Heroes of Urowen: Gamebook

by David Velasco

* Bestseller in Spain * Second edition (November 2018) This edition edited by Michael Reilly.

Fast-paced and addictive, ‘Heroes of Urowen’ mixes the best of fantasy novels, videogames and role-playing games into an interactive tale of adventure. Travel to a land full of magic and powerful enemies, where every choice you make may help to improve your chance of success.

Fight to the death, upgrade your armor, gain powerful weapons, learn spells, discover treasures, gamble, get drunk in a tavern or enjoy other adult pleasures – all this and much more can be experienced in the mythical Lands of Urowen, where the road to becoming a hero will be full of many surprises.

Create your character, choose your race and profession, and live the adventure in a world full of dangers, where every action and every important decision will mark your future.

‘Heroes of Urowen’ is written in the style of classic gamebooks from the 80s, but incorporates a new and very exciting game system, totally upgraded and directed to an adult audience. Featuring elaborate rules that allow you to enjoy dynamic battles, use magical and special items, and play at five different difficulty levels, this is a gamebook where you truly live the adventure, becoming a hero of Urowen!

Opinions published on Amazon.es:

* Very addictive.
* The best gamebook I’ve read in my life.
* Pure role.
* A 10 for the writer.
* Excellent.
* A great gamebook. I hope the author continues to write them.
* If you like gamebooks, you have to have it.
* I encourage the author to write more gamebooks like this one.

Did you know that ‘Heroes of Urowen’ was the number one for sales in role-playing games at the popular Gigamesh Bookstore (Spain), and that David Velasco was featured in the TOP 20 of Gigamesh’s bestselling books of 2012?

Also, he was the only Spanish writer in that ranking, alongside authors such as George R.R. Martin, Terry Pratchett and Brandon Sanderson. This all happened during 2012 and was thanks to ‘Heroes of Urowen’ – now available in English.

Website and social networks: www.david-velasco.net/english

Genres: Gamebooks, Fantasy

352 pages, Paperback

Published November 21, 2018

About the author

(Malaga, Spain) After graduating in Journalism at his hometown’s university, David Velasco worked in prominent media and television roles, in management and writing positions, without ever losing his vocation as a writer. Between 2008 and 2014 he served as an editor, which allowed him to understand the world of books. He is the author of ‘The Neithel’s Manuscripts saga’, which boasts three books that have achieved huge success in his native country: ‘Sabine Vashanka, the Sorceress’ (vol. I), ‘The Kingdom of a Hundred Moons’ (vol. II) and ‘The Revenge of the King without a Throne’ (vol. III).

David Velasco also published an interactive gamebook in 2012, titled ‘Heroes of Urowen’ (a bestseller in Spain), with which he took a new direction in his literary career. The author used a great deal of experience to create this work, applying more than fifteen years as a tireless Dungeon Master, and a habitual consumer of console and computer games, to create this fantasy adventure. The last project that surprised readers was ‘Krynea, the Ninth Rune’, a spectacular novel based on the video game Krynea, which has further consolidated his reputation as a skilled storyteller of great imagination.

Now David Velasco returns with ‘Anunnaki Files’, much more than a novel or a gamebook.

In addition, he is a translator of English video games and apps, including ‘An Assassin in Orlandes’ and ‘The Forest of Doom’ for developer Tin Man Games.

Finally, as an editor, David Velasco has published the gamebook ‘The Legion Of Shadow’ (DestinyQuest) in Spain, and he has also published works for writers such as Kevin J. Anderson (Terra Incognita trilogy) and Steve Jackson and Ian Livingstone (Fighting Fantasy gamebooks: ‘Blood of the Zombies’, ‘House Of Hell’ and ‘Howl of the Werewolf’).

Reviews

[Vlad · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well this was disappointing. I love gamebooks since my early teens and many are still awesome to read to this day. Séries like Lone Wolf, Fabled Lands, Fighting Fantasy or the more recent Destiny Quest have become golden standards.
But this ? There are so many issues here...
- At character creation you can pick between 3 races. None mattter as they will never be referenced at ever during the entire book. I played as a snow elf only to realise that when I meet some of them I can’t understand what they are saying.
- the story is awfully linear and most of your choices don’t mater, as you end up with the same resolutions each time. Typical modern day writing removing player agency almost completely
- on top of this, the author constantly gives you his opinion on what you should do or comments on your choices. For a choose your own adventure type of gamebook this is unsufferable.
- the setting is perfectly generic fantasy, so to stand out the author decided to push some specific vocabulary, surely to make the whole thing feel more exotic. It’s not a "day" but an "estrios". Not a year but à "laznar". Not only this feels fake and forced, but also inconsistent as multiple times the authir himself forgets about it and has characters whishing you a "good day". This becomes even more nonesensical when you travel to another kingdom using a different language but for some reason thiese modified words are still the same universally. I get it people of Urowen do not speak english but since you translate it all so we can understand, is it so hard to translate "estrios" as well and just call it what it is, a "day"? Ridiculous.
- "safe-edgy" The book puts it on the cover " a gamebook for adults" I was expecting a gritty universe, explicit violence, unfiltered sex and disturbing situations. You will find none of it besides some short mentions of blood flowing and guts spilling after you win a fight. And also a mention that said guts smell bad. The most risqué thing was a double table to roll on when you go visit a brothel ( you can do this twice in the book). The tables will tell you how good you "performed". Pure luck by the way not a single modifier based on your character stats. In short? I would not mind my 12 years old reading this. There is nothing "for adults" in here
- No death. You get defeated? Oh that’s fine just lose 1 xp and redo the fight. Really? How ? Why any lore explanation?
-And finally, the last part was clearly rushed, all described in haste, and a story arc that could have had the potential to be an entire book on its own is expedited in maybe 10 sections.

So as it is I really recommend putting your money and time elswhere. Destiny Quest series give you much more enjoyment and playtime at smaller price.
Writing à game book is more about game design than narrative. You want to create a setting for the reader to explore rather than a story to railroad him in. Else just stick to a regular novel.
Not everyone can pretend to have the talent of Joe Dever or Ian Livingstone. Unfortunately

[Michael Reilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally released in Spain as Héroes del Acero in 2012, David Velasco’s Heroes of Urowen broadens the scope of his fantasy series The Manuscripts of Neithel, set in the mythical Lands of Urowen – a continent full of magic, tough adversaries and dangerous creatures, where you will now face the beginnings of war.

Heroes of Urowen features unique character types that are based upon three player races and their nationalities, and seven career options. Your choices for these then affect starting attributes and directly influence the use of magic, your skills and your ability to wield weapons. Many of the adversaries encountered in Urowen are serious threats, often bringing their own Special abilities to the battle, providing them with highly damaging or elusive capabilities. This combat system is easy to understand and implement, and is a genuine strength of the book, delivering tense, extended battles that regularly entertain.

Heroes of Urowen focuses more on story than choice, constantly returning to the narrative so that you follow the required story threads through to their conclusions. Although there are player options to choose from along your route, they generally only deliver minor story alternatives, encounter variations, uncritical background information or item/bonus pick-ups. You’ll soon realise that you’re regularly redirected to the main plotline, with only the ending sequence offering a real choice that will then determine your final outcome. This linear structure lengthens the game, providing a considerable journey featuring many additional events and story twists.

I enjoyed my time adventuring in the Lands of Urowen and hope that David Velasco continues to write gamebooks set in this world. There’s plenty of engaging gameplay here, and the character/career choices provide the opportunity for further playthroughs under different conditions and circumstances. Also, the author has included five difficulty levels, and a bonus ‘hardcore’ mission for those who have successfully reached a suitable combat level. These features further extend the adventure and create extra value, giving players an opportunity to test themselves as they fully explore this fantasy world.

[Andy Stewart · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. A bit too much like a computer game and not as many choices as I would have liked.