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The Pridden Saga #1
The Arrival
What happens when a solitary but brilliant video game designer is thrust into an unfamiliar world? Offered a chance to return home if she will help save the inhabitants from the winds of war, Kat must decide what risks she will take and what restrictions she is willing to accept. Beset by bizarre and ferocious creatures, narrow minded social mores, seductively erotic men, and with no idea who is friend or foe, she must wend her way through a minefield of challenges. Can she do it?
J. M. Tibbott's first novel of the Pridden series excites and intrigues readers, who now are anxiously awaiting Book Two.
J. M. Tibbott's first novel of the Pridden series excites and intrigues readers, who now are anxiously awaiting Book Two.
364 pages, Paperback
Published February 5, 2018
3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 28, 2024
I really wanted to read this from front to back before I gave this a rating, even though from the first chapter I could tell what I was getting into. There are a few blunders that stick out to me, one is more nuanced, but the others I believe are universally true for storytelling.
First issue I had is the research that went into the video game development. Now keep in mind the main character is a game designer- Tibbot literally chose their main character to have this occupation, and clearly doesn’t have the faintest clue on how video games are designed. In the first chapter there is a line that the main character’s “hero” is stuck in some trap or puzzle and the main character has to “code her way out”. Utter nonsense.. if you are going to pick a video game designer as an occupation at least do the bare minimum of research.
My next gripe with the overall book is the writing style. Every character is telling the reader on the spot what they are thinking about each situation they are in, dumbing down the book to such a level that makes it completely boring. Since this writing style is used throughout the book, no characters have any depth or personality. Each character has a goal (which we have been told) and each character is working to fulfil that goal and nothing else.
The other aspect that broke my immersion was the adjectives used in this book. Clearly there was a thesaurus sitting on the writing desk because random and often incorrectly used adjectives are thrown into the dialogue and explanations. The main character has some game they play to insert $40 words in their every day life and it’s clear that Tibbot plays the same game in their own life.
Normally I don’t have to pick apart the writing and structure of a book, I actually talk about the content of the novel, but really nothing happens in this book. The world building takes up 60% of the book, and it’s all so an obvious info dump that I couldn’t care less about this world and its inhabitants. When the main action sequence occurs, the journey is more filler than events taking place.
I will not be continuing the series, and I hope the next book Tibbot decides to write has more thought and care put into the writing.
First issue I had is the research that went into the video game development. Now keep in mind the main character is a game designer- Tibbot literally chose their main character to have this occupation, and clearly doesn’t have the faintest clue on how video games are designed. In the first chapter there is a line that the main character’s “hero” is stuck in some trap or puzzle and the main character has to “code her way out”. Utter nonsense.. if you are going to pick a video game designer as an occupation at least do the bare minimum of research.
My next gripe with the overall book is the writing style. Every character is telling the reader on the spot what they are thinking about each situation they are in, dumbing down the book to such a level that makes it completely boring. Since this writing style is used throughout the book, no characters have any depth or personality. Each character has a goal (which we have been told) and each character is working to fulfil that goal and nothing else.
The other aspect that broke my immersion was the adjectives used in this book. Clearly there was a thesaurus sitting on the writing desk because random and often incorrectly used adjectives are thrown into the dialogue and explanations. The main character has some game they play to insert $40 words in their every day life and it’s clear that Tibbot plays the same game in their own life.
Normally I don’t have to pick apart the writing and structure of a book, I actually talk about the content of the novel, but really nothing happens in this book. The world building takes up 60% of the book, and it’s all so an obvious info dump that I couldn’t care less about this world and its inhabitants. When the main action sequence occurs, the journey is more filler than events taking place.
I will not be continuing the series, and I hope the next book Tibbot decides to write has more thought and care put into the writing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2020
I’ll start by saying I don’t read many fantasy novels BUT I really enjoyed Tibbott’s novel The Arrival, which throws a modern day video game designer into a world she wished she’d created. With no idea of who to trust and a huge learning curve to figure out the culture, language, and protocol, Kat’s epic journey into Pridden is filled with more challenges than she’s ever faced. It also gives her great new ideas for her own new game – if she can get back home alive.
My one issue with the writing was all of the thoughts in italics, but I enjoyed the story itself.
Tibbott has created a fascinating new world that mirrors our own. A world Kat is totally unprepared for. I’m lucky to have book two, The Healers, close at hand so I can keep on reading without having to wait. Then I’ll be chomping at the bit for the third book.
My one issue with the writing was all of the thoughts in italics, but I enjoyed the story itself.
Tibbott has created a fascinating new world that mirrors our own. A world Kat is totally unprepared for. I’m lucky to have book two, The Healers, close at hand so I can keep on reading without having to wait. Then I’ll be chomping at the bit for the third book.
March 3, 2018
A good first book in the Pridden Saga! Kat Karim is a fiery young woman who has a lot to learn about the art of co-operation. She is cast into an unknown world to help solve they mystery of discord among the people there in exchange for the hope of being able to return to her own world. Darker forces, however, have other plans. But, with the help of patient and courageous allies, Kat starts to see things from a different perspective and embarks on her mission with resolve. Wonderful characters and a backdrop of multicultural nations make this introduction the the world of Pridden a truly enjoyable read. Looking forward to book two!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews