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Warsafe
Play. Win. Survive.
There’s one building on her island that Halley has never the Mercenary House. Perched atop a mountain, surrounded by unnaturally evergreen foliage, the House is rumored to be a breeding ground for criminals. Mercenaries are liars, cheats, spies . . . and maybe, depending on who you ask, killers.
At the Warsafe headquarters in Seattle, Roscoe is beta testing the company’s new video game. It’s her job to track down glitches—but something is different about this one. Lurking behind the lines of malfunctioning code is a secret that threatens to drag her deeper into the game, forcing her to put her life on the line if she ever wants to come home.
Worlds collide as Roscoe teams up with Halley to uncover the island’s secret and expose Warsafe’s designs. But some mysteries are better left unsolved. As traitor after so-called traitor is revealed to be on their side, they begin to Could Warsafe’s mission be critical enough to justify its cruelty?
There’s one building on her island that Halley has never the Mercenary House. Perched atop a mountain, surrounded by unnaturally evergreen foliage, the House is rumored to be a breeding ground for criminals. Mercenaries are liars, cheats, spies . . . and maybe, depending on who you ask, killers.
At the Warsafe headquarters in Seattle, Roscoe is beta testing the company’s new video game. It’s her job to track down glitches—but something is different about this one. Lurking behind the lines of malfunctioning code is a secret that threatens to drag her deeper into the game, forcing her to put her life on the line if she ever wants to come home.
Worlds collide as Roscoe teams up with Halley to uncover the island’s secret and expose Warsafe’s designs. But some mysteries are better left unsolved. As traitor after so-called traitor is revealed to be on their side, they begin to Could Warsafe’s mission be critical enough to justify its cruelty?
304 pages, Hardcover
Published May 6, 2025
5 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Smyth
7 books63 followersFormer teen author, now a 21-year-old author still writing clean fiction stuffed with adventure, action, and intrigue from start to finish.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
May 11, 2025
3-ish stars, personally. ⭐️ Clean/Christian Fiction (light faith content) - Fantasy
About this book:
“Play. Win. Survive.
There’s one building on her island that Halley has never the Mercenary House. Perched atop a mountain, surrounded by unnaturally evergreen foliage, the House is rumored to be a breeding ground for criminals. Mercenaries are liars, cheats, spies . . . and maybe, depending on who you ask, killers.
At the Warsafe headquarters in Seattle, Roscoe is beta testing the company’s new video game. It’s her job to track down glitches—but something is different about this one. Lurking behind the lines of malfunctioning code is a secret that threatens to drag her deeper into the game, forcing her to put her life on the line if she ever wants to come home.
Worlds collide as Roscoe teams up with Halley to uncover the island’s secret and expose Warsafe’s designs. But some mysteries are better left unsolved. As traitor after so-called traitor is revealed to be on their side, they begin to Could Warsafe’s mission be critical enough to justify its cruelty?”
Series: No, a stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- A couple Scriptures are quoted (which one character says the speaker is perverting their meaning); Some talks about God; 'H's are capital when referring to God; A side character (Cal) wears a cross necklace and talks a bit about his faith to others; A character tells another for “God to help” both of them because they won’t help each other; Halley sees a picture of a cathedral and notices the stained glass windows; Halley thinks that such a cathedral is only in a fictional world or some world that no longer exists where others worship God (adding that God is “some kind of divine entity who was still human enough, or interested enough, or something enough to wonder what His congregation was up to and present Himself at those events. Sometimes. Though people never admitted whether they could see Him or whether His presence was more like air or wind, undeniable but invisible. Because what would God look like if you could see Him? No one could say exactly, except that a God deserving of such a monument must be wonderful indeed.” She also adds that she knew some about religion and says it’s the “belief in something other than the Alliance as the determining factor of our lives” and that if groups tried to worship in her village, it would cause trouble like death or conscription; (*Spoilers* ); When someone dies, a character crosses himself and says “May God forgive him. He certainty needs it.”; Someone tells Cal that she sees a “spark of divine forgiveness” in him and that he is a “human who makes mistakes but looks remarkably like his Maker”; *Spoiler* ; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying (but most are not clarified towards Whom and is used more as a phrase; Halley recalls hearing the grandmas in the village praying for the Mercs to eat their food and die); Mentions of people being religious; A few mentions of thanking God (one said by someone whose faith we don’t know about & another telling a religious person to thank God for something); A few mentions of miracles; A few mentions of someone thinking another is in angel (in a moment of uncertainty); A mention of the Good Samaritan; A mention of the Rapture; A mention of thinking someone in speaking in togues (phrase used when unable to understand someone);
*Note: Phrases and adjectives like ‘miraculous’, ‘Heaven knows’, ‘for heaven’s sake’, ‘what on God’s green earth’, ‘unholy’ and ‘godforsaken’ are used up to a handful of times with some coming across flippantly or strange (due to the character not having a faith or because of the context the word/phrase it is used in; Such as Halley thinking the doctor’s medicine bordered on the miraculous, a place’s darkness and silence being deemed unholy, something happen at an unholy hour, Roscoe thinking her video game playing skills are “miraculously awful” and someone else’s is “miraculously skilled”, Roscoe thinking that a bad day must be a “godforsaken nightmare”, and Andy calling some expletives “miraculously creative”); Andy thinks that finding an alien via his (illegal) radio would be ideal to hear (to make a break in the science field); Andy thinks that Roscoe must be psychic for being able to keep calm in a questionable situation; Someone tells another that lying isn’t a mortal sin if “it’s well meant”; Mentions of ghosts & them haunting a place (Halley thinks the Merc building on her island is probably haunted with ghosts, but later tells herself that ghosts aren’t real; At one point, Halley thinks her and another character have died and are now ghosts); Mentions of aliens; A few mentions of the afterlife and the “road to eternity” (Halley thinking she’s not ready to go there or will have company to there); A couple mentions of someone “getting” hellfire & another paving the road to hell with good intentions; A couple mentions of the Stone Age; A mention of counting blessings [when committing a crime]; A mention of treating someone devilishly; A mention of a girl being as “beautiful as a Greek goddess”; A mention of fairies.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘crickets’, an unfinished ‘for the love of…’, three forms of ‘shut up’, six forms of ‘idiot’, and eleven forms of ‘stupid’; A few mentions of curses (including some that are said to be “miraculously creative”; all are said, but not written); A bit of sarcasm; Some lying (mostly about their conditions, but Andy also lies to get away from a police officer); Eavesdropping; A fire, Being grabbed, Being choked, Being tied-up, Being threatened with harm and death, Being held at gun-point and also threatened with a syringe, Holding someone at knife- and gun-point, Pain, Injuries, Having a concussion, Blood/Bleeding, Passing out, & Throwing up (up to semi-detailed); Drinking alcohol & feeling a hangover start; Seeing deaths/murders (and thinking others died), weapons used and aimed at others, other being hit/slapped, fighting, blood/bleeding, injuries, & pain (up to semi-detailed); Seeing someone have her arm amputated and the blood (which makes the viewer pass out, up to semi-detailed); Seeing someone who either jumped out a window (suicide) or was pushed (but will be okay; Andy is asked if the person had mentioned death or having problems; Andy also thinks he’ll never forget what he saw and wants to believe it was an accident, up to semi-detailed); In Halley’s world, there is a building where young adults fight and kill others (called Mercenaries or Mercs for short; Everyone also has enforcement chips implanted behind their ears; Everyone on the island is supposed to fall asleep exactly at midnight; Halley goes into a fight with a Merc and witnesses the fight and the Merc’s injuries, but never sees the attacker; The Mercs believe they are killing the guards they are fighting against); In Roscoe’s setting, she works for a video game company that has a “permadeath” game (meaning when an avatar is killed in the game, the player has to starts over with a new avatar) that is very realistic with their avatars killing guards and being killed; *Spoilers* ; Andy threats another main character with stabbing her, switches a car’s license plate to hide from the police, and later plans to steal a boat (but instead, he rents it); Andy’s friend brings alcohol over to his apartment and they drink together (Andy gets tipsy after the first sip, but has three cans of beer); All about & many mentions of deaths, killing, deaths, murderers/murders, fighting, weapons, & a video game with these elements (up to semi-detailed); Many, many mentions of weapons (guns and knives), injuries, bad burns, pain, blood/bleeding, & passing out (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of wars & potential wars and deaths; Mentions of torture & screams; Mentions of grief over deaths of friends; Mentions of gunshots, explosions, fires, & an assumed death; Mentions of possible electrocution; Mentions of thieves, stealing, robberies, & cheaters; Mentions of prisons, jail, & criminals; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deception; Mentions of rumors & gossip; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, getting drunk, drunks, & hangovers; Mentions of tattoos (which the Mercs have on their hands); A few mentions of kidnappings; A few mentions of drugs; A few mentions of throwing up; A few mentions of nightmares; A few mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of a person being called a “suicidal maniac” for his plan; A couple mentions of smoking & a nicotine addiction; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of axe murderers; A mention of British colonization;
*Note: Halley’s parents say hurtful words to her at a tense moment (which makes her want to cry, but she holds them back and another person stands up for her); Halley thinks that another character is bipolar and should tell him about the easy availability of psychiatric care (but doesn’t tell him because she doesn’t want to be rude); After hearing unbelievable news, a character almost hopes she’s on the way to a psychiatric ward and imagined what she heard (later she thinks again that she should be sent to a mental hospital); Mentions of prejudice from the villagers towards the Mercs (who they believe to be violent, liars, cheaters, thieves, and murderers); Mentions of brand names, games, & stores (Windows, Sega, Call of Duty, America’s Army, Monopoly, & Walmart); A mention of a book (“I, Robot” by Isaac Asimov); A mention of Albert Einstein; A mention of James Bond; A mention of a Noble Prize; A mention of a horror movie (unnamed); A mention of someone acting like a vampire; A mention of someone being treated as if they are a schizophrenic individual if they tried to tell the truth about a company.
Sexual Content- A bit of noticing & blushes (barely-above-not-detailed); Seeing a couple kiss twice (once on the forehead and another on the lips) and thinking they are going to kiss at another time (but do not); Halley comments on a couple’s relationship (saying the guy being bad for a girl because he only ever thinks about her and doesn’t think straight when around the girl; also adding that he seems to think that his worth comes from what the girl thinks of him and Halley asks him what he will live for if it can’t be the girl he likes); A guy teases his girl about sharing a room together (implied with marriage); *Spoilers* ; A few mentions of falling in love; A few mentions of crushes; A couple mentions of dates; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of flirting; A mention of romance novels;
*Note: At their first meeting, Andy is afraid that Roscoe might “kick him where it hurts”.
-Halley, age 17
-Roscoe
-Andy, age 23
-Kazumi
P.O.V. switches between them (Halley in 1st, the rest in 3rd)
304 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
{ Add up to a full star for Older Teens who are fantasy fans and/or have an interest in video games. }
This was really different than I thought it would be. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this book because sci-fi isn’t really my thing and I’m not a video gamer, but I was game (pun intended 😉) to try it.
We follow three main characters and while at first I was a little confused, you can quickly piece together the pieces and see glimpses of what is happening and how these three very different people are connected.
Roscoe is a little crazy.
Andy is…nerdy and strange.
Halley—well, I liked Halley the most. She had her moments of ignorance, but I think that was more due to being trapped in an island and never thinking of going against what she’s been told.
Interestingly enough, we see the most POVs by Halley so I would call her our main character, but as far as the actual events in the plot go, I would consider her a side character or just there to help. She doesn’t do much besides be there with the other characters when events happen. She doesn’t have the skill set for helping figure out what is going on nor to be able to stop it. I felt like this was very different from a normal plotline, but I didn’t hate the difference.
There were some parts or comments that didn’t fully make sense to me (one example being that Halley has no religious background or really any knowledge about religion besides a very general thought, but then later saying that someone must be taking in tongues for all she can understand him), but that could have just been me and not fully understanding what was happening.
As finishing this book, I almost wouldn’t call it sci-fi like I thought it would be. There’s no space travel or aliens (though some mentions of the later in a nerdy-scientific way). It’s more of a futuristic but yet modern setting. Roscoe and Andy live in our normal contemporary setting (down to the mentions of going to Walmart), but then Halley lives on an island with upgraded tech, no way to get off the island, and it being believed about young adults fighting to the death in a certain building. Quite a stark difference in lifestyles and how our main characters view their lives.
I think this book wasn’t my cup of tea, personally. Those that like video games and the concept of a video game-like place probably would! I do have to note that I appreciate that while there’s mentions of violence and deaths, because we don’t have the POV of either character that’s really doing the violence, it’s not detailed. Like I said earlier, Halley is along for the ride and sees some of it based on being around those characters, but is not actually a part of it herself. This made a big different in terms of the details of the violence and didn’t make this book feel heavy like it could have.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
About this book:
“Play. Win. Survive.
There’s one building on her island that Halley has never the Mercenary House. Perched atop a mountain, surrounded by unnaturally evergreen foliage, the House is rumored to be a breeding ground for criminals. Mercenaries are liars, cheats, spies . . . and maybe, depending on who you ask, killers.
At the Warsafe headquarters in Seattle, Roscoe is beta testing the company’s new video game. It’s her job to track down glitches—but something is different about this one. Lurking behind the lines of malfunctioning code is a secret that threatens to drag her deeper into the game, forcing her to put her life on the line if she ever wants to come home.
Worlds collide as Roscoe teams up with Halley to uncover the island’s secret and expose Warsafe’s designs. But some mysteries are better left unsolved. As traitor after so-called traitor is revealed to be on their side, they begin to Could Warsafe’s mission be critical enough to justify its cruelty?”
Series: No, a stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- A couple Scriptures are quoted (which one character says the speaker is perverting their meaning); Some talks about God; 'H's are capital when referring to God; A side character (Cal) wears a cross necklace and talks a bit about his faith to others; A character tells another for “God to help” both of them because they won’t help each other; Halley sees a picture of a cathedral and notices the stained glass windows; Halley thinks that such a cathedral is only in a fictional world or some world that no longer exists where others worship God (adding that God is “some kind of divine entity who was still human enough, or interested enough, or something enough to wonder what His congregation was up to and present Himself at those events. Sometimes. Though people never admitted whether they could see Him or whether His presence was more like air or wind, undeniable but invisible. Because what would God look like if you could see Him? No one could say exactly, except that a God deserving of such a monument must be wonderful indeed.” She also adds that she knew some about religion and says it’s the “belief in something other than the Alliance as the determining factor of our lives” and that if groups tried to worship in her village, it would cause trouble like death or conscription; (*Spoilers* ); When someone dies, a character crosses himself and says “May God forgive him. He certainty needs it.”; Someone tells Cal that she sees a “spark of divine forgiveness” in him and that he is a “human who makes mistakes but looks remarkably like his Maker”; *Spoiler* ; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying (but most are not clarified towards Whom and is used more as a phrase; Halley recalls hearing the grandmas in the village praying for the Mercs to eat their food and die); Mentions of people being religious; A few mentions of thanking God (one said by someone whose faith we don’t know about & another telling a religious person to thank God for something); A few mentions of miracles; A few mentions of someone thinking another is in angel (in a moment of uncertainty); A mention of the Good Samaritan; A mention of the Rapture; A mention of thinking someone in speaking in togues (phrase used when unable to understand someone);
*Note: Phrases and adjectives like ‘miraculous’, ‘Heaven knows’, ‘for heaven’s sake’, ‘what on God’s green earth’, ‘unholy’ and ‘godforsaken’ are used up to a handful of times with some coming across flippantly or strange (due to the character not having a faith or because of the context the word/phrase it is used in; Such as Halley thinking the doctor’s medicine bordered on the miraculous, a place’s darkness and silence being deemed unholy, something happen at an unholy hour, Roscoe thinking her video game playing skills are “miraculously awful” and someone else’s is “miraculously skilled”, Roscoe thinking that a bad day must be a “godforsaken nightmare”, and Andy calling some expletives “miraculously creative”); Andy thinks that finding an alien via his (illegal) radio would be ideal to hear (to make a break in the science field); Andy thinks that Roscoe must be psychic for being able to keep calm in a questionable situation; Someone tells another that lying isn’t a mortal sin if “it’s well meant”; Mentions of ghosts & them haunting a place (Halley thinks the Merc building on her island is probably haunted with ghosts, but later tells herself that ghosts aren’t real; At one point, Halley thinks her and another character have died and are now ghosts); Mentions of aliens; A few mentions of the afterlife and the “road to eternity” (Halley thinking she’s not ready to go there or will have company to there); A couple mentions of someone “getting” hellfire & another paving the road to hell with good intentions; A couple mentions of the Stone Age; A mention of counting blessings [when committing a crime]; A mention of treating someone devilishly; A mention of a girl being as “beautiful as a Greek goddess”; A mention of fairies.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘crickets’, an unfinished ‘for the love of…’, three forms of ‘shut up’, six forms of ‘idiot’, and eleven forms of ‘stupid’; A few mentions of curses (including some that are said to be “miraculously creative”; all are said, but not written); A bit of sarcasm; Some lying (mostly about their conditions, but Andy also lies to get away from a police officer); Eavesdropping; A fire, Being grabbed, Being choked, Being tied-up, Being threatened with harm and death, Being held at gun-point and also threatened with a syringe, Holding someone at knife- and gun-point, Pain, Injuries, Having a concussion, Blood/Bleeding, Passing out, & Throwing up (up to semi-detailed); Drinking alcohol & feeling a hangover start; Seeing deaths/murders (and thinking others died), weapons used and aimed at others, other being hit/slapped, fighting, blood/bleeding, injuries, & pain (up to semi-detailed); Seeing someone have her arm amputated and the blood (which makes the viewer pass out, up to semi-detailed); Seeing someone who either jumped out a window (suicide) or was pushed (but will be okay; Andy is asked if the person had mentioned death or having problems; Andy also thinks he’ll never forget what he saw and wants to believe it was an accident, up to semi-detailed); In Halley’s world, there is a building where young adults fight and kill others (called Mercenaries or Mercs for short; Everyone also has enforcement chips implanted behind their ears; Everyone on the island is supposed to fall asleep exactly at midnight; Halley goes into a fight with a Merc and witnesses the fight and the Merc’s injuries, but never sees the attacker; The Mercs believe they are killing the guards they are fighting against); In Roscoe’s setting, she works for a video game company that has a “permadeath” game (meaning when an avatar is killed in the game, the player has to starts over with a new avatar) that is very realistic with their avatars killing guards and being killed; *Spoilers* ; Andy threats another main character with stabbing her, switches a car’s license plate to hide from the police, and later plans to steal a boat (but instead, he rents it); Andy’s friend brings alcohol over to his apartment and they drink together (Andy gets tipsy after the first sip, but has three cans of beer); All about & many mentions of deaths, killing, deaths, murderers/murders, fighting, weapons, & a video game with these elements (up to semi-detailed); Many, many mentions of weapons (guns and knives), injuries, bad burns, pain, blood/bleeding, & passing out (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of wars & potential wars and deaths; Mentions of torture & screams; Mentions of grief over deaths of friends; Mentions of gunshots, explosions, fires, & an assumed death; Mentions of possible electrocution; Mentions of thieves, stealing, robberies, & cheaters; Mentions of prisons, jail, & criminals; Mentions of lies, lying, liars, & deception; Mentions of rumors & gossip; Mentions of alcohol, drinking, getting drunk, drunks, & hangovers; Mentions of tattoos (which the Mercs have on their hands); A few mentions of kidnappings; A few mentions of drugs; A few mentions of throwing up; A few mentions of nightmares; A few mentions of hatred; A couple mentions of a person being called a “suicidal maniac” for his plan; A couple mentions of smoking & a nicotine addiction; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of axe murderers; A mention of British colonization;
*Note: Halley’s parents say hurtful words to her at a tense moment (which makes her want to cry, but she holds them back and another person stands up for her); Halley thinks that another character is bipolar and should tell him about the easy availability of psychiatric care (but doesn’t tell him because she doesn’t want to be rude); After hearing unbelievable news, a character almost hopes she’s on the way to a psychiatric ward and imagined what she heard (later she thinks again that she should be sent to a mental hospital); Mentions of prejudice from the villagers towards the Mercs (who they believe to be violent, liars, cheaters, thieves, and murderers); Mentions of brand names, games, & stores (Windows, Sega, Call of Duty, America’s Army, Monopoly, & Walmart); A mention of a book (“I, Robot” by Isaac Asimov); A mention of Albert Einstein; A mention of James Bond; A mention of a Noble Prize; A mention of a horror movie (unnamed); A mention of someone acting like a vampire; A mention of someone being treated as if they are a schizophrenic individual if they tried to tell the truth about a company.
Sexual Content- A bit of noticing & blushes (barely-above-not-detailed); Seeing a couple kiss twice (once on the forehead and another on the lips) and thinking they are going to kiss at another time (but do not); Halley comments on a couple’s relationship (saying the guy being bad for a girl because he only ever thinks about her and doesn’t think straight when around the girl; also adding that he seems to think that his worth comes from what the girl thinks of him and Halley asks him what he will live for if it can’t be the girl he likes); A guy teases his girl about sharing a room together (implied with marriage); *Spoilers* ; A few mentions of falling in love; A few mentions of crushes; A couple mentions of dates; A couple mentions of jealousy; A mention of flirting; A mention of romance novels;
*Note: At their first meeting, Andy is afraid that Roscoe might “kick him where it hurts”.
-Halley, age 17
-Roscoe
-Andy, age 23
-Kazumi
P.O.V. switches between them (Halley in 1st, the rest in 3rd)
304 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
{ Add up to a full star for Older Teens who are fantasy fans and/or have an interest in video games. }
This was really different than I thought it would be. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with this book because sci-fi isn’t really my thing and I’m not a video gamer, but I was game (pun intended 😉) to try it.
We follow three main characters and while at first I was a little confused, you can quickly piece together the pieces and see glimpses of what is happening and how these three very different people are connected.
Roscoe is a little crazy.
Andy is…nerdy and strange.
Halley—well, I liked Halley the most. She had her moments of ignorance, but I think that was more due to being trapped in an island and never thinking of going against what she’s been told.
Interestingly enough, we see the most POVs by Halley so I would call her our main character, but as far as the actual events in the plot go, I would consider her a side character or just there to help. She doesn’t do much besides be there with the other characters when events happen. She doesn’t have the skill set for helping figure out what is going on nor to be able to stop it. I felt like this was very different from a normal plotline, but I didn’t hate the difference.
There were some parts or comments that didn’t fully make sense to me (one example being that Halley has no religious background or really any knowledge about religion besides a very general thought, but then later saying that someone must be taking in tongues for all she can understand him), but that could have just been me and not fully understanding what was happening.
As finishing this book, I almost wouldn’t call it sci-fi like I thought it would be. There’s no space travel or aliens (though some mentions of the later in a nerdy-scientific way). It’s more of a futuristic but yet modern setting. Roscoe and Andy live in our normal contemporary setting (down to the mentions of going to Walmart), but then Halley lives on an island with upgraded tech, no way to get off the island, and it being believed about young adults fighting to the death in a certain building. Quite a stark difference in lifestyles and how our main characters view their lives.
I think this book wasn’t my cup of tea, personally. Those that like video games and the concept of a video game-like place probably would! I do have to note that I appreciate that while there’s mentions of violence and deaths, because we don’t have the POV of either character that’s really doing the violence, it’s not detailed. Like I said earlier, Halley is along for the ride and sees some of it based on being around those characters, but is not actually a part of it herself. This made a big different in terms of the details of the violence and didn’t make this book feel heavy like it could have.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
Read
October 3, 2025DNF @ pg 174
Cool concept not so great execution . I realize I’m not the target audience for this one because I don’t really care for sci-fi. The synopsis was interesting , since I like gaming and bringing a spiritual element to the plot sounded fascinating. I also really enjoy most books from this particular publisher, so I like to support them. Sadly it didn’t work for me. I really wanted to like it, but I could never get a handle on the plot it seemed all over the place. I also didn’t connect to any of the characters. I was beginning to get bored and dreaded picking it back up. Maybe if the right audience tries, it might work for those who can stick with it.
Cool concept not so great execution . I realize I’m not the target audience for this one because I don’t really care for sci-fi. The synopsis was interesting , since I like gaming and bringing a spiritual element to the plot sounded fascinating. I also really enjoy most books from this particular publisher, so I like to support them. Sadly it didn’t work for me. I really wanted to like it, but I could never get a handle on the plot it seemed all over the place. I also didn’t connect to any of the characters. I was beginning to get bored and dreaded picking it back up. Maybe if the right audience tries, it might work for those who can stick with it.
May 28, 2025
Actual rating: 3.5 stars, rounded up.
Imagine discovering that your whole life, there had been battles raging that you can never see. No, this isn't spiritual warfare in the vein of Frank Peretti or Ted Dekker. Instead, you are an NPC in a video game, and you can't even see the dangers that are being fought off be the avatars. Their work is thankless, wringing them out while the "villagers" view them with suspicion and hatred.
That is the introduction we have into Warsafe, a standalone sci-fi novel that asks a multitude of big questions in just over three hundred pages. Do the ends always justify the means? Is it okay to sacrifice the one for the good of the many? How important is freewill, and is sacrifice meaningless without it?
This debut is ambitious and layered. There's a lot going on in the plot. With so many moving parts, character development took a bit of a backseat. While the cast is interesting and varied and quirky, little time is given to the type of introspection that leads to a deep, emotional connection for the reader. The introspection we do have seems more in line with having these internal thoughts act as a mouthpiece for the author, using those thoughts to guide readers to the proper conclusions. The action was propulsive and the ideas behind the story were interesting, but the morality of entire thing felt heavy-handed. As did the inclusion of faith. Some stories manage to weave faith seamlessly into the story. Here, it felt kind of shoehorned in. While I always appreciate faith content, it wasn’t an entirely comfortable fit within the bounds of Warsafe.
I have a lot of respect for this novel. It took big risks and had some important, timely, thought-provoking things to say. If you’re a gamer, or have a child who is, I can see this landing really strongly and making a greater impact than it did with me. To my great misfortune, I’m not the target audience here, as I’m about the farthest from being a gamer one can get. I still enjoyed my time with Warsafe, but I can see this becoming a favorite for readers who are more in that intended demographic.
Imagine discovering that your whole life, there had been battles raging that you can never see. No, this isn't spiritual warfare in the vein of Frank Peretti or Ted Dekker. Instead, you are an NPC in a video game, and you can't even see the dangers that are being fought off be the avatars. Their work is thankless, wringing them out while the "villagers" view them with suspicion and hatred.
Safety requires the many to sacrifice the one.”
That is the introduction we have into Warsafe, a standalone sci-fi novel that asks a multitude of big questions in just over three hundred pages. Do the ends always justify the means? Is it okay to sacrifice the one for the good of the many? How important is freewill, and is sacrifice meaningless without it?
This debut is ambitious and layered. There's a lot going on in the plot. With so many moving parts, character development took a bit of a backseat. While the cast is interesting and varied and quirky, little time is given to the type of introspection that leads to a deep, emotional connection for the reader. The introspection we do have seems more in line with having these internal thoughts act as a mouthpiece for the author, using those thoughts to guide readers to the proper conclusions. The action was propulsive and the ideas behind the story were interesting, but the morality of entire thing felt heavy-handed. As did the inclusion of faith. Some stories manage to weave faith seamlessly into the story. Here, it felt kind of shoehorned in. While I always appreciate faith content, it wasn’t an entirely comfortable fit within the bounds of Warsafe.
“Neither perfectly good, nor perfectly evil. A persistent glimmer of humanity’s past perfection and its present destruction appeared in everything he did, but good intentions alone weren’t enough to save him.
The book had closed with a snap. Just like that. No warning, no way to go back, no way to change what we’d done.”
I have a lot of respect for this novel. It took big risks and had some important, timely, thought-provoking things to say. If you’re a gamer, or have a child who is, I can see this landing really strongly and making a greater impact than it did with me. To my great misfortune, I’m not the target audience here, as I’m about the farthest from being a gamer one can get. I still enjoyed my time with Warsafe, but I can see this becoming a favorite for readers who are more in that intended demographic.
June 13, 2025
I'd seen her name at the bottom of the list that morning. I remembered thinking it was a miracle
she hadn’t been killed yet. But I was more interested in the names at the top of the list—those who still had a fighting chance to win the game—and I soon forgot about her. It’s hard to worry about mortality when you’re scrubbing burnt egg off a saucepan.
Warsafe was born during my freshman year of college. It was released four days before I graduated. This story grew with me, changed with me, and made its first entry into the world with me.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed writing it!
she hadn’t been killed yet. But I was more interested in the names at the top of the list—those who still had a fighting chance to win the game—and I soon forgot about her. It’s hard to worry about mortality when you’re scrubbing burnt egg off a saucepan.
Warsafe was born during my freshman year of college. It was released four days before I graduated. This story grew with me, changed with me, and made its first entry into the world with me.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed writing it!
May 14, 2025
Warsafe is a YA dystopian science fiction. If you like books like Ender’s Game and Ready Player One, Warsafe has similar fast paced action scenes, high stakes situations, and next level gaming technology. There are multiple points of view, giving the reader insight into those who are in the game, as well as those who are running the game. These points of view come together to raise questions about morality, technology and humanity.
The unlikely friendships that arise as a result from the consequences of the game, had me invested in the characters and wanting to know what would happen next. I loved the chemistry between Andy and Roscoe, and the trust and faith in each other that Halley and her parents had. The story really brings about the question, “is the relationship between technology and humanity beneficial or detrimental for the human race?”.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Enclave Publishing. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
The unlikely friendships that arise as a result from the consequences of the game, had me invested in the characters and wanting to know what would happen next. I loved the chemistry between Andy and Roscoe, and the trust and faith in each other that Halley and her parents had. The story really brings about the question, “is the relationship between technology and humanity beneficial or detrimental for the human race?”.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Enclave Publishing. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
June 10, 2025
This is the first book I've read by Lauren Smyth. The premise was intriguing and I enjoyed discovering each layer of Halley's world one chapter at a time. She was the only first person voice in the book but didn't necessarily have the "lead voice". Her compassion, loyalty, ingenuity, and creativity made her quite likeable. Roscoe and Andy contributed with their third person voices and these three characters equally carried the weight of the story. Roscoe had spunk and grit while Andy was awkward and nerdy. I wasn't sure how the three characters would intersect in the book and when they did meet, I was blown away by the intricate twists and turns in the plot. The secondary characters like Petra, Cal, and Kazumi played instrumental roles in the story.
The story had realistic present day aspects and fascinating futuristic aspects. Despite the interesting setting, the story moved a bit slowly for my taste but did pick up about two-thirds way in. I had some difficulty keeping the three characters and their subplots straight but once their lives converged, it got easier. Not being a techie, I had some trouble following the exact purpose of Warsafe but understood the gist of it. If you enjoy realistic sci-fi YA novel, you would enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Enclave Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
The story had realistic present day aspects and fascinating futuristic aspects. Despite the interesting setting, the story moved a bit slowly for my taste but did pick up about two-thirds way in. I had some difficulty keeping the three characters and their subplots straight but once their lives converged, it got easier. Not being a techie, I had some trouble following the exact purpose of Warsafe but understood the gist of it. If you enjoy realistic sci-fi YA novel, you would enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Enclave Publishing via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
May 16, 2025
The concept for this book is really interesting! It was a fast paced, high stakes adventure and I had fun reading!
The characters were likable, I think Halley was my favorite. We get several povs throughout the book, I did get confused sometimes when the povs switched. But that was probably just me 😅 Though, he wasn’t always my favorite, I liked Cal and how he shared his faith.
The story really grabs you and you’ll want to keep reading to find out what happens! I would recommend for fans of sci-fi and video games 🎮
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
3.5 ✨
The characters were likable, I think Halley was my favorite. We get several povs throughout the book, I did get confused sometimes when the povs switched. But that was probably just me 😅 Though, he wasn’t always my favorite, I liked Cal and how he shared his faith.
The story really grabs you and you’ll want to keep reading to find out what happens! I would recommend for fans of sci-fi and video games 🎮
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
3.5 ✨
May 6, 2025
Y'all! This book was fantastic! Where do I even begin? It's a thrill ride from start to finish. We're thrown right into the story, and I was instantly intrigued and invested. I was glued to the pages and reading as fast as I could. I didn't want to put the book down for anything, but when I inevitably had to, it was constantly on my mind.
The world-building was great! Very believable! It was so immersive, like I could just step through the pages and enter the world myself.
There are several different POVs. When there are multiple perspectives like that, I'm usually drawn to one more so than the others, but I enjoyed them all equally here. I really liked the characters and enjoyed getting to know them and seeing things through their unique viewpoints.
I'm a big gamer, so all of the video game stuff was really interesting to me! I was definitely shocked by some of the turn of events. It kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat.
This was an incredibly compelling and unputdownable read! I loved it and highly recommend it! Smyth is a very talented author, and I'm looking forward to whatever she writes next.
I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my own honest opinion.
The world-building was great! Very believable! It was so immersive, like I could just step through the pages and enter the world myself.
There are several different POVs. When there are multiple perspectives like that, I'm usually drawn to one more so than the others, but I enjoyed them all equally here. I really liked the characters and enjoyed getting to know them and seeing things through their unique viewpoints.
I'm a big gamer, so all of the video game stuff was really interesting to me! I was definitely shocked by some of the turn of events. It kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat.
This was an incredibly compelling and unputdownable read! I loved it and highly recommend it! Smyth is a very talented author, and I'm looking forward to whatever she writes next.
I received a copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my own honest opinion.
June 9, 2025
I should start this review off with saying that I am not one to play a lot of video games, so there was a bit of a learning curb with some of the lingo in this book. Even though I wasn't the targeted group for a story like this, I found that I enjoyed the story and trying to get to the bottom of what was really going on with the two settings- Halley's unusual island and Roscoe's futuristic world. This is a wonderful story of friendship and courage in the face of adversity. I wish there had been a little more to the ending, with the resolution, but I still thought that the story was well written and interesting. I look forward to reading more books by the author!
I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.
I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.
June 6, 2025
2.75⭐️
i didn’t connect to the characters at all and honestly…i didn’t connect to the plot either. the idea was there (but also not? bc literally what was the reason. i don’t get how the game was supposed to replace war) but the way the problem was solved felt so unrealistic and convenient.
and why was halley the main character anyway?? she felt like such a side character in her own novel. 🤷🏻♀️
there were some enjoyable parts, but mainly i have an “eh” feeling about the book as a whole.
i didn’t connect to the characters at all and honestly…i didn’t connect to the plot either. the idea was there (but also not? bc literally what was the reason. i don’t get how the game was supposed to replace war) but the way the problem was solved felt so unrealistic and convenient.
and why was halley the main character anyway?? she felt like such a side character in her own novel. 🤷🏻♀️
there were some enjoyable parts, but mainly i have an “eh” feeling about the book as a whole.
November 14, 2025
What a unique book. I've never read a storyline quite like it, but I read it at the perfect time. I loved the themes (currently plotting a novel with a similar one so bonus points there), I loved the characters (this book was a great example of doing multiple POVs well), and I loved the plot, especially the last 80 pages or so. Also... Petra. I adore Petra and her character alone would have sold the whole book for me. 😂
June 5, 2025
RTC very soon!
August 23, 2025
Full disclosure, I received an ARC copy of this book earlier in the year as a thank you for being on the publisher’s street team. No review was required. I actually didn’t have time to read the ARC at that time, and again, I wasn’t required to read or review it at all if I didn't want to. But I was truly interested in this story, so when I did finally have time this month, I got the audiobook and listened to it. (I read the book and am writing this review in August 2025. The book released in May 2025.)
One thing that interested me about this story was the video game element. I’m a regular gamer myself, playing everything from cozy puzzle games to action/adventure games. I also like a good scifi where everything is not as it seems, so the story intrigued me.
As the synopsis states, we have a teen girl (Halley) who lives on an island where there is only one building, called the Mercenary House. In this building, Mercenaries (called Mercs by the villagers) go inside and and play some kind of “game” so that the Mercs have a scoreboard that updates with the top player every day. No one seems to know exactly what the game is, and the Mercs are shunned by village society. But for all everyone knows, this game is what has always been done and always will be done.
Meanwhile, we also get the perspective of two people living in modern civilization. One of them is “Roscoe,” a young woman working for a tech company called “Warsafe” and beta testing the company’s new, violent video game where if your avatar dies, it stays dead, and you have to start over with a new one. Roscoe already didn’t like the ultra-realistic violence, but then some of the “glitches” in the game start to make her think something strange is going on.
We also get the perspective of Andy, a tech nerd with a secret radio he's been tinkering with as a pet project, which ends up causing him to have to go on the run from the police when he hears something he wasn't supposed to.
I thought the author was very skilled at bringing these different storylines together in ways that I couldn’t have predicted and found very engaging. It definitely tickled that part of my brain that likes scifi where everything isn’t as it seems. As for the big secret of the island, I did guess part of what was happening early on (mainly what was making the Mercs do what they were doing), but I didn’t guess the true depth of the reason behind it all until it was revealed. That tickled the part of my brain that enjoys when scifi gets thoughtful about moral quandaries, the way Star Trek sometimes has in the past. It especially made me think of one Star Trek Original Series episode called “A Taste of Armageddon” but I won’t elaborate on why it made me think of that, for the sake of not spoiling people. IYKYK.
The thing that made this go beyond just another scifi investigating moral quandaries, however, was the way that it brought faith into the equation. While the faith content here isn’t as heavy as in some Christian fiction, I appreciated how it felt like what faith elements were present came about naturally. The Christian character lived out his faith even in his unusual circumstances, finding meaning in it for his life, and the ability to forgive others who seem unforgivable. The story also acknowledges that in times of trouble and confusion, even someone who doesn’t know Christ has a natural inclination to long for a higher power to help. And even when mankind forgets the value of human life, God cares and has a plan for every soul.
I also wanted to say that I appreciate the way the author took the time as the story wound down toward the end to show us how the characters adjusted to their new lives after the main conflict was over. She could have just as easily ended it earlier and let us assume that maybe they found new lives and hope that things worked out for them. But I really liked how we get to see what the consequences of their experiences were and how they dealt with integrating back into normal society. I especially liked seeing each character figure out what their future endeavors should be and how they were able to choose to do something good with their unique skills.
This one may be a little harder to read for people who aren’t very familiar with the scifi genre or video games, but for those who are, (like me!) this was quite an enjoyable and thought-provoking adventure. I even just got my scifi-loving mother to put a copy on hold from the library because I think she’ll enjoy it too!
Content Advisory:
Language:
None.
Violence:
There are many threats of violence throughout the story, as well as actual violence. People get beaten up, choked, and otherwise hurt (this is described, but without extreme detail. Sometimes, blood is described briefly.)
One person shows up at the doctor’s house with a mangled arm. The injury is described in medical terms, and the arm is amputated including sounds, screams, blood, and the smell of burning flesh as the doctor attaches a robotic arm to the person without having any anesthesia on hand to use. Halley, the village doctor’s daughter, passes out while witnessing this.
Someone is said to have fallen out of a window and gets injured badly enough to be in the hospital, unconscious, but is expected to survive. The injuries are mentioned briefly, but not described in extreme detail. The doctors aren’t sure if it was an attempted suicide or an accident.
At least one person gets killed in front of others. There are mentions of blood on the floor and coughing blood. Some other human beings get killed as well, but these deaths aren’t described.
Halley, the village doctor’s daughter, tends to think of wounds and illnesses in medical terms.
Someone passes out and ends up in a hospital for treatment for a heart issue, but recovers.
The “Mercs” seem to be controlled sometimes by a force outside of themselves (there’s a technological explanation) and believe they’re killing the guards that they’re forced to fight.
Roscoe is a beta tester for a video game that gets a lot more realistically violent than she feels comfortable with. The violence isn’t described, but she gets very emotionally tired by it. The video game is a “permadeath” game where, if your avatar gets killed, you have to start over with a new one. Roscoe later learns, to her horror,
BIG SPOILER for those who want to know, about the reason behind the existence of the island and the things happening there:
Sexual/Romance:
The romance in the story is a side plot rather than the main plot as some of the side characters are clearly sweet on each other. Both relationships move along slowly and naturally, mainly consisting of affectionate looks or holding hands until after the major drama is over, when they make it more official with some dates and proposals of marriage. Physical affection doesn’t go beyond hand-holding, a forehead kiss, and a mildly described kiss on the lips.
Spiritual/Magic:
This is sci-fi, so there’s only technology (futuristic and fictional in nature) and no magic. The story does have Christian themes, however. One of the characters is openly a Christian. He wears a cross and talks about God to other characters sometimes. His faith clearly gives him meaning even in the midst of the confusion and pain of what’s happening on the island. Later, another character is influenced by him to start going to church and learning about and praying to God. There are some references to scripture.
Some characters struggle with their beliefs, and it’s made clear that if people on the island were to attempt to gather to worship anyone or anything, there would be consequences. A lot of people on the island don’t know much or anything about God at all, though. The story addresses, however, that even before someone knows about God or the Bible, there is often a natural inclination in the human spirit to yearn for a higher power to turn to in times of confusion and trouble.
Other:
One of Andy’s friends brings beer to his apartment drinks so much he has to stay there overnight. (He experiences the consequence of a bad hangover, and it’s questioned if his drinking played a part in his falling out a window later). Andy partakes and gets drunk as well, but not quite as excessively.
One thing that interested me about this story was the video game element. I’m a regular gamer myself, playing everything from cozy puzzle games to action/adventure games. I also like a good scifi where everything is not as it seems, so the story intrigued me.
As the synopsis states, we have a teen girl (Halley) who lives on an island where there is only one building, called the Mercenary House. In this building, Mercenaries (called Mercs by the villagers) go inside and and play some kind of “game” so that the Mercs have a scoreboard that updates with the top player every day. No one seems to know exactly what the game is, and the Mercs are shunned by village society. But for all everyone knows, this game is what has always been done and always will be done.
Meanwhile, we also get the perspective of two people living in modern civilization. One of them is “Roscoe,” a young woman working for a tech company called “Warsafe” and beta testing the company’s new, violent video game where if your avatar dies, it stays dead, and you have to start over with a new one. Roscoe already didn’t like the ultra-realistic violence, but then some of the “glitches” in the game start to make her think something strange is going on.
We also get the perspective of Andy, a tech nerd with a secret radio he's been tinkering with as a pet project, which ends up causing him to have to go on the run from the police when he hears something he wasn't supposed to.
I thought the author was very skilled at bringing these different storylines together in ways that I couldn’t have predicted and found very engaging. It definitely tickled that part of my brain that likes scifi where everything isn’t as it seems. As for the big secret of the island, I did guess part of what was happening early on (mainly what was making the Mercs do what they were doing), but I didn’t guess the true depth of the reason behind it all until it was revealed. That tickled the part of my brain that enjoys when scifi gets thoughtful about moral quandaries, the way Star Trek sometimes has in the past. It especially made me think of one Star Trek Original Series episode called “A Taste of Armageddon” but I won’t elaborate on why it made me think of that, for the sake of not spoiling people. IYKYK.
The thing that made this go beyond just another scifi investigating moral quandaries, however, was the way that it brought faith into the equation. While the faith content here isn’t as heavy as in some Christian fiction, I appreciated how it felt like what faith elements were present came about naturally. The Christian character lived out his faith even in his unusual circumstances, finding meaning in it for his life, and the ability to forgive others who seem unforgivable. The story also acknowledges that in times of trouble and confusion, even someone who doesn’t know Christ has a natural inclination to long for a higher power to help. And even when mankind forgets the value of human life, God cares and has a plan for every soul.
I also wanted to say that I appreciate the way the author took the time as the story wound down toward the end to show us how the characters adjusted to their new lives after the main conflict was over. She could have just as easily ended it earlier and let us assume that maybe they found new lives and hope that things worked out for them. But I really liked how we get to see what the consequences of their experiences were and how they dealt with integrating back into normal society. I especially liked seeing each character figure out what their future endeavors should be and how they were able to choose to do something good with their unique skills.
This one may be a little harder to read for people who aren’t very familiar with the scifi genre or video games, but for those who are, (like me!) this was quite an enjoyable and thought-provoking adventure. I even just got my scifi-loving mother to put a copy on hold from the library because I think she’ll enjoy it too!
Content Advisory:
Language:
None.
Violence:
There are many threats of violence throughout the story, as well as actual violence. People get beaten up, choked, and otherwise hurt (this is described, but without extreme detail. Sometimes, blood is described briefly.)
One person shows up at the doctor’s house with a mangled arm. The injury is described in medical terms, and the arm is amputated including sounds, screams, blood, and the smell of burning flesh as the doctor attaches a robotic arm to the person without having any anesthesia on hand to use. Halley, the village doctor’s daughter, passes out while witnessing this.
Someone is said to have fallen out of a window and gets injured badly enough to be in the hospital, unconscious, but is expected to survive. The injuries are mentioned briefly, but not described in extreme detail. The doctors aren’t sure if it was an attempted suicide or an accident.
At least one person gets killed in front of others. There are mentions of blood on the floor and coughing blood. Some other human beings get killed as well, but these deaths aren’t described.
Halley, the village doctor’s daughter, tends to think of wounds and illnesses in medical terms.
Someone passes out and ends up in a hospital for treatment for a heart issue, but recovers.
The “Mercs” seem to be controlled sometimes by a force outside of themselves (there’s a technological explanation) and believe they’re killing the guards that they’re forced to fight.
Roscoe is a beta tester for a video game that gets a lot more realistically violent than she feels comfortable with. The violence isn’t described, but she gets very emotionally tired by it. The video game is a “permadeath” game where, if your avatar gets killed, you have to start over with a new one. Roscoe later learns, to her horror,
BIG SPOILER for those who want to know, about the reason behind the existence of the island and the things happening there:
Sexual/Romance:
The romance in the story is a side plot rather than the main plot as some of the side characters are clearly sweet on each other. Both relationships move along slowly and naturally, mainly consisting of affectionate looks or holding hands until after the major drama is over, when they make it more official with some dates and proposals of marriage. Physical affection doesn’t go beyond hand-holding, a forehead kiss, and a mildly described kiss on the lips.
Spiritual/Magic:
This is sci-fi, so there’s only technology (futuristic and fictional in nature) and no magic. The story does have Christian themes, however. One of the characters is openly a Christian. He wears a cross and talks about God to other characters sometimes. His faith clearly gives him meaning even in the midst of the confusion and pain of what’s happening on the island. Later, another character is influenced by him to start going to church and learning about and praying to God. There are some references to scripture.
Some characters struggle with their beliefs, and it’s made clear that if people on the island were to attempt to gather to worship anyone or anything, there would be consequences. A lot of people on the island don’t know much or anything about God at all, though. The story addresses, however, that even before someone knows about God or the Bible, there is often a natural inclination in the human spirit to yearn for a higher power to turn to in times of confusion and trouble.
Other:
One of Andy’s friends brings beer to his apartment drinks so much he has to stay there overnight. (He experiences the consequence of a bad hangover, and it’s questioned if his drinking played a part in his falling out a window later). Andy partakes and gets drunk as well, but not quite as excessively.
July 16, 2025
Warsafe is an exciting and fresh sci-fi and dystopian novel. As different characters' lives intersect, the reader is able to both enjoy the story while also guessing at what comes next. I was on the edge of my seat while reading and can't wait to see what else this author writes!
Read
May 28, 2025Warsafe by Lauren Smyth was a great book. It is clean with elements of the Christian faith sprinkled throughout. This book as according to the author explores economics, politics and morality in a parallel world to a fictional video game.
I think this book reminds me of Tron or Ender’s Game, so if you are fans of those books, you will likely enjoy this one, especially because the author is serving God, and this story reflects that. The author classifies this book as Sci-fi and I think it is, but maybe not like many people will traditionally view sci-fi, but that is a good thing. It presents readers with a slightly different take on the science fiction genre.
Halley is our main character we see in this book. She lives in a dystopian type of area and is really confined a lot to her own house. There are curfews that are strictly enforced, though no one really knows by who, it is just the way it is, but they know they better not defy those rules and other rules that keep them in a certain routine.
Petra, in my opinion, would be the next secondary character, though there are other characters that support Halley and Petra. Petra is what is known as a mercenary. These mercenaries are thought to have no mercy and no morality at all. They live in a house at the top of the hill, and no one really knows who they are, only what they do.
One day Petra is injured, and Halley sees her, but she is not supposed to interact with the mercenaries, but something tells her that she has no choice but to help Petra. When she helps Petra and over the course of the book, Halley begins to see things that she was not expecting to see. Petra is slow to speak to Halley about much, but they start to form a relationship, will they form a bond though?
Andy and Roscoe are some of the more prominent supporting characters. Roscoe is a video game tester and Andy is a radio astronomer, which is kind of a fancier term for someone who knows a lot about radios. Roscoe tests video games for glitches and flaws and reports back to Warsafe what she finds and that is all, or is it? Roscoe notices something out of the so-called ordinary with one particular glitch and this sets her and Andy on a mission to try to figure out what is going on after their precarious meeting of each other.
If you like sci-fi books related to video games, then you will like this book. It may be a little difficult to catch onto what is going on at first, but it becomes pretty clear after reading just for a short while. Give this book a try and I think you will be surprised at how much you enjoy it.
I received a complimentary copy from the author through Celebrate Lit, for my honest opinion.
March 31, 2025
Warsafe is a Christian YA speculative novel.
Halley lives in an isolated, dystopian part of the world. Her life is very regimented. Her friend Petra’s life is even more regimented. Petra lives in squalor and plays a first-person shooter game every day, only it’s not at a game console. It’s in real life, and she can die if she loses. Both of these young women are compelling point-of-view characters, and it was easy to root for them.
Meanwhile, back in civilization, Roscoe’s job is to beta-test a first-person shooter game for the Warsafe corporation. Kazumi is up to his eyeballs in corporation duties, and Andy is an out-of-work radio engineer. We get chapters from each of their points of view, and they’re all exciting, action- and tension-filled chapters.
Soon, all the characters’ lives collide. What’s more, some characters are duplicitous (or downright evil). Whether the evil persons are among the main characters I’ve mentioned or other people in supporting roles, I can’t say because I don’t want to spoil anything. But be prepared for twists and surprises in the plot!
Speaking of twists, this is indeed a Christian novel, and the less savory characters twist Christian ideals and even Bible verses to suit their goals. Other characters raise questions about their purpose in life and how God’s plan plays into that. A particular character’s contemplations make the end of the story upbeat (quite comforting for the reader), but at no time is the story preachy. I think agnostics and seekers as well as Christians will appreciate the theological thread that Smyth has woven through the story.
As far as Smyth’s writing style goes, The prose is polished. The storylines are expertly woven. The settings are interesting and memorable.
This one’s easy: five big stars!
Halley lives in an isolated, dystopian part of the world. Her life is very regimented. Her friend Petra’s life is even more regimented. Petra lives in squalor and plays a first-person shooter game every day, only it’s not at a game console. It’s in real life, and she can die if she loses. Both of these young women are compelling point-of-view characters, and it was easy to root for them.
Meanwhile, back in civilization, Roscoe’s job is to beta-test a first-person shooter game for the Warsafe corporation. Kazumi is up to his eyeballs in corporation duties, and Andy is an out-of-work radio engineer. We get chapters from each of their points of view, and they’re all exciting, action- and tension-filled chapters.
Soon, all the characters’ lives collide. What’s more, some characters are duplicitous (or downright evil). Whether the evil persons are among the main characters I’ve mentioned or other people in supporting roles, I can’t say because I don’t want to spoil anything. But be prepared for twists and surprises in the plot!
Speaking of twists, this is indeed a Christian novel, and the less savory characters twist Christian ideals and even Bible verses to suit their goals. Other characters raise questions about their purpose in life and how God’s plan plays into that. A particular character’s contemplations make the end of the story upbeat (quite comforting for the reader), but at no time is the story preachy. I think agnostics and seekers as well as Christians will appreciate the theological thread that Smyth has woven through the story.
As far as Smyth’s writing style goes, The prose is polished. The storylines are expertly woven. The settings are interesting and memorable.
This one’s easy: five big stars!
April 11, 2025
I went into this story knowing nothing about it. Yes, I did share about it on social media, BUT, I try to not read the synopsis because I enjoy reading stories "blind."
This is one of those reviews where I can't say a lot because it would give so much away. There are multiple POVs, which I always enjoy. This story reminds me a bit of Ready Player One and Free Guy!
When it comes to gaming, there has to be beta-testers. Roscoe happens to be one, but she realizes something is different with this one. Halley is living a bland, boring life on her island with her father, who is a doctor, and her mother, who seems a bit critical. They watch the scoreboard for the people playing the game. She's basically an NPC. But then Petra comes into her life and things begin to change!
Halley's curiosity gets the best of her, and she heads off towards the Mercenary House to try to get answers. What she doesn't realize is things are about to be upended for everyone on the island! Through her journey, we meet quite the cast of characters, and we all learn the truth about what's going on at the same time! The extra cast of characters play a critical role in pulling back the curtain, but you'll have to learn more about them as you read the story.
I was pretty fascinated about the purpose of the story. It's something that will make the readers sit back and think, "What if..." It's also a reminder that we all have inherent value because of our Creator. We all have the right to make choices for our own lives. I appreciated that the author found a way to weave a thread of faith into the story to point to God and not "chance."
There's action and adventure from the start and I think young and older alike will enjoy it.
*I received an ebook ARC for review. This is my personal opinion.
This is one of those reviews where I can't say a lot because it would give so much away. There are multiple POVs, which I always enjoy. This story reminds me a bit of Ready Player One and Free Guy!
When it comes to gaming, there has to be beta-testers. Roscoe happens to be one, but she realizes something is different with this one. Halley is living a bland, boring life on her island with her father, who is a doctor, and her mother, who seems a bit critical. They watch the scoreboard for the people playing the game. She's basically an NPC. But then Petra comes into her life and things begin to change!
Halley's curiosity gets the best of her, and she heads off towards the Mercenary House to try to get answers. What she doesn't realize is things are about to be upended for everyone on the island! Through her journey, we meet quite the cast of characters, and we all learn the truth about what's going on at the same time! The extra cast of characters play a critical role in pulling back the curtain, but you'll have to learn more about them as you read the story.
I was pretty fascinated about the purpose of the story. It's something that will make the readers sit back and think, "What if..." It's also a reminder that we all have inherent value because of our Creator. We all have the right to make choices for our own lives. I appreciated that the author found a way to weave a thread of faith into the story to point to God and not "chance."
There's action and adventure from the start and I think young and older alike will enjoy it.
*I received an ebook ARC for review. This is my personal opinion.
April 21, 2025
*I received an ARC of this book by the author, but all thoughts and opinions are my own*
Wow! This book is crazy in the best way possible. I went into it with no expectations. The world of Warsafe is fascinating with all the futuristic technology and the close-knit village community. The “House” is particularly creepy. The setting descriptions are vivid. I love how Lauren writes the tension between the villagers and the Mercs.
The characters are also well written. I love how there are multiple POV’s. First, we have Halley, a villager who wonders if those who live in the “House” are as evil as they seem. I like Halley’s character, but unfortunately I never really connected with her, because I felt she was a little too naive for her age. Second, we have Roscoe who works for Warsafe as a beta game tester. I love Roscoe! Her chapters were a pleasure to read. I love how chaotic she is, and I enjoyed her amusing relationship with Andy. Third, we have Andy, who is an out-of-work radio engineer. I love Andy! He is sweet, funny and smart. I really enjoyed reading his chapters also. Lastly, we have Kazumi, who works at Warsafe with Roscoe. He is another interesting character to follow because I never knew what he would do next.
There are a few little things in the book I didn’t like. First, I didn’t like how the reader never learns Halley’s father’s name. He is always called “The Doctor” this drove me a little crazy. Second, I didn’t believe the depth of Halley’s and Petra’s relationship. I feel like a lot of the friendship was told to the reader instead of shown. Lastly, I didn’t like the scene towards the beginning of the novel where two characters drink alcohol. I feel like that was unnecessary for a Christian book. Having said that…the things I like in this book outweigh my dislikes. I still highly recommend it.
Overall, Warsafe is a phenomenal, Christian Sci-Fi that you should definitely check out when it releases in May.
Wow! This book is crazy in the best way possible. I went into it with no expectations. The world of Warsafe is fascinating with all the futuristic technology and the close-knit village community. The “House” is particularly creepy. The setting descriptions are vivid. I love how Lauren writes the tension between the villagers and the Mercs.
The characters are also well written. I love how there are multiple POV’s. First, we have Halley, a villager who wonders if those who live in the “House” are as evil as they seem. I like Halley’s character, but unfortunately I never really connected with her, because I felt she was a little too naive for her age. Second, we have Roscoe who works for Warsafe as a beta game tester. I love Roscoe! Her chapters were a pleasure to read. I love how chaotic she is, and I enjoyed her amusing relationship with Andy. Third, we have Andy, who is an out-of-work radio engineer. I love Andy! He is sweet, funny and smart. I really enjoyed reading his chapters also. Lastly, we have Kazumi, who works at Warsafe with Roscoe. He is another interesting character to follow because I never knew what he would do next.
There are a few little things in the book I didn’t like. First, I didn’t like how the reader never learns Halley’s father’s name. He is always called “The Doctor” this drove me a little crazy. Second, I didn’t believe the depth of Halley’s and Petra’s relationship. I feel like a lot of the friendship was told to the reader instead of shown. Lastly, I didn’t like the scene towards the beginning of the novel where two characters drink alcohol. I feel like that was unnecessary for a Christian book. Having said that…the things I like in this book outweigh my dislikes. I still highly recommend it.
Overall, Warsafe is a phenomenal, Christian Sci-Fi that you should definitely check out when it releases in May.
June 6, 2025
"Warsafe" by Lauren Smyth is a Young Adult Science Fiction novel. Centered around Warsafe, a video game development company, this story revolves around Halley, Petra, Roscoe, and several other characters. I felt like my lack of gaming experience put me at a disadvantage while reading this story.
Petra and Halley were easy to like and support. However, some characters display outright evil. The author takes the reader through twists and turns in ways that keep you reading. Petra and Halley live in a dystopian community where their lives are regimented and controlled. Petra’s life revolves around playing a first player game where death in the game means death in real life.
Meanwhile, Roscoe works at Warsafe testing a first player game where she works to find bugs. Kazumi finds himself caught up in corporate details at Warsafe. Meanwhile, Andy, another character, is an out-of-work radio engineer. When the worlds of all of these characters collide, the story takes on interesting dimensions.
The author develops this book as a Christian novel where characters sometimes question their purpose in life. Meanwhile other characters spout off Bible verses to support their ideas and views, even if those views may contradict the actual context.
So, if you are looking for a Young Adult Science Fiction novel, check out "Warsafe" by Lauren Smyth.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
Petra and Halley were easy to like and support. However, some characters display outright evil. The author takes the reader through twists and turns in ways that keep you reading. Petra and Halley live in a dystopian community where their lives are regimented and controlled. Petra’s life revolves around playing a first player game where death in the game means death in real life.
Meanwhile, Roscoe works at Warsafe testing a first player game where she works to find bugs. Kazumi finds himself caught up in corporate details at Warsafe. Meanwhile, Andy, another character, is an out-of-work radio engineer. When the worlds of all of these characters collide, the story takes on interesting dimensions.
The author develops this book as a Christian novel where characters sometimes question their purpose in life. Meanwhile other characters spout off Bible verses to support their ideas and views, even if those views may contradict the actual context.
So, if you are looking for a Young Adult Science Fiction novel, check out "Warsafe" by Lauren Smyth.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.
May 27, 2025
Smyth has crafted a science fiction novel that blurs the boundary between gaming and reality. It is one thing to annihilate a character in a game but anther if that act really represented the death of an actual human being. Another thought provoking aspect of the game is that it might be used instead of deadly war. Would the death of a few be worth preventing the death of thousands?
This is a thought provoking novel exploring the idea of gaming. It also touches on the idea of war at a distance. Nations now use drones and robots to attack while the operators stay safe in a remote building. The game being developed in this novel would be the same kind of thing. Is there moral responsibility for the developers or the players?
There is a subtle underlying aspect of Christianity until near the end when it comes more to the forefront. It is not overbearing, however, so people of other faiths or no faith could well enjoy this novel. It would be of particular interest to gamers.
Smyth's writing style is good. Character development is good considering many of the characters lack a history. The many themes explored and the discussion questions at the end would make this a good choice for a youth book group.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.
This is a thought provoking novel exploring the idea of gaming. It also touches on the idea of war at a distance. Nations now use drones and robots to attack while the operators stay safe in a remote building. The game being developed in this novel would be the same kind of thing. Is there moral responsibility for the developers or the players?
There is a subtle underlying aspect of Christianity until near the end when it comes more to the forefront. It is not overbearing, however, so people of other faiths or no faith could well enjoy this novel. It would be of particular interest to gamers.
Smyth's writing style is good. Character development is good considering many of the characters lack a history. The many themes explored and the discussion questions at the end would make this a good choice for a youth book group.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.
June 14, 2025
How far will they have go to uncover the truth....
I'll admit that I picked this book up because I've liked pretty much every title that I've read from the publisher. Warsafe turned out to be no exception. I found the story to be intriguing right from the start and that never let up all the way through the last page. The blur between fiction and reality that makes up the heart of this story from Lauren Smyth was just too interesting to put down.
The mix of familiar and sci-fi was something that I enjoyed in Warsafe. It really kept the story grounded while allowing the imagination to fully engage. Lauren Smyth's writing style and worldbuilding skills were also something I appreciated as they kept the story moving forward with no lags and made me feel like I was right there with each of the story's leads.
Aimed at mid to older teens, Lauren Smyth's Warsafe is a bit edgy in all of the best ways that make for a good Christian sci-fi or fantasy novel that can also be enjoyed by adult fans of those genres.
This was my first Lauren Smyth novel but after reading Warsafe I doubt it will be my last. It was exciting, had an interesting premise, and was just flat out a good and entertaining read....
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
I'll admit that I picked this book up because I've liked pretty much every title that I've read from the publisher. Warsafe turned out to be no exception. I found the story to be intriguing right from the start and that never let up all the way through the last page. The blur between fiction and reality that makes up the heart of this story from Lauren Smyth was just too interesting to put down.
The mix of familiar and sci-fi was something that I enjoyed in Warsafe. It really kept the story grounded while allowing the imagination to fully engage. Lauren Smyth's writing style and worldbuilding skills were also something I appreciated as they kept the story moving forward with no lags and made me feel like I was right there with each of the story's leads.
Aimed at mid to older teens, Lauren Smyth's Warsafe is a bit edgy in all of the best ways that make for a good Christian sci-fi or fantasy novel that can also be enjoyed by adult fans of those genres.
This was my first Lauren Smyth novel but after reading Warsafe I doubt it will be my last. It was exciting, had an interesting premise, and was just flat out a good and entertaining read....
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
March 15, 2025
Disclaimer: I was given an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book as a part of the publisher’s street team.
Perfect for fans of Ready Player One, Warsafe follows a large cast of characters as they uncover a sinister plot by the company Warsafe, which designs videogames. I found myself riveted by the twists and turns—it felt like there was always another layer to the company’s deception and how it impacted the cast. It was a marvelous web of truth and lies that always had me second-guessing the character’s true intentions as they had to “play the game”.
I also really liked how it felt like it blended the sci-fi, dystopian, and fantasy genres—there seemed to be a little bit of each, which made the layers of the story feel even more complex and thrilling. As the characters wrestled with the impact of the advancing technology on their world, it made me consider technology’s growing impact on our world, and the ways it is used for both good and evil.
It was an enjoyable and fast-paced read, and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys stories where the digital and real worlds intersect!
Perfect for fans of Ready Player One, Warsafe follows a large cast of characters as they uncover a sinister plot by the company Warsafe, which designs videogames. I found myself riveted by the twists and turns—it felt like there was always another layer to the company’s deception and how it impacted the cast. It was a marvelous web of truth and lies that always had me second-guessing the character’s true intentions as they had to “play the game”.
I also really liked how it felt like it blended the sci-fi, dystopian, and fantasy genres—there seemed to be a little bit of each, which made the layers of the story feel even more complex and thrilling. As the characters wrestled with the impact of the advancing technology on their world, it made me consider technology’s growing impact on our world, and the ways it is used for both good and evil.
It was an enjoyable and fast-paced read, and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys stories where the digital and real worlds intersect!
June 2, 2025
This has been an intriguing story that is a young adult science fiction story. My children loved to play video games which I have never been able to conquer. I found it interesting that the author incorporated gaming where reality and fantasy collide. I did like Roscoe and found her to be smarter than she thought she was.
I can’t imagine sitting all day playing a game but Roscoe has been hired to beta test this particular game. The deeper she gets into the game, the more secretive the game becomes. Racing against time she teams up with Halley to discover the secret within the game. With vivid imagination the author brings to life good vs evil hidden where no one was suppose to uncover it.
Clever threads of faith are found in the story and illustrates our purpose and overcoming the tricks that evil uses to steal our thoughts. Great story that has some violence but nothing alarming. It is filled with weapons, etc as the game plays out in real life. Are you confused? Read the book and see how two worlds collide.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
I can’t imagine sitting all day playing a game but Roscoe has been hired to beta test this particular game. The deeper she gets into the game, the more secretive the game becomes. Racing against time she teams up with Halley to discover the secret within the game. With vivid imagination the author brings to life good vs evil hidden where no one was suppose to uncover it.
Clever threads of faith are found in the story and illustrates our purpose and overcoming the tricks that evil uses to steal our thoughts. Great story that has some violence but nothing alarming. It is filled with weapons, etc as the game plays out in real life. Are you confused? Read the book and see how two worlds collide.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
June 13, 2025
Warsafe is a unique novel about secrets and video games. I’ve never played a video game but I did find myself sucked into this book.
What if the game you’re playing was only a game to you, but real life to someone else? What if the choices you made got people killed? And what would you do when you found out?
This was a fun book. I enjoyed reading it. It’s not going to have any “preaching” in it, though you will find mentions of praying and a higher power, though it doesn’t go into details about the who or what. I would recommend it for older teens and up.
There are some mild curses used in the book, but nothing that would actually be considered a curse word.
I did enjoy this novel, though it was out of the range of what I normally read. The characters were fun. And I would like to see another book made to read as well.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
What if the game you’re playing was only a game to you, but real life to someone else? What if the choices you made got people killed? And what would you do when you found out?
This was a fun book. I enjoyed reading it. It’s not going to have any “preaching” in it, though you will find mentions of praying and a higher power, though it doesn’t go into details about the who or what. I would recommend it for older teens and up.
There are some mild curses used in the book, but nothing that would actually be considered a curse word.
I did enjoy this novel, though it was out of the range of what I normally read. The characters were fun. And I would like to see another book made to read as well.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review, nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
September 25, 2025
WARSAFE: I have read all Lauren Smyth’s books, and her style and maturity of writing have grown exponentially with every new literary work. WARESAFE is no exception. It has everything from action, romance, suspense, twists and turns, really cool sci-fi weapons, and creative and thought-provoking futuristic concepts. But her writing is also so poignant on the subtle facets of storytelling. For example, when she describes a character’s head hitting a familiar pillow, the reader can actually feel it happening. The action of the more dramatic scenes can also be painfully felt by the reader. I love the way the author weaves the storyline together, building the chapters like an intricate but delicate construction project.
The dramatic changes in mood and tone keep the reader on their toes, leaving no time for boring interludes where I normally lose interest.
Finally, I understand that books have to be categorized, but Warsafe is advertised as young adult. I am nearly 70 years old and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it as an entertaining and well written book for all audiences and I can’t wait for Ms. Smyth’s next work.
The dramatic changes in mood and tone keep the reader on their toes, leaving no time for boring interludes where I normally lose interest.
Finally, I understand that books have to be categorized, but Warsafe is advertised as young adult. I am nearly 70 years old and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it as an entertaining and well written book for all audiences and I can’t wait for Ms. Smyth’s next work.
June 27, 2025
Audiobook listen & the voice actors were great and gave a good amount of emotion to the story. If you liked the Hunger Games, then I think this is another dystopian fic that will quench your thirst while we all wait for the new movie.
Warsafe is an isolated island where everyone has their roles— you either work in the village or you fight other people to the death. It’s always been like this, and it’s all anyone has every remembered. That’s until Halley sees someone from The House, the building where people train, injured and in need of help. We then follow on a journey where the villagers & mercenaries figure out that they are trapped in a video game, with the goal of ‘helping’ the outside world.
Reading the other reviews, I’ve noticed that this was put out as a Christian sci/fi fic. I didn’t really get that heavy of Christian vibes from it, other than characters at the end being able to practice their faith. With that being said, I can see how it can appease both crowds of the religious and nonreligious alike.
Warsafe is an isolated island where everyone has their roles— you either work in the village or you fight other people to the death. It’s always been like this, and it’s all anyone has every remembered. That’s until Halley sees someone from The House, the building where people train, injured and in need of help. We then follow on a journey where the villagers & mercenaries figure out that they are trapped in a video game, with the goal of ‘helping’ the outside world.
Reading the other reviews, I’ve noticed that this was put out as a Christian sci/fi fic. I didn’t really get that heavy of Christian vibes from it, other than characters at the end being able to practice their faith. With that being said, I can see how it can appease both crowds of the religious and nonreligious alike.
June 8, 2025
What a fascinating debut novel. I loved this premise. In a dystopian world, video games are alive and well. Halley finds herself in the middle of a lot more than anyone expected. I loved the action and suspense, and the video game background that went into this story was superb. This book goes deep, like The Matrix. Because of the game, people are put together in this book that might not be in daily life. That's a reality for me, because I have friends I've met from games. It just added even more to the layers coded into the script of this story. This book has a lot of POV's, which I tend to love. There are so many, many topics as well as action, suspense, faith, loss, love, the list could go on and on! I found it to be a multi-layered plot, with a bit of a Sci-Fi feel, but more so, a book that's relevant to YA and adults as well.
Thanks to Celebrate Lit for my copy of this book. This review is my own and a positive review is never required.
Thanks to Celebrate Lit for my copy of this book. This review is my own and a positive review is never required.
May 19, 2025
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫: 11/25
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Scifi
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: "I'd seen her name at the bottom of the list that morning."
What kind of video games do you like to play?
Are you the type who's into RPG?
Do you love solving puzzles?
Or you enjoy those sho0ting games?
At first, I was confused as this book has multiple POVs. Confused BUT anticipating the connection of the characters.
I enjoyed reading this book that while I read, I couldn't help but to share the story to my gamer hubby.
This book gave me PUBG, slightly Squid Game, and Free Guy vibes.
Sorry, I want to but could not give the reason why because of *spoilers* 😅
Will definitely be looking forward for the author's future stories. 😊
P.s.
Have you seen the inside of the dust jacket?
I personally want a physical copy! 💕
𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌.
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Scifi
𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: "I'd seen her name at the bottom of the list that morning."
What kind of video games do you like to play?
Are you the type who's into RPG?
Do you love solving puzzles?
Or you enjoy those sho0ting games?
At first, I was confused as this book has multiple POVs. Confused BUT anticipating the connection of the characters.
I enjoyed reading this book that while I read, I couldn't help but to share the story to my gamer hubby.
This book gave me PUBG, slightly Squid Game, and Free Guy vibes.
Sorry, I want to but could not give the reason why because of *spoilers* 😅
Will definitely be looking forward for the author's future stories. 😊
P.s.
Have you seen the inside of the dust jacket?
I personally want a physical copy! 💕
𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌.
May 21, 2025
Warsafe is my first experience with Lauren Smyth's writing. It was a good introduction for me. Even though I am not a huge fan of science fiction, I thought it was a pretty good read and worth reading. I enjoyed taking this adventure of intrigue and mystery. It is not a book that can be easily predicted that kept me wondering what could possibly happen next. I liked the inclusion of the element of faith.
I am going to give Warsafe four and half stars. I believe readers and fans of clean young adult science fiction will greatly enjoy it. I am interested in reading other books from Lauren Smyth to see where else her imagine would take me to.
I received a digital copy of Lauren Smyth's Warsafe from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
I am going to give Warsafe four and half stars. I believe readers and fans of clean young adult science fiction will greatly enjoy it. I am interested in reading other books from Lauren Smyth to see where else her imagine would take me to.
I received a digital copy of Lauren Smyth's Warsafe from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
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