This was an engaging story for about half the book, but then the second half seemed more of the same. Despite not having very likable protagonist and no visible antagonist (just a bunch of super-powered enemies), the characters were intriguing and varied. It was a great ‘read’ for a while, but then it seemed highly repetitive: the main character upgrades his minions, and they make money and fight their enemies. Time and time again. I won’t give away the ending, but there really isn’t much of one. Just a predictable battle of extreme proportions. It just sets up a sequel with little if any sense of closure or attempt to answer some questions or even ask new ones.
The ‘dead time’ of repetitive events in the story gave me more time to wonder WHY the main character suddenly realized how awesome his superpower is. It would take a dummy not to see it. And then he suddenly becomes a strategical and corporate genius. Nor does the story ever really question the notion of slavery (the main character has super-powered slaves who seem to love him for ‘all he does’ for them). I expected some sort of twist that might acknowledge how very odd his powers are in some ways (he can project a virtual screen that just happens to resemble an RPG character-status screenshot).
But the story sidesteps these questions and avoids anything other than power-up, kill, avoid being killed, and making money. The lack of a tangible antagonist makes the story even more predictable, as we get to know the main character and his chief minions all too well, and they become rather silly and shallow rather than develop.
So disappointed in a promising story. I definitely will not bother with the sequal.