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thistlechaserNPCs
by Drew Hayes
Rating: Loved (Hated-Disliked-Okay-Liked-Loved)
NPCs was one clever, fun book.
The story started with a bunch of young boys sitting around a table, playing Dungeons and Dragon-- er, Spells, Swords, & Stealth. Most of the players didn't take it seriously/weren't playing well, they were doing the "my character is everything I wish I was! Killing everything! Taking no back-talk! Getting all the treasure! 100% perfect!" thing that new players do. As such, they tended to die. A lot.
Their characters died (stupid death, too) and the story didn't miss a beat -- it continued on with how the NPCs of the D&D/SS&S campaign world reacted to the adventurers dying. I was tickled and amused to see that! What a fun idea! I've never seen a story like that before!
Most of the story followed those NPCs as they formed a party and tried to take over the roles of the PCs who had died. It was so believably handled, and so much fun. (I keep coming back to that: This was such a fun, clever idea.)
I wavered between rating this a Liked and a Loved, because the middle dragged just a tad (there was a fight scene that I swear went on for a third of the book), but everything other than that one part was so darned enjoyable, I went with Loved rating.
An extra fun side note: The main character's name was Thistle! The same name I've used online for decades! That tickled me so endlessly.
I already have the second book in this series (Split the Party) and will be reading that next.
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The Time Garden by Edward Eager
Rating: Okay (Hated-Disliked-Okay-Liked-Loved)
While there was nothing wrong with this book, it didn't hold my interest at all. The only thing I semi-enjoyed about it was the glimpse of a much older world (it was published in the 50s or 60s). None of the children came off as children to me, though that could have been because of the datedness -- maybe kids of the 50s did speak like the ones in this book.
I didn't reach the 50% mark, thus the book doesn't count towards my total for the year.
by Drew HayesRating: Loved (Hated-Disliked-Okay-Liked-Loved)
NPCs was one clever, fun book.
The story started with a bunch of young boys sitting around a table, playing Dungeons and Dragon-- er, Spells, Swords, & Stealth. Most of the players didn't take it seriously/weren't playing well, they were doing the "my character is everything I wish I was! Killing everything! Taking no back-talk! Getting all the treasure! 100% perfect!" thing that new players do. As such, they tended to die. A lot.
Their characters died (stupid death, too) and the story didn't miss a beat -- it continued on with how the NPCs of the D&D/SS&S campaign world reacted to the adventurers dying. I was tickled and amused to see that! What a fun idea! I've never seen a story like that before!
Most of the story followed those NPCs as they formed a party and tried to take over the roles of the PCs who had died. It was so believably handled, and so much fun. (I keep coming back to that: This was such a fun, clever idea.)
I wavered between rating this a Liked and a Loved, because the middle dragged just a tad (there was a fight scene that I swear went on for a third of the book), but everything other than that one part was so darned enjoyable, I went with Loved rating.
An extra fun side note: The main character's name was Thistle! The same name I've used online for decades! That tickled me so endlessly.
I already have the second book in this series (Split the Party) and will be reading that next.
---
The Time Garden by Edward Eager
Rating: Okay (Hated-Disliked-Okay-Liked-Loved)
While there was nothing wrong with this book, it didn't hold my interest at all. The only thing I semi-enjoyed about it was the glimpse of a much older world (it was published in the 50s or 60s). None of the children came off as children to me, though that could have been because of the datedness -- maybe kids of the 50s did speak like the ones in this book.
I didn't reach the 50% mark, thus the book doesn't count towards my total for the year.
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no subject
Date: 2015-12-27 10:41 pm (UTC)I have added NPCs to my wishlist, it is very much up my alley.
Since you liked that, have you read Redshirts? It is half very much in the same vein of non-main characters in an adventure dealing with the adventure.
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Date: 2015-12-27 10:52 pm (UTC)I hope you enjoy NPCs a much as I did! I'm happy to report the second book seems just as good so far.
I actually haven't read Redshirts yet, though I've read a bunch of other stuff he's written. I've heard such strongly mixed reviews of it, I never put it on my list of things to read. Sounds like you were in the 'liked it' camp?
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Date: 2015-12-27 10:56 pm (UTC)Well, exactly half of the book is from the point of view of NPC's on a faux Star Trek ship. Then, half of it is...related, but very much NOT that. I think that is what bothered me, I kind of just wanted to spend more time with the first scenario.
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Date: 2015-12-28 01:24 am (UTC)I set it up, and edited this post with the new link. Thanks for suggesting I do it! I'll make mention that I'm doing it in my next review... then I have to remember to make the special links. That's going to be the hard part!
I suspect I'd share your opinion on Redshirts, the first part sounds like it would be the more interesting one. I'd much rather see what the NPCs thing!