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The Simulacrum #1
A Brand New World: A Slice-of-Life Urban Fantasy
A teenager becomes a romantic hero in an artificial-reality school full of supernatural secrets in the first book of a slice-of-life, urban-fantasy series.
Leonard Dunning wakes up in a home he doesn’t remember—and to a face in the mirror he doesn’t recognize. He soon discovers he attends Blue Cherry High with his best friend, Josh Bernstein, who seems to be the most popular boy in school, with several girls competing for his attention. As the girls collide and clash over the oblivious Josh, Leo realizes each of them displays quirks of characters found in an anime harem comedy. So if Josh is the story’s protagonist, what does that make Leo?
To learn more about the simulation in which he’s been cast, Leo enlists the help of background extra Judy Sennoma. Together, they observe and catalog what’s going on around them to try to figure out how the story will unfold. But as Leo interacts with Josh’s love interests and inadvertently confronts stereotypical villains, he disrupts the flow of the narrative. Now, two girls have set their romantic sights on him, and he’s made some very powerful enemies. As the designated secondary protagonist, Leo has become a hero in an adventure that’s no longer following the tropes of the genre—and placed himself and his friends in grave danger.
Caught in the crosshairs, Leo must develop his newfound superhuman abilities before he gets dragged into the hidden conflicts between otherworldly factions. But he’s not afraid to push back against the plot, and the narrative’s shadowy controllers are in for a rude awakening.
The first volume of the hit slice-of-life romantic-comedy series—with more than two million views on Royal Road—now available on Audible and wherever ebooks are sold!
Leonard Dunning wakes up in a home he doesn’t remember—and to a face in the mirror he doesn’t recognize. He soon discovers he attends Blue Cherry High with his best friend, Josh Bernstein, who seems to be the most popular boy in school, with several girls competing for his attention. As the girls collide and clash over the oblivious Josh, Leo realizes each of them displays quirks of characters found in an anime harem comedy. So if Josh is the story’s protagonist, what does that make Leo?
To learn more about the simulation in which he’s been cast, Leo enlists the help of background extra Judy Sennoma. Together, they observe and catalog what’s going on around them to try to figure out how the story will unfold. But as Leo interacts with Josh’s love interests and inadvertently confronts stereotypical villains, he disrupts the flow of the narrative. Now, two girls have set their romantic sights on him, and he’s made some very powerful enemies. As the designated secondary protagonist, Leo has become a hero in an adventure that’s no longer following the tropes of the genre—and placed himself and his friends in grave danger.
Caught in the crosshairs, Leo must develop his newfound superhuman abilities before he gets dragged into the hidden conflicts between otherworldly factions. But he’s not afraid to push back against the plot, and the narrative’s shadowy controllers are in for a rude awakening.
The first volume of the hit slice-of-life romantic-comedy series—with more than two million views on Royal Road—now available on Audible and wherever ebooks are sold!
572 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 10, 2022
29 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 19, 2023
DNF after close to three hours on the audio book.
Though the author does give an interesting question - what would it be like to live inside of a computer game - the answer is given in what is for me the most shit way possible.
Through cardboard cut outs of 17 year olds at school. They are shallow, stupid and attempt snark constantly. If this sort of thing appeals to you might I also recommend the Twilight books where you can watch a romance between a minor and an 104 year old play out. This is similar in that I think the MC is an adult stuck into a kids body and apparently suffers a huge drop to their IQ. Or they started as a very stupid adult. Either way.
Though the author does give an interesting question - what would it be like to live inside of a computer game - the answer is given in what is for me the most shit way possible.
Through cardboard cut outs of 17 year olds at school. They are shallow, stupid and attempt snark constantly. If this sort of thing appeals to you might I also recommend the Twilight books where you can watch a romance between a minor and an 104 year old play out. This is similar in that I think the MC is an adult stuck into a kids body and apparently suffers a huge drop to their IQ. Or they started as a very stupid adult. Either way.
October 5, 2022
A trope reality gone wrong
Found this a humorous read as a trope-based reality(/game?) starts to go wrong when someone from outside fills a character role and explores the rules of his new setting. The only problem with that is that reality starts to notice as the other roles start to flesh out and thus the rules start to twist again... The poor MC!
Found this a humorous read as a trope-based reality(/game?) starts to go wrong when someone from outside fills a character role and explores the rules of his new setting. The only problem with that is that reality starts to notice as the other roles start to flesh out and thus the rules start to twist again... The poor MC!
April 27, 2023
Incredible work
This is one of the best books I've read in ages, the banter is beautiful and incredibly human and interpersonal dynamics are great.
The plot is unraveled wonderfully letting the audience barely get used to the status quo before shaking it up in new and interesting ways. (Although the climax feels a little slow)
All around incredible work, I recommend it.
This is one of the best books I've read in ages, the banter is beautiful and incredibly human and interpersonal dynamics are great.
The plot is unraveled wonderfully letting the audience barely get used to the status quo before shaking it up in new and interesting ways. (Although the climax feels a little slow)
All around incredible work, I recommend it.
May 11, 2024
This series has a nice and slow pace that I found myself really enjoying. This series does a great job of slowly stacking more and more overlapping plot points. A perfect true slice of life. I loved every second of it. Amazing!
June 30, 2022
Good
A good start to the book series, I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book released.
A good start to the book series, I am looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book released.
January 12, 2023
Best book in ages
Not even a question. This book is such a fresh breath of air on a tired out genre it makes me wanna cry.
Not even a question. This book is such a fresh breath of air on a tired out genre it makes me wanna cry.
March 31, 2023
The Audiobook for this novel is by far the best way to enjoy it. Narrator does a great job and makes the story more palatable.
May 2, 2022
Is This Real or Just Fantasy?
Splitting headache and alarms don’t mix so well. Was I drinking last night? I can’t remember anything from last night. Five more minutes of sleep will make it better, not fix it, but make it better. I figured I better start moving and slowly sat up. Then it hit me, it wasn’t just last night I couldn’t remember. I can’t remember anything….
Maybe a cold shower would wake me up and jog the old noggin. I was able to find my way to the bathroom, but it was odd. It was cleaner than clean. In fact, it seemed the hallway and everywhere was. Looking in the mirror was a teenager staring back at me, I definitely didn’t recognize myself. After freaking out then showering, I found ‘my’ student id said my name was Leonard, Leonard Dunning. Nope still didn’t ring any bells. Found even more paperwork, my mom’s name was Jane Doe? I was enrolled in Blue Cherry High and it was my second year. The calendar said it was September 1 of 20XX. 8:43 meant I was late. Late for what? Nope, whatever it was, I was skipping today. As I turned to go deeper in the house, I felt a major headache. My body started turning around on its own and walking back towards the door. If I resisted, searing pain. I stopped fighting whatever this was. I got dressed and coasted, it was like my body knew to grab my bag, lock the door, etc.
On the way to school, no people. Actually not just no people, no animals, no birds, no trash, no dirt. Where was I? I let my legs take me where they wanted. The kids looked similar to one another and had almost a blanks stare. My legs stopped outside 3C, one of the kids was looking at me. He actually had a real expression on his face and talked.
I really enjoyed this story, especially the sarcasm and its ability to poke fun at itself. One tip the prologue might throw you off, yes it does come up later, but once you get into the 1st chapter, you will hit the rhythm of the actual book/story.
Splitting headache and alarms don’t mix so well. Was I drinking last night? I can’t remember anything from last night. Five more minutes of sleep will make it better, not fix it, but make it better. I figured I better start moving and slowly sat up. Then it hit me, it wasn’t just last night I couldn’t remember. I can’t remember anything….
Maybe a cold shower would wake me up and jog the old noggin. I was able to find my way to the bathroom, but it was odd. It was cleaner than clean. In fact, it seemed the hallway and everywhere was. Looking in the mirror was a teenager staring back at me, I definitely didn’t recognize myself. After freaking out then showering, I found ‘my’ student id said my name was Leonard, Leonard Dunning. Nope still didn’t ring any bells. Found even more paperwork, my mom’s name was Jane Doe? I was enrolled in Blue Cherry High and it was my second year. The calendar said it was September 1 of 20XX. 8:43 meant I was late. Late for what? Nope, whatever it was, I was skipping today. As I turned to go deeper in the house, I felt a major headache. My body started turning around on its own and walking back towards the door. If I resisted, searing pain. I stopped fighting whatever this was. I got dressed and coasted, it was like my body knew to grab my bag, lock the door, etc.
On the way to school, no people. Actually not just no people, no animals, no birds, no trash, no dirt. Where was I? I let my legs take me where they wanted. The kids looked similar to one another and had almost a blanks stare. My legs stopped outside 3C, one of the kids was looking at me. He actually had a real expression on his face and talked.
I really enjoyed this story, especially the sarcasm and its ability to poke fun at itself. One tip the prologue might throw you off, yes it does come up later, but once you get into the 1st chapter, you will hit the rhythm of the actual book/story.
May 8, 2022
Apparently average (?!?) high school student wakes up one day in world that runs on all the worst tropes that can be found in litrpg.
I'm not totally sure how I feel about this one - but I finished book one and still have it tabbed on the phone for reading of book 2.
I'm not totally sure how I feel about this one - but I finished book one and still have it tabbed on the phone for reading of book 2.
May 9, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! The story was well-written, witty, funny, and interesting. It has kept me entertained from start to finish. The characters were fascinating and adorable especially the lead MC. It's such a fun and excellent series starter. Definitely, left me wanting for more.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews