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The Heartfire Healer #1
Resurrection
The end of the world sucks. The end of the world alone is worse.
So when Dr. Lisette Chen discovers her staff have uploaded their consciousnesses into the massive MMO, Viridian Gate Online, she reluctantly takes a chance and logs in. Her goal? Discover why her colleagues abandoned her when she needed them the most.
In a blink, she finds herself in a fantastical world where her healing skills—both as a doctor and a Priestess of Gaia—are sorely needed. A group of dark priests is spreading a digital plague that threatens NPCs and Travelers alike, and somehow it is all connected to her old coworkers. Lisette is the only one who can unravel the mystery before time runs out on humanity’s new safe haven.
Lisette’s already lost one world, and she sure as hell isn’t going to lose another.
From James A. Hunter—author of Viridian Gate Online, Rogue Dungeon, and Bibliomancer—and debut author E.C. Godhand, comes an epic new entry into the Expanded Universe of Viridian Gate Online that you won't want to put down!
So when Dr. Lisette Chen discovers her staff have uploaded their consciousnesses into the massive MMO, Viridian Gate Online, she reluctantly takes a chance and logs in. Her goal? Discover why her colleagues abandoned her when she needed them the most.
In a blink, she finds herself in a fantastical world where her healing skills—both as a doctor and a Priestess of Gaia—are sorely needed. A group of dark priests is spreading a digital plague that threatens NPCs and Travelers alike, and somehow it is all connected to her old coworkers. Lisette is the only one who can unravel the mystery before time runs out on humanity’s new safe haven.
Lisette’s already lost one world, and she sure as hell isn’t going to lose another.
From James A. Hunter—author of Viridian Gate Online, Rogue Dungeon, and Bibliomancer—and debut author E.C. Godhand, comes an epic new entry into the Expanded Universe of Viridian Gate Online that you won't want to put down!
- GenresFantasy
388 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 15, 2021
114 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 19, 2021
A poor excuse for Woke Lit
Disappointingly poor entry in the VGO world; the first to focus on gaining Woke credit for the author and unfortunately little else. Very little story development, other than "Ooh, this character is non-binary! Ooh! This one's a lesbian! Ooh! So is this one! Ooh, here's another non-cis, non-het character! Aren't I so very woke?" Makes you wonder what horrible non-woke "sin" the author was busted for that they're trying to head off.
Disappointingly poor entry in the VGO world; the first to focus on gaining Woke credit for the author and unfortunately little else. Very little story development, other than "Ooh, this character is non-binary! Ooh! This one's a lesbian! Ooh! So is this one! Ooh, here's another non-cis, non-het character! Aren't I so very woke?" Makes you wonder what horrible non-woke "sin" the author was busted for that they're trying to head off.
June 15, 2021
Wow I had been waiting eagerly for a new book set in the VGO multiverse, and with a new author on the scene things could not go any better. I love EC Godhand’s style of writing, it is witty, a bit crude and has a kick ass heroine as the books main character. Dr. Lisette Chen had locked down St. Mercy’s hospital when the last days before the meteorite collided with earth happened. Many of her colleagues had left and she felt abandoned, until the chaplain Margaret re-appears. She tells her about the secret in the morgue. Her colleagues had uploaded their consciousness into the online game Viridian Gate and had left her to cope on her own. She was not invited but Margaret came back and gave up her capsule to her, insisting she take it as life online was not for her. However when Liset, arrives in the new world, she once again finds herself alone but is greeted by Gaia, one of the older Goddesses. Liset decides she would take on the role of a healer, as that is what she did best, but also one of a priestess, in honour of Margaret and of Gaia. It soon became obvious that there was darkness plaguing this new world, priests of Serth-Rog were converting those of the light to their dark ways but that was not all. The Exarch known as Jericho was building a cult based on money making and he tried to turn everyone against Liset, carrying a grudge from his life back on Earth into this one. But Liset had lost one world and she was not ready to lose this one where she felt she could do some good and be amongst friends. So she fought for what she wanted tooth and claw. I really love this first book in a new series, I enjoyed the hard drinking, cursing priestess, the fact that she loved woman, especially Kismet the beautiful Accipitor, lucky, the little sparrow who nested in Yvonne’s hair and Corvus who was so kind to Liset right from the start. Roll on book 2 and let our team’s adventures and cleansing of evil from Viridia commence. EC Godhand has given us an excellent first book!
June 15, 2021
Badass Healer MC
Two points to start. First, it is in the Viridian Gate Universe... but that doesn’t mean you need to have read VGO stories. It is a self contained story that benefits form knowing stuff from other books, but stands alone.
Second, it is looking at a set of events unique to this story, and it creates a look at a completely different side of the world in the course of this book.
I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed a healer main character. I enjoyed the drunk and disorderly actions of a person trying to do good while fighting their own human failings. I enjoyed the great cast of characters - especially a Plague Doctor character - and the in depth look at healing as a service in a game world.
The plot was solid. The stakes felt very high the entirety of the book, and the conclusion was good for a starting book, leaving enough details to lead to a book 2 - which I will also read.
Also, if nothing else, a drunk lesbian healer is a fun main character.
Two points to start. First, it is in the Viridian Gate Universe... but that doesn’t mean you need to have read VGO stories. It is a self contained story that benefits form knowing stuff from other books, but stands alone.
Second, it is looking at a set of events unique to this story, and it creates a look at a completely different side of the world in the course of this book.
I enjoyed this book. I enjoyed a healer main character. I enjoyed the drunk and disorderly actions of a person trying to do good while fighting their own human failings. I enjoyed the great cast of characters - especially a Plague Doctor character - and the in depth look at healing as a service in a game world.
The plot was solid. The stakes felt very high the entirety of the book, and the conclusion was good for a starting book, leaving enough details to lead to a book 2 - which I will also read.
Also, if nothing else, a drunk lesbian healer is a fun main character.
August 17, 2021
I'm not a huge RPGLit guy, but I've been reading a few more of them lately. This one got my attention with a few new ideas, and a very different main character.
The world is ending, as doom threatens the Earth. Dr. Listette Chen is working hard to keep her hospital afloat amid the chaos, helping who she can, turning away who she can't. Then, the staff start disappearing. One comes back with strange tales of a new world. Chen follows the directions and finds herself in a tube that translates her into a fantasy RPG, even as death threatens her mortal form.
Chen is torn between what she knows of the real world, the people from there she meets here, and the story she finds herself a part of. Can she prevail and bring some light to a dark world? Can she push back the evil that threatens everyone? Can she leave her former life behind? There's a lot for her to sort out and not a lot of time to do it.
This was clearly written by someone who understands good writing, character development, and online games. There were a lot of nice touches and very believable moments, both for the main character and the game advancing. I really enjoyed this and will be on to book two.
Recommended for fans of fantasy, LitRPG, MMORPGs, and anyone who just likes a good story.
The world is ending, as doom threatens the Earth. Dr. Listette Chen is working hard to keep her hospital afloat amid the chaos, helping who she can, turning away who she can't. Then, the staff start disappearing. One comes back with strange tales of a new world. Chen follows the directions and finds herself in a tube that translates her into a fantasy RPG, even as death threatens her mortal form.
Chen is torn between what she knows of the real world, the people from there she meets here, and the story she finds herself a part of. Can she prevail and bring some light to a dark world? Can she push back the evil that threatens everyone? Can she leave her former life behind? There's a lot for her to sort out and not a lot of time to do it.
This was clearly written by someone who understands good writing, character development, and online games. There were a lot of nice touches and very believable moments, both for the main character and the game advancing. I really enjoyed this and will be on to book two.
Recommended for fans of fantasy, LitRPG, MMORPGs, and anyone who just likes a good story.
January 20, 2022
Still VGO, but not really
This is the 17th VGO book I've ready, and to me, it's just not up to par. I liked the main character and her attitude and what not, but she can't fight?! Like literally not allowed. Taking away a big part of what I like in the series. There's still action, but spaced far between religious and moral pontificating, and overly descriptive locations, zapped my interest. Definitely some good parts, and there's no such thing as a bad book!
This is the 17th VGO book I've ready, and to me, it's just not up to par. I liked the main character and her attitude and what not, but she can't fight?! Like literally not allowed. Taking away a big part of what I like in the series. There's still action, but spaced far between religious and moral pontificating, and overly descriptive locations, zapped my interest. Definitely some good parts, and there's no such thing as a bad book!
August 13, 2021
While I liked the inclusion of the plague doctor (who was unfortunately accidentally gendered at one point), this book was confusing in places - and the protag starts screaming whenever she doesn't get her way. Which is frequently.
June 15, 2021
My review from Amazon:
Resurrection is the story of Lisette Chen, a doctor who transitions into the world of Viridian Gate Online. It's also probably the most important story in the entire Viridian Gate universe.
Some fiction is preachy and the author draws villains in rough crayon, leaving them without honest motivation; they're just villains, pawns for the hero to defeat. But this book, this story, can leave you transformed as you open yourself up to it, without cramming perspective down your throat.
It's a story written with joy and humor and delight, and at the same time filled with despair, really, and a set of reactions to it, and it's set in a world where you can see the joy and despair and experience it as you like from afar, because it's a great story, told well. And all of those things, the love and the hate, the joy and conflict, are rooted in things in the real world despite being set in a world of pure fantasy. And you can even do something about it.
Books like this, that explore identity and meaning and purpose without personalizing them, are like gems in the desert, because it really does appeal to the gamers out there who enjoy LitRPG as well as anyone who wants to read stories with real impact.
In fact, I don't think I've ever read a LitRPG book written with such love for online role-playing games. It actually changed how I think about RPGs, for that matter, and I've been playing them since playing Wizardry back on my Commodore way back when.
And the core conflict that is represented in the story? Like I said, this is rooted in things many people have actually experiences.
Is it the darkest VGO book? Heck, yes. Is it telling a story that should be told? Heck, yes. Is it a great read? Heck, yes.
I started off this review with "It's probably the most important story in the VGO universe" and I stand by that. VGO has a ton of fantastic stories by great authors, and it's a wonderful setting, and honestly none of it would matter without GrimJack's story being compelling... but if I had to pick the story that I'd recommend people read, because it's an IMPORTANT story, it'd be this series.
If I could, I'd demand people read it. But instead, I can only strongly recommend it. Five stars.
Resurrection is the story of Lisette Chen, a doctor who transitions into the world of Viridian Gate Online. It's also probably the most important story in the entire Viridian Gate universe.
Some fiction is preachy and the author draws villains in rough crayon, leaving them without honest motivation; they're just villains, pawns for the hero to defeat. But this book, this story, can leave you transformed as you open yourself up to it, without cramming perspective down your throat.
It's a story written with joy and humor and delight, and at the same time filled with despair, really, and a set of reactions to it, and it's set in a world where you can see the joy and despair and experience it as you like from afar, because it's a great story, told well. And all of those things, the love and the hate, the joy and conflict, are rooted in things in the real world despite being set in a world of pure fantasy. And you can even do something about it.
Books like this, that explore identity and meaning and purpose without personalizing them, are like gems in the desert, because it really does appeal to the gamers out there who enjoy LitRPG as well as anyone who wants to read stories with real impact.
In fact, I don't think I've ever read a LitRPG book written with such love for online role-playing games. It actually changed how I think about RPGs, for that matter, and I've been playing them since playing Wizardry back on my Commodore way back when.
And the core conflict that is represented in the story? Like I said, this is rooted in things many people have actually experiences.
Is it the darkest VGO book? Heck, yes. Is it telling a story that should be told? Heck, yes. Is it a great read? Heck, yes.
I started off this review with "It's probably the most important story in the VGO universe" and I stand by that. VGO has a ton of fantastic stories by great authors, and it's a wonderful setting, and honestly none of it would matter without GrimJack's story being compelling... but if I had to pick the story that I'd recommend people read, because it's an IMPORTANT story, it'd be this series.
If I could, I'd demand people read it. But instead, I can only strongly recommend it. Five stars.
June 16, 2021
A Nice, Light Read.
The author comes across as knowledgeable in the opening scenes of this LGBTQ Litrpg which find our MD heroine fighting a loosing battle to keep a hospital running in the face of an asteroid about to impact the earth in a few days time. The escape into the world of Viridian Gate Online is well handled and both the reader and our MD are sucked in.
The storyline is interesting and the story is well paced, never dragging while the ideas are fresh. No prior knowledge of the Viridian Gate series is required, this was the first one I had read, and it is perfectly understandable as a starting point.
One of the things I didn't enjoy about this novel is that our MC is completely antagonistic towards absolutely everyone. This makes it hard to be sympathetic towards her and by the time I reached the end of the story, I was wearied of her and the chip she carries on her shoulder.
The author comes across as knowledgeable in the opening scenes of this LGBTQ Litrpg which find our MD heroine fighting a loosing battle to keep a hospital running in the face of an asteroid about to impact the earth in a few days time. The escape into the world of Viridian Gate Online is well handled and both the reader and our MD are sucked in.
The storyline is interesting and the story is well paced, never dragging while the ideas are fresh. No prior knowledge of the Viridian Gate series is required, this was the first one I had read, and it is perfectly understandable as a starting point.
One of the things I didn't enjoy about this novel is that our MC is completely antagonistic towards absolutely everyone. This makes it hard to be sympathetic towards her and by the time I reached the end of the story, I was wearied of her and the chip she carries on her shoulder.
September 2, 2023
DNF.... It wasn't engaging, and the main character just rubbed me the wrong way. After some thought I realized I like stories where the main character has a central love interest, or no love interest.... not one in which the main character undresses every woman they meet like a horny teenage boy. Even the harem books I've read limited the sexualization of other characters to those the main character would be involved with. Not so with this one.
More so, I probably would have overlooked the MC seeing every woman as a side of bacon if the main story and plot were great, but it wasn't memorable at all. I just couldn't get past the halfway point of the novel and kept looking for every excuse not to finish it. So I won't be.
More so, I probably would have overlooked the MC seeing every woman as a side of bacon if the main story and plot were great, but it wasn't memorable at all. I just couldn't get past the halfway point of the novel and kept looking for every excuse not to finish it. So I won't be.
September 13, 2023
This was a fun book, it has a sorta-isekai premise, but the writing is much better than most Light Novels in that genre.
In many ways this is much more mature than many LitRPG books, giving its main character real inner struggles and exploring themes that are more nuanced than just "fight monsters, oppose demonking" or whatever.
That being said, there is still fun adventure elements, and the main character being a healer is written really well with attention to what it actually means to play a support role in an RPG.
In many ways this is much more mature than many LitRPG books, giving its main character real inner struggles and exploring themes that are more nuanced than just "fight monsters, oppose demonking" or whatever.
That being said, there is still fun adventure elements, and the main character being a healer is written really well with attention to what it actually means to play a support role in an RPG.
July 14, 2021
I've been very happy with just about all the Viridian Gate Online main series and books like this that give you a different look at other characters and ways of approaching the world of VGO.
This one takes a main character who is an ER doctor and has some over-work stress in their life, and they become a healer in the game world. I enjoyed how the authors built out the scenario and there are clearly connections to other happenings in other VGO books, but they are relatively subtle.
This one takes a main character who is an ER doctor and has some over-work stress in their life, and they become a healer in the game world. I enjoyed how the authors built out the scenario and there are clearly connections to other happenings in other VGO books, but they are relatively subtle.
January 8, 2026
just die already
Potential ruined by poor character development in a poorly developed virtual game. The main character is a poorly written mess, maudlin one minute, martyred the next. A cynical doctor who makes a 180 and embraces Gaia, why can’t you be a priest of Medicine or Science or a Druid or something that won’t pull your class because the pope doesn’t like you?
All the Roman influence screams fragile manosphere, at least pull a veil over your plagiarized divinity.
Potential ruined by poor character development in a poorly developed virtual game. The main character is a poorly written mess, maudlin one minute, martyred the next. A cynical doctor who makes a 180 and embraces Gaia, why can’t you be a priest of Medicine or Science or a Druid or something that won’t pull your class because the pope doesn’t like you?
All the Roman influence screams fragile manosphere, at least pull a veil over your plagiarized divinity.
August 6, 2021
Very enjoyable
Interesting story taken from a healers prospective in which the main character was a,doctor who was still trying to save people even though the planet was doomed. She arrives on the other side and things go sideways. She manages to get through everything and saves herself and the people with her. Would love to see more books about this character.
Interesting story taken from a healers prospective in which the main character was a,doctor who was still trying to save people even though the planet was doomed. She arrives on the other side and things go sideways. She manages to get through everything and saves herself and the people with her. Would love to see more books about this character.
October 26, 2022
Main character was irritating and whiny, and the plague doctor was confusing when referring to him... it... them... whatever he is. Whenever referring to "them" it took me an extra tic to understand who was being referring to, the plague doctor or the rest of the characters. I don't need that kind of extra calculations to be in my pleasure reading.
July 27, 2021
Meh
Maybe its just been a while since I read any books in this universe but I don't remember them being as literal about it being a game. And the main character was whiny and difficult to like
Maybe its just been a while since I read any books in this universe but I don't remember them being as literal about it being a game. And the main character was whiny and difficult to like
May 13, 2022
Different but worthwhile
Seems a little out of sync compared to the rest of the worldbut if your a fan of the overall series then this scratches an itch well. A different outlook which helps cover all the bases of VGO and I'll be keeping my eye on the rest of these books.
Seems a little out of sync compared to the rest of the worldbut if your a fan of the overall series then this scratches an itch well. A different outlook which helps cover all the bases of VGO and I'll be keeping my eye on the rest of these books.
June 24, 2021
Great book it’s a nice addition to the Viridian Gate online series. I can’t wait to read the next book and see how this all ties into the main story line.
April 23, 2022
Skip it
Usage of incorrect pronouns in writing is a train wreck of confusion for the reader.
The main character is a lesbian who has eyes for every woman she meets. This leads to tedious, long descriptions of every female character she interacts with, charged with sexual tones.
Story was just not believable in any way. Specifically the motives assigned to each character didn't make logical sense. An example would be never really understanding why EVERYONE she knew from earth hated her to the point of wanting her dead/tortured/abused. One character going psycho...maybe, but murder is a pretty big leap and to have everyone she knew from earth (these are people who worked in a hospital!) All suddenly be cool with mass manipulation, exploitation, and even murder, without anything to justify that motivation feels contrived.
I've been really hoping someone would put out a LITRPG book with a healer as MC, so maybe my expectations are too high, but I was disappointed with this book and will not read the sequel(s).
As a side note, if you are gonna write under the name Godhand, you better be an exceptional writer or you're going to come off as arrogant and pretentious.
Usage of incorrect pronouns in writing is a train wreck of confusion for the reader.
The main character is a lesbian who has eyes for every woman she meets. This leads to tedious, long descriptions of every female character she interacts with, charged with sexual tones.
Story was just not believable in any way. Specifically the motives assigned to each character didn't make logical sense. An example would be never really understanding why EVERYONE she knew from earth hated her to the point of wanting her dead/tortured/abused. One character going psycho...maybe, but murder is a pretty big leap and to have everyone she knew from earth (these are people who worked in a hospital!) All suddenly be cool with mass manipulation, exploitation, and even murder, without anything to justify that motivation feels contrived.
I've been really hoping someone would put out a LITRPG book with a healer as MC, so maybe my expectations are too high, but I was disappointed with this book and will not read the sequel(s).
As a side note, if you are gonna write under the name Godhand, you better be an exceptional writer or you're going to come off as arrogant and pretentious.
April 24, 2023
It was a decent book. The story was good and has alot of potential. But it felt like the writer was trying to hard to stress how brave and cool and strong the main character is. Also she was a stout atheist until 10 minutes after she logs into the game, and then spends the rest of the book as a devout worshiper of what she knows is just a computer program.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews