What do you think?
Rate this book
Lycopolis #1
Lycopolis
This is an alternate cover edition for B0068R6GAC
One Hallowe’en, a group of online roleplayers summon a demon, The Prince of Nightmares. Seth, who’s in charge of the game, says it’s "just for fun". But disturbing things start to happen in real life: red marks appear on the foreheads of the gamers, and they’re all having nightmares about a dark forest.
Secrets come out, friendships are broken, and the boundaries between the real, the virtual and the imaginary become increasingly fractured as the Prince becomes more powerful. Kay, a student at Oxford, is the only person who realises what Seth is doing – and it’s up to her to stop him.
One Hallowe’en, a group of online roleplayers summon a demon, The Prince of Nightmares. Seth, who’s in charge of the game, says it’s "just for fun". But disturbing things start to happen in real life: red marks appear on the foreheads of the gamers, and they’re all having nightmares about a dark forest.
Secrets come out, friendships are broken, and the boundaries between the real, the virtual and the imaginary become increasingly fractured as the Prince becomes more powerful. Kay, a student at Oxford, is the only person who realises what Seth is doing – and it’s up to her to stop him.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 15, 2011
2 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
About the author
Ali Luke
10 books78 followersAli Luke loves writing (and reading!) fast-paced novels with a touch of the supernatural. While writing, she likes to listen to Metallica and drink hot chocolate. When she's not writing, she reads pretty much anything she can get her hands on, cross-stitches occasionally, and plays board games / card games (Dominion and Eight-Minute Empire are current favourites).
She lives in Leeds in the UK with her husband and two young children; she was born in Cambridge and after a stint in Oxford aged 10 - 18, she returned there to university to study English Literature. After a few years in London, during which she gained an MA in Creative & Life Writing from Goldsmiths College, she married, spent some time living near family in Oxford, then headed north.
She lives in Leeds in the UK with her husband and two young children; she was born in Cambridge and after a stint in Oxford aged 10 - 18, she returned there to university to study English Literature. After a few years in London, during which she gained an MA in Creative & Life Writing from Goldsmiths College, she married, spent some time living near family in Oxford, then headed north.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 9, 2012
This is the first book I've ever read that let me keep all the different main characters straight without having to constantly check back in the reference. It's so well written, and I stayed up till 2 reading it, and unfortunately still wasn't finished! (gah, need to read faster...)
The book creates a masterful storyline, and it starts off innocently enough till you get to the human sacrifice. Yeah...this isn't something you'd want to read for bedtime. Fortunately, I didn't have any creeps about wolves coming or marks, probably cuz I know the Prince of Nightmares isn't after ME. (Then watch me be freaking out about being in the dark a few days later, like I always do after reading or seeing anything remotely scary.)
It's so wonderful, and anyone calling this book "good" is completely insulting it. It's epically awesome bunch of storyline and plot and words that just draw you in like...um...a ticking bomb! (nice analogy Allison...>.<)
The characters were never superficial. I see them in my minds eye so completely, but when I go back, there's mimimum description. The way it's written, you can so clearly visuallize EVERYTHING. It's really beautiful.
Changing between the virtual and real world was never confusing, and I somehow managed to keep track of who playing who in the virtual realm--AGAIN with no need for reference! (this might not seem big to you people with photographic memory, but I completely suck at remember multiple characters, never mind their alternate identities! So this is huge. Siriusly.)
I started getting pulled in real fast at the first couple pages.
Halloween sacrifice? Oh yay...interesting.
Conflicting ideas? Very interesting. And I do wonder how this affects the whole storyline...
Virtual world? (OMIGODS COOLIO NO GRAPHICS ok I'm geeking out stupid teenager stuff) Dude, bring it on!
And then what's virtual goes real...oh buddy, come in for a heck of a ride.
I read the book and you see not just the story, but all the little bad bits of Western life that happens, from teenage pregnancy to athiesm to thirst for power to why the HE** would you want to summon a DEMON called the PRINCE OF NIGHTMARES. (yah, brilliant move, I can definitely see it all going your way...with a DEMON.) When demons of any form are involved, run the other way. This includes the nice ones, cuz they tend to mess up stuff a lot.
And it goes so deep but also just scooping the surface--and you see all sorts of hidden relationships and connections, then get your mind blown with another one.
Mind blowing pretty much sums up this entire thing.
Omigosh this is a horrid review. >.< Oh well.
YOU PEOPLE GO READ. RIGHT. NOW. Please get it? Siriusly, you can see a distinct voice guiding the characters but also have the characters add their own...character...into it. If you're into Ali's writing on her blog and guest posts, you'll definitely recognize the clear writing with a random sophisticated word that everyone knew but doesn't use thrown in to make it even better, and then she explains it all so simply that you just click in a nanosecond. In her non-fiction blog and e-books, her writing is awesome. In this novel of fiction and adventure, the awesome has been magnified a couple hundred times.
I hate to be hypocritical, but HURRY UP WITH THE NEXT BOOKS PLLEEEASE! (even though I'm completely struggling to write my own fanfic. Wise, allison, wise...)
In a nutshell: 'tis an engaging, intriguing, mysterious and clear with all sorts of twists you'd expect but at the same time don't expect. It's Ali Luke, with a novel that won't disappoint, or you may yell at me for egging you on to read it.
Gosh, now this sounds like a sales pitch or something. But seriously, this book goes fast, you want to keep reading. Set a large block of time for this book. It'll eat it all up, and then your brain too (no, not really, but it'll blow it to pieces.)
The book creates a masterful storyline, and it starts off innocently enough till you get to the human sacrifice. Yeah...this isn't something you'd want to read for bedtime. Fortunately, I didn't have any creeps about wolves coming or marks, probably cuz I know the Prince of Nightmares isn't after ME. (Then watch me be freaking out about being in the dark a few days later, like I always do after reading or seeing anything remotely scary.)
It's so wonderful, and anyone calling this book "good" is completely insulting it. It's epically awesome bunch of storyline and plot and words that just draw you in like...um...a ticking bomb! (nice analogy Allison...>.<)
The characters were never superficial. I see them in my minds eye so completely, but when I go back, there's mimimum description. The way it's written, you can so clearly visuallize EVERYTHING. It's really beautiful.
Changing between the virtual and real world was never confusing, and I somehow managed to keep track of who playing who in the virtual realm--AGAIN with no need for reference! (this might not seem big to you people with photographic memory, but I completely suck at remember multiple characters, never mind their alternate identities! So this is huge. Siriusly.)
I started getting pulled in real fast at the first couple pages.
Halloween sacrifice? Oh yay...interesting.
Conflicting ideas? Very interesting. And I do wonder how this affects the whole storyline...
Virtual world? (OMIGODS COOLIO NO GRAPHICS ok I'm geeking out stupid teenager stuff) Dude, bring it on!
And then what's virtual goes real...oh buddy, come in for a heck of a ride.
I read the book and you see not just the story, but all the little bad bits of Western life that happens, from teenage pregnancy to athiesm to thirst for power to why the HE** would you want to summon a DEMON called the PRINCE OF NIGHTMARES. (yah, brilliant move, I can definitely see it all going your way...with a DEMON.) When demons of any form are involved, run the other way. This includes the nice ones, cuz they tend to mess up stuff a lot.
And it goes so deep but also just scooping the surface--and you see all sorts of hidden relationships and connections, then get your mind blown with another one.
Mind blowing pretty much sums up this entire thing.
Omigosh this is a horrid review. >.< Oh well.
YOU PEOPLE GO READ. RIGHT. NOW. Please get it? Siriusly, you can see a distinct voice guiding the characters but also have the characters add their own...character...into it. If you're into Ali's writing on her blog and guest posts, you'll definitely recognize the clear writing with a random sophisticated word that everyone knew but doesn't use thrown in to make it even better, and then she explains it all so simply that you just click in a nanosecond. In her non-fiction blog and e-books, her writing is awesome. In this novel of fiction and adventure, the awesome has been magnified a couple hundred times.
I hate to be hypocritical, but HURRY UP WITH THE NEXT BOOKS PLLEEEASE! (even though I'm completely struggling to write my own fanfic. Wise, allison, wise...)
In a nutshell: 'tis an engaging, intriguing, mysterious and clear with all sorts of twists you'd expect but at the same time don't expect. It's Ali Luke, with a novel that won't disappoint, or you may yell at me for egging you on to read it.
Gosh, now this sounds like a sales pitch or something. But seriously, this book goes fast, you want to keep reading. Set a large block of time for this book. It'll eat it all up, and then your brain too (no, not really, but it'll blow it to pieces.)
November 28, 2011
I'm not a gamer but I was fascinated by the dual worlds of this novel. I enjoyed the fast paced suspense of the 'real world' segments of the book but was also interested in how the online gaming part of it worked. I like a supernatural side to my novels and the way the nightmares were enmeshed in the game and the character's real lives was skillfully done.
*What keeps you reading?*
The book opens with the summoning of the demon but it doesn't seem to have any impact. Certainly there's nothing in the real world that changes. But then, page by page, it manifests in different ways even to the physical attack of wolves. You keep reading to find out what happens to the characters, particularly Kay and Edwin, the most sympathetic players. I read this in two sittings so it certainly held my interest!
*What keeps you reading?*
The book opens with the summoning of the demon but it doesn't seem to have any impact. Certainly there's nothing in the real world that changes. But then, page by page, it manifests in different ways even to the physical attack of wolves. You keep reading to find out what happens to the characters, particularly Kay and Edwin, the most sympathetic players. I read this in two sittings so it certainly held my interest!
May 5, 2012
This was a very interesting book. Picked it up because of the dual nature of the worlds, and I thought it was written rather well. The characters were interesting and I could't stop reading. I feel there's some unanswered questions, though, but since this is the first of a trilogy, I'll wait to see how the rest plays out. Definitely worth a read.
March 23, 2019
Anyone who is a fan of text based role play video games will geek out over “Lycopolis”. The story is about seven people who all play together in an online world created by a young man with a sinister ulterior motive. But when the demon they summon in game doesn’t stay there, the characters begin to adopt their online personas in the real world in order to fight a force they have difficulty believing in. The paranormal aspect of the story is fun and unique in and of itself, as the book switches a bit between what’s happening in the online realm and the real world, but I enjoyed the flawed characters, and the greyness around Seth, and Edwin most. I love sympathetic villains! I love heroes with dark pasts! Basically, I like characters who you can identify with, so no matter if they are doing good or bad things, you get where they are coming from and ache alongside them.
Now, I will say that when it comes to books, I’m a bit hard to scare. So while I didn’t personally find the paranormal creepiness of the story anything that would keep me up at night, I can see how the things present in this book could give someone the shivers. There is demon summoning and demonic forests, creepy wolves, plus adult themes around depression and bullying. If none of that bothers you—I found it to be pretty light in the story personally—then you should be good to go. I still wouldn’t classify this as appropriate for YA readers unless they are pretty mature, despite one of the characters being 14 years old. But I’d say New Adult fans would be more than fine with the content within these pages.
It’s really hard to talk about the book, because I don’t want to spoil anything, and honestly, the real treat for me was getting to know these characters. However, I will say that while I could see where Seth was coming from, his “tragic” backstory was the most flimsy, which made a lot of his later motivations seem a bit weaker, especially when compared to people like Mark and Edwin. That being said, I found Edwin to just be the most precious thing ever! This poor kid tries so hard to be “goth” and embrace his “weirdness” when deep down, he’s just this lonely boy who wants to be accepted and find his place in the world… He pulled all my heart strings! However, the fact that there are so many characters did mean that we didn’t get in depth with a lot of them, especially the characters that the reader should feel most attached to—Kay, Seth, Ed, and probably Mark. The inclusion of the other characters is fine, but that’s the problem: it was just fine. I didn’t care much for the other three, and thought Brandon had very little purpose in this particular book, though that may change later. Had some of the characters been combined, or their POV excluded, then perhaps the author would have had more opportunity to delve deeper in the main characters and expand on their backstories, and make their dialogue flow a bit better. It may have also freed some page time so some of the things about Kay could have been teased earlier. That way, come the end of the book, they didn’t feel like convenient devices used to battle the big baddie. I know, super vague, but like I said, I really don’t want to spoil anything!
Despite my minor issues, I do recommend this book. It’s unique and I found Edwin just so, so endearing. There is so much potential for Seth and Kay too that it makes me excited for the other books in the series as we get to see more of how they grow and develop. Luke has crafted a cast of complex characters where I genuinely cared about them and wanted all of them to be saved, or redeemed, all alongside an intriguing plot-line. Not an easy feat to do, but it’s handled nicely, especially as this is the first book in a series! “Lycopolis” itself is pretty much its own standalone book, the story and conflict presented in this novel is wrapped up well, where the sequels are more of following a cast of characters readers are already familiar with as they encounter new paranormal creepiness. Which is great! I love series where the individual books are complete stories in their own right. There is a lot going for this book and series in general, so even though I found some of the characters to be a bit weak, I still enjoyed the story which is why I am giving it 4 stars. I am eager to see what happens next, and thanks to the author for providing me with a copy for an honest review!
Now, I will say that when it comes to books, I’m a bit hard to scare. So while I didn’t personally find the paranormal creepiness of the story anything that would keep me up at night, I can see how the things present in this book could give someone the shivers. There is demon summoning and demonic forests, creepy wolves, plus adult themes around depression and bullying. If none of that bothers you—I found it to be pretty light in the story personally—then you should be good to go. I still wouldn’t classify this as appropriate for YA readers unless they are pretty mature, despite one of the characters being 14 years old. But I’d say New Adult fans would be more than fine with the content within these pages.
It’s really hard to talk about the book, because I don’t want to spoil anything, and honestly, the real treat for me was getting to know these characters. However, I will say that while I could see where Seth was coming from, his “tragic” backstory was the most flimsy, which made a lot of his later motivations seem a bit weaker, especially when compared to people like Mark and Edwin. That being said, I found Edwin to just be the most precious thing ever! This poor kid tries so hard to be “goth” and embrace his “weirdness” when deep down, he’s just this lonely boy who wants to be accepted and find his place in the world… He pulled all my heart strings! However, the fact that there are so many characters did mean that we didn’t get in depth with a lot of them, especially the characters that the reader should feel most attached to—Kay, Seth, Ed, and probably Mark. The inclusion of the other characters is fine, but that’s the problem: it was just fine. I didn’t care much for the other three, and thought Brandon had very little purpose in this particular book, though that may change later. Had some of the characters been combined, or their POV excluded, then perhaps the author would have had more opportunity to delve deeper in the main characters and expand on their backstories, and make their dialogue flow a bit better. It may have also freed some page time so some of the things about Kay could have been teased earlier. That way, come the end of the book, they didn’t feel like convenient devices used to battle the big baddie. I know, super vague, but like I said, I really don’t want to spoil anything!
Despite my minor issues, I do recommend this book. It’s unique and I found Edwin just so, so endearing. There is so much potential for Seth and Kay too that it makes me excited for the other books in the series as we get to see more of how they grow and develop. Luke has crafted a cast of complex characters where I genuinely cared about them and wanted all of them to be saved, or redeemed, all alongside an intriguing plot-line. Not an easy feat to do, but it’s handled nicely, especially as this is the first book in a series! “Lycopolis” itself is pretty much its own standalone book, the story and conflict presented in this novel is wrapped up well, where the sequels are more of following a cast of characters readers are already familiar with as they encounter new paranormal creepiness. Which is great! I love series where the individual books are complete stories in their own right. There is a lot going for this book and series in general, so even though I found some of the characters to be a bit weak, I still enjoyed the story which is why I am giving it 4 stars. I am eager to see what happens next, and thanks to the author for providing me with a copy for an honest review!
August 19, 2018
Seven people, each having their own grievances and hardships towards life escapes into the online role playing game Lycopolis. Many youths do that nowadays, incapable of dealing with the harsh realities, there is nothing wrong with that. But when the prince of darkness summoned by them in the virtual world becomes a part of their reality , blurring the boundary between the real and virtual that things goes out of their hands. Friendships are torn. Loyalties are tested and secrets revealed. Can he be stopped or is it already too late?
What I loved about this story is that this is a gripping tale of horror , mystery and terror. I absolutely loved it. It never lost it's rhythm and speed. The two world narrative placed side by side gives Lycopolis an interesting outlook. The world of knights, thieves, squires and lords besides the world of an Oxford student, an unemployed worker , a bullied teenager makes for an intriguing read...
Here is the link to the full detailed review of the book. Check it out.
http://arielbookblog.blogspot.com/201...
What I loved about this story is that this is a gripping tale of horror , mystery and terror. I absolutely loved it. It never lost it's rhythm and speed. The two world narrative placed side by side gives Lycopolis an interesting outlook. The world of knights, thieves, squires and lords besides the world of an Oxford student, an unemployed worker , a bullied teenager makes for an intriguing read...
Here is the link to the full detailed review of the book. Check it out.
http://arielbookblog.blogspot.com/201...
July 27, 2016
In Lycopolis, the titular video game is a text-based escape to a world of magic, knights, and intrigue for a group of people trapped in dull, or even miserable circumstances. That all changes when the game's designer Seth decides to summon a demon for an in-game event. That event starts to become very dangerous and very real, with unexpected revelations for all.
Lycopolis is an interesting novel, bringing together a set of very different characters. It provides an interesting and admittedly somewhat depressing look into why people lose themselves in an MMORPG: as an escape from real life misery and disappointment. However, there is still a good focus on the sense of friendship and support that grows within gaming communities.
Community and connection are important aspects of this novel, and anyone who has been a part of a good MMORPG guild can recognize the relationships here. Power also features heavily, especially in a 'power corrupts' sense. The desire for power, especially. The characters have sensible doubts, regrets, and terror when they realize the kind of bargain they're striking. You will spend a lot of time wondering when people will stop making bad decisions.
The story is not for the faint of heart. The main conflict centers around a fear-feeding demon. There's a fair amount of hedonism. Seth's habits of drugs, alcohol, picking up women, and demon summoning leave one to wonder how he has as much money as he apparently does. There's also a series of scenes involving the corruption of a teenager by Seth for his own ends, though it's not depicted in a positive light. As with any fiction involving a demon, there's a bit of gore. Nothing is more graphic than "the girl's blood ran down the altar" (pg. 6). There are also elements of torture. Again, it's not graphic, and not lingered on nor depicted in a positive light. At the end, a lot of characters are set to travel on better paths, though Seth has a lot of traveling to do.
Lycopolis is a fascinating look into what happens when virtual events become terrifying reality.
Lycopolis is an interesting novel, bringing together a set of very different characters. It provides an interesting and admittedly somewhat depressing look into why people lose themselves in an MMORPG: as an escape from real life misery and disappointment. However, there is still a good focus on the sense of friendship and support that grows within gaming communities.
Community and connection are important aspects of this novel, and anyone who has been a part of a good MMORPG guild can recognize the relationships here. Power also features heavily, especially in a 'power corrupts' sense. The desire for power, especially. The characters have sensible doubts, regrets, and terror when they realize the kind of bargain they're striking. You will spend a lot of time wondering when people will stop making bad decisions.
The story is not for the faint of heart. The main conflict centers around a fear-feeding demon. There's a fair amount of hedonism. Seth's habits of drugs, alcohol, picking up women, and demon summoning leave one to wonder how he has as much money as he apparently does. There's also a series of scenes involving the corruption of a teenager by Seth for his own ends, though it's not depicted in a positive light. As with any fiction involving a demon, there's a bit of gore. Nothing is more graphic than "the girl's blood ran down the altar" (pg. 6). There are also elements of torture. Again, it's not graphic, and not lingered on nor depicted in a positive light. At the end, a lot of characters are set to travel on better paths, though Seth has a lot of traveling to do.
Lycopolis is a fascinating look into what happens when virtual events become terrifying reality.
November 28, 2012
Do scary books keep you up at night, biting your fingernails and with more than one light on? If so, this one may very effect you that way.
This is a well-written supernatural thriller that is both imaginative and realistic at the same time. For the most part the action occurs in England, primarily Oxford, a setting the author knows well. Ms. Luke also has had thorough experience with role-play or multiplayer online computer games. Both areas of her first-hand knowledge provided her with authentic details for her story. So there is an interplay between an accurately described everyday world we all experience and supernatural realms, and progressively the line between the two begins to blur.
You'll find that Ms. Luke's characters come alive on her pages. She has a mature understanding of people, both the good and the bad aspects, which undergirds the feeling of reality. She portrays us humans as we are. The result is a downright scary tale.
Keeping the characters straight is a bit challenging, particularly in the early pages, since most of them have two names, their regular names and the names for their characters in the role-play game. So the reader is advised to make good use of the character-names-list the author provided at the beginning of her text.
I think too this novel might just serve as a cautionary tale for those tempted to dabble in things occult. Luke certainly dramatizes some of the possible disturbing consequences. The suspense is magnetic and constant. The story had me quite worried for several of the characters at points. It's definitely a page-turner.
If you enjoy supernatural thrillers. Here's one you will want to read.
Highly recommended.
This is a well-written supernatural thriller that is both imaginative and realistic at the same time. For the most part the action occurs in England, primarily Oxford, a setting the author knows well. Ms. Luke also has had thorough experience with role-play or multiplayer online computer games. Both areas of her first-hand knowledge provided her with authentic details for her story. So there is an interplay between an accurately described everyday world we all experience and supernatural realms, and progressively the line between the two begins to blur.
You'll find that Ms. Luke's characters come alive on her pages. She has a mature understanding of people, both the good and the bad aspects, which undergirds the feeling of reality. She portrays us humans as we are. The result is a downright scary tale.
Keeping the characters straight is a bit challenging, particularly in the early pages, since most of them have two names, their regular names and the names for their characters in the role-play game. So the reader is advised to make good use of the character-names-list the author provided at the beginning of her text.
I think too this novel might just serve as a cautionary tale for those tempted to dabble in things occult. Luke certainly dramatizes some of the possible disturbing consequences. The suspense is magnetic and constant. The story had me quite worried for several of the characters at points. It's definitely a page-turner.
If you enjoy supernatural thrillers. Here's one you will want to read.
Highly recommended.
June 10, 2012
This book was a gripping, entertaining read, and totally outside of my normal range of reading genres. I bought it because I enjoy the author's blog about writing, and I just wanted to support her. What a great surprise to find a book I am happy to recommend to anyone who wants a fast-paced plot (that's scary without being depressing or overly violent) with well fleshed-out characters.
Online gamers (which I'm not, but it didn't matter) will especially identify wth LYCPOLIS. The story involves young people playing an online game, set in a medieval city called Lycopolis, that turns scary and unpredictable when some of the characters pledge allegiance to a demon in the online game. The results spill over into their real lives with life and death consequences as the characters made choices between fear and courage, good and evil. An underlying theme is the always provocative question of what price anyone might put on their soul if they could exchange it for wealth or power.
One way the author swept me up into the fascinating intersection of reality and fantasy was by developing the characters with real insight into the lives, emotions, and angst of teenagers in various domestic situations. It was not hard to imagine the various reasons each one felt drawn to the community and acceptance they felt inside the game, since for most of them, it was lacking in their real lives.
This was the author's first published novel. Not once did I find a mis-step, omission, or rough patch in her story. I was gripped from beginning to end, and even came away with a bit more appreciation for the attraction of online gaming. Kudos to Ali Luke for a debut success.
Online gamers (which I'm not, but it didn't matter) will especially identify wth LYCPOLIS. The story involves young people playing an online game, set in a medieval city called Lycopolis, that turns scary and unpredictable when some of the characters pledge allegiance to a demon in the online game. The results spill over into their real lives with life and death consequences as the characters made choices between fear and courage, good and evil. An underlying theme is the always provocative question of what price anyone might put on their soul if they could exchange it for wealth or power.
One way the author swept me up into the fascinating intersection of reality and fantasy was by developing the characters with real insight into the lives, emotions, and angst of teenagers in various domestic situations. It was not hard to imagine the various reasons each one felt drawn to the community and acceptance they felt inside the game, since for most of them, it was lacking in their real lives.
This was the author's first published novel. Not once did I find a mis-step, omission, or rough patch in her story. I was gripped from beginning to end, and even came away with a bit more appreciation for the attraction of online gaming. Kudos to Ali Luke for a debut success.
December 18, 2013
Writing: 4 stars
Plot: 2
Characters: 2
I feel bad giving this 2 stars but I think enough people like this type of story that it won't drag down the overall rating for a first-try novel too much.
I'm a story geek more than a prose geek, so I have to give this a 2. I don't feel invested in the characters, they don't feel human, they lack explanation (especially Seth, with his weak backstory, weak nightmares, and unexplainably inconsistently abnormal behavior), and the plot is too much development without exploration.
The only scene I liked is about 95%-97% in (not spoiling, I hope). I didn't think it was scary or sad, and I didn't feel any emotion while reading it... Well, maybe expect that this author writes well, but that's about it.
Plot: 2
Characters: 2
I feel bad giving this 2 stars but I think enough people like this type of story that it won't drag down the overall rating for a first-try novel too much.
I'm a story geek more than a prose geek, so I have to give this a 2. I don't feel invested in the characters, they don't feel human, they lack explanation (especially Seth, with his weak backstory, weak nightmares, and unexplainably inconsistently abnormal behavior), and the plot is too much development without exploration.
The only scene I liked is about 95%-97% in (not spoiling, I hope). I didn't think it was scary or sad, and I didn't feel any emotion while reading it... Well, maybe expect that this author writes well, but that's about it.
April 29, 2016
I'm neither a gamer nor a fan of fantasy fiction... so it surprised me that I was unable to stop reading this magnificent story, and that I stayed up reading till the wee hours of the morning, till my weary eyes could not stay open.
If you find most fantasy genre stories predictable and trite (as I do), you're in for a huge surprise with this one! Lycopolis is a masterful roller-coaster ride of dark and light, secrets and truth, danger and refuge, reality and fantasy, all tied together by seven young gamers and their online alter-egos.
A 5-star read I will recommend to my teenage granddaughter as well as my senior-citizen friends, and I'm already on to the sequel, Oblivion!
If you find most fantasy genre stories predictable and trite (as I do), you're in for a huge surprise with this one! Lycopolis is a masterful roller-coaster ride of dark and light, secrets and truth, danger and refuge, reality and fantasy, all tied together by seven young gamers and their online alter-egos.
A 5-star read I will recommend to my teenage granddaughter as well as my senior-citizen friends, and I'm already on to the sequel, Oblivion!
April 12, 2013
Obviously written by a pro, this is a fast read that offers a surprisingly (for its length) complex and intricate plot. Horror and its ilk isn't my genre of choice, but I love the premise of a role-playing game taking over its players' lives in a very real and disturbing way. Luke brilliantly segues between real life and gameplay, and interweaves a host of characters and a ton of POVs (something I generally dislike) in a way that allows them all to become insightful and interesting people.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews