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Otherworld #1
Luckbane
In a dystopian future, online gaming is the ultimate escape… until one corporation gives a few lucky players the chance to play their favorite sword and sorcery game live and in person on a distant planet. In the inaugural Øtherworld campaign, the winners will face monsters, magic, warriors, dragons, and betrayal as they quest to find a weapon capable of stopping the dreaded Firelord and his armies. For one lowly janitor-turned-alchemical adventurer, the stakes are much higher. Someone wants him very, very dead. And in a world where no one is who they seem to be, Jarrod Luckbane has no idea who he can trust. Everything is NOT under control.
376 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2013
1 person is currently reading
773 people want to read
About the author
Tony Breeden
15 books41 followersTony Breeden is an author, speaker, and artist from West Virginia. He got the writing bug as a child when his late aunt Sharon helped him make his very first book about dinosaurs, vigorously illustrated in crayon.
Johnny Came Home, published September 28, 2012, is his first book.
Luckbane, the first title in the Øtherworld series, was published on September 13 of '13.
He is currently writing Volume Two of Gray Barker's Book of Monsters.
Read excerpts of his books at http://wattpad.com/TonyBreeden
Johnny Came Home, published September 28, 2012, is his first book.
Luckbane, the first title in the Øtherworld series, was published on September 13 of '13.
He is currently writing Volume Two of Gray Barker's Book of Monsters.
Read excerpts of his books at http://wattpad.com/TonyBreeden
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 7, 2014
**This review may contain spoilers. You've been warned.**
I couldn't put this book down. It was very engaging with a great story concept, characters, and high action. It also had my inner gamer squealing and yearning for this game play to be real.
The story starts off seeming like a high fantasy story with the main character Luckbane, human master thief, his trusted dwarf friend Rogar, and a few hired party members on a quest to slay a dragon that screams no-win quest. But as the story quickly progresses it's revealed, at the time of Luckbane's demise, Luckbane is not real. He's a game character in a virtual, role-playing game world known as Impworld, and is played by highly skilled gamer Jarrod Seventhborn, high school graduate and janitor who lives with his loving robot cat in future dystopian earth where horses are only found in zoos, trees and real meat are a rare commodity, and gaming is a nationwide pastime.
Through a series of events after losing his character, Jarrod is made aware that the game he plays isn't just a game and his death had been staged for political reasons. He's then invited to the one event he'd been dreaming about, the chance to play as his character for real on a planet called Øtherworld but it's not all fun an games like it should have been. The whole political deal from before? They're not happy his character has been resurrected and they're out to take out Jarrod "Luckbane" to make their statement clear.
I loved Jarrod. For an ordinary guy he's pretty interesting and someone you'd like to be friends or group mates with. I liked his best friend Rogar as well. He was the perfect match for Jarrod and it’s fun seeing them go at it from time to time. The other characters in the story, while a lot of them, were very dynamic and made for an interesting group.
While I loved the book I did have some problems with it. One of them had to do with the sheer amount of characters dumped on you. There isn't a whole lot of time to really process who is who and it can get a bit confusing at times. To make it more confusing is when perspectives change frequently and you're scrambling to remember which character you're dealing with now. There are also character race types and game locations that are mentioned but not fully explained. This made it hard to picture many of them during certain scenes (this game could have a book all on it's own with how much was thrown at the reader in such a short amount of time).
Another problem I had was death and this is broken into two parts. Virtual character death and the live-action character death. When playing through the virtual helmets a player may make a costly mistake and get his character killed. No big deal normally, you just start over, right? Not in Impworld. The characters, once dead, are gone for good. Seems simple enough right? But it's never mentioned once a character is gone if a player can start a new one. It's mentioned people kill themselves over the loss of their characters and even Jarrod was a bit down so it would seem once the character is gone, you're done with the game for good. Sounds kind of lame to me if that's the case. Minor issue of course but clarification on this would have been nice to have.
My other death issue, which is a bit more major is when the players actually become their characters on Øtherworld. It's never said if the character dies, if the player is also dead or if they're actually safe and just removed from the planet. There is a bit of conflicting information throughout the book that goes back an forth on the matter and it really gave me a huge headache.
The last issue I had, is very minor, but could make a difference for the author. This has to do with the table of contents and the formatting of chapters. The chapters don't start on a new page. Most won't find this an issue but I like it when my chapters start on a new page. It makes the book look cleaner and it's easier to understand where you left off. As for the table of contents… it's very small, giving the illusion the book is either short or just has super long chapters. The problem? The links in the table of contents are to just the main ten acts which have many chapters within them and this is where the problem came about. Because I could only use the table of contests to find the main act, if I ever lost my place (either due to e-reader errors or because the young children I watch who love the swiping motion) or needed to find a specific chapter, it was really hard to do so. I was doing a lot of page turning when it could have been avoided.
So Luckbane gets a 4 out of 5 star review from me for having a great and engaging story with only a few errors. I look forward to the next installment in the series and hopefully a story on the virtual game before the live-action version to help flesh out this game world.
I couldn't put this book down. It was very engaging with a great story concept, characters, and high action. It also had my inner gamer squealing and yearning for this game play to be real.
The story starts off seeming like a high fantasy story with the main character Luckbane, human master thief, his trusted dwarf friend Rogar, and a few hired party members on a quest to slay a dragon that screams no-win quest. But as the story quickly progresses it's revealed, at the time of Luckbane's demise, Luckbane is not real. He's a game character in a virtual, role-playing game world known as Impworld, and is played by highly skilled gamer Jarrod Seventhborn, high school graduate and janitor who lives with his loving robot cat in future dystopian earth where horses are only found in zoos, trees and real meat are a rare commodity, and gaming is a nationwide pastime.
Through a series of events after losing his character, Jarrod is made aware that the game he plays isn't just a game and his death had been staged for political reasons. He's then invited to the one event he'd been dreaming about, the chance to play as his character for real on a planet called Øtherworld but it's not all fun an games like it should have been. The whole political deal from before? They're not happy his character has been resurrected and they're out to take out Jarrod "Luckbane" to make their statement clear.
I loved Jarrod. For an ordinary guy he's pretty interesting and someone you'd like to be friends or group mates with. I liked his best friend Rogar as well. He was the perfect match for Jarrod and it’s fun seeing them go at it from time to time. The other characters in the story, while a lot of them, were very dynamic and made for an interesting group.
While I loved the book I did have some problems with it. One of them had to do with the sheer amount of characters dumped on you. There isn't a whole lot of time to really process who is who and it can get a bit confusing at times. To make it more confusing is when perspectives change frequently and you're scrambling to remember which character you're dealing with now. There are also character race types and game locations that are mentioned but not fully explained. This made it hard to picture many of them during certain scenes (this game could have a book all on it's own with how much was thrown at the reader in such a short amount of time).
Another problem I had was death and this is broken into two parts. Virtual character death and the live-action character death. When playing through the virtual helmets a player may make a costly mistake and get his character killed. No big deal normally, you just start over, right? Not in Impworld. The characters, once dead, are gone for good. Seems simple enough right? But it's never mentioned once a character is gone if a player can start a new one. It's mentioned people kill themselves over the loss of their characters and even Jarrod was a bit down so it would seem once the character is gone, you're done with the game for good. Sounds kind of lame to me if that's the case. Minor issue of course but clarification on this would have been nice to have.
My other death issue, which is a bit more major is when the players actually become their characters on Øtherworld. It's never said if the character dies, if the player is also dead or if they're actually safe and just removed from the planet. There is a bit of conflicting information throughout the book that goes back an forth on the matter and it really gave me a huge headache.
The last issue I had, is very minor, but could make a difference for the author. This has to do with the table of contents and the formatting of chapters. The chapters don't start on a new page. Most won't find this an issue but I like it when my chapters start on a new page. It makes the book look cleaner and it's easier to understand where you left off. As for the table of contents… it's very small, giving the illusion the book is either short or just has super long chapters. The problem? The links in the table of contents are to just the main ten acts which have many chapters within them and this is where the problem came about. Because I could only use the table of contests to find the main act, if I ever lost my place (either due to e-reader errors or because the young children I watch who love the swiping motion) or needed to find a specific chapter, it was really hard to do so. I was doing a lot of page turning when it could have been avoided.
So Luckbane gets a 4 out of 5 star review from me for having a great and engaging story with only a few errors. I look forward to the next installment in the series and hopefully a story on the virtual game before the live-action version to help flesh out this game world.
November 7, 2013
My husband LOVED this book and he is a die-hard Robert Jordan/R.A. Salvatore fan. He said he cannot wait for a second.
April 3, 2014
The premise is certainly very interesting. Convert a Dungeons & Dragons video game into a real world experience, and play out in the real world (although heavily staged, like a Disneyland stage production) in a futuristic society. Sort of like The Hunger Games, where people fight to the death, but in an epic fantasy world.
As interesting the premise was, I got bogged down in the execution. There were so many characters, and although Jarrod was the lead character, a lot of action scenes took place without Jarrod. (By the way, many of the names given to the epic fantasy characters were some of the best I've ever seen in an epic fantasy book... Jarrod Luckbane, Stanley Dragonslayer, Rogar Thunderhammer....) I found it hard to keep track of the diverse range of characters. As well, there were a lot of creatures and video game terms that were unknown, for example golems, wyverns, bandoliers, simulacrums, rabdils, and borogs. I didn't know what these were, and found it hard to remember what was what.
While the concept is very "cool," i.e. play out a fantasy game like a giant amusement park, I found the plot to be mainly battle after battle, and I wasn't sure what the ultimate goal was. Certainly, survival and winning the most game points are the primary goals of the characters (and anyone who plays video games) but that does not a plot make. The characters didn't really develop relationships beyond being allies during the real-life game. Actually, the relationship I liked the best was the mysterious Mr. Jones, who brings Jarrod into the virtual reality, as they play a cat-and-mouse game at the beginning as to why Jarrod was sought by the monolithic conglomerate that set up this world of virtual reality.
It would be been a very interesting premise for me for the characters to unite to "get out" of the game and turn the tables on Gamecomm, the corporation responsible for the out-of-this-world reality show!
As interesting the premise was, I got bogged down in the execution. There were so many characters, and although Jarrod was the lead character, a lot of action scenes took place without Jarrod. (By the way, many of the names given to the epic fantasy characters were some of the best I've ever seen in an epic fantasy book... Jarrod Luckbane, Stanley Dragonslayer, Rogar Thunderhammer....) I found it hard to keep track of the diverse range of characters. As well, there were a lot of creatures and video game terms that were unknown, for example golems, wyverns, bandoliers, simulacrums, rabdils, and borogs. I didn't know what these were, and found it hard to remember what was what.
While the concept is very "cool," i.e. play out a fantasy game like a giant amusement park, I found the plot to be mainly battle after battle, and I wasn't sure what the ultimate goal was. Certainly, survival and winning the most game points are the primary goals of the characters (and anyone who plays video games) but that does not a plot make. The characters didn't really develop relationships beyond being allies during the real-life game. Actually, the relationship I liked the best was the mysterious Mr. Jones, who brings Jarrod into the virtual reality, as they play a cat-and-mouse game at the beginning as to why Jarrod was sought by the monolithic conglomerate that set up this world of virtual reality.
It would be been a very interesting premise for me for the characters to unite to "get out" of the game and turn the tables on Gamecomm, the corporation responsible for the out-of-this-world reality show!
July 3, 2013
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite - 5 Stars
Living in a dystopian world, master thief Jarrod Seventhborn, or better known as Jarrod Luckbane, is one of many people who seek escape and even an identity to be proud of in an online gaming world. When his master thief character suffers the horrible game-death, GameComm corporation offers him the chance to play for the inaugural game of Otherworld campaign. A golden opportunity for a janitor, but someone is relentlessly trying to kill him. Will Jarrod survive? Luckbane is the first installment in the exciting Otherworld series by Tony Breeden.
As a fan of role playing games and even a long time fan of TSR products, Luckbane is definitely the type of novel that I want to read. The premise of the story is exciting and refreshing to me. The short lengths of the chapters, which are also divided in parts, make the pacing fast but comfortable to read. I see no flaws in author Tony Breeden’s high level writing style. The dialogues are strong and witty, and the protagonist Jarrod is the flawed hero of this story that you would easily root for. The plot is excellent; it does feel like you are playing your favorite RPG while reading.
There is a lot of thrilling action which does not involve heavy or disturbing violence and the language used is fairly clean. That being said, both young and mature readers will definitely enjoy Luckbane and would want to follow the Otherworld series. The combination of sci-fi and fantasy elements are potent. Any RPG enthusiast would not want to miss this one.
Living in a dystopian world, master thief Jarrod Seventhborn, or better known as Jarrod Luckbane, is one of many people who seek escape and even an identity to be proud of in an online gaming world. When his master thief character suffers the horrible game-death, GameComm corporation offers him the chance to play for the inaugural game of Otherworld campaign. A golden opportunity for a janitor, but someone is relentlessly trying to kill him. Will Jarrod survive? Luckbane is the first installment in the exciting Otherworld series by Tony Breeden.
As a fan of role playing games and even a long time fan of TSR products, Luckbane is definitely the type of novel that I want to read. The premise of the story is exciting and refreshing to me. The short lengths of the chapters, which are also divided in parts, make the pacing fast but comfortable to read. I see no flaws in author Tony Breeden’s high level writing style. The dialogues are strong and witty, and the protagonist Jarrod is the flawed hero of this story that you would easily root for. The plot is excellent; it does feel like you are playing your favorite RPG while reading.
There is a lot of thrilling action which does not involve heavy or disturbing violence and the language used is fairly clean. That being said, both young and mature readers will definitely enjoy Luckbane and would want to follow the Otherworld series. The combination of sci-fi and fantasy elements are potent. Any RPG enthusiast would not want to miss this one.
November 27, 2013
Meet Jarrod Seventhborn, or Luckbane, as most people in the universe know him. Jarrod is a lowly janitor in a futuristic world that feels like a mix between Total Recall (updated version), The Running Man, and Minority Report. He’s also one of the world’s best players of Impworld, a role-playing game that has captured the attention of viewers everywhere. It’s the ultimate reality show, and billions have tuned in to watch Luckbane, who is a thief in the game, conquer every quest and beat seemingly impossible odds.
The world is run by mega-corporations, and Jarrod is too popular for his own good. Those in power apparently don’t like it when the common man gives hope to so many. While Jarrod must play with his head on the proverbial swivel to avoid being taken out by a fame-seeking player, he doesn’t realize that he’s made powerful enemies in the real world.
Through a series of events, Jarrod is invited to take part in a real-world version of Impworld called Otherworld. He is whisked away to another planet that has been constructed to look just like the game he knows so well. Thanks to futuristic technology, the world is complete with all of the monsters, characters, spells, weapons, armor, and intrigue from the game, as well as several other surprises. If you’re having trouble picturing it, think Middle Earth from the Lord of the Rings on steroids.
The action leading up to the game was more than sufficient, but from the moment Luckbane steps into Otherworld, the action amps up to hyper-speed. Most participants in the game choose to play as an avatar, so the person can safely play via remote control. However, Jarrod joins a team of champions who, for the most part, are content to play in person, meaning if they die in the game, they actually die.
The first book in the Otherworld series introduces us to Jarrod and his ragtag team of adventurers who set out on a quest to stop the Firelord from obtaining the most powerful weapon in the universe. It won’t be easy. Dodging assassins is the least of Jarrod’s concerns. The corporation, GameComm, is bent on earning high viewer ratings so they toss Luckbane and his troop into one dangerous battle after another. Whatever the corporation can dream up, they can implement into the game. But there’s an even greater threat. Someone outside GameComm wants Jarrod dead in the worst way, and they’ve hacked into the game to accomplish their goal. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I’ll leave it at that.
Luckbane was written by a friend of mine named Tony Breeden, and it’s his second novel (the first is called Johnny Came Home). Tony is a preacher too, although the book isn’t “preachy,” in the sense of trying to convince you to believe the same things as the author, nor are there any long expositions on the Christian faith. Jarrod professes to be a Christian, but there are only a few places where this seems to come into play, such as a very brief prayer for help. There are a few hints that there may be some more Christian elements coming later in the series. Perhaps the author is giving us a chance to see Jarrod grow in his faith (or walk away from it) as the series progresses.
I picked up Luckbane a few days ago and rarely put it down. It is well written, action-packed (that’s an understatement), very original (to my knowledge), and really fun. If you enjoy fantasy, sci-fi, or action/adventure novels, or if you ever played role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons or Final Fantasy, Luckbane should be a great experience for you. Even if you aren’t into those genres and just want an original and fun read, pick up your copy of Luckbane today.
Five stars. I can’t wait to read the sequel.
The world is run by mega-corporations, and Jarrod is too popular for his own good. Those in power apparently don’t like it when the common man gives hope to so many. While Jarrod must play with his head on the proverbial swivel to avoid being taken out by a fame-seeking player, he doesn’t realize that he’s made powerful enemies in the real world.
Through a series of events, Jarrod is invited to take part in a real-world version of Impworld called Otherworld. He is whisked away to another planet that has been constructed to look just like the game he knows so well. Thanks to futuristic technology, the world is complete with all of the monsters, characters, spells, weapons, armor, and intrigue from the game, as well as several other surprises. If you’re having trouble picturing it, think Middle Earth from the Lord of the Rings on steroids.
The action leading up to the game was more than sufficient, but from the moment Luckbane steps into Otherworld, the action amps up to hyper-speed. Most participants in the game choose to play as an avatar, so the person can safely play via remote control. However, Jarrod joins a team of champions who, for the most part, are content to play in person, meaning if they die in the game, they actually die.
The first book in the Otherworld series introduces us to Jarrod and his ragtag team of adventurers who set out on a quest to stop the Firelord from obtaining the most powerful weapon in the universe. It won’t be easy. Dodging assassins is the least of Jarrod’s concerns. The corporation, GameComm, is bent on earning high viewer ratings so they toss Luckbane and his troop into one dangerous battle after another. Whatever the corporation can dream up, they can implement into the game. But there’s an even greater threat. Someone outside GameComm wants Jarrod dead in the worst way, and they’ve hacked into the game to accomplish their goal. I don’t want to give any spoilers, so I’ll leave it at that.
Luckbane was written by a friend of mine named Tony Breeden, and it’s his second novel (the first is called Johnny Came Home). Tony is a preacher too, although the book isn’t “preachy,” in the sense of trying to convince you to believe the same things as the author, nor are there any long expositions on the Christian faith. Jarrod professes to be a Christian, but there are only a few places where this seems to come into play, such as a very brief prayer for help. There are a few hints that there may be some more Christian elements coming later in the series. Perhaps the author is giving us a chance to see Jarrod grow in his faith (or walk away from it) as the series progresses.
I picked up Luckbane a few days ago and rarely put it down. It is well written, action-packed (that’s an understatement), very original (to my knowledge), and really fun. If you enjoy fantasy, sci-fi, or action/adventure novels, or if you ever played role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons or Final Fantasy, Luckbane should be a great experience for you. Even if you aren’t into those genres and just want an original and fun read, pick up your copy of Luckbane today.
Five stars. I can’t wait to read the sequel.
January 25, 2014
4.5 star review
Have you ever been playing a computer game and thought 'I would love to really be in the game?' Well step into Luckbane's world! Set years in the future where playing a computer game doesn't just involve sitting in front of a television, book one in the Otherworld series is a fast paced, action filled, thrilling ride that takes you into a real life game.
Jarrod is a bored janitor, who spends a lot of his time playing a computer game, but when his character dies, his life doesn't look so great. After being caught playing at work, he loses his job, and his home. When a mysterious letter arrives and Jarrod finds out that GameComm are resurrecting his character, and he is offered the chance to go and play the game for real, things change quickly.
Step into Otherworld, the real life computer game. From then on this a story filled with amazing colourful characters, thieves, elves, goblyns, dwarves, magicians, plus the incredible creations that Tony Breedens wonderful imagination has dreamed up to try and take down the players.
The characters that Tony has come up with are amazing. Imagine chucking the characeters from Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Dungeons and Dragons and all the other games, books, films along those lines, chucking them in a blender, and seeing what you get. What you get, is Luckbane.
From the first page to the very last, there are no slow moments in this book. From epic battles, dragons, and hackers, it is all go, and the pace is as fast as a lightening bolt.
The visuals created as I read this book took me right into a video game myself, the descriptive way Tony rights is flawless and breath taking.
The only reason I knocked half a star off of my review was down to the fact that there were just so many characters! Throw into the mix half of those characters having 'real names' and game names too, I often found myself getting a little lost, especially when new characters were introduced into the fray. It took me a good while to work on remembering the main characters and their different names, I found it a little hectic at times to remember any new characters, too. I think as the series goes on these may be easier to keep track of but it was the one thing I struggled with with Luckbane, hence the knocking off of half a star.
This is the second of Tony's books I have read now, and his books are not my first choice of genre, in fact sci fi style books are usually pretty low on my list, but for the second time, I have really enjoyed Tony's book and his writing style, and usually I would pass these books over as more aimed at men, but again Tony has broadened my opinions and made me realise that sometimes if you give something different a try, you might find you were wrong in the first place.
Have you ever been playing a computer game and thought 'I would love to really be in the game?' Well step into Luckbane's world! Set years in the future where playing a computer game doesn't just involve sitting in front of a television, book one in the Otherworld series is a fast paced, action filled, thrilling ride that takes you into a real life game.
Jarrod is a bored janitor, who spends a lot of his time playing a computer game, but when his character dies, his life doesn't look so great. After being caught playing at work, he loses his job, and his home. When a mysterious letter arrives and Jarrod finds out that GameComm are resurrecting his character, and he is offered the chance to go and play the game for real, things change quickly.
Step into Otherworld, the real life computer game. From then on this a story filled with amazing colourful characters, thieves, elves, goblyns, dwarves, magicians, plus the incredible creations that Tony Breedens wonderful imagination has dreamed up to try and take down the players.
The characters that Tony has come up with are amazing. Imagine chucking the characeters from Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Dungeons and Dragons and all the other games, books, films along those lines, chucking them in a blender, and seeing what you get. What you get, is Luckbane.
From the first page to the very last, there are no slow moments in this book. From epic battles, dragons, and hackers, it is all go, and the pace is as fast as a lightening bolt.
The visuals created as I read this book took me right into a video game myself, the descriptive way Tony rights is flawless and breath taking.
The only reason I knocked half a star off of my review was down to the fact that there were just so many characters! Throw into the mix half of those characters having 'real names' and game names too, I often found myself getting a little lost, especially when new characters were introduced into the fray. It took me a good while to work on remembering the main characters and their different names, I found it a little hectic at times to remember any new characters, too. I think as the series goes on these may be easier to keep track of but it was the one thing I struggled with with Luckbane, hence the knocking off of half a star.
This is the second of Tony's books I have read now, and his books are not my first choice of genre, in fact sci fi style books are usually pretty low on my list, but for the second time, I have really enjoyed Tony's book and his writing style, and usually I would pass these books over as more aimed at men, but again Tony has broadened my opinions and made me realise that sometimes if you give something different a try, you might find you were wrong in the first place.
October 1, 2013
What did I think? I think ... excellent.
This book is something new and refreshing along the line of such serious fantasy novels out there. The chapters are brief and written in real-time ... Kinda like the playing out of a video game, but at some point, the game becomes real. I sense many references to things such as books, novels and games that the author enjoyed throughout his journey we all know as life without them being overly overt to anyone new to the fantasy realm.
Most of the book is light and requires very little forethought or afterthought ... but Breeden teases us with just a hint of fantasy world prophecy. At the mention of the Godspell, Breeden had my absolute attention. I want to see a big quest set up to find this 'Map controlled by six amulets called the Cruces of the Condemned: three cruces to tell you where it is, two identity cruces to tell you who had it and what it looks like, and the cartographer's crux, or the Evangel.' But that is a story for another day (figure out what novel that line comes from and you win a hundred points.)
I also checked out Breeden's online character bios which I would say enhanced my excitement for the book greatly. The author does his own illustrations and is just as much a master with a colored pencil as he is with a typewriter.
I won this book in the Goodreads Giveaways and was blessed with an amazing tale that I shall follow wherever Breeden leads us. I took advantage of his free weekend offer of his other two novels 'Johnny Came Home' and 'Dreadknights.' I don't yet know how long 'Johnny Came Home' is, but 'Dreadknights' is brief - virtually a rendering of deleted scenes of 'Luckbane.' I read it before turning in to sleep last night. It closes out with a detail telling you where each event would have happened within the main novel. I was like: Oh, so that was ... You get the idea. :P
Something I find important to mention here, I think anyone of any age could enjoy this book. The violence is akin to a classic Nintendo game and is clean enough for say a 4th grader to enjoy, yet can still hold a 30+ year old geek, such as myself, at bay. Good job, Mr. Tony Breeden!
This book is something new and refreshing along the line of such serious fantasy novels out there. The chapters are brief and written in real-time ... Kinda like the playing out of a video game, but at some point, the game becomes real. I sense many references to things such as books, novels and games that the author enjoyed throughout his journey we all know as life without them being overly overt to anyone new to the fantasy realm.
Most of the book is light and requires very little forethought or afterthought ... but Breeden teases us with just a hint of fantasy world prophecy. At the mention of the Godspell, Breeden had my absolute attention. I want to see a big quest set up to find this 'Map controlled by six amulets called the Cruces of the Condemned: three cruces to tell you where it is, two identity cruces to tell you who had it and what it looks like, and the cartographer's crux, or the Evangel.' But that is a story for another day (figure out what novel that line comes from and you win a hundred points.)
I also checked out Breeden's online character bios which I would say enhanced my excitement for the book greatly. The author does his own illustrations and is just as much a master with a colored pencil as he is with a typewriter.
I won this book in the Goodreads Giveaways and was blessed with an amazing tale that I shall follow wherever Breeden leads us. I took advantage of his free weekend offer of his other two novels 'Johnny Came Home' and 'Dreadknights.' I don't yet know how long 'Johnny Came Home' is, but 'Dreadknights' is brief - virtually a rendering of deleted scenes of 'Luckbane.' I read it before turning in to sleep last night. It closes out with a detail telling you where each event would have happened within the main novel. I was like: Oh, so that was ... You get the idea. :P
Something I find important to mention here, I think anyone of any age could enjoy this book. The violence is akin to a classic Nintendo game and is clean enough for say a 4th grader to enjoy, yet can still hold a 30+ year old geek, such as myself, at bay. Good job, Mr. Tony Breeden!
April 17, 2014
Luckbane, the first in the Otherworld series, is a book that is very difficult to pigeon-hole. It has elements of fantasy, elements of science-fiction, elements of dystopia and a whole lot of gaming. More than anything, and this is the reason why I have given Luckbane five stats despite a few criticisms to come, Tony Breeden has written something truly original; he has created not just one new world but three, all overflowing with interesting, widely-varied characters and written a story that races from one action-packed adventure to another, all while still maintaining the depth of the world(s) he has created. Breeden avoids the usual fantasy staples of humans, dwarves and elves (although all three exist) and creates a whole plethora of new, previously unimaginable characters (I think one was a ninja rabbit?) Luckbane truly is a unique, original piece of writing - something that is very rare in this day and age.
The story is set in the future and the action takes place mostly in a high-tech equivalent of an online role-playing game. The hero of our story is a young man named Jarrod. In the real world, he is a poor janitor who lives in a rough neighbourhood with his fake, electronic cat and can't afford to buy real coffee. In the game, called Impworld, he is a legendary thief and one of the most popular characters in the game, which is must-see viewing across the world. That is until his character is killed off in a political machination between the new empires that cover huge swathes of the globe.
Then his character is resurrected for the biggest event in the history of the game - a real-life version on a distant, terraformed planet where the gamers volunteer to undergo surgery and technological alterations to become the characters they have been playing for years. Then the majority of the story takes place in this new, real-life game, "Otherworld", following Jarrod's adventures as the politics of the real world affect the events of the games time and time again.
It is without a doubt an entertaining read, one I would recommend. That said, I do feel this could have been even better had Breeden just slowed things down. A lot.
As I said, there are three worlds. The dystopian future world of real life, the video game world of "Impworld", and the combination of the two, "Otherworld". All three are brought to life by Breeden vividly; unfortunately, it is all a bit too swiftly. The action moves at a break-neck pace, not stopping to explain or dwell in any one place for more than a few moments. The real world that Jarrod escapes from in the game was one I would have loved to know more about, but we only see a tiny snippet before he is whisked away. The game part is described well, the scenes in rowdy taverns and hushed forests easy to imagine. Less easy to imagine is how these normal people are transformed into characters of themselves. There are brief mentions of nanotechnology, avatar suits and such but I felt a far more detailed description of how exactly someone was turned into a werewolf or a dwarf without physically scarring them for life. In an ironic turn from the usual "a wizard did it" excuse, the term "nanobots" seems to be the go to excuse for how anything magical is accomplished, including someone who is cut into two pieces being able to put himself back together.
Really, Luckbane could have been developed into two books and I think it would have been just as entertaining, but a little easier to follow. The action moves so fast it sometimes becomes a blur and it is difficult to work out exactly how everything could physically happen, but if you put that aside and strap yourself in tightly, you will race through a colourful and exciting adventure that is strong enough to draw you in and make you wish you were a part of it. Despite the rushed story, a few overused adjectives (preternatural springs to mind) and lack of deep explanations, this is a book I would recommend to everyone, simply because in over fifteen years of studying literature from all over the world, I have never read anything quite like this. It is a brand new, original creation in a world of remakes, rehashes and reboots.
And that is a very good thing indeed.
The story is set in the future and the action takes place mostly in a high-tech equivalent of an online role-playing game. The hero of our story is a young man named Jarrod. In the real world, he is a poor janitor who lives in a rough neighbourhood with his fake, electronic cat and can't afford to buy real coffee. In the game, called Impworld, he is a legendary thief and one of the most popular characters in the game, which is must-see viewing across the world. That is until his character is killed off in a political machination between the new empires that cover huge swathes of the globe.
Then his character is resurrected for the biggest event in the history of the game - a real-life version on a distant, terraformed planet where the gamers volunteer to undergo surgery and technological alterations to become the characters they have been playing for years. Then the majority of the story takes place in this new, real-life game, "Otherworld", following Jarrod's adventures as the politics of the real world affect the events of the games time and time again.
It is without a doubt an entertaining read, one I would recommend. That said, I do feel this could have been even better had Breeden just slowed things down. A lot.
As I said, there are three worlds. The dystopian future world of real life, the video game world of "Impworld", and the combination of the two, "Otherworld". All three are brought to life by Breeden vividly; unfortunately, it is all a bit too swiftly. The action moves at a break-neck pace, not stopping to explain or dwell in any one place for more than a few moments. The real world that Jarrod escapes from in the game was one I would have loved to know more about, but we only see a tiny snippet before he is whisked away. The game part is described well, the scenes in rowdy taverns and hushed forests easy to imagine. Less easy to imagine is how these normal people are transformed into characters of themselves. There are brief mentions of nanotechnology, avatar suits and such but I felt a far more detailed description of how exactly someone was turned into a werewolf or a dwarf without physically scarring them for life. In an ironic turn from the usual "a wizard did it" excuse, the term "nanobots" seems to be the go to excuse for how anything magical is accomplished, including someone who is cut into two pieces being able to put himself back together.
Really, Luckbane could have been developed into two books and I think it would have been just as entertaining, but a little easier to follow. The action moves so fast it sometimes becomes a blur and it is difficult to work out exactly how everything could physically happen, but if you put that aside and strap yourself in tightly, you will race through a colourful and exciting adventure that is strong enough to draw you in and make you wish you were a part of it. Despite the rushed story, a few overused adjectives (preternatural springs to mind) and lack of deep explanations, this is a book I would recommend to everyone, simply because in over fifteen years of studying literature from all over the world, I have never read anything quite like this. It is a brand new, original creation in a world of remakes, rehashes and reboots.
And that is a very good thing indeed.
June 30, 2014
LUCKBANE: A Review 5-stars
I like Tony Breeden, West Virginia and people bitten by the God-bug. It cheers me to see a creative mind paint layers of complex gaming worlds with humor and high adventure. I delight in the spine-tinging thrills and push button magic of wiping out all enemies, problems and advancing to the next level. Heck, I’d even slay a dragon behind the safety of a ray gun.
There are layers of allegory here that escape me but I read Breeden’s book like a mad man with his hair on fire to see what happens next. I was not disappointed. More so, this is the kind of book I could never write. The last video game I played was Pong and my passport forbids my going to dystopian worlds, here on in the next.
Breeden serves a smorgasbord of fantasy from Tolkein to Hunger Games. Jarrod Seventhborn Luckbane is a genuine everyman hero, with a fast gamer’s thumb, keen observer’s eye and wicked sharp sense of humor.
Were I ever again to be 16, I’d want to be him, with a better job in a tidier universe. Indeed, my imagination was engaged and I sailed through myriad fight scenes in multiple realms. The only weapon I might wave at Breeden is a red pencil, as he labors long to wear me out in his dream-state. But then, were I on a Greyhound bus from Portland to Key West, this is the only book I’d travel with.
Breeden is a lofty writer and superb illustrator. He crafts a complete package. Typos: I dint seen none. It’s fun to create fanciful worlds and invite readers to march through them, armed, aloof, goofy and dangerous. It’s the antidote to buying cat litter at the Piggly Wiggley. I bought shiny new asbestos boots in anticipation of Breeden’s next book in this series.
I like Tony Breeden, West Virginia and people bitten by the God-bug. It cheers me to see a creative mind paint layers of complex gaming worlds with humor and high adventure. I delight in the spine-tinging thrills and push button magic of wiping out all enemies, problems and advancing to the next level. Heck, I’d even slay a dragon behind the safety of a ray gun.
There are layers of allegory here that escape me but I read Breeden’s book like a mad man with his hair on fire to see what happens next. I was not disappointed. More so, this is the kind of book I could never write. The last video game I played was Pong and my passport forbids my going to dystopian worlds, here on in the next.
Breeden serves a smorgasbord of fantasy from Tolkein to Hunger Games. Jarrod Seventhborn Luckbane is a genuine everyman hero, with a fast gamer’s thumb, keen observer’s eye and wicked sharp sense of humor.
Were I ever again to be 16, I’d want to be him, with a better job in a tidier universe. Indeed, my imagination was engaged and I sailed through myriad fight scenes in multiple realms. The only weapon I might wave at Breeden is a red pencil, as he labors long to wear me out in his dream-state. But then, were I on a Greyhound bus from Portland to Key West, this is the only book I’d travel with.
Breeden is a lofty writer and superb illustrator. He crafts a complete package. Typos: I dint seen none. It’s fun to create fanciful worlds and invite readers to march through them, armed, aloof, goofy and dangerous. It’s the antidote to buying cat litter at the Piggly Wiggley. I bought shiny new asbestos boots in anticipation of Breeden’s next book in this series.
April 2, 2014
In “Luckbane” we meet Jarrod, a video game-playing janitor who is having a bad day. He has lost his job, girlfriend and accommodations.
His luck changes with the delivery of a real paper invitation to play his favourite game – in the flesh – on a far-flung planet.
Thus begins a slightly bewildering adventure where characters, locations and creatures are presented to the reader in a confusing melee. The story gallops along without pausing for breath until it finishes suddenly without resolution. This is because this is the first book in a series.
I liked Jarrod and his dwarf side-kick. There were some other characters that I would also have like to get to know more, but in this fast-paced story, there was no opportunity.
There were several Christian religious references, both in the Dedication and the story itself. I understand that Mr Breedon is a Christian preacher, but found these references (the ones in the body of the text) diverted me momentarily, as they didn’t seem to belong in that story.
The author’s command of language is excellent.
I know there are readers who love this style of book. I am less enthusiastic but will give it four stars because of the quality of the writing.
June 9, 2014
Luckbane is one of those rare books that made me smile every few pages as I lost myself in it.
In a future where countries are corporations, a janitor has the opportunity to embark on the adventure of a life time on a distant planet where the stakes are higher than he imagined. The game is very real, and death is permanent.
Luckbane combines Science Fiction and fantasy seamlessly, and the author takes great care in creating vastly different worlds, nuanced and fresh. He utilizes tropes and stereotypes to surprise the reader rather than make us feel we're reading another rehash of Lord of the Rings.
The pacing is brisk, and the battle scenes are visceral and well drawn; we care about the characters and their fate.The supporting cast is interesting and diverse.
There is an airiness about this book I really liked, a kind of light in it which is rare in any kind of book. I highly recommend it to fans of fantasy and sci-fi.
In a future where countries are corporations, a janitor has the opportunity to embark on the adventure of a life time on a distant planet where the stakes are higher than he imagined. The game is very real, and death is permanent.
Luckbane combines Science Fiction and fantasy seamlessly, and the author takes great care in creating vastly different worlds, nuanced and fresh. He utilizes tropes and stereotypes to surprise the reader rather than make us feel we're reading another rehash of Lord of the Rings.
The pacing is brisk, and the battle scenes are visceral and well drawn; we care about the characters and their fate.The supporting cast is interesting and diverse.
There is an airiness about this book I really liked, a kind of light in it which is rare in any kind of book. I highly recommend it to fans of fantasy and sci-fi.
November 25, 2014
Excellent! Great characters. A really unique story line. Great battles. Love it. I picked up the book several times to keep reading after I had finished, I wanted more. A lot of characters all with a distinct personality. Character roster in the back helped, some fact explained there and not in the book. Starts out with a fight with a dragon in a fantasy world but it really just Jarrod (Luckbane) playing an online game. He really lives in a very controlled future city. Visited by a strange man he is invited to play the game for real on a planet that is constructed to be the game land, where for an unknown reason everyone is trying to kill him. This book has the first half of the game. Can't wait for the next book to find out who wins the game.
August 12, 2014
Fun. Could relate to it, as a gamer. Reminded me a great deal of Tad Williams' Otherworld series (which I loved). Could have used a little tightening up of the writing is my only thing, and that's purely technical. Jarrod is a likeable protagonist, and would love to see a bit more character development around some of his cronies like Fleas, Rogar, etc.
September 2, 2015
First, the hook: in a future dominated by megacorporations, a virtual reality MMO with permanent character death is one of the major forms of entertainment. Longtime players are ranked based on the points they score in the game as well as their popularity with a viewing public that can watch play sessions. Despite that, the players themselves are more or less anonymous. The hero, Jarrod, plays the most popular character and is selected to travel to an actual world that has been created in the MMOs image to play his character in person.
The hook is the only thing about this novel that stands out. The rest is bog standard fantasy/sci-fi that fails to deliver in its execution. The author spends the bulk of the time telling the reader about the world instead of showing it, an overuse of action sequences leaves the setting little room to breathe, and the characters have no depth.
As fun as the hook is, the author presents the setting in long, descriptive paragraphs that outright tell the readers everything they could ever want to know, and more, about the world. There are few instances in which the author actually shows his readers how the world works. Instead, he feeds the readers just enough to make it to the next action sequence.
Part of the problem is that the author is essentially trying to take the reader through three different worlds simultaneously. First, there is the world of the MMO and the characters within it. Then there is megacorporate Earth. Finally, there is the world on which the real version of the MMO is taking place later in the book. All of this leads to a lot of clutter, and the author never figures out how to present all of this information to the reader well.
In addition, this is a run and gun novel in which there’s little breathing room between each action sequence. Most scenes resolve themselves in some kind of fight or other form of direct conflict. While this isn’t a problem on its own, the author is trying to build a world with this novel, not just enough of a world to connect the action sequences. This leaves the book on uneven footing, like a chemistry teacher trying to conduct a history lesson with explosions.
Finally, the characters are stock archetypes without any nuance to set them apart. Part of the humor in the book is that they’re mostly MMO characters, so of course they have silly names and are over the top. Unfortunately, the joke stops there and the author never really digs down into each character to reveal something beneath the stats on a character sheet.
Even the main character is your typical chosen-one everyman. Of course he’s had a memory wipe, is immune to stasis sickness, has no idea how famous his character is, is a janitor that has the physical skills of a master thief, has a corporate princess seeking his company, he is the representative of the common man versus the corporations, etcetera. He’s a bundle of clichés, not a character. The only difference between him and the other characters is the amount of fantasy/sci-fi chicken stock they were boiled in.
There are other issues with the book: the author shifts between too many character perspectives, he saps mystery out of the story via foreshadowing, the characters shift between emotions at an unrealistic pace, and he uses ‘growled,’ ‘sputtered,’ ‘sneered,’ and the like instead of sticking with ‘said.’
All of that aside, the basic idea was a fun one, and the writing was decent. I didn’t have to fight to get through to the novel, though I found myself skimming rather quickly. I give it a 2/5.
The hook is the only thing about this novel that stands out. The rest is bog standard fantasy/sci-fi that fails to deliver in its execution. The author spends the bulk of the time telling the reader about the world instead of showing it, an overuse of action sequences leaves the setting little room to breathe, and the characters have no depth.
As fun as the hook is, the author presents the setting in long, descriptive paragraphs that outright tell the readers everything they could ever want to know, and more, about the world. There are few instances in which the author actually shows his readers how the world works. Instead, he feeds the readers just enough to make it to the next action sequence.
Part of the problem is that the author is essentially trying to take the reader through three different worlds simultaneously. First, there is the world of the MMO and the characters within it. Then there is megacorporate Earth. Finally, there is the world on which the real version of the MMO is taking place later in the book. All of this leads to a lot of clutter, and the author never figures out how to present all of this information to the reader well.
In addition, this is a run and gun novel in which there’s little breathing room between each action sequence. Most scenes resolve themselves in some kind of fight or other form of direct conflict. While this isn’t a problem on its own, the author is trying to build a world with this novel, not just enough of a world to connect the action sequences. This leaves the book on uneven footing, like a chemistry teacher trying to conduct a history lesson with explosions.
Finally, the characters are stock archetypes without any nuance to set them apart. Part of the humor in the book is that they’re mostly MMO characters, so of course they have silly names and are over the top. Unfortunately, the joke stops there and the author never really digs down into each character to reveal something beneath the stats on a character sheet.
Even the main character is your typical chosen-one everyman. Of course he’s had a memory wipe, is immune to stasis sickness, has no idea how famous his character is, is a janitor that has the physical skills of a master thief, has a corporate princess seeking his company, he is the representative of the common man versus the corporations, etcetera. He’s a bundle of clichés, not a character. The only difference between him and the other characters is the amount of fantasy/sci-fi chicken stock they were boiled in.
There are other issues with the book: the author shifts between too many character perspectives, he saps mystery out of the story via foreshadowing, the characters shift between emotions at an unrealistic pace, and he uses ‘growled,’ ‘sputtered,’ ‘sneered,’ and the like instead of sticking with ‘said.’
All of that aside, the basic idea was a fun one, and the writing was decent. I didn’t have to fight to get through to the novel, though I found myself skimming rather quickly. I give it a 2/5.
April 21, 2014
When I think of unique novels, this is one I see as an example of a clever twist on an old subject. It is always rare to find a book that traverses genre boundaries, but I would consider Luckbane to be in that category. When I first started reading Luckbane, I'll be honest: I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy it. The first portion of the novel feels like a typical epic fantasy novel, complete with dragons, dwarves and goblins. When I read fantasy like that, two of my biggest deciding factors are how original the story line is, and if the author has done anything new with the races involved. The general world Lukebane spends most of his time in doesn't 'pass' in that essence, but the book ITSELF does.
Let me explain a little.
Luckbane is what I would consider a cross between fantasy, and dystopian/sci-fi. It is a bridge between our world, and that of the traditional high fantasy. The fantasy elements are pretty traditional, but they all take place within a game. In this world, gaming has gone to a new level, where people are immersed in the virtual reality. The gaming elements have become tangible to them, something they experience in a new level. It becomes even more realistic when players are allowed to compete in the new Øtherworld campaign. Traveling to a planet created entirely for the players, they find many of the dangers around them to be real, and many of the characters turn out to be more than just NPCs.
Many of the elements aren't original, but they are intentional, in a way. Elves are graceful, dwarves are tough, but they were designed that way, much like you would expect in a MRPG. This is taking a futuristic look on things that already exist, and stretching beyond that. The overseers of this world have thrown in new monsters, new tasks, and risen to the demand the players have presented. But the core elements have still remained even in the future.
I'm not a big fan of books that are entirely about action; I like a little variety in my stories, so sometimes the fighting in this book got a little heavy for me. But the mystery and plot elements introduced along the way kept me reading and curious to find out more. There was some minor religious talk that occurred partway through, which took me off guard. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind religion in books, but the sudden way it occurred did seem a little out of place, and I felt it could have been incorporated a bit better. I am curious what will happen in the next book; the story did cut off a little suddenly, but enough was revealed as I read that I didn't feel "cheated" of an ending like I have with some novels. Overall, it was a good read, and I would pick up the sequel.
Let me explain a little.
Luckbane is what I would consider a cross between fantasy, and dystopian/sci-fi. It is a bridge between our world, and that of the traditional high fantasy. The fantasy elements are pretty traditional, but they all take place within a game. In this world, gaming has gone to a new level, where people are immersed in the virtual reality. The gaming elements have become tangible to them, something they experience in a new level. It becomes even more realistic when players are allowed to compete in the new Øtherworld campaign. Traveling to a planet created entirely for the players, they find many of the dangers around them to be real, and many of the characters turn out to be more than just NPCs.
Many of the elements aren't original, but they are intentional, in a way. Elves are graceful, dwarves are tough, but they were designed that way, much like you would expect in a MRPG. This is taking a futuristic look on things that already exist, and stretching beyond that. The overseers of this world have thrown in new monsters, new tasks, and risen to the demand the players have presented. But the core elements have still remained even in the future.
I'm not a big fan of books that are entirely about action; I like a little variety in my stories, so sometimes the fighting in this book got a little heavy for me. But the mystery and plot elements introduced along the way kept me reading and curious to find out more. There was some minor religious talk that occurred partway through, which took me off guard. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind religion in books, but the sudden way it occurred did seem a little out of place, and I felt it could have been incorporated a bit better. I am curious what will happen in the next book; the story did cut off a little suddenly, but enough was revealed as I read that I didn't feel "cheated" of an ending like I have with some novels. Overall, it was a good read, and I would pick up the sequel.
May 20, 2014
Luckbane is a well executed blend of the two very distinct genres of science fiction and fantasy. This is by no means an easy task, but Tony Breeden manages to pull it off seamlessly.
The story starts off an apparent world of fantasy, where Jarrod Luckbane and friends are thrust into a dire, no win situation. The tale takes an unexpected twist and the reader finds themselves in a world of hard core science fiction; a dystopian future where on-line gaming has reached a whole new level of interactivity.
The main protagonist, Jarrod “Luckbane” Adams, is actually a highly successful gamer in this futuristic society where the pastime has become a spectator sport. Jarrod quickly finds himself caught in a deadly web of political intrigue and corporate politics, his character’s very existence apparently a threat to the mega-conglomerates.
The story takes another twist as Jarrod is invited to participate in a live-action version of the on-line game on “Otherworld”. Futuristic technology has been used to create a fantasy environment where certain invited gamers can play their characters along with on-line folks.
The storyline takes off from there as Jarrod’s is faced with real danger at every turn. Through the real world to Otherworld itself, it appears as if everyone wants to kill the infamous Jarrod Luckbane. Luckily, Jarrod is not alone. His friends and fans band together to help Luckbane meet these challenges and thwart the attempts on his life.
However, Otherworld itself is now in jeopardy, both from the inside and out. And Luckbane and his friends may be the only ones who can save it.
All in all, Luckbane is a fun read. It is fast paced and captivating; a very hard book to put down. It is like a modern adaption of the critically acclaimed Apprentice Adept series by Piers Anthony the way it so neatly interweaves fantasy and science fiction. The only criticisms I have are that there perhaps too many characters, places and history to keep track of in Otherworld. It can be overwhelming at times. Still I enjoyed the book tremendously. Luckbane is an excellent read and I highly recommend it.
The story starts off an apparent world of fantasy, where Jarrod Luckbane and friends are thrust into a dire, no win situation. The tale takes an unexpected twist and the reader finds themselves in a world of hard core science fiction; a dystopian future where on-line gaming has reached a whole new level of interactivity.
The main protagonist, Jarrod “Luckbane” Adams, is actually a highly successful gamer in this futuristic society where the pastime has become a spectator sport. Jarrod quickly finds himself caught in a deadly web of political intrigue and corporate politics, his character’s very existence apparently a threat to the mega-conglomerates.
The story takes another twist as Jarrod is invited to participate in a live-action version of the on-line game on “Otherworld”. Futuristic technology has been used to create a fantasy environment where certain invited gamers can play their characters along with on-line folks.
The storyline takes off from there as Jarrod’s is faced with real danger at every turn. Through the real world to Otherworld itself, it appears as if everyone wants to kill the infamous Jarrod Luckbane. Luckily, Jarrod is not alone. His friends and fans band together to help Luckbane meet these challenges and thwart the attempts on his life.
However, Otherworld itself is now in jeopardy, both from the inside and out. And Luckbane and his friends may be the only ones who can save it.
All in all, Luckbane is a fun read. It is fast paced and captivating; a very hard book to put down. It is like a modern adaption of the critically acclaimed Apprentice Adept series by Piers Anthony the way it so neatly interweaves fantasy and science fiction. The only criticisms I have are that there perhaps too many characters, places and history to keep track of in Otherworld. It can be overwhelming at times. Still I enjoyed the book tremendously. Luckbane is an excellent read and I highly recommend it.
May 25, 2014
Luckbane - science fiction and fantasy, all enveloped into a futuristic video gaming world.
Before I continue I feel its only fair to explain that not only do I have no interest in gaming, I have never played on any electronic games - although my children certainly do !
The main character deals with situations in a futuristic gaming environment. Unfortunately, lots of terminology was used to describe certain events, none of which was understood, which made the whole story very difficult to read. Having said that, there were certain times of enlightenment where the author skillfully carved humour into some characters, taking away some of the misunderstanding into something that was more relateable.
I feel this book would certainly appeal to anyone into gaming who would appreciate the characters/set/period of time etc a lot more that I have. Therefore, I have only rated this as 2 stars, mostly due to my not understanding of the work, and certainly not from poor quality of the author.
Before I continue I feel its only fair to explain that not only do I have no interest in gaming, I have never played on any electronic games - although my children certainly do !
The main character deals with situations in a futuristic gaming environment. Unfortunately, lots of terminology was used to describe certain events, none of which was understood, which made the whole story very difficult to read. Having said that, there were certain times of enlightenment where the author skillfully carved humour into some characters, taking away some of the misunderstanding into something that was more relateable.
I feel this book would certainly appeal to anyone into gaming who would appreciate the characters/set/period of time etc a lot more that I have. Therefore, I have only rated this as 2 stars, mostly due to my not understanding of the work, and certainly not from poor quality of the author.
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