twenty-five years fleeing from a powerful sorcerer who wants to eat her heart and take her powers, quiet suits her just fine. Surrounded by friends who are even less human than she is, Jade figures she’s finally safe. As long as she doesn’t use her magic. When dark powers threaten her friends’ lives, a sexy shape-shifter enforcer shows up. He’s the shifter world’s judge, jury, and executioner rolled into one, and he thinks Jade is to blame. To clear her name, save her friends, and stop the villain, she’ll have to use her wits and her sorceress powers. Except Jade knows that as soon as she does, a far deadlier nemesis awaits. 

Justice Calling caught my attention right away. I liked that Jade is not the traditional heroine, never mind the traditional magic user. She has build her own nerdy paradise, and hides her magical nature in an effort to keep it. When Alek shows up she is worried about what his hunt, and the danger that is heading towards her friends. I understood her fear and reluctance- and her determination to protect the people she cares about. I liked the world building and mythology surrounding Jade, although I would have liked more details and backstory about the birth and chosen family that has shaped her life. The tidbits readers are given are very cool, but I wanted more. I hope that is part of the following books. I liked her problem solving efforts to solve the mystery, and how hard she works to keep her humanity while protecting other. I also liked that while Jade's attraction to Alek is very clear in the book, that possibility has nothing to do with the larger story- and nothing happens relationship wise until the immediate danger has been addressed. I enjoyed the writing style and the story, and I greatly look forward to seeing where the series goes from here. 

Justice Calling is an entertaining and enjoyable read. I will be checking out the next book in the series, hopefully I will get the backstory I want so badly. 

Book Review: The Starriest Summer (The Cycle of the Six Moons, #1) by Adelle Yeung

The Starriest Summer is the first book in the The Cycle of the Six Moons series by Adelle Yeung.  Fifteen-year-old Michelle saves the world on a daily basis, with her trusty video game controller, of course! Naturally, she jumps at the chance to play an experimental virtual reality game. The beautiful fantasy world of Starrs? Check. The power to mold matter? Check. No reset button? Wait, she didn’t sign up for this! Turns out Starrs is really real, and to make matters worse, Michelle’s interference awakens the Cycle of the Six Moons, a series of devastating trials that will devour the universe.  Fighting the apocalypse was way easier when danger stayed on the other side of the screen, but Michelle finds a secret weapon in her new-found powers. She uses them to rescue the crown prince of a powerful magic kingdom from their sworn enemies, a technologically-advanced cult that strives to eradicate magical blood.  Michelle starts to fall for Prince Jayse, the only one who believes Michelle to be a savior rather than a curse.

The Starriest Summer is a quick moving adventure that had me eager to discover where the story and Michelle are going next. When Michelle heads into the video game she thinks it is just a new virtual reality game. However, if she listened to her brother's warning she might have known it was much more than it seemed. I enjoyed the world building, and the fact that our main character is discovering the lore and environment right along with the reader. While sometimes she proves to be a little slower on the uptake that I hope I would be, her flaws make her more realistic than a character that gets everything right the first go round. Her exploration of the world, discovery and introduction of characters, and the build up of a story that promises deception and danger underlying everything only begins here. I was glad that Yeung did not try to cram everything in one book, because there seems to be so much more to tell. I like that the story was complete enough to leave me with a full story, but wanting to know so much more. It was a nearly perfect balance.  I found the world and characters to be rich and complex, and even after reading the complete book I still have questions about the Cycle, politics, and royal family that I hope will be addressed in the books to follow. I really want more of the history behind the stories that I feel have missing pieces, but I will just have to wait.

The Starriest Summer is a great start to a new series, and appealed to me on several levels. I think gamers and fantasy fans alike will enjoy this book, and the series to follow. I know I did.