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Champion's Quest #1
The Die of Destiny
Lucas Silver's life is about to change. He thinks it's because he's made plans to escape from his foster home and make his way to New York, but then he and some unlikely friends find Hob and Bogie's Curiosity Shoppe and agree to play a game of Champion's Quest.
When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they're no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch.
They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous monster.
When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they're no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch.
They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous monster.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 3, 2021
26 people are currently reading
1537 people want to read
About the author
Frank L. Cole
17 books267 followersFrank L. Cole has lived in such exotic places as the Philippines and Kentucky, and currently lives with his wife and three children out west. While he strived for years to earn his publishing credits, Frank considers sharing his message of “Exercising Your Imagination” to over 100,000 kids across the country as his greatest accomplishment. Frank has been published with Cedar Fort Books, Delacorte Press, and Shadow Mountain Publishing. The Legend of the Last Library is Frank's 15th published book. You can learn more about his writing at frankcolewrites.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
September 10, 2021
I wrote this book and I love it! And it was hard to write, so I'm not going to knock it. All opinions are my own. I was not paid for this review... I was paid for the book, but not the review. Hope you enjoy it!
May 14, 2021
After reading this for a little bit I knew I would describe this as Dungeon & Dragons(what I know of it) meets Jumanji. Turns out that’s the perfect comparison, b/c when I finished this, I read the back of the ARC & it said the same! Lol This is just as much fun & full of adventure as that description makes you think. It lives up to the challenge, & then some.
Lucas made plans to escape from his foster home & make his way to NY, but then he, Jasmine(also a new girl at school), Vanessa(16 year old daughter of couple who run foster home), & Miles(his friend & also lives at the foster home w/him)find Hob & Bogie’s Curiosity Shoppe & agree to play a game of Champion’s Quest. But when they walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they’re no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game & a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, & a powerful witch.
These 4 kids become a sort of found family in a way. What an amazing 1 they are too. They each have my heart & are so vital to the quest & the story itself. (If any were to have my whole heart, IG would be Goon & Madge-love!)Vanessa needing attention, Lucas & Miles in another foster home & needing to feel accepted, & Jasmine living w/her grandma w/her parents still back in the Philippines. They all have a weakness they need to face, but they have a better chance together. Lucas has always been on his own, no friends or anything. Trust & depend on no 1, & is always planning how he will runaway on his own. He also has severe anxiety in the form of horrible panic attacks. Miles is the picture of innocence, who loves learning anything & everything. Both he & Lucas struggle w/self confidence & needing to belong. Jasmine has a fierce temper & doesn’t make friends easily. Vanessa is 16, grumpy, & full of attitude-I couldn’t stand her most of the book, but every adventure needs a character like her, & you end up almost liking those characters the best in the end. To finish this quest they have to face their weaknesses, work together, & believe in themselves & in each other. They get to see what it’s like to be the character they are in the game, & it’s a wild adventure.
This is full of adventure, friendship, perseverance, & bravery. Big focus on importance of friendship, anxiety, acceptance, believing in yourself, & belonging. So atmospheric too! I felt like I was in the game experiencing it w/them! Amazing writing & details too-from the Curiosity Shoppe, to the different dice, the monsters & all the side characters, the weapons & different parts of their outfits, the character/role they each play, what they can earn or be given, & the Advancement Medallions. So great! I can’t wait for the sequel & see what happens next! Highly recommend! Thanks again to the author for doing the giveaway! I immediately looked up other books by him, & I already own a stand alone, but will be on the lookout to find more, including 2 other trilogies that look amazing! Beautiful cover by Owen Richardson too! Love it!💜
Lucas made plans to escape from his foster home & make his way to NY, but then he, Jasmine(also a new girl at school), Vanessa(16 year old daughter of couple who run foster home), & Miles(his friend & also lives at the foster home w/him)find Hob & Bogie’s Curiosity Shoppe & agree to play a game of Champion’s Quest. But when they walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they’re no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game & a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, & a powerful witch.
These 4 kids become a sort of found family in a way. What an amazing 1 they are too. They each have my heart & are so vital to the quest & the story itself. (If any were to have my whole heart, IG would be Goon & Madge-love!)Vanessa needing attention, Lucas & Miles in another foster home & needing to feel accepted, & Jasmine living w/her grandma w/her parents still back in the Philippines. They all have a weakness they need to face, but they have a better chance together. Lucas has always been on his own, no friends or anything. Trust & depend on no 1, & is always planning how he will runaway on his own. He also has severe anxiety in the form of horrible panic attacks. Miles is the picture of innocence, who loves learning anything & everything. Both he & Lucas struggle w/self confidence & needing to belong. Jasmine has a fierce temper & doesn’t make friends easily. Vanessa is 16, grumpy, & full of attitude-I couldn’t stand her most of the book, but every adventure needs a character like her, & you end up almost liking those characters the best in the end. To finish this quest they have to face their weaknesses, work together, & believe in themselves & in each other. They get to see what it’s like to be the character they are in the game, & it’s a wild adventure.
This is full of adventure, friendship, perseverance, & bravery. Big focus on importance of friendship, anxiety, acceptance, believing in yourself, & belonging. So atmospheric too! I felt like I was in the game experiencing it w/them! Amazing writing & details too-from the Curiosity Shoppe, to the different dice, the monsters & all the side characters, the weapons & different parts of their outfits, the character/role they each play, what they can earn or be given, & the Advancement Medallions. So great! I can’t wait for the sequel & see what happens next! Highly recommend! Thanks again to the author for doing the giveaway! I immediately looked up other books by him, & I already own a stand alone, but will be on the lookout to find more, including 2 other trilogies that look amazing! Beautiful cover by Owen Richardson too! Love it!💜
July 25, 2021
I read this for a middle grade fantasy vlog! https://youtu.be/0Daa8kHwbFw
Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny is perfect for fans of video games and RPG's like Dungeons and Dragons! What if you could jump into one in real life? That's the premise of this book and it's so much fun! It follows a group of kids who inadvertently end up in a game where they must complete a quest in order to return to the real world. And along the way they grow and learn.
As someone who plays D&D and has played RPG video games like Dragon Age, I got a huge kick out of this book. There are lots of nods to the way gameplay is structured that avid players will enjoy. But it's also a fun adventure story filled with goblins, ogres, riddles, and danger. (though it's never TOO dangerous, since dying doesn't hurt and you just get sent back to the beginning of the game!) What's nice is this is something you could hand to an 8 year old OR a 12 year old and while they might take away different things, it would be equally appropriate for both. I loved it and would definitely read on in the series! I received an advance copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny is perfect for fans of video games and RPG's like Dungeons and Dragons! What if you could jump into one in real life? That's the premise of this book and it's so much fun! It follows a group of kids who inadvertently end up in a game where they must complete a quest in order to return to the real world. And along the way they grow and learn.
As someone who plays D&D and has played RPG video games like Dragon Age, I got a huge kick out of this book. There are lots of nods to the way gameplay is structured that avid players will enjoy. But it's also a fun adventure story filled with goblins, ogres, riddles, and danger. (though it's never TOO dangerous, since dying doesn't hurt and you just get sent back to the beginning of the game!) What's nice is this is something you could hand to an 8 year old OR a 12 year old and while they might take away different things, it would be equally appropriate for both. I loved it and would definitely read on in the series! I received an advance copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
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October 17, 2022This was such a fun read! The book is marketed as Dungeons & Dragons meets Jumanji, and that’s a good explanation. Lucas and three other kids are magically transported into a fantasy world. It’s only a game—but they can’t escape unless they complete their quest and defeat the mighty Foyos. And before they can ever hope to manage that, they’ll have to learn to work together.
I read this with my twins and there were lots of requests for “just one more chapter.” Primarily, it’s a fun fantasy adventure, but it also includes good themes about teamwork, friendship, and accepting and overcoming personal weaknesses. It’s a great choice for school and home libraries. This one had good closure, but there’s room for more books and we will definitely keep reading if it turns into a series.
Thanks to the publisher and the author for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own.
I read this with my twins and there were lots of requests for “just one more chapter.” Primarily, it’s a fun fantasy adventure, but it also includes good themes about teamwork, friendship, and accepting and overcoming personal weaknesses. It’s a great choice for school and home libraries. This one had good closure, but there’s room for more books and we will definitely keep reading if it turns into a series.
Thanks to the publisher and the author for the gifted copy! All opinions are my own.
June 9, 2021
When I told my kids that I had just read an ARC of a book about some teens who basically get to play a real, live (sort of) game of dungeons and dragons, they were instantly interested. I have never read this author before, but this book is enjoyable and has a lot going for it. It will definitely appeal to kids who love fantasy and role-playing games.
The characters are good and, I think, relatable to kids. It’s great to see how their friendship grows as they participate in this game and how they learn to work as a team and encourage each other. That is what I liked most about it.
The characters are good and, I think, relatable to kids. It’s great to see how their friendship grows as they participate in this game and how they learn to work as a team and encourage each other. That is what I liked most about it.
October 14, 2025
This was such a fantastic book! It pulled you into the world and made you feel like you were right there alongside the Wild Crows fighting and playing Champion’s Quest. Kirby Heyborne is always a fantastic narrator. Such a good read!
August 3, 2021
I was blown away from this book Champion Quest: The Die of Destiny. I think it's the author's best book ever. The characters were engaging, well-developed and interesting. The side characters were fun, memorable and engaging. There was humor, exciting twists and turns and a little bit of drama. I felt like the world creation was well done. I wanted to explore the world and get to know all the characters. The author did a great job at describing the world, the characters, and the experiences that characters encountered. It was an entertaining and easy read. The book felt like the inside of a game with obstacles and challenges. The villains in the book felt like more like obstacles and not overly scary. I think my seven year old almost eight year old would love this book, but he looked at the cover and wasn't interested. That was the only downside of the book was that the cover didn't draw my son in to the story. It was a little discouraging to me because this is exactly the story type that he likes. It has adventure, fantasy and excitement that's appropriate for his age and maturity. The same thing happened when I showed him another book series that he wouldn't try for awhile because of the cover and then once he got past the cover and started reading the series, he loved it and read it over and over again. I plan on reading this book out loud to him to get him past the cover. I think this would be a very good book to read out loud and listen to on car trips. I plan on getting the audiobook to listen in the car for travelling. I was disappointed it wasn't out yet for our summer vacation, but the audiobook is coming out soon and is available for preorder, which will be in time for anyone planning holiday travel. Fans of adventure and fantasy will really enjoy this book. This is one of the best middle grade fiction series that I've read in a long time. It's worth checking out!
Please note that I received a free copy to review, however, this is my honest opinion.
Please note that I received a free copy to review, however, this is my honest opinion.
July 26, 2021
3.5 stars
This was a very interesting book at first glance as I received this book from my sisters. I was excited to start it and eagerly started reading the first chapters. It moved through the plot very quickly and I enjoyed it initially. However, after further reading through this book, I was underwhelmed with the concept, the sudden slow storyline, and flat characters. There were some bright spots in this book, but overall, I had a more difficult time getting through it.
One of the big reasons I struggled reading this book was the little character development. The main character Lucas appeared very immature and incredibly predictable as “the leader.” On the flip side, however, I loved the dynamic Jasmine. She was Flipino and had an intriguing personality. Miles played his role as a classic geeky sidekick well and was an entertaining character. I did not enjoy Vanessa’s character as she had the characteristics of the mean girl turned loving older sister, but it ended up seeming forced and poorly executed. Plot-wise, there were some more intriguing locations that I wish they spent more time in and felt rushed as they went from place to place. This book did have great side-characters with their witty dialogue and well-placed appearances.
I would recommend this book to a younger audience of about 10-12 years olds. By no means was this a bad book, just one that did not end up meeting my expectations or fitting my interests. Overall, this book had some good characters, an interesting plot, but a slow pace. Furthermore, if there was a sequel from another character’s perspective, I would look forward to reading that. I would give this book 3 and a half stars.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.
This was a very interesting book at first glance as I received this book from my sisters. I was excited to start it and eagerly started reading the first chapters. It moved through the plot very quickly and I enjoyed it initially. However, after further reading through this book, I was underwhelmed with the concept, the sudden slow storyline, and flat characters. There were some bright spots in this book, but overall, I had a more difficult time getting through it.
One of the big reasons I struggled reading this book was the little character development. The main character Lucas appeared very immature and incredibly predictable as “the leader.” On the flip side, however, I loved the dynamic Jasmine. She was Flipino and had an intriguing personality. Miles played his role as a classic geeky sidekick well and was an entertaining character. I did not enjoy Vanessa’s character as she had the characteristics of the mean girl turned loving older sister, but it ended up seeming forced and poorly executed. Plot-wise, there were some more intriguing locations that I wish they spent more time in and felt rushed as they went from place to place. This book did have great side-characters with their witty dialogue and well-placed appearances.
I would recommend this book to a younger audience of about 10-12 years olds. By no means was this a bad book, just one that did not end up meeting my expectations or fitting my interests. Overall, this book had some good characters, an interesting plot, but a slow pace. Furthermore, if there was a sequel from another character’s perspective, I would look forward to reading that. I would give this book 3 and a half stars.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.
August 2, 2021
There are so many of these epic middle grade books out there. I love how they are written. They engage the reader so completely in a different world. This book was one of those for me. I loved how the author wrote the characters and the adventure. The whole thing was simply amazing.
Lucas Silver is the main character in this one. The reader sees the whole thing through his eyes. I loved the way he wasn’t perfect. Lucas tends to get a bit of anxiety that he calls The Creepers. I liked the way he was able to overcome it a little bit as he went on his adventures.
Lucas is trying to run away from his current foster home. He wants to get on a train that is telling him, Your life is your adventure, but we can help you on your way. What he doesn’t really understand is that living life is the best adventure. Making friends, and stronger relationships, making memories with those that matter most to us. Those are the things that matter most in life. I think he maybe learns that just a little on his journey and so does the reader who goes along with him.
There are so many amazing characters and adventures in this book. Some of them are good for Lucas, some are not so good. But the journey is incredible!
I loved that this book is written for middle grade readers, but it kept my attention from the very beginning. This is one of those I can’t wait to share with our kids.
I was sent a copy of The Die of Destiny (Champion’s Quest) as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Lucas Silver is the main character in this one. The reader sees the whole thing through his eyes. I loved the way he wasn’t perfect. Lucas tends to get a bit of anxiety that he calls The Creepers. I liked the way he was able to overcome it a little bit as he went on his adventures.
Lucas is trying to run away from his current foster home. He wants to get on a train that is telling him, Your life is your adventure, but we can help you on your way. What he doesn’t really understand is that living life is the best adventure. Making friends, and stronger relationships, making memories with those that matter most to us. Those are the things that matter most in life. I think he maybe learns that just a little on his journey and so does the reader who goes along with him.
There are so many amazing characters and adventures in this book. Some of them are good for Lucas, some are not so good. But the journey is incredible!
I loved that this book is written for middle grade readers, but it kept my attention from the very beginning. This is one of those I can’t wait to share with our kids.
I was sent a copy of The Die of Destiny (Champion’s Quest) as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
June 6, 2021
Thanks to Net Galley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for giving me an ARC copy!
Lucas is an orphan boy whose plans to run away from his current foster home get interrupted by a little problem. He's stuck in a fantasy, D&D-esque world! And the only way he's getting back to our world is if he and his party finish their assigned quest. Will they be able to work together and outthink their enemies or will they be forever stuck in the Champion's Quest world?
This book was full of adventure and it felt a lot like reading a story about a D&D campaign, where the characters don't know the rules because they lost the rule book. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the characters try to figure out the RPG world, where things are enough different that it's easy to mess up.
On to the characters! I really liked how Lucas and the other characters grew over the book, especially as they started to become more of a team. I also liked it when they realize all the different things their gadgets could be used for, instead of just smacking people with them. They have to learn how to outsmart their opponents with the tools that are available to them. On top of all that, they aren't perfect adventurers. They mess up... a lot, but they persevere and become a sort of family, which was one of my favorite things about them.
There were so many adorable moments in this book, but I don't want to ruin any of them for you, just know that hummingbirds apparently make great trackers.
Overall, this book is full of adventure, perseverance, friendship, and more. Is it a great Middle-grade fantasy book, and I would recommend it to any who like that genre. The cover is amazing and, yes, that is an actual bone dragon on the cover (I think this might be the 1st fantasy book I've ever read that's had one). I enjoyed reading it and I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author.
Content Warnings:
This is a Middle-Grade book, so there's not any huge CWs, however I will mention a few things that might bother some people.
-Mentions of parent death
-Maze of bones, complete with bone dragon
-Characters die, but get brought back to life, since they're trapped in game world (kind of like a video-game)
-Discussion of running away from foster home
Lucas is an orphan boy whose plans to run away from his current foster home get interrupted by a little problem. He's stuck in a fantasy, D&D-esque world! And the only way he's getting back to our world is if he and his party finish their assigned quest. Will they be able to work together and outthink their enemies or will they be forever stuck in the Champion's Quest world?
This book was full of adventure and it felt a lot like reading a story about a D&D campaign, where the characters don't know the rules because they lost the rule book. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the characters try to figure out the RPG world, where things are enough different that it's easy to mess up.
On to the characters! I really liked how Lucas and the other characters grew over the book, especially as they started to become more of a team. I also liked it when they realize all the different things their gadgets could be used for, instead of just smacking people with them. They have to learn how to outsmart their opponents with the tools that are available to them. On top of all that, they aren't perfect adventurers. They mess up... a lot, but they persevere and become a sort of family, which was one of my favorite things about them.
There were so many adorable moments in this book, but I don't want to ruin any of them for you, just know that hummingbirds apparently make great trackers.
Overall, this book is full of adventure, perseverance, friendship, and more. Is it a great Middle-grade fantasy book, and I would recommend it to any who like that genre. The cover is amazing and, yes, that is an actual bone dragon on the cover (I think this might be the 1st fantasy book I've ever read that's had one). I enjoyed reading it and I'm looking forward to seeing more from this author.
Content Warnings:
This is a Middle-Grade book, so there's not any huge CWs, however I will mention a few things that might bother some people.
-Mentions of parent death
-Maze of bones, complete with bone dragon
-Characters die, but get brought back to life, since they're trapped in game world (kind of like a video-game)
-Discussion of running away from foster home
July 27, 2021
3.5 stars
Described as Dungeons & Dragons meets Jumanji, this was really cute. I wasn't too sure about it, since I know little to nothing about Dungeons & Dragons. But I had no trouble following along with what was going on. Any explanations I needed were given in the book.
I do feel like everything the group came across along on their quest was solved mostly by luck and convenience. I wish they'd had to do a bit more hard work to accomplish their tasks. I also wish we'd gotten to know the characters on a deeper level. Especially Vanessa and Jasmine.
I'm going to pass along this book as a recommendation to my Zelda: Breath of the Wild loving nephew, because this book reminded me a bit of that game.
*Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me a review copy of this book.
Described as Dungeons & Dragons meets Jumanji, this was really cute. I wasn't too sure about it, since I know little to nothing about Dungeons & Dragons. But I had no trouble following along with what was going on. Any explanations I needed were given in the book.
I do feel like everything the group came across along on their quest was solved mostly by luck and convenience. I wish they'd had to do a bit more hard work to accomplish their tasks. I also wish we'd gotten to know the characters on a deeper level. Especially Vanessa and Jasmine.
I'm going to pass along this book as a recommendation to my Zelda: Breath of the Wild loving nephew, because this book reminded me a bit of that game.
*Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing for sending me a review copy of this book.
June 14, 2021
Lucas' life is about to change just not exactly in the way he thought. When he entered that game shop he was hoping to ditch his friend and run away from their newest foster home in a line of them. But what happened was he, his friend, a girl from school, and his foster parents daughter who Lucas is sure hates him get transported into a role playing game and now must fight, think, and work together so they can complete the quest if they want to leave the game. Sounds easy right?
This is a great book especially with the different role playing games making a comeback. It shows how with teamwork you can accomplish a lot more than by yourself. The best part is they couldn't just give up and say its to hard they had to keep going or they would be stuck in the game forever. I think this will hold the attention of readers young and old and I hope they like it as much as I did.
This is a great book especially with the different role playing games making a comeback. It shows how with teamwork you can accomplish a lot more than by yourself. The best part is they couldn't just give up and say its to hard they had to keep going or they would be stuck in the game forever. I think this will hold the attention of readers young and old and I hope they like it as much as I did.
January 30, 2022
This was fun. It reminded me a lot of the book Adventurer's Wanted (with a bit of Jumanji thrown into the mix). Good book for middle grade readers.
January 19, 2023
I'm an old reader who's thoroughly enjoying YA novels...and this one was a delight! Ordered this, the second in the series AND the Poison Masters.
August 2, 2021
A fun adventure fantasy for middle-grade readers! It reminded me a bit of Jumanji but in a fantasy setting. I liked the characters, their development, and the themes taught about friendship and family. There were some confusing parts in the first half as I tried to keep all the details strait in the game and I appreciated the game summaries at the end of each chapter that helped with that.
My 13-year-old thought this was a really fun read as well, and I would recommend it to any reader ages 10 and older who enjoy the fantasy genre!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but a positive review was not required.
My 13-year-old thought this was a really fun read as well, and I would recommend it to any reader ages 10 and older who enjoy the fantasy genre!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but a positive review was not required.
June 8, 2021
Hard to get into but fun!
October 1, 2022
I've been eyeing this one for awhile. I'm sad that it took me so long to read, because it was amazing. It is jam packed with good clean adventures. It is considered a JF book, but any age could really enjoy it!!
July 28, 2021
Fantasy readers rejoice!!!!
Fans of Dungeons and Dragons, Magic The Gathering and high stakes adventure will want to read this book.
We meet Lucas, orphaned and moving from one foster home to another, decides to run away and escape his reality, but fate has a funny way of finding you. Along with his best friend Miles, they stumble upon a curiosity shoppe where looks can be deceiving. Tagging along with them are Jasmine and Vanessa, Lucas's foster sister.
They are mysteriously transported into Champion's Quest, a role playing board game where they will have to work together, set aside their differences in order to defeat formidable opponents.
The friendship dynamic in the book was amazing, each character was very relatable, each of them had to work through anxiety, self doubt and trust issues. Also, the world building was incredibly clever and unique, I was able to picture myself fighting with our Band of Champion's.
Fans of Dungeons and Dragons, Magic The Gathering and high stakes adventure will want to read this book.
We meet Lucas, orphaned and moving from one foster home to another, decides to run away and escape his reality, but fate has a funny way of finding you. Along with his best friend Miles, they stumble upon a curiosity shoppe where looks can be deceiving. Tagging along with them are Jasmine and Vanessa, Lucas's foster sister.
They are mysteriously transported into Champion's Quest, a role playing board game where they will have to work together, set aside their differences in order to defeat formidable opponents.
The friendship dynamic in the book was amazing, each character was very relatable, each of them had to work through anxiety, self doubt and trust issues. Also, the world building was incredibly clever and unique, I was able to picture myself fighting with our Band of Champion's.
June 23, 2021
This is a series that I want the rest of it up front so I don't have to keep waiting for the next installment. It was such a fantastic adventure. I have never been a fan of role playing games, so to have an entire book based around that concept had me rolling my eyes. I take back the eye roll and than some. Lucas and his team had some big defining moments. To see them figure the game out as they went as well as work together as a team was so much fun to take part in. I can't wait for the next one and can't recommend this enough for anyone who loves a great adventure.
August 2, 2021
NOTE: I received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher (Shadow Mountain Publishing) in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influences my reactions/rating. This also means that all quotes and plot points are based on the ARC copy and should not fully reflect the final work.
"WARNING - Gameplay in Champion's Quest only ends upon successful Quest completion."
World-building: Realistically, there isn't a ton I can put here. Of course, there is the whole aspect of building the game, making the rules, learning about the creatures, and mentions of map pathways, but as far as actual description goes, this story could benefit from having more. There was a lot of telling and not showing, so for most of the book I was picturing the characters in a generic forest or town, but in some cases, I couldn't picture anything and, in my mind, the characters were emoting against a white background.
Plot: Right away, this plot sweeps you off your feet. By quickly introducing a whole slew of characters, there's no disconnect between learning the backstory of main character Lucas and launching into a world of magic and mysticism. The plot runs as any other adventure might, but there are definitely aspects that add flair. Specifically, I found it rather interesting that, in this game world, players can get injured, but they don't bleed. This might be a way to make the style a little more PG and less life-or-death, but it is also something that isn't normally in adventures like this. Otherwise, the "game mechanics" are similar to what most games have, including enemies, a health bar, a storage system (with limited space), a currency, and healing.
Characters: Of the characters, we hear the most about Lucas. Considering he is the one telling the story, this makes perfect sense. In the beginning, Lucas is a kid that just wants to get away from his foster home. Having lost his parents at a young age, he doesn't feel at home anywhere he gets placed and decided to run away. Lucas is a relatable character, in some ways, because he suffers from the "Creepers" or what others might simply call anxiety. This is a great way to talk about mental health for this age level and even shows that Lucas himself doesn't know what is happening to him.
While I think this is a great story, with an interesting premise, I think some of the characters are bland. We hear a lot about Lucas, the voice of the book, but the other characters lack a special something that would make me feel more drawn to them. In particular, Vanessa is a very dislikable, vain character. Not only does she come off as selfish from the start, she constantly asserts her age to inflict her superiority (which, to be fair, most teenagers probably would do). I found myself rolling my eyes at her character and generally felt like she didn't contribute much to the plot.
Miles was a fun character that I would consider fun-loving and energetic, however, I think this was exploited and often made him come off as dumb or foolish, which I don't think was the intention.
The character I wanted more from was actually Jasmine. I found her character the most interesting, especially since she is silent for a good portion of the novel. Game-wise, she is stealthy and quick to learn the rules; she even seems to be the best at fighting, a useful skill when it comes to RPGs. We learn a few things about her backstory and her family, but there is clearly more to her, leaving untapped potential.
Overall: Four normal kids are thrown into Champion's Quest, a role-playing game unlike any other. Taking the real-life stakes of Jumanji with the creativity of Dungeons and Dragons and the gaming feeling of open-world RPGs, board game lovers finally have a book curated especially for them. In the end, they learned how to overcome their differences and came together as a team, which is very heartwarming and leaves room for a book two!
Warnings: Mentions of death, anxiety, mild violence
"WARNING - Gameplay in Champion's Quest only ends upon successful Quest completion."
World-building: Realistically, there isn't a ton I can put here. Of course, there is the whole aspect of building the game, making the rules, learning about the creatures, and mentions of map pathways, but as far as actual description goes, this story could benefit from having more. There was a lot of telling and not showing, so for most of the book I was picturing the characters in a generic forest or town, but in some cases, I couldn't picture anything and, in my mind, the characters were emoting against a white background.
Plot: Right away, this plot sweeps you off your feet. By quickly introducing a whole slew of characters, there's no disconnect between learning the backstory of main character Lucas and launching into a world of magic and mysticism. The plot runs as any other adventure might, but there are definitely aspects that add flair. Specifically, I found it rather interesting that, in this game world, players can get injured, but they don't bleed. This might be a way to make the style a little more PG and less life-or-death, but it is also something that isn't normally in adventures like this. Otherwise, the "game mechanics" are similar to what most games have, including enemies, a health bar, a storage system (with limited space), a currency, and healing.
Characters: Of the characters, we hear the most about Lucas. Considering he is the one telling the story, this makes perfect sense. In the beginning, Lucas is a kid that just wants to get away from his foster home. Having lost his parents at a young age, he doesn't feel at home anywhere he gets placed and decided to run away. Lucas is a relatable character, in some ways, because he suffers from the "Creepers" or what others might simply call anxiety. This is a great way to talk about mental health for this age level and even shows that Lucas himself doesn't know what is happening to him.
While I think this is a great story, with an interesting premise, I think some of the characters are bland. We hear a lot about Lucas, the voice of the book, but the other characters lack a special something that would make me feel more drawn to them. In particular, Vanessa is a very dislikable, vain character. Not only does she come off as selfish from the start, she constantly asserts her age to inflict her superiority (which, to be fair, most teenagers probably would do). I found myself rolling my eyes at her character and generally felt like she didn't contribute much to the plot.
Miles was a fun character that I would consider fun-loving and energetic, however, I think this was exploited and often made him come off as dumb or foolish, which I don't think was the intention.
The character I wanted more from was actually Jasmine. I found her character the most interesting, especially since she is silent for a good portion of the novel. Game-wise, she is stealthy and quick to learn the rules; she even seems to be the best at fighting, a useful skill when it comes to RPGs. We learn a few things about her backstory and her family, but there is clearly more to her, leaving untapped potential.
Overall: Four normal kids are thrown into Champion's Quest, a role-playing game unlike any other. Taking the real-life stakes of Jumanji with the creativity of Dungeons and Dragons and the gaming feeling of open-world RPGs, board game lovers finally have a book curated especially for them. In the end, they learned how to overcome their differences and came together as a team, which is very heartwarming and leaves room for a book two!
Warnings: Mentions of death, anxiety, mild violence
July 27, 2021
Plot:
Lucas was ready to change his life - by leaving. At twelve and a half, Lucas booked himself a one-way ticket to New York City, ready to leave his latest foster home, a system he was placed in after his parents died. The only person who knew about his plans was eleven-year-old Miles, the other foster kid in the home, as Miles was Lucas’s alibi when the daughter of their current foster parents, Vanessa, looks for them at the community pool. With his ticket in hand, Lucas delays his trip by following Miles into a curiosity shop where they meet Hobs who asks them to join him for a game of Champion Quest. As a huge fan of Dungeon and Dragons, Lucas knew this gamesa could take hours, but seeing Miles' face, Lucas agreed to play if only for a little bit. Joined by a new student at their school, Jasmine, they needed a fourth when Vanessa came in yelling at her foster brothers for trying to ditch her. Choosing Lucas to be their bandleader, the kids were shocked to find out Champion’s Quest was not like any other Dungeon and Dragon game. Transported into the world, they can only leave if they finish their quest, with each time they die they are transported back to the beginning of the quest. Relying on each other, Lucas, Vanessa, Miles, and Jasmine must work together as an unlikely team, using their strengths and their weaknesses to complete the quest to return home.
Thoughts:
Frank Cole took everyone's favorite movie of Jumanji (or for me Zathura) and combined it with the role-playing game of Dungeon and Dragon to give us this middle-grade adventure fantasy. With easy writing, Cole takes you on the journey alongside the kids as together you figure out the rules to the game, their character traits, and how they sometimes align and disagree with the character's personality. As someone who does not play D&D, this novel does have a small barrier that prevents you from getting into the novel right away as there are a lot of rules to Champion Quest that may not stick the first time Cole explains it, that are similar to D&D, especially around the twelve-sided die, who rolls the die and what does the numbers mean. Where Cole mainly sticks to a third-person point of view following Lucas around, the other three characters (Vanessa, Jasmine, and Miles), are just as interesting and add relevance to this story. From their diverse cast of characters both racially and ethnically, Cole even added family dynamics to spice up the story with Lucas and Miles being foster kids, Jasmine lives with her grandmother, and Vanessa is the biological daughter to people who run a foster home. An element of the story which Cole added and did not explore enough was Lucas suffering from panic attacks, having the threat of them looming as Lucas goes through their quest, but not talking about Lucas’s coping mechanisms. Cole does a fantastic job building each character up, giving them unique personality traits that have their weaknesses being challenged throughout their quest, allowing them to see the world as their character but also who they are. Overall, Cole wrote a fantastic fantasy story with vivid visuals, a colorful and loving cast of characters, and worth the read for those who love D&D or just want a little adventure in their life.
Lucas was ready to change his life - by leaving. At twelve and a half, Lucas booked himself a one-way ticket to New York City, ready to leave his latest foster home, a system he was placed in after his parents died. The only person who knew about his plans was eleven-year-old Miles, the other foster kid in the home, as Miles was Lucas’s alibi when the daughter of their current foster parents, Vanessa, looks for them at the community pool. With his ticket in hand, Lucas delays his trip by following Miles into a curiosity shop where they meet Hobs who asks them to join him for a game of Champion Quest. As a huge fan of Dungeon and Dragons, Lucas knew this gamesa could take hours, but seeing Miles' face, Lucas agreed to play if only for a little bit. Joined by a new student at their school, Jasmine, they needed a fourth when Vanessa came in yelling at her foster brothers for trying to ditch her. Choosing Lucas to be their bandleader, the kids were shocked to find out Champion’s Quest was not like any other Dungeon and Dragon game. Transported into the world, they can only leave if they finish their quest, with each time they die they are transported back to the beginning of the quest. Relying on each other, Lucas, Vanessa, Miles, and Jasmine must work together as an unlikely team, using their strengths and their weaknesses to complete the quest to return home.
Thoughts:
Frank Cole took everyone's favorite movie of Jumanji (or for me Zathura) and combined it with the role-playing game of Dungeon and Dragon to give us this middle-grade adventure fantasy. With easy writing, Cole takes you on the journey alongside the kids as together you figure out the rules to the game, their character traits, and how they sometimes align and disagree with the character's personality. As someone who does not play D&D, this novel does have a small barrier that prevents you from getting into the novel right away as there are a lot of rules to Champion Quest that may not stick the first time Cole explains it, that are similar to D&D, especially around the twelve-sided die, who rolls the die and what does the numbers mean. Where Cole mainly sticks to a third-person point of view following Lucas around, the other three characters (Vanessa, Jasmine, and Miles), are just as interesting and add relevance to this story. From their diverse cast of characters both racially and ethnically, Cole even added family dynamics to spice up the story with Lucas and Miles being foster kids, Jasmine lives with her grandmother, and Vanessa is the biological daughter to people who run a foster home. An element of the story which Cole added and did not explore enough was Lucas suffering from panic attacks, having the threat of them looming as Lucas goes through their quest, but not talking about Lucas’s coping mechanisms. Cole does a fantastic job building each character up, giving them unique personality traits that have their weaknesses being challenged throughout their quest, allowing them to see the world as their character but also who they are. Overall, Cole wrote a fantastic fantasy story with vivid visuals, a colorful and loving cast of characters, and worth the read for those who love D&D or just want a little adventure in their life.
June 18, 2021
Adventure and fantasy reign making it hard not to want to jump right in with the characters and battle right along with them.
Lucas wants to run away from his latest foster home. Hoping to have a chance to ditch his friend, he enters a curiosity shop, but instead, he, his friend, and two girls related to the foster home (and ones he wants nothing to do with) step out of the shop to find themselves swept into another world. Here, they find themselves in the game...one they aren't sure of the rules and don't really know how to play. But if they want out, they're going to have to play and win.
When I read the blurb on this one, I knew I had to get my hands on the ARC. It's fantasy pure with tons of imagination, action, and impossible odds. The author does a wonderful job at building the scenes and creates a rich world, and that without rambling into long descriptions. The pacing is well placed and keeps the action rolling, but characters aren't forgotten, either.
One of my favorite things about this read is that the characters aren't perfect. While the idea of a kid running away from a foster home does draw in an immediate amount of sympathy, this one doesn't rely on that alone. Each character has things they are dealing with, and each one needs the unexpected and odd friendship which forms between them. These kids are not awesome fighters, nor do they have any clue what to do when they are thrown into the 'game'. They make tons of mistakes, since they don't know the rules, and have to learn as they go along. And they do learn as well as discover different ways to handle things then what might usually be expected.
Then, there's the friendship. That's probably one of the main themes in this one. They aren't exactly the kind of kids, which normally would ever get along. And yet, they have to and learn to stretch beyond their own borders. The character arcs are strong, and the development is hard to miss. There's humor, frustrating scenes, ones that pull at the heart, and plenty of great moments of action and victory. It's a wonderful mix and a fun read.
Lucas wants to run away from his latest foster home. Hoping to have a chance to ditch his friend, he enters a curiosity shop, but instead, he, his friend, and two girls related to the foster home (and ones he wants nothing to do with) step out of the shop to find themselves swept into another world. Here, they find themselves in the game...one they aren't sure of the rules and don't really know how to play. But if they want out, they're going to have to play and win.
When I read the blurb on this one, I knew I had to get my hands on the ARC. It's fantasy pure with tons of imagination, action, and impossible odds. The author does a wonderful job at building the scenes and creates a rich world, and that without rambling into long descriptions. The pacing is well placed and keeps the action rolling, but characters aren't forgotten, either.
One of my favorite things about this read is that the characters aren't perfect. While the idea of a kid running away from a foster home does draw in an immediate amount of sympathy, this one doesn't rely on that alone. Each character has things they are dealing with, and each one needs the unexpected and odd friendship which forms between them. These kids are not awesome fighters, nor do they have any clue what to do when they are thrown into the 'game'. They make tons of mistakes, since they don't know the rules, and have to learn as they go along. And they do learn as well as discover different ways to handle things then what might usually be expected.
Then, there's the friendship. That's probably one of the main themes in this one. They aren't exactly the kind of kids, which normally would ever get along. And yet, they have to and learn to stretch beyond their own borders. The character arcs are strong, and the development is hard to miss. There's humor, frustrating scenes, ones that pull at the heart, and plenty of great moments of action and victory. It's a wonderful mix and a fun read.
December 16, 2021
Champion’s Quest: Die of Destiny, the first book in the new Champion’s Quest series, is a fun story of adventure and friendship. It all starts with a game of Champion’s Quest that transports four friends into the board game itself. For these four kids, falling into the game Champion’s Quest, which is loosely inspired by the board game Dungeon’s and Dragons, means entering into a fantasy world full of vicious monsters, goblins, witches, and ogres. The kids must use teamwork and problem-solving skills to beat the game and, more importantly, survive.
The main character, Lucas Silver, is a young boy other kids can relate to. The book touches on Lucas’s struggles in foster care, which many kids can either identify with or gain understanding about the emotions involved in this difficult upbringing. Though set in fantasy, each of the four kids face real-life challenges. To get through the game, each character must identify his or her real-world weaknesses and learn how to overcome them. The overall message for readers is to believe in yourself. Even surrounded by action and adventure, Frank L. Cole does a great job of grounding these characters in reality so that readers can truly feel they know these characters. Though Cole touches on different themes of self-discovery, the book itself has a light-hearted and funny tone throughout.
The roleplay and fantasy elements of this book remind me of a combination between Jumanji and Brandon Mole’s series, The Beyonders. As the mother of an 11-year-old boy who enjoyed this book, I can say this middle-grade book would be perfect for school-age kids from 4th grade and up.
The main character, Lucas Silver, is a young boy other kids can relate to. The book touches on Lucas’s struggles in foster care, which many kids can either identify with or gain understanding about the emotions involved in this difficult upbringing. Though set in fantasy, each of the four kids face real-life challenges. To get through the game, each character must identify his or her real-world weaknesses and learn how to overcome them. The overall message for readers is to believe in yourself. Even surrounded by action and adventure, Frank L. Cole does a great job of grounding these characters in reality so that readers can truly feel they know these characters. Though Cole touches on different themes of self-discovery, the book itself has a light-hearted and funny tone throughout.
The roleplay and fantasy elements of this book remind me of a combination between Jumanji and Brandon Mole’s series, The Beyonders. As the mother of an 11-year-old boy who enjoyed this book, I can say this middle-grade book would be perfect for school-age kids from 4th grade and up.
August 5, 2021
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny
Author: Frank L. Cole
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy
Genre: MG Fantasy
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 304
Recommended Age: 10+ (scary moments, slight violence)
Explanation of CWs: Some moments might be a bit scary for some readers.
Synopsis: Lucas Silver's life is about to change. He thinks it's because he's made plans to escape from his foster home and make his way to New York, but then he and some unlikely friends find Hob and Bogie's Curiosity Shoppe and agree to play a game of Champion's Quest.
When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they're no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch.
They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous monster.
Review: For the most part this was a fun read! The book did well with the world building and the story. The book would be a fun read for younger kids and kids who want to get into fantasy.
However, I did think that the characters weren't developed that well and that the pacing was a bit slow for me.
Verdict: It's good! Definitely recommend for younger kids.
Book: Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny
Author: Frank L. Cole
Book Series: Standalone for now
Rating: 3/5
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, fantasy
Genre: MG Fantasy
Publication Date: August 3, 2021
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Pages: 304
Recommended Age: 10+ (scary moments, slight violence)
Explanation of CWs: Some moments might be a bit scary for some readers.
Synopsis: Lucas Silver's life is about to change. He thinks it's because he's made plans to escape from his foster home and make his way to New York, but then he and some unlikely friends find Hob and Bogie's Curiosity Shoppe and agree to play a game of Champion's Quest.
When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they're no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch.
They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous monster.
Review: For the most part this was a fun read! The book did well with the world building and the story. The book would be a fun read for younger kids and kids who want to get into fantasy.
However, I did think that the characters weren't developed that well and that the pacing was a bit slow for me.
Verdict: It's good! Definitely recommend for younger kids.
April 27, 2022
The best way I can describe this book is Dungeons and Dragons meets Jumanji meets Ready Player One. The whole time I felt like the characters were in a video game but they were really in a role playing game? But not in a bad way. By the end I found myself wanting to know more about the world and why the characters found themselves in a game. I want to know if the game is an actual alternate world or if it is just some kind of magical dream that the wizards put the kids through. I want to know more about where the shop owners came from and if their presence means there is magic in the book version of the real world.
Some things I loved…
-the diversity of personalities, roles, ages, and situations of the characters. They were all relatable to me personally in their own way.
-the magical world that they find themselves in.
-the mysterious ness of everything
-the character development
-found family trope
Some things that could have been improved…
-more of the children’s trials could have been improved if they were solved by their own wit and not luck or chance.
-more time with each of the characters individually
-more world building
What I’m looking forward to in the next book…
-a more in depth view of the magical world as well as the context of magic in the real world.
-more characters added
-I want Phillip to be a real character and not just someone there for the quest
-Characters interacting outside of the game
- Lucas overcoming his anxiety even more.
-the family dynamic between Vanessa, Miles, and Lucas
Overall was a good read, I’m exited for the next one.
Some things I loved…
-the diversity of personalities, roles, ages, and situations of the characters. They were all relatable to me personally in their own way.
-the magical world that they find themselves in.
-the mysterious ness of everything
-the character development
-found family trope
Some things that could have been improved…
-more of the children’s trials could have been improved if they were solved by their own wit and not luck or chance.
-more time with each of the characters individually
-more world building
What I’m looking forward to in the next book…
-a more in depth view of the magical world as well as the context of magic in the real world.
-more characters added
-I want Phillip to be a real character and not just someone there for the quest
-Characters interacting outside of the game
- Lucas overcoming his anxiety even more.
-the family dynamic between Vanessa, Miles, and Lucas
Overall was a good read, I’m exited for the next one.
July 24, 2021
I received an advance readers edition from both the author, Frank L. Cole, and the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing. This review is that of my own.
Champion’s Quest: The Die of Destiny is my first read by the author, Frank L. Cole, and let me just say, I was absolutely transfixed and I need more!
Such a captivating magical novel that will make you want to play any RPG, MMORPG, or card game. Seriously, I’ve had my eyes on D&D and so badly want to get a group of my nerdy friends together and play for hours on end (but for now I’ll settle with the Wild Crows’ adventures).
This novel illustrates the perfect example of team work and to trust your instincts - we all know that PvP isn’t about helping other players. The Die of Destiny brings together four teenagers, all with their own quirks and personal issues, who have to learn to work together to complete the Campaign. Each character depends on the others to become a successful group - without this bond, the game will never be defeated.
I absolutely swooned over the RPG references, Magic the Gathering and I felt like I was hearthed straight into the story - that’s how magnificent Frank L. Cole’s storytelling is.
And the quote that hit me in the feels: “Friendships’s something that makes life worth living for.” This couldn’t be far from the truth as I have just moved across country, back to AZ, because we missed our friends (and family, of course).
Champion’s Quest: The Die of Destiny is my first read by the author, Frank L. Cole, and let me just say, I was absolutely transfixed and I need more!
Such a captivating magical novel that will make you want to play any RPG, MMORPG, or card game. Seriously, I’ve had my eyes on D&D and so badly want to get a group of my nerdy friends together and play for hours on end (but for now I’ll settle with the Wild Crows’ adventures).
This novel illustrates the perfect example of team work and to trust your instincts - we all know that PvP isn’t about helping other players. The Die of Destiny brings together four teenagers, all with their own quirks and personal issues, who have to learn to work together to complete the Campaign. Each character depends on the others to become a successful group - without this bond, the game will never be defeated.
I absolutely swooned over the RPG references, Magic the Gathering and I felt like I was hearthed straight into the story - that’s how magnificent Frank L. Cole’s storytelling is.
And the quote that hit me in the feels: “Friendships’s something that makes life worth living for.” This couldn’t be far from the truth as I have just moved across country, back to AZ, because we missed our friends (and family, of course).
August 2, 2021
Lucas Silver has had enough of foster homes and plans on escaping and heading to New York. But he is not alone, Miles, Jasmine and Vanessa go along with him. As they start their adventure, they find themselves in Hob and Bogies Curiosity Shoppe. There they agree to join a game of Champions Quest. When they group go to leave the curiosity shop, they find themselves in a real-life game of Champion Quest.
Lucas, Vanessa, Miles, and Jasmine are a group of kids that have nothing in common except they find themselves fighting goblins and witches. Lucas and Miles are from the foster home and are best friends and must work through their lack of self-confidence and other issues. Vanessa’s parents own the foster home and has a serious chip on her shoulder. Jasmine is the new girl in school.
The back of the book has a note about it being a combination of Jumanji and D&D, this is a perfect description of this book. I can’t blame the kids for wanting to escape their current situations, I would want to escape myself. Each kid has their own things going on in their lives and I just love watching them come together as a little family throughout their adventures.
This is a great story and I think kids of all ages will enjoy it. I hope they find a little of themselves in at least one of the characters and find an adventure to escape their own world for a while.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
Lucas, Vanessa, Miles, and Jasmine are a group of kids that have nothing in common except they find themselves fighting goblins and witches. Lucas and Miles are from the foster home and are best friends and must work through their lack of self-confidence and other issues. Vanessa’s parents own the foster home and has a serious chip on her shoulder. Jasmine is the new girl in school.
The back of the book has a note about it being a combination of Jumanji and D&D, this is a perfect description of this book. I can’t blame the kids for wanting to escape their current situations, I would want to escape myself. Each kid has their own things going on in their lives and I just love watching them come together as a little family throughout their adventures.
This is a great story and I think kids of all ages will enjoy it. I hope they find a little of themselves in at least one of the characters and find an adventure to escape their own world for a while.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
September 19, 2021
What a wild adventure Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny turned out to be. From the moment I started reading this, I knew that Author Frank Cole had written another Middle-Grade Fantasy series that kids will love. The story takes place at first in our real world and then the teens find themselves in a video, role-playing game. It was so much fun! I kept thinking about how kids are going to eat this up. I'm sure they'll understand a lot more about the gaming things than I did. When I first heard about the book I remember it being described as "Dungeons & Dragons meets Jumanji". That's a perfect description!
Most of the main characters are kids whose lives have not been normal. Lucas and Miles have been in the Foster-Care system for many years, new girl Jasmine now lives with her Grandmother, and snotty, "older sister" Vanessa is where Lucas and Miles live currently. This odd mixture of kids learn many lessons as they go through the game to accomplish a goal working together to finish the game. Each teen learns about their strengths and weaknesses and learning to believe in themselves. There is great action meeting & fighting trolls, witches, orcs, goblins, and chimeras. You get the picture. The world-building is good and hopefully, we'll get a deeper look into each character's personalities and problems in the next book.
I can't wait for Book #2! I know that Middle-Grade readers are going to absolutely love Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny.
Most of the main characters are kids whose lives have not been normal. Lucas and Miles have been in the Foster-Care system for many years, new girl Jasmine now lives with her Grandmother, and snotty, "older sister" Vanessa is where Lucas and Miles live currently. This odd mixture of kids learn many lessons as they go through the game to accomplish a goal working together to finish the game. Each teen learns about their strengths and weaknesses and learning to believe in themselves. There is great action meeting & fighting trolls, witches, orcs, goblins, and chimeras. You get the picture. The world-building is good and hopefully, we'll get a deeper look into each character's personalities and problems in the next book.
I can't wait for Book #2! I know that Middle-Grade readers are going to absolutely love Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny.
August 5, 2021
My rating: 3.5 Stars!! Champion’s Quest by Frank L. Cole is a fun addition to this author’s growing list of titles. Lucas is about to run away from his foster care home when Miles finds him and ruins his plans. They see a strange shop in the alley and go inside. While they’re in there, two girls they know, Jasmine and Vanessa, walk in. They agree to play a game of Champion’s Quest. Well, some of them agree. They are not ready for what comes next—they’re sucked into the game! They must now work together, figure out their unique skills and weapons, and finish the quest in order to escape the game. I liked this book. It’s like Shazam mixed with Adventurers Wanted (by M.L. Forman) and Jumanji. It’s full of action and lots of adventure. The characters are fun and relatable, but I feel like they could have been developed a bit more. There are some crazy monsters and creatures this team of warriors needs to fight. Sometimes they do it well and others…not so much. I liked that they’re weren’t perfect, but that they were determined to keep going. I liked this book, but it’s not my favorite Frank L. Cole book. However, I think middle-grader videogame lovers will really love this book! It’s rated PG+, recommended for middle-graders+, and I gave it 3.5⭐️. You may read my full review on my book blog: thereadathon.com.
August 7, 2021
I love reading stories where characters find themselves stuck in a game where the only way is to win. I always love the trope of a misfit band learning to get along and achieve a common goal. This book gave me vibes from Dungeons and Dragons and Jumanji. If you enjoy either of those, give this book a try.
The author didn't waste any time jumping right into the action, something I always appreciate in an action/adventure story. I enjoyed the setting of the magical shop and the game world itself. I would've liked a little more detail and world building to help me visualize it better. The characters were flawed but also endearing. Their development was believable as they each grew into their strengths, overcame weaknesses and learned to work together. My favorite part of the whole book was the twist at the end with the Orc Slayers.
A couple of things I struggled with was the plot pacing in the first quarter of the book. The plot moved too fast in some areas and felt choppy in others. And while I did enjoy the characters, I also wish they could've been fleshed out a little more. I also wanted more bonding scenes with the characters, especially in the beginning when as a reader, you're still trying to get to know them.
Overall though, Champion's Quest was a fun magical adventure.
The author didn't waste any time jumping right into the action, something I always appreciate in an action/adventure story. I enjoyed the setting of the magical shop and the game world itself. I would've liked a little more detail and world building to help me visualize it better. The characters were flawed but also endearing. Their development was believable as they each grew into their strengths, overcame weaknesses and learned to work together. My favorite part of the whole book was the twist at the end with the Orc Slayers.
A couple of things I struggled with was the plot pacing in the first quarter of the book. The plot moved too fast in some areas and felt choppy in others. And while I did enjoy the characters, I also wish they could've been fleshed out a little more. I also wanted more bonding scenes with the characters, especially in the beginning when as a reader, you're still trying to get to know them.
Overall though, Champion's Quest was a fun magical adventure.
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