What do you think?
Rate this book
Euphoria Online #2
Nightmare Keep
I've managed to survive my first week in Euphoria Online. But I couldn't have done it without my new friends. Lotharia. Falkon. The Green Liver goblins.
But now Lotharia's gone missing. Swallowed by that nightmare keep. Lost to the darkness.
Everyone's telling me that going after her is madness. That I don't have a chance in hell.
But I'm not the kind of guy to turn my back on my friends.
Damn the odds.
I'm going to find her.
But now Lotharia's gone missing. Swallowed by that nightmare keep. Lost to the darkness.
Everyone's telling me that going after her is madness. That I don't have a chance in hell.
But I'm not the kind of guy to turn my back on my friends.
Damn the odds.
I'm going to find her.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 4, 2018
321 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
About the author
Phil Tucker
49 books1,291 followersThanks for visiting my page! I'm Phil Tucker, a Brazilian/Brit who currently resides in Asheville, NC, where I resist the siren call of the forests and mountains to sit inside and hammer away on my laptop.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
September 17, 2018
I received an e-arc copy of Nightmare Keep in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Phil Tucker. This will just be a mini-review as a lot of what I said when I reviewed #1 applies here too.
As the follow up to the hugely enjoyable Death March I had to read the second book in the Euphoria Online series as soon as I could. These books are so much fun and although this entry is a fair bit darker, I still loved following Chris and his gang of heroes. It opens very credibly with Chris being summoned to visit a Dread Lord. The Dread Lord gives him a task to find some treasure that is hidden within a Keep of Castle Winter. Not at all shockingly, this dungeon is filled with puzzles, monsters, hidden magic, and a room full of mirrors. As one of the supporting cast summarises: "Never go into a room full of mirrors!"
Our small crew of players and our Goblin allies are still here this time but Castle Winter is assailed by four new strong gamers who have a different agenda and don't care that our protagonist is playing in Death March mode. Honestly, they aren't very friendly at all. The overall cast is much larger this time but the characters are colourful and fully fleshed the same way they would be in a MMORPG. We still get to witness Talent Sheets regarding levelling up, skill acquisitions, new spells and are also introduced to some amazing weaponry and kit throughout the novel including the awesome Void Blade.
Nightmare Keep features brilliant dialogue, great action, a few mind-bendingly exciting scenes that are set in a fantasy game world (although the 'real world' is in the near future) littered with many common and often amusing cultural references to our current reality. It was so much fun to read and I devoured it within 24-hours just like the first book. I've already started the final entry in this exciting, gaming-influence series. Some of the dungeon scenes gave me nostalgia and reminded me of my Steve Jackson/ Ian Livingstone gaming book days. So much fun!
As the follow up to the hugely enjoyable Death March I had to read the second book in the Euphoria Online series as soon as I could. These books are so much fun and although this entry is a fair bit darker, I still loved following Chris and his gang of heroes. It opens very credibly with Chris being summoned to visit a Dread Lord. The Dread Lord gives him a task to find some treasure that is hidden within a Keep of Castle Winter. Not at all shockingly, this dungeon is filled with puzzles, monsters, hidden magic, and a room full of mirrors. As one of the supporting cast summarises: "Never go into a room full of mirrors!"
Our small crew of players and our Goblin allies are still here this time but Castle Winter is assailed by four new strong gamers who have a different agenda and don't care that our protagonist is playing in Death March mode. Honestly, they aren't very friendly at all. The overall cast is much larger this time but the characters are colourful and fully fleshed the same way they would be in a MMORPG. We still get to witness Talent Sheets regarding levelling up, skill acquisitions, new spells and are also introduced to some amazing weaponry and kit throughout the novel including the awesome Void Blade.
Nightmare Keep features brilliant dialogue, great action, a few mind-bendingly exciting scenes that are set in a fantasy game world (although the 'real world' is in the near future) littered with many common and often amusing cultural references to our current reality. It was so much fun to read and I devoured it within 24-hours just like the first book. I've already started the final entry in this exciting, gaming-influence series. Some of the dungeon scenes gave me nostalgia and reminded me of my Steve Jackson/ Ian Livingstone gaming book days. So much fun!
September 11, 2018
Just as fun as the first! Review soon. :)
August 31, 2018
You know you love a good sequel! I do. Phil Tucker does as well.
Nightmare Keep is a sequel to Death March. It jumps right in and gets going with the story as if there was no break at all*.
Chris continues to grind experience and gear, and level up. Fortunately, there's more to Euphoria Online than this. As we learn more about the world and characters, it's easy to appreciate how well conceived everything is. The threats become impossible and yet Chris and his team manage to overcome them with wit, strategy and luck.
