I’ve gotten back into D&D recently after playing a bit in Uni. And I’ve always been a fan of the fantasy and comic stuff, as those who have followed me for a while will know. And also I’ve worked in tech for the past decade. Which means every once in a while I find a book like this and it feels like someone was trying to write something specifically for someone like me.
Addie is a literature professor that is brought in by an eccentric tech CEO to help a team of mercenaries get his private island back — A private island that he his company had been using to develop a technological world that makes fantasy a reality. Like Disneyland for LARPers. But her ex is suspected of having led a revolt against the CEO and cut the island off from the rest of the world and Addie is being used as bait to lure him out, all while she is trying to not become too enamoured by the wonders of the magic that this technology has created.
I really liked Addie as a lead. She’s a woman with PTSD from a school shooting when she was younger, a thing that comes into play at the right character moments rather than the plot-relevant ones, and a penchant for escapism because of it. The way she’s written strikes a nice balance between exploring and overcoming that trauma in the moment and focusing on the story I came for, which meant I left the story satisfied. On top of that, I enjoyed the interactions between her and her ex, which felt like they reinforced why they were exes more than they were trying to create the illusion of a potential rekindling of their relationship.
Overall, it was a lot of fun! It will be fun for anyone who’s grown up into fantasy media and has a little extra sprinkled in for those who grew up to work in tech. If it sounds interesting, check it out!