Awaken Online #1 - Catharsis
Awaken Online #2 - Precipice
Awaken Online #2.5 - Retribution
Awaken Online #3 - Evolution
Awaken Online #3.5 - Apathy
Awaken Online #4 - Dominion
--- Travis Bagwell
Overall: +9
Is this an story about a sentient AI trying to identify itself?
Is this a story about a boy becoming a man?
Is this a Necromancer character trying to dominate a game?
Is this a story about society's fear of future of AI development?
It's all rolled into one. Add in themes of class divusion, school bullying etc and you get a nice hot pot of a books that stands out in the genre famous for mediocre tropes. If you've loved playing as Necromancer in any games, you'll be sure to love this book. Epic battles with Zombies, death knights, bone lords and other whatnots of undead makes this a cracking read.
Writing/Plot/Pace: +8
The author has a way with writing battle scenes. The story starts off with a story that seem to be laden in cliches, but quickly morphs in to a cracking rollercoaster ride to hell. The book switches between game world and real world and manages to keep you guessing as to how the story progress in both. What set it aside for other LitRPG books, is the out world story that's as interesting if not more than in-game story. You get the enthusiasm of some developers of AI, the fear of others, the popularity among young public and fear among older people, psychological impact of games on people (remember call of duty vs mass shooters story?) the game masterfully tackles all of the above and more.
What's missing is an epic antagonist, but you don't feel it much. There's some other minor gripes on some recurring themes, but nothing to detract from the plus points.
Characters: +8
not much in Book 1, but as plot goes, you see the both the in-game and out-world characters developing which is cherry on cake. The development is organic and despite some minor flaws, it's been well done. You are left waiting to see how the out-world vs in-game events impact the characters both ways, which is very intriguing and pleasant to read.
