Dragon Hack

Blasphemy Online #1

by Andrew Seiple

Richard Royal has a hard life.

He lives in a corrupt, church-controlled dystopia, his family is soon broken, and the only joy to be had comes from the escapism of his full-immersion gaming.

Introduced to a new and very illegal game, he finds himself in the body of a dragon, on a quest to find a dark and evil power to serve. But the game is more than it seems, and the dragon is more than a beast. Soon Rich's life is far, far more complicated than he ever expected. And the threats against him grow, both in-game and in realspace.

There is no path that will not lead to blasphemy. And the dark secrets revealed will change two worlds, before all is done...

A new litrpg saga, set in Threadbare's world of Generica Online.

Illustrator: Amelia Parris

Genres: Fantasy, Dragons, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Magic

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 16, 2019

Reviews

[Pigeon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The downtrodden first-world virgin boy/man MC is highly overdone, his path of reasoning seems suspect, and even throwing in the dystopian setting isn't a fresh twist in this genre. However, I find myself liking the story despite the cliches and obvious directions. Despite following many genre tropes, the worst of them aren't present. The MCs problems are not auto-solved by playing the game, he gains no amazing powers outside of it, and in fact maintains only one outstanding skill. He doesn't become and isn't perceived in the game as cooler than he is, and it is clear both to himself and the reader that he has a lot of progress to make as a person even by the end of the book. There is no real progress toward a relationship (physical or intimate) or worse a harem (this genre is flooded with those already), focusing mainly instead on both the game and real world troubles. I know that it can be hard to break away from many of the generic starts in litrpg without leaving the genre behind or altering it into something else, so I'm holding out hope that as the story goes on we'll see more unique development, but as long as we continue to avoid the worst pitfalls I'll be able to continue enjoying this series. I may not agree with or like some of the MC's attitude, but I don't have to in order to enjoy the author's work.

[Narilka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dragon Hack is the first in the Blasphemy Online trilogy by Andrew Seiple. The story centers around teenager Richard Royal, living in a church-controlled dystopia. Richard finds his only break from his broken home life and bullying at school in the online gaming. Introduced to a very illegal online game, Rich logs in for the first time and finds himself in a dragon body, a quest to see to pledge himself to an evil power and very little instructions. It's not long before Rich figures out there's a lot more to this game it appears as it seems to be affecting him in realspace too.

The series serves as an origin story for the world of Threadbare. It is vastly different from the Threadbare books, being more of a traditional litRPG, so make sure you go in with adjusted expectations.

The story has a rough beginning and is on the cliche side to start. Our "hero" being a teenage boy has the ambition of what I assume typical teenage boys want - to get laid. Since he has little prospects in reality, he thinks maybe this new illegal game may be his option. After finally logging in the story turned into a fun and intriguing adventure. Obviously Richard has been chosen for something else in Generica Online though that's not fully revealed yet. I liked seeing the early version of the world and from a whole new perspective. It gives background on the mysterious "players" from the Small Medium series along with a hint as to what may have happened to them all. The whole consciousness swapping plot turned out satisfactorily. Plenty of different ways this can go next.

I listened to the audio book narrated by Nick Podehl. I liked Nick's narration well enough so I was surprised to see that there is a narrator swap for the rest of the series. The new narrator does not get very favorable reviews so it's highly probably I'll be continuing this series on my Kindle. Assuming I can hold off from starting the second Threadbare trilogy first.

[Dave Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. part of the Threadbare Verse Series

A wee little bit harsh here and there for a Threadbare Verse book, but they all had their dark places and dead family members. This is the first time we catch a glimpse of Generica online from the earth side. I'm thinking (but this is just my fan theory) that the events in this book 'predate' threadbear, but time has little meaning here and it is definitely not a prequel.
The book blurb does not do this story justice.

*Edit Update*
Reread one year later and I think I liked it even more the second time.
This is exactly the book I needed when I was 13 and going through a very rough time.

[Natalie Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great Adventure

I enjoy these books so much! Sieple has created an amazing world that always seems able to expand in brand new directions. And I love the unique leveling system! It makes so much sense for attributes, skills and jobs to unlock and level as they’re used, but I’ve never run across another system quite like it. Here’s hoping we’ll see many more additions to this incredible world we first encountered through the eyes of a little stuffed bear, which has only grown bigger and more exciting since.

[Laura May · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a love letter to gaming and spec fic alike, set partly in a satirical religious fascistic future, and partly in Seiple's existing world, Generica Online. As can be expected of Seiple, there's the typical well-developed characters who learn, progress, and feel along the way. Equal parts funny, adventurous, and thought-provoking. A real treat in the LitRPG genre, and highly recommended for fans.

[Trent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite good.

Refreshingly excellent.
Thoroughly surpassed any and all expectations.
I'm eagerly awaiting the continued saga. Although this last one damaged my sleep as I couldn't put it down.
That's not a proper complaint though.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

Insert generic leftist politics into the first 10 minutes, no thanks.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Different but interesting!

I am usually very sceptical about the multi focus to games and the logging in and out with real world sections however this was done very well. It takes a very different approach that really shows the similarities in the character and the effects within the mind on both. I will be very interested in seeing where it goes from here! There are so many different lines and schemas going on in the background.

[Sean Duggan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best experienced in Generica Online

Since I started reading "Threadbare", and through "Small Medium", I've wondered how this world came to be. This book answers some questions. Richard Royal lives in a near-future United States that has become a dystopic theocracy. Richard escapes through the world of GO and, by dint of luck, wit, and outside interference, quickly rises to relative power. It's pretty standard LitRPG fare for the most part.

What's more interesting are the events happening to make this the GO we know and love. I had always assumed an A.I. gone rogue, but this book suggests that the situation is more weird, that the game may actually be tapping into another world, which is tapping back. Richard is their catspaw, along with the being whose body he time-shares in (and out) of the game. I am intrigued, and look forward to learning more.

Where the book lost a star for me were the real world segments. It might be a matter of personal taste, but Richard's world felt way too much like a dig at contemporary politics. I know it's a long and storied tradition, but it always takes me out of the moment when a future is built on contemporary (and often temporary) catchphrases and memes.

[Elaina Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story

I'm glad I tried this story, it is not as dark as I thought it might be, based on the description. Though, it is set in a dystopian future and there is brief 'real world' violence at times.

The story is interesting, with mysteries to solve in both worlds, and the two protagonists are interesting, determined and brave. They both grow during the book and mature some and I'm curious to see how things are for them in two to three years; in book years, not real years! :)

[Philip Pleiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story but the politics went a bit overboard to the point of ruining immersion

I am enjoying this prequel that gives backstory to the universe of Generica.

The dystopian future was kind of a trip, since it was like a Stalinist tyrannical government but controlled by the fundamentalists in Handmaid's tale instead of the communist party.

I am really looking forward to seeing what triggers the changeover that is effecting all the players in the other two series.

[Ian Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the hoard!

I'm curious about the relationship between this story and the other two series. I enjoyed the story. Some interesting mental gymnastics involved with a human playing a dragon and a dragon "playing" a human. Not as fluffy as Threadbare. Worth reading.

[Charlie Tupper · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a prequel, this is a bit different from the other books set in Generica Online -- but still displays everything we love about Mr. Seiple's work. If you're already a fan, you know you want it. If you're not a fan, give it a try... I expect you soon will be.

[Casey Winters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to the author and the world. Can't wait for more.

[DJay · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, this story was a bit hard to read. The MC is anything but an OP protagonist. He's a dude having issues and pretty much just keeps getting stepped on. He's the poster child for the typical person you see getting bullied in books. Bad parent/parents..check. Crippling self doubt and or socially awkward....check. Big bad picked him on a whim...check. Despite being abused/neglected still cares deeply for parents only to have one of them fridged in order to make the hero now have a reason to get stronger.....check.

With all of the above said, the best part of the story is pretty much everyone else. No seriously. The rest of the cast especially the dragon carry the story pretty damn well and makes it so that you want to find out what happens all the way to the end.

So, I'm going to say this now. I did not hate this story. The MC is truly a person who's literally just trying to survive the worst week of his life due to no reason of his own. He's also 14 so I do expect him to act the way he does. To me, he just feels flat. Like, if we took the MC out of the story and swapped him with just about anything we'd lose almost nothing. Also, there's no real growth in his character and I'm a person who's a fan of character growth more so than story plot progression. The world building is solid, even more now with the political landscape of the US. This book is a very tight book in that everything happens quickly and in a small location in the "real world" as well as the virtual world. There are also some hints about things not being what they really are and that future events that are about to happen will have some massive changes to both the VR world as well as the "real" world. I'm going to read the rest of the series, because like I said, this isn't a bad back....it literally is a decent book. So don't take the 3 star review as if it's something you should stay away from. If you have a moment for something else, picking this up wont kill you, but if you're looking for a strong protag, extensive world building and epic fights.....Skip this.

I'm calling it now. The VR world either ISN'T just a VR world, but it's an alt universe that people think is a VR world.

[RJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Royal is a faint-hearted, abused, and overweight child of fourteen years. His only relief and escape was his immersive gaming in NeverQuest; a parody of the RL MMORPG EverQuest. A new game was released via the Dark Web called Generica Online and all the players were flocking to it. It was rumored to be state of the art, including the ability to feel all senses. Richard had to join. An interesting, if improbable realization was that with only an internet connection and no VR equipment of any kind, Richard was able to experience senses of taste, smell, and pain. This flies in the face of all other VRMMORPG LitRPG series. I’m not sure how to feel about this. The implication that programming alone can transfer senses is truly stretching plausibility and immersion. Some kind of dual personality thing, or a suggested curse going on, Richard and Rotgoriel trading places as Richard logged out. Between Richard and Rotgoriel, they level up as the tale continues. This is a fairly interesting story and curiosity compels me to continue with the series.

[Alesay · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.75 stars. The overall plot was okay; however, it wasn't for me. The beginning chapters gave me major ick. I was not impressed with their (the MC's and his friend's) language, behaviour, and initial motivations. I almost DNFed this book several times. I didn't, however, because I wanted to see how the MC would grow and become more competent. While I understand that he is just a kid (that's part of the problem), I was not impressed with his growth. I wish I'd just dropped it. I also wished the author had created a new religion for his story instead of focusing on an existing one. Unfortunately, I will not be continuing with this series.

On the plus side, the world/society was interesting (though a bit shallow), and I liked the mini-character development the protagonists went through.

[Scott Wozniak · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have loved the other works by this author, but I can't get into this one.

The story is good. The world is cleverly designed. The writer didn't drop in skill.

But two things soured it for me. First, the main character is a mess of a human being. You see why (horrible home life in a dystopian society) but it means that I have a hard time rooting for him. He's not a noble soul despite his upbringing. He's just what you'd expected.

And even worse for me was the constant vulgarity. It wasn't just swearing, it was the crass mindset and perverted goals of some of the characters. I was not having fun reading this book.

So, maybe there is a wonderful redemption later in the series, but I don't want to suffer through the other parts to get to that point.

[Vincent Archer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since it happens long before the other two trilogies of Generica (Threadbare and Small Medium), this book can be read as a stand-alone. You will recognize some of the stuff exposed in Small Medium, but it exists completely independently from that trilogy.

The book combines the setting and a dystopian future sci-fi Earth for good effect. Thematically and stylistically, it is also very different from the other two, with a lot less humor, and more darker themes intruding into what, on the surface, looks to the protagonists as a simple VRMMO adventure. The dual nature of the MC and its alternate isn't explored deeply enough in my opinion, but that's a minor point.

[Capricious_Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a solid two-star book but it could've been so much more. I understand Richard needed to be overweight, an unlikely hero, and he's only 14 but the fat shaming was horrible for a book published in 2019. "Lardass"? Really. Still? It's a no for me. The concept was amazing, especially the religious fervor and the government being run as it was. The RPG being viewed as "blasphemous" and "sinful" was great. I'm going to proceed with the series as the concept really has me hooked but I'm hoping to see stronger writer and more character/plot development to rate this series anything but two stars.

[Michael Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost felt like this was 2 different books rolled into one. One of the books was very hard to tolerate and that other had some good moments and then fell on it's face a few times. Even free from this Audible Plus catalog this came close to being a DNF. It had some decent moments when the MC was in the game world and I will give it praise for having some fairly original game mechanics and features but even some of that just felt like plot armor at times. The finish was nicely done and a preview of book 2 was included. The preview of book 2 made me sure I would have no problem stopping my involvement with the series at book 1.

[Michael Mason-D'Croz · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overall adventure is fun. But all the suppressed Christian kid sexuality was off-putting. Does there have to be so many comments about how sexually attractive he finds every female character? How about that breakdown where he goes on and on about not being gay?

I get that part of the idea is that he's in a country that is ruled by a conservative Christian church and he's been indoctrinated, but those parts were hard to get through. The rest of the book was great, but those parts really dragged it down.

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read the other two sub series in this series and honestly if I had read this one first I would not have read the other two. Giving it a 3 because I like the world building and it's nice to know more about the setting, but I could do without all the teenage boy hormones and the objectification of women. Understand why it was there - or rather why the author thought it had to be there - but it's still gross nonetheless. You know now that I think about it, I would rate this a 2.5. Good world building can only get you so far.

[Jason Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty fun book, didn’t hate it. I pretty much only listen to LITRPG, and I would say this is one of the better one in the genre. The main character is smart and relatable. The plot is engaging but it is a bit overwhelming, there are pretty complicated things happening in both the real world and in the game world. There were still some major plot elements that I never figured out. Maybe they will be cleared up in future books.

[Horia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really the worst and the cringiest opening chapters I've read. Ever!

From there the book recovers well too a nice litRPG story overall. There are two threads with two main characters both intertwined and playing well throughout.

If not the the dystopian, somehow anti-christian society in the main world, i would've gave it 4 stars really.

GG! I"ve finished a book. I might read the next ones in the series.

[Carewolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book in the Threadbare universe (though no character overlaps). It appears to be set before, and has a better introduction to the game mechanics, on top of a great dystopian meatspace world.

There are a few mistakes here and there (found the author's mistakes about Haskell programming hilarious), but the book overcomes them and remains great overall.

[Quinten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good successor to the other books in the series (even though it's a prequel) but the story didn't pull me in like Threadbare or Small Medium did. For it being a sequel, there's still a ton of unexplained events which I hope will be expanded on in the future!

[Travis Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun being back in the Threadbare verse. Man, this is answering so many questions I had from the Threadbare series, but it is especially putting the Small Medium series into much better context. 👍🏽👍🏽

[Ryan York · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best cyberpunk hacker scaly Isekai dystopian lovecraftian young adult novel you are ever going find. This book does all the genres at once. I would call this one a guilty pleasure. Wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who doesn’t enjoy all of the above.

[Danny Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was okay. The story at its core was good. The game story line was better than the real life story line although they were somewhat intermixed. It has some confusing elements though like the dual personalities of the MC. The MC being a young teenager is definitely a turn off too.