The Cursed Codex is a very fun Young Adult Game Lit fantasy novel. It is meant for the younger audiences probably in the 8 to 16 age ranges but I think it really can be enjoyed by anyone. There may be a little too much fart humor for some but it really isn’t too bad.
The book follows 13 year old Keith Croft who considers himself invisible which to him means he isn’t in any real crowd or get noticed much at school. He does have a good set of close friends though. Keith seems like a good kid, he does get in some fights as he is one to stand up for other people especially his best friend Asher’s little sister who is constantly picked on by Bully’s at school. After one of these run ins Keith is left with a black eye and as he is procrastinating on the way home so he doesn’t have to explain it to his parents and stumbles upon a yard sale where an elderly woman is selling things, he finds a Crypts and Keepers Gamemaster’s Codex(think Dungeons and Dragons). The game belonged to the woman’s missing grand daughter from over 20 years ago and it was her favorite game.
Keith soon falls in love with the game and ropes his friends Asher, Elliot, Carlos and Asher’s little sister Kira who tags along. Keith is the Game Master(Dungeon Master) and the rest build their characters and begin to get really into the game as well. Keith becomes a bit obsessed with the game and its former owner Sarah and begins to have ‘dreams’ about the game and Sarah and the character she created in the game Tiera. Well with a name like cursed codex you know everything isn’t as it seems and soon while the gang are playing the game they are transported into the book or the world of the book as themselves and the true adventure begins. Will they survive, will they make it out, will they find out what happened to Sarah?
This book was a very entertaining experience and seemed to pass by quickly, The kids had fun relationships and interactions and all had their own personalities. The narration by Christopher James Mayer was spot on for this type of book and added to the fun of it. I would definitely recommend giving this book a listen as long as you don’t have a problem with young adult fiction.
“Please note I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.”