Action scenes are cinematic and well choreographed. On the other hand, the constant naming of skills/spells used to do something slows them down a bit. I guess it's part of the litRPG charm - the reader can feel as a gamer. The plot is rather straightforward, but I didn't mind as I expected high-octane fun and that's what I got.
Any other issues? Well, one of the characters from book one returns and brings goods to the table. It felt very convenient and helped resolve a difficult situation. Also, Chris is very lucky which is convenient for the plot development but not fully plausible.
I'm not a gamer. I'm not a litRPG fan. And yet Euphoria Online is an addictive page-turner for me. I can't wait to see how it'll all wrap-up in the Killer Dungeon.
* Because there wasn't. Book 1 didn't give any sense of closure to the readers.
Nightmare Keep is a sequel to Death March. It jumps right in and gets going with the story as if there was no break at all*.
Chris continues to grind experience and gear, and level up. Fortunately, there's more to Euphoria Online than this. As we learn more about the world and characters, it's easy to appreciate how well conceived everything is. The threats become impossible and yet Chris and his team manage to overcome them with wit, strategy and luck.
Action scenes are cinematic and well choreographed. On the other hand, the constant naming of skills/spells used to do something slows them down a bit. I guess it's part of the litRPG charm - the reader can feel as a gamer. The plot is rather straightforward, but I didn't mind as I expected high-octane fun and that's what I got.
Any other issues? Well, one of the characters from book one returns and brings goods to the table. It felt very convenient and helped resolve a difficult situation. Also, Chris is very lucky which is convenient for the plot development but not fully plausible.
I'm not a gamer. I'm not a litRPG fan. And yet Euphoria Online is an addictive page-turner for me. I can't wait to see how it'll all wrap-up in the Killer Dungeon.
* Because there wasn't. Book 1 didn't give any sense of closure to the readers.
August 23, 2018
Brilliant second instalment in the world of Euphoria Online. Fans of Sword Art Online are guaranteed to love this series.
July 31, 2018
Read the full review at Digital Amrit
We had the opportunity to read the advance reader copies of the three books in the series – Death March, Nightmare Keep & Killer Dungeon – and here’s our almost spoiler free review of it.
Now, we are huge fans of Phil Tucker ever since we read his ‘Chronicles of the Black Gate’. On a side-note, you should check that series out if you like epic fantasy which explores some complex themes. Phil’s books tend to be action heavy with great characters and world building while delving into weighty topics.
And Euphoria Online, his new trilogy, is no exception.
At its core, the story revolves around Chris Meadows who must literally put his life on the line by playing Euphoria Online to save his brother from death. Euphoria Online is a fantasy MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) like World of Warcraft or Ultima Online except that it has been created by the first sentient AI for reasons unknown. Oh, and the fact that there is a literal Death Match mode which is called Death March, where you die in real life if you die online. Any player who manages to spend 6 months in game time on the ‘Death March’ mode gets a boon from this all-powerful AI. Chris, who is a savvy video gamer caught in a dead-end job, wants to use this boon to save his little brother from being sentenced to death for reasons that are not really important to the story. Of course, life is not just that simple. In addition to fighting for his life, Chris has to deal with other complicating factors like a conniving ex-girlfriend and a potential world-changing conspiracy which gets murkier the more he plays the game.
Euphoria Online is part of a genre called LitRPG where the conventions of a MMORPG are mixed with novels. In addition, there is a clear demarcation between the game world & real life with characters in both settings and being aware of the differences. Tron, while not a LitRPG, is pretty close to being one. The other examples that come to mind are Tad Williams’ four-part series -'Otherland' as well as the now popular 'Ready Player One'. So, if you ever played a MMORPG (or single player RPGs like we have) and love fantasy, this genre provides a perfect blend of both. Books like Will Wight’s Cradle series or Andrew Rowe’s Arcane Ascension, while good on their own, are not LitRPG even though they have complex magic systems with levels because the characters are not aware of their reality.
Read the full review at Digital Amrit
We had the opportunity to read the advance reader copies of the three books in the series – Death March, Nightmare Keep & Killer Dungeon – and here’s our almost spoiler free review of it.
Now, we are huge fans of Phil Tucker ever since we read his ‘Chronicles of the Black Gate’. On a side-note, you should check that series out if you like epic fantasy which explores some complex themes. Phil’s books tend to be action heavy with great characters and world building while delving into weighty topics.
And Euphoria Online, his new trilogy, is no exception.
At its core, the story revolves around Chris Meadows who must literally put his life on the line by playing Euphoria Online to save his brother from death. Euphoria Online is a fantasy MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) like World of Warcraft or Ultima Online except that it has been created by the first sentient AI for reasons unknown. Oh, and the fact that there is a literal Death Match mode which is called Death March, where you die in real life if you die online. Any player who manages to spend 6 months in game time on the ‘Death March’ mode gets a boon from this all-powerful AI. Chris, who is a savvy video gamer caught in a dead-end job, wants to use this boon to save his little brother from being sentenced to death for reasons that are not really important to the story. Of course, life is not just that simple. In addition to fighting for his life, Chris has to deal with other complicating factors like a conniving ex-girlfriend and a potential world-changing conspiracy which gets murkier the more he plays the game.
Euphoria Online is part of a genre called LitRPG where the conventions of a MMORPG are mixed with novels. In addition, there is a clear demarcation between the game world & real life with characters in both settings and being aware of the differences. Tron, while not a LitRPG, is pretty close to being one. The other examples that come to mind are Tad Williams’ four-part series -'Otherland' as well as the now popular 'Ready Player One'. So, if you ever played a MMORPG (or single player RPGs like we have) and love fantasy, this genre provides a perfect blend of both. Books like Will Wight’s Cradle series or Andrew Rowe’s Arcane Ascension, while good on their own, are not LitRPG even though they have complex magic systems with levels because the characters are not aware of their reality.
Read the full review at Digital Amrit
May 31, 2018
A thrilling and satisfying sequel that improves on its predecessor Death March in nearly every way.
The overarching story of what Euphoria Online is, why it was built, and where it is going is one of the more enticing mysteries that this book brings into the spotlight. Tucker once again does an excellent job balancing the mysteries of the game world with thrilling action sequences. One of Tucker's writing strenghts is building these action scenes with a strong sense of visual & spatial relations that allow for Chris' developing powers to shine. There's a lot going on during these ever-escalating battles, but it's never confusing; the rules of Chris' abilities are clearly defined and the strategies employed to help solve the surrounding threats are both clever and entertaining.
I also enjoyed how well the relationships between Chris and his companions continued to develop. The human (and especially non-human) characters grew on me, and their easy conversations and growing camaraderie felt like a natural progression. While Chris' story was still the central focus of the saga, I began to care about the fate of his companions just as much. This is an impressive feat considering the relatively low page count, and the breakneck pace of the story. There's one sequence in particular that helped me view the story from a different set of eyes that I found quite savvy and engaging, and offered a strong emotinoal impact for the supporing cast.
There weren't any major issues I had with this entry, except perhaps that our heroes were a bit too lucky in a few cases. But this story feels like it's focused on being most of all a FUN experience, so little qualms and nitpicks didn't distract me from the overall enjoyment of the story. While this story might not have the deeper character development and detailed world-building of his other sagas, it seems like Tucker instead aimed to create a supremely enjoyable adventure akin to playing a great video game, with awesome abilities, cinematic set pieces, and a mystery-laden story with prodigious consequences. In that, Tucker has achieved all of this and more in this incredibly fun LitRPG series.
The overarching story of what Euphoria Online is, why it was built, and where it is going is one of the more enticing mysteries that this book brings into the spotlight. Tucker once again does an excellent job balancing the mysteries of the game world with thrilling action sequences. One of Tucker's writing strenghts is building these action scenes with a strong sense of visual & spatial relations that allow for Chris' developing powers to shine. There's a lot going on during these ever-escalating battles, but it's never confusing; the rules of Chris' abilities are clearly defined and the strategies employed to help solve the surrounding threats are both clever and entertaining.
I also enjoyed how well the relationships between Chris and his companions continued to develop. The human (and especially non-human) characters grew on me, and their easy conversations and growing camaraderie felt like a natural progression. While Chris' story was still the central focus of the saga, I began to care about the fate of his companions just as much. This is an impressive feat considering the relatively low page count, and the breakneck pace of the story. There's one sequence in particular that helped me view the story from a different set of eyes that I found quite savvy and engaging, and offered a strong emotinoal impact for the supporing cast.
There weren't any major issues I had with this entry, except perhaps that our heroes were a bit too lucky in a few cases. But this story feels like it's focused on being most of all a FUN experience, so little qualms and nitpicks didn't distract me from the overall enjoyment of the story. While this story might not have the deeper character development and detailed world-building of his other sagas, it seems like Tucker instead aimed to create a supremely enjoyable adventure akin to playing a great video game, with awesome abilities, cinematic set pieces, and a mystery-laden story with prodigious consequences. In that, Tucker has achieved all of this and more in this incredibly fun LitRPG series.
September 3, 2018
This story picks up right where Death March left off, which is not surprising since book one while at a good stopping point ended a little abruptly. We learn more about Michaela who we met at the end of Death March, Falkon rejoins the story and then we are back of to the super fast paced adventure that we also met in book one.
All the characters from book one return and we are introduced to some new players. Brianna makes a return but she is still a bitch. We are also introduced to a group of players called The Beggars of Solomon. They are a much higher level than Chris and his friends and they are quite asshole-ish. After some confrontation they team up to accomplish a common goal. This is where the really insane action begins.
The action scenes are fantastically written as I have come to expect from Mr. Tucker. They are is a lot going on when fighting occurs due to the increase in characters but there are never any issues following what is going on. For me this is due to the explanations of the skills the characters posses and the detailed descriptions of the locations.
The plot is getting pretty exciting in my opinion. All the behind the scenes info they are finding out about Albertus Magnus and the strange things that are happening surrounding the keep make the story about much more than a game. I expect the AI is trying to do some crazy things in the real world as well as in Euphoria online but we will have to wait until the next book to see.
I recommend this series to anyone looking for a fast paced read that is packed full of action. I even recommend this to people who don't necessarily read but play video games, this might be the series to get them into books.
All the characters from book one return and we are introduced to some new players. Brianna makes a return but she is still a bitch. We are also introduced to a group of players called The Beggars of Solomon. They are a much higher level than Chris and his friends and they are quite asshole-ish. After some confrontation they team up to accomplish a common goal. This is where the really insane action begins.
The action scenes are fantastically written as I have come to expect from Mr. Tucker. They are is a lot going on when fighting occurs due to the increase in characters but there are never any issues following what is going on. For me this is due to the explanations of the skills the characters posses and the detailed descriptions of the locations.
The plot is getting pretty exciting in my opinion. All the behind the scenes info they are finding out about Albertus Magnus and the strange things that are happening surrounding the keep make the story about much more than a game. I expect the AI is trying to do some crazy things in the real world as well as in Euphoria online but we will have to wait until the next book to see.
I recommend this series to anyone looking for a fast paced read that is packed full of action. I even recommend this to people who don't necessarily read but play video games, this might be the series to get them into books.
November 10, 2018
Another awesome book by Tucker. Kept me turning pages like a madman and skipping my writing time a few nights in a row. Pretty sure I've lost sleep over this book too (Not in the "nightmare" sense, lol, but just burning the midnight oil).
Again, no higher praise can be given than that I have suffered exhaustion from staying up too late and yet STILL auto-bought number 3. I'm so glad it's the weekend, cause I feel more long nights ahead!
Again, no higher praise can be given than that I have suffered exhaustion from staying up too late and yet STILL auto-bought number 3. I'm so glad it's the weekend, cause I feel more long nights ahead!
September 21, 2018
You should read this. It’s good.
October 30, 2018
I can't say enough good things about Phil Tucker as an author. I've now read multiple books of three vastly different series by him, and they've all been amazing.
This one had almost nonstop action, and I can't help but root for the characters. The mysteries of the virtual world also have me hooked.
Can't wait to read the last book.
Rating: 9/10
This one had almost nonstop action, and I can't help but root for the characters. The mysteries of the virtual world also have me hooked.
Can't wait to read the last book.
Rating: 9/10
October 3, 2018
Review to follow...
December 18, 2018
Had a lot of fun reading this sequel and upon finishing it I immediately started the third
June 6, 2018
I got this book as an addon after the successful Kickstarter campaing.
This is a good book in this fun series. Heroes continue to struggle against difficult odds and story gradually acquired a darker flavor. There are some really strange and potentially bad things going on in the background and sooner or later they will be have to be dealt with.
On the other note... oh Chris. Brianne has already betrayed you and did it more that once. Are you really going to trust her? It isn't a good idea at all.
This is a good book in this fun series. Heroes continue to struggle against difficult odds and story gradually acquired a darker flavor. There are some really strange and potentially bad things going on in the background and sooner or later they will be have to be dealt with.
On the other note... oh Chris. Brianne has already betrayed you and did it more that once. Are you really going to trust her? It isn't a good idea at all.
September 6, 2018
Pure entertainment, fast paced and thrilling with villains and devious monsters galore. The biggest problem with these books is that they are not longer!
July 14, 2022
The plot holes and weak reasonings, written by the author, continue in this VRMMORPG (Virtual Reality Massively Multi-player Role Playing Game) Euphoria Online. Chris the main character is not that bright, thanks to the author and the game statistics. Chris is convinced at one point, while playing the game, that he is again at the hospital at the last moments of his mom's terminal sickness, hospital stay. Chris's Mom died five years back. But because of weakness, lack of character, lack of intelligence and bad writing from the author, to create fake/false drama again of the "moment of death of his dead Mom. The reader's all know that Chris's Mom has already died, so why write an mind manipulation (charm) like this one? Chris improves 7 levels not from defeating a "boss monster" but from not believing something that had already happened to him in real life. If Chris had a strong character, or were a strong player (intelligence and charisma) this half of this volume would have been a cake-walk.
These four real days playing a game is not a real Death March. A Death March refers in Asia to the continued work that employees must do, until extremely urgent projects are turned in and finished well. It is called a Death March because all the employees do is work until the project is done. What Chris is trying to do, is what every other player in this game is trying to do which is to survive. To play for six months without being able to go out is not a Death March. It's not even work or related to work, this guy is "playing a game".
Half of this volume 2 was this "nightmare hospital arc". So not really much action or adventure. Not that interesting or entertaining, unless, you like hospital terminal cases and fake/cheap drama (soap operas).
These four real days playing a game is not a real Death March. A Death March refers in Asia to the continued work that employees must do, until extremely urgent projects are turned in and finished well. It is called a Death March because all the employees do is work until the project is done. What Chris is trying to do, is what every other player in this game is trying to do which is to survive. To play for six months without being able to go out is not a Death March. It's not even work or related to work, this guy is "playing a game".
Half of this volume 2 was this "nightmare hospital arc". So not really much action or adventure. Not that interesting or entertaining, unless, you like hospital terminal cases and fake/cheap drama (soap operas).
October 23, 2018
Full review is here, on my blog!~
Ahhhh man. This was a great addition to this series. In this one, Chris’ new friend Lotharia has disappeared into the titular Nightmare Keep after the events of the last novel, and Chris makes it his main goal to get her back.
Through goblins and undead, and more goblins and crazy exes, and… a group of high level mercenary players intent on finding the treasure of Nightmare Keep… and being assholes in general while trying, and then some decidedly creepy shit in the actual Keep itself…. he is dead set on getting her back.
This one, just like the first, was a really great listen. The plot flowed really well, and the book was never boring. Twists and turns made it really interesting, and I found myself getting all kinds of work done as I listened to this one in huge chunks during my work day. Parts of this one were legitimately feels inducing too, as we’re starting to find out just how crazy Euphoria can be.
Chris is a great character, and it’s really hard not to root for him. Falkon is another character that I’ve really identified with… the main reason being that in the last two or three MMO games that I played with any regularity, I played a male character (which was apparently *super* confusing. I mean for the amount of dudes who play female characters in MMO games… you’d think….? But, no. Super, super confusing, in my experience!) ^_^
There were a few parts here that got really deep as well, especially between Chris and his psycho ex girlfriend, and just how toxic that relationship was, and continues to be, really. Chris’ relationship with his friends, new allies, and possible allies whose true goals are sort of up in the air. Nightmare Keep is much, much more than it seems, and it was a truly exciting adventure trying to figure out what was going to happen next. This series is so well thought out and put together with really details about not only the stats and abilities that Chris gets, but also bits of Chris’s life outside of the game and a bit more of an in-depth look at the things that lead him to start playing the game in the first place. It really is engrossing in not only the gaming parts but the real life parts as well. Though it isn’t pointed out too often, I never forgot why Chris was doing what he was doing. There was always a little bit of real-life consequences added to the obvious in-game consequences in the back of my mind while I listened.
Once again, Vikas Adam nails the narration on this one, but at this point, there is never any question on that front, at least to me. He just has a pleasant sounding voice, and is one of those narrators that I can just… listen to for long periods. One would assume that most narrators would have this quality, but for me it’s really more rare than you’d think. He narrates a few other LitRPG books that I’ve been planning on listening to for a while, so I’m quite excited to explore this genre a little more with his help.
All told, this was another win from Phil Tucker. I think it’s pretty safe to say at this point that I’m never disappointed with anything he writes. His characters just grab my attention and hold on tight until the end, and like Asho and Acharsis grabbed hold and took me on grand adventures, Chris definitely has as well. I’m excited to see what is in store for him in the final book in this series. Onto book 3!
Ahhhh man. This was a great addition to this series. In this one, Chris’ new friend Lotharia has disappeared into the titular Nightmare Keep after the events of the last novel, and Chris makes it his main goal to get her back.
Through goblins and undead, and more goblins and crazy exes, and… a group of high level mercenary players intent on finding the treasure of Nightmare Keep… and being assholes in general while trying, and then some decidedly creepy shit in the actual Keep itself…. he is dead set on getting her back.
This one, just like the first, was a really great listen. The plot flowed really well, and the book was never boring. Twists and turns made it really interesting, and I found myself getting all kinds of work done as I listened to this one in huge chunks during my work day. Parts of this one were legitimately feels inducing too, as we’re starting to find out just how crazy Euphoria can be.
Chris is a great character, and it’s really hard not to root for him. Falkon is another character that I’ve really identified with… the main reason being that in the last two or three MMO games that I played with any regularity, I played a male character (which was apparently *super* confusing. I mean for the amount of dudes who play female characters in MMO games… you’d think….? But, no. Super, super confusing, in my experience!) ^_^
There were a few parts here that got really deep as well, especially between Chris and his psycho ex girlfriend, and just how toxic that relationship was, and continues to be, really. Chris’ relationship with his friends, new allies, and possible allies whose true goals are sort of up in the air. Nightmare Keep is much, much more than it seems, and it was a truly exciting adventure trying to figure out what was going to happen next. This series is so well thought out and put together with really details about not only the stats and abilities that Chris gets, but also bits of Chris’s life outside of the game and a bit more of an in-depth look at the things that lead him to start playing the game in the first place. It really is engrossing in not only the gaming parts but the real life parts as well. Though it isn’t pointed out too often, I never forgot why Chris was doing what he was doing. There was always a little bit of real-life consequences added to the obvious in-game consequences in the back of my mind while I listened.
Once again, Vikas Adam nails the narration on this one, but at this point, there is never any question on that front, at least to me. He just has a pleasant sounding voice, and is one of those narrators that I can just… listen to for long periods. One would assume that most narrators would have this quality, but for me it’s really more rare than you’d think. He narrates a few other LitRPG books that I’ve been planning on listening to for a while, so I’m quite excited to explore this genre a little more with his help.
All told, this was another win from Phil Tucker. I think it’s pretty safe to say at this point that I’m never disappointed with anything he writes. His characters just grab my attention and hold on tight until the end, and like Asho and Acharsis grabbed hold and took me on grand adventures, Chris definitely has as well. I’m excited to see what is in store for him in the final book in this series. Onto book 3!
February 21, 2019
Phil Tucker's ability to consistently churn out high quality books in a variety of subgenres never ceases to amaze me.
Death March was my introduction to LitRPG and I freakin loved it. Nightmare Keep pressed the accelerator even further and watching Chris level up while trying to save his friend kept me on the edge of my seat.
After killing the ogres and the wyvern, Chris was taken to see the dread lord, the undead being responsible for destroying the Cruel Winter guild. Chris is given the task of searching for the treasure hidden in Nightmare Keep. Which, coincidentally, is also where Lotharia is hiding after being overtaken by necrotic energy. But Chris isn't the only person the dread lord has hired, and the competition is deadly.
I have to admit that I was expecting Chris to explore more of the vast world of Euphoria Online. Instead, it looks like we might spend the entire trilogy in the former Cruel Winter city.
And you know what? I'm okay with that. In fact, I think it's better this way.
Instead of expanding the game world, Nightmare Keep delves into the characters and hints at the broader mystery behind Albertus Magnus and the AI's plans for the world. Even the character I hate the most (Brianna, obviously) is written to be somewhat sympathetic.
And as always, Vikas Adam (the audio narrator) breathes life into these already vivid characters.
If you're looking fun adventure with lovable characters and that immersive feel of an MMORPG, you're in for a good time with this book.
Death March was my introduction to LitRPG and I freakin loved it. Nightmare Keep pressed the accelerator even further and watching Chris level up while trying to save his friend kept me on the edge of my seat.
After killing the ogres and the wyvern, Chris was taken to see the dread lord, the undead being responsible for destroying the Cruel Winter guild. Chris is given the task of searching for the treasure hidden in Nightmare Keep. Which, coincidentally, is also where Lotharia is hiding after being overtaken by necrotic energy. But Chris isn't the only person the dread lord has hired, and the competition is deadly.
I have to admit that I was expecting Chris to explore more of the vast world of Euphoria Online. Instead, it looks like we might spend the entire trilogy in the former Cruel Winter city.
And you know what? I'm okay with that. In fact, I think it's better this way.
Instead of expanding the game world, Nightmare Keep delves into the characters and hints at the broader mystery behind Albertus Magnus and the AI's plans for the world. Even the character I hate the most (Brianna, obviously) is written to be somewhat sympathetic.
And as always, Vikas Adam (the audio narrator) breathes life into these already vivid characters.
If you're looking fun adventure with lovable characters and that immersive feel of an MMORPG, you're in for a good time with this book.
September 12, 2018
Great sequel to Deatch March, must read for those who red first book.
Now only challenge remains - find last book as it isn't yet in stores and I screwed my backerkit order...
Now only challenge remains - find last book as it isn't yet in stores and I screwed my backerkit order...
November 6, 2018
Fast paced and action packed litrpg novel.
January 4, 2019
A fun sequel in the Euphoria Online series. I’m not a big litRPG fan and I feel a little silly when I read about mana points and what-not, but the story and the writing are really good, so I’ve already got book 3 ready to go.
October 20, 2018
Nice addition to the storyline. Not sure where it's going, but the story was decent enough, if a bit stilted in places.
December 17, 2019
A pretty good series that I am finding myself enjoying more than I expected. Worth a read.
January 2, 2019
A normal continuation in the LitRPG genre, though, without the world building. Keeping all of it in and around Castle Winter is a bit disappointing in scope. But it's still interesting enough with the Universal Doctor and archmagus plotline.
Chris is constantly lower level than his opposition, which makes his way of using his abilities interesting. No simple xp grind here. However, higher level mobs should be able to counter simple beginner spells and abilities, even if they are creatively used.
Chris is constantly lower level than his opposition, which makes his way of using his abilities interesting. No simple xp grind here. However, higher level mobs should be able to counter simple beginner spells and abilities, even if they are creatively used.
September 14, 2018
Expected more from this second book. 1) a MC that is not emotionally broke in the head 2 ) A Story that is moving forward, so far the MC has not left a abandon castle area and the story really hasn't moved forward gaining any new insight.
October 22, 2018
The MC is an idiot. who would go save a fake character who won't actually die in a game world knowing your actually life is at stake? for what? a clear conscience. most idiotic thing i have ever witnessed.
September 20, 2018
The MC being stupid was bad enough in the first book, here it becomes actively terrible.
June 7, 2019
I kept postponing finishing this book for so long. Every time I took it back, I felt totally disconnected from the characters.
Maybe I'll get back to it some day.
Maybe I'll get back to it some day.
December 4, 2018
The follow-up to Death March continues straight on, with Chris being marched off to the eerie evil presence lurking in the nearby ruined village. From there on, Chris has a mission to accomplish and things are looking good for him, albeit with some hard work to come. Just as things start to look up, he is booted out of Castle Winter by a group of stronger players and has to find another way to complete his mission.
The action is thick, fast and wonderfully narrated throughout the book. While the constant mention of which Skill, Spell or weapon is being used gets a little bit annoying, it adds to the gaming feel and allows you to see the characters' actions and how they chose them.
The story is excellent, barring some slightly confused metaphysical stuff right at the end, where the world becomes all hand-wavey and dreamy and you kind of lose the immersion a little. But the character development (literally, by completing tasks and winning fights, Chris gains XP and levels up) and interaction is top notch, totally nailing the language that would be used by gamers trying to be their character but also retaining their own personalities.
There are a couple of moments in the book where it seems Chris has just plain run out of luck, but something always arrives just at the right time for him to get out of his predicament. One revelation in particular was a little jarring where he managed to de-crypt a message and work out (or guess) what he had to do, which could have worked but was delivered a little clumsily in my opinion. In hindsight the smaller incidents are minor and did not detract from my enjoyment of this book.
Once again, the book is just cruelly short and leaves you wanting more. Luckily, there is one more book in the series so I won't be away from Euphoria Online for long.
Read as part of free trial on Kindle Unlimited (so for free!).
The action is thick, fast and wonderfully narrated throughout the book. While the constant mention of which Skill, Spell or weapon is being used gets a little bit annoying, it adds to the gaming feel and allows you to see the characters' actions and how they chose them.
The story is excellent, barring some slightly confused metaphysical stuff right at the end, where the world becomes all hand-wavey and dreamy and you kind of lose the immersion a little. But the character development (literally, by completing tasks and winning fights, Chris gains XP and levels up) and interaction is top notch, totally nailing the language that would be used by gamers trying to be their character but also retaining their own personalities.
There are a couple of moments in the book where it seems Chris has just plain run out of luck, but something always arrives just at the right time for him to get out of his predicament. One revelation in particular was a little jarring where he managed to de-crypt a message and work out (or guess) what he had to do, which could have worked but was delivered a little clumsily in my opinion. In hindsight the smaller incidents are minor and did not detract from my enjoyment of this book.
Once again, the book is just cruelly short and leaves you wanting more. Luckily, there is one more book in the series so I won't be away from Euphoria Online for long.
Read as part of free trial on Kindle Unlimited (so for free!).
January 2, 2019
I love the LitRPG genre, and I have been ripping through as many of these books as I can. If you are familiar with this genre imagine your favorite fantasy books, but they follow your typical RPG rules. This book series, in particular, takes place in a world where there is a new omnipotent AI that creates a video game that let people fully immerse themselves into so it can understand human kinds better.
The main character Chris decides to take it a step further and enters the game in "Death March" mode. It is a mode that you are not only fully immersed, but you can't log out and if you die you die in real life. The reason he does this is that the reward for this mode is quite a bit of wealth, and a pardon for pretty much any crime. He needs this pardon because his brother was wrongfully accused of murder, and he has received the death penalty.
This book improved upon the base of the first book in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Phil does a good job at getting deeper with the existing characters, and I'm excited to get to know the new characters better. There is quite a diverse set of characters, and each one has their own uniqueness. He also does a good job with the fights scenes. The book does follow the pattern of putting the main character in an unbeatable situation and then lets him beat it.
Chris, the main character, continues "level up" and get awesome new gear. Don't think too much about this book, and just enjoy it. I'm looking forward to finishing the next book in the series.
I give this book a solid 4 - Recommend to people that enjoy the genre
The main character Chris decides to take it a step further and enters the game in "Death March" mode. It is a mode that you are not only fully immersed, but you can't log out and if you die you die in real life. The reason he does this is that the reward for this mode is quite a bit of wealth, and a pardon for pretty much any crime. He needs this pardon because his brother was wrongfully accused of murder, and he has received the death penalty.
This book improved upon the base of the first book in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Phil does a good job at getting deeper with the existing characters, and I'm excited to get to know the new characters better. There is quite a diverse set of characters, and each one has their own uniqueness. He also does a good job with the fights scenes. The book does follow the pattern of putting the main character in an unbeatable situation and then lets him beat it.
Chris, the main character, continues "level up" and get awesome new gear. Don't think too much about this book, and just enjoy it. I'm looking forward to finishing the next book in the series.
I give this book a solid 4 - Recommend to people that enjoy the genre
September 4, 2018
kindle unlimited, room mate is a huge fan of this type of thing, assume it's lit rpg type, hoping since he actually paid attention to the fact that there was no a book 2, and remembered book 1, that can get him to review it {reads a LOT, reviews next to NONE}. I'm more a fan of the writer not necessarily what type of story it is, and that has worked out fine so far.
I've managed to survive my first week in Euphoria Online. But I couldn't have done it without my new friends. Lotharia. Falkon. The Green Liver goblins.
But now Lotharia's gone missing. Swallowed by that nightmare keep. Lost to the darkness.
Everyone's telling me that going after her is madness. That I don't have a chance in hell.
But I'm not the kind of guy to turn my back on my friends.
Damn the odds.
I'm going to find her.
Euphoria Online series
Death March #1
Nightmare Keep #2
Killer Dungeon #3
Escape from Bythos (Chronicles of the Black Gate 0.5) - The Path of Flames (Chronicles of the Black Gate, #1) - The Black Shriving (Chronicles of the Black Gate, #2) - The Siege of Abythos (Chronicles of the Black Gate #3)
The Chronicles of the Black Gate: Books 1-3 (The Chronicles Boxset)
*does not include those below
The Iron Circlet (Chronicles of the Black Gate #4) - Book 5 The White Song (Chronicles of the Black Gate Book 5)
I've managed to survive my first week in Euphoria Online. But I couldn't have done it without my new friends. Lotharia. Falkon. The Green Liver goblins.
But now Lotharia's gone missing. Swallowed by that nightmare keep. Lost to the darkness.
Everyone's telling me that going after her is madness. That I don't have a chance in hell.
But I'm not the kind of guy to turn my back on my friends.
Damn the odds.
I'm going to find her.
Euphoria Online series
Death March #1
Nightmare Keep #2
Killer Dungeon #3
Escape from Bythos (Chronicles of the Black Gate 0.5) - The Path of Flames (Chronicles of the Black Gate, #1) - The Black Shriving (Chronicles of the Black Gate, #2) - The Siege of Abythos (Chronicles of the Black Gate #3)
The Chronicles of the Black Gate: Books 1-3 (The Chronicles Boxset)
*does not include those below
The Iron Circlet (Chronicles of the Black Gate #4) - Book 5 The White Song (Chronicles of the Black Gate Book 5)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews