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sophir's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
not like anything i’ve ever read before but not bad at all just different
ashberg's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jacobbone123's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
punchofwishes's review against another edition
3.0
{Digital Copy provided by NetGalley and University of Iowa Press}
This is a short tale centered around a group of LGBTQ+ DnD players and their lives in Cleveland. There are quite a few characters and their group dynamics were very interesting. I especially enjoyed Mooneyham’s experience being gay in a corporate environment as well as his relationship with Huey. I didn’t care too much about Ben and his relationship troubles, however. Not a lot happens in this book, which makes it a bit boring. But the twenty-somethings trials of figuring yourself out and what you want to do in life were very well done and realistic in my opinion. As an amateur DnD player I also appreciated the passionate and detail-oriented portrayal of it in this story.
If you like role playing games, queer characters, and a slice-of-life type of story, this is the book for you!
This is a short tale centered around a group of LGBTQ+ DnD players and their lives in Cleveland. There are quite a few characters and their group dynamics were very interesting. I especially enjoyed Mooneyham’s experience being gay in a corporate environment as well as his relationship with Huey. I didn’t care too much about Ben and his relationship troubles, however. Not a lot happens in this book, which makes it a bit boring. But the twenty-somethings trials of figuring yourself out and what you want to do in life were very well done and realistic in my opinion. As an amateur DnD player I also appreciated the passionate and detail-oriented portrayal of it in this story.
If you like role playing games, queer characters, and a slice-of-life type of story, this is the book for you!
thingquail's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
olsenc's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
stephbookshine's review against another edition
3.0
This story intersperses a series of LGBTQ love story vignettes with those same characters coming together to play a table-top RPG (Dungeons and Dragons).
In theory, the characters are all supposed to be in their mid-twenties, but I felt most (if not all) of them acted younger, and while there are A LOT of sex jokes and references, there is no explicit sex to restrict this to a more adult audience.
In addition to the relationship ups and downs, and the characters’ inner struggles – Ben’s low self-esteem and loneliness; Valerie’s lack of communication and volatility; Moonyham’s issues with external and internalised homophobia – there is a sub-plot about vampire cosplayers challenging the D’n’D’ers in an imaginary power contest, which felt a little underdeveloped and underconnected to the rest of the plot.
While I didn’t really connect to the characters on an emotional level, finding the focus on relationship drama a little too intense for me (I preferred the RPG drama) and the characters a little bit unlikable, this was a fairly enjoyable, easy read which covered some interesting relationship issues and may find a more appreciative audience in a teen-/young adult readership.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
In theory, the characters are all supposed to be in their mid-twenties, but I felt most (if not all) of them acted younger, and while there are A LOT of sex jokes and references, there is no explicit sex to restrict this to a more adult audience.
In addition to the relationship ups and downs, and the characters’ inner struggles – Ben’s low self-esteem and loneliness; Valerie’s lack of communication and volatility; Moonyham’s issues with external and internalised homophobia – there is a sub-plot about vampire cosplayers challenging the D’n’D’ers in an imaginary power contest, which felt a little underdeveloped and underconnected to the rest of the plot.
While I didn’t really connect to the characters on an emotional level, finding the focus on relationship drama a little too intense for me (I preferred the RPG drama) and the characters a little bit unlikable, this was a fairly enjoyable, easy read which covered some interesting relationship issues and may find a more appreciative audience in a teen-/young adult readership.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
calypte's review against another edition
3.0
A group of young adults get together weekly to play D&D, a respite from their lives and loves: unrequited, closeted, or of unknown casual/serious status. Trying to figure out life is a whole lot more messy than casting spells against demon hoards, after all.
I liked this, I did - it was a quick and pleasant read. I usually hate romance, but that side is nicely 'real'. I discovered D&D myself during lockdown, and it's a fun take - you don't need to know anything about it - balancing out the real life woes.
However, it isn't wholly satisfying: I'd say only one character gets any kind of story resolution, the others - and several plot elements - are just left rather unfinished.
Full review, and me trying to explain the "I liked it but", is up on my blog.
I liked this, I did - it was a quick and pleasant read. I usually hate romance, but that side is nicely 'real'. I discovered D&D myself during lockdown, and it's a fun take - you don't need to know anything about it - balancing out the real life woes.
However, it isn't wholly satisfying: I'd say only one character gets any kind of story resolution, the others - and several plot elements - are just left rather unfinished.
Full review, and me trying to explain the "I liked it but", is up on my blog.
kmeranda's review against another edition
3.0
Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed in this book. While it has a fun premise, there really wasn’t much of a plot line, which made it feel rambling and directionless.