The Park: A LitRPG Novel

by Hayden Lane

When Garret Jones discovers the legendary game Haven Online is back – along with its 5 Million credit prize – he seizes the chance to use his tanking skills to win the jackpot and give his dying sister immortality within the virtual world of The Park.

But Haven has its own rules, and Garrett is forced to play a caster The Blue Mage. Danger looms as Garrett and his small team of friends grapple with threats that have dire consequences in-game… and beyond.

With a futuristic world compared to Ready Player One, (litRPG Podcast) The Park Online is a fast-paced cyberpunk thriller with plenty of MMO fantasy gaming and a richly balanced universe.

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 23, 2018

Reviews

[K.J. Simmill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garret Jones works and plays in The Park, a central hub for people to gather across the planets Earth has populated. From here almost everything is accessible, games, shops, you name it, it can probably be found there. He used to come with his sister, until a car accident left her unconscious and fighting for her life. The Park is owned by five people who obtained digital immortality, something accessible for most, at a very high price. When Garret hears a rumour that Haven, a game that rewards a winner with exactly the amount he needs to turn his sister immortal, reopening he has no choice but to gather a team. However, everyone wants to win a game that seems to boast no victors, and there are those who will do everything possible to stop others from competing, and it doesn't help that the class he gets is one he has never played. Can he survive, can he even trust those closest to him?

Hayden Lane's The Park is the first book in The Park Online series. Be warned, it ends with a cliff-hanger that turns the book into an episode rather than a stand alone read. The main plot line is slow to start, as you learn the background needed to fully appreciate everything, but the pace is steady, gaining gradual momentum until it's all guns... erm spells... blazing. It is a fun read, with some good game mechanics. Treachery, action, and high stakes fill the plot as Garret does everything he must to protect his friends and family from an enemy he never knew existed.

[Fate's Lady · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first few chapters are so disgustingly info-dumpy that I almost couldn't bring myself to continue, but the story FINALLY eventually got started. It's okay. The writing is sloppy and honestly kind of bad. Not so much that I couldn't stand finishing the book, but I won't be continuing with the series when and if the next book is released.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really gripping read that pulls you into the narrative and worlds presented and makes you care about and curious about the characters introduced.

Cant wait for book 2!

[Laura May]

Interesting, but I doubt I'd read on.