What do you think?
Rate this book
Post-High School Reality Quest
Buffy is playing a game. However, the game is her life, and there are no instructions or cheat codes on how to win.
After graduating high school, a voice called “the text parser” emerges in Buffy’s head, narrating her life as a classic text adventure game. Buffy figures this is just a manifestation of her shy, awkward, nerdy nature—until the voice doesn’t go away, and instead begins to dominate her thoughts, telling her how to live her life. Though Buffy tries to beat the game, crash it, and even restart it, it becomes clear that this game is not something she can simply “shut off” or beat without the text parser’s help.
While the text parser tries to give Buffy advice on how “to win the game,” Buffy decides to pursue her own game-plan: start over, make new friends, and win her long-time crush Tristan’s heart. But even when Buffy gets the guy of her dreams, the game doesn’t stop. In fact, it gets worse than she could’ve ever imagined: her crumbling group of friends fall apart, her roommate turns against her, and Buffy finds herself trying to survive in a game built off her greatest nightmares.
After graduating high school, a voice called “the text parser” emerges in Buffy’s head, narrating her life as a classic text adventure game. Buffy figures this is just a manifestation of her shy, awkward, nerdy nature—until the voice doesn’t go away, and instead begins to dominate her thoughts, telling her how to live her life. Though Buffy tries to beat the game, crash it, and even restart it, it becomes clear that this game is not something she can simply “shut off” or beat without the text parser’s help.
While the text parser tries to give Buffy advice on how “to win the game,” Buffy decides to pursue her own game-plan: start over, make new friends, and win her long-time crush Tristan’s heart. But even when Buffy gets the guy of her dreams, the game doesn’t stop. In fact, it gets worse than she could’ve ever imagined: her crumbling group of friends fall apart, her roommate turns against her, and Buffy finds herself trying to survive in a game built off her greatest nightmares.
320 pages, Unknown Binding
First published June 13, 2017
3 people are currently reading
911 people want to read
About the author
Meg Eden
20 books91 followersMeg Eden Kuyatt teaches creative writing at colleges and writing centers. She is the author of the 2021 Towson Prize for Literature winning poetry collection “Drowning in the Floating World” (Press 53, 2020) and children’s novels, most recently “Good Different,” a JLG Gold Standard selection (Scholastic, 2023). Find her online at https://linktr.ee/medenauthor.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
December 28, 2016
You pick up this book.
> Read book.
You start reading the book. It's about a girl who, upon high school graduation, starts having her life dictated by a text parser, making life into a text adventure game. It's strange and disorienting and so incredibly cool. The girl can't seem to figure out life, which you get because most of the time, neither can you.
>Keep reading.
As if you had a choice about that. Of course you keep reading. You can't stop reading. You need to know whether she's actually respawning when she dies or whether she's schizophrenic like the book’s doctors think or whether she has an overactive imagination like yours. You need to know whether she'll win over her crush and why he has a gun under his bed and if she'll ever be happy with any choices she makes and whether anyone in the book will ever make a good decision or whether they're all too flawed and hurting and real for that.
>Keep reading.
>Keep reading.
>Keep reading.
Are you sure? It's not too dark and depressing?
>KEEP READING!
You keep reading. You can't turn the pages fast enough. You need to know what happens. You read read read until the end, and then you stare into the void, thinking about life and choices and regrets and no going back and how you just want to hug every terrible, flawed character in the book.
>Rate five stars.
You rate the book five stars. Obviously.
> Read book.
You start reading the book. It's about a girl who, upon high school graduation, starts having her life dictated by a text parser, making life into a text adventure game. It's strange and disorienting and so incredibly cool. The girl can't seem to figure out life, which you get because most of the time, neither can you.
>Keep reading.
As if you had a choice about that. Of course you keep reading. You can't stop reading. You need to know whether she's actually respawning when she dies or whether she's schizophrenic like the book’s doctors think or whether she has an overactive imagination like yours. You need to know whether she'll win over her crush and why he has a gun under his bed and if she'll ever be happy with any choices she makes and whether anyone in the book will ever make a good decision or whether they're all too flawed and hurting and real for that.
>Keep reading.
>Keep reading.
>Keep reading.
Are you sure? It's not too dark and depressing?
>KEEP READING!
You keep reading. You can't turn the pages fast enough. You need to know what happens. You read read read until the end, and then you stare into the void, thinking about life and choices and regrets and no going back and how you just want to hug every terrible, flawed character in the book.
>Rate five stars.
You rate the book five stars. Obviously.
October 17, 2016
This may be one of the most wildly original YA entries for 2017 - the only book I can think to compare it to (for sheer originality, outrageous & clever humor, and sly irreverence) is THE HITCHHIKER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (it's that good - it's worthy of the comparison). Our MC, Buffy, finds herself navigating post-high school life & love while stuck inside a text-adventure video game. I am not a gamer, but you don't have to be to quickly catch on to the format (with saved lives/do-overs, etc.) - and to rapidly become hooked and thoroughly strapped into this roller-coaster of a novel. I found myself laughing out loud many, many times while reading this (while shaking my head in awe "Meg Eden did NOT just pull that off..."). READ THIS BOOK. #TeamNarwhal
March 27, 2017
Right from page one, POST-HIGH SCHOOL REALITY QUEST grabbed me, and I just couldn't put it down. Inside these pages is a complicated and haunting story of love and loss, written in a unique and compelling style that pulls us right into Buffy's world--and makes sure we can't get out. Meg Eden handles the topic of mental illness with sensitivity and skill, while also showing just how confusing and scary these experiences are, at times, for her main character, as even the reader begins to question what's real and what's not. Highly recommended.
April 25, 2017
Wow. The entire time I read this book I kept saying to myself "I've seriously never read anything like this before." I dare you to make a comparison. Post-High School Reality Quest turns Buffy's life into a game where every situation give her a chance to respawn and change her fate. Laced within the game are moments in the present (or so you think) where Buffy is in a psych ward. I kept flipping pages furiously to find out if it was real or if it was all in her head like the doctors kept telling her. If you're a lover of video games, psychological thrillers, and some dark humor to sprinkle on top, Post-High School Reality quest is the one for you!
June 5, 2017
A unique take on the transition that happens after high school. Gamers who love quest games (and even those who are not!) will appreciate classic elements written into a book that explores the journey from teen to adulthood and all of the complications that follow.
Fans of At the Edge of the Universe will love this!
Fans of At the Edge of the Universe will love this!
May 31, 2017
As soon as I heard the pitch for this book I knew I needed to read it. As a life-long gamer with my fair share of text-adventure deaths, I appreciated all the old school video game references, and the back and forth sniping between Buffy and the game was hilarious.
But aside from the fun and totally unique style, this book explored a lot of heavier important issues as well, in both Buffy and her friends. I especially loved that Meg Eden chose to write about characters from a small religious school trying to figure out who they wanted to be in the context of the larger world, as it resonated with my actual experience in a way that a lot of YA set in larger public schools doesn't quite match.
Overall it was a great read and I highly recommend it!
But aside from the fun and totally unique style, this book explored a lot of heavier important issues as well, in both Buffy and her friends. I especially loved that Meg Eden chose to write about characters from a small religious school trying to figure out who they wanted to be in the context of the larger world, as it resonated with my actual experience in a way that a lot of YA set in larger public schools doesn't quite match.
Overall it was a great read and I highly recommend it!
January 28, 2018
I've never read a book like this before! I was immediately pulled into the story by the unique POV, a mix of first and second person that reads like you're in the middle of a video game. Meg Eden pulls this off in a perfect way so that it doesn't feel gimmicky and there's still so much character development with sprinklings of dark humor and the difficult topic of mental illness. I was definitely pulled into the story in the first few pages and enjoyed the unique approach to storytelling.
June 16, 2017
You need this book in your life. I love how original and creative this book is and how unique the format it is written is. .I couldn't stop reading this book once I started it. I had to know what would happen next. This book also handles some tough topics, but it handles them well. I really enjoyed this read and I think you should read this book. You won't regret it!
June 4, 2017
Far and away the most boldly original YA novel I've ever read. Jaw-dropping, shocking and unmissable. More coherent review to come -- in the meantime, do yourself a favor and preorder this rare gem, available June 13.
June 18, 2017
Post-High School Reality Quest has one of the most unique storytelling structures that I've experienced in a novel. The way the story is written is a throwback to text adventure games, which was fun and original.
Despite the video game elements and entertaining writing style, this book has a lot of very serious and sometimes dark elements to it. This book delves into a lot of different and very difficult mental health issues including schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
The story also focuses in on that sometimes difficult transition from teen to adulthood and the emotional upheaval it can cause. From making decisions that ultimately impact the rest of your life to discovering truths about the friends you thought you knew, Meg Eden pulls no punches when it comes to incorporating serious themes into this story.
I did find the end of the story a bit confusing. The closing line in particular made me question what I thought I had been reading throughout the rest of the book, but that may have been the point, or very well could have just been me being a bit oblivious.
Overall, I think this book is very well-written, and I do feel that fans of text adventures and classic video games will really enjoy the references sprinkled throughout.
Despite the video game elements and entertaining writing style, this book has a lot of very serious and sometimes dark elements to it. This book delves into a lot of different and very difficult mental health issues including schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
The story also focuses in on that sometimes difficult transition from teen to adulthood and the emotional upheaval it can cause. From making decisions that ultimately impact the rest of your life to discovering truths about the friends you thought you knew, Meg Eden pulls no punches when it comes to incorporating serious themes into this story.
I did find the end of the story a bit confusing. The closing line in particular made me question what I thought I had been reading throughout the rest of the book, but that may have been the point, or very well could have just been me being a bit oblivious.
Overall, I think this book is very well-written, and I do feel that fans of text adventures and classic video games will really enjoy the references sprinkled throughout.
June 30, 2017
What a unique, wild ride of a book! Buffy’s story of trying to find her way after graduation lends itself perfectly to the format of a text adventure game. Buffy must navigate a barrage of choices about who she is and who she wants be, examine and reexamine relationships with friends and family, and somehow keep remembering to save. The book is full of witty touches that will make geeky readers laugh out loud; my favorite is the fact that Buffy has nicknamed her backpack “inventory”, so whenever she puts an item “in her inventory”, that’s where it goes. Buffy’s quest is not without disappointment and heartbreak, and the reader will be rooting for her to fight her way through.
January 6, 2018
This was really good! And I'm not just saying that because I met the artist at MagLabs 😁. This brought back a lot of memories from high school and from life right after high school for me, so I could relate to what the characters were experiencing. An easy read with an enjoyable plot, I highly suggest this for those that want a sense of nostalgia of high school, video games, and friendships.
February 20, 2020
Wow, this book went places!! I need to reread so I can catch things I missed the first time through!
Also, the author is super nice! Met her at Magfest 2020 and can't wait to read more of her works!
Also, the author is super nice! Met her at Magfest 2020 and can't wait to read more of her works!
July 18, 2017
I received a review copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is another book I have complicated feelings for. It's so wonderfully original and unique but as a consequence, it took me a while to get used to the story and the ending left me confuzzled. Let's get into it, shall we!
1. The POV. Normally, I start off with the characters but I think it's really important to begin with the POV because it kind of impacts everything else. As it says in the blurb, this book is narrated by a game. You know those games that just write out what's happening and then you select your reaction to events. They're called text parser games (you can look it up if you still don't know what I'm talking about because honestly I don't know how else to describe it). So the entire book is a mix of first and second person which I found to be pretty cool, honestly. I've never read a book in second person before and now I understand why not many books are written that way. It can be really tricky getting it right and there isn't a whole lot of depth to be found. However, mixed in with the first person, it was slightly better and was a bit more readable.
2. The concept. This is another thing I think I have to address right away. This review is getting all kinds of turned around! From the blurb, you'd think this book is all about finding out what's going on in Buffy's head and her learning to live with her quirks and life in general. While that's generally true throughout the book, there isn't much focus placed on it and the ending completely disregards that idea. I think there was a bit of a disconnect between what the author wanted it to be about at the beginning and what ended up happening. It isn't a bad thing at all but because of what happened, there are some inconsistencies and near the middle I was questioning what the point of the book was at all. To that end, I really liked how the book ended but I wish the author would have more fully developed the whole idea. In summary, there were two final takeaway's directly contrasting with each other and each didn't receive enough attention: life is a game, and the challenges of mental illness.
3. The characters. I really enjoyed this part of the book. Being in Buffy's head is so fascinating and I loved seeing how she would react to different events. She has such an interesting and creative mind and always reacted in unexpected ways. I don't know if I would go so far as to say she's likeable or that I wasn't frustrated with her from time to time, but I was never bored and she kept me on my toes. The supporting characters are also very well imagined. Sephora (Buffy's 'friend') is especially interesting and I was intrigued by her attitude towards life.
4. The romance. Romance is a significant part of this book and it was very sweet to read. There is a fair amount of teen drama, though, but there isn't much of a love triangle. While the romance itself was sweet (and pretty entertaining), I think the author could have played up the tragedy a bit more. In general, there are some aww moments but there aren't any really heart-wrenching scenes. There were highs and lows but the lows were pretty downplayed for some reason (perhaps it was a product of the second person POV) and it was kind of weird to read a sad scene and not feel anything at all.
The Final Verdict:
An interesting spin on novel writing with the ever rare second person POV was attempted and is something I would consider a general success. While the ending and themes of the book are a little obscure and muddy, the characters present a unique spark.
3 stars
This is another book I have complicated feelings for. It's so wonderfully original and unique but as a consequence, it took me a while to get used to the story and the ending left me confuzzled. Let's get into it, shall we!
1. The POV. Normally, I start off with the characters but I think it's really important to begin with the POV because it kind of impacts everything else. As it says in the blurb, this book is narrated by a game. You know those games that just write out what's happening and then you select your reaction to events. They're called text parser games (you can look it up if you still don't know what I'm talking about because honestly I don't know how else to describe it). So the entire book is a mix of first and second person which I found to be pretty cool, honestly. I've never read a book in second person before and now I understand why not many books are written that way. It can be really tricky getting it right and there isn't a whole lot of depth to be found. However, mixed in with the first person, it was slightly better and was a bit more readable.
2. The concept. This is another thing I think I have to address right away. This review is getting all kinds of turned around! From the blurb, you'd think this book is all about finding out what's going on in Buffy's head and her learning to live with her quirks and life in general. While that's generally true throughout the book, there isn't much focus placed on it and the ending completely disregards that idea. I think there was a bit of a disconnect between what the author wanted it to be about at the beginning and what ended up happening. It isn't a bad thing at all but because of what happened, there are some inconsistencies and near the middle I was questioning what the point of the book was at all. To that end, I really liked how the book ended but I wish the author would have more fully developed the whole idea. In summary, there were two final takeaway's directly contrasting with each other and each didn't receive enough attention: life is a game, and the challenges of mental illness.
3. The characters. I really enjoyed this part of the book. Being in Buffy's head is so fascinating and I loved seeing how she would react to different events. She has such an interesting and creative mind and always reacted in unexpected ways. I don't know if I would go so far as to say she's likeable or that I wasn't frustrated with her from time to time, but I was never bored and she kept me on my toes. The supporting characters are also very well imagined. Sephora (Buffy's 'friend') is especially interesting and I was intrigued by her attitude towards life.
4. The romance. Romance is a significant part of this book and it was very sweet to read. There is a fair amount of teen drama, though, but there isn't much of a love triangle. While the romance itself was sweet (and pretty entertaining), I think the author could have played up the tragedy a bit more. In general, there are some aww moments but there aren't any really heart-wrenching scenes. There were highs and lows but the lows were pretty downplayed for some reason (perhaps it was a product of the second person POV) and it was kind of weird to read a sad scene and not feel anything at all.
The Final Verdict:
An interesting spin on novel writing with the ever rare second person POV was attempted and is something I would consider a general success. While the ending and themes of the book are a little obscure and muddy, the characters present a unique spark.
3 stars
June 15, 2017
One of the best things I've discovered on Twitter this year is Meg Eden (@ConfusedNarwhal) and her book Post-High School Reality Quest. Being a big fan of video games, I was intrigued when I saw the premise of this book: At her high school graduation, Buffy finds that her life has started being narrated/controlled by a text parser in the style of an old school text based video game. This leads to some weird experiences. She dies, comes back to life, makes extreme choices, and more over and over again while trying to figure out not only what this voice in her head is, but what is life now that she's supposed to be growing up and going to college?
Meg Eden has a way with dark humor and that certainly shows throughout the book. Buffy is having a hard time of it because not only does she have all these experiences going on, she's got the text parser bringing her back to life after major episodes, which sounds traumatic. While reading it's such an adventure, trying to tell what's real and what might not be real.
Mixed in with the days that are dated for us as being in Buffy's college semester are episodes from the future in which she's in a doctor's office (her words, because the text parser says psychiatrist, which she thinks is judgmental). This method of storytelling, going back and forth, was a little confusing at first, but after a couple of chapters I got into it and was really just trying to figure the characters out. What did they mean to Buffy, were they part of this "text game", just what was going on? Real life, it seemed, was intangible at times and at others all too real. That feeling made the reading so strange and so tragic at the same time with certain passages and, particularly, when trying to decide how I felt about the ending.
The formatting of the book was pretty cool too, as it wasn't set up like a normal book with the words of the text parser relegated to italics or something. I haven't played a text game or RPG in awhile, but this book brought back the feeling of one and that made me quite happy. It's an intriguing setup and definitely an effective one in relaying Buffy's story to the reader.
Meg Eden has a way with dark humor and that certainly shows throughout the book. Buffy is having a hard time of it because not only does she have all these experiences going on, she's got the text parser bringing her back to life after major episodes, which sounds traumatic. While reading it's such an adventure, trying to tell what's real and what might not be real.
Mixed in with the days that are dated for us as being in Buffy's college semester are episodes from the future in which she's in a doctor's office (her words, because the text parser says psychiatrist, which she thinks is judgmental). This method of storytelling, going back and forth, was a little confusing at first, but after a couple of chapters I got into it and was really just trying to figure the characters out. What did they mean to Buffy, were they part of this "text game", just what was going on? Real life, it seemed, was intangible at times and at others all too real. That feeling made the reading so strange and so tragic at the same time with certain passages and, particularly, when trying to decide how I felt about the ending.
The formatting of the book was pretty cool too, as it wasn't set up like a normal book with the words of the text parser relegated to italics or something. I haven't played a text game or RPG in awhile, but this book brought back the feeling of one and that made me quite happy. It's an intriguing setup and definitely an effective one in relaying Buffy's story to the reader.
September 20, 2017
This is definitely the most original book I have read this year. As an old school gamer I definitely appreciate all the references in here, and overall I really enjoyed the book. It did take me a couple of chapters to get used to the writing style (which is why it only gets 4 stars from me), but once I did it really became a page turner. The book broached a lot more teenage topics than I was expecting, including some of the heavier ones such as mental illness, but it did it in a way that I think was exceptionally clever. Twists and turns that meant I never quite knew which direction the story was going to go, but I will say it definitely got me thinking.
If you are looking for something a little "out of the box" I would definitely recommend this. I would be interested to see what this author comes up with for her next project.
A solid 4 stars from me.
V""V
**This Review Was Done In Conjunction With Nerd Girl Official. A complimentary copy was sent to me by the author but this has in no way impacted my review - the opinions stated are entirely mine**
June 13, 2017
It took me awhile to get use to the writing format of this book. It's like reading a video game script and Buffy's brain is the narrator. But once I got use to it, the story really started to unfold. It was really strange and disorienting. Some parts gave me chills. Buffy just keeps struggling to figure out life. Which some people may be able to relate to because right after high school might just be the most difficult time for someone in life. I had to keep reading to know if Buffy was actually respawning when she dies or whether she's schizophrenic like the book’s doctors think or whether she just has an overactive imagination. If you're a lover of video games and psychological thrillers I reccomend this book to you.
Read
June 5, 2017Can't believe it's just a couple weeks until PHSRQ comes out!
January 10, 2018
When I first started reading it my mind registered something was weird, I had to reread the first few pages a couple of times, but it wasn't until I was a few pages in that I realized what was going on. The book is in second person. As someone who regularly games, that pleased me. I ended up immediately messaging a few of my other gamer friends and told them they should check it out... and this was before I'd actually gotten into the book.
Read more here:
https://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/...
Read more here:
https://www.platypire.com/j-hooligan/...
October 8, 2017
Gave this to a friends granddaughter. She loves it!
October 28, 2017
This book brings back memories of this time in my life. I enjoyed the story and the characters were believable for me. A new twist on a story that seems familiar. I enjoyed the different take on it. *I received this book for free and this is my honest review*
June 30, 2017
I don't review books, but I do blog about them. Meg Eden, author of Post-High School Reality Quest, stopped by for "5 Questions for the Author." http://laurashovan.com/2017/06/5-ques...
Congratulations on your debut, Meg! Let’s dive into the interview.
1. I love quest stories with female leads. How does Post-High School Reality Quest follow and/or break with the traditional quest narrative?
You could say Buffy’s quest is for Tristan, but there’s nothing epic about it. She’s not going to any dramatic lengths to get him, despite how much she might want him. What might be more accurate is to say that Buffy’s quest is to survive, to return to normalcy. When I think of quest narratives, I think of journeys and characters that actively travel to get what they want. Buffy isn’t “setting out” on a quest. In fact, her desire is antithetical to “setting out”—if it was up to her, she’d be “setting in,” remaining in the comfort of her patterns. But instead the world is changing around her, the text parser is calling her to action, and she’s just hanging on for the ride.
2. It’s interesting that many girl-led quests are about a return to normalcy. There’s Alice, Dorothy, Coraline. But that’s a topic for another day.
It’s clear from your main character’s name (Buffy!) that there are a lot of Easter eggs in PHSRQ for geeks and gamers. Can you tell us about a few of those without revealing any spoilers?
Buffy’s name for her backpack is “inventory,” a shout-out to a vital attribute in pretty much every game ever. There are some beautifully illustrated memes, including a nod to “You don’t say” Nicholas Cage and “I know that feel, bro.” Merrill’s house has the address number 404, as if it doesn’t exist (a reference to 404 website errors). There’s a love letter written out like code, and a birthday cake written in binary. There are Slave Leia costumes, an NES Super Scope, multiple Pikachu instances, a prized Pokemon Stadium N64 cartridge, and all sorts of other things I’m currently blanking on.
3. Your book is written in second person. That’s a challenging point-of-view to write from, but fitting for a novel about video games. Would you explain the importance of the “You” voice for non-gamers?
Post-High School Reality Quest is the form of a classic text-adventure game–that is, those old MS-DOS games, before graphics, where the game would narrate what was happening, and you would type in commands to interact with the game (e.g., “You are in a room. There is an axe. Exits are: out.” and to move out of the room, you’d type “out”). By narrating in second person, these games attempted to place the player in the environment as a character in their story. You could say that in text-adventure games, there are two distinct voices: that of the narrator and that of the player. This would be totally different if the games were narrated as “I”—they would make the game and the player one in the same.
Narrating from the “you” in PHSRQ allowed me to create conflict between the text parser and Buffy, to have two different narrators and two different goals. First or third person narration wouldn’t inherently carry this conflict.
Read the entire post here: http://laurashovan.com/2017/06/5-ques...
Congratulations on your debut, Meg! Let’s dive into the interview.
1. I love quest stories with female leads. How does Post-High School Reality Quest follow and/or break with the traditional quest narrative?
You could say Buffy’s quest is for Tristan, but there’s nothing epic about it. She’s not going to any dramatic lengths to get him, despite how much she might want him. What might be more accurate is to say that Buffy’s quest is to survive, to return to normalcy. When I think of quest narratives, I think of journeys and characters that actively travel to get what they want. Buffy isn’t “setting out” on a quest. In fact, her desire is antithetical to “setting out”—if it was up to her, she’d be “setting in,” remaining in the comfort of her patterns. But instead the world is changing around her, the text parser is calling her to action, and she’s just hanging on for the ride.
2. It’s interesting that many girl-led quests are about a return to normalcy. There’s Alice, Dorothy, Coraline. But that’s a topic for another day.
It’s clear from your main character’s name (Buffy!) that there are a lot of Easter eggs in PHSRQ for geeks and gamers. Can you tell us about a few of those without revealing any spoilers?
Buffy’s name for her backpack is “inventory,” a shout-out to a vital attribute in pretty much every game ever. There are some beautifully illustrated memes, including a nod to “You don’t say” Nicholas Cage and “I know that feel, bro.” Merrill’s house has the address number 404, as if it doesn’t exist (a reference to 404 website errors). There’s a love letter written out like code, and a birthday cake written in binary. There are Slave Leia costumes, an NES Super Scope, multiple Pikachu instances, a prized Pokemon Stadium N64 cartridge, and all sorts of other things I’m currently blanking on.
3. Your book is written in second person. That’s a challenging point-of-view to write from, but fitting for a novel about video games. Would you explain the importance of the “You” voice for non-gamers?
Post-High School Reality Quest is the form of a classic text-adventure game–that is, those old MS-DOS games, before graphics, where the game would narrate what was happening, and you would type in commands to interact with the game (e.g., “You are in a room. There is an axe. Exits are: out.” and to move out of the room, you’d type “out”). By narrating in second person, these games attempted to place the player in the environment as a character in their story. You could say that in text-adventure games, there are two distinct voices: that of the narrator and that of the player. This would be totally different if the games were narrated as “I”—they would make the game and the player one in the same.
Narrating from the “you” in PHSRQ allowed me to create conflict between the text parser and Buffy, to have two different narrators and two different goals. First or third person narration wouldn’t inherently carry this conflict.
Read the entire post here: http://laurashovan.com/2017/06/5-ques...
May 28, 2021
I've taken joy in reading for years and I never once have come across a book written so creatively. I've never been super interested in high school level drama, but this book feels at the same time very relatable yet very surreal. The main character feels like she's written by someone who's personally experienced neurodivergence and sometimes it strikes very close to home. I'm not sure where I stand on the ending, but it also might have flown over my head. Either way, I'm shocked and pleased with how much feeling I got from a book I randomly picked up at a con.
July 18, 2019
Post-High School Reality Quest by Meg Eden has a unique feel that right out of the gate cannot be ignored. The cover alone is covered in 80s/90s nostalgia approved text graphics with the formatting of a video game from an age before 3D graphics and MMOs. This isn't just for show either, as a single turn of the page deals us another wild card. The story's main character, Elizabeth, or Beth, or Buffy as she's referred to is sitting in a psychiatrist's office after what is seemingly the mother of all nervous breakdowns. I say seemingly, as the novel's main exchange is Buffy interacting with an indistinguishable other party that communicates like a text based adventure video game. If you've ever played The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy text game, you're already on board with the presentation. Buffy's text parser is cheeky, cryptic, but appears to be on Buffy's side as she navigates the horrors of graduating high school, starting college, and the dynamic that these events unleash on friendship and love.
Of course, the format of this novel will take a chapter or two to get used to, but it actually ends up being more inviting than you might think. Buffy's story can be frightening due to the level of identifiability to any reader that's struggled to make friends, find love, or simply get to what it feels like to be "normal." Sometimes I want to give Buffy a hug, sometimes I want to shake her silly, but the true conflict comes from her self-realization after various traumatic events. What begins as a humorous way to interpret your problems, the video game stylization soon makes it clear that this is a desperate coping mechanism as things escalate towards the climax.
Buffy is obsessed with a particular boy she's known for years named Tristan. Due to her lack of experience with matters of the heart, the interplay with not only Tristan but the other friends of this nerd circle are tragically cringeworthy...if only because we've all been there before. As she attends a (I think) Maryland university relatively close to home, the ping back and forth between her college life and the vestiges of high school are in a constant conflict as are secondary extracurricular activities like alcohol, dating, and condoms that are introduced into Buffy's life of video games and platonic relationships. The story provides a long slow crescendo where the true colors are exposed of not only her old and new friends, but of Buffy herself. This isn't the sort of novel that's settles down once Buffy starts kissing the right boy as the encounters become more heated leading to a climax that was genuinely rattling. In fact, I had to put the book down for minute and think about what just transpired. Once things get heavy it's not only easy but frankly understandable why the "game" exists in the first place to the main character. In a world without control, it would surely be nice to be able to save your progress every now and then.
Verdict: Post-High School Reality Quest by Meg Eden is a brilliantly interesting novel that provides a welcome nostalgic element on top of a great coming of age story with some razor sharp humor. While benefited by a familiar plot, the lack of a "hollywood" treatment keeps everything grounded, and can be a punch in the gut as the gritty climax is finally made known. For once a unique format is not only an interesting way to tell a story, but it's also a story worth being told. For any astray nerd that's struggled with feeling normal: keep close track of your inventory, and don't forget to save. Thank you for playing POST HIGH SCHOOL REALITY QUEST! Would you like to load a saved game?
Special thanks to Meg Eden for allowing us to be a part of their Nerd Girl Books Tour. All thoughts and opinions are solely that of TehBen.com
Of course, the format of this novel will take a chapter or two to get used to, but it actually ends up being more inviting than you might think. Buffy's story can be frightening due to the level of identifiability to any reader that's struggled to make friends, find love, or simply get to what it feels like to be "normal." Sometimes I want to give Buffy a hug, sometimes I want to shake her silly, but the true conflict comes from her self-realization after various traumatic events. What begins as a humorous way to interpret your problems, the video game stylization soon makes it clear that this is a desperate coping mechanism as things escalate towards the climax.
Buffy is obsessed with a particular boy she's known for years named Tristan. Due to her lack of experience with matters of the heart, the interplay with not only Tristan but the other friends of this nerd circle are tragically cringeworthy...if only because we've all been there before. As she attends a (I think) Maryland university relatively close to home, the ping back and forth between her college life and the vestiges of high school are in a constant conflict as are secondary extracurricular activities like alcohol, dating, and condoms that are introduced into Buffy's life of video games and platonic relationships. The story provides a long slow crescendo where the true colors are exposed of not only her old and new friends, but of Buffy herself. This isn't the sort of novel that's settles down once Buffy starts kissing the right boy as the encounters become more heated leading to a climax that was genuinely rattling. In fact, I had to put the book down for minute and think about what just transpired. Once things get heavy it's not only easy but frankly understandable why the "game" exists in the first place to the main character. In a world without control, it would surely be nice to be able to save your progress every now and then.
Verdict: Post-High School Reality Quest by Meg Eden is a brilliantly interesting novel that provides a welcome nostalgic element on top of a great coming of age story with some razor sharp humor. While benefited by a familiar plot, the lack of a "hollywood" treatment keeps everything grounded, and can be a punch in the gut as the gritty climax is finally made known. For once a unique format is not only an interesting way to tell a story, but it's also a story worth being told. For any astray nerd that's struggled with feeling normal: keep close track of your inventory, and don't forget to save. Thank you for playing POST HIGH SCHOOL REALITY QUEST! Would you like to load a saved game?
Special thanks to Meg Eden for allowing us to be a part of their Nerd Girl Books Tour. All thoughts and opinions are solely that of TehBen.com
July 15, 2019
*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to Meg Eden, author and organiser of the Nerd Girl Books blog tour. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Post High School Reality Quest is Young Adult coming-of-age story with a difference. The majority of the book is written in video game ‘text adventure’ style.
The ‘narrator’ addresses the explanatory and descriptive passages in the second-person, aimed at the main character, Buffy, who responds with text prompts as she attempts to navigate the ‘game’ of her life.
This is, at heart, a story about transitions – child to adult, friend to lover, sane to… well, er – as Buffy struggles to grasp, not only her own place in life and in her relationships, but her perceptions of reality itself. And the reader is right there alongside her! Is Buffy schizophrenic and hallucinating voices in her head? Or can she really ‘save’ her progress at crucial moments and reset to a previous save if things go wrong? Why can she only save or reset at certain points and not on demand? Is the narrator her own mental process at work, or something more invasive? And is it there to help and guide (as it claims), or… ?
Some of these questions are answered as the story progresses, and others are left to the reader to draw their own conclusions.
There is humour here, as Buffy and the ‘text parser’ banter with each other in a sardonically affectionate way, but there is also all of the sadness, anger, displacement and drama that often accompanies the teenage years, when every problem seems insurmountable and the application of liberal amounts of alcohol often only exacerbates the instability.
I really identified with Buffy (or rather, my teen self did!) and felt achingly sad for her obvious loneliness, even when surrounded by friends, and I empathised with her lack of a clear direction and purpose in life. I have sometimes thought my own life would be clearer and more simple if there were a defined ‘winning scenario’ that I could aim for!
I would recommend this book to teen and young adult readers (and above), especially gaming fans. It deals with serious issues around peer pressure, depression, social isolation, mental illness and suicidal thoughts in a sensitive, yet direct way, and the format is fresh and exciting. Well worth a slot on your memory card.
You are in a psychiatrist’s office.
> No, I’m not.
I’m sorry, I don’t understand “no, I’m not.” Who do you think they’re going to believe? The narrator, or the character who is here because she was found living in a telephone booth on the other side of town, talking to herself?
– Meg Eden, Post High School Reality Quest
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
Post High School Reality Quest is Young Adult coming-of-age story with a difference. The majority of the book is written in video game ‘text adventure’ style.
The ‘narrator’ addresses the explanatory and descriptive passages in the second-person, aimed at the main character, Buffy, who responds with text prompts as she attempts to navigate the ‘game’ of her life.
This is, at heart, a story about transitions – child to adult, friend to lover, sane to… well, er – as Buffy struggles to grasp, not only her own place in life and in her relationships, but her perceptions of reality itself. And the reader is right there alongside her! Is Buffy schizophrenic and hallucinating voices in her head? Or can she really ‘save’ her progress at crucial moments and reset to a previous save if things go wrong? Why can she only save or reset at certain points and not on demand? Is the narrator her own mental process at work, or something more invasive? And is it there to help and guide (as it claims), or… ?
Some of these questions are answered as the story progresses, and others are left to the reader to draw their own conclusions.
There is humour here, as Buffy and the ‘text parser’ banter with each other in a sardonically affectionate way, but there is also all of the sadness, anger, displacement and drama that often accompanies the teenage years, when every problem seems insurmountable and the application of liberal amounts of alcohol often only exacerbates the instability.
I really identified with Buffy (or rather, my teen self did!) and felt achingly sad for her obvious loneliness, even when surrounded by friends, and I empathised with her lack of a clear direction and purpose in life. I have sometimes thought my own life would be clearer and more simple if there were a defined ‘winning scenario’ that I could aim for!
I would recommend this book to teen and young adult readers (and above), especially gaming fans. It deals with serious issues around peer pressure, depression, social isolation, mental illness and suicidal thoughts in a sensitive, yet direct way, and the format is fresh and exciting. Well worth a slot on your memory card.
You are in a psychiatrist’s office.
> No, I’m not.
I’m sorry, I don’t understand “no, I’m not.” Who do you think they’re going to believe? The narrator, or the character who is here because she was found living in a telephone booth on the other side of town, talking to herself?
– Meg Eden, Post High School Reality Quest
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
June 17, 2017
(I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review).
(This review may contain spoilers).
When I originally read the blurb of this book, I was immediately intrigued by the concept. The second person perspective did take a bit of getting used to, though. There were a couple of times I found myself almost linking to Buffy, but in a way, I felt that she was more of a one-dimensional character. Even the things she liked weren't really expanded upon. The possible exception was her playing the video games, but that happened very rarely.
I did find the supporting characters to be more interesting, especially Sephora. I thought it was interesting to see how her friends had problems that Buffy was unaware of. I did like Tristan as a character, but I couldn't really see what Buffy saw in him. In a way, it was like she'd built him up in her mind, and therefore in my mind as a reader... and he just didn't live up to that expectation.
I did like seeing the interactions between Buffy and the 'text parser', but although some of the footnotes amused me, I found it a bit harder to get the jokes, as I kept missing where the footnotes were in the narration.
I did also find it hard to differentiate between Buffy's roommates. There wasn't a whole lot of depth to them, as all they seemed to be doing was partying and I didn't even know what they were studying. And I would have liked some more details about Jeremy and Alice, as the book kept providing conflicting views of what was really going on between them.
I felt there were times the book didn't really follow its own logic. For instance, there were saves and resets that it wasn't clear if it was in Buffy's head, or if reality was just resestting. And I was a bit disappointed to see that the scenes in the psychiatric hospital didn't really seem to go anywhere. I wasn't sure at what point they were supposed to be.
Up until the ending, I'd thought this book was one genre in particular and I found the ending to be somewhat more confusing. I did find this book easy and quick to read, though, and the idea was a really unique one. I wouldn't read it again, but it was entertaining to read the first time.
(This review may contain spoilers).
When I originally read the blurb of this book, I was immediately intrigued by the concept. The second person perspective did take a bit of getting used to, though. There were a couple of times I found myself almost linking to Buffy, but in a way, I felt that she was more of a one-dimensional character. Even the things she liked weren't really expanded upon. The possible exception was her playing the video games, but that happened very rarely.
I did find the supporting characters to be more interesting, especially Sephora. I thought it was interesting to see how her friends had problems that Buffy was unaware of. I did like Tristan as a character, but I couldn't really see what Buffy saw in him. In a way, it was like she'd built him up in her mind, and therefore in my mind as a reader... and he just didn't live up to that expectation.
I did like seeing the interactions between Buffy and the 'text parser', but although some of the footnotes amused me, I found it a bit harder to get the jokes, as I kept missing where the footnotes were in the narration.
I did also find it hard to differentiate between Buffy's roommates. There wasn't a whole lot of depth to them, as all they seemed to be doing was partying and I didn't even know what they were studying. And I would have liked some more details about Jeremy and Alice, as the book kept providing conflicting views of what was really going on between them.
I felt there were times the book didn't really follow its own logic. For instance, there were saves and resets that it wasn't clear if it was in Buffy's head, or if reality was just resestting. And I was a bit disappointed to see that the scenes in the psychiatric hospital didn't really seem to go anywhere. I wasn't sure at what point they were supposed to be.
Up until the ending, I'd thought this book was one genre in particular and I found the ending to be somewhat more confusing. I did find this book easy and quick to read, though, and the idea was a really unique one. I wouldn't read it again, but it was entertaining to read the first time.
February 14, 2018
You don't have to be a gamer to enjoy Post-High School Reality Quest! It is a fascinating and absorbing read with a unique style and voice, that plunges you deep into the main character's head. It's almost disturbing how raw and intense the emotions in this book are. Readers will easily relate to the struggles of high school and graduation...leaving old friends, making new ones, finding your place in the world and figuring out what's important to you. Meg Eden tackles some pretty tough issues making the story feel very real and pertinent to the world we live in. This book will stick with you long after you put it down.
July 13, 2017
Perhaps the most inventive book you'll read all year. The main character lives her life as if there's a text-based adventure being narrated inside her head, but there's so much more to this story than what might, at first glance, seem like a literary gimmick. There's a much deeper (and at times darker) meaning behind everything that's happening, and it forces the reader to think critically about the nature of self while also enjoying a story filled with heart, heartbreak, and moments of humor. Is the game real? Isn't it? You'll have to read to find out!
June 26, 2017
This book might have been a 4-4.5 star read for me, but there was some excessive slut-shaming and I just couldn't deal. The format is weird. The book is really fucking weird. Stylistically, it was excellent. I don't think I'll ever read another book quite like this one.
May 9, 2018
Right from page one, POST-HIGH SCHOOL REALITY QUEST grabbed me, and I just couldn't put it down. Inside these pages is a complicated and haunting story of love and loss, written in a unique and compelling style that pulls us right into Buffy's world--and makes sure we can't get out. Meg Eden handles the topic of mental illness with sensitivity and skill, while also showing just how confusing and scary these experiences are, at times, for her main character, as even the reader begins to question what's real and what's not. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews