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Enora Online #1
Gemini's Crossing
After learning he has just months to live, Gemini Fowler is granted one shot to cheat death when a billionaire game-developer offers to transfer his consciousness into a virtual realm.
The catch:
The only current VR with the capability to receive him is the unreleased video game, Enora Online, and Gemini must survive until level ten or be completely wiped from the servers… and existence.
Welcome to Enora Online, where virtual is reality.
The catch:
The only current VR with the capability to receive him is the unreleased video game, Enora Online, and Gemini must survive until level ten or be completely wiped from the servers… and existence.
Welcome to Enora Online, where virtual is reality.
492 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2019
859 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Arlo Adams
26 books59 followersABOUT THE AUTHOR
Arlo Adams is a LitRPG Fantasy Author from North Carolina and the creator of the ever-expanding Enora Online Series.
The child of an IBMer in the 70s, his was one of the world's first families to have an in-home IBM PC, and the gaming started almost immediately. From "Adventure," the first text-based game developed for the PC by Microsoft, to the MMORPGs of yesterday and today, Arlo has played and geeked out over electronic entertainment most his life. Combined with his love of Dungeons and Dragons and rolling dice to determine the fates of his imaginary characters, LitRPG and Arlo make for a perfect match.
A fan of Tolkien, RR Martin, and too many others to list, he's been a fantasy and science fiction addict from a very young age. But it all started with Agatha Christie books and Arlo can't resist throwing expanding lore into his work to create mystery to keep the reader guessing.
A top-selling author in this burgeoning genre since his release of Gemini's Crossing in February of 2019, Arlo describes his constant readers as an evolved group of game & book lovers from all walks of life.
Arlo currently splits time between homes in North Carolina & Tennessee with his wife and a crooked-toothed dog named Ranger.
To sign up for Arlo's mailing list, go to https://layer2publishing.com/enora-on....
Make sure to follow Arlo on Goodreads!
Arlo Adams is a LitRPG Fantasy Author from North Carolina and the creator of the ever-expanding Enora Online Series.
The child of an IBMer in the 70s, his was one of the world's first families to have an in-home IBM PC, and the gaming started almost immediately. From "Adventure," the first text-based game developed for the PC by Microsoft, to the MMORPGs of yesterday and today, Arlo has played and geeked out over electronic entertainment most his life. Combined with his love of Dungeons and Dragons and rolling dice to determine the fates of his imaginary characters, LitRPG and Arlo make for a perfect match.
A fan of Tolkien, RR Martin, and too many others to list, he's been a fantasy and science fiction addict from a very young age. But it all started with Agatha Christie books and Arlo can't resist throwing expanding lore into his work to create mystery to keep the reader guessing.
A top-selling author in this burgeoning genre since his release of Gemini's Crossing in February of 2019, Arlo describes his constant readers as an evolved group of game & book lovers from all walks of life.
Arlo currently splits time between homes in North Carolina & Tennessee with his wife and a crooked-toothed dog named Ranger.
To sign up for Arlo's mailing list, go to https://layer2publishing.com/enora-on....
Make sure to follow Arlo on Goodreads!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
September 8, 2019
Ive read the first two books, this first had issues but it showed promise so I read the second. The problems I noticed in the first book only got much worse in the second.
This series hasn't been well thought out, especially when you consider the game world was supposed to have been designed by an AI that's way beyond human understand. There are so many issues with how the game world is set up many of which are just plain stupid. Some of these issues would cause enough problems that once other players join the world it would implode within a year. Much more research should have gone into MMORPGS and world building in general to give a solid foundation to the story. It's such a common problem in these types of books, i don't understand why it's still happening. Don't these authors want to write a good book? DO SOME RESEARCH! Read similar books to find what others have done right and wrong. Make spreadsheets of everything, xp, attributes, spells, gold and silver value of everything. Might be boring to make but it only has to be done once and prevents rookie errors that makes the story cr@p.
The second problem is it drags on in a lot of places and doesn't get to the point. I found myself speed reading through long boring bits. The MC should have been written as a casual gamer because he certainly doesn't have the intelligence, instinct or knowledge to be a pro.
If i don't like a book i either don't leave a review at all or its a very short one. If im writing a review that rips into a book like this one it is because I actually like the overall idea or the characters, which i do on the most part in these two book. It's just so frustrating when something is so close to being great but falls so short.
This series hasn't been well thought out, especially when you consider the game world was supposed to have been designed by an AI that's way beyond human understand. There are so many issues with how the game world is set up many of which are just plain stupid. Some of these issues would cause enough problems that once other players join the world it would implode within a year. Much more research should have gone into MMORPGS and world building in general to give a solid foundation to the story. It's such a common problem in these types of books, i don't understand why it's still happening. Don't these authors want to write a good book? DO SOME RESEARCH! Read similar books to find what others have done right and wrong. Make spreadsheets of everything, xp, attributes, spells, gold and silver value of everything. Might be boring to make but it only has to be done once and prevents rookie errors that makes the story cr@p.
The second problem is it drags on in a lot of places and doesn't get to the point. I found myself speed reading through long boring bits. The MC should have been written as a casual gamer because he certainly doesn't have the intelligence, instinct or knowledge to be a pro.
If i don't like a book i either don't leave a review at all or its a very short one. If im writing a review that rips into a book like this one it is because I actually like the overall idea or the characters, which i do on the most part in these two book. It's just so frustrating when something is so close to being great but falls so short.
October 10, 2020
'Such a man's heart shall not be bound by a single soul' I honestly tried to find value in this book but I give up. I hate it. A female wood guardian meets the MC at lvl 2 and she offers him sex when he comes back. A woman that he saves bounds her life to his and spends the entire time ranting about how amazing the MC is and oh she mentions that she is celibate because all that's needed to be known about the female characters is that they are ridiculously good looking and if they are sexually attracted to the MC. Now they added another female character in the mix and I honestly can't take it.
I am not even interested in the game world. The game doesn't actually feel like it gives you a choice. If the MC gets a quest to investigate a scream and save someone of course he will accept the quest. It would have been way more interesting if he heard the scream and decided to investigate it himself and when he does he gets a hidden quest update that says 'Investigate the scream'. Also 'save the girl' shouldn't be a quest pop up immediately after. He should choose to save the girl and only after achieving this should a quest completion pop up.
It's like I am torturing myself just so I don't waste a Hoopla credit.
I am not even interested in the game world. The game doesn't actually feel like it gives you a choice. If the MC gets a quest to investigate a scream and save someone of course he will accept the quest. It would have been way more interesting if he heard the scream and decided to investigate it himself and when he does he gets a hidden quest update that says 'Investigate the scream'. Also 'save the girl' shouldn't be a quest pop up immediately after. He should choose to save the girl and only after achieving this should a quest completion pop up.
It's like I am torturing myself just so I don't waste a Hoopla credit.
March 22, 2019
Overall I liked this book. I could have done without the teenaged masturabatory sex scenes. Those were all poorly written drivel that really took away from the enjoyment that I felt with this book. I don’t mind sex scenes, I’m not a prude but sex needs to serve a purpose in a story and this is just poorly described harem fiction.
September 11, 2019
I don't want to continue this book.
I had an inkling at the beginning, that this was going to be idiotic teen fan service, when he started talking about his "girlfriend". But somehow, I let myself be lured by the idea of an autonomous, single-timeline world, with circumstantial quests. THAT, and that alone, is what kept me reading.
Then the MC got "sucked" (eyes rolling) into this new world, and started his new life by being a fucking self-centered prick that still doesn't understand that he's no different from the other denizens of this world: an NPC. But I've seen enough of those not to make it a terminal offense.
And then three things happened.
- mobs are expected to respawn. WTF? I though that besides the "adventurers", this was a normal world where people and beasts lived, and died. An AI that was smart enough to fast-forward a whole world 2000 years and play out entire civilisation evolution paths as natural backstory, and you mean to tell me it couldn't figure out a way to fit mobs into its ecosystem?
- a (female, of course!) Scream in the Woods quest. Oh come on! Say you didn't just pull the oldest trick in the adventurer's book, in a world where it should have taken a freaking act of God for MC, the only explorer, to be right there on this plot's path. Really? The Scream in the Woods?
- the killed pet was re-summoned. OK, so MC, who can't respawn, couldn't be bothered to save his own pet, and was given a Deus Ex Machina way out: summon it! It just died. It's body is right there, but summon it! It's still the same beast. And no, it hasn't turned into a demon or anything, and no, the MC is a plain woodsman, not a great wizard. So, basically, in this world, you could make a cow a pet, kill and eat it as many times as you want; just re-summon it when you're done.
At this point, I don't see anything good in the future, and I've got a gazillion other books to read. So yeah, I'm dropping this. And it's a damn shame, because I was really hoping for something different this time.
I had an inkling at the beginning, that this was going to be idiotic teen fan service, when he started talking about his "girlfriend". But somehow, I let myself be lured by the idea of an autonomous, single-timeline world, with circumstantial quests. THAT, and that alone, is what kept me reading.
Then the MC got "sucked" (eyes rolling) into this new world, and started his new life by being a fucking self-centered prick that still doesn't understand that he's no different from the other denizens of this world: an NPC. But I've seen enough of those not to make it a terminal offense.
And then three things happened.
- mobs are expected to respawn. WTF? I though that besides the "adventurers", this was a normal world where people and beasts lived, and died. An AI that was smart enough to fast-forward a whole world 2000 years and play out entire civilisation evolution paths as natural backstory, and you mean to tell me it couldn't figure out a way to fit mobs into its ecosystem?
- a (female, of course!) Scream in the Woods quest. Oh come on! Say you didn't just pull the oldest trick in the adventurer's book, in a world where it should have taken a freaking act of God for MC, the only explorer, to be right there on this plot's path. Really? The Scream in the Woods?
- the killed pet was re-summoned. OK, so MC, who can't respawn, couldn't be bothered to save his own pet, and was given a Deus Ex Machina way out: summon it! It just died. It's body is right there, but summon it! It's still the same beast. And no, it hasn't turned into a demon or anything, and no, the MC is a plain woodsman, not a great wizard. So, basically, in this world, you could make a cow a pet, kill and eat it as many times as you want; just re-summon it when you're done.
At this point, I don't see anything good in the future, and I've got a gazillion other books to read. So yeah, I'm dropping this. And it's a damn shame, because I was really hoping for something different this time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2019
Super intelligent ai with the maturity of a horny 16yo boy
Thr greatest flaw of this book was the wretched trainwrecks that were its characters.
First we have an "adaptable" veteran gamer who take half the book to realise the hyper realistic game world is in fact hyper reaistic. Somehow being outright told multiple times didn't prepare him for this so rather then adapting in the most predictable and effective of treating the game as real right from the get he needs additional lesson on what hyper reaistic means.
Next with have the cardboard cutout pinup models. Two dimensional personalities dreamt up by someone who has never met a woman.
Then we have the all-knowing supposedly super intelligent artificial intelligence. Contrary to common sense the AI has made the world a play ground for pervets in the interest of keeping it pure and realistic. Because we all know porn is super realistic and a pure expression of intimacy right.
The relationships are so simple and predictable they make me question whether the writer has ever been in a relationship.
Boy meets girl, boy save girl, girl pledges undying loyalty, they instantly fall in love in less then a day. That's not good romance. Thats fairy taleromance for virgins and 8 year olds.
I don't recommend this book for anyone out of their teens.
I wouldn't read this book again, it has zero reread value.
I won't read the other books in the series since I'm not a masochist.
The setting was good, with a virtual reality that had a credible threat of death to raise the stakes.
Thr greatest flaw of this book was the wretched trainwrecks that were its characters.
First we have an "adaptable" veteran gamer who take half the book to realise the hyper realistic game world is in fact hyper reaistic. Somehow being outright told multiple times didn't prepare him for this so rather then adapting in the most predictable and effective of treating the game as real right from the get he needs additional lesson on what hyper reaistic means.
Next with have the cardboard cutout pinup models. Two dimensional personalities dreamt up by someone who has never met a woman.
Then we have the all-knowing supposedly super intelligent artificial intelligence. Contrary to common sense the AI has made the world a play ground for pervets in the interest of keeping it pure and realistic. Because we all know porn is super realistic and a pure expression of intimacy right.
The relationships are so simple and predictable they make me question whether the writer has ever been in a relationship.
Boy meets girl, boy save girl, girl pledges undying loyalty, they instantly fall in love in less then a day. That's not good romance. Thats fairy taleromance for virgins and 8 year olds.
I don't recommend this book for anyone out of their teens.
I wouldn't read this book again, it has zero reread value.
I won't read the other books in the series since I'm not a masochist.
The setting was good, with a virtual reality that had a credible threat of death to raise the stakes.
February 13, 2020
A terminally ill MMORPG player is given an offer that right before his death, his consciousness will be transferred into a new, AI generated and governed, soon to be published game, giving him a chance to live further as a player within that game. The challenge is that if he dies before reaching lvl10, his character will be deleted.
Hard to write about this book without spoilers, forcing me to hide most of it.
The reason I only gave no more than two stars is the mindblowingly irritating stupidity of the main character, who is supposed to be a "pro hardcore gamer", yet fails to do the most basic actions that are dictated by simple common sense.
The reason I actually finished the book is that the author introduced a handful of interesting ideas and concepts for an AI generated universe, and how such a world may function and look like.
The rest is hidden...
Hard to write about this book without spoilers, forcing me to hide most of it.
The reason I only gave no more than two stars is the mindblowingly irritating stupidity of the main character, who is supposed to be a "pro hardcore gamer", yet fails to do the most basic actions that are dictated by simple common sense.
The reason I actually finished the book is that the author introduced a handful of interesting ideas and concepts for an AI generated universe, and how such a world may function and look like.
The rest is hidden...
September 5, 2019
The first hour and a half (I'm still going through it) were plodding, dull and predictable.
Businessman: "Our AI is super smart!"
Me: "Is it using levels in a PVP game? Causing PTSD in what is suppose to be a game?"
Businessman: "..."
Me: "Not that smart then."
We have to disable the 'turn off nullification of pain button' they say. "They will hack that and turn it on then sue you so quick it will make your head spin."
They'll hack it then claim a design flaw, etc. Illogical and not needed. There was some other LitRPG I read awhile back (can't remember which) that did something that got rid of the horrible memories of pain. Since all of this crap is basically 'magic' (inc in this book where some 'genius boy single handedly created AI') it sounded like a better explanation than in this book.
Not impressed so far. Will edit this review if I can make it much further.
Businessman: "Our AI is super smart!"
Me: "Is it using levels in a PVP game? Causing PTSD in what is suppose to be a game?"
Businessman: "..."
Me: "Not that smart then."
We have to disable the 'turn off nullification of pain button' they say. "They will hack that and turn it on then sue you so quick it will make your head spin."
They'll hack it then claim a design flaw, etc. Illogical and not needed. There was some other LitRPG I read awhile back (can't remember which) that did something that got rid of the horrible memories of pain. Since all of this crap is basically 'magic' (inc in this book where some 'genius boy single handedly created AI') it sounded like a better explanation than in this book.
Not impressed so far. Will edit this review if I can make it much further.
July 12, 2021
This was a head scratcher and I'll tell you why. . .
This is a five star setting with a no star main character. I am not exaggerating that. He is touted as being an uber gamer who is very adaptable, but that is never, NEVER, reflected in his actions. His mistakes are born of lazy incompetence, and repeated ad nauseam. Because of how useless he is, the story feels forced. It plods forward resplendent in plot armor with no intention of not reaching its goal, regardless of whatever choices the main character takes. As much as I love the setting, these two facts ruined the book. I skimmed through parts in the end because they just felt inconsequential, this is including the boss battle. That right there is a big warning sign.
This is a five star setting with a no star main character. I am not exaggerating that. He is touted as being an uber gamer who is very adaptable, but that is never, NEVER, reflected in his actions. His mistakes are born of lazy incompetence, and repeated ad nauseam. Because of how useless he is, the story feels forced. It plods forward resplendent in plot armor with no intention of not reaching its goal, regardless of whatever choices the main character takes. As much as I love the setting, these two facts ruined the book. I skimmed through parts in the end because they just felt inconsequential, this is including the boss battle. That right there is a big warning sign.
June 8, 2020
Plot is alright, getting strong harem vibes towards the end. I hate to say this but there are inconsitancies in the rules that are not addressed, which is super annoying. (minor spoiler) The MC gains a skill to summon their pet, and is explicitly warned that not using the class will prevent him from using the pet, implying it's class restricted to the woodsman class. Much later in the story, the MC completely ignores the rule and changes class to an assassin, and somehow retains his pet despite the prior warning.
Additionally, I'm subtracting a star for every time this main character tells himself it's just a game, or they're just NPCs, or makes an annoying comment about real life because he forgets the rules. Really stupid. A few times is fine, whatever, but it happens probably 3 - 10 times per chapter so far..
Ohhhh how my friends would be making such fun of me for treating these NPCs like real people!
Like shut up it's your real life now, and you're really going to die, and these are probably the only people you'll ever see the rest of your life. He seems like a smart guy but there's such a disconnect. Very distracting.
Gonna see if the next book gets better.
Additionally, I'm subtracting a star for every time this main character tells himself it's just a game, or they're just NPCs, or makes an annoying comment about real life because he forgets the rules. Really stupid. A few times is fine, whatever, but it happens probably 3 - 10 times per chapter so far..
Ohhhh how my friends would be making such fun of me for treating these NPCs like real people!
Like shut up it's your real life now, and you're really going to die, and these are probably the only people you'll ever see the rest of your life. He seems like a smart guy but there's such a disconnect. Very distracting.
Gonna see if the next book gets better.
September 18, 2019
Audible.
This was a good start to the series. Good world building, decent characters and an interesting premise. I was worried at times that it would become a harem story but that never developed.
The main characters voice was inconsistent in the narration. Nothing drastic, just the deepness of the voice moved between two versions.
This was a good start to the series. Good world building, decent characters and an interesting premise. I was worried at times that it would become a harem story but that never developed.
The main characters voice was inconsistent in the narration. Nothing drastic, just the deepness of the voice moved between two versions.
September 7, 2022
I love this. It's like a little polyam family.
March 15, 2019
I liked this one. It had moments of insanity, but for the most part, the book made sense, and it was a great read. Fans of the LitRPG genre won't have any trouble picking up this one and enjoying it. I particularly like the different spheres of magic. Others have had this concept too, and for the most part, all have handled it well. This is no exception in that arena, though our main character does seem to be getting a bit of help from the system, which is odd, since he's supposed to be a beta tester, blazing the trail for those to follow so to speak, which would seem to indicate that he would be left entirely alone, to proceed under his own merrits, but the system keeps sticking in it's two cents worth, which definitely makes for more interesting reading, but I'm not sure it holds true to the spirit of the driving force behind the story. Regardless, I doubt any fans will have major problems fiishing this one, it's a great story, good character development, (if a bit odd at times), and I(for one) am definitely looking forward to more in the series.
January 15, 2020
I'm not a gamer, but this story kept me hooked. I felt really invested in Gemini's quest and found myself sneaking quick reads at times I don't usually reach for my Kindle. I settled into the language quite fast, something real gamers wouldn't have to do and I liked the flaws which the MC demonstrated. Despite the game world, he's very much a real entity, making mistakes and taking bad decisions which have far reaching consequences. I became attached to his companions throughout his quest and that's down to the skill of the author in how he's portrayed them. They could have appeared two dimensional, but they don't. A really great all round read. Can recommend it.
January 6, 2021
I’ve just spent a massive chunk of time addictively reading through the first two boxsets of the Enora Online series. Gotta live Kindle Unlimited as happily they’re available on KU. This stuff is freakin’ awesome and ridiculously addictive. It does just what great LitRPG is supposed to do, set up a logical excuse for how the character gets totally immersed into a virtual reality RPG world and then provide a fantastic adventure for that character which somehow logically provides RPG mechanics (the whole set of skills, advantages, ranking up etc.) in a way that totally works with the storyline. These stories, each of which ends in a totally satisfying “Happily Enough for Now” until the perfect HEA at the end of the last book in the 2nd boxset, were simply perfect. Perfect lead and supporting characters, all perfectly crafted, perfect world building, perfect storylines and perfect overall multi-book story arc. I more than highly recommend all of the books here, though it’s best to start with book 1 for maximum enjoyment.
January 20, 2021
Adams does a really good job setting up the game and puts a lot of thought into it. On the technical and real world side things are excellent. The game world side are, unfortunately, a bit bland. There's nothing all that special about the mechanics, no unique biomes, all the characters are human or practically human (pointy ears, short, ext.), and the plot's rather thin.
I'm willing to cut it a little slack as it's the first book and he's just in the intro-area, but he really hasn't been hinting at more so not sure if it's going to get more creative than this. Still very good for the start of a series.
I'm willing to cut it a little slack as it's the first book and he's just in the intro-area, but he really hasn't been hinting at more so not sure if it's going to get more creative than this. Still very good for the start of a series.
March 2, 2019
Omg. Exactly what I needed.
Omg. I am only at 71%. I had to stop to leave a review. I love this book. I love the girls (omg so cute). The only rough area is how immature the main character is. His language is crass and he is a bit dense at times.
I struggle to relate to him easily. But that is just a nit. The story is awesome. I want to be in that world. I find myself stopping periodically to replay the chapters and imagine what I would do.
I am so happy there are 3 books. Already grabbed all three.
Okay. Back to reading. I just got to a super cool part.
Omg. I am only at 71%. I had to stop to leave a review. I love this book. I love the girls (omg so cute). The only rough area is how immature the main character is. His language is crass and he is a bit dense at times.
I struggle to relate to him easily. But that is just a nit. The story is awesome. I want to be in that world. I find myself stopping periodically to replay the chapters and imagine what I would do.
I am so happy there are 3 books. Already grabbed all three.
Okay. Back to reading. I just got to a super cool part.
September 12, 2019
The main character is presented as being an expert gamer, but he is way too stupid to have been that successful.
1.) He never takes his situation serious.
2.) He never learns from his own mistakes.
3.) He ignores what people tell him and appears surprised when he screws up by doing exactly what he was warned against.
4.) Despite his every effort to get himself killed he has plot armor three feet thick.
Overall the premise has potential but the hero is terrible.
1.) He never takes his situation serious.
2.) He never learns from his own mistakes.
3.) He ignores what people tell him and appears surprised when he screws up by doing exactly what he was warned against.
4.) Despite his every effort to get himself killed he has plot armor three feet thick.
Overall the premise has potential but the hero is terrible.
December 26, 2019
Harem
In the introduction to the book the author admits that he rewrote the book after receiving criticism. I feel he should’ve done more to remove the harem. The rest of the book is fine. The harem aspects taint the book to such an extent that I disliked it and will not continue the series.
In the introduction to the book the author admits that he rewrote the book after receiving criticism. I feel he should’ve done more to remove the harem. The rest of the book is fine. The harem aspects taint the book to such an extent that I disliked it and will not continue the series.
March 31, 2019
Reads like Intel fantasy
The main character is a toxic person. I can't continue a series that has a main protagonist that is so horrid.
What is .happening to this genre?
The main character is a toxic person. I can't continue a series that has a main protagonist that is so horrid.
What is .happening to this genre?
July 20, 2023
This urban-fantasy-sci-fi-vrmmorpg-novel (Virtual Reality Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game), series deals with terminal disease and the probable option in the future to have a virtual consciousness (alternate online reality) transferred to a game and continuing a separate existence online in that particular game. The thing is, for me, terminal diseases make me cringe. Out of all the infinite possibilities to make the game life possible, having terminally ill players jump into an online game as their last hope to continued-life, to me is sad and nearsighted. Games launch and end in relatively short periods of time (currently). Although Asia has a longer experience with longer lasting online video games, playing monopoly for the rest of time, kind of limits the life and potential of your future virtual life. The writer or Sword Art Online (2012), Reki Kawahara, for example, dealt in the subsequent Aincrad chapters of his story, towards having a virtual consciousness that can freely travel from place to place, from game to game, like a free-movable-computer-generated-alternate-reality-being. But again, I do not think this author (Enora Online), this story sold the idea of "living forever" as a Non-Player-Character (ex-real-player) for the rest of his existence in a game. No real philosophical, religious, ethical arguments introduced so as to take this new idea in alternate reality life seriously. Video games now, are quite small...you finish the content in days if not weeks or months. So, what would you do for the rest of your existence in a video game that is so small?? Even if it is a total new and expanding universe game, there comes a time in the infinity of time, that you have seen it all, done it all and what happens then?? Who turns you off?? Who deletes your bits?? or in a more practical sense, who manages and guards your existence from being deleted or closed down with a temporary game? (I mean, even if it lasts 5 years, 50 years or 500 years) it will end sometime no??
This is why I did not like this VRMMORPG-Alternate reality into fantasy novel series. Because it's not seriously talking about a "serious theme" and it is taking the easy way out, and just making it about playing a video game (not really considering that once the video game content is finished, the main character will feel like a fish in a small fishbowl). Not serious either is the way the main character hooks-up with his guild commander/girl of his dreams (Katelyn) by disclosing his terminal disease and eminent death. It takes pity sex to an unbearable level and makes me cringe even more. Having sexual relations with a terminally ill patient (even if they are not your patient) is so ethically and emotionally wrong in so many ways that it makes me not like this novel series "Not even close, Not even a little bit, Not even at all!"
This is why I did not like this VRMMORPG-Alternate reality into fantasy novel series. Because it's not seriously talking about a "serious theme" and it is taking the easy way out, and just making it about playing a video game (not really considering that once the video game content is finished, the main character will feel like a fish in a small fishbowl). Not serious either is the way the main character hooks-up with his guild commander/girl of his dreams (Katelyn) by disclosing his terminal disease and eminent death. It takes pity sex to an unbearable level and makes me cringe even more. Having sexual relations with a terminally ill patient (even if they are not your patient) is so ethically and emotionally wrong in so many ways that it makes me not like this novel series "Not even close, Not even a little bit, Not even at all!"
April 7, 2021
As I started to read I got very excited about this. I even told my hubby. But then it just went pffft. The harem theme didn't help. I wish they'd put these things on the covers of books: "Gemini's crossing, a harem litmmorpg!"
The premise is good: A terminally ill pro-gamer is offered the chance to transfer his consciousness into a new VR world created by the world's first true AI so that he can continue to live forever. The AI is sentient and has created an epic world of massive scope, using the fantasy, sci-fi and history data the creators gave her. 2000 years have already elapsed. The first 10 levels are called the "Dark Levels" (ooh, ominous) and if you die during them, you don't respawn.
Great premise right?!
I'll skip right into the cons here, because that is it for the pros.
Cons:
1. Great premise fizzled out. The whole book is set in one forest that is basically like any other forest you've seen in an mmo. There is also a dungeon, like every other dungeon. Where's the awesome twists this brilliant AI is supposed to give the world? With the stuff the game devs gave her, I expected space nazis to land in the forest, at the very least. -.-
2. Lets just get this out of the way. It's harem fantasy.
This feels like a book written by an insecure male, who can't hold his own with a woman if there is another male in the vicinity. So the MC has to literally be alone with a woman for her to notice him. And ofc in the fantasy world every girl immediately fawns over him, praises him and falls in love with him, is hot and wants to sleep with him. Because that is how how real women behave and this world, people, is "realistic".
It also took the MC to be terminal before the "girl of his dreams" (who he forgets in the next chpt) to finally want to sleep with him. Like dude, where's your pride? Instead of preparing for the state-of-being-altering event, he humps for 3 months. Ugh.
Cringey.
3. Utterly boring. It was interesting for the first 2 or 3 levels. But once he gets his healer(female) everything is too easy. There's no tension. No real fear. Just nothing.
4. Tropey tropes. "Super intelligent AI", you'd expect something new.
5. Stats.
Constitution 1, Strength 1, Wisdom 1, Charisma 10; and HP 100, lost 85, bleeding 2 per second, another hit of 15, healing with food 1 per second, etc...
It may be easier to deal with when you're reading, because you can presumably skip over it. In an audiobook, take my word for it, it's excruciating. I don't want to do math! Gimme a frickin story!
6. The utter stupidity of this supposedly "adaptable" pro-gamer.
I stopped one hour before the end. I just couldn't take it anymore.
Recommended to: 13 year old boys. They'll love it.
If you want a good Lit VR MMO, read Forever Fantasy Online.
The premise is good: A terminally ill pro-gamer is offered the chance to transfer his consciousness into a new VR world created by the world's first true AI so that he can continue to live forever. The AI is sentient and has created an epic world of massive scope, using the fantasy, sci-fi and history data the creators gave her. 2000 years have already elapsed. The first 10 levels are called the "Dark Levels" (ooh, ominous) and if you die during them, you don't respawn.
Great premise right?!
I'll skip right into the cons here, because that is it for the pros.
Cons:
1. Great premise fizzled out. The whole book is set in one forest that is basically like any other forest you've seen in an mmo. There is also a dungeon, like every other dungeon. Where's the awesome twists this brilliant AI is supposed to give the world? With the stuff the game devs gave her, I expected space nazis to land in the forest, at the very least. -.-
2. Lets just get this out of the way. It's harem fantasy.
This feels like a book written by an insecure male, who can't hold his own with a woman if there is another male in the vicinity. So the MC has to literally be alone with a woman for her to notice him. And ofc in the fantasy world every girl immediately fawns over him, praises him and falls in love with him, is hot and wants to sleep with him. Because that is how how real women behave and this world, people, is "realistic".
It also took the MC to be terminal before the "girl of his dreams" (who he forgets in the next chpt) to finally want to sleep with him. Like dude, where's your pride? Instead of preparing for the state-of-being-altering event, he humps for 3 months. Ugh.
Cringey.
3. Utterly boring. It was interesting for the first 2 or 3 levels. But once he gets his healer(female) everything is too easy. There's no tension. No real fear. Just nothing.
4. Tropey tropes. "Super intelligent AI", you'd expect something new.
5. Stats.
Constitution 1, Strength 1, Wisdom 1, Charisma 10; and HP 100, lost 85, bleeding 2 per second, another hit of 15, healing with food 1 per second, etc...
It may be easier to deal with when you're reading, because you can presumably skip over it. In an audiobook, take my word for it, it's excruciating. I don't want to do math! Gimme a frickin story!
6. The utter stupidity of this supposedly "adaptable" pro-gamer.
I stopped one hour before the end. I just couldn't take it anymore.
Recommended to: 13 year old boys. They'll love it.
If you want a good Lit VR MMO, read Forever Fantasy Online.
March 8, 2019
I went through all 3 books this week
I went through all 3 books this week. The first 60% of book one was 5 stars all the way. The way the digital world and the real world were linked, the humanity of the mc, all of that this at the top of the charts.
Unfortunately, or fortunately if it's your thing, the book started to build a harem. Nothing exceeding graphic mind you, but still present.
In book two and book 3 this line continues and the ties between the real world and the game world get further apart.
For me, even if the game world will, or does, become the "real" world it loses some of the ties that make the story so much better.
The author managed to keep it from being a game ride along in book 2 and 3, but not by much.
Having said that, all 3 books were a lot of fun, no overly graphic adult situations, something that you would not mind sharing with friends and family.
I went through all 3 books this week. The first 60% of book one was 5 stars all the way. The way the digital world and the real world were linked, the humanity of the mc, all of that this at the top of the charts.
Unfortunately, or fortunately if it's your thing, the book started to build a harem. Nothing exceeding graphic mind you, but still present.
In book two and book 3 this line continues and the ties between the real world and the game world get further apart.
For me, even if the game world will, or does, become the "real" world it loses some of the ties that make the story so much better.
The author managed to keep it from being a game ride along in book 2 and 3, but not by much.
Having said that, all 3 books were a lot of fun, no overly graphic adult situations, something that you would not mind sharing with friends and family.
December 11, 2023
It is a decent start to a series. The MC seems to bounce back and forth between super gamer and very incompetent person, but I would say the progression towards the end of the book is positive despite his poor showing at the end that was very predictable.
The game world, storyline, and action are pretty well done, but the MC seems to be very slow in reacting to situations, being an observer, rather than a participant for a bit too long. It could just be the way the scenes are written, but it seems he is hesitant in most every fight.
I have noticed some elements in the game world that are a bit strange, but I'll wait for some more information to be provided.
The women are a bit too much like Harem characters so far, all loving the MC when they meet him and wanting to devote their lives to him with a day.
The writing is actually pretty decent for the kindle unlimited LITRPG genre and I will continue with the series and hope for the best!
The game world, storyline, and action are pretty well done, but the MC seems to be very slow in reacting to situations, being an observer, rather than a participant for a bit too long. It could just be the way the scenes are written, but it seems he is hesitant in most every fight.
I have noticed some elements in the game world that are a bit strange, but I'll wait for some more information to be provided.
The women are a bit too much like Harem characters so far, all loving the MC when they meet him and wanting to devote their lives to him with a day.
The writing is actually pretty decent for the kindle unlimited LITRPG genre and I will continue with the series and hope for the best!
May 25, 2025
Good lord I get that the mc is sick and dying 😩 but can I get some whine with this cheese 🧀 49 minute montage 😳 it almost made me put the book down hopefully after he gets in game he will stop ✋️ with the pity party wow I sound heartless I'm not but but the author slathered it on like peanut butter in your hair it was wat to much. I suggest skipping 47 minutes it gets a little better after that. Uggg I take it back dude is a dummy when he gets in the game he keeps saying it's a game and insulting people even though the npc's and A.I. might as well be real he will never leave and keeps insisting its a game instead of his real life now. I don't know if it's the narrator or just the mc and the system set up but I don't like it it put me to sleep listened a little more and quit not a fan DNF.. I tried 😪
April 10, 2020
This story stands out to me.
I dont normally leave reviews. I normally just rate the books i have read. This book stood out to me, and this is why:
I have read thousands of books(not exagerating) of different genres and this story made me happy. It was exactly what i was looking for in a LitRPG story. The main character has a good personality and his interactions and relationships with the other characters in the story is well thought out and very believable. He has a good balance of power(not weak, and not overpowered), and the story has plenty of mystery to keep me excited. I look forward to reading the rest of the story.
Thank you Arlo Adams for sharing this story with us.
I dont normally leave reviews. I normally just rate the books i have read. This book stood out to me, and this is why:
I have read thousands of books(not exagerating) of different genres and this story made me happy. It was exactly what i was looking for in a LitRPG story. The main character has a good personality and his interactions and relationships with the other characters in the story is well thought out and very believable. He has a good balance of power(not weak, and not overpowered), and the story has plenty of mystery to keep me excited. I look forward to reading the rest of the story.
Thank you Arlo Adams for sharing this story with us.
May 25, 2020
OMG! I am completely in Love with this series of books. I am really big into Dungeons & Dragons and RPG games. I had never heard about these books before I purchased the Amazon Kindle Unlimited. I absolutely love the way the characters can view their stats and attributes. The way the author wrote these books is so game like, as if we were actually playing a game as we can see the loss & gain of HP, the loot, armor an magical weapons that are found and the quest dialogs and the gain of XP and levels of the characters is like nothing I have ever read before. I am so excited to read all 7 books. I would encourage any RPG or D&D lovers to delve deep into this series of adventures of ENORA ONLINE!!
February 19, 2022
This book feels like it is just a fan service and the main character is a bit of an idiot. First the main character gets two female companions that swear their lives to him and he then has control over them getting stronger. One of the female characters even says she doesn't want to be more wise because then she might not find the MC as attractive, like could you write a female character any worse than that. They also at one point take a nap together and both the female characters are naked next to him for no reason. None of it advances the plot it is all unecessary sexualization. Feels like the MC is getting a harem and that's what this book is going to be about not that he's in this cool new RPG game.
October 6, 2019
I’m giving this one 4 stars with a strong urge to downgrade it to 3. I really liked the overall story and the world building and even the characters for the most part. What was killing it for me was the amount of cringe-inducing dialogue/monologues.
This was probably made worse by the fact that I was listening to the audiobook. Nothing like walking the aisles of Costco and shouting “oh god, SHUT UP,” seemingly at random.
Speaking of the audiobook, I was distracted and annoyed by some super harsh cuts where the reader’s tone of voice and volume suddenly switched with a jarring and obvious cutover to a new take/recording session. Sometimes it seemed like this happened mid-sentence.
This was probably made worse by the fact that I was listening to the audiobook. Nothing like walking the aisles of Costco and shouting “oh god, SHUT UP,” seemingly at random.
Speaking of the audiobook, I was distracted and annoyed by some super harsh cuts where the reader’s tone of voice and volume suddenly switched with a jarring and obvious cutover to a new take/recording session. Sometimes it seemed like this happened mid-sentence.
December 3, 2019
So, there was a weird note from the author about edits made to the edition that that read, and to be honest, I'm really not sure upon finishing the book whether he added or subtracted those elements from the version I read.....
Anyway.
That's actually mostly how I feel about the book in general. There were things I liked, and things I didn't. I think 3 stars, right in the middle, is about right as a result.
Dude's dying. Dude goes into game. There's ... complications to that happening. Hijinks ensue.
Because of that author note confusion, I'm going to read the next book and see if there is further clarity.
Anyway.
That's actually mostly how I feel about the book in general. There were things I liked, and things I didn't. I think 3 stars, right in the middle, is about right as a result.
Dude's dying. Dude goes into game. There's ... complications to that happening. Hijinks ensue.
Because of that author note confusion, I'm going to read the next book and see if there is further clarity.
April 11, 2020
No, just know.
From an author who has supposedly played mini MMORPG’s, he sure cannot create a character that acts anything like a gamer. Starting with not spending character points, to not looting monsters, to even making just really stupid choices like leaving his weapons laying around. Only thing the main character does that ask anything like a gamer is using leet speak in creating his name. The name he hast to use for the rest of his life at that. The characters are pretentious bordering on just utterly obnoxious. The gaming concept is predictable and the storyline is bland. I advise any true LITRPG sends to pass this book by.
From an author who has supposedly played mini MMORPG’s, he sure cannot create a character that acts anything like a gamer. Starting with not spending character points, to not looting monsters, to even making just really stupid choices like leaving his weapons laying around. Only thing the main character does that ask anything like a gamer is using leet speak in creating his name. The name he hast to use for the rest of his life at that. The characters are pretentious bordering on just utterly obnoxious. The gaming concept is predictable and the storyline is bland. I advise any true LITRPG sends to pass this book by.
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