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TOL Online #1
This Broken Sword
I’m Hana Kotoba, and I just sold all of my possessions to join TOL Online, the world’s most popular VRMMORPG.
My father is dead, and I have one option to surviving this world: join TOL’s most dangerous realm and use it to make a living. Selling in-game resources is the only option I have now, and cleaving through ravenous creatures and beasts and quests is the only way to do it.
I'll fight every step of the way.
The problem? The realm fights back.
My father is dead, and I have one option to surviving this world: join TOL’s most dangerous realm and use it to make a living. Selling in-game resources is the only option I have now, and cleaving through ravenous creatures and beasts and quests is the only way to do it.
I'll fight every step of the way.
The problem? The realm fights back.
108 pages, Paperback
Published October 31, 2019
2 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Reynolds
17 books85 followersI'm a lover of fantasy, gaming, film, and most other forms of miraculous escapism.
I have kids, and a flock of baby dragons we are trying to raise to be house trained.
I write LitRPG/Gamelit books... Feel free to message me or reach out at any time!!!
I have kids, and a flock of baby dragons we are trying to raise to be house trained.
I write LitRPG/Gamelit books... Feel free to message me or reach out at any time!!!
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 17, 2019
4 broken STARS ★★★★✩
⇝Overall
[This is a review of a pre-release version.]
This was honestly so much fun. Didn't think a short novella would offer so much new reading-ground for my bibliophilic heart. This Broken Sword is the first book of this unique genre I've read so far and the debut author did a fantastic job. The narrative follows a young determined woman who enters a virtual reality environment via a game. It reminded me of Ready Player One at first (which I totally wanna re-read now) but it wasn't so much so that I thought it was merely a copy of it. The writing style was very poignant and made the world(s) come alive quickly and vividly.
There were some minor discrepancies TJ surely will sort out until it's time to release this precious book. Due to its length, I cannot tell y'all too much, except I absolutely can not wait for the sequels to come. I feel like I was only offered an appetizer to what has the potential to become a full-on blast 7-course menu - except the portion sizes are decent and not famine-inducing.
➺What’s happening.
Hana is on a mission to gather as many resources as possible and knows just the way to do so: She pawns her most precious possession. With a pocket full of money she is able to gain an exclusive membership at a gaming "cafe". She then uses ultra bio-high-tech equipment to immerse herself into Tol online, a game that offers a multitude of universes and characters.
And so Hana, the NightForest-Elf, takes off on an adventure, equipped with a semi-functional sword and a couple of survival skills. But will they help her fend off the beasts of online gaming? Maybe the real threat are the other gamers? Or perhaps powerful alliances lie ahead.
_____________________
Writing quality + easy of reading = 4*
pace = 3.5*
plot development = 3*
characters = 5*
enjoyability = 5*
insightfulness = 3*
_____________________
This eArc was provided by TJ Reynolds (via WeReadFantasy) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!
This book is for you if… you enjoy gaming and/or are a fan of universes such as Ready Player One. I myself am one of these folks that really love watching others play but never really committed to it themselves. Wait no longer, LitRPG is real and it is fantastic.
⇝Overall
[This is a review of a pre-release version.]
This was honestly so much fun. Didn't think a short novella would offer so much new reading-ground for my bibliophilic heart. This Broken Sword is the first book of this unique genre I've read so far and the debut author did a fantastic job. The narrative follows a young determined woman who enters a virtual reality environment via a game. It reminded me of Ready Player One at first (which I totally wanna re-read now) but it wasn't so much so that I thought it was merely a copy of it. The writing style was very poignant and made the world(s) come alive quickly and vividly.
There were some minor discrepancies TJ surely will sort out until it's time to release this precious book. Due to its length, I cannot tell y'all too much, except I absolutely can not wait for the sequels to come. I feel like I was only offered an appetizer to what has the potential to become a full-on blast 7-course menu - except the portion sizes are decent and not famine-inducing.
➺What’s happening.
Hana is on a mission to gather as many resources as possible and knows just the way to do so: She pawns her most precious possession. With a pocket full of money she is able to gain an exclusive membership at a gaming "cafe". She then uses ultra bio-high-tech equipment to immerse herself into Tol online, a game that offers a multitude of universes and characters.
And so Hana, the NightForest-Elf, takes off on an adventure, equipped with a semi-functional sword and a couple of survival skills. But will they help her fend off the beasts of online gaming? Maybe the real threat are the other gamers? Or perhaps powerful alliances lie ahead.
_____________________
Writing quality + easy of reading = 4*
pace = 3.5*
plot development = 3*
characters = 5*
enjoyability = 5*
insightfulness = 3*
_____________________
This eArc was provided by TJ Reynolds (via WeReadFantasy) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!
September 2, 2019
3.5 ⭐
This e-ARC was provided by TJ Reynolds via We are Fantasy for an honest review, so thank you so much! 💓
I enjoyed of this book, it reads so fast!
This book is about Dalhia, a young girl who needs money because her mother passed away some years ago and her dad too recently.
She payed for a month in Tol Online, a video game of virtual reality that with it, she could earn a lot of money.
So, our main character create her profile and her character in a fantasy world.
The only thing I find, the book is too short. And I think it finished at the middle of the story.
By the way, I think the book is similar to Ready Player One. So, if you are fond of those kind of books, you will really enjoy this one.
~Español~
Disfruté del libro, más porque se lee super rápido!
Está historia va sobre Dalhia, una joven chica que queda sola después de que su madre muriera hace varios atrás y su padre también hacía poco.
Así que ella paga un mes completo para internarse a Tol Online, un juego de realidad virtual, en donde se supone que ganará mucho dinero.
Así que nuestra personaje crea su perfil y su personaje en un mundo de fantasía.
Lo único que encontré que no me gustó fue que el libro fuera demasiado corto y terminara justo en el medio de la historia.
Pero por otro lado, pienso que el libro es similar a Ready Player One y que si fuiste alguien que disfrutó de ese libro también disfrutarás este.
This e-ARC was provided by TJ Reynolds via We are Fantasy for an honest review, so thank you so much! 💓
I enjoyed of this book, it reads so fast!
This book is about Dalhia, a young girl who needs money because her mother passed away some years ago and her dad too recently.
She payed for a month in Tol Online, a video game of virtual reality that with it, she could earn a lot of money.
So, our main character create her profile and her character in a fantasy world.
The only thing I find, the book is too short. And I think it finished at the middle of the story.
By the way, I think the book is similar to Ready Player One. So, if you are fond of those kind of books, you will really enjoy this one.
~Español~
Disfruté del libro, más porque se lee super rápido!
Está historia va sobre Dalhia, una joven chica que queda sola después de que su madre muriera hace varios atrás y su padre también hacía poco.
Así que ella paga un mes completo para internarse a Tol Online, un juego de realidad virtual, en donde se supone que ganará mucho dinero.
Así que nuestra personaje crea su perfil y su personaje en un mundo de fantasía.
Lo único que encontré que no me gustó fue que el libro fuera demasiado corto y terminara justo en el medio de la historia.
Pero por otro lado, pienso que el libro es similar a Ready Player One y que si fuiste alguien que disfrutó de ese libro también disfrutarás este.
August 27, 2019
I knew when I was asked to read an Arc of this book that I would love this world and the characters in it. Based on online roleplay games and with heavily discriptive world building, this novella will take you to another world. You can really tell that the author had either played RPG's or really researched them. I throughly enjoyed this and can't wait to see where our main character goes!
September 3, 2019
This novella is an introduction to the world of TOL Online, and it incorporates elements from novels such as Ready Player One and The Rising of the Shield Hero.
The novella follows Dalhia/Hana's journey into the world of TOL in order for her to earn some money to survive. The novella allows the reader to have a taste of the complex, intriguing world of TOL that Hana explores and the real, futuristic world Dalhia is from.
Overall, it is a quick, fun read for those who are interested in zero to hero stories and love MMORPGS.
The novella follows Dalhia/Hana's journey into the world of TOL in order for her to earn some money to survive. The novella allows the reader to have a taste of the complex, intriguing world of TOL that Hana explores and the real, futuristic world Dalhia is from.
Overall, it is a quick, fun read for those who are interested in zero to hero stories and love MMORPGS.
September 13, 2019
A super realistic, other worldly experience. I loved the realm and the characters. I couldn't stop reading it and I'm so excited about ths game in this book. It seems surreal and totally intoxicating. The way it is all described paints a clear breathtaking picture.
September 9, 2019
This is an e-ARC I received through We Read Fantasy in exchange for an honest review of this work.
Going into the world of Tol Online, I honestly did not know anything aside from the summary provided. Having read only a few Sci-Fi books as I am not really that much of a reader of the genre, I had a hard time reading this one.
The first part for me was really dragging. I find it slow-paced and I was honestly confused as to what is really the name of the main character. Is it Dahlia or Hana? I find the game itself confusing because I could not get its nature. I don't know how it's played and I do not know how it works. I find that it wasn't really properly explained.
Also, the main character practically avoids anyone that the first three or four chapters are dull. She only gets to describe her surroundings, what she's doing and then repeat. It would be better if she talked to someone in the first place. In that way, there is interaction which leads to excitement in reading.
Although the last parts surely made up for the others, I still think an interesting start would be better to hook readers like me to continue reading on with Sci-Fi. The last few chapters were okay for me though lacking stronger actions.
Going into the world of Tol Online, I honestly did not know anything aside from the summary provided. Having read only a few Sci-Fi books as I am not really that much of a reader of the genre, I had a hard time reading this one.
The first part for me was really dragging. I find it slow-paced and I was honestly confused as to what is really the name of the main character. Is it Dahlia or Hana? I find the game itself confusing because I could not get its nature. I don't know how it's played and I do not know how it works. I find that it wasn't really properly explained.
Also, the main character practically avoids anyone that the first three or four chapters are dull. She only gets to describe her surroundings, what she's doing and then repeat. It would be better if she talked to someone in the first place. In that way, there is interaction which leads to excitement in reading.
Although the last parts surely made up for the others, I still think an interesting start would be better to hook readers like me to continue reading on with Sci-Fi. The last few chapters were okay for me though lacking stronger actions.
June 17, 2020
Hana Kotoba has lost everything, but a sword, her mothers ring, and a massive debt. With her mother and father dead, she has been saddled with a debt she cannot settle, and not doing so would force her into near slavery until she can work it off.
With little time she dares to pawn her mother's ring with the hope that by getting enough money to play, that she can upload her consciousness into Eternal Online. EOL is a role playing game where the chance for riches is real, but so is the pain, sorrow, and agony of living that life.
There is a lot she has to learn before she can play her way out of her current situation, but even as she does her debt, her loneliness, and the horrors of her real past haunt her every step of the way. Hopefully, with the help of her new friends, a Fox Bird named Pauchie, and her new friend, a Barbarian woman with a Bronx attitude and wit, she can make her way through her enemies, and become the real warrior she was always meant to be.
For me three stars is pretty good, though I know the author won't see it that way. I gave the story three stars because the characters development was outstanding, and I really enjoyed the performance by the narrator in the audio-book. I did have some issues with the story however. One, was that it built up very slowly, I was over half way through before I had any real idea what direction it was going in. Second, the encounters did feel a little like a progressive dungeon adventure, with each phase being a little harder, but the end boss didn't make any sense at all to me. It was cool, but kind of felt like I was fighting octopus people and end up fighting a Hippo monster at the end.
I did really like the skill tree, but it wasn't as clear as some, or as intrusive, so that was kind of mixed.
Still, far better than I could have done.
Character Development- lvl 4/5
Character Arc _ lvl 3/5
Story arch lvl 2/5
Narrator performance-lvl 5/5
With little time she dares to pawn her mother's ring with the hope that by getting enough money to play, that she can upload her consciousness into Eternal Online. EOL is a role playing game where the chance for riches is real, but so is the pain, sorrow, and agony of living that life.
There is a lot she has to learn before she can play her way out of her current situation, but even as she does her debt, her loneliness, and the horrors of her real past haunt her every step of the way. Hopefully, with the help of her new friends, a Fox Bird named Pauchie, and her new friend, a Barbarian woman with a Bronx attitude and wit, she can make her way through her enemies, and become the real warrior she was always meant to be.
For me three stars is pretty good, though I know the author won't see it that way. I gave the story three stars because the characters development was outstanding, and I really enjoyed the performance by the narrator in the audio-book. I did have some issues with the story however. One, was that it built up very slowly, I was over half way through before I had any real idea what direction it was going in. Second, the encounters did feel a little like a progressive dungeon adventure, with each phase being a little harder, but the end boss didn't make any sense at all to me. It was cool, but kind of felt like I was fighting octopus people and end up fighting a Hippo monster at the end.
I did really like the skill tree, but it wasn't as clear as some, or as intrusive, so that was kind of mixed.
Still, far better than I could have done.
Character Development- lvl 4/5
Character Arc _ lvl 3/5
Story arch lvl 2/5
Narrator performance-lvl 5/5
April 17, 2020
My only regret is I can only give 5 stars, where many more would be more appropriate.
November 5, 2019
First of all, you need to know that this is not a stand-alone story. It is the first episode in a longer story arc. If you're looking for a beginning, middle, and end, I would suggest binging on the series when more chapters are out.
The writing is great and very descriptive. The MC, a sixteen-year-old girl, is very likable and relatable. To get out of debt, she is forced to play Tor Online, which is an MMORPG. While this story is a LitRPG/Gamelit, it focuses a lot on gathering and crafting (which is what my wife used to love to do while playing WoW). There are many LOTR references and other pop culture Easter eggs throughout the story.
It is an easy read and a great addition to the genre. I look forward to the next episode!
The writing is great and very descriptive. The MC, a sixteen-year-old girl, is very likable and relatable. To get out of debt, she is forced to play Tor Online, which is an MMORPG. While this story is a LitRPG/Gamelit, it focuses a lot on gathering and crafting (which is what my wife used to love to do while playing WoW). There are many LOTR references and other pop culture Easter eggs throughout the story.
It is an easy read and a great addition to the genre. I look forward to the next episode!
February 2, 2020
Overall I really enjoyed this book the setting and overall premise are fascinating. The writing style is well done and the story is well paced. I really wish the author had chosen to start the series with a longer book though. The ending felt really abrupt and it cut off a little too soon for me to fully connect to the characters. I do see how the novella set up will work well in this world for the later books but I really wanted something more from a first book it just feels a bit incomplete. That said I would recommend it particularly once book two is out so you can have it ready to read right away.
November 5, 2019
Hunter as grinder
For a novella It does a decent job of establishing the MC and get her in the game. Where she has some decent NPC interactions, she doesn't talk to humans much. I enjoyed and would gladly read more episodes.
Score: 8.2 out of 10
For a novella It does a decent job of establishing the MC and get her in the game. Where she has some decent NPC interactions, she doesn't talk to humans much. I enjoyed and would gladly read more episodes.
Score: 8.2 out of 10
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews