Christopher Keene

My main critique on this book is the level of involvement of the character with the fantasy world he lives in. The characters and the interaction is okay, but the game world is just a number of non connected dungeons. And even when the dungeons have a story to tell the characters are not really interested in it. The just plunder or even farm the dungeons and then next to the higher ones. In my eyes the book could have gained much if there was a story to be told throughout those dungeons and the characters had interacted with that story a tiny bit.
Beside of that i think there are some hard to believe facts about the abilities of the enemy. Of course that is for the sake of the story but artificially restricting the antigonist is nearly as bad as giving a hero a Deux-ex-machina solution to solve his problems.… (més)

Noah didn't become addicted to the game the way his friends did. He began playing because the game technology was the only way for him to communicate with the outside world while he was on life support and recovering from an accident. Of course, he also had to be extremely careful - in-game death could equal out-of-game death. The stakes were high. Book 2 picks up after Noah was able to successfully leave the game (no longer on life support), but he was forced to return since he had found (and lost) evidence that the game makers weren't as "nice" as they wanted us to believe. But as he delves into the inner workings of the game, Noah discovers that not everything is as it seems. Or maybe it is, but the consequences aren't. Who will be loyal? And who is the right person or cause to be loyal to? All we know is that the stakes are higher than they've ever been.

This book was fascinating. Since it's no longer a matter of life or death for Noah, it was able to focus on game mechanics and legalities in a new way. There was also the introduction of several new characters, causing Noah and his friends to ask what all gamers ask, how well do we really know the people we're playing with? Or at least, that's what they should have been asking...

I received a free copy of this book from the author and have reviewed it willingly.… (més)

I requested a copy of this book because the synopsis sounded like Sword Art Online or Memories of the Alhambra. And if you like either of those shows, you'll love this book.

The book begins with Noah in a coma. He was just in a car accident along with his girlfriend and now the only way he has to communicate with his family and friends is by logging into a VR MMORPG. Only one catch: If he dies in the game, he may never wake up in real life. So his parents hire a bodyguard/trainer to make sure he doesn't die and to teach him the ways of the game. What they don't count on is Noah's enthusiasm. He quickly moves to the harder tiers of the game that are not so safe. Why risk so much? There is a chance that his girlfriend is trapped in a dungeon in one of the most treacherous locations. As the story goes on, the mystery unfolds. What actually happened to Noah and Sue? Who caused the car accident? And what of the dark rumors surrounding the gamemakers? Noah has to keep playing to find the truth. And he has to play as though his life depends on it.

I received a free ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.… (més)

Fifteen-year-old Nathan is well aware that, while intelligent and knowledgeable about the theory of summoning Melkai (powerful monsters trapped in another dimension), his practical experience is still somewhat lacking. Add to that, the fact that he’s a nobody orphan, living in the palace at the goodwill of the king, and . . . let’s just say that grand adventure and daring exploits have never been in the cards for him. He’ll leave that to his best friend, Prince Michael, thank you very much. But when the boundary between his world and the world of the Melkai threatens to break, Nathan is the only one who can find the other half of the key to seal the Melkai safely back in their realm before they destroy his world.

War of Kings and Monsters may be one of my favorite of Keene’s books so far. It’s got high fantasy, epic battles, political intrigue, a secret past, great friendships, and some impressive monster battles. As always, Keene’s worldbuilding is exceptional, giving us a rich environment, history, lore, etc. in a manner that is easy to grasp, woven directly into the story without seeming like an infodump. The whole summoning system, the Melkai, and the history surrounding them is fascinating. Also, epic monster battles. Pretty cool. I found Nathan to be a sympathetic character, and it was enjoyable to follow his growth throughout the story. On the whole, the entire cast of the book was well-written and fun to read. The plot itself was pretty epic, giving us a centuries-old conflict that’s bigger than any individual character. There’s lots of tension and action, with a satisfying resolution. Overall, War of Kings and Monsters was a solid read that I would recommend, particularly to fans of high fantasy, monster battles, and adventure.

NOTE: I received a free review copy of War of Kings and Monsters from the author in exchange for an unbiased review, which in no way affects the contents of this review.… (més)