Book Review: Immersion Online: The Noob by Evan Klein (Immersion Online Book 1)

     When Mace is forced to retire from the police force by his long-time friend and previous partner Haggarty after a heart attack he isn't sure what he is going to do. Let alone how he is going to help his daughter, Amber, with college expenses as promised. That is until Haggarty says that he can get him on as a constable for the VR game: Immersion Online. Mace had never been big on gaming, even though he grew up in a time when it was prominent, so this would be a new experience. Once he gets online he is immediately thrown into battle and begins earning XP. However, there seems to be more to this game than meets the eye as the NPCs are self aware and things are happening that weren't programmed. Can the skills from his lifetime help him face the new challenges of this world? 

    I was sent a physical copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. 

    Somehow before the past 6 months I had never read any LitRPG books. Don't ask me how considering how many books I read as well as the fact that both I and my husband are gamers. He is actually playing DND on his desktop beside me as I write this with his buddies. I have decided that it is now one of my new favorite genres. 

    This book needs some editing, but after speaking with the author last night shortly after I finished the book he told me that the eBook has already received editing. I have a physical copy (YAY ME!!!) and it didn't receive that by the time it was published. Honestly, even with the editing issues it rarely detracts from the story. I can only think of 2 instances: one was when the word apoplectic was used instead of apologetic. It confused me simply because one possible definition of apoplectic is angered or enraged. And yes, I looked up the definition because I have no shame in admitting it wasn't one I was familiar with. The second was the first time we let the pretty boy NPC. The "whilst" did it for me. I kept reading it as "while-st". This one I am not sure if it was intentional or not, but it threw me. 

    Those are the only bad things I have to say about this book. I love the full immersion in RPG games and think it would be a lot of fun to actually be able to do things like this. The auto log-off after a certain amount of time was certainly a nice touch, although one that I am sure many gamers would have problems with.  

    Our main character, Mace, is an older guy who only has his daughter left in his life after his wife died years before and he is forced into retirement. I am sure the initial betrayal stung on that one. Then, having never been a techy before, he is thrust into an online gaming world having no idea what to do and trying to fend for himself. He had discussed the basics with his friend before logging in and he had his personal assistant until level 15 in the starter town, but it is still a bit experience change. I loved that Mace treated the NPCs as lives that were worth saving instead of lines of coding. 

    This game seems to be a continuous play kind of game. So everyone has their own experiences. You don't receive the same tasks and choices made in the game actually affect the NPCs lives going forward. All in all I love the concept and the execution of this LitRPG so far. I am very curious where this will take a turn for in the future. I will be receiving the ARC of book 2 shortly as it will be released on Sept 19 and I want to have the review ready for launch. I am already excited for book 2 and hope that we see more of my favorite character, Hearn, in the future. The fact that the game had a mind of itself is great. Got to love it when technology grows sentient. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $0.99 (eBook) by clicking here. This book is available on Kindle Unlimited. 

Books by this author: 

Immersion Online: The Zealot (Book 2)

Immersion Online: The Symbiont (Book 3)

Immersion Online: The Herald (Book 4)