Thrash Force

by Raj Sidhu, Billy Yong (Illustrator)

"Raj Sidhu has crafted a thrilling adventure that empowers its audience. A reminder that those kids in the basement may just be preparing to save the world." –Justin McElroy, co-creator of The Adventure Zone

In this hilarious fantasy adventure, when Riley Singh unwittingly offends a multiversal sorcerer, he and his friends are whisked into a freaky new reality—perfect for fans of Dungeoneer Adventures and Once Upon a Tim. 
 
Seventh grader Riley Singh is a smart kid. Smart enough to know that he could be an exceptional student in school if he wasn’t always playing Dungeon Brawl: a role-playing game where he and his friends embark on radical quests to slay demon lords and rescue the occasional village. 
  
The only problem is that Doomface, the villain of their newest adventure, is listening in on their game and may just be maniacal enough to pull four middle schoolers through the folds of reality to satisfy his ego. 
  
Stranded in a strange world with magical powers as their characters, Riley and his friends will have to find a way to defeat Doomface and return to Earth. And Riley will do whatever it takes to get home before his parents realize he's missing—even if that means dooming his friends along the way. 

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2025

Reviews

[Kelly Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Toppling Stacks Tours and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this title.

This was one of the wildest middle grade novels I've ever read. It was like an episode of Stranger Things, but with a little more wholesomeness.

I really loved the themes of friendship, loyalty, honesty, and family. I also feel like a lot of Middle Schoolers will be able to relate to Riley, and his struggles with feelings of inadequacy and failure.

I cannot wait to add this to my school library in the fall!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 4 out of 5]

What worked:
The story is infused with juvenile humor that will appeal to many young readers. Playing with character names is one of the first examples, as Riley, class clown, calls the evil overlord in their Dungeon Brawl role-playing game names like Doodoo-Butt and Doofus. Doomface, in another world, overhears Riley’s insults, and this moment ignites the plot’s main conflict. Doomface transports the kids to his world, where he plans to destroy them. However, to make things more fun, he transforms Riley and his friends into their Dungeon Brawl characters. Riley becomes a red, demon sorcerer, Simon becomes a muscular minotaur, Georgie is a mutating, warrior elf, and her younger brother Jasper is a Mohawked green goblin shredding a magical guitar.
The plot becomes an adventure as Riley and his friends, Thrash Force Inc., try to survive Doomface’s challenge. Success will mean they can return to their home world. Riley must get home before 8:00, so he can keep his parents from learning about his failing report card. Riley begins to reflect on why he’s doing so poorly in school after being a stellar student when he was younger. This internal conflict is a subplot throughout the book. The team gradually learns that they must complete smaller missions to hone their skills and boost their power levels. Riley thinks it's taking too long, and they still might fail. One of Doomface’s rival demons offers Riley a deal, and Riley eventually accepts. However, the deal he’s agreed to may spell doom for everyone in the multiverse.
A couple of intriguing minor characters are lurking in the background, and readers may suspect they’ll have larger influences in the future. Magnus Belfry is a disturbed classmate from Madison Magnet School. He seeks revenge because Riley has snubbed his attempts at friendship for years. Magnus is constantly looking for ways to get Riley in trouble, and he’s inadvertently transported into Doomface’s world, too. There, he continues his efforts to punish Riley. Molt seems to be a subservient character who has the ear of Doomface. He’s often the target of Doomface’s anger and threats, but manages to talk his way out of the situations. Molt contradicts Doomface’s plans and allows Doomface to take credit for the changes. Readers will suspect that Molt has a secret scheme in mind, and his subtle manipulation will continue in the future.
What didn’t work as well:
It would be nice to know more about Riley’s friends. There are hints about their lives, but most of the information is related to the game or Thrash Force. There’s also little variation in their characters’ abilities other than Jasper’s guitar. Riley throws fireballs, Georgie becomes a wolf, and Simon’s minotaur form smashes things. Jasper is the least developed character, but he at least plays different magical songs to create different spells.
The final verdict:
This is a humorous, entertaining adventure for middle-grade readers. It includes messages about self-image and taking responsibility for one’s actions. I recommend you try it for yourself.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story felt like jumping headfirst into a middle schooler's wildest imagination—in the best possible way. I loved how the book blended everyday school struggles with high-stakes fantasy adventure. Riley Singh is a relatable and clever hero, and I found myself rooting for him from the start. The book strikes a great balance between action and humor, making it a perfect pick for middle grade readers who love gaming, magic, or just a good friendship-driven quest. I appreciated how the story encouraged creative thinking and teamwork without ever feeling preachy. I was especially impressed by how the story never lost sight of its heart, even as Riley faced some difficult choices. It’s an entertaining, fast-paced ride that kids can safely dive into, and I had a blast along the way, too.


Thank you to @topplingstackstours the author and @netgalley for this e-arc. All thoughts are my own.

[Markita_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝙴𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠
🌟🌟🌟🌟.2
Thrash Force and 5 reasons you should read it:

1. The cover art is amazing, and the illustrations inside are fantastic.
2. If you enjoy Captain Underpants, you'll enjoy this.
3. For fifth and middle school-age children.
4. It has a great storyline and plot.
5. We're fighting bad guys, so why not?

Thrash Force was a great middle school-age story with the vibe of Captain Underpants! Highly recommend.

Seventh grader Riley Singh is a smart kid—smart enough to know that he could be an exceptional student if he weren’t always playing Dungeon Brawl: a role-playing game where he and his friends embark on radical adventures to slay demon lords and rescue the occasional village.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the e-book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kim Bartosch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrash Force is a wildly entertaining middle-grade fantasy full of humor, action, and multiverse madness. Raj Sidhu crafts a clever, fast-paced story where seventh grader Riley Singh and his friends are pulled into a magical realm based on their favorite RPG game. With hilarious characters, a villain named Doomface, and over-the-top adventures, this book delivers nonstop fun and heartfelt moments. Perfect for fans of Dungeoneer Adventures and Once Upon a Tim, it’s a five-star read that kids (and grown-up gamers!) will absolutely love.

Thank you for to the publisher for the book and my honest review. This review was part of the book tour with Toppling Stacks Tours(topplingstackstours.com). Ready my full review: https://www.kimsbookreviewsandwriting...

[Karen Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a mother I know my boys. Reading Thrash Force felt like hanging out with my sons and now I can’t wait to give them this book to read, I think they will love it. Kids will love connecting with these unique characters who are transported to a real-life Dungeons and Dragons adventure. With the stakes higher than ever, Riley and his friends are tested to see if they and their friendship can withstand the evils of another world. Whether in fantastical worlds or our own we all make our own mistakes and can be haunted by them if we don’t figure out a way to believe in ourselves and work with other people. The excitement and humor level are high in Thrash Force which will provide the strongest appeal to young readers, but they also just might walk away with something more to think about.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun, fast-paced adventure that's perfect for fans of D&D and other rpgs. I loved that there was illustrations throughout the book, and wish I had a finished copy so I could see them in all their glory! I also love how the main villain essentially just wants to watch people battle (did he just invent alternate universe streaming?) and that the ending leaves the door open for more adventures.

[Jame_EReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

👦🏻review: this is absolutely perfect for gamers who simply love to defeat all the oddballs. Actually I am not a hardlined gamer but would play if I have time. This one is an entertaining read about Riley Singh and his obsession to games while maintaining his grade. I like how the storytelling used digital forms, fictional characters and plenty of adventures to last for days. Overall the story is entertaining, funny, fantastical and loyalty to friends. Really fun to read.

[Lindsey]

🎲 Top 5 Reasons to read Thrash Force by Raj Sidhu 🎲

1. Perfect for kids who love D&D and other role-playing games
2. A fun middle grades fantasy graphic novel filled with magic and adventure!
3. Diverse characters: Indian & AAPI representation
4. Wholesome story about kids, friendship, and games
5. Add a touch of humor to bring it all together

Thanks to Toppling Stacks Tours for an early copy of this book to review.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got my copy and couldn’t put it down! Imagine your favorite 90’s book fair find mixed with DND - literally awesome! It’s hard to capture that nostalgia of being a kid and adding in the endless day to day troubles of life being reimagined as a kids thriller fantasy-world but somehow Thrash Force just did it. Plus it’s hilarious. A rad read!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun middle grade book! Full of puns, monsters and, gasp!, even life lessons! This was a great debut. Can't wait for more books by Raj!

[Carrie]

I read just enough of this to be able to recommend to kids who love role playing games like D&D.

[Wild · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3 1/2 stars
Thrash Force reminds me of a cross between Jumanji and A Wrinkle In Time, with a bit of middle grade report card angst and humor thrown in. From inadvertently angering a sorcerer to battling scary creatures, Riley and his friends take the reader along on their epic adventures within an alternate reality. One where your favorite role-playing game has suddenly become far too real. There's plenty of magic, elves, battles and mishaps to hold the attention of kids straight through to the end. The writing flowed well, the storyline was entertaining, and the descriptive details were appropriate for the intended age group.

Thank you to Toppling Stacks BT and Little Brown Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own and I am reviewing by my own free will.