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Virtual Blue
Did you ever wish you could escape to a virtual world? What if you could...but then couldn’t get out?
Two years after her deadly clash with a vengeful ghost, Fiona “Blue” Shaefer still can’t shake off the trauma of that night. Moving to New York with her father didn’t help. Neither did absorbing herself in her college classes. Not even her poetry provided the solace it once did. She convinces herself that ending her relationship with Eugene “Chip” Farren, her long-distance boyfriend and final tie to the horrors of that night, might bring the closure she needs. Blue travels to Bloomington to break the news to Chip in person, but her timing couldn’t be any worse.
The Sisters of Baalina, vengeful cultists who practice a new form of “techno-magic,” have targeted Chip’s multi-player videogame as the perfect environment to cast a dangerous spell to free a demoness from the very pits of hell. In the process, their plan may trap Blue in a prison of the mind with no locks, no bars, and no escape.
Two years after her deadly clash with a vengeful ghost, Fiona “Blue” Shaefer still can’t shake off the trauma of that night. Moving to New York with her father didn’t help. Neither did absorbing herself in her college classes. Not even her poetry provided the solace it once did. She convinces herself that ending her relationship with Eugene “Chip” Farren, her long-distance boyfriend and final tie to the horrors of that night, might bring the closure she needs. Blue travels to Bloomington to break the news to Chip in person, but her timing couldn’t be any worse.
The Sisters of Baalina, vengeful cultists who practice a new form of “techno-magic,” have targeted Chip’s multi-player videogame as the perfect environment to cast a dangerous spell to free a demoness from the very pits of hell. In the process, their plan may trap Blue in a prison of the mind with no locks, no bars, and no escape.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2013
1 person is currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Sullivan
18 books39 followersR. J. Sullivan and his family live in Heartland Crossing, Indiana, south of Indianapolis. R. J. Sullivan’s novel Haunting Blue is an edgy paranormal thriller and the first book of the adventures of punk girl Fiona “Blue” Shaefer and her boyfriend Chip Farren. Seventh Star Press released Haunting Obsession, a Rebecca Burton Novella, in 2012 and Virtual Blue, the second book in Fiona’s tale, in 2013. Seventh Star will release a new edition of Haunting Blue in early 2014. R. J.’s short stories have been featured in such acclaimed collections as Dark Faith Invocations by Apex Books and Vampires Don’t Sparkle. His newest project is the Red Lotus series of science fiction novelettes for readers of all ages.
R.J. resides with his family in Heartland Crossing, Indiana. He drinks regularly from a Little Mermaid coffee mug and is man enough to admit it. Check in at www.rjsullivanfiction.com to learn the latest about the projects of R. J. Sullivan.
R.J. resides with his family in Heartland Crossing, Indiana. He drinks regularly from a Little Mermaid coffee mug and is man enough to admit it. Check in at www.rjsullivanfiction.com to learn the latest about the projects of R. J. Sullivan.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 24, 2014
Blue is the perfect heroine for teens; tough, blue-haired, punk, loyal, conflicted, determined. And Virtual Blue, though the second book about her, provides the perfect introduction for readers (like me) who’ve not met her before. The author balances backstory with present, revealing only what naturally feeds into the plot. He balances a daughter’s affections for a once-absent father against those for a now-absent mother, leaving me eager to learn more, but not feeling at all conflicted about what I’ve missed. The story entices readers with nicely muted romance, and carries its characters, via healthy doses of pizza, into the virtual realm of a video game where suddenly, all goes wrong.
Chip and Phil are naturals as game designers and entrepreneurs. Their real-world skills power a wonderful plot, deeper and scarier than Tron, with magical artifacts and complex interactions, all convincingly portrayed as the results of lines of code.
If you’ve ever wondered how game characters feel when they’re temporarily killed, this is the book for you. If you’ve wondered about the interface between real-world, virtual, and magic; if you’ve wanted to see women set free from their feelings of inadequacy, and men loyal to a fault; if you want great relationships and fascinating questions, scary quests, horror where the bites are lit with bytes... this is the book for you.
Virtual Blue is just plain gripping, exciting, fun. Enjoy, and watch out for more.
Dislcosure: I was given a free ecopy when I hosted the author on my blog. This is my honest review.
Chip and Phil are naturals as game designers and entrepreneurs. Their real-world skills power a wonderful plot, deeper and scarier than Tron, with magical artifacts and complex interactions, all convincingly portrayed as the results of lines of code.
If you’ve ever wondered how game characters feel when they’re temporarily killed, this is the book for you. If you’ve wondered about the interface between real-world, virtual, and magic; if you’ve wanted to see women set free from their feelings of inadequacy, and men loyal to a fault; if you want great relationships and fascinating questions, scary quests, horror where the bites are lit with bytes... this is the book for you.
Virtual Blue is just plain gripping, exciting, fun. Enjoy, and watch out for more.
Dislcosure: I was given a free ecopy when I hosted the author on my blog. This is my honest review.
November 11, 2013
Virtual Blue by R.J. Sullivan
A RPG gets out of control when female supremacist try and bring their demoness into the real world.
Fiona is a woman who is tired of dealing with her fears. Her decision to rid herself of her boyfriend ends in her being involved in a computer generated nightmare.
Sullivan does a good job in portraying the nerds. There is, perhaps, a bit of emulation in my look at the story. I have avoided role playing games on the computer as I am a bit fearful that I could apply my normal obsessive personality to gaming and disappear into the ether. However having been deeply involved in the first cyber-cafe in Pennsylvania I have seen how immersed gamers can become. Contrary to many "authorities" I believe that role playing can be a very positive catharsis and can help kids and adults deal with things they may have no control over in the real world.
Sullivan uses the game aspect as a tool in crafting this story. I plan on reading the prequel to this story to see how and what Chip and Blue became who they are. The story is a fun read and there can be more extrapolated from the story if you want to ponder its implications.
I recommend the book.
Web Site: http://rjsullivanfiction.com/virtual-...
A RPG gets out of control when female supremacist try and bring their demoness into the real world.
Fiona is a woman who is tired of dealing with her fears. Her decision to rid herself of her boyfriend ends in her being involved in a computer generated nightmare.
Sullivan does a good job in portraying the nerds. There is, perhaps, a bit of emulation in my look at the story. I have avoided role playing games on the computer as I am a bit fearful that I could apply my normal obsessive personality to gaming and disappear into the ether. However having been deeply involved in the first cyber-cafe in Pennsylvania I have seen how immersed gamers can become. Contrary to many "authorities" I believe that role playing can be a very positive catharsis and can help kids and adults deal with things they may have no control over in the real world.
Sullivan uses the game aspect as a tool in crafting this story. I plan on reading the prequel to this story to see how and what Chip and Blue became who they are. The story is a fun read and there can be more extrapolated from the story if you want to ponder its implications.
I recommend the book.
Web Site: http://rjsullivanfiction.com/virtual-...
September 7, 2013
For someone who is a gamer as well as into the supernatural and slightly "to the left" young adults this is everything rolled into one. I have to say, it is a sequel to Haunting Blue, but it is a great book on its own as well. Whereas the prior book showcased the main character as Blue, this book also shows her off well, but it brings you more into a reality that is centered on Rebecca Burton. Rebecca is a hard hitting, edgy,mysterious chick who does some serious paranormal investigating. She definitely gets her moneys worth in this book. The idea that Hell has gone virtual is so dead on in this story !! I can highly recommend this book: it kept itself in my hand: I couldn't put it down ! The only thing I can say after this is: I hope there is more to come !!!!!!!
December 16, 2013
This reminded me of the Matrix. Only the people were in a video game. Whatever happened to them in the video game they felt. Especially when they died, and then got an "extra" life. If this was Mario Brothers, then you would NOT want green mushrooms. Blue is a strong female character that goes head to head with the demoness. I did not expect the ending, and really want to read the rest of the books in the series. I wonder how else the sisters will virtually attack Blue next. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given this book to review, however all opinions are my own.
February 18, 2019
Great follow up
What seems to be a LitRPG followup to the first book becomes so much more as Blue encounters the fiery Rebecca Burton and a cult of demoness worshipers.
What seems to be a LitRPG followup to the first book becomes so much more as Blue encounters the fiery Rebecca Burton and a cult of demoness worshipers.
February 25, 2014
RJ Sullivan is a pretty new to me author, I read Haunting Obsession last year and instantly loved Mr. Sullivan's voice and storytelling. He makes amazing complex, detailed, rich characters. That is something I truly love in a story. I fangirled over Rebecca in Haunting Obsession but I am crushing in Blue. She is smart, clever, all round awesome punk girl. I was amazed at all that was going on in this book. Ghosts, Long distance relationships, supernatural forces and virtual worlds. This book is for gamers, fantasy, paranormal lovers. This is book two in the Blue Series but it was easy to follow with out reading book one. (Though I can not wait to read book one now.) I highly recommend this book.
My Rating:
5 out of 5. :)
My Rating:
5 out of 5. :)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews