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Sosaku Online #1
Crimson Sands
Join James, our intrepid adventurer, streamer, and bug hunter as he jumps head first into the first true immersion VRMMORPG game and explores the digital reality that the dev's have kept under lock and key.
No previews? No class or race info before launch? What could possibly go wrong? Especially starting in the empire inspired by ancient Egypt.
Rolling a character reminiscent of an old school D&D Cleric, James takes on the world of Sosaku Online with spear, shield, and holy fire.
Features: VR, Cursing, Violence, Slice of Life
No: Harem, Explicit, Telemarketers.
No previews? No class or race info before launch? What could possibly go wrong? Especially starting in the empire inspired by ancient Egypt.
Rolling a character reminiscent of an old school D&D Cleric, James takes on the world of Sosaku Online with spear, shield, and holy fire.
Features: VR, Cursing, Violence, Slice of Life
No: Harem, Explicit, Telemarketers.
- GenresFantasy
446 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2020
62 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 13, 2020
LitRPG exactly as it should be. Goldilocks zone: not too crunchy, not too watered down - just right. Highly recommended to any fans of the genre.
October 14, 2021
Bloody fantastic!
I read this book a while ago, but my review didn’t stick, so I’ll try again, basically this is a seriously well written VR Egyptian adventure, don’t start it with any preconceived expectations, because it’ll blow them all away anyway. Just ENJOY IT! Now where’s book two…. Ah! Downloading!
I read this book a while ago, but my review didn’t stick, so I’ll try again, basically this is a seriously well written VR Egyptian adventure, don’t start it with any preconceived expectations, because it’ll blow them all away anyway. Just ENJOY IT! Now where’s book two…. Ah! Downloading!
July 9, 2021
Gave up close to 40% as it's not really my type. I love stories with LitPG elements whilst this is a literally a game as a story. The game dynamics and skill trees and descriptions took most of the pages I read.
Prose is good and If you're a fan of stories with in depth game dynamics, you'll enjoy this.
Nothing bad about the book per se, but just not my cup of tea.
Prose is good and If you're a fan of stories with in depth game dynamics, you'll enjoy this.
Nothing bad about the book per se, but just not my cup of tea.
January 6, 2021
Alert
First, my review: “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Second, I am not a bot...at least I don’t think I am. Yes this is copy pasta (just learned that term, so fun!) simply because I feel like any book I read deserves acknowledgement but at the same time my feelings on reviews conflict with the normal review process.
I enjoyed this book, so my goal is to promote it and help the author. If you are a potential reader, just stop reading now and take the above as all you need to know. I am not going to share my reasoning, thoughts on the book, or any opinions that would influence your decision to read it. It is my opinion that Art needs to be experienced at an individual level. You are the only one that can determine what you like and don’t like. Don’t let others make that decision for you. You should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews. Or not if you don’t think this book is for you. That choice is all yours and the beauty of art appreciation. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
If you are a member of the IAK Guild (thanks, Jason) or part of the review police, feel free to criticize me and challenge my philosophy on reviewing art. I think we all love a good debate. The forums are open and I welcome your comments. I was wrong in my previous request to get you to stop. Your blatant disregard for that request has led to some fun discussions. Growth is important for us all.
Cheers
First, my review: “This was a fun book. I am glad that I read it. You should try it too.”
Second, I am not a bot...at least I don’t think I am. Yes this is copy pasta (just learned that term, so fun!) simply because I feel like any book I read deserves acknowledgement but at the same time my feelings on reviews conflict with the normal review process.
I enjoyed this book, so my goal is to promote it and help the author. If you are a potential reader, just stop reading now and take the above as all you need to know. I am not going to share my reasoning, thoughts on the book, or any opinions that would influence your decision to read it. It is my opinion that Art needs to be experienced at an individual level. You are the only one that can determine what you like and don’t like. Don’t let others make that decision for you. You should definitely read the book and completely ignore all of the reviews. Or not if you don’t think this book is for you. That choice is all yours and the beauty of art appreciation. You are a much better judge of what you will like than anyone here.
If you are a member of the IAK Guild (thanks, Jason) or part of the review police, feel free to criticize me and challenge my philosophy on reviewing art. I think we all love a good debate. The forums are open and I welcome your comments. I was wrong in my previous request to get you to stop. Your blatant disregard for that request has led to some fun discussions. Growth is important for us all.
Cheers
November 10, 2020
Very straightforward VRMMORPG. Not particularly creative. But nice to spend time with a main character who isn't a 14 year old ganker wannabe or a trash-talking bro dude.
April 13, 2023
4.5 from 5 stars.
That is a proper litRPG book!
Just the right amount of gaming system, proper in-game interaction with all those NPCs and also a nice take on the real life background story of the gamer that does not - as usual - ends the second the gamer enters the virtual world.
But just for the sake of it- what is it about?
A gamer enters a new game in new super-duper immersion pods. He takes a cleric character from an egyptian like culture and then goes through quests and challenges, meets other gamers - some nasty, some nice and then we follow him through his journey in this world. The egyptian flavor is a nice thing as it is not overused already and has a nice feel to it.
As a clever addition the gamer is also smart (they are always smart but this time it also feels like he is smart) and finds loopholes in the game engine but does not exploit them but report them to the development team.
The book is nicely written, the main character is likeable, the game system is interesting. There are some typical tropes throughout the book (PC is one of the few who treats npc nicely and this stuff) but i thought them nicely incorporated.
There are a lot of stats and skills and stuffs explained - if you don't like that maybe litrpg is not your thing anyway.
Some things i would like to point out. At times the book explains too much. There is really no need (from my point of view) to display half a dozen of different races in such big detail if the gamer will chose one of them and as a reader 90% of the information about the other races is useless information. Same with that in-game character background story beginning before his imginary grandma .. that reads a bit like a boring history lesson and could be shortened a bit (my humble opinion).
Second and last nitpicking: I think the cover picture is a tiny little bit boring. The book deserves better.
So overall - i had a lot of fun reading it. I think it is a very good representative for the litRPG genre.
That is a proper litRPG book!
Just the right amount of gaming system, proper in-game interaction with all those NPCs and also a nice take on the real life background story of the gamer that does not - as usual - ends the second the gamer enters the virtual world.
But just for the sake of it- what is it about?
A gamer enters a new game in new super-duper immersion pods. He takes a cleric character from an egyptian like culture and then goes through quests and challenges, meets other gamers - some nasty, some nice and then we follow him through his journey in this world. The egyptian flavor is a nice thing as it is not overused already and has a nice feel to it.
As a clever addition the gamer is also smart (they are always smart but this time it also feels like he is smart) and finds loopholes in the game engine but does not exploit them but report them to the development team.
The book is nicely written, the main character is likeable, the game system is interesting. There are some typical tropes throughout the book (PC is one of the few who treats npc nicely and this stuff) but i thought them nicely incorporated.
There are a lot of stats and skills and stuffs explained - if you don't like that maybe litrpg is not your thing anyway.
Some things i would like to point out. At times the book explains too much. There is really no need (from my point of view) to display half a dozen of different races in such big detail if the gamer will chose one of them and as a reader 90% of the information about the other races is useless information. Same with that in-game character background story beginning before his imginary grandma .. that reads a bit like a boring history lesson and could be shortened a bit (my humble opinion).
Second and last nitpicking: I think the cover picture is a tiny little bit boring. The book deserves better.
So overall - i had a lot of fun reading it. I think it is a very good representative for the litRPG genre.
July 23, 2024
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/4cQTPr7.
James had been waiting on Crimson Sands to come out since he first heard of it. A new VR experience that was taken to the next level by new VR pods? When he learned that the local arcade would be adding a few of the pods in preparation for the new games launch, James was quick to reserve a spot. From the moment he entered the game he could tell this would be an experience unlike any other. No information about the game was released prior to launch, yet everyone couldn't wait to start the game, even with the bugs. How far into the game can James and his new friend go?
I received a copy of this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. As an avid gamer I love VR and LitRPG books. I have a soft spot for them and very rarely turn down the opportunity to read one. This book is one that I personally would LOVE to read the next in the series of.
While there are in-game threats, this isn't a 'God in the Machine' mechanic that we see so often in these books. The gaming experience is fun and amazing while allowing the reader to get to know the characters. Then we get a little bit of real-world inside the pages as well, which is where the real threat lies. I will be completely straight-forward with you and let you know that this book does end on a cliff-hanger. BUT, trust me when I say that this is one book you just want the next one for, even if it does leave you hanging.
The characters are amazing. The world building is amazing. You get just enough information to feel like the pods are possible while enjoying the SciFi of it all. The book is well written and I look forward to more from this author in the future!
James had been waiting on Crimson Sands to come out since he first heard of it. A new VR experience that was taken to the next level by new VR pods? When he learned that the local arcade would be adding a few of the pods in preparation for the new games launch, James was quick to reserve a spot. From the moment he entered the game he could tell this would be an experience unlike any other. No information about the game was released prior to launch, yet everyone couldn't wait to start the game, even with the bugs. How far into the game can James and his new friend go?
I received a copy of this eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. As an avid gamer I love VR and LitRPG books. I have a soft spot for them and very rarely turn down the opportunity to read one. This book is one that I personally would LOVE to read the next in the series of.
While there are in-game threats, this isn't a 'God in the Machine' mechanic that we see so often in these books. The gaming experience is fun and amazing while allowing the reader to get to know the characters. Then we get a little bit of real-world inside the pages as well, which is where the real threat lies. I will be completely straight-forward with you and let you know that this book does end on a cliff-hanger. BUT, trust me when I say that this is one book you just want the next one for, even if it does leave you hanging.
The characters are amazing. The world building is amazing. You get just enough information to feel like the pods are possible while enjoying the SciFi of it all. The book is well written and I look forward to more from this author in the future!
Read
December 12, 2021A solid debut novel and a good intro the thr gamelit genre
Really a surprisingly solid first work from an author. The plot while not super complicated moves well, and the characters are fun. The mechanics are simple enough to follow and the whole premise is such that I'd really recommend this book as a good intro to the genre because it's easy to follow. Unlike some books in the genre this one captures more of that essence of playing a game. It's not revolutionary, but I dont think you'll feel like you've wasted your time after reading this one.
Really a surprisingly solid first work from an author. The plot while not super complicated moves well, and the characters are fun. The mechanics are simple enough to follow and the whole premise is such that I'd really recommend this book as a good intro to the genre because it's easy to follow. Unlike some books in the genre this one captures more of that essence of playing a game. It's not revolutionary, but I dont think you'll feel like you've wasted your time after reading this one.
December 24, 2020
Fun read
All in all, a decent read. There is some flipping back and forth from the fdvrMMO and the real world, but the author is just using it to give a bit of context, and handles it well. The game mechanics aren't mind-blowingly original, but they're interesting. The MC is interesting, the section of the world is Egyptian based which is a nice twist.
There is a love interest, but I can't imagine this going harem, and it's a minor plot point.
All in all, a decent read. There is some flipping back and forth from the fdvrMMO and the real world, but the author is just using it to give a bit of context, and handles it well. The game mechanics aren't mind-blowingly original, but they're interesting. The MC is interesting, the section of the world is Egyptian based which is a nice twist.
There is a love interest, but I can't imagine this going harem, and it's a minor plot point.
December 31, 2020
Very well done!
Really good story. Good characters, good action, great game, and only a few errors in the whole book. Not super stat heavy but it has a decent amount. Lots of action and even some crafting. Definitely some unique takes and good worldbuilding.
Not too much IRL stuff and overall very well done. Well worth a read.
Really good story. Good characters, good action, great game, and only a few errors in the whole book. Not super stat heavy but it has a decent amount. Lots of action and even some crafting. Definitely some unique takes and good worldbuilding.
Not too much IRL stuff and overall very well done. Well worth a read.
June 17, 2021
Must read!
This is the best new book I have read in quite some time. Excellent, likable characters. Intriguing and different setting to the usual medieval fantasy one. Finally a unique system and great storyline. Oh, and for once I enjoyed the back and for between real world and game world. Looking forward to book two.
This is the best new book I have read in quite some time. Excellent, likable characters. Intriguing and different setting to the usual medieval fantasy one. Finally a unique system and great storyline. Oh, and for once I enjoyed the back and for between real world and game world. Looking forward to book two.
April 12, 2024
What would LitRPG without a good dose of virtue signaling? In Crimson Sands, not much. The idea that a bug report is a few months of wages is insane, but, sure, whatever. Then we spend the next 15% of the book IRL but the tutorial can't be bothered to explain spell backlash? Don't expect anything interesting from this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2025
I don’t know how I feel about this book, I thought this would be an Arabian SAO and yet it’s just a content creator MMO story. The world of the mmo is really interesting along with the quests, but there is no real danger ever, no importance, if something happens they can just quit and play a different game.
January 3, 2021
Excellent example of LITRPG!
Well written with good game mechanics, a good balance of game information and story.
Very good editing.
I am looking forward to more in this series and more from this author.
Well written with good game mechanics, a good balance of game information and story.
Very good editing.
I am looking forward to more in this series and more from this author.
September 16, 2021
very enjoyable
A well written book , you have some stats but not overwhelming, lots of action and really good characters. I must admit I loved it . Definitely worth a read , going to see if book two is out now .
A well written book , you have some stats but not overwhelming, lots of action and really good characters. I must admit I loved it . Definitely worth a read , going to see if book two is out now .
May 20, 2022
An excellent start
Crimson Sands is the start to an intriguing and enjoyable journey into the realm of MMO-based LitRPG. The characters are fun to read and the story has the right blend of tension and action to make it an addictive read. I look forward to reading more.
Crimson Sands is the start to an intriguing and enjoyable journey into the realm of MMO-based LitRPG. The characters are fun to read and the story has the right blend of tension and action to make it an addictive read. I look forward to reading more.
October 30, 2022
A great one! Glad to be early to this one.
this was a phenomenal book 1 and I can't wait for 2. an online story with a nice RL story that doesn't take up much bit adds too it. love this one!
this was a phenomenal book 1 and I can't wait for 2. an online story with a nice RL story that doesn't take up much bit adds too it. love this one!
December 31, 2020
4.5, great read and not too VR like for my tastes, looking forward to the next one.
January 6, 2021
As good as promised
Well I had seen this pop up on LITRPG lists and saw a few quite funny memes 3rd about it. so tried it on MY and Dan I did enjoy it. A good solid start
Well I had seen this pop up on LITRPG lists and saw a few quite funny memes 3rd about it. so tried it on MY and Dan I did enjoy it. A good solid start
Read
January 8, 2021Great book
Stellar work from J Arthur Klein! Lots of action and adventure, leveling and an interesting system. Looking forward to the next one!
Stellar work from J Arthur Klein! Lots of action and adventure, leveling and an interesting system. Looking forward to the next one!
January 18, 2021
One of the best I've read so far
Excellent story, with good combat and crafting . Especially liked the scenes in the afterlife. Anxiously awaiting the next book.
Excellent story, with good combat and crafting . Especially liked the scenes in the afterlife. Anxiously awaiting the next book.
November 14, 2021
Very good read
I enjoyed reading this book very much I recommend this book to anyone who like LitRPG and progression type of books with lots of action.
I enjoyed reading this book very much I recommend this book to anyone who like LitRPG and progression type of books with lots of action.
February 19, 2022
3.5 stars. The story is cooked properly and well plated but it lacks seasoning.
September 11, 2021
Well, it's a start...too much IRL, though...surely the next one will improve?
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews