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WarSpell #1
WarSpell: The Merge
The West Wing meets the Avengers
How does politics deal with people often citizens who are suddenly gifted with special powers, and an extra set of memories. Magic has started working!
But it's not legitimate magic. Not the magic of Merlin or the powers of psychics. Instead it is the magic of a "silly" game. A Role Playing Game called Warspell and other games like it. The sort of games played with oddly shaped dice and little lead figurines by even odder people. And now not only is this silly sort of magic working, but the oddballs who play the games suddenly have special powers. Some of them are gifted with combat, or other skills. Others can do magic. They're riding magical horses through the sky or healing the sick in the name of false gods. They say they've merged with a character they played in one of their games. But is that really true? Have they merged, or been possessed?
To the Merged, things look a bit different.
Suddenly, with no warning, they have the memories of a whole other life. Not a game life, a real life with a real mother and father, real friends and enemies. For many, even most, a life filled with violence and pain. Yes, they have skills and abilities, but those abilities were learned and earned in a hard school. Yes, they are changed, but anyone would be when they suddenly had a whole other life added to their own, But they are still themselves.
Aren't they?
How does politics deal with people often citizens who are suddenly gifted with special powers, and an extra set of memories. Magic has started working!
But it's not legitimate magic. Not the magic of Merlin or the powers of psychics. Instead it is the magic of a "silly" game. A Role Playing Game called Warspell and other games like it. The sort of games played with oddly shaped dice and little lead figurines by even odder people. And now not only is this silly sort of magic working, but the oddballs who play the games suddenly have special powers. Some of them are gifted with combat, or other skills. Others can do magic. They're riding magical horses through the sky or healing the sick in the name of false gods. They say they've merged with a character they played in one of their games. But is that really true? Have they merged, or been possessed?
To the Merged, things look a bit different.
Suddenly, with no warning, they have the memories of a whole other life. Not a game life, a real life with a real mother and father, real friends and enemies. For many, even most, a life filled with violence and pain. Yes, they have skills and abilities, but those abilities were learned and earned in a hard school. Yes, they are changed, but anyone would be when they suddenly had a whole other life added to their own, But they are still themselves.
Aren't they?
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 15, 2018
23 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 15, 2021
I forget how many "gaming" books I've read, it is probably closer to 33 than 333, so not a significant percentage of my overall total books read. This is something a first, though, that involved "stuff" happening in "our" reality, instead of someone from our world suddenly finding themselves in a fantasy world. This follows something of a similar theme, though, in that it involved gamers suddenly finding themselves finding whoever and whatever they were gaming becoming "real". It's just, in the other books I'd read, well most not all, it involved someone in a different world, while here it involved people in "our world". It's like Mark Twain's 19th century Yankee finding himself in King Arthur's court, but instead it's someone from King Arthur's world, say Lancelot, suddenly finding himself in New England around 1882. Well, that was probably something that just made things more confusing than being helpful.
Right, so. Many point of view book that shows what happens when "something happens" and a wave of magic suddenly hit the world, an Earth like our own. Starting around, like, 11:33pm in Boston, and flowing from there to sweep around the globe, this wave of magic altered certain things. Mostly people (mostly).
One point of view shows a reporter/TV News anchor in California seeing some odd stories start to appear on the news feeds. While time proceeds, the news anchor finds herself reporting on the odd events. And, while on air, turning into an Elf (kinda). More on that later.
Another point of view shows a General in Fort Benning Georgia being called and told a Centaur was in the office. Who realizes that the weird things the General was experiencing might actually be really happening, instead of him going insane. So he puts the base on alert and calls various people.
Other points of view follow others, mostly military or political, though also others (including terrorists).
The subtitle of this book is "The Merge". Well, that was what was happening here. The "fantasy worlds" were "merging" with our reality. And, mostly, the "merge" involved people. That reporter? She had been a gamer at some point in life. Playing a role playing game called WarSpell. When the wave reached her, she "merged" with the character she had played, something of a "dark evil".
And that is basically what this book is about. Over a very small number of days, the reality of the change on Earth occurred, was realized, was examined. Through many points of view.
Interesting book. I've already acquired the next book in the WarSpell universe, though I do not think it is an actual sequel from this book. Just more a book set in the same book universe. Following different characters than those in this book.
Rating: 4.60
October 14 2021
Right, so. Many point of view book that shows what happens when "something happens" and a wave of magic suddenly hit the world, an Earth like our own. Starting around, like, 11:33pm in Boston, and flowing from there to sweep around the globe, this wave of magic altered certain things. Mostly people (mostly).
One point of view shows a reporter/TV News anchor in California seeing some odd stories start to appear on the news feeds. While time proceeds, the news anchor finds herself reporting on the odd events. And, while on air, turning into an Elf (kinda). More on that later.
Another point of view shows a General in Fort Benning Georgia being called and told a Centaur was in the office. Who realizes that the weird things the General was experiencing might actually be really happening, instead of him going insane. So he puts the base on alert and calls various people.
Other points of view follow others, mostly military or political, though also others (including terrorists).
The subtitle of this book is "The Merge". Well, that was what was happening here. The "fantasy worlds" were "merging" with our reality. And, mostly, the "merge" involved people. That reporter? She had been a gamer at some point in life. Playing a role playing game called WarSpell. When the wave reached her, she "merged" with the character she had played, something of a "dark evil".
And that is basically what this book is about. Over a very small number of days, the reality of the change on Earth occurred, was realized, was examined. Through many points of view.
Interesting book. I've already acquired the next book in the WarSpell universe, though I do not think it is an actual sequel from this book. Just more a book set in the same book universe. Following different characters than those in this book.
Rating: 4.60
October 14 2021
April 18, 2019
This was a very unique "world" coupled with a good story. I hope there is a sequel. Published by Eric Flint's Ring of Fire Press.
February 8, 2019
Great book!
This is the fourth novel I have read by the team of Huff and Goodlett and I have loved them all through multiple readings. The other three collaborations I have read are all set in the Asiti Shards Universe created by Eric Flint. This novel however is fully independent and even more fun than the earlier works. In the novel setting things were much like our world, excepting that the President is a Democrat about to begin his second term in office. Unexpectedly something happens that causes the rules from a role playing game called Warspell to become natural laws in our universe and in the process people who have played the game at any time in their lives find themselves merged with characters from the game universe.
Having played RPG's in college and for a brief time after how could I resist a novel based on such a premise? Well I couldn't, and have already read it cover to cover twice. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy!
This is the fourth novel I have read by the team of Huff and Goodlett and I have loved them all through multiple readings. The other three collaborations I have read are all set in the Asiti Shards Universe created by Eric Flint. This novel however is fully independent and even more fun than the earlier works. In the novel setting things were much like our world, excepting that the President is a Democrat about to begin his second term in office. Unexpectedly something happens that causes the rules from a role playing game called Warspell to become natural laws in our universe and in the process people who have played the game at any time in their lives find themselves merged with characters from the game universe.
Having played RPG's in college and for a brief time after how could I resist a novel based on such a premise? Well I couldn't, and have already read it cover to cover twice. Highly recommended for fans of fantasy!
July 18, 2021
Excellent Start for a Series
One of the things I like best about most speculative fiction is that is always the possibility for a completely different reading experience. Huff and Goodlett have succeeded in crafting that. Their unique idea was to take characters and skill sets of a RPG and merge them with contemporary players of the game. So all of a sudden there are approximately a million wizards, warriors, priests of a pantheon of God's, along with magic, warrior skills, the skill sets of woodland guides, and so on. All wielded by people who have been p)aging the game. The authors competently describe both the effects of both the magic and other shill sets on 21st century society and also the difficulties various characters have in integrating their newly merged characters together. It was so a thoroughly enjoyable read. My only problem with th book was that the first 1/3 of the book kept switching quickly from POV to a different POV and the pace of the book suffered. But the unique subject matter was enough to overcome it. I'm looking forward to reading the other 3 vo.umes written so far.
One of the things I like best about most speculative fiction is that is always the possibility for a completely different reading experience. Huff and Goodlett have succeeded in crafting that. Their unique idea was to take characters and skill sets of a RPG and merge them with contemporary players of the game. So all of a sudden there are approximately a million wizards, warriors, priests of a pantheon of God's, along with magic, warrior skills, the skill sets of woodland guides, and so on. All wielded by people who have been p)aging the game. The authors competently describe both the effects of both the magic and other shill sets on 21st century society and also the difficulties various characters have in integrating their newly merged characters together. It was so a thoroughly enjoyable read. My only problem with th book was that the first 1/3 of the book kept switching quickly from POV to a different POV and the pace of the book suffered. But the unique subject matter was enough to overcome it. I'm looking forward to reading the other 3 vo.umes written so far.
December 22, 2018
A solid exercise in worldbuilding
Rather than focus on a specific plot, this book expertly sets out a sci fi 'what if' and follows through how people and governments might react. By following many characters it sets up a number of situations, some of them left unresolved...like the magical consulting detective and the diabolical murders. Whilst In other books that would be a complaint, in this book it leaves me salivating for more.
Note to author... what about leveling up?
Rather than focus on a specific plot, this book expertly sets out a sci fi 'what if' and follows through how people and governments might react. By following many characters it sets up a number of situations, some of them left unresolved...like the magical consulting detective and the diabolical murders. Whilst In other books that would be a complaint, in this book it leaves me salivating for more.
Note to author... what about leveling up?
April 3, 2019
LitRPG?
At first I thought this book was going to be your typical LitRPG story, turns out I was wrong. This was a great book with some well thought out world building. The storyline is fast paced and the characters developed well. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
At first I thought this book was going to be your typical LitRPG story, turns out I was wrong. This was a great book with some well thought out world building. The storyline is fast paced and the characters developed well. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
May 2, 2019
Surprisingly easy to suspend disbelief
The magic follows consistent rules, and all the regular rules of physics seem to apply otherwise.
I liked the characters,and the story kept me going on my treadmill.
A fun diversion!
The magic follows consistent rules, and all the regular rules of physics seem to apply otherwise.
I liked the characters,and the story kept me going on my treadmill.
A fun diversion!
February 11, 2021
A very interesting book one on people suddenly getting magic.
Great book really great book going to read the next in line then the third one to. Hopefully there will be one after that one to.
Great book really great book going to read the next in line then the third one to. Hopefully there will be one after that one to.
March 13, 2022
Great great! Abracadabra
I have done some gaming and to a point of having dreams in character, sad isn't it! I keep hoping the good guys win, but with politicians involved the evil leaks through and is even worse than the evil characters in the other phase. Fun reading.
I have done some gaming and to a point of having dreams in character, sad isn't it! I keep hoping the good guys win, but with politicians involved the evil leaks through and is even worse than the evil characters in the other phase. Fun reading.
May 18, 2022
An interesting concept. Game players mentally merge with their characters. Lots of problems and some help for the good guys. Some action, bits of humor and many viewpoints. CMac
January 25, 2019
Big changes
Once or often, play a game. Then one day your game character and talents are real and merged with real selves.
Enjoyable well developed story. Hope for another.
Once or often, play a game. Then one day your game character and talents are real and merged with real selves.
Enjoyable well developed story. Hope for another.
January 18, 2021
Excellent fun. Well thought out execution, even in little details that others might have overlooked.
January 29, 2024
What happens when a game world becomes real and only everyone whoever played the game comes into possession of the talents and skills, plus memories of their game world character? This book explores that concept. In a way it is like reading a superhero comic character origin story, only in this case lots of origin stories because of the plot of the novels takes you across the United States interviewing lots of the new superhero's so to speak. Keep in mind the villains are merged with thier game players. Our world has its evil influences too so there is plenty of action to go along with lots of interesting characters. Recommended.
August 29, 2024
Another great romp by Gorg Huff and Paula Goodlett. I start reading their books and sort of cruise along thinking this one I can put down and then the plot and characters reach out and grab me and it's past 3 AM and i still want to keep reading. These two authors are just great great story tellers and great with character development.
Also in this novel I think they tipped me off that they may live some where in central Texas.
Also in this novel I think they tipped me off that they may live some where in central Texas.
January 16, 2023
Brilliant. I read it for free using my prime membership, When done I immediately bought it to reward the author. I'm an older than dirt RPG gamer and believe that 90% or so of gamers will love this thought full presentation of a concept many if not most of us have dreamed of. Logically consistent and full of exquisite details. Volume 2 can't come soon enough.
January 31, 2023
OMG!!! Great last paragraph!
So this is the 2nd time I have read this book and I am so glad it is on Amazon now as i lost my original copy. This book started a number of other story lines set in this same multiverse. I have not read a bad one but still love the first!
So this is the 2nd time I have read this book and I am so glad it is on Amazon now as i lost my original copy. This book started a number of other story lines set in this same multiverse. I have not read a bad one but still love the first!
May 21, 2020
An inter-dimensional split switches role-playing gamers with their magic-wielding avatars.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews