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: Stray Shadow: Oh Sh*t! Wrong Side of Heaven! (Arachnomancer) by Dustin Tigner, Narrated by Qarie Marshall

Stray Shadow: Oh Sh*t! Wrong Side of Heaven! is the second book in the Arachnomancer series by Dustin Tigner, audiobook narrated by Qarie Marshall. This is very much a series that needs to be read, or listened to in order. 

Heaven sucks. It most definitely, undeniably did not live up to the expectation of a paradise in the clouds, not with the talking spiders, evil priests of Light, and war, lots of war. Those of Light simply wouldn’t leave the fledgling village—Dedu Tedu Novus—alone. Peace was not on the menu. The seven declarations of war made that point crystal clear. Worse, in a series of unfortunate and escalating events, our stray King of Shadows finds himself where he really ought not to be. But maybe . . . this is a good thing? Probably not. Dhane, Dhane, Dhane, what ever will you do next? Uncover forgotten truths? Form alliances with monsters? Take a stroll in the most dangerous places a Shadow can be? Probably.

Stray Shadow is just as much fun, and as full or danger and angst, as the first book in the series. Dhane is coming into his own more, leaning into his responsibilities, abilities, and role in the larger picture. I liked getting to see some of my favorite characters from the first book make an appearance, and I look forward to how the story will continue. There is constant and consistent world building, and character building. It is exciting seeing all the thread get woven together and towards a bigger conclusion. I think my biggest complaint is that I listened to a companion book for a secondary character, that took place before the action of Dhane's first book. They have had moments in both of Dhane's book, and there is clearly so much more to their story (which I want desperately) but see no coming books for them, instead I see another companion book for another character coming. Do not get me wrong, I will be reading that one too- but I need some loose ends tied up and some questions answered for Sarah. 

Stray Shadow is a superb follow up to Wrong Divinity. This series, and related companion books, is my new obsession. 

Audiobook Review: Bookworm to Badass by Dustin Tigner, Narrated by Reba Buhr

Bookworm to Badass by Dustin Tigner, audiobook narrated by Reba Buhr, is part of a new GameLit series. Sarah snuffed it, expired, breathed her last breath—also known as died, if you need it spelled out—in the most unlikely of places, the library. But do not fret! This is perfectly normal. What is not normal, however, is the persistence of one’s soul after shuffling off this mortal coil. To break the Cycle is strange and wrong and perverse. It goes against the very nature of existence: lives must eventually be recycled (responsibly). Lucky or unlucky, Sarah finds herself Cycle-broken and very much alive, depending on how strict you wish to be with that definition. Turns out, heaven has a return policy better than Costco. And souls are terribly expensive. So if Sarah doesn’t win some forthcoming contests, she is to be flushed back to the Primordial Sea of Souls, back to the Cycle to eventually be reincarnated as whatever the RNG gods have in store for her. A slug, most likely. Join Sarah on her crazy and hilarious adventure into a new fantasy world, where she learns to swear, kill cute monsters, and fight for her survival.

Bookworm to Badass is the start of Sarah's story, and what a start. Having read, or listened to Wrong Divinity (same world, related but not yet reliant on each other) first I knew that Sarah would survive and that she would figure out life as a vampire going into this story. However, I thought Sarah was a charming and, at least for me, very relatable character. I felt bad for her, and angry for her in turn. There were some moments that had me physically reacting, clenching my jaw and getting stressed, when big things were happening. There were some serious twists, and some secondary characters that I kind of what to go back to and see if there is another layer to their story and what might happen to them next. Honestly, I am still trying to figure out what the long game for the gods and mad queen of this world are playing at. I am deeply invested in the larger story line, and cannot wait to see what happens next with Sarah, and how the bigger picture might come together.

Bookworm to Badass is an engaging and entertaining read. I cannot wait to see how this and the Wrong Divinity series come together, because I am sure they will (again). 

Book Review: Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense., Vol. 1, by Jirou Oimoto, Koin

Bofuri: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense., Vol. 1, by Jirou Oimoto and Koin is a young adult novel that was first published as a webnovel and has been translated and is now being oublished in a print format. Though she doesn’t play many MMOs, Maple has either a natural talent or impossibly good luck, because by pouring every last stat point she has into Vitality, she’s created a character who can’t be hurt! Whether it’s physical attacks or magic or status effects, nothing poses a real threat. In no time at all, news spreads across the server about the adorable terror who can’t be defeated. While Maple may just be having fun, her broken build is sure to attract lots of unexpected attention.

Bofuri is an entertaining story that fans of online gaming and anime or manga like Sword Art Online will particularly enjoy. I liked the personality of Maple, and how the other gamers view her. I was expecting a bit more gamer animosity- only because that is what I see more of in the real world. I liked the way playing an MMO was framed- and it brought me back to my college days of computer lab hours playing text based versions of games (MUDS) just like this. I had never seen the webnovel version of this story, so it was all new to me. I thought it was fun, and I really enjoyed it. I did think there was going to be more illustrations- based on the cover and subject matter- but that was my preconceived notion rather than unfulfilled promises. I think that middle grade and middle school readers would enjoy the read just as much, if not more, than young adult readers. I would happily continue reading, and I wonder how the next event will go for the players. 

Early Book Review: A History of the Undead: Mummies, Vampires and Zombies by Charlotte Booth

A History of the Undead: Mummies, Vampires and Zombies by Charlotte Booth is a nonfiction book currently scheduled for release on January 31 2021. Are you a fan of the undead? Watch lots of Mummy, zombie and vampire movies and TV shows? Have you ever wondered if they could be 'real'? This book unravels the truth behind these popular reanimated corpses. Starting with the common representations in Western Media through the decades, we go back in time to find the origins of the myths. Using a combination of folklore, religion and archaeological studies we find out the reality behind the walking dead. You may be surprised at what you find.

A History of the Undead is an informative, entertaining, and engaging read. I like that the author acknowledges the amount of information of the subjects in the world, and that they are only tackling a fairly small segment of it. By focusing only on the subject in one part of the world she was able to get a great deal of detail about the undead in Western culture. If they had tried to tackle the whole world this would have had to be a multi-volume set. Although, I would not mind seeing this fleshed out to a more inclusive and expansive series including all cultures. I enjoyed seeing stories I knew from history, and some of the entertainment items I have enjoyed get mentioned. I was sad to see some things I thought would have added to the book left out (particularly a couple zombie books that stood out to me) and mentioning certain movies (like Dark Shadows) without referring to the television series that it was based on. However, I also got a chance to get the names for some books, movies, and games that I have missed over the years and will now get to enjoy. These subjects are vast, and while there where some missing things along the way, and some chooses in wording of information here or there that had me less than thrilled, I think the author did a good job of getting the information compiled in a readable and engaging fashion. The recovered English major that I am, I was thrilled to see proper citing of sources, et all. Way too often I see nonfiction materials for a variety of audiences that fail to do so. 

A History of the Undead is a well written and researched introduction to the evolution of mummies, zombies, and vampires in western cultures, entertainment, and media.

Book Review: Little Learning Labs: Unofficial Minecraft for Kids by John Miller, Chris Fornell Scott

Little Learning Labs: Unofficial Minecraft for Kids by John Miller and Chris Fornell Scott is a nonfiction book for children, but more so their adults. Balancing screen time can be difficult, especially when it comes to wildly popular, open-ended video games like Minecraft. Minecraft offers players an environment focused on exploration, imagination, and creation, but its nonlinear game structure can mean spending a lot of time in the game. The book by covering some common Minecraft language and examining each of the four game modes: survival, creative, adventure, and spectator. Then readers can use that information in the six different quests that encourage child and adult participation. The quests offer rewards as readers complete quests. Instruction includes how to screencast and narrate your own videos to share with family and friends.

Little Learning Labs: Unofficial Minecraft for Kids is a good resource for families that want a better understanding of Minecraft, want to learn and grow together, and want to make the most of the skills and entertainment that Minecraft can offer. I like that Minecraft is explained well, neither talking down to the reader or expecting too much prior knowledge. Sometimes it is hard to walk that line, fully explaining without being condescending. The information and tasks are well explained, and easy to follow. I really like how the book offers so many opportunities for non-screen based time, and time together as a family or a team.  The marshmallow catapult, sugar cube building, and shadow puppet projects were among my favorite, and I think would be a hit even without the Minecraft tie in. Many pages also offer a 'more to explore' suggestion and ideas on how to use the skills and information. The images and text boxes are balanced nicely, keeping the pages easy to read and not too crowded. I found the book as a whole to be well organized and informative, and I think it will help parents or teachers that want to better understand Minecraft and use it as a tool to better connect with the young people in their lives. Unfortunately, just as I get a handle on Minecraft my kiddos have moved on to other obsessions, but it might just come back around. 

Little Learning Labs: Unofficial Minecraft for Kids is a good starting point for parents or teachers that want to understand Minecraft while encouraging the young people in their lives to get the most out of their screen time.

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: Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku (Otaku Can't Fall in Love) by Fujita

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku is the first volume in the Otaku Can't Fall in Love manga by Fujita. This series was originally published in 2015, but the English translation was released in April of 2018. 

Narumi and Hirotaka are, by all appearances, a power couple. They're young, good-looking professionals. But they have secrets from everyone but each other: They're serious geeks! Narumi is a fujoshi, and Hirotaka's a hardcore gamer. Their sweet, awkward love story started life as a webcomic before becoming a full-blown manga series by popular demand, and is about to become a major anime series!

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku is a fun manga series that shows day in the life drama of gamers and geeks that are also friends. They might all have real jobs, and look professional, but they also love anime, games, or cosplay. I liked the story arch about them all trying to find their place in their friend group, and in relationships. It is complicated and sometimes cringe-worthy, just like real life. I liked the story and the characters, but to be honest I wanted more of the secondary couple, I found them to be a little more interesting, but as a whole the story was light and fun. I like that the book offered vocabulary and information for terms that casual readers might not already know or need some clarification on. I think I might follow up with the next book, or maybe I will wait for the anime. 

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.