This is the sixth book I’ve read/listened to by this author. All the books have been in the Puatera series. These are books I would listen to again and again. I am really enjoying them!

Akillia is the name Emma has chosen for her character in the game Puatera. She spent a lot of money getting one of the sought after slots to test out the new VRMMORPG as an anniversary gift for her husband. Planning to surprise him with it, she is instead surprised when she returns home and finds him in bed with her sister. She decides the slot should not go to waste- she’ll use it. Emma has no experience gaming so everything is a learning curve. She becomes emotionally involved in the world of Puatera and whenever she feels overwhelmed, the though of her cheating husband (and the fact he’s started a real world bet against her succeeding in the game) encourages her to continue. She has been given an important quest.

The book is written so the experience gained and skills acquired by Akillia is mentioned as it happens. We hear the prompts the games gives her. Periodically Emma/ Akillia logs out, so we hear the interactions with the employees that support the people playing the game. Each player is housed at the companies complex and monitored every moment they are in or out of the game. Because of this, we learn about the workings of the company too. This book eventually leads to a connection between Akillia and Jessica, Dahlia and their other sister (from other Puatera books).

This is the second book (previously A Woman in the Shadows) I’ve listened to by this narrator ( Anneliese Rennie ) and I would listen to another. I love the voice she gives to Akillia. She brings out Akillia’s fears, strengths, uncertainty and convictions. Her reading made me loose myself in the story. I did not want to put the book down until I was finished.

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.

Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.