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Fair Quest #1
The Crafting of Chess
Nate wants more to life than moving from town to town, hustling chess with his con-man grandfather or wagering pick-up games online. A new immersive game opens up the chance to bring in a steady paycheck. Maybe enough to convince his grandfather to stay straight. Little does he know how his actions will change his life.
A GameLit coming of age story.
A GameLit coming of age story.
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 19, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
March 16, 2019
Great tangencial story
I love it when authors are able to surprise me. Ignore the cover and the book blurb and get this book.
It very nearly earned 5 stars from me.
I love it when authors are able to surprise me. Ignore the cover and the book blurb and get this book.
It very nearly earned 5 stars from me.
April 14, 2020
Mini-Review:
4 Stars for Narration by Matthew Broadhead
3.5 Stars for Game Concepts
2.5 Stars for Uneven Story Progression
3.5 Stars for Chess
The title & idea behind Chess is cool. The LitRPG story has potential. It has an interesting setting and just enough to give you a vague outline of what's going on. Light game mechanics and cool spins on how to work with a interactive game world that is driven by the choices that all players make within the game. The author lost me with the multiple tangents thrown into the story. I would recommend on revamping the first book to focus on Chess because I liked seeing his POV of the real & game worlds. Small side jaunts to show the game company involvement was okay but the other stuff was just extra fluff that could have been shown from Chess' side and the extra info could have been turned into a nice short story or spin off series.
The story lost steam about halfway and tried to juggle too many "important" strings. The book ends on a terrible cliffhanger, and you get a note about signing onto the author's mailing list to get more information at some unknown date. Yay?
Until the story lost focus, I was very optimistic about the story and thinking I had a new author to keep an eye on. I will most likely pick up the sequel as long as I have Kindle Unlimited. I won't be as willing to spend money on an audiobook unless I'm confident the story is worth the money.
4 Stars for Narration by Matthew Broadhead
3.5 Stars for Game Concepts
2.5 Stars for Uneven Story Progression
3.5 Stars for Chess
The title & idea behind Chess is cool. The LitRPG story has potential. It has an interesting setting and just enough to give you a vague outline of what's going on. Light game mechanics and cool spins on how to work with a interactive game world that is driven by the choices that all players make within the game. The author lost me with the multiple tangents thrown into the story. I would recommend on revamping the first book to focus on Chess because I liked seeing his POV of the real & game worlds. Small side jaunts to show the game company involvement was okay but the other stuff was just extra fluff that could have been shown from Chess' side and the extra info could have been turned into a nice short story or spin off series.
The story lost steam about halfway and tried to juggle too many "important" strings. The book ends on a terrible cliffhanger, and you get a note about signing onto the author's mailing list to get more information at some unknown date. Yay?
Until the story lost focus, I was very optimistic about the story and thinking I had a new author to keep an eye on. I will most likely pick up the sequel as long as I have Kindle Unlimited. I won't be as willing to spend money on an audiobook unless I'm confident the story is worth the money.
March 3, 2019
A terrific book with a sympathetic protagonist and some of the best LitRPG I've read to date. It has better writing, more developed characters, and deeper resonance than pretty much anything I've encountered in this genre. It's not just gaming and the joys to be found there.
At its heart it is a political book, presented with a deft touch. It touches on topics of human dignity and family, abuse and dysfunction, trafficking and patterns of power. I reached the last page and was surprised not to find a list of bookclub topics on all these things and more, as the book expands beyond simple fun gameplaying and crafting (of which, it has tons as well). There are light digs at the media and at the dynamics of gaming communities and of political activism, although these are scattered away from the main story of a hard-working kid who takes on unglamorous jobs to try to build a better and more stable life for himself and his grandfather. And, yes, even that summary is misleading because this book took me places I did not expect and the climax was gut-wrenching, powerful, and surprising.
Critics might point out that the main character is a little too accomplished and too capable, but it's that gift that drives the story and it's certainly balanced by the world we get to explore through his eyes. He certainly goes through growth and change but this is accomplished lightly without hammering the reader over the head with uppercased moral-of-the-story clubs.
Many of the plot twists are exceedingly clever, including the subversion of a traditional dungeon crawl, which is one of my favorite parts, stealing as it does a little from Aesop but good stories, old stories, well travelled stories, are meant to inspire.
There are two viewpoint characters introduced beyond the main character. We don't get to spend much time with them and I hope there is a sequel where we can. This book is crying out for that sequel, to pay off the events of the last moments and the emotional costs and breakthroughs that would accompany such a development in real life. While the book can be considered standalone, it doesn't feel like the story is done yet and I hope the author agrees.
Recommended.
At its heart it is a political book, presented with a deft touch. It touches on topics of human dignity and family, abuse and dysfunction, trafficking and patterns of power. I reached the last page and was surprised not to find a list of bookclub topics on all these things and more, as the book expands beyond simple fun gameplaying and crafting (of which, it has tons as well). There are light digs at the media and at the dynamics of gaming communities and of political activism, although these are scattered away from the main story of a hard-working kid who takes on unglamorous jobs to try to build a better and more stable life for himself and his grandfather. And, yes, even that summary is misleading because this book took me places I did not expect and the climax was gut-wrenching, powerful, and surprising.
Critics might point out that the main character is a little too accomplished and too capable, but it's that gift that drives the story and it's certainly balanced by the world we get to explore through his eyes. He certainly goes through growth and change but this is accomplished lightly without hammering the reader over the head with uppercased moral-of-the-story clubs.
Many of the plot twists are exceedingly clever, including the subversion of a traditional dungeon crawl, which is one of my favorite parts, stealing as it does a little from Aesop but good stories, old stories, well travelled stories, are meant to inspire.
There are two viewpoint characters introduced beyond the main character. We don't get to spend much time with them and I hope there is a sequel where we can. This book is crying out for that sequel, to pay off the events of the last moments and the emotional costs and breakthroughs that would accompany such a development in real life. While the book can be considered standalone, it doesn't feel like the story is done yet and I hope the author agrees.
Recommended.
June 3, 2019
This was better than I expected but it could have been better. I don't care for cliffhangers the ending of this book seems rather abrupt. I would also have liked to see a bigger cast of characters who had meaning but everyone other than the MC seemed like throwaways.
I did enjoy how the MC's real life was interwoven with the game more often than not I don't really care what's happening in real life in litrpg books. I also liked that the MC was portrayed as this friendly but socially aloof and stuck with that characteristic; all too often authors describe their character one way but have them act opposite.
In the end the book is a little rough around the edges but a fun read.
I did enjoy how the MC's real life was interwoven with the game more often than not I don't really care what's happening in real life in litrpg books. I also liked that the MC was portrayed as this friendly but socially aloof and stuck with that characteristic; all too often authors describe their character one way but have them act opposite.
In the end the book is a little rough around the edges but a fun read.
January 2, 2021
Really good read
I really like the idea of you not trying to get in power but putting an NPC in power. So this is a different take on most lit RPGs. But it telegraph's the ending really hard so I can't really see myself doing more than three stars
I really like the idea of you not trying to get in power but putting an NPC in power. So this is a different take on most lit RPGs. But it telegraph's the ending really hard so I can't really see myself doing more than three stars
January 26, 2021
One of my favorite LitRPG journeys to date. Do not be turned off by the cover in the slightest because this is some of the most creative usages on the theme of chess in any book I have ever read. This book has it all: game functionality, complex character, intriguing political plot, development, and an inner sense of self-reflection upon completion. Poses many interesting questions. I would say it a flawless book, but the ending did seem to be a bit rushed.... However! An utterly fantastic read! For those looking to get into LitRPG, this is a must-read, but the LitRPG elements are, without a doubt, subdued.
March 2, 2020
Lovely story very high entertainment value, can't wait for whats next.
Not very detail obsessive so don't expect stat tables or even every last detail or attribute following an item being crafted.
Some editing issues but its good enough to look passed those.
Not very detail obsessive so don't expect stat tables or even every last detail or attribute following an item being crafted.
Some editing issues but its good enough to look passed those.
February 24, 2019
Quick, Enjoyable, Different
The Creating of Chess avoids the tropes that plague this genre. A little Ready Player One, a little August Rush and one part all its own, it's a fun read.
The characters are believable and interesting. The world is fun. The perspective is different. A great first offering (from an author who needs to make an author page on Amazon so he can be followed).
The book as a few typos. And for whatever reason NPCs is NPC when plural... but the typos are few enough that they can be overlooked for ups and downs of the story. It was refreshing not to be blasted with a character sheet every few pages or a harem of unending and successively less interesting sexual conquests.
The main character is likeable, naive and a bit flawed, but hardworking in a way that is appealing, which is an accomplishment since such a large portion of the book focuses on crafting.
Worth picking up for sure. Would love to see what happens next, though it seems like a stand alone offering.
The Creating of Chess avoids the tropes that plague this genre. A little Ready Player One, a little August Rush and one part all its own, it's a fun read.
The characters are believable and interesting. The world is fun. The perspective is different. A great first offering (from an author who needs to make an author page on Amazon so he can be followed).
The book as a few typos. And for whatever reason NPCs is NPC when plural... but the typos are few enough that they can be overlooked for ups and downs of the story. It was refreshing not to be blasted with a character sheet every few pages or a harem of unending and successively less interesting sexual conquests.
The main character is likeable, naive and a bit flawed, but hardworking in a way that is appealing, which is an accomplishment since such a large portion of the book focuses on crafting.
Worth picking up for sure. Would love to see what happens next, though it seems like a stand alone offering.
May 16, 2019
Exceeded my expectations
What a great book. Needs a sequel or epilogue though...
One of the conversations early on in the story does rather spoil the ending (its a bit obvious).
Looking forward to more.
What a great book. Needs a sequel or epilogue though...
One of the conversations early on in the story does rather spoil the ending (its a bit obvious).
Looking forward to more.
April 29, 2020
I dived in this book without knowing that it is book 1 of a series.
I loved the book and before talking more about it, I want to voice my complaint. I've a staunch belief that book 1 should never end in cliffhangers.
The ending is a borderline cliffhanger. Will give it a 5 star regardless.
I loved the economy aspect of the game. And I always love crafting stories.
The Two Week Curse made me fall in love with characters who are spending hours doing actual work in order to attain greatness. But in the Two Week Curse, and the subsequent books, the protagonists are nowhere near the best in the world. But they are just genius who bring knowledge and experience from their world to this new world.
In this book, the character is just hardworking in a world where everyone is playing a game. Plus he is polite. And more than his knowledge or experience, his politeness is what helps him more often than not. He becomes one of the best crafter in the world by the end of the book. But here comes a dilemma, what next? If he's already so good at crafting, it seems really difficult to think that the story has any scope to progress in terms of crafting and will have to give it a backseat to other aspects of the story. This is something that can make it or break it for me. Let's see how the writer continues it in book 2.
Another aspect of this book was the strategy. Not really as much as I expected. It is similar to Ritualist. The character gets lucky. Learns lot of things which just happened to be the things he needed to win later. Oversimplifying it but that's the gist. Right skills right time.
The last aspect of the story that I enjoyed a lot was the real world. Ritualist had just skipped it more or less in the start. Also, if there's such a great game, there might be developers too, right?
They need their story too, right? Another book that handled this perfectly was Catharsis.
Overall, there were so many enjoyable things in this book. Looking forward to book 2.
P.S.: This is a very clean LitRPG. We need more of these.
I loved the book and before talking more about it, I want to voice my complaint. I've a staunch belief that book 1 should never end in cliffhangers.
The ending is a borderline cliffhanger. Will give it a 5 star regardless.
I loved the economy aspect of the game. And I always love crafting stories.
The Two Week Curse made me fall in love with characters who are spending hours doing actual work in order to attain greatness. But in the Two Week Curse, and the subsequent books, the protagonists are nowhere near the best in the world. But they are just genius who bring knowledge and experience from their world to this new world.
In this book, the character is just hardworking in a world where everyone is playing a game. Plus he is polite. And more than his knowledge or experience, his politeness is what helps him more often than not. He becomes one of the best crafter in the world by the end of the book. But here comes a dilemma, what next? If he's already so good at crafting, it seems really difficult to think that the story has any scope to progress in terms of crafting and will have to give it a backseat to other aspects of the story. This is something that can make it or break it for me. Let's see how the writer continues it in book 2.
Another aspect of this book was the strategy. Not really as much as I expected. It is similar to Ritualist. The character gets lucky. Learns lot of things which just happened to be the things he needed to win later. Oversimplifying it but that's the gist. Right skills right time.
The last aspect of the story that I enjoyed a lot was the real world. Ritualist had just skipped it more or less in the start. Also, if there's such a great game, there might be developers too, right?
They need their story too, right? Another book that handled this perfectly was Catharsis.
Overall, there were so many enjoyable things in this book. Looking forward to book 2.
P.S.: This is a very clean LitRPG. We need more of these.
June 29, 2019
I hadn't heard of the LitRPG genre before I spotted this novel on Twitter. I started reading it with curiosity, but was soon absorbed, impressed and thoroughly enjoying it.
Young Nate lives with his grandfather just outside the law. He makes a little money playing chess in the park and online, but has bigger plans for a better life. He enters the new immersion game Fair Quest, taking Chess as his name, and using chess skills like strategic thinking and creative problem-solving, along with a few he's picked up hustling. As he begins to make an impact as a player, there are real world consequences.
I adored playing Fair Quest on Chess's shoulder. Lusania, the game's setting, is vivid with impeccable interior logic, and fascinating game play elements - in particular the dynamic between players and non-player characters. I'm more familiar with pen and paper RPG and board games than computer games, but the writing is so strong that I was with Chess all the way, and I was riveted.
The interplay between Chess's in-game activity and the wider game system is equally satisfying - the responses of Fair Quest's creators, managers, and player community have that great blend of unexpectedness and inevitability.
The Crafting of Chess has been a happy introduction to a whole new genre and to Kit Falbo, a writer to watch.
(I enjoyed this novel in paperback format, bought on Amazon.)
Young Nate lives with his grandfather just outside the law. He makes a little money playing chess in the park and online, but has bigger plans for a better life. He enters the new immersion game Fair Quest, taking Chess as his name, and using chess skills like strategic thinking and creative problem-solving, along with a few he's picked up hustling. As he begins to make an impact as a player, there are real world consequences.
I adored playing Fair Quest on Chess's shoulder. Lusania, the game's setting, is vivid with impeccable interior logic, and fascinating game play elements - in particular the dynamic between players and non-player characters. I'm more familiar with pen and paper RPG and board games than computer games, but the writing is so strong that I was with Chess all the way, and I was riveted.
The interplay between Chess's in-game activity and the wider game system is equally satisfying - the responses of Fair Quest's creators, managers, and player community have that great blend of unexpectedness and inevitability.
The Crafting of Chess has been a happy introduction to a whole new genre and to Kit Falbo, a writer to watch.
(I enjoyed this novel in paperback format, bought on Amazon.)
June 22, 2019
This book has a lot of the things I enjoy in a book, crafting, hidden quests, our main character going off and doing his own thing, and a lot more besides (including the author's trend of using the word besides when it should be beside).
This is definitely one of the better LitRPG books I've read this year, but if you're not a crafting kind of person, you may not agree.
This is definitely one of the better LitRPG books I've read this year, but if you're not a crafting kind of person, you may not agree.
Read
June 14, 2019Best crafter story in recent time.
The dynamic relationship between the players and the NPC was cool to read about and really realistic to how people would treat life like NPC.
Nate has been a blast to read about. He is smart, hard working and has distinct view of the world that I like. I loved his plan to win the game and his interactions with Jasper.
The ending was a real twist ending. Loved it
The dynamic relationship between the players and the NPC was cool to read about and really realistic to how people would treat life like NPC.
Nate has been a blast to read about. He is smart, hard working and has distinct view of the world that I like. I loved his plan to win the game and his interactions with Jasper.
The ending was a real twist ending. Loved it
May 31, 2019
The Crafting of Chess is a wonderfully written, compelling story of a gifted kid called Nate. Nate is a likeable but imperfect, and believable character who captures the reader’s attention from the opening pages. In general, I enjoyed the parts of the book that were set in the real world more than those in the game (there was a bit too much crafting for me), but the story held my attention throughout. In large part, this was due to the well-developed characters and exciting, converging storylines.
I liked this book quite a bit more than others I have read in the genre and would recommend it to anyone.
I liked this book quite a bit more than others I have read in the genre and would recommend it to anyone.
April 17, 2019
This book was a ton of fun, and frankly, it's one of my favorite fantasy reads ever. Other than Patrick Rothfuss, I can't think of another series where I immediately wanted to know when the next one would come out. The world was rich and interesting. Each plot twist kept me invested. I love a fantasy world that doesn't demand that the universe be at stake. I also enjoy the speculative aspects of the fiction that made the setting feel alive and complicated.
I found the read so satisfying, I immediately had to search out an RPG to play.
I was very impressed by the ease the plot, language and characters seemed to move with as the story developed.
That said, I had to give four stars, because the book needed a copy editor. There were multiple typos, homonyms and formatting errors. These things would be easy fixes, and each error takes you out of the story. I enjoyed this so much that I hope the author continues with the series. I'd buy the next one release day, no questions asked. But I also hope that the enthusiasm for this book will lead to an investment in a copy editor.
I found the read so satisfying, I immediately had to search out an RPG to play.
I was very impressed by the ease the plot, language and characters seemed to move with as the story developed.
That said, I had to give four stars, because the book needed a copy editor. There were multiple typos, homonyms and formatting errors. These things would be easy fixes, and each error takes you out of the story. I enjoyed this so much that I hope the author continues with the series. I'd buy the next one release day, no questions asked. But I also hope that the enthusiasm for this book will lead to an investment in a copy editor.
February 23, 2019
4.5 out of 5
A gem of a crafting novel.
Thoroughly enjoyable lightrpg novel. It’s not heavy on mechanics, but the story and world building are positives. I liked the NPCs and their viewpoint is represented. The real strength is the main POV character. I found Chess to be compelling, personable and worthy to follow along.
I also liked the other POV characters and stories, although one of the two is kind of dropped without a lot of resolution. There are minor grammatical mistakes, but nothing too jarring.
A gem of a crafting novel.
Thoroughly enjoyable lightrpg novel. It’s not heavy on mechanics, but the story and world building are positives. I liked the NPCs and their viewpoint is represented. The real strength is the main POV character. I found Chess to be compelling, personable and worthy to follow along.
I also liked the other POV characters and stories, although one of the two is kind of dropped without a lot of resolution. There are minor grammatical mistakes, but nothing too jarring.
March 30, 2019
An amazing gamelit story
I have to admit, I wasn't originally sold on the cover art, or title of this book, but I'd heard a few good things about it, so decided to give it a try, and I'm really glad I did.
The story focused on Chess, a gamer who focuses on crafting instead of combat, and the opportunities that opened up to him.
Chess and his grandfather lead a totally different life to most of the protagonists in gamelit stories, and that different perspective really sells this story.
I heartily recommend reading it, and I'm anticipating book 2!
I have to admit, I wasn't originally sold on the cover art, or title of this book, but I'd heard a few good things about it, so decided to give it a try, and I'm really glad I did.
The story focused on Chess, a gamer who focuses on crafting instead of combat, and the opportunities that opened up to him.
Chess and his grandfather lead a totally different life to most of the protagonists in gamelit stories, and that different perspective really sells this story.
I heartily recommend reading it, and I'm anticipating book 2!
April 16, 2019
Unique and amazing story
This is a unique and amazing story. I’ve not read one quite like Chess before, and absolutely loved it. I find myself both hoping for a sequel, and fine if there isn’t one. Its just that good and the story’s end point is near perfect. Yes, there’s still lingering questions, but I can completely see it being left as is. (Kidding, I really hope there’s a sequel!)
This is a unique and amazing story. I’ve not read one quite like Chess before, and absolutely loved it. I find myself both hoping for a sequel, and fine if there isn’t one. Its just that good and the story’s end point is near perfect. Yes, there’s still lingering questions, but I can completely see it being left as is. (Kidding, I really hope there’s a sequel!)
April 2, 2019
Great book
This is a wonderful standalone novel that makes good use of its litrpg status. It features plenty of crafting aspect with a bit of mystery and a of genuine feeling of life mixed all together. I look forward to reading anymore books from this author and hope you enjoy this story as much as I have.
This is a wonderful standalone novel that makes good use of its litrpg status. It features plenty of crafting aspect with a bit of mystery and a of genuine feeling of life mixed all together. I look forward to reading anymore books from this author and hope you enjoy this story as much as I have.
April 8, 2019
Great
Great book nice little twist at the end of the book. Only thing that detracted from it was some unnecessary words, use of the right word but wrong spelling of the word like "metal" versus "mettle." Also calling NPCs NPC when it should have been plural the entire book...
Other than those minor issues it was a great book. One of the better litrpg books I have read
Great book nice little twist at the end of the book. Only thing that detracted from it was some unnecessary words, use of the right word but wrong spelling of the word like "metal" versus "mettle." Also calling NPCs NPC when it should have been plural the entire book...
Other than those minor issues it was a great book. One of the better litrpg books I have read
April 13, 2019
An amazing story
I enjoy the crafting, intrigue and player NPC reactions. I think that this story has a lot of different things to draw readers in. You have the struggling teen; a hinted at crime story; AI and player interactions that will make you rethink your own gaming experiences. All in all I highly recommend this book
I enjoy the crafting, intrigue and player NPC reactions. I think that this story has a lot of different things to draw readers in. You have the struggling teen; a hinted at crime story; AI and player interactions that will make you rethink your own gaming experiences. All in all I highly recommend this book
April 17, 2019
So good I had to leave a review
Out of the almost a hundred litrpg books i have read this has been the only one to be so good i couldn't not leave a review, from the very first chapter the focus on the characters and crafting drew me into to a tale of absolute brilliance. If you like more story and people driven narratives this is a must read.
Out of the almost a hundred litrpg books i have read this has been the only one to be so good i couldn't not leave a review, from the very first chapter the focus on the characters and crafting drew me into to a tale of absolute brilliance. If you like more story and people driven narratives this is a must read.
May 10, 2019
A cleverly crafted game novel
As an avid gamer, I love the idea of LitRPG, and I'm glad this was my first one. The story is intriguing, the "gameplay" descriptive but not overwhelming, and the characters personable and realistic. Unfortunately, the constant barrage of typographical errors felt distracting, which is the only reason this is not a five-star read.
As an avid gamer, I love the idea of LitRPG, and I'm glad this was my first one. The story is intriguing, the "gameplay" descriptive but not overwhelming, and the characters personable and realistic. Unfortunately, the constant barrage of typographical errors felt distracting, which is the only reason this is not a five-star read.
April 4, 2019
Good solid book. In my opinion, in the top 5 of the genre.
It's a crafting book, but not that boring. Would recommend it to everyone who's a fan of non harem , over powers characters
It's a crafting book, but not that boring. Would recommend it to everyone who's a fan of non harem , over powers characters
March 4, 2019
Wow
OK this is without a doubt one of the best litrpg books I've read. The game world is quite different to the usual. Book 2 please
OK this is without a doubt one of the best litrpg books I've read. The game world is quite different to the usual. Book 2 please
March 6, 2019
Entertaining
Good juvenile fantasy. I liked the concentration on crafting and the general lack of gratuitous sex (a rare thing in litrpg today!)
Good juvenile fantasy. I liked the concentration on crafting and the general lack of gratuitous sex (a rare thing in litrpg today!)
March 11, 2019
Awesome heart warming story
This book is the best crafting litrpg I have read to date. I can not wait for the next book!
This book is the best crafting litrpg I have read to date. I can not wait for the next book!
March 31, 2019
Solid if predictable book
Decently believable character and well done npcs make this a pleasant of formulaic read. I will definitely be getting the second book.
Decently believable character and well done npcs make this a pleasant of formulaic read. I will definitely be getting the second book.
April 17, 2020
Good enjoyable read about a kid playing a new immersive litrpg to make money, whose background is petty scams such as chess hustling with his grandfather.
Fun read with a few bumps here and there in readability - but not enough to really slow you.
Having a character named Alerin King was VERY confusing, both within-world and as a reader. As a reader, what are you trying to say about Kong? It was unclear, so not sure why there was a pastiche. On the other hand, in-game you have someone in the role with the last name King? In a kingdom looking for a king? And nobody in that world thinks that's odd? While the grammar issues didn't slow me down, this definitely did.
Given the ending, this feels like it won't have a sequel. It also happened so suddenly, it feels like the author just ran out of steam somewhere. It's nice to read something that isn't part of an 80 book series, or even a trilogy, but another 50-75 pages here may have helped somewhat. Heck, edit out some of the things (the return of the female archer seems like a thread that was meant to be picked up, as was the troll and the merchant for blacksmithing supplies, or even whatever was going on with the demon, or the blue area where the wizard sends him, or the hunt for him in the real world or.....) to flesh out the main story.
Are we to believe he's going to go back in after the end? Will he keep crafting or play for fun? Or, as seems to be implied a few times, does he enjoy the crafting?
So, yeah. Definitely questions about that ending.
Fun read with a few bumps here and there in readability - but not enough to really slow you.
Having a character named Alerin King was VERY confusing, both within-world and as a reader. As a reader, what are you trying to say about Kong? It was unclear, so not sure why there was a pastiche. On the other hand, in-game you have someone in the role with the last name King? In a kingdom looking for a king? And nobody in that world thinks that's odd? While the grammar issues didn't slow me down, this definitely did.
Given the ending, this feels like it won't have a sequel. It also happened so suddenly, it feels like the author just ran out of steam somewhere. It's nice to read something that isn't part of an 80 book series, or even a trilogy, but another 50-75 pages here may have helped somewhat. Heck, edit out some of the things (the return of the female archer seems like a thread that was meant to be picked up, as was the troll and the merchant for blacksmithing supplies, or even whatever was going on with the demon, or the blue area where the wizard sends him, or the hunt for him in the real world or.....) to flesh out the main story.
Are we to believe he's going to go back in after the end? Will he keep crafting or play for fun? Or, as seems to be implied a few times, does he enjoy the crafting?
So, yeah. Definitely questions about that ending.
July 4, 2019
Pretty awesome
This was a really well written story. There are editing glitches in more than one place but it wasn't nearly enough to seriously impact my attention to the story. I would very much like to see a sequel because I want to see how the MC's life turns out and to find out whether his life played out the way I suspect.
Obviously the characters got me involved in the story and the outcomes. I was even concerned by the end with the life of the AI generated characters. The real world was represented realistically and while it is dark, there is a strong appeal in the true.
The ending shocked me even though I saw it coming. The child's life seems ruined and maybe saved at the same time. Not from altruism or concern for his welfare but thoughtlessly because of an intra-office feud at a gaming company. I was blown away.
I wasn't all that excited by the last LitRPG book that I read but in reading this I think I see why. You can do most anything (within the rules) in the game world and that works as long as the characters observe the rules of the real world outside the game. I think that I'm going to try more of the genre and hope also that this story continues.
This was a really well written story. There are editing glitches in more than one place but it wasn't nearly enough to seriously impact my attention to the story. I would very much like to see a sequel because I want to see how the MC's life turns out and to find out whether his life played out the way I suspect.
Obviously the characters got me involved in the story and the outcomes. I was even concerned by the end with the life of the AI generated characters. The real world was represented realistically and while it is dark, there is a strong appeal in the true.
The ending shocked me even though I saw it coming. The child's life seems ruined and maybe saved at the same time. Not from altruism or concern for his welfare but thoughtlessly because of an intra-office feud at a gaming company. I was blown away.
I wasn't all that excited by the last LitRPG book that I read but in reading this I think I see why. You can do most anything (within the rules) in the game world and that works as long as the characters observe the rules of the real world outside the game. I think that I'm going to try more of the genre and hope also that this story continues.
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