Travis Bagwell’s Awaken Online series is really good and it got me into the LitRPG genre. I have enjoyed the main arc and side quests involving Jason’s companions. This is another book in the same universe with a different set of characters so a comparison is inevitable.

Firstly, Jason is a teenager with problems at home who wanted to play the game. Finn is an adult who lost his wife (and the use of his legs) in an accident. He is wealthy from his previous involvement with the same group of companies that created Awaken Online and is a programmer. He is bitter about his losses and is almost tricked into the game by his daughter.

Both Finn and Jason encounter a god of the game at the very beginning which changes their gaming experience. That is about the only real similarity between their situations. A good book draws you in and you suspend disbelief; unfortunately this book fails to do so. Finn’s reactions to situations are generally more suited to a college age student than a mature adult.

As an example, Finn lands up in an area where he is forced to join a school of magic (almost a reluctant Harry Potter vibe here) and he is concerned about being expelled and dealing with teachers and other students. I kept thinking, “Its a game that he didn’t want to be in so why would he bother with this?” Why not re-roll a new character? Well there is a 30 day waiting period for a new character. SO WHAT?? He didn’t want to play the game, unlike Jason who desperately wanted to play it, so why not just leave and re-roll?? I’m sure he could’ve found something to do for 30 days because it wasn’t a priority for him.

At one point the there is a battle between the students and some magma golems as part of their training. The students are terrified. They are also terrified by the teachers. Why?? This is a game! Go do something for a month and re-roll! Even if you don’t, you aren’t going to die or even be injured, because its a game!!

Finn’s daughter arrives and is very flippant around him. I would’ve hit her, several times. (Don’t forget, its just a game!)

There were just so many situations which had me shouting “No! Its just a game! Why are you behaving this way??”

The one good bit was that Finn learns how to create his own spells. That doesn’t make up for the rest of the book. I don’t recommend it.