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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Honestly, this book put too much story before where an introduction should've been. I felt like while I was simultaneously waiting for the story to begin, I was ingesting much more story than necessary. I can't tell if this is a translation or the author is unnecessarily verbose, either way, I had to abandon this book before I could even begin to care..
I want to start with a warning, this isn't a full story, it's part 1 of a story, and I hope book 2 is the conclusion.
what did I like?
I love the worldbuilding; both that of the Endless online world and that of Val's 'real world'. I love the small details dropped here and there differencing his real-world from mine. and how almost all the worldbuilding for Endless online is done through people talking about it, instead of Val experiencing it.
I love that when Val is dropped in the world of Endless online, it feels like he's out of his depth, instead of having landed in the tutorial stage.
I like the conceit of the RPG elements, even if at times some of them feel arbitrary, and is the 'system voice' has for too much personality. I expect in the book itself it isn't too bad, but in the audiobook the narrator takes is over the top.
What didn't I like.
For as much as I enjoyed the Real World, there's too much of it. all we needed was two chapters, maybe three to set up who Val was, what he had suffered, and what he needed. then we could have jumped into the adventure.
There are far too many recaps. multiple times in the story Val goes over what happened to get him there, even though we've read it, and it was already recapped before that.
the book needs a story editor, continuity is broken in a few places, and at least one chapter is entirely irrelevant to the story.
in the end, this is an interesting story that could be much better with the help of a good editor.
what did I like?
I love the worldbuilding; both that of the Endless online world and that of Val's 'real world'. I love the small details dropped here and there differencing his real-world from mine. and how almost all the worldbuilding for Endless online is done through people talking about it, instead of Val experiencing it.
I love that when Val is dropped in the world of Endless online, it feels like he's out of his depth, instead of having landed in the tutorial stage.
I like the conceit of the RPG elements, even if at times some of them feel arbitrary, and is the 'system voice' has for too much personality. I expect in the book itself it isn't too bad, but in the audiobook the narrator takes is over the top.
What didn't I like.
For as much as I enjoyed the Real World, there's too much of it. all we needed was two chapters, maybe three to set up who Val was, what he had suffered, and what he needed. then we could have jumped into the adventure.
There are far too many recaps. multiple times in the story Val goes over what happened to get him there, even though we've read it, and it was already recapped before that.
the book needs a story editor, continuity is broken in a few places, and at least one chapter is entirely irrelevant to the story.
in the end, this is an interesting story that could be much better with the help of a good editor.
Val a veteran tries to find his MMoRPG teammate and ends somewhere else...
The story evolves in unexpected dimensions.
The MC meanders between super tough know everything and helpless.
Overall the story is good and the universe interesting.
BUT - there is a chapter in the middle of the book with some horrible self-justice story that is a) boring b) predictable c) stupid and also super not beliveable AND puts the MC in the light of being a super jerk. It gives nothing to the story but destroyes a lot of creditibility in that character.
The story evolves in unexpected dimensions.
The MC meanders between super tough know everything and helpless.
Overall the story is good and the universe interesting.
BUT - there is a chapter in the middle of the book with some horrible self-justice story that is a) boring b) predictable c) stupid and also super not beliveable AND puts the MC in the light of being a super jerk. It gives nothing to the story but destroyes a lot of creditibility in that character.
Spoiler
Of course he can outsmart everyone, can talk a killer into writing a confession and to eat poison pills (because they are everywhere - easy to get) and get away with it.
3.75 Stars
Despite the author's over-wrought language, I enjoyed this book enough to immediately start on the sequel.
This is not a polished story. You don't get exposition, action and character development smoothly woven into a seamless tapestry. Instead, there are distinct chunks that aim at each objective. I'm not saying it's bad, just that it's a little too obvious.
While Val is an obvious Mary-Sue, he's humble and sympathetic. Once again this is handled in a heavy-handed way by having the Gnome constantly belittle him, despite the mountain of evidence pointing to Val's worth.
I think Johnson will prove to be an author to watch, once he develops a greater level of subtlety and starts to trust his reader to "understand," without being hit over the head with the obvious.
Despite the author's over-wrought language, I enjoyed this book enough to immediately start on the sequel.
This is not a polished story. You don't get exposition, action and character development smoothly woven into a seamless tapestry. Instead, there are distinct chunks that aim at each objective. I'm not saying it's bad, just that it's a little too obvious.
While Val is an obvious Mary-Sue, he's humble and sympathetic. Once again this is handled in a heavy-handed way by having the Gnome constantly belittle him, despite the mountain of evidence pointing to Val's worth.
I think Johnson will prove to be an author to watch, once he develops a greater level of subtlety and starts to trust his reader to "understand," without being hit over the head with the obvious.
breathtaking
This book was by far one of the best books I have read in years. Definitely recommend. Interesting story premise and well written.
This book was by far one of the best books I have read in years. Definitely recommend. Interesting story premise and well written.
Excellent world building and character development in book 1. Felt like much of the potential was squandered later though.
Still worth a quick read.
Still worth a quick read.
Mini-Review:
3 Stars for Audiobook - Narrators are good.
3.5 Stars for Concepts
2 Stars for Uneven Execution
The story was very rough and I can't imagine trying to read the print. Even with good narration, but I never got to a point where I enjoyed the characters or plot. There's potential but see-saw execution made the story unappealing. I felt like I was reading an in depth brainstorm of ideas. The book needs more edits & overhauls to make it come across as the story intended vs what it is now.
3 Stars for Audiobook - Narrators are good.
3.5 Stars for Concepts
2 Stars for Uneven Execution
The story was very rough and I can't imagine trying to read the print. Even with good narration, but I never got to a point where I enjoyed the characters or plot. There's potential but see-saw execution made the story unappealing. I felt like I was reading an in depth brainstorm of ideas. The book needs more edits & overhauls to make it come across as the story intended vs what it is now.
So, this was an interesting story. The MC is a disabled war vet that just happens to be proficient in swords and the like. Suffers from severe PTSD as well as physical damage and despite all of this gets selected for an op to go find a friends missing daughter. Due to this, he ends up in a different multiverse where you can level up.
With all that said, the beginning of this book is extremely wordy. Almost too much though, later on when the action starts it's a boon. The world has not really been fleshed out, but the area where the MC is, has a lot of history that both the MC and the party he's with seems to uncover. The characters all seem to have something dark and tragic that's happened to them that binds them all together. The longer you read, the more you find out about each and it's quite interesting the longer you go. I've just picked up book two because the book definitely goes out with a bang.
With all that said, the beginning of this book is extremely wordy. Almost too much though, later on when the action starts it's a boon. The world has not really been fleshed out, but the area where the MC is, has a lot of history that both the MC and the party he's with seems to uncover. The characters all seem to have something dark and tragic that's happened to them that binds them all together. The longer you read, the more you find out about each and it's quite interesting the longer you go. I've just picked up book two because the book definitely goes out with a bang.