Combat Origin

World of Combat Dystopia #1

by Misty Zaugg

In her world, single combat decides everything.

Kiriai is turning sixteen and has a big decision to make. Will she fight for her dream to battle in the arena? Or buckle under her grandfather’s pressure to become a healer?

Her best friend Eigo is an outcast from his scrounger family. On a recent expedition into the wastelands, he found a peculiar birthday gift for Kiriai—an AI trainer from a centuries-old martial arts game. Could it give her the advantage she needs? Will Kiriai win the fight that decides her future?

An impossible deadline, a persuasive mentor, and her own family all stand in Kiriai’s way. If she loses, she’ll be consigned to a mundane life, but more importantly, banned from the arena forever. Kiriai can't let that happen.

Combat Origin is the first book in Combat World, a young adult dystopia series. If you like strong heroines, litrpg and a good brawl, buy a copy of Combat Origin today and escape into adventure.

313 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 19, 2019

About the author

Hi there. Thanks for stopping by!

Imagine a world where disputes are solved by single combat and a girl's dream is to become a scrapper, earning glory and wealth in the arena doing what she loves to do: fight. Pick up Combat Origin, and you'll fall in love with Kiriai, a kick-butt heroine that doesn't let anything stand in her way, ever.

That's the beginning of my Young Adult Dystopian Series: Combat World. It's a fast-paced series you'll want to curl up with and enjoy.

I've got two post-apoc series written now with woman who grow in the midst of disaster and never give up: Aftermath and Escaping the Virus.

Click over to my website if you'd like to read the free prequel to the series, Combat Genesis, and get my regular newsletter.

MistyZaugg.com

And thanks in advance for even a short, 1-liner review. When you're just starting out, like I am, each one makes a huge difference!

I collect hobbies because I love to learn including a black belt, M.D., beekeeper, herbalist, hobby survivalist, yummy bread baker, devout Christian and my greatest accomplishments: homeschool mom of six and wife to the other kind of doctor – the engineering kind.

Please email me with feedback, questions or just to say hi. I love hearing from fans!

— Misty

Reviews

[Crysania Dangoor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I am a beta-reader for this series.
This is the first book of an awesome dystopian science-fiction series. It is set in post-apocalyptic North America, and the author’s experience with healing and martial arts both contribute to the world, into which I was absorbed. I definitely recommend this book for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent. In this book, Kiriai is faced with a choice: follow her grandfather’s plan for her to become a healer, or pursue her dream of fighting. She is given an impossible deadline to meet — and the only way to meet it may be to harness the power of an ancient AI. Kiriai is a strong, likable heroine, and the writing never loses its energy. I look forward to reading the rest of the series!

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a digital arc in exchange for an honest review. This is simply my opinion on the book and is not influenced by any external factor.
This amazing coming-of-age story follows Kiriai as she decides her future. Her dream is to be a scrapper – a physical martial artist – but her grandfather has other plans and pressuring her to follow in his footsteps as a healer. It’s not that being a healer is a bad job, or that she wants to rebel against her grandfather, but being a fighter has been her dream for as long as she could remember. But in order to prove her worth as a fighter, she will have to pass some tests, and if she fails, it’s the life of a healer for her.

Combat Origin is really well-written and fast paced. We meet some exceptional characters along the way, from her eccentric best friend Eigo, to her stubborn but caring grandfather, Ojisan, to the fresh and unique faces in the dojo.

There is no romance in this story. There is minimal language and can be considered a clean read with the exception of occasional mild swearing.

The unique use of the AI is incredible in this story. It’s like having a personal trainer in your head! (for some reason, I kept picturing Yabban as a Wii Fit Trainer; but looking back, their roles are quite similar). I am a gamer myself (Final Fantasy and Zelda are my faves), and I know the importance of levelling up and being proficient in some areas to unlock others. Think of it like a Sphere Grid from Final Fantasy X combined with the Arte skills of Tales Of The Abyss, with some Dragon Age and Fi from Zelda Skyward Sword, as well as the omniscient Wii Fit Trainer. All of these together in the mind of a sixteen year old girl living in a futuristic, dystopian Japanese society with a lifelong dream of fighting and martial arts.

