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Blind Gambit #1
Blind Gambit
In Gambit, the blind can see...
Brian wants to be the best sniper in Gambit, but the truth is, he sucks.
When a hacker seeks to destroy the virtual world, only Brian can save the game.
With the help of friends and rivals, Brian must become strong enough to take on Gambit’s biggest threat. He must learn new skills, craft awesome weapons, and discover who or what is trying to tear down the only thing he cares about.
In the real world, Brian is forced to confront his blindness. But how can he adjust to a world without sight when Gambit offers so much more?
Written by a visually impaired author, Blind Gambit is a Gamelit LitRPG novel packed with action, humour, and pop culture references, all combined with a raw and honest insight into disability.
Fans of Ready Player One, Delvers LLC, and Awaken Online will love Jon Cronshaw’s unforgettable novel.
Order your copy now.
- GenresYoung AdultAmazon
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2018
65 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
About the author
Jon Cronshaw
103 books138 followersJon Cronshaw is a British science fiction and fantasy author based in the north of England, just south of the wall.
As a freelance features writer, he has had work published in local and national newspapers across the UK, including the Yorkshire Post and the Guardian.
He earned his PhD in history of art from the University of Leeds in 2011, focusing on the life and work of Anglo-American sculptor, Jacob Epstein (1880-1959).
He's a voracious reader, guide dog owner, ex-gamer, and wrestling fan.
As a freelance features writer, he has had work published in local and national newspapers across the UK, including the Yorkshire Post and the Guardian.
He earned his PhD in history of art from the University of Leeds in 2011, focusing on the life and work of Anglo-American sculptor, Jacob Epstein (1880-1959).
He's a voracious reader, guide dog owner, ex-gamer, and wrestling fan.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 7, 2023
Blind Gambit - a review by Rosemary Kenny.
A must for fans of Ready Player One and GameLit RPG novels, Jon Cronshaw's Blind Gambit will appeal to readers, as well as gamers, with its dual storylines about visually impaired Brian, the MC.
A gambit is a tactical ploy to win, (in chess most often), at a game or match and Brian has a special implant in his brain, (hints of Neo in the Matrix?), that gives him 20/20 vision when connected to the game, that aids him greatly.
'Split personality' twin themes, relate very uniquely how Brian progresses in the virtual world - and how his newfound confidence and problem-solving skills gained there, help him cope with conflicts within, and externally in his everyday challenges and compromises, to cope with real world stresses and issues.
No cliffhanger-ending, but enough 'unfinished business' to make sure you want to find out what happens next. Get your copy today!
A must for fans of Ready Player One and GameLit RPG novels, Jon Cronshaw's Blind Gambit will appeal to readers, as well as gamers, with its dual storylines about visually impaired Brian, the MC.
A gambit is a tactical ploy to win, (in chess most often), at a game or match and Brian has a special implant in his brain, (hints of Neo in the Matrix?), that gives him 20/20 vision when connected to the game, that aids him greatly.
'Split personality' twin themes, relate very uniquely how Brian progresses in the virtual world - and how his newfound confidence and problem-solving skills gained there, help him cope with conflicts within, and externally in his everyday challenges and compromises, to cope with real world stresses and issues.
No cliffhanger-ending, but enough 'unfinished business' to make sure you want to find out what happens next. Get your copy today!
December 12, 2022
Find your tribe
One of the topics this author tackles is the importance of a support community. Being around people who share similar experiences can help emotionally as well as suggest tips and guidance for navigating life.
Yes, being Visually Impaired is different than being NeuroDivergent. But both groups are expected to fully function in a world that doesn’t accommodate us as individuals let alone create space for our brains’ skill sets that go beyond those of a sighted or NeuroTypical person. I’ve asked myself countless times these past twenty years when ‘Minority Report’ will become reality. I may not qualify to be ‘Agatha’, but a job using the brain only in curvilinear timespace would be a much better fit than a job requiring gross & fine motor control and a punchclock.
Anyway. Brian hears some things that he needs to hear while attending an inspirational talk given at Mandela House. The speaker isn’t a cheerleader wearing rose-colored glasses, but rather someone who has picked herself up from her bootstraps and provides practical information on how to empower oneself. Stuff that we can all use in our lives… It’s a quest to find what works for you.
Don’t let people who don’t share your experiences hold you back or knock you down. Figure out a way to get up or go around. It’s our responsibility to ourselves to take control of our lives in whatever way we can – because other people aren’t going to do it on our behalf.
On a lighter note:
We’ve got us some Stevie Wonder, Andre the Giant, Mighty Ducks, Mark Wahlberg movies, and a slew of 80’s bands (whoo-hoo!). Plenty of cool avatar names like Sherlock Drones. References to Star War, The Matrix, and GoT. OMG – the guy’s even quoting ‘The Princess Bride’!
Fave phrase:
‘sheeple at the mercy of the misinformation agents’.
Fave quote:
‘If I’m not back in five minutes, just wait longer.’
I *totally* want to continue this series and to continue with ‘Dawn of Assassins’ and ‘Ravenglass’. Until then, I’ll just visit Moira Brown ‘cause ‘I’m looking to buy some things for my house.’
One of the topics this author tackles is the importance of a support community. Being around people who share similar experiences can help emotionally as well as suggest tips and guidance for navigating life.
Yes, being Visually Impaired is different than being NeuroDivergent. But both groups are expected to fully function in a world that doesn’t accommodate us as individuals let alone create space for our brains’ skill sets that go beyond those of a sighted or NeuroTypical person. I’ve asked myself countless times these past twenty years when ‘Minority Report’ will become reality. I may not qualify to be ‘Agatha’, but a job using the brain only in curvilinear timespace would be a much better fit than a job requiring gross & fine motor control and a punchclock.
Anyway. Brian hears some things that he needs to hear while attending an inspirational talk given at Mandela House. The speaker isn’t a cheerleader wearing rose-colored glasses, but rather someone who has picked herself up from her bootstraps and provides practical information on how to empower oneself. Stuff that we can all use in our lives… It’s a quest to find what works for you.
Don’t let people who don’t share your experiences hold you back or knock you down. Figure out a way to get up or go around. It’s our responsibility to ourselves to take control of our lives in whatever way we can – because other people aren’t going to do it on our behalf.
On a lighter note:
We’ve got us some Stevie Wonder, Andre the Giant, Mighty Ducks, Mark Wahlberg movies, and a slew of 80’s bands (whoo-hoo!). Plenty of cool avatar names like Sherlock Drones. References to Star War, The Matrix, and GoT. OMG – the guy’s even quoting ‘The Princess Bride’!
Fave phrase:
‘sheeple at the mercy of the misinformation agents’.
Fave quote:
‘If I’m not back in five minutes, just wait longer.’
I *totally* want to continue this series and to continue with ‘Dawn of Assassins’ and ‘Ravenglass’. Until then, I’ll just visit Moira Brown ‘cause ‘I’m looking to buy some things for my house.’
September 17, 2019
Brian is the new kid on the virtual block. He’s just started a virtual reality game and his skills as the team’s sniper are lacking. The game is one of the first fully immersive VR games and what Brian enjoys most about it is something other players take for granted. Brian has lost his sight in the real world and only sees in VR. Will his aim improve? Will a certain girl he meets in reality change his mind about his blindness? Will the plot thicken? Find out for yourself! It’s a fun read.
Especially if you’ve just had a long chat with the author about Body Machine Interfaces and the company Neuralink! Cronshaw and I discussed it on the Scifi Roundtable Podcast and I read chapter nine of this book as our lead in excerpt episode. Then I couldn’t set it down! And yes, I started from the beginning and reread chapter nine in order.
Yeah, so I got the book for free, but you should pay. Full price. Double price if possible! Support this author, his stuff is great! Gamelit fans, people facing frightening challenges, and young-adult readers who like action and a splash romance will love this story.
Especially if you’ve just had a long chat with the author about Body Machine Interfaces and the company Neuralink! Cronshaw and I discussed it on the Scifi Roundtable Podcast and I read chapter nine of this book as our lead in excerpt episode. Then I couldn’t set it down! And yes, I started from the beginning and reread chapter nine in order.
Yeah, so I got the book for free, but you should pay. Full price. Double price if possible! Support this author, his stuff is great! Gamelit fans, people facing frightening challenges, and young-adult readers who like action and a splash romance will love this story.
September 3, 2018
I'd really like to give the book more than three stars.
It started well. I read the first three chapters for free and was hooked. Then I bought the book and was disappointed. Too many repetitive scenes. Too many coincidences. Too much wallowing in sorrow. A mother whose attitude make a 180 in the middle of the book. A computer game which gets ripped apart by a player.
I finally made it to the end - barely - and then I thought: What was it about? A teenager dealing with his blindness? A computer game with ever-changing rules? Some technology to make blind people see again?
The end ... too fast, too easy, too much sweetness and happiness for the overall mood.
Too much and too little.
It started well. I read the first three chapters for free and was hooked. Then I bought the book and was disappointed. Too many repetitive scenes. Too many coincidences. Too much wallowing in sorrow. A mother whose attitude make a 180 in the middle of the book. A computer game which gets ripped apart by a player.
I finally made it to the end - barely - and then I thought: What was it about? A teenager dealing with his blindness? A computer game with ever-changing rules? Some technology to make blind people see again?
The end ... too fast, too easy, too much sweetness and happiness for the overall mood.
Too much and too little.
January 4, 2025
Blind Gambit in some ways create a bit of a conundrum as to what to classify this book but I will stick with Litrpg.
The duality of Brian as a sniper in a game versus Brian the young blind boy rebelling against being coddled creates quite an interesting plot where strife and pride creates a character one cannot but admire.
The real life language differs strongly with the vernacular used whilst the youngsters are conversing in the game and takes some getting used to.
Yet author Jon Cronshaw gives the reader a fascinating insight into our "modern world". and the role gameplay can interact in our daily lives. And it also lends a whole new meaning to the word " immersive"
Enjoy
The duality of Brian as a sniper in a game versus Brian the young blind boy rebelling against being coddled creates quite an interesting plot where strife and pride creates a character one cannot but admire.
The real life language differs strongly with the vernacular used whilst the youngsters are conversing in the game and takes some getting used to.
Yet author Jon Cronshaw gives the reader a fascinating insight into our "modern world". and the role gameplay can interact in our daily lives. And it also lends a whole new meaning to the word " immersive"
Enjoy
May 6, 2018
While LitRPG stories are not my normal genre - to be honest this was my first. Having read all of Jon Cronshaw's Wasteland books I figured Blind Gambit would be a good story. What an underestimation on my part, Jon crafted a very compelling story about Brian a blind RPG player and his growth as a game player as well as a person
If you are looking for some good entertainment give Blind Gambit a shot, you may end up like me being very entertained as well as pleasantly surprised by such a good story. I received an Advance Reader Copy of Blind Gambit and chose to provide this review.
If you are looking for some good entertainment give Blind Gambit a shot, you may end up like me being very entertained as well as pleasantly surprised by such a good story. I received an Advance Reader Copy of Blind Gambit and chose to provide this review.
December 12, 2021
I loved this book. I wasn’t sure initially if this book was for me but I’m so glad that I stayed with it because it was amazing. The story is about Brian’s journey in accepting his blindness. Everyone wants to shield him and wrap him in cotton wool but at the same time making friends and having a life. He pushes on to get some independence. I think there are lessons to be learned from this book for a lot of people not just being blind it’s about any disability that stops you leading a…normal…life as very good and inspirational book.
February 14, 2024
A fast-paced, entertaining yet thought-provoking read that will be consumed by readers who enjoyed Ready Player 1 and books of that genre. I particularly liked the way that the main character’s development in his real life mirrored that of his in-game avatar’s. I felt the plot relied on a few coincidences that weren’t completely believable, but could overlook that aspect as I was enjoying the reading experience so much. I will definitely look out for more stories in this series.
May 9, 2018
A game story with a bit of a twist to it. I was entertained as the story flipped between the game world and real life of Brian. Both had trials that had to be overcome and was surprising addicting to read as I cheered Brian on in both roles. And Brian's interactions in the game with his friends was a blast. I liked the story.
May 5, 2018
Excellent Gamelit
This one hits home for me as I'm a gamer with a disability. This one felt like a mini Ready Player One. Worth a read of you are interested in what it's like or know someone struggling with a disability. A wonderful story. When's the audiobook?
This one hits home for me as I'm a gamer with a disability. This one felt like a mini Ready Player One. Worth a read of you are interested in what it's like or know someone struggling with a disability. A wonderful story. When's the audiobook?
July 12, 2018
Not a bad first book in the series. I actually got engrossed in the story. My main two issues (well, three, really): predictable who the bad guy was, a very abrupt and unsatisfying ending, and grammatical and punctuation issues.
June 27, 2021
Game lit? Good lit!
A gameLit book, that will also be enjoyed by people not into the genre.
It’s an entertaining romp, with references to all the best of the 80s and 90s and a good look at some serious issues.
A gameLit book, that will also be enjoyed by people not into the genre.
It’s an entertaining romp, with references to all the best of the 80s and 90s and a good look at some serious issues.
July 3, 2020
Blind Gambit
An outstanding work of fantasy fiction. A RPG game that in the end helps its players with many twists and turns before what was needed is accomplished. I loved it!!!
An outstanding work of fantasy fiction. A RPG game that in the end helps its players with many twists and turns before what was needed is accomplished. I loved it!!!
May 16, 2023
Wanting to be the best sniper, Brian tries hard. Unfortunately he’s not so good. He has to try harder to stop a sniper. Takes you into a game that you wish you could play.
May 15, 2020
FREE today (May 9, 2020) on Amazon.
Read
February 20, 2019The plot revolves around a blind man with an embedded B-chip that allows him to see in a virtual world so he can play a video game, Gambit. Good story about blind people, their problems and their complaints about the actions of non blind people towards them. Very funny scene with tech support, ceased admin as opposed to sysadmin.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews