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Nexus Games #1
The Nexus Games
Alex Kellan has a strange problem.
It's Christmas and two men are actively dogging his every step. And while Kellan would love to just be left alone, his stalkers have different plans. They intend to take Kellan to a twisted dimension of high-tech weaponry and magic.
Specifically, they want Kellan to join them in the Nexus Games—a deadly competition where each game is unique, and harder than the last. And they won't take no for an answer.
A litRPG thriller with high-tech magic, set in a game for the ultimate prize.
It's Christmas and two men are actively dogging his every step. And while Kellan would love to just be left alone, his stalkers have different plans. They intend to take Kellan to a twisted dimension of high-tech weaponry and magic.
Specifically, they want Kellan to join them in the Nexus Games—a deadly competition where each game is unique, and harder than the last. And they won't take no for an answer.
A litRPG thriller with high-tech magic, set in a game for the ultimate prize.
598 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2022
208 people are currently reading
363 people want to read
About the author
Shami Stovall
45 books827 followersShami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction. Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.
If you want to contact her, you can do so at the following locations:
Website: https://sastovallauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GameOverStation/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAStovall/
Email: s.adelle.s@gmail.com
If you want to contact her, you can do so at the following locations:
Website: https://sastovallauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GameOverStation/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAStovall/
Email: s.adelle.s@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 28, 2022
I received a free digital copy trough BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.
I want to get something quite clear in the beginning. The book was marketed as a litRPG version of The Hunger Games. Are there some similarities? Yes, a few (when it comes to deadly competition you may or may not come alive out of). But I'm quite glad that's pretty much it. As much as I love The Hunger Games, there's absolutely no need for another, same series. And this book was something else. I absolutely loved it!
The story revolves around Kellan, who's been transported to an alternate world against his wishes, to be drafted in a team who will participate in the Nexus Games. It's a completely different world he's used to, even though it looks the same. Everyone has special abilities, people have stats on health, mana, abilities ect. It's everything you might expect from a litRPG novel, and it truly gave away gaming vibes.
I did feel the beginning was dragging a bit, but since this is supposed to be a series, I think it was important to set a vibe, introduce the characters and the world, where everything is happening. Everything was well explained and you quickly get the idea of how those alternate worlds function. Roughly 40% into the novel, there is a quick change of pace: the beginning of the games. I can't even put into words how addictive the book becomes at this point. I was in the constant state of wonder of what's going on and what's going to happen. And that's mainly the reason, the games weren't introduced in the books before, you just know there is some sort of competition, and that people might die in them. I think that sets the whole vibe, since Kellan was dragged into them without knowing anything and you learn about it as you go along, and it makes the suspense rising through the whole event. There's action, brutal violence, dangerous magical creatures and everything else that could possibly take action to the next level.
Even though the beginning looked like it's going to be an average but good read, the book slowly escalated into an amazing read I just couldn't put down. I really needed closure with everything happening, but the book did end on a cliffhanger and it makes me just want to read the next book in series so much more. I can't wait to get it into my hands and I really have high hopes for the sequel and the whole series. If you like litRPG books, please, don't pass this one out. You won't regret it!
I want to get something quite clear in the beginning. The book was marketed as a litRPG version of The Hunger Games. Are there some similarities? Yes, a few (when it comes to deadly competition you may or may not come alive out of). But I'm quite glad that's pretty much it. As much as I love The Hunger Games, there's absolutely no need for another, same series. And this book was something else. I absolutely loved it!
The story revolves around Kellan, who's been transported to an alternate world against his wishes, to be drafted in a team who will participate in the Nexus Games. It's a completely different world he's used to, even though it looks the same. Everyone has special abilities, people have stats on health, mana, abilities ect. It's everything you might expect from a litRPG novel, and it truly gave away gaming vibes.
I did feel the beginning was dragging a bit, but since this is supposed to be a series, I think it was important to set a vibe, introduce the characters and the world, where everything is happening. Everything was well explained and you quickly get the idea of how those alternate worlds function. Roughly 40% into the novel, there is a quick change of pace: the beginning of the games. I can't even put into words how addictive the book becomes at this point. I was in the constant state of wonder of what's going on and what's going to happen. And that's mainly the reason, the games weren't introduced in the books before, you just know there is some sort of competition, and that people might die in them. I think that sets the whole vibe, since Kellan was dragged into them without knowing anything and you learn about it as you go along, and it makes the suspense rising through the whole event. There's action, brutal violence, dangerous magical creatures and everything else that could possibly take action to the next level.
Even though the beginning looked like it's going to be an average but good read, the book slowly escalated into an amazing read I just couldn't put down. I really needed closure with everything happening, but the book did end on a cliffhanger and it makes me just want to read the next book in series so much more. I can't wait to get it into my hands and I really have high hopes for the sequel and the whole series. If you like litRPG books, please, don't pass this one out. You won't regret it!
November 24, 2023
This was pretty disappointing. Not just because I've read 8 other books by this author and enjoyed them, but also because this book didn't deliver on the Litrpg front. It's loosely gamelit, but didn't really meet the commonly accepted definition for Litrpg and even failed to scratch the gamelit itch for me. It felt like a failure to meet expectations from a genre standpoint and is also my least favorite work from this author. I felt like dropping it at 25%, but gave it until 50% territory before calling it quits.
I just didn't like any of the characters, which is a pretty big deal for me since character is what usually compels me to read. But here, I had nothing. I didn't feel like rooting for anyone. The MC in particular never felt like a convincing portrayal of a special forces operator. He seemed like an idiot until the plot required him to know something. Pretty much all the characters felt like one-dimensional simpletons.
The recycled material from the Arcanist series annoyed me. Of course, the MC is going to choose shadow powers, and then there are "disturbing" characters that laugh uncontrollably similar to the arcane plagued creatures in the author's other series. While the disturbing imagery worked in the Arcanist series, here it was undermined by the poor attempts at humor like describing a creature moving so fast and furious that it could have been Vin Diesel.
Maybe if this is your first book by this author, then you will find a lot of this interesting, but I was just bored the whole time. The game mechanics also just felt pointless. Weak-ass characters who know nothing manage to defeat creatures of rank "impossible" multiple times. The entire plot just feels contrived rather than organic.
This whole thing just felt like a forced mess to me and the only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is that the prose was decent and only had a couple of mistakes.
I just didn't like any of the characters, which is a pretty big deal for me since character is what usually compels me to read. But here, I had nothing. I didn't feel like rooting for anyone. The MC in particular never felt like a convincing portrayal of a special forces operator. He seemed like an idiot until the plot required him to know something. Pretty much all the characters felt like one-dimensional simpletons.
The recycled material from the Arcanist series annoyed me. Of course, the MC is going to choose shadow powers, and then there are "disturbing" characters that laugh uncontrollably similar to the arcane plagued creatures in the author's other series. While the disturbing imagery worked in the Arcanist series, here it was undermined by the poor attempts at humor like describing a creature moving so fast and furious that it could have been Vin Diesel.
Maybe if this is your first book by this author, then you will find a lot of this interesting, but I was just bored the whole time. The game mechanics also just felt pointless. Weak-ass characters who know nothing manage to defeat creatures of rank "impossible" multiple times. The entire plot just feels contrived rather than organic.
This whole thing just felt like a forced mess to me and the only reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is that the prose was decent and only had a couple of mistakes.
November 24, 2023
Unfortunately, 'The Nexus Games' didn't resonate with me. The characters lacked appeal, especially the main character, whose inconsistent portrayal left me confused. Despite the author's attempt to make the MC special, it fell short, and I found the story unenjoyable, leading me to drop it before reaching the halfway point.
March 31, 2022
I loved this book so much!!!
I originally got this book as an advance review copy for free, but halfway through I bought a paperback copy because I enjoyed it so much.
The story is just great, the characters are really interesting and have much depth, I really felt connected to all the characters and loved how they interacted with eachother. Their choices made sense with their personalities and backgrounds, and I didn't get frustrated with made decisions (which I usually get pretty fast lol)
The magic system, creatures and world are also realllyy well written I don't know what else to tell you just read the book
I'm obsessed with this book and can't wait for part 2!!
I originally got this book as an advance review copy for free, but halfway through I bought a paperback copy because I enjoyed it so much.
The story is just great, the characters are really interesting and have much depth, I really felt connected to all the characters and loved how they interacted with eachother. Their choices made sense with their personalities and backgrounds, and I didn't get frustrated with made decisions (which I usually get pretty fast lol)
The magic system, creatures and world are also realllyy well written I don't know what else to tell you just read the book
I'm obsessed with this book and can't wait for part 2!!
February 26, 2022
For reasons unknown
Usually, I like Shami Stoval's work, but I didn't think I'd like this epic. I did. I couldn't put it down, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the troubled hero. Maybe it's the mystery involved in the situation Kellen finds himself in. Not sure, but I did enjoy it. Maybe you will too.
Usually, I like Shami Stoval's work, but I didn't think I'd like this epic. I did. I couldn't put it down, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the troubled hero. Maybe it's the mystery involved in the situation Kellen finds himself in. Not sure, but I did enjoy it. Maybe you will too.
February 24, 2022
awesome fast paced adventure
This book is a wild mash up of LitRPG, Hunger Games, and Alice in Wonderland. The main character is reasonably intelligent.
This book is a wild mash up of LitRPG, Hunger Games, and Alice in Wonderland. The main character is reasonably intelligent.
February 22, 2022
Amazing Portal fantasy!
Shami has done it again with another amazing story! Must Read for anyone that loves Lit RPGs and Portal fantasy!
Shami has done it again with another amazing story! Must Read for anyone that loves Lit RPGs and Portal fantasy!
April 3, 2022
I’d never read a LitRPG before this and I was thoroughly entertained. A video game? In a book? These are my two favorite things in one!
This may not be the most objective opinion, since this is my first time reading a LitRPG, but I felt it was a good gateway into the genre. I immediately caught hold of what the book was setting up and I could suspend my disbelief when video game tropes and stats were involved.
Kellen was a sympathetic and engaging main character. I appreciated his empathy and heroism in the story. He was rebellious, and that empathy was a part of it. In the cruel Nexus, showing care for others, especially those weaker than you, was discouraged.
This book went at a blistering pace, had snappy dialog, and was packed with action. The action wasn’t meaningless, either, a lot of the fights served a purpose to explain the world or magic system.
The general setting was very strong, giving a gritty, dour atmosphere. The arenas were engaging and interesting. My favorite setting was the second game towards the end!
The monsters (yami) were also unique. If you don’t like body horror, you might not like this book, but I appreciated the creepy horror monsters and their descriptions.
At times I found the explanations of the world a little tiring, sometimes I wanted to skip the tutorial and go back to the game play, if you know what I mean. I was thankful for the explanations, but when I got to the end, I found that some could have been cut, since they weren’t necessary to understand the whole story.
I loved the whole story up until the end, and I felt a little disappointed with the cliffhanger. It felt as if I got to the climax and then the story immediately ended after that with all my questions unanswered. As well, I felt as if the characters had just begun to grow in their arcs, but not have any lessons learned or any completion of their arcs.
This isn’t to say I’m not intrigued with the world and want to read more! This was a solid book and I will be on the lookout for future books.
This may not be the most objective opinion, since this is my first time reading a LitRPG, but I felt it was a good gateway into the genre. I immediately caught hold of what the book was setting up and I could suspend my disbelief when video game tropes and stats were involved.
Kellen was a sympathetic and engaging main character. I appreciated his empathy and heroism in the story. He was rebellious, and that empathy was a part of it. In the cruel Nexus, showing care for others, especially those weaker than you, was discouraged.
This book went at a blistering pace, had snappy dialog, and was packed with action. The action wasn’t meaningless, either, a lot of the fights served a purpose to explain the world or magic system.
The general setting was very strong, giving a gritty, dour atmosphere. The arenas were engaging and interesting. My favorite setting was the second game towards the end!
The monsters (yami) were also unique. If you don’t like body horror, you might not like this book, but I appreciated the creepy horror monsters and their descriptions.
At times I found the explanations of the world a little tiring, sometimes I wanted to skip the tutorial and go back to the game play, if you know what I mean. I was thankful for the explanations, but when I got to the end, I found that some could have been cut, since they weren’t necessary to understand the whole story.
I loved the whole story up until the end, and I felt a little disappointed with the cliffhanger. It felt as if I got to the climax and then the story immediately ended after that with all my questions unanswered. As well, I felt as if the characters had just begun to grow in their arcs, but not have any lessons learned or any completion of their arcs.
This isn’t to say I’m not intrigued with the world and want to read more! This was a solid book and I will be on the lookout for future books.
May 26, 2022
This review was originally posted at https://bit.ly/3lNIDTs.
After carrying the corpses of his two brother's in arms for days to make sure they came home from a mission Alex Kellan is on mandatory leave, stateside. On Christmas. For most, this would be a welcome break. But, Kellan has no-one and just wants to go back to what he does best: protecting his country. Instead, he is in a little bar called Niko's Place hitting on a bartender and being stalked by a couple of guys. Oh, well. They don't know what they are getting themselves into. However, things go bad when he is attacked and worms invade. When he gets home he tried to brush off the encounter only to find himself in a new place: The Nexus. All Outsiders must report to the Arbitor or be killed by the Pestbyters. His one chance to get home is to participate in The Nexus Games and win access to Zenith. With over 100 other teams, no one willing to explain the rules to him, and his new-found magical abilities Kellan has his work cut out for him!
I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. When I initially got the book I will admit it seemed like a daunting read. Not for the cover, which is amazing and captivating. But, the book is 586 pages long and the font is small. That being said, the length of the book will NOT matter once you get started! I finished this book in 4 work shifts while still, somehow, doing my job. It is entertaining and will pull you in from the first sentence! I would give you said sentence, but as I was reading it a friend of mine at work asked to see it and is currently borrowing it. She is just as enthralled as I was.
This is easily The Hunger Games vs Kingdom Hearts vs D&D. Really, where can you go wrong with a combination like that? I hate that the book ended two games in! I get it. Who wants to read a 1000 page book? Me. The answer is apparently me, because I NEED to know what happens next!. I feel like Zenith is a ruse. I could be wrong, but it just seems too good to be true.
Every character in this book you will either love or love to hate. For instance: Kellan is snarky and self-depreciating in his morbid humor. Still love him. The Arbitor is a controlling dragon who rules through fear and death. Major love him. The news-castor has a bloody blindfold and is completely insane. He's also probably one of my favorite characters. He has this Mad Hatter vibe, who is my all-time favorite character in anything. I can't pick a favorite in this book. I can, however, pick a least favorite: the kid. I can't think of his name right now, unfortunately. When you read this book it will be apparent who I mean. He is intolerable. My desire to push him off a cliff is high. I feel like it's Sen. Probably is. Who knows since I can't check right now.
This amazing LitRPG read IS available on Kindle Unlimited and I fully expect it to get read. A LOT.
After carrying the corpses of his two brother's in arms for days to make sure they came home from a mission Alex Kellan is on mandatory leave, stateside. On Christmas. For most, this would be a welcome break. But, Kellan has no-one and just wants to go back to what he does best: protecting his country. Instead, he is in a little bar called Niko's Place hitting on a bartender and being stalked by a couple of guys. Oh, well. They don't know what they are getting themselves into. However, things go bad when he is attacked and worms invade. When he gets home he tried to brush off the encounter only to find himself in a new place: The Nexus. All Outsiders must report to the Arbitor or be killed by the Pestbyters. His one chance to get home is to participate in The Nexus Games and win access to Zenith. With over 100 other teams, no one willing to explain the rules to him, and his new-found magical abilities Kellan has his work cut out for him!
I received a physical copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. When I initially got the book I will admit it seemed like a daunting read. Not for the cover, which is amazing and captivating. But, the book is 586 pages long and the font is small. That being said, the length of the book will NOT matter once you get started! I finished this book in 4 work shifts while still, somehow, doing my job. It is entertaining and will pull you in from the first sentence! I would give you said sentence, but as I was reading it a friend of mine at work asked to see it and is currently borrowing it. She is just as enthralled as I was.
This is easily The Hunger Games vs Kingdom Hearts vs D&D. Really, where can you go wrong with a combination like that? I hate that the book ended two games in! I get it. Who wants to read a 1000 page book? Me. The answer is apparently me, because I NEED to know what happens next!. I feel like Zenith is a ruse. I could be wrong, but it just seems too good to be true.
Every character in this book you will either love or love to hate. For instance: Kellan is snarky and self-depreciating in his morbid humor. Still love him. The Arbitor is a controlling dragon who rules through fear and death. Major love him. The news-castor has a bloody blindfold and is completely insane. He's also probably one of my favorite characters. He has this Mad Hatter vibe, who is my all-time favorite character in anything. I can't pick a favorite in this book. I can, however, pick a least favorite: the kid. I can't think of his name right now, unfortunately. When you read this book it will be apparent who I mean. He is intolerable. My desire to push him off a cliff is high. I feel like it's Sen. Probably is. Who knows since I can't check right now.
This amazing LitRPG read IS available on Kindle Unlimited and I fully expect it to get read. A LOT.
Read
May 16, 2022I was granted complimentary access to The Nexus Games by Shami Stovall as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with Goddess Fish Promotions. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.
I decided to host this book on my blog as a review stop rather than simply spotlighting because the cover art and description promised a very self-aware fantasy of the sort where the line between what is technology and what is magic gets blurred, and I'm happy to say that's what I got! Kellan was a compelling POV character to read and I really enjoyed following him through this adventure. On top of that, I love this tech-heavy world! I wouldn't say it's the most unique setting ever, it definitely has classic cyberpunk vibes, but it works very well and I'm here for it.
The premise of the games is fascinating. It's very much a battle royale sort of last man (team) standing sort of idea and fans of properties like The Hunger Games will love it, but there's the twist that this isn't simply a survival goal, it's a get back to your home dimension goal.
The one complaint I have that knocks a star off the rating for me is that the official synopsis claims this is LitRPG. This is not LitRPG. There are definite gaming inspirations here outside of the big battle royale premise, but the characters themselves aren't giving me classic DND-but-book "oh look, I levelled up my stealth stat" LitRPG. When I say there's game influence vibes, what I mean is this book feels like someone playing a game chose all the correct actions in the correct order to get the cut scenes in the intended order in a way that paints a heroic story without too many unnecessary side quests taken. I've said that about books that weren't trying to be LitRPG as well and I think in this one it works, but it doesn't make it LitRPG, and that's going to disappoint the more dedicated genre fans.
Overall this was a great first exposure to this author for me. I'm definitely interested in reading other books by this author and I would definitely recommend this book to fans of fantasy and science fantasy.
I decided to host this book on my blog as a review stop rather than simply spotlighting because the cover art and description promised a very self-aware fantasy of the sort where the line between what is technology and what is magic gets blurred, and I'm happy to say that's what I got! Kellan was a compelling POV character to read and I really enjoyed following him through this adventure. On top of that, I love this tech-heavy world! I wouldn't say it's the most unique setting ever, it definitely has classic cyberpunk vibes, but it works very well and I'm here for it.
The premise of the games is fascinating. It's very much a battle royale sort of last man (team) standing sort of idea and fans of properties like The Hunger Games will love it, but there's the twist that this isn't simply a survival goal, it's a get back to your home dimension goal.
The one complaint I have that knocks a star off the rating for me is that the official synopsis claims this is LitRPG. This is not LitRPG. There are definite gaming inspirations here outside of the big battle royale premise, but the characters themselves aren't giving me classic DND-but-book "oh look, I levelled up my stealth stat" LitRPG. When I say there's game influence vibes, what I mean is this book feels like someone playing a game chose all the correct actions in the correct order to get the cut scenes in the intended order in a way that paints a heroic story without too many unnecessary side quests taken. I've said that about books that weren't trying to be LitRPG as well and I think in this one it works, but it doesn't make it LitRPG, and that's going to disappoint the more dedicated genre fans.
Overall this was a great first exposure to this author for me. I'm definitely interested in reading other books by this author and I would definitely recommend this book to fans of fantasy and science fantasy.
March 5, 2022
Admittedly, I was cautious when starting this book, as I worried it would be too close to books like Ready Player One.
While it is slightly reminiscent, The Nexus Games really shines on its own. It really felt like a mix to me of Ready Player One, Squid Game, and Arcane.
I appreciated the different player stats too as it reminded me of Dungeons and Dragons.
The storyline itself too is compelling and I can see many sci fi and fantasy readers enjoying the minute of both genres, especially since somehow, it works!
This IS the first book though, so don’t expect a clean ending, but I think that you’ll just be hungry for more at the end like I was.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
While it is slightly reminiscent, The Nexus Games really shines on its own. It really felt like a mix to me of Ready Player One, Squid Game, and Arcane.
I appreciated the different player stats too as it reminded me of Dungeons and Dragons.
The storyline itself too is compelling and I can see many sci fi and fantasy readers enjoying the minute of both genres, especially since somehow, it works!
This IS the first book though, so don’t expect a clean ending, but I think that you’ll just be hungry for more at the end like I was.
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
March 8, 2022
The Nexus Games is Book 1 in the series by Shami Stovall. I enjoyed the book. Although this story is 597 pages, I felt that it was exciting and interesting from page 1 to the end. I did not feel that this book had any slow parts, I found the story interesting and exciting and I really dud not know what was going to happen next. I liked the characters. I thought the characters were well developed and I either loved them if hated them. I do believe that a reader will enjoy this story if they like games and fantasys. In fantasy and game stories, I find that they can be violent and sometimes gruesome, there were places that were both.I thought Alex and Mafia were wonderful characters and I am looking forward to book 2. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
March 3, 2022
A new world
The book is does a great job of changing the leveling system of RPG. Shami Stovall does it in a very unique way. A lot of times changing the system doesn't work, but here it does and the story is keeps you wanting to read more. Can't wait for the next book.
The book is does a great job of changing the leveling system of RPG. Shami Stovall does it in a very unique way. A lot of times changing the system doesn't work, but here it does and the story is keeps you wanting to read more. Can't wait for the next book.
March 1, 2022
Awesome
Well damn . I had hoped for a stand alone e book bit was denied. 6 or 700 pages of damn I can't wait to find out. 😩 . can't wait for the next one.
Merry Christmas.
Well damn . I had hoped for a stand alone e book bit was denied. 6 or 700 pages of damn I can't wait to find out. 😩 . can't wait for the next one.
Merry Christmas.
July 13, 2022
We are proud to announce that THE NEXUS GAMES (Nexus Games #1) by Shami Stovall has been honored with the B.R.A.G.Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). It now joins the very select award-winning, reader-recommended books at indieBRAG.
March 16, 2022
Excellent
I was worried with a modern military main character, not usually my thing, but it was very fun and engaging. Finished it in one day.
I was worried with a modern military main character, not usually my thing, but it was very fun and engaging. Finished it in one day.
March 5, 2022
Great!!!
The book drew me in and I was compelled to finish it in one sitting! I'm impatiently waiting for the next in the series!
The book drew me in and I was compelled to finish it in one sitting! I'm impatiently waiting for the next in the series!
May 10, 2022
Fast and fun
This was a unique read but well thought out and executed. The author has a way of bringing characters to life, their pain and struggles making them feel real. I just wish I didn't have to wait for book two to find out what happens next.
This was a unique read but well thought out and executed. The author has a way of bringing characters to life, their pain and struggles making them feel real. I just wish I didn't have to wait for book two to find out what happens next.
June 20, 2023
THE NEXUS GAMES is the first book in a new series of the same name that takes you into a game world where kindness is seen as a disadvantage.
Kellen is taken to this world, along with the woman he met that night, Mavis. He is told they have to play the game to get back home. Think of it as a cross between The Hunger Games and Wizard of Oz! It turns out, there is more to the world than Kellen or Mavis ever thought, with other dimensions and different versions of themselves in every dimension.
The team Kellen is playing with is full of secrets -- and you don't get the answers, not in this book! So prepare yourself because you will finish the book with questions unanswered. Also, it ends on a HUGE cliffhanger, so consider yourself warned.
As with all books by this author, the world-building is second to none. You find out what you need to know, when you need to know it. You learn about the magic of this world as Kellen does.
This is a long story so plenty to get your teeth into. It is definitely recommended by me and I can't wait to see where it goes next.
Just one question though, where can I get an albino wyvern?
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 9, 2022
Kellen is taken to this world, along with the woman he met that night, Mavis. He is told they have to play the game to get back home. Think of it as a cross between The Hunger Games and Wizard of Oz! It turns out, there is more to the world than Kellen or Mavis ever thought, with other dimensions and different versions of themselves in every dimension.
The team Kellen is playing with is full of secrets -- and you don't get the answers, not in this book! So prepare yourself because you will finish the book with questions unanswered. Also, it ends on a HUGE cliffhanger, so consider yourself warned.
As with all books by this author, the world-building is second to none. You find out what you need to know, when you need to know it. You learn about the magic of this world as Kellen does.
This is a long story so plenty to get your teeth into. It is definitely recommended by me and I can't wait to see where it goes next.
Just one question though, where can I get an albino wyvern?
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
May 9, 2022
April 7, 2022
The author has a great imagination and comes up with wonderful tales. Sadly, this one is lost in the writing.
I liked the main character. However, two of the secondary characters are completely unlikable. Since they play a major role in the book, it's impossible to just ignore the scenes they are in and move on.
The setting is interesting. Sadly, Ms. Stovall does one thing that I absolutely hate - plays "I know something you don't know" with the reader and MC. There is a lot of information that is hinted at, or only made clear later, that would help in understanding what is going on. Sadly, this information is dribbled out bit by bit. To make it worse, there is no reason for the secondary characters to not tell the MC everything (and every reason for them to give him information overload), but they don't. Instead, they let him flounder and then berate him when he acts in ignorance.
Finally, the book does not wrap anything up. It just stops, though thankfully not at a cliffhanger.
I wanted to love this book. But in the end, I rushed through in hopes that something would make me want to read the second book. Nothing did, and I am done with this series.
I liked the main character. However, two of the secondary characters are completely unlikable. Since they play a major role in the book, it's impossible to just ignore the scenes they are in and move on.
The setting is interesting. Sadly, Ms. Stovall does one thing that I absolutely hate - plays "I know something you don't know" with the reader and MC. There is a lot of information that is hinted at, or only made clear later, that would help in understanding what is going on. Sadly, this information is dribbled out bit by bit. To make it worse, there is no reason for the secondary characters to not tell the MC everything (and every reason for them to give him information overload), but they don't. Instead, they let him flounder and then berate him when he acts in ignorance.
Finally, the book does not wrap anything up. It just stops, though thankfully not at a cliffhanger.
I wanted to love this book. But in the end, I rushed through in hopes that something would make me want to read the second book. Nothing did, and I am done with this series.
July 25, 2022
The rise of the passive hero
Pro:
1. Interesting storyline.
2. Good writing craft.
3. Someone else will like this book.
Cons:
1. The Main Character: He is billed as a man of action who hates hesitation. This guy must really have a lot of self loathing. He hesitates at every opportunity. If it seemed like he was planning and plotting it would be fine, but he just stands there slack jawed until he is forced to do something. There were several times when I actually yelled at the book to do something, anything.
2. Time management: If you are going to die in 5 minutes you don't spend 4 of them in conversation with people you can't stand. And you don't wait until you are on the clock to tell everyone the plan.
In conclusion, not a bad book, but not good enough to get the next one. Tom out
Pro:
1. Interesting storyline.
2. Good writing craft.
3. Someone else will like this book.
Cons:
1. The Main Character: He is billed as a man of action who hates hesitation. This guy must really have a lot of self loathing. He hesitates at every opportunity. If it seemed like he was planning and plotting it would be fine, but he just stands there slack jawed until he is forced to do something. There were several times when I actually yelled at the book to do something, anything.
2. Time management: If you are going to die in 5 minutes you don't spend 4 of them in conversation with people you can't stand. And you don't wait until you are on the clock to tell everyone the plan.
In conclusion, not a bad book, but not good enough to get the next one. Tom out
June 23, 2022
Standard litRPG combined with Hunger Games. Protagonist is another generic military person. (Not saying they are always generic, but it is more common than not.) I like some of the rando futuristic bits thrown in. Did not like that the world makes no sense.
Did not like that the team plan was "what if we entered the Olympics with a team composed of Michael Jordan, two high school students, and two junior high students? I bet that would be a winning team! Oh, and we die if we lose, I don't see any problems here."
Suffers from Smirk Syndrome, with a total of 43 smirks. Will I ever discover why so many litRPG writers are so dedicated to overusing and misusing that word?
Did not like that the team plan was "what if we entered the Olympics with a team composed of Michael Jordan, two high school students, and two junior high students? I bet that would be a winning team! Oh, and we die if we lose, I don't see any problems here."
Suffers from Smirk Syndrome, with a total of 43 smirks. Will I ever discover why so many litRPG writers are so dedicated to overusing and misusing that word?
July 4, 2022
MC has no agency
The MC is really annoying in this book. I didn’t finish it past the halfway mark but the MC hasn’t made a single major decision the whole time. Things just happen to him and he goes with it. Also, he’s terrible at fighting. Who has a gun and stops firing EVERY TIME after one shot? Then let’s the opponent get in melee range? I couldn’t ignore that anymore and had to stop.
The MC is really annoying in this book. I didn’t finish it past the halfway mark but the MC hasn’t made a single major decision the whole time. Things just happen to him and he goes with it. Also, he’s terrible at fighting. Who has a gun and stops firing EVERY TIME after one shot? Then let’s the opponent get in melee range? I couldn’t ignore that anymore and had to stop.
February 26, 2022
Nowhere near as good as the arcanist series
This book was released too early. It badly needs a ton more editing. The current version is extremely disjointed, making it hard to enjoy.
This book was released too early. It badly needs a ton more editing. The current version is extremely disjointed, making it hard to enjoy.
April 27, 2022
This was not so much fun
Not as light hearted as most LitRPG books. So I had to really work to get through it and leveling didn't seem as useful.
Not as light hearted as most LitRPG books. So I had to really work to get through it and leveling didn't seem as useful.
May 23, 2022
This book is an intriguing, thrilling, suspenseful, and entertaining read!!
A brilliant start to a promising new book series!!
This is the fourth book that I have had the pleasure and privilege of reading and reviewing from Shami Stovall. When I saw she had an exciting new book series out I pounced on the opportunity to read and review Book One, “The Nexus Games,” and it did not disappoint!!
While some of this book’s story lines and themes reminded me of familiar favorites like the Hunger Games, Ready Player One, Nerve, Dungeons and Dragons, and the new Jumanji’s, Stovall cleverly placed her own spin on these fantasy masterpieces, creating a refreshingly new and uniquely tailored concept.
This book follows the main character, Kellan, a Special Forces war hero who has been recently and reluctantly placed on mandatory leave. Kellan is still recovering from a traumatic incident in Syria, three months ago, where Kellan lost his two best friends and fellow Delta Force teammates, which then was quickly followed up by reoccurring nightmares while he cycled through the five stages of grief, further putting him in an “at-risk,” category and in need of a time-out to avoid an impending mental break. Kellan comes across as a stubborn, sarcastic, paranoid, heartbroken, damaged, emotionally distant solider who is still healing physically, mentally, and emotionally. While his persona seems pretty straightforward, his character does grow by portraying compassionate, caring, honorable, and chivalrous acts as he displays these redeeming qualities over the course of the book.
While I did enjoy this book, I was a bit disappointed by the slower paced, drawn-out beginning. It’s not until you’re almost halfway through the book do the games begin and the excitement factor really kicks off. Of course, I understand, this is a fantasy book, which requires an extensive amount of worldbuilding details to be established and promptly implemented into the story. Plus, then there’s characters to introduce, mythical creatures to unveil, supernatural powers and abilities to divulge, protocols and formalities to disclose, and a whole slew of new terms to be defined. While all of this is absolutely needed to give readers a clear understanding of this alternative world; I just felt that maybe a few of the more overly detailed (and occasionally repetitive) passages could be cut down a bit to reach a more suitable balance between the worldbuilding and an infodump.
Regardless, having said that, one thing that I always love about Stovall’s books, including this one, is the author’s ability to create exceptionally strong worldbuilding elements that capture the reader’s imagination and keeps them fully immersed in the story. Stovall knows it’s the little things that can make or break a successful worldbuilding scene as plot holes, inconsistencies, and neglected fundamentals are sure to leave a reader confused and frustrated. So, I truly appreciate the author consistently going above and beyond to make sure her worldbuilding is complex, but understandable; approachable, but unique; and thoroughly complete.
This book certainly falls on the longer side as it is spans 56 chapters across 591 eBook pages!!! It’s been a while since I’ve read such a lengthy book and while it did keep my attention for the most part, this book had to be broken up into multiple reading sessions due to the extensive amount of time needed to finish this book.
This book is Book One of Stovall’s new Book Series, “The Nexus Games.” I can’t advise this book to be read as a stand-alone, because I think the reader would be quite disappointed as this book ends with a huge cliffhanger and more questions than answers. Honestly, this book is more of an introduction and set up for book two. So, I would definitely recommend that you’re going to want to commit to reading the whole series so you can actually enjoy the complete experience and hopefully have a satisfying series ending. However, I’m not quite sure about the book two details as the author’s information in Book One and Goodreads have conflicting info. Book Two, “The Nexus Knight,” as listed on Goodreads is scheduled to be released June 28th, 2022; while Book Two, “The Void Knight,” as listed at the end of Book One, is set to be released soon. Regardless, of the title, Book Two sounds like an exciting follow-up and I look forward to checking it out!!
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it!! I think all fantasy, adventure, gaming, and sci-fi book fans – especially readers that fall into the YA, NA, and adult fiction genres will like this book too!! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations**
A brilliant start to a promising new book series!!
This is the fourth book that I have had the pleasure and privilege of reading and reviewing from Shami Stovall. When I saw she had an exciting new book series out I pounced on the opportunity to read and review Book One, “The Nexus Games,” and it did not disappoint!!
While some of this book’s story lines and themes reminded me of familiar favorites like the Hunger Games, Ready Player One, Nerve, Dungeons and Dragons, and the new Jumanji’s, Stovall cleverly placed her own spin on these fantasy masterpieces, creating a refreshingly new and uniquely tailored concept.
This book follows the main character, Kellan, a Special Forces war hero who has been recently and reluctantly placed on mandatory leave. Kellan is still recovering from a traumatic incident in Syria, three months ago, where Kellan lost his two best friends and fellow Delta Force teammates, which then was quickly followed up by reoccurring nightmares while he cycled through the five stages of grief, further putting him in an “at-risk,” category and in need of a time-out to avoid an impending mental break. Kellan comes across as a stubborn, sarcastic, paranoid, heartbroken, damaged, emotionally distant solider who is still healing physically, mentally, and emotionally. While his persona seems pretty straightforward, his character does grow by portraying compassionate, caring, honorable, and chivalrous acts as he displays these redeeming qualities over the course of the book.
While I did enjoy this book, I was a bit disappointed by the slower paced, drawn-out beginning. It’s not until you’re almost halfway through the book do the games begin and the excitement factor really kicks off. Of course, I understand, this is a fantasy book, which requires an extensive amount of worldbuilding details to be established and promptly implemented into the story. Plus, then there’s characters to introduce, mythical creatures to unveil, supernatural powers and abilities to divulge, protocols and formalities to disclose, and a whole slew of new terms to be defined. While all of this is absolutely needed to give readers a clear understanding of this alternative world; I just felt that maybe a few of the more overly detailed (and occasionally repetitive) passages could be cut down a bit to reach a more suitable balance between the worldbuilding and an infodump.
Regardless, having said that, one thing that I always love about Stovall’s books, including this one, is the author’s ability to create exceptionally strong worldbuilding elements that capture the reader’s imagination and keeps them fully immersed in the story. Stovall knows it’s the little things that can make or break a successful worldbuilding scene as plot holes, inconsistencies, and neglected fundamentals are sure to leave a reader confused and frustrated. So, I truly appreciate the author consistently going above and beyond to make sure her worldbuilding is complex, but understandable; approachable, but unique; and thoroughly complete.
This book certainly falls on the longer side as it is spans 56 chapters across 591 eBook pages!!! It’s been a while since I’ve read such a lengthy book and while it did keep my attention for the most part, this book had to be broken up into multiple reading sessions due to the extensive amount of time needed to finish this book.
This book is Book One of Stovall’s new Book Series, “The Nexus Games.” I can’t advise this book to be read as a stand-alone, because I think the reader would be quite disappointed as this book ends with a huge cliffhanger and more questions than answers. Honestly, this book is more of an introduction and set up for book two. So, I would definitely recommend that you’re going to want to commit to reading the whole series so you can actually enjoy the complete experience and hopefully have a satisfying series ending. However, I’m not quite sure about the book two details as the author’s information in Book One and Goodreads have conflicting info. Book Two, “The Nexus Knight,” as listed on Goodreads is scheduled to be released June 28th, 2022; while Book Two, “The Void Knight,” as listed at the end of Book One, is set to be released soon. Regardless, of the title, Book Two sounds like an exciting follow-up and I look forward to checking it out!!
All in all, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it!! I think all fantasy, adventure, gaming, and sci-fi book fans – especially readers that fall into the YA, NA, and adult fiction genres will like this book too!! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading - you won't be disappointed!!
**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations**
June 13, 2022
I've been reviewing this author's work for years, so when she offered me a review copy of this one, I was happy to accept!
This book is definitely a hefty one, with a ton of worldbuilding. Like most LitRPGs, those who already have a basic understanding of either video game or TTRPG mechanics are probably going to have the easiest time with it. I did appreciate that it doesn't try to specifically name drop any specific game. Instead, it uses various concepts with any proper nouns. And considering the fact the protagonist is not a gamer and has the concepts explained to him with more broad terminology, it's probably as accessible as this genre is going to get.
That being said, it does feel as if a lot of time is spent on the worldbuilding. The protagonist will pull up his "character sheet," so to speak, multiple times. Or else will go through giant list of spells. It adds a certain level of realism, given the setting. But after awhile my eyes were glazing over the lists of spells. The story read a lot faster later on, when it focused more on action and less on mechanics. Although anyone that loves looking through their OC's spell list will probably have a ball.
Kellan, the protagonist, does remind me of some of the author's other MCs. Namely in that morality and sticking to a moral code even knowing it could cost him are huge facets of his personality. It brought up comparisons to game mechanics like the Little Sisters in Bioshock or the EXP system in Undertale to mine. There was a sub theme about the commentary of the nature of casual violence in video games (i.e. the way everyone keeps massacring this world's version of NPCs) that was intriguing.
The synopsis promises a ragtag team and I am all for found family. this one is definitely going to be a slow burn. By the end of the book they're still working on getting to like one another. But you can see the growth between specific characters. I do like that certain characters that first seem to be jerks get more nuance as the story goes on. And I was surprised to find a romantic subplot so early on in a Shami Stovall series. Previously, she's always made me wait for it.
The ending was as tense as I've come to expect from the author, with huge reveals, a giant upping of the stakes, and topped off with a cliffhanger. It was action packed from beginning to end, and I suspect the sequel will be even bigger. LitRPGs still aren't the most accessible for a lot of beginning SFF readers, but this is a great first choice for someone trying to get into the subgenre.
This book is definitely a hefty one, with a ton of worldbuilding. Like most LitRPGs, those who already have a basic understanding of either video game or TTRPG mechanics are probably going to have the easiest time with it. I did appreciate that it doesn't try to specifically name drop any specific game. Instead, it uses various concepts with any proper nouns. And considering the fact the protagonist is not a gamer and has the concepts explained to him with more broad terminology, it's probably as accessible as this genre is going to get.
That being said, it does feel as if a lot of time is spent on the worldbuilding. The protagonist will pull up his "character sheet," so to speak, multiple times. Or else will go through giant list of spells. It adds a certain level of realism, given the setting. But after awhile my eyes were glazing over the lists of spells. The story read a lot faster later on, when it focused more on action and less on mechanics. Although anyone that loves looking through their OC's spell list will probably have a ball.
Kellan, the protagonist, does remind me of some of the author's other MCs. Namely in that morality and sticking to a moral code even knowing it could cost him are huge facets of his personality. It brought up comparisons to game mechanics like the Little Sisters in Bioshock or the EXP system in Undertale to mine. There was a sub theme about the commentary of the nature of casual violence in video games (i.e. the way everyone keeps massacring this world's version of NPCs) that was intriguing.
The synopsis promises a ragtag team and I am all for found family. this one is definitely going to be a slow burn. By the end of the book they're still working on getting to like one another. But you can see the growth between specific characters. I do like that certain characters that first seem to be jerks get more nuance as the story goes on. And I was surprised to find a romantic subplot so early on in a Shami Stovall series. Previously, she's always made me wait for it.
The ending was as tense as I've come to expect from the author, with huge reveals, a giant upping of the stakes, and topped off with a cliffhanger. It was action packed from beginning to end, and I suspect the sequel will be even bigger. LitRPGs still aren't the most accessible for a lot of beginning SFF readers, but this is a great first choice for someone trying to get into the subgenre.
March 9, 2022
*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*
I was immediately taken with the concept of this book and the cover art is spectacular. It gave me a Ready Player One vibe and I just had to jump in. Kellan is an easy character to root for. He is often unpredictable except for when it comes to being honorable. No matter what shennagians he finds himself involved with, he is always looking for the best case scenario. Mavis is another favorite. She is just so easy going while still being a take no ish badass. The rest of the team, I'm still on the fence about and I look forward to their characters being fleshed out more in the next book. My only reason for a four star rating instead of the full five is that the book was a bit slow in places and the detail for skill choices was occasionally overwhelming. Part of the slower pace is due to the sheer amount of world building that is happening, so that we might have a clue as to what in the world is going on in the nightmare that is the Nexus. This is definitely not a place I want to be transported to! Luckily, by the middle-end of the book, the pace was rapidly moving forward and I knew I was headed towards a massive cliffhanger. Overall, very well done, and I'm looking forward to the next installment!
I was immediately taken with the concept of this book and the cover art is spectacular. It gave me a Ready Player One vibe and I just had to jump in. Kellan is an easy character to root for. He is often unpredictable except for when it comes to being honorable. No matter what shennagians he finds himself involved with, he is always looking for the best case scenario. Mavis is another favorite. She is just so easy going while still being a take no ish badass. The rest of the team, I'm still on the fence about and I look forward to their characters being fleshed out more in the next book. My only reason for a four star rating instead of the full five is that the book was a bit slow in places and the detail for skill choices was occasionally overwhelming. Part of the slower pace is due to the sheer amount of world building that is happening, so that we might have a clue as to what in the world is going on in the nightmare that is the Nexus. This is definitely not a place I want to be transported to! Luckily, by the middle-end of the book, the pace was rapidly moving forward and I knew I was headed towards a massive cliffhanger. Overall, very well done, and I'm looking forward to the next installment!
May 17, 2022
I received this book for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Given my RPG (role playing game, for anyone who’s unfamiliar) and video game history, I have read surprisingly few game lit books. I suppose I’ve read books that involve games that are also life in a dystopian way (kind of like Ready Player One), but The Nexus Games felt like something slightly different and new to me, which was pretty cool.
I enjoyed the game mechanics a lot, especially the information scrolling. The game text’s humor was subtle but beautiful for anyone familiar with how games deliver this kind of information. I did find it tough to keep up with some of the different abilities and specialties at points, and only my knowledge of how games categorize abilities kept my head above the proverbial water. For anyone less familiar with gaming, the information may be an overload. But then, if you aren’t a gamer, the book may not appeal to you in the first place. There’s an interesting chicken-or-egg question to ponder.
And spoiler (sort of): there’s a lot (a lot) of gore in here. If you get grossed out easily, proceed with caution. This isn’t the type of book where you can easily skip over the disturbing parts. The characters wound up being the most surprising and interesting part for me. They had more secrets than I expected (and I expect a lot in sci-fi/fantasy), so that was very cool.
Overall, fascinating game and interesting arc, but could be confusing to the wrong crowd. The right crowd, though, will probably eat this up. So if you’re into dark fantasy and gaming and don’t mind violence, this one’s for you.
More reviews at kitnkabookle.com
Given my RPG (role playing game, for anyone who’s unfamiliar) and video game history, I have read surprisingly few game lit books. I suppose I’ve read books that involve games that are also life in a dystopian way (kind of like Ready Player One), but The Nexus Games felt like something slightly different and new to me, which was pretty cool.
I enjoyed the game mechanics a lot, especially the information scrolling. The game text’s humor was subtle but beautiful for anyone familiar with how games deliver this kind of information. I did find it tough to keep up with some of the different abilities and specialties at points, and only my knowledge of how games categorize abilities kept my head above the proverbial water. For anyone less familiar with gaming, the information may be an overload. But then, if you aren’t a gamer, the book may not appeal to you in the first place. There’s an interesting chicken-or-egg question to ponder.
And spoiler (sort of): there’s a lot (a lot) of gore in here. If you get grossed out easily, proceed with caution. This isn’t the type of book where you can easily skip over the disturbing parts. The characters wound up being the most surprising and interesting part for me. They had more secrets than I expected (and I expect a lot in sci-fi/fantasy), so that was very cool.
Overall, fascinating game and interesting arc, but could be confusing to the wrong crowd. The right crowd, though, will probably eat this up. So if you’re into dark fantasy and gaming and don’t mind violence, this one’s for you.
More reviews at kitnkabookle.com
March 31, 2022
Kellan is a really intriguing character, who seems to have a lot in common with Nolan Garrett and Captain Aravon (both created by Alex Peloquin). He seems to be the kind of guy who belongs most in Tom Clancy's books but the author decided to toss him through a portal into a world that seems to combine the craziest elements of Margo Bond Collins' Rift, Diana Pharaoh Francis' Shadow City and Ryk Spoor's Grand Central Arena. When expediency seems to be the way to go, it takes a true contrarian to walk the high road - it seems Kellan insists. I wonder if he is going to be able to in book 2. Here's hoping!
I received an ARC via Hidden Gems and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC via Hidden Gems and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
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