The fighting combat scenes are so engaging, and going on the gaming theme, they remind me of Street Fighter and Super Smash Bros, but all humans and with no weapons.

Having taken Tae Kwon Do classes when I was a kid, this brought back a lot of memories of training and proficiency to gain ranking and obtain different belts and stripes.

The story was incredible and a great start to Kiriai’s goal to be the next best Scrapper in the ‘hood. A must read for anyone who loves fast-paced action stories, dystopias, martial arts, AIs and video games.

[Russell Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked the story. It portrays the struggles between parents/guardians and their children when the children are old enough to make their own decisions for the course they want to follow in life very accurately. The world building was good (maybe could have used a bit more information) and thorough. The characters are well developed with good clear motivations for their actions (at least so we think). The writing is well done and easy to read. The plot is very complex and has quite a few subplots flowing through it but they are mostly tied up by the end of the book. Still a few loose ends to carry us into the next book. I felt the book was entertaining and worth the time to read. For the record, I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book with the request to leave an honest review for other potential readers and this is my honest opinion. This book is good for teens especially for a lesson in communication skills and attitudes (lol). I try very hard not to give away any spoilers in my reviews.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like it. It's a fun, clean dystopian adventure. I'd definitely classify it as a young adult book, but written well enough that I enjoy it as an adult. The editing is well done and didn't pull me out of the story. It's got a really good momentum going after a couple chapters and the tale pulled me along. (And the beginning was interesting enough to get through the familiarization needed to connect to the story and learn the characters). I enjoyed following the main character as she learns more karate in this post-apocylyptic world, struggling to earn a better life. It gives off a kind of hunger games vibe. The ending reached a great balance between having a resolution while still leaving an intriguing build up for the next books.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Combat Origin (World of Combat Dystopia Book 1) by Misty Zaugg is a wonderful story to read. This is book number one in this wonderful start to a brand new series writen by a brand new author for me to read. I highly recommend this story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book

[Sean Oswald · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a genre that all too often has nothing unique, Zaugg accomplishes exactly that. Her character is equal parts annoying whining and exciting moxy- just like real teenagers.

I love the martial arts system and see real potential in this moving forward.

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book one in the World of Combat Dystopia series and its main character is a young girl called Kiriai, who is about to have her sixteenth birthday. She wants to follow her dreams and set her hat in the fighting arena, but her grandfather refuses to allow it and insists she continues working with him and becomes an apprentice healer. Her best friend Eigo is from a family of scroungers who go out into the radiated wastelands and look for anything people will pay for, especially any old tech that is better than what they have now. He is not like most of his clan, he is different and more an outcast and hides out in his little den.

On one of his trips to the wasteland, he finds an ideal present for Kiriai’s sixteenth birthday. An AI program that teaches martial arts fighting styles. He figures she can use it to improve her fighting skills and win some fights and be accepted as a fighter for her group. Unfortunately, her grandfather has made a deal with the boss of the fighters, and she only has a matter of weeks to train and win her place as a fighter.

Something unexpected happens when Eigo connects Kiriai up to the AI trainer program for the first time and Kiriai gets more than expected. It gives her a troublesome, yet advantageous method of training. Whether it will do enough to reach her goal of becoming a fighter in the arena, is up to the reader to find out. She finds the training much harder than she ever expected and way more painful as well! Eigo doesn’t like seeing her getting hurt, but as her best friend, he wants her to do what it is that she loves and what makes her happy.

The beginning of Kiriai’s journey, with great characters and setting, in a dystopian world, hundreds of years after an AI generated nuclear apocalypse. A story of working hard for what you want and the difficulties you may have to overcome. A great start to the series and I look forward to reading more of the series.

[Saundra Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn’t exactly what I expected, which can be a good thing. It took me until around chapter 5 to really get involved with the characters. Then I was hooked. Definitely a unique take on LitRPG!

[NanaShauna Joesten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic read that pulls you in from Start to finish. It has great world building, and you can feel the emotions of the Characters. The Author did an amazing job on this read. This is totally up there with the hunger games. And the Book Cover is Amazing as well.
Shauna Joesten

[Kristen Greve · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Kiriai’s fierce spirit!! I’m rooting for her as she fights against the odds to become a legit fighter. This story is a fun, fast-paced read. The fight scenes are especially vivid. I liked the complicated relationship between Kiriai and her grandfather. A great story for fans of dystopia, martial arts, and coming-of-age themes.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok but

In having trouble characterizing this book. On one hand the book is well written and had enough action even if a bit slow at the beginning. However I personally can't stand the MC. She is DUMB and seemingly proud of it. Refused to listen to anyone trying the help or teach her even with her passion. Fighting!. This working fly in IRL much less a dystopian future. No advancement of you don't learn. All she has is brass ones. This is good but not enough IMHO. I like the setting and would like to know more of the world as it is in the book. I would also like more fighting and training but not sure no can read more. I may try the next book and see if there is an improvement.

[Hlsabine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a voracious reader, of everything from high fantasy to science fiction, paranormal to village cozies. This book offered something rare: an original world, culture, and social structure. No tired dystopian tropes here! It's very well written, detailed, intricate, with realistic characters and excellent descriptions. The story pulled me in immediately, and I found myself unable to stop reading because I had to find out more. What were scrappers (fighters), 'forcers (enforcers), fixers (healers), and what does the hood boss do? Why does Kiriai want to fight, and will she be able to rise up the ranks? How does the Artificial Intelligence program that Kiriai's friend Eigo gives her change her future? I finished the book around 1am and it was definitely worth going short on sleep. I felt that the story had come to a good stopping point, but I can't wait for more. I immediately went to Ms. Zaugg's amazon page (who needs sleep), and I was delighted to see that book 2 will come out September 1st, and book 3 on October 1st! Highly recommended.

[Kerry Dillenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story with valuable life lessons of integrity, loyalty, and love - just for a start.

Misty Zaugg is a special writer gifted with compassion for others that unfolds throughout her story. Directed more towards the young and maturing audience, it has numerous examples and lessons of character traits that we wish we could claim for our children, even though absent in many adults and most certainly our politicians of today.
The author's style is as entertaining as it is subliminally instructive.

[nico]

Listen,it's not a bad book. I just can't get into it. It's a personal thing.

[Wayne Scace · Rating 5 out of 5]

**** SPOILER ALERT ****
This is the first full length work of Zaugg's that I have read. I am liking what I'm seeing.
The author does a very good job of world building as well as character development as the tale progresses.
Now for the meat of the matter:
This story is full of twists and turns as it rockets along.
The main character, Kiriai is at a crossroads in her life. On the cusp of adulthood she has to choose between being a "scrapper", her life's dream and passion and being the Fixer that her "grandfather" Fixer Ojisan's desire for Kiriai to become an apprentice Fixer a latent talent that he perceives in her.
This is the beginning of that saga. Eigo, Kiriai's best friend, leads her to an ancient aid that may allow Kiriai to follow her dream. Which path does Kiriai end up following? Read the book and find out!
Zaugg's storytelling and detail is top notch, I could see, feel, taste and smell this story as if I was in it myself. This ability of Zaugg's puts me in mind of the late Anne McCaffrey's ability to do the same.
I highly recommend this novel and will state that I can hardly wait to dive into the "World Of Combat" "universe" again.
In the interest of transparency:
I was provided a copy of this book for review. The above is my own honest opinion of this novel.

[Itxier Meziani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. One of the things I liked the most about the reading is how well it flows. It was so easy to read. I never got bored. I was pretty much engaged in the reading from the beginning. I really like the fact that the main character was such strong young woman in pursuit of her dreams. She never gives up, and her determination leads her to what she really wants. I strongly recommends this book for anyone who like adventure with a touch of martial arts.

[Bran Stoker · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Mulan meets the Oculus Rift version of Fallout and Streetfighter*

I have to start off this review saying as a gamer for 20+ years ,I appreciate the concept and imagery that Misty Zaugg wove throughout this book. Her first novel in this series leaves a solid attempt and cornerstone to build this series.
The opening chapter and epilogue did their job of baiting me and leaving me hanging. I want to know more!! Wanting more was a theme while reading this book in general though...like more detail of the how's and why's of this world. This is not a negative reflection of the authors writing, as I think she is bringing us there in her own time. I am just slightly impatient.
My only "complaint" was the dialogue between the MC and her best friend , Eigo, did bog down a little though mid point of the book as did the description of the developing arc with the game AI. It did not hold back the story though.
This book is a solid 3.50- 3.75 ( why can't we get technical with our star ability) and I am looking forward to continuing the series.


A huge thanks to Misty Zaugg for the ARC copy.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading teen dysotopian books and this one did not disappoint!!! I love the use of the AI from and old video game! Kiriai is a relatable character dealing with family, life, friends, love, and choices to be made. I can't wait to see where the rest of her story goes!

[Fiona Revell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Good to see a fmale lead in a combat based series that's also well written. This is a great start to a dystopian series that has a refreshingly different angle from most, I can't wait to read more!

[Jennifer Willison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story, characters and world.

[Milanda Parahawk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this story. Despite its flaws, I was immersed and savored every chapter. Slowly learning from the main character's viewpoint about the world and watching her journey. Many of the secondary character's are shown to have a good depth to them or hints of such to come in the future. I'm really intrigued to see where this story goes next and will happily be pursuing the sequel, hoping that it continues to be as enjoyable as it has been.

[Kane Vardy-Mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

I picked this up on a whim as it came up recommended on sale. So very glad I did. The flow of the story has kept me reading just one more page to see what happens. The light gamelit elements combined with the Authors in depth knowledge of combat allows a depth of realism to play perfectly with them.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed this book, while it has a young protagonist (who is sometimes a bit of a brat!) it has great world building and character development.. and the author writes of what she knows, martial arts, and healing which adds authenticity to the storytelling.

[Asiaman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Combat Origin is a book about a girl with a dream. If you like martial arts then you will love this book.

[Jermel Purse · Rating 4 out of 5]

lots of golden nuggets that need to be fused together.

When I think back about this book the opening to start worse slow you didn’t get right to the meat of things. For the gamelit genre that can be an issue. If a book starts off slow it needs to deliver by the end. You get most of that here and you see lots of potential. No you won’t see progression and leveling like you might expect but it does look at the genre from a unique perspective and wait you might appreciate that difference. You still see the MC learn grow develop you may want to see more of that and you may get more of that in the future but it’s gradual in this book but you notice it you see it. To me this book seemed more like the set up to something great that’s why I gave it four out of five stars the next books in the series will help decide whether it is a home run or is a simple base hit.

[Brooke Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was addictive!! I felt like I really connected to the story and characters, especially the main character, Kiriai. It combines some of my favorite genres and is packed with action! It reminds me a little of divergent and maybe hunger games but with a whole new flavor due to the combat-based government system. I love reading about such a strong female lead and it makes me want to learn more self-defense myself. I've continued reading the series and would highly recommend! :)

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mishmash of litRPG, dystopia, and karate kid - a fun, quick read, the first installment of five books in the series. Each one adds on to the previous one, and if you enjoy experiencing the protagonist's actual journey as they become the hero, then you'll enjoy this book as the main character discovers a virtual sensei and learns karate/MMA.

[Bern Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good start to a story, will read more. A bit to much of MC repeating same kind of mistakes but by the end there was growth and it does make sense for a MC who is going forward at full speed. Hopeful for the rest of the story.

[Richin109 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

This is an interesting world and the end of the book opens up a whole new set of questions. Will saying it is the most unique way I have seen to add Gamelit elements to a world.

[Maria Fledgling Author Park · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow