Fractures

Second Skin #1

by M. Damon Baker

Forced To Fight For My Survival Within A Computer-Generated Fantasy Gone Wrong…With a cruel twist of fate, my world was shattered and I’d lost everything. In a last-ditch effort to salvage my life, I stepped inside a virtual reality chamber, desperate to find some sense of purpose; looking for something, anything, that might motivate me to live again. But when I emerged in the virtual world of Second Skin, I quickly discovered that things had gone wrong—terribly wrong.

I was suddenly trapped in a strange place where nothing was what it seemed; unable to determine what was real… unsure of anything, including myself.

Hunted and alone in this harsh land, how will I survive?

And even more importantly, who the hell am I?

Reader This book contains scenes of graphic violence and deals with mature themes.

★★★★★ "The characters, the settings, the arcs, everything about this book was amazing! I love the MC and I cannot wait to see more!"

★★★★★ "I was hooked by the end of the first chapter! Loved every second of this book!"

★★★★★ "Take a little Larry Dixon and Mercedes Lackey and sprinkle liberally with some Terry Brooks and mix well and that is the feast that this author serves you."

★★★★★ "One of the best litrpg’s I have read in a while, and just a good fantasy book."

Continue the Second Skin Adventure

Second Pieces (Second Skin Book 2)Second Unified (Second Skin Book 3)Second Green Eyes (Second Skin Book 4) A Second Skin Novel (Second Skin Book 5) A Second Skin Novel (Second Skin Book 6)Second Wayward (Second Skin Book 7)Second Reckoning (Second Skin Book 8) – Fall 2020

Genres: Fantasy, LGBT, Amazon, Fiction

540 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2019

About the author

M Damon Baker lives in sunny Florida with his family, dog, and 8.5 million alligators. M Damon was inspired to write his first novel after discovering the LitRPG genre, but has since moved on to explore other categories. Keep up with him and be the first to discover his new releases by following M Damon on Amazon and his social media sites:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/damon.grey.1401

Twitter: @MDamonBaker1

Reviews

[XR · Rating 3 out of 5]

This LitRPG has an interesting twist where our main character is a man and ends up being a female in the role playing game. I very much prefer Dreya as the main character.

It's tastefully done in this book and I hope it stays that way throughout the series. I'm keen to see what happens next.

[Anangsha Alammyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very entertaining book, contrary to what the blurb would have you believe (especially for a non-gamer like me who has to google what RPG means).

Spoilers ahead:

An old man who straps on a VR to enter an RPG and finds himself in the body of a young woman. But, something happens and he can't get back - he is lost in the world of the RPG forever. The story traces the journey of the young woman Dreya Dae as she comes to terms with her feminity and learns the ways of the world of this alternate reality, also called 'Earth'.

Things I loved about the characterization:
- The realisation of a man about how a woman can be vulnerable in dark, deserted alleyways.
- Dreya's discovery of her own body and the pleasures it can bring.
- I have never read a book with a female MC who cherishes good food as much as Dreya does

Things that didn't work for me:
- The use of the word 'luckily' and how contrived the action scenes were. Yes, I understand the NPCs (or the natives of 'Earth') aren't supposed to be as skillful, but Dreya can't be lucky all the time, can she?
- After a point, her quests seem monotonous and repetitive.
- The pace drops in the last 30%, especially after Dreya meets her companions - 2 dwarves and 1 elf (who appear TOO friendly to be true)
- The side characters are not fleshed out and after a point, it gets difficult to distinguish one from the other.

Overall, the language was good, and the beginning of the book took me by surprise (especially after reading the extremely disappointing Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo). Dreya's character growth is stunning and her initial adventures take the reader by surprise.

I would give the book 4/5 and would definitely recommend it to all lovers of fantasy and litRPG (is that even a genre?). I thank the author for recommending the book on Twitter and introducing me to this gem.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be fair to this book it's pretty good probably close to 4 stars, so why did I only give it two? Simple, after you read this book you'll want to read the next to find out what happens. The problem is the next book is a steaming pile of excrement. I can't recommend this one as you are unlikely to even finsh the next one and therefore ruining the whole series.

One reviewer described the next book as "Devolves into an overly emotional melodrama with elements of harem" this sums it up excellently. It's done in a way that is incredibly annoying. If you do read it you'll find yourself thinking back to this review thinking "damn i wish I'd listened and read pretty much anything else".

[Stanislas Sodonon · Rating 2 out of 5]

The prologue was a mistake. The conscious effort to avoid introducing the MC felt contrived and very very distracting. His backstory was also very sketchy. Almost as if it was a chore the author was forced to perform, and rushed through to get to the meat of the story.

Honestly, I think we would have been better off being fed the backstory in small tidbits throughout the tale, when needed, rather than this soulless info dump at the beginning. It needlessly skewed me against the book and lost the opportunity of a strong beginning. People shouldn't underestimate that.

Next.

The gender-swap was a nice trick, but it's introduction felt rushed, for something that's clearly the only added value this book is bringing to the genre. It could have been milked more. By the fourth chapter, it's already a done deal for the MC. Besides a few gender quips here and there (Oh Noes, I'm thinking like a girl!), I felt like we were right back into the familiar setting and progression LitRPG template I've read countless times now.

The encyclopedia side-kick. Another timeless cliché of LitRPG. That's where the book totally died for me. It could have been played differently. Token Dude was clearly the most secure in the context of the game, but he's still portrayed as a bumbling idiot, except when we need him to info-dump game lore. Not cool.

I will leave this story to those who take the kind of journey the author is offering to heart. It's clearly not my poison. I need more...craft, or more creativity. Or both.

[Pratibha Pandey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book where the story is set up in a Role-Playing video game. It was a little difficult to get into the rules and calculations that go into score and capability measure [ i am still not too sure ] but once you read through it, the world and the people in the story capture all your attention. The land description and the people of the land are intriguing, especially in the latter part of the story. The solo travel for the lead character is a little repetitive but the book is fun to read when she teams up with others. The little story that has been built up for the sequel is well crafted.

My only complaint was from the whole scorecard being pulled up again and again when I already had read the gist of it from the character point of view. Also, I am not too sure of the way her feelings about her transition from real to gaming world were handled. The struggle was believable, but the conclusion, not so much.

Still an enjoyable read out of my comfort zone and area of interest.

[Aaron Wang · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off and as a lead in, let me say that LitRPG is a genre I in general don't read. Although the notion of playing D&D or other role playing games has always held appeal, I also haven't played one. With that out of the way, I'd recommend this book as a great starting point if you want to delve into this relatively new genre.
The book starts out with a nice twist of how a person gets trapped in a the virtual world of an RPG game with I think the standard trope of raising the stakes by making death literal. The author has a nice and appropriate cadence with his prose - you can almost hear the dungeon master drawing you into his world. One thing I'd also like to stress is that while many other genres are plot/character drive - LitRPG is about exploring the world and developing the characters - leading to a more episodic narrative, which this author performs masterfully.
Without giving any spoilers, I say this is a different and completely entertaining reading experience and I'm excited to read more in this series.

[Tortuga Verde · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not breaking new ground, but enjoyable.

The story doesn’t provide much new in the realm of LItRPG. However, it is a nice journey as the MC begins her development. Much of the mechanics are not new. Only twist is the gender change, and that actually seems relatively superficial in the scope of the story. It isn’t even all that racy. It really is more of a story of renewal and finding oneself in a strange new world.

It is a short, but enjoyable, read. I would recommend.

[P.W. Hillard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Competent Easy Reading Fantasy.

Second Skin:Fractures is a "litrpg", not a book genre I was familiar with prior to reading this. I was however familiar with the anime/manga genre Isekai. It transpires these are one and the same, the basic book being identical.

For those not in the know these stories involve someone from our modern society transported to a fantasy realm. A classic trope (Narnia anyone?) the twist here is that the lead is either placed into a video game or into a real world that echoes gaming cliches in some way. In this particular example Dreya, the viewpoint character, finds herself in a real fantasy world but keeps her videogame powers.

The overall effect is a fairly standard fantasy book with a frequent references to DnD, WoW or Elder Scrolls.

Things I liked:-
The overall plot is fairly low stakes. There is no saving the world or skating demon lords here, which is a refreshing change of pace personally.
Dreya is a likeable protagonist, which is always good for a first person perspective.
The book zips along from action scene to action scene, and keeps you interested through its duration.
It's competently written and edited, with clear formatting (aside a few wonky drop caps).

What I didn't like:-
The book frequently references the character sheet. Understandable considering its genre, though I found it repetitive in places. This repetition also tears its head in multiple scenes in inn rooms or constant references to skills.
Dreya didn't really interact with more than a handful of characters until maybe the last quarter of the book. I would have liked a little more information about the supporting cast. The book also relies a little too much on a generic fantasy setting, though as this is the first book in a series, so I'm willing to give this a pass for now.

Overall I enjoyed it. I will give the sequel a read at some point. It's fairly pulp fantasy at its heart, which is no bad thing. If litrpg/isekai is "your thing" then it's an easy recommend . If fantasy sans-videogames is your bag, well I would still say read it, bearing in mind the (minor really) quibbles I had.

[Peter John · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I would like to thank M. Damon Baker for the free Audible credit).

This story was well written and read, but lacked the kind of detail I enjoy regarding worldbuilding and interesting sparring/fighting scenes. Don't get me wrong, there are lots of adventures and fighting, but not in the way I enjoy. A personal preference perhaps.

The story is unusual and different from the normal run-of-the-mill LitRPG, in that the MC essentially has a sex change, but besides that, it didn't have many surprises. It does convey that comfortable familiarity one experiences when reading LitRPG that most gamers crave and built the character into a new world quite convincingly. I will look into the following books to see how this progresses. I rated it as "Liked - aka 3 star" according to Goodreads recommended ratings. I gave this 4 stars on Audible.
(I listened to the Audible version and await the next in the series)

[Chad Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting first book. Excellent use of skill, ability and damage to put a new twist on the genre and make it more life like instead of RPG like but still making it a good mix. Not one to really get into gender swapping but, Mr. Baker does a good job of setting the story and keeping one interested. Wasn't really a fan of the more intimate settings but that's all personal opinion. Overall it was a interesting read and one that made you like the characters and want to see what they are up to and going to next. Very interested to see where the story goes and what places it takes the characters. Characters have a good mesh with each other and have a good dynamic between them. Character creation was balanced and wasn't overpowered, a real sense of development and building of power.

[Jon Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable...

Not a bad story, with likeable characters and an interesting world.

However I don't understand why you start off with a guy, have him turn into a woman (I have no issue with this) but then almost immediately have her reconcile with her male memories and never mention it again. If you didn't plan on using the transgender element why introduce it?

Secondly so many pages are wasted with recaps of the character sheet. It does nothing to drive the story and is blatant padding. Esecially when levelling up more than once.

[Forrest · Rating 2 out of 5]

I downloaded the omnibus edition from kindle unlimited, which contains books 1-4. I had to stop at the conclusion of book one. The only “unique” thing about this story was the gender swap. Then that whole issue was just waved away with a very unsatisfying “conclusion “ by the main character. It felt like the author just didn’t want to deal with it anymore and brushed it under the rug. Way too many stat dumps/character sheet reviews. And finally, as another reviewer says here, too much exposition. I’m done.

[C.W. Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An extremely crunchy and well written LitRPG which introduced me to the genderswap element in the isekai genre. What I like about this book is that it's able to balance the hard stats and numbers of its system with some general wonder and exploration of the world it takes place in. It's a fine balancing act that is woven together by the author's prose.

I am impressed!

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a hard book for me to rate, because there is so much about it that is praise-worthy, but then it gets dragged down. Let's talk about the good: The idea of an old man's consciousness being put into the body of a female PC is interesting, and the book spends a reasonable amount of time discussing the associated questions of identity. Sexual assault comes up frequently (trigger warning), but I felt the author did a good job dealing with the complex emotional state one can have as a victim. (I do wish there were a little more on this front, as Dreya kind of got over it too quickly, but one could argue that her sadism going forward was an indication that she still has some shit to work through.) The hook for the rest of the series is effective, and there's a lot of potential left to explore in the world.

Unfortunately, there's one thing I couldn't stand: Dreya pulls up her character sheet pretty much every chapter, and by the end, said sheet is two-and-a-half pages long! I get that character stats are a big part of the LitRPG genre, but it felt like 20% of the book's length was just the same copy-pasted character sheet with minor changes each time we see it. We don't need to see her equipment list when she's just assigned stat points from a level up. We don't need to see her stats just because she maxed out a skill proficiency. The "you've reached x% proficiency in this skill, and you can't gain more points" message was everywhere, and it didn't even make sense. It said that "combat" was a way to further increase proficiency, but that's all she was doing with her bow. Furthermore, since there were never skill failures, what does having "10% proficiency" even mean in that context? If you never miss, why is having 10% better than the 1% you start with? I just wanted the rules to make sense.

The overuse of the character sheet & nonsensical game systems were responsible for one *-reduction. The second was just a general lack of tension. Injuries don't mean much when you have a healer and a belt full of healing potions. The final climactic confrontation was solved by a deus ex machina. Heck, the penultimate confrontation was also solved by a deus ex machina, of the more literal variety. Some setup or foreshadowing would have gone a long way to improve things.

Criticisms aside, the books are cheap (free via KU, and discounted to only $1 at times), so I have already bought the second one. I wouldn't call this a masterpiece, but it has a lot going for it. Among other things, there's not a lot of LitRPG with a female protagonist (at least, that Amazon deigns to recommend to me), to say nothing of an LGBTQ+ one. The beginning third of the book is quite strong, and on the basis of that strength, I'll keep reading the series.

[C.D. Tavenor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many SciFi and Fantasy authors, I grew up playing RPG video games. Skyrim, Mass Effect, Boulders Gate, KOTOR, you name it, I’ve probably played it.

So when I heard about the growing LitRPG genre, I was intrigued! Stories set inside RPG-like worlds? Wow!

And thus, my first foray into the genre occurred with “Second Skin” by M Damon Baker.

M Damon Baker builds an intriguing premise. A man’s mind, trapped in a woman’s body, inside a supposedly virtual world. I don’t want to spoil the initial twist, but let’s say fairly early on, Baker throws in a fun hook which makes the story more than just a dude playing an RPG.

I can see the promise in the genre. The story. The creative ways “game mechanics” can interplay with narrative.

Unfortunately, I quickly learned the LitRPG genre is not for me.

That preference isn’t a knock on Baker’s writing; it’s superb. Second Skin’s audience simply doesn’t include me. I value the opportunity to listen to Second Skin on Audible, though, to learn whether I enjoy the LitRPG genre. As much as I love playing games, I don’t think I’m one to read them being played.

All that being said, I hundred percent think this book WILL hit home with other readers. It’s got the chops to hook people intrigued by the characters, setting, plot, and premise of LitRPG.

I won’t be doing a full score breakdown of Second Skin: Fractures. Instead, I’ll be giving it three stars. It wasn’t my cup of tea, but that speaks more about me than the book.

[Renee Marski · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great adventure

While not my usual read i was pulled to this book by the stunning cover and the description. I was NOT disappointed. Dreya is a character created by anamoly when a man from our world enters what amounts to a simulated game only to learn he is actually on another world. As Dreya progresses, she encounters trials but also makes friends and her good heart endears her to the right people.

I found it really interesting how Dreya and the dead man started off as two people and then merged into one. It really was done seamlessly and Dreya is an amazing character in her own right. Its interesting to see how she to those around her and it will be interesting to see where her story goes.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most excellent 1st book, congratulations.I enjoyed it all the way through although you might consider a part rate of star access. I am an older (72) and have markedly as following. No need to rush into print but I look forward to the next novel.

I am new to litrpg but did play d & d in my youth as the same out,I've been trying to borrow grandsons vr headset to see if it is bettet

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book one

Mistakes: I didn't find any, however I think that the skill sheet was overused. After telling us of a change the author didn't need to show the skill sheet. I would have waited for large changes only.
Plot: Dude enters what he thinks is a game, only to be trapped in another world, stuck in the body of a woman.
Characters: The MC was very interesting and how he dealt with the body swap and almost getting rapped, where to me the best part of the book.
8.4/10

[Donnie Dennison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story

I Iike the characters and find the book an easy read. The struggles feel real and a party of the story. I work from my own perspective that the MC wasn't attracted to women but had to deal with being attracted to men. I feel it was an easy path to follow but it's not my story. I still like it a lot. I am looking forward to my next adventure with these 5 friends and me.

[Mike Goodman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stat Heavy but Great Story

A depressed widower starts playing a game to get out of the funk, and the game makes him a woman. The game breaks and he is stuck. After a gangster tries to rape her, he ends up on the run for killing him. He makes rapest her personal kill on sight quest. Great story maybe go lighter on stat pages-and understand the page count pays but it’s annoyingly redundant.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good new series

So I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The screw up at the MC entrance to the game/world is where the fun is. This presents the MC with new obstacles and points of worldview that make for dynamic character. The MC is driven and focused unlike many other books. The magic system is different but not enough to be unexplainable. The stats are there but there are some are missing like replenishment rates and resistances. I look forward to more in this series.

[Ian Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well rounded

A good immersive story. I like the characters. The MC seemed a bit murder hobo early on, but that was only because she stopped to think about her monster massacres. A very good read. I did think the character sheet was shown too often, but that's fairly minor and easy to skip over.

[Alex Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

Handled the main characters personal issues and transitions very well. Love that the character sheet is shown whenever there is a big change. If you don't like the numbers part it is easy to skip and get on with the story. I almost gave this book a pass but I am very glad I gave it a shot. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Janet J Behn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it.!

I have read a ton of LitRpg books in the last year and have read some that were very well written and some very badly written. Happily this book was definitely in the top 10%. Great innovative plot, decent character development and it had no problem keeping my interest for the whole story. I am now anxiously awaiting book two of this series.

[Donald W. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dreya Dae

I was very worried that the story was not going to hold my attention, but once it got into the world of Second Skin & Dreya Dae's character development I was hooked! I did miss "The Geek's" game knowledge & it would have been nice to have seen him one more day. I love the characters who are her companions & her new friends!

[Patrick Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weird start but ultimately a good read

Spoiler alert: I was a little put off that the main character plot line consisted of a man entering another realm as a woman. This part of the story didn’t do anything for me. That being said the female characters story and growth were captivating all on there own. Next book in the series here I come.

[Stephen J. Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great adventure

I thoroughly enjoyed the tale and the gaming aspects of the journey. The story is well told and entertaining. Some story issues resolve themselves a little too conveniently, but it didn’t stop me from turning the pages to see what happened next. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good RPG.

[Judy Ferrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventures abound.

First let me say, I don't do RPG. However, I found this book to be exciting and full of adventure. I don't think my not knowing anything about ROY affected my liking the book at all. It just added another later to the experience. I got so involved with the characters I was actively cheering them on.

[Lavita Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done!

This book drew me in from the start. There are not a lot of female protagonists in litrpg so I was really excited when I stumbled along this one. I'm thrilled that the author took the time to explain the dangers for a woman instead of a man. I cant wait for the next book.

[Randeknight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reasonable twist in trapped in a game.

Writing and grammar are good.
Plot feels like someone's D&D campaign.
Some sexual elements and gender bender, but this is not a smut fic.
Ill read the next one when it comes out.