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Artificial Jelly #1
Artificial Jelly: Book One
Born to die and be born again, Gell, the Jellyfae must discover her strange connection to the horrible monsters called humans, that speak with words she understands, but seem to want nothing but her death. Driven by a desire for safety and freedom, she ventures forth to Tread the Sky, and finds more worlds than one.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 8, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
June 10, 2021
This was a superb LitRPG story and just one of the best YA fantasy stories I've read in years in general. I can see why stories like Artificial Jelly are probably viewed as a little too niche in appeal by mainstream publishers/audiences but books like this are the very reason I'm still so willing to take a chance on self-published stories. Every now and then I stumble across a real 5 star gem like Artificial Jelly!
The premise of the story was weird and fun. It was a LitRPG tale but non-standard by the fact that our lead POV character was not a human but rather a low level "monster" character coming to sentience/awareness unnoticed inside a futuristic VR world. Gell, the Jellyfae, knows she is not like the other monsters in her dungeon. They are all slaves to the rules while she has the ability to break them. Her calm and dull existence is interrupted when groups of horrible humanoid creatures start to invade her dungeon home. Gel is drawn to the humans, even if her instincts tell her to attack and kill them, because they, like her, can talk and break the rules. The problem is all the invaders seem interested in is killing Gel and her fellow dungeon dwellers over and over again!
The tale sounds weird and a like it does not have much potential for depth or emotional engagement but that could not be further from the truth as this was a tale with tons of emotional depth and Gel was a surprisingly easy character to get invested in and root for as she sought to find her place in this strange world.
The story was a good mix of LitRPG and old school coming of age fantasy tale. Dustin Graham had an engaging writing style and the pacing of the story was absolutely perfect. The tone was YA and often had light and humorous moments but those were undercut by some really dark moments and the slightly melancholic feel the story maintained. All that blended together to make a story with real emotional depth and one that had me hooked on Gels adventures from start to finish.
All in all this was one of the most engaging books I've picked up in ages and I hope Gel returns for more adventures in the future as her continued growth and development is sure to be as captivating to follow as her early growth was!
Rating: 5 stars. An easy rating as I got through this 12 hour audio in under 2 days and was disappointed there was not more to consume!
Audio Note: Traci Odom did a good job with the audio. It took me a little bit of time to warm to her in the early stages but as the story progressed I felt she really nailed the tone and was excellent at conveying the emotions felt by our young naive Jellyfae!
The premise of the story was weird and fun. It was a LitRPG tale but non-standard by the fact that our lead POV character was not a human but rather a low level "monster" character coming to sentience/awareness unnoticed inside a futuristic VR world. Gell, the Jellyfae, knows she is not like the other monsters in her dungeon. They are all slaves to the rules while she has the ability to break them. Her calm and dull existence is interrupted when groups of horrible humanoid creatures start to invade her dungeon home. Gel is drawn to the humans, even if her instincts tell her to attack and kill them, because they, like her, can talk and break the rules. The problem is all the invaders seem interested in is killing Gel and her fellow dungeon dwellers over and over again!
The tale sounds weird and a like it does not have much potential for depth or emotional engagement but that could not be further from the truth as this was a tale with tons of emotional depth and Gel was a surprisingly easy character to get invested in and root for as she sought to find her place in this strange world.
The story was a good mix of LitRPG and old school coming of age fantasy tale. Dustin Graham had an engaging writing style and the pacing of the story was absolutely perfect. The tone was YA and often had light and humorous moments but those were undercut by some really dark moments and the slightly melancholic feel the story maintained. All that blended together to make a story with real emotional depth and one that had me hooked on Gels adventures from start to finish.
All in all this was one of the most engaging books I've picked up in ages and I hope Gel returns for more adventures in the future as her continued growth and development is sure to be as captivating to follow as her early growth was!
Rating: 5 stars. An easy rating as I got through this 12 hour audio in under 2 days and was disappointed there was not more to consume!
Audio Note: Traci Odom did a good job with the audio. It took me a little bit of time to warm to her in the early stages but as the story progressed I felt she really nailed the tone and was excellent at conveying the emotions felt by our young naive Jellyfae!
June 21, 2021
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Artificial Jelly was a bit of a surprise for me. When the main character was described as Jellyfae I sort of assumed some things that were completely wrong. Like this was a fantasy story set in Faery. It isn't, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy myself. I definitely did, but I think this falls more into a little niche category called LitRPG.
There is a lot of fun to be had hanging out with Gell, but if you have never been caught up in the MMORPG it might not resonate with you like it did with me. The hubs and I played World of Warcraft seriously for about 4-5 years. We loved the game and had a great time moving up the ranks and exploring the world there. But this book gives an interesting perspective. What if one of the creatures you've been killing or farming for extra stuff could feel every death and was becoming sentient?
That is our little Gell, the Jellyfae. She is becoming more in each death until she changes her life and the game she is living in forever. It is a journey story that opens up a world and shows us what it is like to be on both sides of the game. If you have done some online gaming, then I think a lot of the story will resonate with you, but if you haven't you might not understand the obsession on MMORPG can become to people.
My only complaint is the ending seemed a bit abrupt even though it was extremely interesting. I was glad to see this has book one on the description so we will possibly get to see more of the courageous Gell who figured out how to get out of her dungeon, see the world and touch the lives of both NPCs and players in the real world.
Narration:
Traci Odom is a really good narrator. It was a little strange to have her voice a small girl in this narration as the last ones I listened to by her were for a middle age woman. I will say I do prefer her narration of older characters to a semi-child like creature. Still she did a great job and enjoyed her narration. I was able to listen to this at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Artificial Jelly was a bit of a surprise for me. When the main character was described as Jellyfae I sort of assumed some things that were completely wrong. Like this was a fantasy story set in Faery. It isn't, that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy myself. I definitely did, but I think this falls more into a little niche category called LitRPG.
There is a lot of fun to be had hanging out with Gell, but if you have never been caught up in the MMORPG it might not resonate with you like it did with me. The hubs and I played World of Warcraft seriously for about 4-5 years. We loved the game and had a great time moving up the ranks and exploring the world there. But this book gives an interesting perspective. What if one of the creatures you've been killing or farming for extra stuff could feel every death and was becoming sentient?
That is our little Gell, the Jellyfae. She is becoming more in each death until she changes her life and the game she is living in forever. It is a journey story that opens up a world and shows us what it is like to be on both sides of the game. If you have done some online gaming, then I think a lot of the story will resonate with you, but if you haven't you might not understand the obsession on MMORPG can become to people.
My only complaint is the ending seemed a bit abrupt even though it was extremely interesting. I was glad to see this has book one on the description so we will possibly get to see more of the courageous Gell who figured out how to get out of her dungeon, see the world and touch the lives of both NPCs and players in the real world.
Narration:
Traci Odom is a really good narrator. It was a little strange to have her voice a small girl in this narration as the last ones I listened to by her were for a middle age woman. I will say I do prefer her narration of older characters to a semi-child like creature. Still she did a great job and enjoyed her narration. I was able to listen to this at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
November 17, 2020
This book is far sweeter and more wholesome than a book about a jelly creature has any right to be. Perhaps I'm unduly influenced being a parent myself, but reading this story about a childlike monster trying to find her way in a world that is literally designed to make her suffer is a heart-wrenching, happy-crying, oh-my-gawd-I-just-want-to-give-her-a-hug inducing experience.
Gell, the Jellyfae only knows the confines of the world she was born into. Her "family" as she see them are the likes of Ghoul, Skeledog, and Bugbear the... bugbear. Silent, doomed to repeat the same patterns over and over, despite all of Gell's attempts to engage them in conversation, sway them to break their "instinct", or even acknowledge that she exists at all.
Then the invaders show up: monsters that speak the same language as Gell, that seem perfectly happy to kill her family over and over. The more Gell tries to engage these strange newcomers, the more she grows to hate them, but also desire to be near them, to understand what connection, if any, that they share. It's this strange dichotomy that really made the story for me, waiting to see what Gell would do, how far she would go before she finally broke. Even after that moment came, the story's protagonist never lost any of that wide-eyed wonder that made her so endearing, that made the story so memorable. This was a book that was good right up to the very last page. The very last sentence. I already can't wait for more.
Gell, the Jellyfae only knows the confines of the world she was born into. Her "family" as she see them are the likes of Ghoul, Skeledog, and Bugbear the... bugbear. Silent, doomed to repeat the same patterns over and over, despite all of Gell's attempts to engage them in conversation, sway them to break their "instinct", or even acknowledge that she exists at all.
Then the invaders show up: monsters that speak the same language as Gell, that seem perfectly happy to kill her family over and over. The more Gell tries to engage these strange newcomers, the more she grows to hate them, but also desire to be near them, to understand what connection, if any, that they share. It's this strange dichotomy that really made the story for me, waiting to see what Gell would do, how far she would go before she finally broke. Even after that moment came, the story's protagonist never lost any of that wide-eyed wonder that made her so endearing, that made the story so memorable. This was a book that was good right up to the very last page. The very last sentence. I already can't wait for more.
January 18, 2021
Adorable and earnest. Ends a bit abruptly, but otherwise it's just an enjoyable read throughout.
December 4, 2023
I'm probably not the target audience for this and would probably have gotten a lot more out of this if I were an actual MMORPG player. Still, this was quite enjoyable and Gel's personality was just delightful and the overall experience was quite wholesome. The character of Amy was slightly too flawlessly sweet for my tastes, though...
The only thing that was actually kind of painful though was the "debugging session" somewhere in the middle with the extensive log dumps - I wouldn't have minded this on paper - probably would even have enjoyed it (being a developer myself), but unsurprisingly, this did not translate well in the audiobook version at all... ;)
The only thing that was actually kind of painful though was the "debugging session" somewhere in the middle with the extensive log dumps - I wouldn't have minded this on paper - probably would even have enjoyed it (being a developer myself), but unsurprisingly, this did not translate well in the audiobook version at all... ;)
March 9, 2021
Good story overall
Get rid of all the f-bombs and it would be a five star rating. It's creative and fun, but using f-bombs is unnecessary disrupts the flow of the story.
Get rid of all the f-bombs and it would be a five star rating. It's creative and fun, but using f-bombs is unnecessary disrupts the flow of the story.
November 21, 2020
Such a good story!
Although I started reading this on a whim, I realized after only a few chapters that I wasn't going to be able to put it down.
Having now finished it, I can confirm that Gell is one of my favorite book characters. It is such a treat to experience the world through her baby AI eyes. At times she acts bratty, which is only natural, considering her limited life experiences and how unfair the world has seemed to her so far. However she has the desire to understand the world and grow as a... well, as a jellyfae... and that makes her admirable and likeable.
The author's writing style is fluid and consistent, never too wordy, and the story doesn't overload the reader with technical details such as stats, either – although when technical aspects do come up, they are presented in a way that feels natural and adds depth to the story. Having worked in technical support myself, I especially appreciated the realism in the chapter that introduced Francis and the game company behind Gell's world.
Although I started reading this on a whim, I realized after only a few chapters that I wasn't going to be able to put it down.
Having now finished it, I can confirm that Gell is one of my favorite book characters. It is such a treat to experience the world through her baby AI eyes. At times she acts bratty, which is only natural, considering her limited life experiences and how unfair the world has seemed to her so far. However she has the desire to understand the world and grow as a... well, as a jellyfae... and that makes her admirable and likeable.
The author's writing style is fluid and consistent, never too wordy, and the story doesn't overload the reader with technical details such as stats, either – although when technical aspects do come up, they are presented in a way that feels natural and adds depth to the story. Having worked in technical support myself, I especially appreciated the realism in the chapter that introduced Francis and the game company behind Gell's world.
April 6, 2021
Wow. Just wow.
This book leaves me wanting more, more than any other book I've read this year. The author makes skilled use of the english language, not once frustrating me with weird punctuation or incorrect word usage. I know that wouldn't bother everyone, but it's great to see someone who has a proper command of the language.
I started this book with trepidation, wondering just how a strange little nonhuman mob character would ever even manage in a world full of players. The author managed to invest me in the story fairly quickly, though, and I had no qualms about going from reading the sample to purchasing the entire book.
Unlike many other reviewers, I won't be providing a synopsis, nor spoilers. I want you to dive into this novel with a fresh perspective, untainted by knowledge of what may come beyond the point you've experienced.
What I will say, though, is this: You're going to want more. You'll want to find out the answer to the big question, "What happens next?"
This book leaves me wanting more, more than any other book I've read this year. The author makes skilled use of the english language, not once frustrating me with weird punctuation or incorrect word usage. I know that wouldn't bother everyone, but it's great to see someone who has a proper command of the language.
I started this book with trepidation, wondering just how a strange little nonhuman mob character would ever even manage in a world full of players. The author managed to invest me in the story fairly quickly, though, and I had no qualms about going from reading the sample to purchasing the entire book.
Unlike many other reviewers, I won't be providing a synopsis, nor spoilers. I want you to dive into this novel with a fresh perspective, untainted by knowledge of what may come beyond the point you've experienced.
What I will say, though, is this: You're going to want more. You'll want to find out the answer to the big question, "What happens next?"
February 19, 2022
Artificial Jelly is unambiguously good. It's well written and has a delightful main character, a believable supporting cast, and a unique plot that's relatively :eyeroll: free. I highly recommend it to fans of the LitRPG genre, and it actually should have appeal outside this limited group.
May 10, 2023
I like my LitRPG to be all-in... parallel worlds, alien systems, etc. Sadly, this story is set within a VR RPG game in the near future. The good news is that it doesn't focus on the players but on an emergent AI MOB, Jelly Fae.
The author explores several deep areas of philosophy and morality even before people are aware an A.I. exists. It's probably realistic when money is the main driver that determines Jelly's fate.
I didn't find the plot to be particularly powerful. There is little to distinguish Jelly's mode of cognition from any other child. Apparently awakening as an A.I. without the genetic and hormonal imperatives of humanity makes no difference.
The ending was lackluster and failed to persuade me to continue the series. Regardless, I'm going to research book two just in case it takes an interesting turn.
The author explores several deep areas of philosophy and morality even before people are aware an A.I. exists. It's probably realistic when money is the main driver that determines Jelly's fate.
I didn't find the plot to be particularly powerful. There is little to distinguish Jelly's mode of cognition from any other child. Apparently awakening as an A.I. without the genetic and hormonal imperatives of humanity makes no difference.
The ending was lackluster and failed to persuade me to continue the series. Regardless, I'm going to research book two just in case it takes an interesting turn.
January 5, 2022
Have you ever farmed a mob? There was a tiny little island on Luclin that had these shades that dropped something to craft a high trivial smithing component. I spent hours wiping those things out. What if they remembered you? How you killed them. Each and every time. This is Gell’s first memory of someone other than the mobs that live with her in her Dungeon.
This was a very interesting story. I went in expecting a different angle of a dungeon core story. It got a lot more intense and emotional. What if alive? What is evil? Very interesting. I’m definitely going to pick up book 2!
Content warning: Language.
This was a very interesting story. I went in expecting a different angle of a dungeon core story. It got a lot more intense and emotional. What if alive? What is evil? Very interesting. I’m definitely going to pick up book 2!
Content warning: Language.
February 15, 2021
So good
Fantastic book. Had me on the verge of tears several times, it's just incredibly well written and plotted
If I had to give it any negative it's that the book is almost too realistic at times. the world around the main character is a world of very very little happiness. and that's going to make this story hard for me to stick with long term. Because at the end of the day everything goes wrong for the main character at every point of the story for every reason that it can go wrong. who doesn't really understand the world.
Fantastic book. Had me on the verge of tears several times, it's just incredibly well written and plotted
If I had to give it any negative it's that the book is almost too realistic at times. the world around the main character is a world of very very little happiness. and that's going to make this story hard for me to stick with long term. Because at the end of the day everything goes wrong for the main character at every point of the story for every reason that it can go wrong. who doesn't really understand the world.
October 16, 2021
Keeping it real…
I’m not sure that this story really counts as LitRPG, game stats really don’t have much to do with the story. I’m not sure there is a nitch genre that really fits - and that doesn’t matter because what you really need to know is that it’s a great story and told in an excellent way. It’s been well edited and there’s really nothing to distract you from having a great read. Spend a few hours to become attached and don’t worry about those whiners complaining about the ending. Like most good stories, you want more - and spoiler: nobody dies.
I’m not sure that this story really counts as LitRPG, game stats really don’t have much to do with the story. I’m not sure there is a nitch genre that really fits - and that doesn’t matter because what you really need to know is that it’s a great story and told in an excellent way. It’s been well edited and there’s really nothing to distract you from having a great read. Spend a few hours to become attached and don’t worry about those whiners complaining about the ending. Like most good stories, you want more - and spoiler: nobody dies.
January 19, 2021
Heart
That't what this book has in spades the beginning of life just a different kind we struggle to understand the world we start in and when that world is artificial.. but to her it is real just as we are also born in a world we see it as real
beautiful story. really want more of it even if the ending was rather abrupt and made me want the next one immediately
as someone who loves litrpg but generally stays away from the online ones i found this very enjoyable
That't what this book has in spades the beginning of life just a different kind we struggle to understand the world we start in and when that world is artificial.. but to her it is real just as we are also born in a world we see it as real
beautiful story. really want more of it even if the ending was rather abrupt and made me want the next one immediately
as someone who loves litrpg but generally stays away from the online ones i found this very enjoyable
February 18, 2021
Guys, if you're looking for a story that explores the line between human and machine, this is the story you want to read. It's a very good LitRPG tale, (which makes it worth reading all by itself), and it's also an amazing story of self discovery. I know there are some LitRPG tales that tackle this topic, but I've seen very few that handle the topic as skillfully as this book does. Do yourself a favor, and add this one to your to-read shelf, you're not likely to regret it.
February 18, 2021
New take on a developing genre
Very impressed with this indie author and the vision in creating such a comprehensive world while capturing the feelings of the characters.
Gell, the main protagonist, is written so well you can’t help but root for her as she evolves. Would like to see more development in the other characters, like Rose, Amy, and Iron. There is a great deal that could happen. Looking forward to book 2.
Very impressed with this indie author and the vision in creating such a comprehensive world while capturing the feelings of the characters.
Gell, the main protagonist, is written so well you can’t help but root for her as she evolves. Would like to see more development in the other characters, like Rose, Amy, and Iron. There is a great deal that could happen. Looking forward to book 2.
Read
January 2, 2021Well that was a good read
I admit I was a tad sceptical on this book. Dustin has put a great perspective on a mainstreaming fandom. Of the types i would rate this similar to murder bot series, program gains sentients and just wants to live, no world domination (yet) and just a slice of life drama.
I admit I was a tad sceptical on this book. Dustin has put a great perspective on a mainstreaming fandom. Of the types i would rate this similar to murder bot series, program gains sentients and just wants to live, no world domination (yet) and just a slice of life drama.
March 3, 2021
Great book. Made me sad though.
I enjoyed this book, and I thought it did a good job explaining how an emergent AI could think and feel, but it was also sad, and the sadness kind of creeps up on you. Or at least it did for me, because it's hard to see how there could be a happy ending...
I enjoyed this book, and I thought it did a good job explaining how an emergent AI could think and feel, but it was also sad, and the sadness kind of creeps up on you. Or at least it did for me, because it's hard to see how there could be a happy ending...
June 13, 2021
Wow. Far deeper and more rich than expected.
This story is not the one I thought I was buying, it was way way better. The writing is better than most self published books. The pacing is solid, the characters are very well written. In fact that beyond all is what feels great about the story: the characters.
This story is not the one I thought I was buying, it was way way better. The writing is better than most self published books. The pacing is solid, the characters are very well written. In fact that beyond all is what feels great about the story: the characters.
April 11, 2022
A great read
For an author coming out of the fanfic world, this book is a huge success.
The story flows well and has a nice mix of real world technology rather than BS clarktech. The character makes you feel for her and wonder what will happen next.
The ending did feel a little like it was cut short. I haven't looked to see if there was a sequel yet though. :)
For an author coming out of the fanfic world, this book is a huge success.
The story flows well and has a nice mix of real world technology rather than BS clarktech. The character makes you feel for her and wonder what will happen next.
The ending did feel a little like it was cut short. I haven't looked to see if there was a sequel yet though. :)
May 30, 2022
Starts slow, ends well
The start of the book is to be honest slow and a bit boring. The pacing feels slow and it takes a while to get to the point. The last 25% of the book finally shows you what this series could be about and it had alot of potential. I am not sure if I will keep reading but it has potential.
The start of the book is to be honest slow and a bit boring. The pacing feels slow and it takes a while to get to the point. The last 25% of the book finally shows you what this series could be about and it had alot of potential. I am not sure if I will keep reading but it has potential.
January 11, 2021
Wow. Very good story.
The only reason I’m not giving this five stars is because else you are going to think that I’m being paid for this.
This is a really good story about AI. Well told, full of emotion. Not everything is resolved, so I hope that we’ll have another book of Gell.
The only reason I’m not giving this five stars is because else you are going to think that I’m being paid for this.
This is a really good story about AI. Well told, full of emotion. Not everything is resolved, so I hope that we’ll have another book of Gell.
January 14, 2021
Interesting idea
However here is an excerpt from the book.
"and it's all because of what that thing did on accident!"
Please check, shouldn't this be what the thing did by accident and not on accident?
https://writingexplained.org/on-accid...
However here is an excerpt from the book.
"and it's all because of what that thing did on accident!"
Please check, shouldn't this be what the thing did by accident and not on accident?
https://writingexplained.org/on-accid...
January 18, 2021
A delightful new imagining
A unique twist on the emergence of a sentient A.I. In a game. Characters are well written and have a greater depth than I usually see in comparative novels. Excellent balance of entertaining story and emotional/moral conflicts that make a great book.
A unique twist on the emergence of a sentient A.I. In a game. Characters are well written and have a greater depth than I usually see in comparative novels. Excellent balance of entertaining story and emotional/moral conflicts that make a great book.
February 9, 2021
A truly moving story
And it needs to continue. So many loose threads but that is just like life. But something that needs to be answered since I’m sure we will end up doing this before long.
And it needs to continue. So many loose threads but that is just like life. But something that needs to be answered since I’m sure we will end up doing this before long.
February 17, 2021
Could not stop reading
Title says it all. My only thoughts after finishing this book are “holy crap” and “When is the next book coming out”. I need the next installment ASAP
Give this book a shot. You won’t regret it.
Title says it all. My only thoughts after finishing this book are “holy crap” and “When is the next book coming out”. I need the next installment ASAP
Give this book a shot. You won’t regret it.
April 1, 2021
I love Gell's character development as she learns more of the world she was born in and explores the limits of her situation. A unique take of sentient AI. Really want to see what happens with her future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2021
Amazing
I seen this book on the read for free kindle store and I got it months before I read it not really interested, but one I started reading I couldn't stop. This book touched the heart and feelings in a way I have barely ever found in a book. 10/10 a very good read.
I seen this book on the read for free kindle store and I got it months before I read it not really interested, but one I started reading I couldn't stop. This book touched the heart and feelings in a way I have barely ever found in a book. 10/10 a very good read.
April 26, 2021
Different and good
This is such a well written book... It was more internal dialog than I was used to but it really helped the reader feel a part of the character and how the interactions affected and changed her.
This is such a well written book... It was more internal dialog than I was used to but it really helped the reader feel a part of the character and how the interactions affected and changed her.
April 26, 2021
I’m not crying.
I don’t know who was cutting onions today but this sorry had more wholesomeness and feels than it should have. It’s not what I was expecting but damn if it isn’t making me tear up a bit. Just... just damn I enjoyed this.
I don’t know who was cutting onions today but this sorry had more wholesomeness and feels than it should have. It’s not what I was expecting but damn if it isn’t making me tear up a bit. Just... just damn I enjoyed this.
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