Book Review: The Game Master’s Legacy by Michael D Bridges

Genre: LitRPG • Sci-Fi Fantasy • Cyberpunk Adventure

Tropes: Full-Immersion VR, Disabled MC, Sentient NPCs, Evil Corporation, Glitch-Walker, Virtual Reality Survival, Inherited Legacy, AI Consciousness

Spice Level: None

Format: ARC / eBook

Series: Potential Series Starter

    Kade’s real world is painfully small. Confined to a wheelchair and dependent on a ventilator for most of his life, his only true escape exists inside Aethelgard, the fully immersive VR world his father created before his death. In the game, Kade isn’t weak or fragile—he’s a legendary speedrunner and glitch-walker capable of bending the world’s rules.

    But now the corporation Neosy wants control of the system. And Kade refuses to let them take it. Aethelgard is more than just a game. It’s the only place Kade has ever truly felt free, and his father left him the keys to protect it. There’s just one problem: every code alteration comes with a cost under the Law of Conservation of Code. And Kade himself is the price.

    Meanwhile, Neosy has unleashed EGO to “optimize” the system and recover the mysterious soul-data hidden within the game. They won’t stop until they control everything—including the sentient NPCs who may be far more alive than anyone realizes.

    I received a complimentary ARC copy of this book from the author.

    As someone who absolutely loves LitRPGs and full-immersion VR stories, this immediately grabbed my attention—but what surprised me most was how different it felt from most books in the genre. Kade’s physical disability fundamentally shapes both the emotional core of the story and the stakes within the game itself. In most VR LitRPGs, the virtual world is simply an escape or power fantasy. Here, Aethelgard is deeply personal. It’s the one place where Kade can move freely, feel independent, and connect to the legacy his father left behind. That emotional weight made the story hit harder than I expected.

    The concept behind the “Law of Conservation of Code” was one of the coolest parts of the book. Any change to the game must be balanced with a cost, and because Kade is considered the most unstable variable, he absorbs the consequences physically. It added genuine tension to every major action and made the coding mechanics feel dangerous rather than convenient. That said, the phrase itself was repeated a lot throughout the story—twenty-three times, according to my count—and it occasionally became distracting. Similarly, Kade consistently referring to his father by his full name instead of simply “Dad” during emotional moments felt a little unnatural to me.

    But honestly? Those were very minor complaints in an otherwise incredibly engaging read. I finished the book within 24 hours because once it gets moving, it’s hard to put down. The battle scenes are intense, the emotional moments land well, and the sentient NPCs completely stole my heart. I will always love stories where artificial beings blur the line between programming and personhood.

    And the revenge? Absolutely deserved. Vane got off far easier than I personally would have allowed. The ending leaves room for future books with a small cliffhanger that feels intriguing without being frustrating, and I would absolutely continue this series if the author expands the world further.

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You’ll Love This Book If You Enjoy:

• LitRPG and VRMMO stories
• Full-immersion virtual reality worlds
• Disabled protagonists in fantasy/sci-fi
• Sentient NPCs and AI consciousness
• Cyberpunk corporations and conspiracies
• Emotional sci-fi adventures
• High-stakes coding and game mechanics
• Fast-paced action with emotional depth
• Ready Player One-style vibes
• Stories where virtual worlds truly matter

A fast-paced and emotionally grounded LitRPG that blends immersive VR gaming, corporate intrigue, and heartfelt character stakes into a genuinely compelling sci-fi adventure.

This book will be published June 1, 2026, but I do not yet have price points or if it will be available with Kindle Unlimited. I will update this page when I know more. 

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: Crimson Sands by J. Arthur Klein

 

    James had been waiting on Crimson Sands to come out since he first heard of it. A new VR experience that was taken to the next level by new VR pods? When he learned that the local arcade would be adding a few of the pods in preparation for the new games launch, James was quick to reserve a spot. From the moment he entered the game he could tell this would be an experience unlike any other. No information about the game was released prior to launch, yet everyone couldn't wait to start the game, even with the bugs. How far into the game can James and his new friend go? 

    I received a copy of this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. As an avid gamer I love VR and LitRPG books. I have a soft spot for them and very rarely turn down the opportunity to read one. This book is one that I personally would LOVE to read the next in the series of. 

    While there are in-game threats, this isn't a 'God in the Machine' mechanic that we see so often in these books. The gaming experience is fun and amazing while allowing the reader to get to know the characters. Then we get a little bit of real-world inside the pages as well, which is where the real threat lies. I will be completely straight-forward with you and let you know that this book does end on a cliff-hanger. BUT, trust me when I say that this is one book you just want the next one for, even if it does leave you hanging. 

    The characters are amazing. The world building is amazing. You get just enough information to feel like the pods are possible while enjoying the SciFi of it all. The book is well written and I look forward to more from this author in the future! 

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

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: 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: Ten Sigma by A. W. Wang (The Ten Sigma Series Book 1)

     Although there was a cure for cancer I had a rare strain that is currently without a cure. Not that my husband and I knew that at the time, but we have since depleted our savings trying to keep me healthy and are at the end of the rope. There is still just enough of a lead left that he can and will hang himself with it, ever the optimist. I won't give in however, and when a man approaches asking me to join a virtual program that will free my husband financially I initially refuse. But, with a promise to never give up looming over my ever-weakening body the choice is made. When my mind is uploaded and my old body gone my memories of home begin to fragment replaced by red and black threads of fighting and military techniques. My promise remains and I will reach the Ten Sigma requirement to make it back home. No matter what stands between me and it.  

    I received a digital copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This is one of the books that was originally suggested to me by one of my favorite Indie Authors, Anna Mocikat, and she put the author in touch with me. Of course, I agreed without hesitation. I have no regrets on this as I have never regretted any of her suggestions thus far. This is a book that will make you want the next immediately so you can know what happens next!

    You either loved the characters or loved to hate them. Sid was awful. But, he was meant to be awful and disliked so he achieved his goals. Brin was adorable and by the time we started calling her Brin we didn't remember what her real name was, if we had known it up until then. I know it now, but I will leave it to you to find out. All part of the fun. I was rooting for Jock and with the purple-eyed girl a part of me hoped death wasn't as permanent in the Ten Sigma program as they made it out to be. But, just another thing for you to find out on your own. 

    There is definitely a twist at the end that was unexpected. At least I didn't expect it and I enjoyed it completely. Well, not the exact end. A few chapters from the end. It still counts. This was one of my reward chapter books. For anyone that reads my reviews with some frequency you know that I read multiple books at a time and I generally have one book that is my favorite and 4 or 5 that I am just reading because I was asked to. Yes, I still do my best to paint them in as positive a light as I can in my reviews. I know authors work hard on their books, but that doesn't change the fact that I get bored sometimes. So when I read a chapter of the books I am getting through I reward myself with a chapter of the one I really want to read. This book was it for this round. 

    I am very curious how much time elapsed during this book in the real world considering it was eluded that Ten Sigma's was basically an impossible marker to reach. I hope it is told in later books and I hope I get the opportunity to read on in the future. 

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

Book Review: Immersion Online: The Symbiont by Evan Klein (Immersion Online Book 3)

     After Mace’s second heart attack while facing the Zealot he is ready to jump back into the game and hopes to a relaxing first day. He is immediately greeted by a snow storm in the normally sunny town of Grandview. Shannon is hard at work finding a way to restore the weather when The Queen calls on Mace to come to her royal gardens. Here he finds the murdered bodies of one of the Queen’s Ladies in Waiting and her two month old child. The City of Grandview granted a quest that the murderer must be find and brought to justice or the weather will get worse. While ghastly, things get much worse when someone is murdered in the same way a few miles from Mace’s home in the real world. Now they must band together with the local detective, Donna Driver, to stop these gruesome murders before more babies are killed. 

     I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I have enjoyed the last two books in this series and other than the baby murder this one was no different. Being a mom kids that are around my kids age being killed bothers me a bit, but I know it is something that happens and it’s going to be depicted in stories as well. 

     Baring that fact the story was enjoyable. I can honestly say in this unique who-done-it where you don’t know who the murderer is until the author wants you to. I am curious what is going to happen in the next book with the sure to ensue battle. I am sure that the next book in the series will be just as good as books 1-3. 

    My favorite character had one whole line in this book, on almost the last page, but it seems like the moonshiner will be in the next book. My second favorite is Tinsie, obviously, and she was a large part of this book. Her attitude is unmatched and it is impossible not to love her. 

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

    If you haven't already read the other books in this series check out my reviews below!

    Immersion Online: The Noob (Immersion Online Book 1)

    Immersion Online: The Zealot (Immersion Online Book 2)

    Immersion Online: The Herald (Immersion Online Book 4) 

Book Review: Darklands Online Book 2 by David Bushman

     After leveling up his first day Kurt once again travels into Darklands Online to play with his brother. With a new update comes new challenges as well as manipulations from the AI Nocturna. Together with his brother and his newfound friends, Bhae and Carmen, they face new monsters and dungeons in this land of never-ending night. Just what awaits them with this rogue AI remains to be seen in this newest installment of Darklands Online. 

    I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Much like with the first book I had problems putting it down. I wanted to know what happened next rather than stopping to do whatever task I had at hand, normally clocking into work. The characters were further developed and we learned more about Bhea and Carmen. Such as the fact that one of the girls are hispanic, at least partially. I thought it was an interesting little tidbit, but I can't remember now which of the girls it was. I want to say Carmen, but I could be wrong. It was in the scene about eating tacos. 

    I am curious about what will happen in book 3 due to how book 2 ends. I know he will be able to get a message out about what happened, but I am curious how long it will last as well as what will be found. I mean it wasn't completely his fault after-all. Yes, I am aware I am being vague. I don't like spoilers. This book again stops in a good stopping place where you don't feel like you are missing the point of this book in the series, which I enjoy. 

    I still can't say that I like Greg in this book. He complains so frequently that he's hard to love. I know his situation and everything and I'm sure that has impact on it, but he's petulant. Grins was a very small part of this book, so I can't say if he is still my favorite character or not. I am curious about that giant creature they fought in the dungeon and if we will see it again in a later book. 

    Completely can say without hesitation that I enjoyed this book as much as I enjoyed book 1 and hope that I get a chance to read others in this series, however long it may become. 

    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 3

Darklands Online Book 4

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: Their Greatest Game by C. D. Tavenor (Chronicles of Theren Book 2)

     In the years since the Holy Crusade attacked Theren and Jill things have turned in their favor. SIs are more widely accepted. In fact, Theren now heads a space project to help guide mankind amongst the stars. Throughout all of these changes Jill remains their closest friend. Each day they play their chess game in VR. But before Michael killed himself he told them not to trust anyone and there is a new group set against SIs. Their leader, Isabel, seems to know everything about them even as they use avatars in a game. More frightening, as things progress and lives are lost this threat seems almost infinite and all knowing. Able to reach years into the future as well as determine Theren's next moves. The steps they take and what is uncovered truly is their greatest game. 

    I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review from the narrator. After reading book one of this series I have to admit I wasn't overly excited to read book two. It was mildly interesting, but not something that brought me pleasure to read. Book two is a bit different. In two it focuses more on the Who Done It mystery than the background thought in book one. 

    The 'Who Done It' aspect tried to cast blame around and I never try to choose the most obvious culprit. No one ever makes the most obvious character the deviant. However, in this case I was correct from the start. It was interesting to see how it played out, but I would have liked for it to have been a surprise rather than the suspected individual. Nonetheless, I do not feel that this detracted from the book. 

       I do not feel that I had a favored character. As we read we are primarily focused on Theren and there are characters that slip into and out of their life. Bonds aren't really formed and other than Jill they all feel like background characters of little import. I know some of the characters impacted Theren, but you know what I mean. 

    As with each time in the past that I have read a book narrated by Benjamin Fife I enjoy listening to him more than the contents of the book. 

    I have book three of this series and will be beginning it soon. While this series has been mildly interesting I can't say I won't be ready for it to come to an end. This book is available on Amazon as an eBook for $3.99 or $17.99 for the audiobook by clicking here. Personally, I suggest the audiobook. 

Books by this author: 

First of Their Kind

Flight of the 500

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: 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)

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)