Book Review: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman (Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 1)

 Genre: LitRPG • Sci-Fi Fantasy • Apocalypse Adventure

Tropes: Dungeon Crawl, Alien Invasion, Survival Game, Talking Animal Companion, Dark Humor, Reality TV Apocalypse, Leveling System, Found Family

Spice Level: None

Format: Audiobook

Series: Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 1

    When The Flattening happened, Carl was outside in nothing but boxers, a jacket, and his girlfriend’s too-small Crocs trying to coax her prize-winning cat out of a tree during the coldest night of the year. Then every building on Earth vanished. Aliens have arrived, civilization has collapsed, and the only chance humanity has to survive is entering massive underground dungeons scattered around the globe. If humanity can clear every level, they get to keep Earth.

    Simple, right? Now Carl and Princess Donut—yes, the cat—must descend floor by floor through a televised apocalypse filled with monsters, traps, insanity, and an AI host that may be having entirely too much fun watching humanity suffer-and a weird fetish.

    Welcome to the dungeon, crawler.

    I absolutely love LitRPGs, and this series had been floating around my book group forever before I finally gave in and started it. My husband had technically started it first but never finished… until I bullied him into continuing because I needed someone else to witness the chaos. And chaos is truly the best word for this book.

    Princess Donut Queen Anne Chonk, Best in Dungeon is hands-down one of the greatest characters I’ve ever encountered in a LitRPG. She starts off delightfully obnoxious, overly dramatic, and completely ridiculous—but somehow becomes impossible not to love almost immediately.

    Book one mainly establishes Carl, Donut, and Mordecai while throwing them headfirst into complete madness. Between murderous monsters, explosive combat, bizarre dungeon mechanics, and an AI obsessed with feet for reasons I genuinely do not want explained, the humor in this series is unmatched. The dark comedy absolutely lands.

    One minute you’re laughing at Donut demanding proper recognition and the next you’re witnessing horrifying dungeon brutality. Somehow the series balances absurdity and violence perfectly without losing momentum.

    I listened to this on audiobook and immediately started book two the second it ended. The narration is phenomenal. The narrator gives Carl this Kronk-esque energy that somehow works perfectly, and now I genuinely cannot imagine Carl sounding any other way. Donut’s voice is equally iconic.  And yes—Donut talks. A magical pet biscuit gives her sentience, and from that point onward the series becomes even more unhinged in the best possible way.

    This book ends with Carl and Donut descending to the next floor, already mildly traumatized and wildly underprepared for what’s coming next. Unfortunately for them—and fortunately for us—it only gets worse from there. The combination of nonstop action, dark humor, ridiculous dungeon mechanics, explosive violence, and genuinely lovable characters makes this one of the strongest LitRPG starters I’ve ever read. Add in the unusual detail of Carl being former Coast Guard instead of the typical overpowered military archetype, and the whole thing just feels fresh.

    At this point my ringtone, notification sound, and phone background are all Dungeon Crawler Carl themed, so I think it’s safe to say this series consumed my personality a little bit. No regrets. I don’t feel like I need to say that I will be reading on in this series, because who could possibly stop after book one? After all crawlers, we have to get out there are “Kill, Kill, Kill!” There isn’t a thing I would change about these books and will be sad when I run out of them. Side note. I MAY have a DCC tee shirt on that says "I AM YELLING, CARL" as I write this...

You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• LitRPG and dungeon crawl stories
• Dark humor mixed with brutal survival
• Talking animal companions
• Reality TV-style apocalypse settings
• Explosive action and nonstop chaos
• Alien invasion stories
• Video game leveling systems
• Audiobooks with incredible narration
• Found family dynamics
• Ridiculous humor alongside real emotional stakes

An absolutely chaotic LitRPG masterpiece full of explosions, monsters, dark comedy, and one unforgettable talking cat.

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Carl's Doomsday Scenario (Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 2)

Book Review: Dungeon Incursions by Adam Bright (Dungeon Incursions Book 1)

Author: Adam Bright

Genre: Apocalyptic LitRPG

Tropes: System Apocalypse, Dungeon Breaks, Party Formation, Real-World Setting, Skill Progression

Spice Level: None

Format: eBook

Series: Dungeon Incursions Book 1

    On the way home from archery practice, Lance and his friends witness monsters attacking their town and instinctively jump into action. When their kills immediately reward them with coins, it becomes clear that the world as they knew it is over. The apocalypse has begun—ushering in dungeon incursions and a game-like system in classic LitRPG fashion.

    This is a fun, fast-paced post-apocalyptic LitRPG that starts right at the moment everything falls apart. There are no system prompts, no lengthy explanations, and no dramatic speeches—just monsters suddenly invading a quiet town and chaos unfolding in real time. While I haven’t read a huge number of LitRPGs set in the modern real world, they remain some of my favorites, and this one fits squarely into that niche.

    That said, there were a few elements that felt odd to me. Most notably, there are no visible stat sheets. Characters can tell they’re improving their skills through use, but they can’t see numerical levels or progress bars. Additionally, all upgrades are coin-based, and arrows cannot be retrieved when looting, effectively making them single-use items. I personally would have liked to at least see an option to purchase stat sheets or system access through the in-game shop—even if that wasn’t available immediately.

    A quick heads-up: this is a very short read at just 112 pages. Book one focuses almost entirely on establishing the party, lightly sketching out the characters, and completing an initial dungeon run. Very little happens beyond setup. I do already have book two, so I’m hoping the story gains more depth and momentum as the series progresses.

    One final note: the MMC was my least favorite character in the book. He’s abrasive and honestly kind of a jerk, and I’m very much hoping for significant character development moving forward.

You’ll like this book if you enjoy:

• System apocalypse stories that start immediately when the world ends
• LitRPGs set in the modern, real world
• Dungeon incursions and early party formation
• Fast, easy reads that focus on setup rather than deep lore
• Skill-based progression without heavy stat crunching

This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Dungeon Incursions Book 2 

Dungeon Incursions Book 3

Book Review: Crew of Exiles by Neal Holtschulte

     Beryl was a transcendent being and had long since moved beyond the insignificance of Earth. After committing the ultimate crime, assisted suicide of another transcendent being, he is being punished to live the next 1,000 years as a mortal. No leaving Earth and in a body. Countless memories were dumped to fit his consciousness into the fleshy prison his own brother made for him, but his anger remained. When he arrives on Earth it is devoid of all human life until he happens across another in VR. Together they form a party, Beryl quite unwillingly, to save themselves. 

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. It is a Sci-Fi with VR points that follows a pompous ass, a peppy gamer girl, a ship worker, and another transcendent being's sentient creation. We discover more and more about Beryl as the book goes along, but he is definitely one of those characters you love to hate. 

    At the beginning he is all pomp, attitude, and ego. However, as we learn more about him he becomes more relatable and you no longer dislike his instances. Given, we don't know everything he lost by becoming mortal, but he ends up doing a decent job of it by the end even with the pieces of himself he has left. 

    Fife is easily my favorite. Yes, she is the peppy gamer. She has spent her entire life (however long that may be as humans can now be bred to be essentially immortal) in VR knowing that she will eventually be the heir to some kind of major corporation. She has played and beat hundreds if not thousands of games and is a great leader. Now, she has to take these skills into the real world where there is no respawn if she messes up with someone who doesn't want to be there.    

    I feel this book wrapped up nicely and while I don't know if it is part of a series or not it has the potential to lead to more adventures down the road with how it closed. I definitely wouldn't be against more from them. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $5.99 by clicking here.  

Books by this author: 

Tall Boy Sun 

Book Review: Darklands Online by David J Bushman (Darklands Online Book 4)

     After the challenges in both the real world and the game after facing the Ithkari Kurt has taken a step back from Darklands. In fact, he hadn't had a desire to rejoin the game since. But, when the Goddess decided to call him from his computer, offering the one thing he could possibly want, he had no choice but to rejoin. Upon re-entering the game he quickly found a bounty placed on his head. Can Kurt and his friends achieve the Goddess' goals so Kurt can be reunited with the one lost?

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I need to start by saying this book CANNOT be read as a stand-alone. You HAVE to read the others first. That being said, they are all on Kindle Unlimited and beyond worth the read. Personally, I have read the audiobooks each time and they are amazing. I tried to be vague in my above summary in case there were newbie's to this book. Anything beyond this point is likely to include spoilers about books 1-3. Not intentional, it's just going to happen. Feel free to check out thoughts on those books with links at the bottom. 

    This book picks up basically after Greg's death. Kurt is mourning the loss, as can be expected. He doesn't have any intention of going back to the place where he last seen his brother, not even thinking of the friends he had made there. It just wasn't a priority. When he is offered the chance to see his brother again he will take it no matter how remote the possibility actually is. Once back into the game while trying to be up with his friends Kurt finds a bounty on his head. With a revenant intent on killing him, programmers pulling out all the stops to contain him, and gamers also looking to collect on his bounty it is only a matter of time before he dies. But, the prize at the end is worth it, if he can survive. 

    We have most of our favorite characters from the other books in this one as well as a few new additions. As always, I loved the books and can't wait for literally anything else this author publishes. There is action, adventure, the tidbits of romance, and of course loss. Kurt is a far cry from the noob he once was to this game, but the challenges never stop. I can't wait to find out what will happen next with the ending we got here. Yup, as always it was a cliffhanger of the best kind. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Darklands Online Book 1

Darklands Online Book 2

Darklands Online Book 3

The Guy Who Accidentally Started the Apocalypse 

Book Review: The Guy Who Accidentally Started the Apocalypse by David Bushman

     When Cameron gave a coupon for a free sub to a homeless man and the self-proclaimed wizard gifted him a wishing-stone in return he thought it was nothing more than the ramblings of a crazy person. But, when he idly wishes to live a life like those in the post-apocalyptic LitRPG he was listening to his wish was granted. Now, most of Earth's population has been decimated by living plants intent to turn those that remain into zombie-like creatures. With the help of a higher sentient being Cameron begins upgrading himself with no real fear of dying, due to respawn abilities. Can the surviving members make a dent in the alien surge to reclaim their homes? 

    I received a copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review. I adore this author's writings and was excited to receive this book. The desire to just read this and little else was strong, although I normally read multiple books at once. Still, I haven't had the time to sit and actually write up the review until now, even though the book was finished August 2nd. (Yes, I am the weird person who has a physical notebook filled with the exact dates that I read every book. It dates all the way back to July 2017.) 

    This book is a great combination of the real world LitRPG and VR gaming experience. I haven't read something quite like it within my delves into post-apocalyptic LitRPG and gaming books. I love all of these genres and a mash-up was a yes, please. The author did an amazing job of combining these along with adding in his own personal sense of humor we enjoyed in his other books. 

    Although there is plenty of meat to this story it will absolutely leave you wanting more. Unfortunately, the next book is not out yet and to my knowledge we have not received a pending release date. That being said, there is plenty of action in this book, of all types. 

    The only point of confusion I have in this book is the age of the main character. At the beginning he seems middle aged. While he does receive enhancements throughout the book, I don't know if they ever actually confirmed his age. It did not take anything away from the story by any means, but I was curious. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Darklands Online Book 1

Darklands Online Book 2

Darklands Online Book 3

Darklands Online Book 4

Path of Relics: Aether Shard by DJ LeJeune (The Lore Seeker Odyssey Book 1)

     Terry was a low-level gurker, going from short term gig to short term gig. Anything to stay out of communal living and in his apartment, small as it was. With the newest natural disaster causing a dam to break the inhabitants have come to his city and there are no jobs to be had. However, the launch of a new game, Path of Relics, has extended to him an invitation to participate in their battle royal launch with famous VR gamers. While skeptical Terry decides to join only to find that the in game events may have something to do with the outside world disasters. Can he stop whatever has gone so wrong with this AI?

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I actually finished this book back in March (March 23) and swore I had already typed up a review for it. However, the author brought it to my attention that the book was missing from my to be read page and wasn't in my reviews. I searched everywhere for the review and I couldn't find it. So, I either typed it and it got lost to the ether or I just thought I did and didn't. Either is completely possible. 

    This book was amazing and I loved it from start to finish. In game decisions having affects on the real world is an intriguing thought that you don't see often. A rogue AI, sure. But each VR gaming book has it's own spin and I completely enjoyed this one. I genuinely hope that I get to read more on this book series in the future. 

    The story was well written and engaging. The main character, Terry, developed relationships with both the NPCs and the other players in ways that weren't always expected. Path of Relics ends in a good place. The main issue of this story was resolved with still plenty to go on to continue the book into the future. Fingers crossed for he and Zara who I was holding out hope for from the beginning. 

    How levels are gained based on the player was also interesting. I will let you learn about that one yourself. Great book and I look forward to reading more in the future!

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: Immersion Online: The Herald by Evan Klein (Immersion Online Book 4)

     Mace has battled skelters, dealt with the early opening of a cave, almost died at the hands of the Glimmerman and a serial killer since he became the constable for the online gaming platform Immersion Online. Now, he must gather the last of the 5 family members: Mother, Rose, Auntie, Cousin, and Daughter to face the demon god Alitrax. With the new powers bestowed on his character by the Silver Lady he should be able to overcome any obstacle. After all, he is a level 250 herald now. But will it be enough for what lies in wait?  

    I received an ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have loved every one of these books, to varying degrees, and am sad to see the series come to a close. I hope for good things in the future from this author and wonder what other avenues he plans to pursue. I honestly wasn't sure how he was going to be able to tie all the loose ends in this book together in just one book, but he managed it. 

    Once more we have my original favorite character Hearn in this book. He plays an active role in quite a few scenes and while I don't love his ending it fits well with the storyline. I wish we had a bit more details on what happened with Rhia, but I will let you find out what I mean about that for yourself. 

    I am really proud of Amber for how she handled the fallout of book 3 in this. Finding yourself thrown into the limelight seems like it would be unpleasant. Tinsie is still amazing, but she seems a bit darker in this book. I am curious about what happens with her due to something that happened to her in this book, but I don't know that we will get an answer on that. Depends on what the author decides to do in the future. Havervill is his normal quippy and frustrating self, although the wedding threw me a bit. You'll see what I mean. 

    All of these books are available on Kindle Unlimited and I hope you check them out. Personally I have the physical copies of the first three (sent to me by the amazing Evan Klein) and I love them. While I received this book as an ARC I received it a few days before launch and didn't have time to finish it before launch. The book was released on Aug 31, so start whenever you're ready!

    This book is available on Amazon for $1.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

The Noob (Immersion Online Book 1)

The Zealot (Immersion Online Book 2)

The Symbiont (Immersion Online Book 3)

Book Review: Cyber Squad Level 3 by Anna Mocikat (A.K. Mocikat) (Cyber Squad Book 3)

 

   Nothing is as it seems. Kai has been told this by everyone since he started working for Helteck and the longer he is there the more this seems true. From VR secrets, a God in the Machine, and even the people that surround him on a daily basis. Is there anyone that isn't deceiving others in some way and can be trusted? Better yet, will Kai survive long enough to achieve his goal of being a level ten tester one day? 

    I received this book as an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. This book cannot be read as a stand-alone, but never fear. All three books are available on Kindle Unlimited. Or you could buy them, which I would personally suggest. I told my husband I intend to get physical copies of all the Mocikat books and he asked me what the point was since I have all the digital. Obviously I need them so I can look at how pretty they are on my shelf and read them when I don't want the screen. 

    With each book in this series Kai's life progressively gets better and yet more chaotic at the same time. There is a twist in this book and it sets up for the next book nicely. I hope that Kai is able to realize it before it is too late! But with everything else he has on his plate it may take longer than normal. 

    The setting in this book is amazing, you feel like you can actually see the games being tested and each instance throughout the book. Mocikat does a wonderful job of putting you into the story. I will say that this book focuses more on the romance aspect than the other books, but it plays well into the storyline. Who do you think Kai will choose? Alice, the beautiful level ten with the crazy boyfriend? Maeve, the sexy and curvy goth girl with a thing for virgins? Or someone who has yet to announce their feelings?

    I am really curious about Stan for some reason in this book. He's been in all the books and is the teams mascot porn-star princess, but I wonder if they are going to meet up in real life. I don't see any of the team going to Australia, but maybe he will come to them. This book does end on a cliffhanger and leaves you wanting more. I'm not sure when we will be getting book 4, but I'm sure Anna will have something in one of her series coming out for us within the next six months. I believe she said more Behind Blue Eyes is next!

    This book is available on Amazon for $3.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Shadow City (Shadow City Book 1)

Dark City (Shadow City Book 2)

Behind Blue Eyes (Behind Blue Eyes Book 1)

Fallen Angels (Behind Blue Eyes Book 2)

War Games (Behind Blue Eyes Book 3)

The Tigress (Behind Blue Eyes Book 5)

Level 1 (Cyber Squad Book 1)

Level 2 (Cyber Squad Book 2)

Nephilim Volume 1

Nephilim Volume 2

Nephilim Volume 3

Space Punks

Nightingale's Song (Space Punks Book 2)

Neon Nights (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 1)

Neon Dreams (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 2)

Neon Fever (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 3)

Book Review: Ataris Station by Justin Knight

     An experience that will revolutionize gaming is about to be released: the first fully immersive VR horror survival and four lucky testers will be randomly selected to enter the game on a live stream. Ataris Station is going to be the next best thing, but when someone begins hacking the game lives are soon at risk. Can Dirk and his fellow testers make it through the game and come out the winners or will this be the last game they ever play? 

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have been on a bit of a LitRPG and VR gaming book binge recently, so if you're getting tired of all the posts about them I apologize in advance. There will be another review on another coming in the next few days. However, these books are all amazing and I have yet to find a gaming book I haven't loved. This book is no exception. 

    With a lot of VR games VR has been around for a while in the books and is commonplace. In this book it is still in development and early release. It plunges in with the worst case scenario and I loved that about it. There was also the fact that the monsters on each level had similar characteristics while being different. None were exactly alike which kept the story from being repetitive. The little details like how the players could smell things in VR as well as experience touch and the like through electronic pulses was a great touch, helping immerse the reader. Unlike a lot of other gaming books the characters in this book are all adults in their late 20s to early 30s. 

    Dirk was easily my favorite character. I have a bit of a spot for military guys so him being ex army was helpful. Plus he had a sense of humor, even in bad situations. I am curious what the creatures were like on the two levels that were skipped during the book, but I understand that they weren't pertinent to the storyline. As terrible as it is to say one of the deaths that happened in this book I wasn't in the least torn up about. I am sure you will know who I am referring to once you read it. 

    All in all this was a great book and I look forward to more from this author. This book does resolve the main storyline with just enough left over that the author could branch this into a series if he so desired. If he chose to do so it is decidedly one I would enjoy reading. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $4.00 by clicking here. 

Books by this author: 

Escape from Crescendo Station One

Book Review: The Nexus Knight by Shami Stovall (The Nexus Games Book 2)

 

    After the end of game two in the Nexus games Alex Kellan finds himself back in the Oasis. Since finding himself in the Nexus he has found previously unknown to gamers gold arcana, his team has gotten two keys, and is levelling up his new magic. While he didn't choose to come to this odd and bloody place he is adjusting and is determined to win the games. Now more than ever. The Fleetis Dominion cannot be allowed access to Zenith or they will be able to control all the dimensions. Will Kellan's decision to team up with possible comrades with similar goals end in destruction or push them all closer to the 5 needed keys?

    I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Originally I planned to have it ready by launch, but I didn't get it until a few days before release and with everything going on in my personal life there was simply no way for that time frame. That being said I loved this book just as much as I loved book one. 

    Kellan's sense of humor has not changed and Bitzo remains my favored character. He is truly mad and demented and I adore it. I don't know why, because the man is very mentally unstable, but he's amusing. He's like a train wreck in action. You simply can't look away. The blatant and unapologetic nature of the teams captain still bothers me. She is snobby and I low-key hate her. 

    This book included 3 games and a bonus round ending the first half of the Nexus games. I can't wait to see what happens in book 3, whenever it eventually comes out! So far everything I have read by Shami has been great and I look forward to working with her again in the future. She does an amazing job of setting the scene so you have the movie playing continuously in your head without having to grasp for details. Nor do you feel bogged down with too many minute instances. All in all everything flows well together and leaves you wanting more. 

    I am happy to say I have a physical copy of this book on it's way to me right now and can't wait to add it to my Indie Author bookshelf! Definitely going to be a series I read time and again. This book cannot be read without first reading book one, but they are both worth your time. Don't be daunted by their page number. The pages will end far quicker than you are ready for!

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or buy it on Amazon for $5.99 by clicking here. 

Other Books by this author: 

The Final Decree

The Nexus Games (The Nexus Games Book 1)

Book Review: DarkLands Online Book 3 by David J. Bushman

     Kurt is becoming more and more familiar with DarkLands Online, but has decided the goddess should no longer be his only option for levelling. Instead, he enters into a battle for the Ithkari championship event going on within the game with his friends, Carmen, Bhae, and Greg. Between the challenges and a group of players determined to kill him no matter what this session is bound to get exciting. Can Kurt become the Ithkari champion while forging his own path? 

    I received a copy of this audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review. I loved books one and two of this series and was looking forward to this book. It did not disappoint, although I feel like details from the epilogue of the last book was not addressed in this one. This is not a book you can read as a standalone. You will need to read the other books first, but trust me when I say they are beyond worth it. Links for my reviews for them are below. 

    The thing that was not addressed in this book was he was locked out of the game. His account blocked. I thought this was going to be addressed because this book starts with him playing a CoD rip off, but that's not the case. We eventually get back to the programmers, but not with enough details to seem like anything is being accomplished on that front. Not that I am complaining. It is an interesting little tidbit, but Kurt being in the game is kind of the whole point. 

    There were plenty of exciting things that happened both inside and out of the game in this book, as well as a terrible cliffhanger. Not terrible in that I hated it, more concerning and leaves you wanting the next book. 

    While in the game the Ithkari aspect that began in book two is expanded upon with more abilities and a PvP tournament. I can't say I expected how the tournament progressed or ended. It was refreshing from a lot of other gaming things. You'll see what I mean when you read it. We also expand a bit more on Kurt and Bhae. I am a bit curious about what she is like IRL and hope this will be addressed at some point since we know Kurt is in high school. I can't imagine she is much older, but still. I'm curious. 

    Also, I am curious on the quest they were working on. Since they didn't get to turn it in are they going to hatch? Are they lost forever because of what happened? I don't know yet. Hopefully we don't have to wait too long to learn more of the story. 

    The goddess wasn't as big of a player in this book as she was in the others. This in no way took away from the drama that unfolded, and allowed the main character options on how to move forward. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. This book is available on Kindle Unlimited. 

Books by this author: 

Darklands Online Book 1

Darklands Online Book 2

Darklands Online Book 4

Book Review: The Eye of Minds by James Dashner (The Mortality Doctrine Book 1)

     Michael lives as much of his free time as possible in the VertNet inside his coffin. Here he can browse the web, play games with his friends, and much more all in stunning and realistic virtual reality. When he is tasked to save a random from jumping and committing suicide in the game things get real quickly. She pulls her core which stops her brain from realizing its a game and kills herself for real. Shortly after the government tasks Michael and his friends with finding the person who drove her and many others to permanent suicide. They must find Kane and allow the security to access his inner coding. What they find may be much worse than they are willing to handle. 

    This book was suggested to me on LikeWise because of my recent spiral into VR books. I have read bits and pieces of the Maze Runner (I own them and will get to it. But, I made the mistake of watching the movie first so it's hard to separate what I seen on the screen.) and have enjoyed them so seeing this was by James Dashner was an immediate yes for me. I was not disappointed as it was an exciting book with twists I did not immediately expect. 

    As with a lot of VR books this is a Young Adult book. We follow a teenager through a virtual reality setting with his friends as they track down s big bad in an attempt to help the good guys. These teenagers are skilled coders and that is an important tidbit within the book. In a way I expected the big twist in the book, while they were going through the challenges, but not enough to believe in it completely. One of the twists in the book, about Kane, was painfully obvious from the beginning though. Maybe because of how many VR books I've been reading recently. 

    The characters are well developed and have mindsets that you would expect of teenagers. One is obsessed with his looks. Another is a bit of a nerd. And the girl doesn't want attention drawn to her looks only wants to play games and have fun. The explaining away of adults in their lives is interesting as well as the time passing in the same format in the VertNet as it does in the real world. I couldn't imagine living in a coffin while playing a game for multiple days on end. I can't say I wouldn't enjoy being in a coffin. 

    This book wraps up most of the big questions while still leaving plenty unresolved to be able to continue on into the series. I haven't decided yet if I am going to read the other two books in it yet. It is possible, but I don't know. I'm not adverse to it, at least. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $8.99 by clicking here. 

Book Review: The Many Sins of Rein City by J. R. Plangman

     Sasha is a home-schooled high-schooler whose entire life is within the four walls of her house and the Net. Since her father had programmed their Toby to not allow her out of the house Sasha's favorite pass-time was low grade hacking with her friends online. Afterall, her body was wired with the needed cables to just load into the net like everyone else. Why not do a little coding and see what she could do. It was more exciting than Toby's lectures anyways. The worst she would get is a red mark on her account, which she could appeal to have removed. Things likely never would have progressed beyond that if her friend, Rei, hadn't mysteriously disappeared from the Net one day. Rei never would have just left without a word. Something must have happened and in her quest to find her friend Sasha will find more than she ever could have imagined. 

    I received a copy of this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. Ever since I discovered the VR and LitRPG genres I have been devouring anything I can find in them, be it traditionally published or Indie. Primarily Indie since that is a lot of what I read. When I received this request I was excited to begin it and the book held up it's end of the bargain. 

    As with a lot of the VR books I have read it is a teenager. However, this book isn't set entirely online as some books are. Instead it is set primarily in Rein City with multiple scenes in the net. I also see this book as a bit post-apocalyptic although I am not sure of any cataclysmic event that happened that lead to the way things are in this book. Such as mega cities surrounded by a wall to stop further expansion and you must have papers to enter or exit said city. I couldn't imagine that. I don't even like going to the next closest big city to me, Indianapolis. 

    Toby was my favorite character in this book, even though he is an AI. He has a lot of personality and independent thoughts. To a degree. It doesn't sit well with me that his personality was so easily altered in this book, but I understand and it did go with the flow of the story. It just seemed wrong to mess with something that was a part of him, even if it was something programmed into him at an earlier time. 

    There were things in this book that both surprised me and didn't. I expected something to be happening to the Chinese, but not quite what was. I suspected two of the people involved, but not to the extent. I didn't give a thought to the background of one of those people and the impact that had. Nor did I expect all the details that made up that character. They were definitely an interesting character and one that I loved to hate. It was simply too easy to hate them. What happened to Rei was a bit expected as well, although I am sorry it did. 

    I enjoyed this book from start to finish, even the expected parts. There was enough mystery in the pages to keep you reading and entertained till the very end. 

    This book is available on Kindle Unlimited or you can buy it on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. 

Books by this author:

The Endless War of Edward the Last

Book Review: The Nexus Games by Shami Stovall (The Nexus Games Book 1)

     After carrying the corpses of his two brother's in arms for days to make sure they came home from a mission Alex Kellan is on mandatory leave, stateside. On Christmas. For most, this would be a welcome break. But, Kellan has no-one and just wants to go back to what he does best: protecting his country. Instead, he is in a little bar called Niko's Place hitting on a bartender and being stalked by a couple of guys. Oh, well. They don't know what they are getting themselves into. However, things go bad when he is attacked and worms invade. When he gets home he tried to brush off the encounter only to find himself in a new place: The Nexus. All Outsiders must report to the Arbitor or be killed by the Pestbyters. His one chance to get home is to participate in The Nexus Games and win access to Zenith. With over 100 other teams, no one willing to explain the rules to him, and his new-found magical abilities Kellan has his work cut out for him!

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. When I initially got the book I will admit it seemed like a daunting read. Not for the cover, which is amazing and captivating. But, the book is 586 pages long and the font is small. That being said, the length of the book will NOT matter once you get started! I finished this book in 4 work shifts while still, somehow, doing my job. It is entertaining and will pull you in from the first sentence! I would give you said sentence, but as I was reading it a friend of mine at work asked to see it and is currently borrowing it. She is just as enthralled as I was. 

    This is easily The Hunger Games vs Kingdom Hearts vs D&D. Really, where can you go wrong with a combination like that? I hate that the book ended two games in! I get it. Who wants to read a 1000 page book? Me. The answer is apparently me, because I NEED to know what happens next!. I feel like Zenith is a ruse. I could be wrong, but it just seems too good to be true. 

    Every character in this book you will either love or love to hate. For instance: Kellan is snarky and self-depreciating in his morbid humor. Still love him. The Arbitor is a controlling dragon who rules through fear and death. Major love him. The news-castor has a bloody blindfold and is completely insane. He's also probably one of my favorite characters. He has this Mad Hatter vibe, who is my all-time favorite character in anything. I can't pick a favorite in this book. I can, however, pick a least favorite: the kid. I can't think of his name right now, unfortunately. When you read this book it will be apparent who I mean. He is intolerable. My desire to push him off a cliff is high. I feel like it's Sen. Probably is. Who knows since I can't check right now. 

    This amazing LitRPG read IS available on Kindle Unlimited and I fully expect it to get read. A LOT. If you want to buy it, which is such a good decision might I add, you can pick up the eBook for $4.99 on Amazon by clicking here. Or, better yet, spring for the paperback for $14.99! When you read this book PLEASE let me know what you thought! I can't wait!

Books by this author: 

The Final Decree

The Nexus Knight (The Nexus Games Book 2)

Book Review: Fall of a Dungeon House by John Stovall (City of Masks Book 1)

     James was born with the unique perk to be an overlord, but as third son to the next Dungeon lord his chances to use it are slim. His grandfather, Leviathan - who was over level 50, found a way around this by securing the first Tier 2 dungeon core and a monster boss willing to ally with the new faction. When Leviathan is killed the Toledo house passes on to James' father and he learns of this path his grandfather intended for him. The only problem is the Dark Gods do not want this champion of the light to succeed and James' family is slain. Being level 1 and betrayed by those closest to him James escapes to the wharf and must now find trustworthy allies to seek his vengeance, secure the future his grandfather intended, and stay alive. 

    I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. When I read that it was a LitRPG I expected the traditional type of someone playing a VR game and us reading the adventure. In this book however, it is just a normal adventure story with leveling up and perks. Basically if an RPG decided there would be no actual players only NPCs who didn't know it was a game and they were left to their own devices. That is the best way I have to explain this. It was a big difference from what I have come to expect from this genre, but I enjoyed the read from cover to cover. I also hope to be able to read the rest of this series when it comes out. 

    James is 19 in this book and he acts it. Thinking with his dick for large portions of the book while Flea, who is of a similar age, calls him on it. You can tell that he lived a sheltered life from his inexperience and how he refers to things throughout. Flea tries to act tough, but with her slim build it is basically like a small child threatening you. All bark and no bite. Although Leviathan was only portrayed in James' thoughts and in journal excerpts he was probably my favorite character in the story. 

    This book ends at a good stopping place, but with much more of the story left to complete. You don't feel like the author paused mid thought like in some books. Also, this book is one of the seemingly rare anymore that titles the chapters. There is even a Theory of a Deadman title as one. Not that I'm complaining. It made me smile when I read it. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $4.99 by clicking here. This book is available on Kindle Unlimited. 

Book Review: DarkLands Online by David J. Bushman (DarkLands Online Book 1)

     Kurt's brother has been driving him nuts to join him in playing the new DarkLands Online, an immersive VR game that the developers want to feel as realistic as possible. When they start playing Greg quickly dies, becoming a Wisp and haunting his brother. In doing so he becomes a walking/floating tutorial. While Greg wants Kurt to focus on the main storyline Kurt decides to follow a seemingly boring side quest since it was one Greg had already done anyway. In doing so he finds a whole new aspect of the game that intrigues him and has his brother nervous. Could it be possible that on his first day Kurt's character Turk has already uncovered something no one else has managed since launch?

    I received this audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review. This approach was different than many others I do simply because Anna Mocikat, who I have done reviews for frequently over the last 2 years, suggested this series to me and they reached out at her recommendation after I gave her the green light. I value Anna's opinion and she has yet to steer me wrong on a book, this one included. 

    While I am relatively new to VR/LitRPG books I haven't found one yet that I don't enjoy. This book reminded me a lot of Evan Klein's book series Immersion Online in that character stats were displayed while reading. I have to admit that I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it versus listened to it. The narrators were great and I have nothing but good things to say about them. It was just the notification chime, I swear that noise was more annoying than Navi.  

    Anyways, on to the important part: this book. Readers are drawn in from the beginning to find out where this mysterious path will lead and how everything will play out. DarkLands is a unique read as I have yet to stumble across the concept of whatever you can do in real life reflects how you can play the game. With that I loved every aspect of it, including the authors subtle tip of the head to older videogames. I look forward to what this series holds in the future. 

    My favorite character in the book was Grins. Not entirely sure why, he just seemed like a loveable asshole. I will say that I knew about Greg's little RW surprise by the end of chapter one. By the third hint there wasn't a doubt in my mind. I won't give it away, because it was something that gave me pleasure being right on. Not the situation, mind you, that'd be terrible. But, that I found the crumbs the author was dropping. 

    Truly an amazing start to a series that, while it doesn't answer all questions posed, stops in a good place. You don't feel like you are missing part of the story while still left wanting more. 

    This book is available on Amazon for $2.99 by clicking here. This book is available on Kindle Unlimited. 

Books by this author:

Darklands Online Book 2

Darklands Online Book 3

Darklands Online Book 4

Book Review: Cyber Squad Level 2 by Anna Mocikat (A. K. Mocikat) (Cyber Squad Book 2)

 

    Since being promoted to level two following facing The God in the Machine Kai has been a bit of a superstar. In the history of Helltek no-one has been promoted as quickly as Kai. But, with nightmares plaguing him and constant threats it is hard to just enjoy his newfound life. "There's some scary shit out there." is about to take on a whole new meaning, but can Kai just do his job or is he caught in something bigger than he even realizes? Perhaps no-one is what they seem...

    I was given an ARC of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. As always, when it comes to anything Anna writes I love it. I love her and her writing reflects everything that I know about her. She is just as amazing and captivating as the books she writes and I fully suggest anything she writes. If you are new to Anna then please go get all of her books. You will not be disappointed. With any of them. Actually, I take that back. You will be disappointed that there aren't more. Yet. But, this review is about Cyber Squad 2, not just the author. 

    Before Anna I hadn't read VR books. Not because I avoided them, I just hadn't ran across any. I was instantly captivated by book one as you can see in my review by clicking here. Afterwards I read a couple other VR books by another author, enjoying them as well. It is safe to say that I found a new favored genre to read in and as soon as book one was finished I couldn't wait to find out what happened next with Kai and his team. Anna didn't disappoint, delivering book two just three months after the release of book one. I don't expect that pace to keep up as she is also working on Behind Blue Eyes Three, but I can't wait for that one either so there has to be some give. As amazing as Anna is she is only one person. 

    In this book I expected to find out a bit about how the CEOs played into The God in the Machine, if at all and what Freya was planning. But, Freya is for later in the series I am told and I am sure the CEOs are as well. During this book my dislike for Raven has solidified into hatred. But, Anna always creates a character the reader loves to hate. Raven just happens to fit this too well. While my initial questions were not answered in this book we get a larger picture of the story as well as how Kai is handling the things he has gone through. It is unsurprising that he has a bit of PTSD as that was definitely a traumatic experience. Hopefully we see more how this angle factors into things that happen in the future. 

    I have to say, of the "good" guys my least favorite it Josh. Mostly a dislike of anyone with that name, if I am being honest. Although the character is basically useless. Much like the person I abhor who shares that name. One the opposite end of things my favorite character is still Lex. The Abby vibes are real and I have to love her. There isn't a choice in the matter. Lex is perfect and nothing anyone can say will ever change my mind on this. 

    This is one VR gaming book that picks up right where the last one left off and leaves you wanting more.  This book is available on Amazon for $3.99 by clicking here or read both one and two on Kindle Unlimited!

    Books by this author: 

Shadow City (Shadow City Book 1)

Dark City (Shadow City Book 2)

Behind Blue Eyes (Behind Blue Eyes Book 1)

Fallen Angels (Behind Blue Eyes Book 2)

War Games (Behind Blue Eyes Book 3)

The Tigress (Behind Blue Eyes Book 5)

Cyber Squad Level 1 (Cyber Squad Book 1)

Cyber Squad Level 3 (Cyber Squad Book 3)

Nephilim Volume 1

Nephilim Volume 2

Nephilim Volume 3

Space Punks

Nightingale's Song (Space Punks Book 2)

Neon Nights (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 1)

Neon Dreams (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 2)

Neon Fever (There's No Murder in Paradise Book 3)

Book Review: Against the Odds by Mara Jacobs (Anna Dawson Book 1)

     Johanna is a professional gambler, and has done well for herself, Ben, and Lor in Vegas. Other than occasionally doing jobs for Vince to pay off a debt she has managed to stay out of trouble. That is until someone kills one of the Corporation, Jimmy. Poor Ben is beside himself, and with Gus being targeted next the police are in a race to find who is after the boys. Detective Jack is on the case and believes it is a revenge ploy. Between Anna and Jack can they solve this case before their demons get the best of them and those that remain of the corporation meet a similar fate?

    I got this book on impulse from Amazon in January of 2020. I didn't know this eBook was about gambling at the time as I have a bad habit of choosing books based on their covers instead of synopsis sometimes, but I really liked this book. I can't say that I understood half of the sports information as I don't know anything at all about sports. If I did it probably would have increased my enjoyment. As it was I mostly skimmed those parts of the book to get back to the murder mystery. 

    When we were getting more details throughout the story I have to admit that I suspected the reason why, but I didn't suspect the who. For some reason I thought the result knew one of them was the reason and was picking the Corporation off one by one as a result. The person I thought was the result wasn't either, instead they were just a random character in the story. I am glad it is who it is, but still. I am not sure if I will read more of this series in the future just because I don't understand sports. If I do I hope that I see more of Jack in the future. He was such a sweetheart and I completely understood where he was coming from. 

    He wasn't my favorite character, though. That spot is reserved for Ben. Who doesn't love the adorable old man who takes the younger generation under his wing? His "Hannah" would definitely have been lost over the years without him. I hope he finds out what we found out eventually. I think he will handle it well and it will give him something that he has always wanted. 

    If you are looking for a murder mystery filled with revenge and vices look no further. I seen some other reviews saying there were cliff-hangers, but I don't feel that way. It would be possible for the book to end where it is at and not be left wanting. Sure all of the characters don't know everything, but the same thing often happens in real life so it could end here without issue. This book is available for free on Amazon by clicking here.

Book Review: Reality Check by Dave McCreery (Weight of the World Book 1)

     Since WW3 there has been a global economy and everything has a safety net. Individuals are minors until the age of 25. Racing is done in the Sims. Even if you jump out of a building there are precautions to keep you from dying. Everything is...safe. And most enjoy their padded world. Except when there is no risk of getting hurt one become more reckless. This is the case with Ryan. He is an underage racer who takes risks that sometimes pay off and other times end in wrecks. Everything was going great until the Enforcer's show up with an ultimatum. Join their special program or be prosecuted for underage racing. Without a true choice his decision is made. However, the program General Matthews has in mind has no safe guards and the risk is very real. No longer are just computer simulations at risk. Instead, the fate of the Globe rests heavily in Ryan's hands. 

    I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Anyone who reads my page with some frequency, or if you are new and have played a bit of catch up, knows that I enjoy LitRPG and VR books. While this isn't a LitRPG it has a similar feel. There is a sim, or simulated reality, much like in VR. There is a virtual world and your decisions have an impact on what happens. Similar to a LitRPG.

    However, there is more to it than that. In this case there is also the ability to remotely control actual items in the real world from the safety of a sim unit. The pilot is protected and only machinery is at risk. Seems perfect. Keeps potential casualties low and you don't have to constantly retrain new recruits to replace your senior agents. I do want to let you know this book leaves off on a bit of a cliffhanger. I need to know what the word was flashing on the screens!

    Beyond this, in these pages, you will find an impulsive young man at the tender age of 24. He is reckless and a bit of a wildcard and being 24 myself I have known many that age to be a reflection of this. Can't say that I agree with being considered a minor until 25. Adulthood is much better than anything I experienced as a minor, but to each their own. That being said war has the ability to age a person quickly and it was interesting to see how real time choices impacted Ryan. He took consequences hard, but I can't say that I would have reacted any differently. Getting a reality check isn't always a pleasant experience and this was only heightened by his upbringing. 

    Ryan is an interesting individual. His past is hinted at. Giving clues that he was a bit of a spoiled rich boy who had a falling out with his parents. I really would love to know what happened there, but as it wasn't pertinent to the story at this point I can understand why it was left out. However, I can't say that he is my favorite character. In fact, that would have to be Sara, Ryan's friend. She is a good racer and is in touch with reality even though she declined to be a part of the program. She is able to give some much needed advice and put things into perspective without judgement. Someone like that is rare and I hope we see more of her in the future. 

    Alright, so I have said a lot of positives in this book as well as my general impression. But, I do have a negative to say. Keep in mind this could be because the author is British, but I'm not sure. Frequently in the book the word coo is used. I originally looked this up on Google to see what kind of slang it is in Brittan, but was unable to find anything satisfactory. When I looked it up it said coo was a phrase used to express surprise or amazement. As that didn't fit with many of the instances it was used I started popping in my own word. I thought perhaps the author was using it to substitute the word shit. Maybe not a fan of cussing. This was quickly dispelled as the author does curse without hesitation (not complaining on this fact). So for the remainder of the pages I would flop between shit and idiot whenever I read the word coo. I feel this detracted from the book. If it was mentioned, even in one place, what coo meant it would have been easier to not be momentarily pulled from the story. 

    That is my only complaint for the story. Reality Check is a fast paced action book full of saving the world from invaders and a race against time. It is also a book that I suggest to anyone who is a bit of an adrenaline junky. Even if it comes from a videogame or within the pages of a book. This book is set to be released on 10/5/21 on Amazon for $4.49. You can pick up your copy now by clicking here to have it auto-delivered to your reading device next Tuesday. 

Book Review: Immersion Online: The Zealot by Evan Klein (Immersion Online Book 2)

     Mace has completed his training and is no longer a noob. Now, he is starting in the city of Granville, and he can see why his boss, Haggarty, refused to give him details. The previous Constable gave his guards no authority and havoc was being wrecked in the town. After curbing one disaster it seems that the city has more in store for him. There is a relic merchant, Rhia, to add some spice and maybe a little confusion to his life. In an attempt to complete the quests given to him by Rhia to find her missing relics there may be something much bigger at play that not even the creator of the game has a say in. A battle the likes of while Immersion Online has never before seen will soon be waged, but there is more at stake then stats. 

    This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review in the form of an ARC. After reading book 1 of the series I was intrigued with what book 2 would bring. That being said, I loved book 2 more than book 1. I finished the book in 4 reading sessions and it would have been less if one of my friends hadn't called needing me to stay on the phone with her for a long drive home. Putting down this book was a hard task to accomplish and I am sure that you will feel the same once you begin reading it. 

    There is more action in this book than in book 1, and you would easily be able to enjoy it without having read The Noob. I know for a fact that I will be needing book 3 as soon as I have the ability. I don't know if I will have to wait until release like everyone else for book 3, as I know Evan is currently writing it, but I truly cannot wait. There are so many questions that I have at the end of the book and am sure that Klein will not disappoint to have these answers as the series continues. 

    While the favorite character from book 1 was a moonshiner with a prickly past, I think I am going to have to replace that spot with Tinsie. Seriously, who doesn't love a sprite? That being said, the fact that she repeats some words three times randomly as she talks made me question if she was a NPC instead of a Starborn. I have now chocked it up to one of the random little quirks that comes with the feisty deputy, but do wonder if she has this issue in the RW as well. 

    This is a book for gamers and anyone who loves a good fantasy book. I have already been driving my aforementioned friend nuts saying she needs to get both books next week. I am sure both she and my husband are tired of hearing me try to force this book on them. My husband would love it, but he is stubborn and for some reason refuses to use the Kindle app that I downloaded on his phone. Something about it needing to be the Google Books app. Annoying male. 

I completely recommend this book. This book is available on Amazon for $1.99 by clicking here.        This book is available on Kindle Unlimited.   

Books by this author: 

Immersion Online: The Noob (Book 1)

Immersion Online: The Symbiont (Book 3)

Immersion Online: The Herald (Book 4)