Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Title: Ready Player One
Author: Ernest Cline
Genre: Sci-Fi Fantasy
Series: Ready Player One # 1

Paperback, 374 pages
Publication: August 16, 2011 by Broadway Books

Source: Personal library

Buy|Amazon|B&N|

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape. 

Ready Player One movie adaptation comes out today. I’ve been hearing a lot about the book since movie rights and production started but didn’t pick up the book until I saw the trailer. It looked pretty interesting, so I thought why not? Plus since I wanted to see the movie, I knew I had to read the book first. Bibliophile problems, amiright? And boy, am I glad I did! Ready Player One was so much fun, coupled with video games, 80’s and pop culture reference…it’s a nerd’s dream come true!

Cline has written one of the most clever and ambitious novels I’ve read in a long time. The world building was scary plausible and mesmerizing all at the same time. I loved how he incorporated all the movies, games and 80’s reference so perfectly within the story. Talk about major nostalgia. The premise and set up was really cool. I also loved the idea of a scavenger hunt and as everyone got closer to obtaining a key and moving beyond the gate, the race became even more intense. My favorite scene was definitely towards the end when Wade was RPG-ing the Monty Python’s Holy Grail movie, that was hilarious! As for the characters, I thought they were well-written and fully developed. Although there were moments when I just wanted to reach inside the book and scold Wade. I can only take so much inner monologue of self-loathing and self-deprecating before it gets old and annoying. Artemis was supposed to be this smart, kick-ass chick but I don’t know, I never warmed up to her character. I thought she was stuck up and had an air of superiority half the time. Not my favorite traits. H was probably the best character, he was a hoot and a genuine surprise at the end. I wasn’t expecting that reveal!

I can now see why this book received so many great reviews, they’re well deserved. I thoroughly enjoyed Ready Player One and am excited to hear that Cline is writing a sequel. If you’re looking for a great throwback to the 80’s, classic games and nerdy movies…you’ll love this book! I highly recommend it!

Game Over by Taylor Keating

Title: Game Over
Author: Taylor Keating
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Series: Guardian #1

Mass Market Paperback, 405 pages
Published on November 2, 2010 by TOR

Buy the book!
|AMAZON|BOOK DEPOSITORY|

Source: Publisher

|SUMMARY| 

Video game designer River Weston is ready to sell her soul to smooth out the glitches in her latest project. When she unwittingly taps into a parallel dimension via cutting-edge technology, a Dark Lord is quick to take her up on her inadvertent offer. Trapped in the world she thought she’d created for her game, River finds herself in a very real alternate dimension that she must escape from before her soul can be used to unleash evil--upon this dimension and many others.

River’s only ally is the sexy and mysterious Chase Hawkins.  A prisoner of the Dark Lord, Hawk is a man adrift—literally. His body safe at home under the watchful care of the Guardians’ scientists, his astral-traveling spirit has been enslaved by his people’s worst enemy, the Dark Lord. Clinging desperately to his sense of self, Hawk is determined to turn the tables on his captor before the connection to his body is lost.  When the beautiful, achingly familiar River enters the picture, he vows he will do everything he can to save her from her bleak fate.

Drawn together with an inescapable force, Hawk and River must wrest her soul from the Dark Lord’s grasp before it’s too late.

|REVIEW|  

I kind of remember hearing about this book when it was first release, but I did the unthinkable…judged a book by its cover (hides face behind hand)! I didn’t even read the synopsis, something I always do. The cover may be cheesy with the half naked man but the story within the book was great! It’s labeled as a paranormal romance but it was kind of light on the romance and heavy on the action; not that I’m complaining. I never read a book like Game Over before, where the writers blended elements of the paranormal (faes, and guardians, those who are the protector of the faes), apocalyptic world, and sci-fi. I would consider this somewhat science-fiction because of the technology/video-gaming elements. 

The main character River develops this game but somehow she taps into an alternate universe where the imprisoned Dark Lord harvests people’s souls for power. The Dark Lord is hoping to capture River’s soul to break out of his prison, and get revenge on the Guardians that imprisoned him in the first place. Hawk, one of the Dark Lord’s prisoners is offered his freedom if he brings River to the Dark Lord.  Hawk takes the Dark Lord on his offer, but once he meets River he changes his plans as he help her escape the Dark Lord’s lair.

I really like the concept of the book; it’s different from everything I ever read. The Majority of the book takes place in River’s game/alternate universe. We follow River and Hawk as they navigate through each level, and I think there are three main levels with their own obstacles. For example they have to fight werewolves, demons, etc to gain energy and to help them along their journey they get advice from a lady wizard and tabianese bubble shield (A tabby cat-Pekinese dog hybrid that watches your back and hides you from the enemy LOL).

Overall a great start to an interesting series, I highly recommend this to everyone looking for something fresh to read. Even if you’re not really a gamer, it’s a fast paced-action pack read. Again, just a heads up this is labeled as a PR but there wasn’t much romance. While I liked both characters, River, a strong-independent woman and Hawk, a tortured soul/military guy they never really expressed their attraction for one another. I'm looking forward to reading Mind Games, the second book in the series that continues River's story. 

**Thank you TOR Books for sending me a copy of this book for review** 

FTC disclaimer: TOR BOOKS  provided me with a copy of Game Over, and in return I provide an honest review.