Scan barcode
neudorfl's review against another edition
2.0
DNF at 60%.
This was way more violent than I anticipated and I just lost interest halfway through. I'm not sure I will pick it up again at this point.
This was way more violent than I anticipated and I just lost interest halfway through. I'm not sure I will pick it up again at this point.
teachinsci's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book I have read by Chris Kluwe, but after reading it I hope it is not the last. If, like me, you first heard about this book on MPR, you may know that this is a story of a dystopian future. There have been wars over water and beliefs that have wrecked the world. The major groups remaining are the 'gummies' (religious fundamentalists), the 'silkies' (megacorporations), and a smattering of smaller groups and those on the periphery of society. The only way those not born into power can achieve major money and fame is through an immersive online experience called "The Game." Our protagonist and point of view character is Ash who, along with her online clan, is recognized as one of the best players of the game. The fact that she is such a good player though is a problem for many because she is female and dark skinned. We learn that Ash's combat skills are not just in virtual reality, but in the real world as well and that she needs them because her prowess has her receiving regular threats both within the game and in real life. She becomes embroiled in a battle to keep the world from another nuclear holocaust or worse.
The characters in this book are interesting. We only get to know a few of them well (especially Ash), the rest we see as somewhat one dimensional. This is a product of the perspective of the main character. We ate encountering each character through her eyes and only as she considers their perspectives do we learn about them. These worst characters are unfortunately the ones that are some of the most believable... these are the "boardshits", groups of males who regularly threaten Ash and other female players both in-game and in the real world. These reprehensible beings are believable because they already exist and behave exactly as described in the book. In fact, they are part of the reason the book was written... to draw attention to the problems of doxing and violent misogyny that can so frequently be found online. In the world of this book, it is aided by the laws and traditions of the "gummies", whose version of male superiority is straight from the ugliest of Christian fundamentalism. Sadly, in the real world, as in the book, they are also tacitly aided by those who just won't believe it is happening or will make excuses... even claiming that the victims are overreacting or deserving of the treatment.
The book is a page-turner and a quick read. This is both because it is a YA Sci-fi book and because it is very actin oriented... moving the story quickly along. That being said, I could not help but compare it to "Ready Player One" based on the tech. I feel like this book had a slightly more realistic premise and better social commentary however. I was worried about it being a book with a black (bi-sexual?) female protagonist written by a white man, but in doing some research I found that Mr. Kluwe made sure that some of his pre-readers were females of color and he used their advice to make the book more honest from their perspective. I respect that decision a lot.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dystopian sci-fi. I think it would appeal most to those in their mid teens to early twenties and women especially. I wish I could say that men would enjoy it as much (they should, it is a good book), but I fear that many would write it off as overly dramatic in some scenes and would have trouble seeing the truth in the writing.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of this book.
The characters in this book are interesting. We only get to know a few of them well (especially Ash), the rest we see as somewhat one dimensional. This is a product of the perspective of the main character. We ate encountering each character through her eyes and only as she considers their perspectives do we learn about them. These worst characters are unfortunately the ones that are some of the most believable... these are the "boardshits", groups of males who regularly threaten Ash and other female players both in-game and in the real world. These reprehensible beings are believable because they already exist and behave exactly as described in the book. In fact, they are part of the reason the book was written... to draw attention to the problems of doxing and violent misogyny that can so frequently be found online. In the world of this book, it is aided by the laws and traditions of the "gummies", whose version of male superiority is straight from the ugliest of Christian fundamentalism. Sadly, in the real world, as in the book, they are also tacitly aided by those who just won't believe it is happening or will make excuses... even claiming that the victims are overreacting or deserving of the treatment.
The book is a page-turner and a quick read. This is both because it is a YA Sci-fi book and because it is very actin oriented... moving the story quickly along. That being said, I could not help but compare it to "Ready Player One" based on the tech. I feel like this book had a slightly more realistic premise and better social commentary however. I was worried about it being a book with a black (bi-sexual?) female protagonist written by a white man, but in doing some research I found that Mr. Kluwe made sure that some of his pre-readers were females of color and he used their advice to make the book more honest from their perspective. I respect that decision a lot.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dystopian sci-fi. I think it would appeal most to those in their mid teens to early twenties and women especially. I wish I could say that men would enjoy it as much (they should, it is a good book), but I fear that many would write it off as overly dramatic in some scenes and would have trouble seeing the truth in the writing.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a pre-release copy of this book.
luverbyrd's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars.
I think the author should have taken more time to develop the characters and clearly expand and explain this dystopian cyberpunk type world.
I really enjoyed the premise, what the world was presented as, but I needed more explanation. The worldbuilding information came fragmented and was hard to try and piece together.
I couldn't connect with the main character, she wasn't developed enough. The only emotions I got from her was anger or neutral. I feel like Ash lacked true empathy and that's why I couldn't empathize with her, even as a female gamer dealing with some of the same things she rants about. If you want to make a real life commentary to your readers you need to make them feel what the character is going through to have it stick.
I read to the end just to see how the adventure unfolded, but I'm left with frustration because I know with time and fleshing out ideas it could have been so much better.
Great plot, I just wanted so much more for this book.
I think the author should have taken more time to develop the characters and clearly expand and explain this dystopian cyberpunk type world.
I really enjoyed the premise, what the world was presented as, but I needed more explanation. The worldbuilding information came fragmented and was hard to try and piece together.
I couldn't connect with the main character, she wasn't developed enough. The only emotions I got from her was anger or neutral. I feel like Ash lacked true empathy and that's why I couldn't empathize with her, even as a female gamer dealing with some of the same things she rants about. If you want to make a real life commentary to your readers you need to make them feel what the character is going through to have it stick.
I read to the end just to see how the adventure unfolded, but I'm left with frustration because I know with time and fleshing out ideas it could have been so much better.
Great plot, I just wanted so much more for this book.
abrittlebee's review against another edition
2.0
It’s a fine line between something being imaginative, and something being a hot mess. Unfortunately, Otaku didn’t manage to stay on the right side of it. Despite some interesting ideas, this book was just too unfocussed. It tried to be way too many different things while also trying to combat misinterpretation to an extreme degree.
I believe having a few different intentions while presenting a narrative can be a good thing. However, it becomes messy when you have too many, and then attempt to push them at the reader through awkward dialogue. In the case of Otaku, different elements of this dystopian world were presented successfully, but then the characters would discuss or argue about them in a way that made me question why something that was an aspect of everyday life was being explained so thoroughly within a single, pretty much one-sided, conversation. It was almost as if Kluwe had a fear that the ideas behind the subject matter weren't going to come across as intended, so they had the characters over explain everything. Due to the fact that there were so many narrative themes within Otaku; virtual vs. real, censorship, the complications of a public vs. private persona, doxxing, misogyny… (the list goes on); the book then became a pop culture textbook on how all of these things affect people individually. This led to a wide array of over clarification that filled the narrative, leaving very little room to round out the characters or the actual plot.
Truthfully, I DNF’d this book so I can’t recommend it. Better luck next time.
I believe having a few different intentions while presenting a narrative can be a good thing. However, it becomes messy when you have too many, and then attempt to push them at the reader through awkward dialogue. In the case of Otaku, different elements of this dystopian world were presented successfully, but then the characters would discuss or argue about them in a way that made me question why something that was an aspect of everyday life was being explained so thoroughly within a single, pretty much one-sided, conversation. It was almost as if Kluwe had a fear that the ideas behind the subject matter weren't going to come across as intended, so they had the characters over explain everything. Due to the fact that there were so many narrative themes within Otaku; virtual vs. real, censorship, the complications of a public vs. private persona, doxxing, misogyny… (the list goes on); the book then became a pop culture textbook on how all of these things affect people individually. This led to a wide array of over clarification that filled the narrative, leaving very little room to round out the characters or the actual plot.
Truthfully, I DNF’d this book so I can’t recommend it. Better luck next time.
simoneclark's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you, NetGalley, for a complimentary copy of this book. The opinion in this review is my unbiased opinion!
Honestly, I don't know what to think of this book. It reminded me of another book. I can't quite remember which book. But then again, it has its own unique features.
I did love Chris Kluwe's world and character building. While I didn't understand some of the cyber tech elements he used, I could still picture them due to his description. What surprised me is that he was able to write this book from the perspective of a black female. Occasionally, I thought that a young girl wouldn't react the way Ashley did in the book, but then reminded myself that this is a sort of post-apocalyptic, cyber-tech ruled world she lives in. I'm a GenXer and often don't understand the ideology of Millenials and GenZers lol. So who am I to judge a cyber-tech girl.
Overall a good book. I think I didn't read this quite at the right time in my life, but I still enjoyed the book.
Honestly, I don't know what to think of this book. It reminded me of another book. I can't quite remember which book. But then again, it has its own unique features.
I did love Chris Kluwe's world and character building. While I didn't understand some of the cyber tech elements he used, I could still picture them due to his description. What surprised me is that he was able to write this book from the perspective of a black female. Occasionally, I thought that a young girl wouldn't react the way Ashley did in the book, but then reminded myself that this is a sort of post-apocalyptic, cyber-tech ruled world she lives in. I'm a GenXer and often don't understand the ideology of Millenials and GenZers lol. So who am I to judge a cyber-tech girl.
Overall a good book. I think I didn't read this quite at the right time in my life, but I still enjoyed the book.
thelittlelibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
✨ Hey Nerds! This review is SPOILER FREE! I try to keep my reviews brief and not get into the content of the book so much as what I thought so you can go into it somewhat blind if you’d like!
✨ This book was sent to me by @tor & I’m BEYOND grateful for it. It gave me vibes of Warcross but on another level. It met issues within the gaming community head-on and laid it all on the table. Detailed messages of what women have received, harassment, & more. It takes it another level with the main character not only being a woman but a person of color.
✨ I felt so enveloped in the world & Kluwe definitely knows his stuff. I felt like I was in the game every time Ash was. The fights & mechanics of everything were badass & each to visualize in my head.
✨I felt very connected to this story & am quite passionate about this topic of the harassment & hate speech women receive in the gaming community. Sure, its much more accepted now but I won’t lie… I am TERRIFIED of talking in-game lobbies for fear that they guess I’m a female (or they ask if I’m a 12-year-old boy). For me to read a book that was basically a love/hate letter to the gaming community felt exactly like that.
✨I loved it too for the friendships. Ash’s connection to Wind, Slend, & Jace was incredibly tight. Reading about them going through encounters together made my heart sing because that’s me, my husband & brother running through a game together. It’s second nature when it's your team & nothing feels better than a smooth operating mission.
✨I will say, it’s dense with game information. So if tech & gaming aren’t your thing, this might not be the book for you. I loved this personally, it was detailed but not boring. The tech while advanced didn’t seem out of the realm of possibility at all. The weaponry was well researched & I’ll forever love the fact that he paid attention to the number of rounds people had & used.
✨Overall, I loved this book, I devoured it. It rips the pants off the issues in the gaming community & real-world issues of sexism, racism, & more. Kluwe didn’t sugarcoat ANYTHING. He put it out there clear as day & I’ve never felt more seen as a female gamer. Hats off to you sir. GG.
✨ This book was sent to me by @tor & I’m BEYOND grateful for it. It gave me vibes of Warcross but on another level. It met issues within the gaming community head-on and laid it all on the table. Detailed messages of what women have received, harassment, & more. It takes it another level with the main character not only being a woman but a person of color.
✨ I felt so enveloped in the world & Kluwe definitely knows his stuff. I felt like I was in the game every time Ash was. The fights & mechanics of everything were badass & each to visualize in my head.
✨I felt very connected to this story & am quite passionate about this topic of the harassment & hate speech women receive in the gaming community. Sure, its much more accepted now but I won’t lie… I am TERRIFIED of talking in-game lobbies for fear that they guess I’m a female (or they ask if I’m a 12-year-old boy). For me to read a book that was basically a love/hate letter to the gaming community felt exactly like that.
✨I loved it too for the friendships. Ash’s connection to Wind, Slend, & Jace was incredibly tight. Reading about them going through encounters together made my heart sing because that’s me, my husband & brother running through a game together. It’s second nature when it's your team & nothing feels better than a smooth operating mission.
✨I will say, it’s dense with game information. So if tech & gaming aren’t your thing, this might not be the book for you. I loved this personally, it was detailed but not boring. The tech while advanced didn’t seem out of the realm of possibility at all. The weaponry was well researched & I’ll forever love the fact that he paid attention to the number of rounds people had & used.
✨Overall, I loved this book, I devoured it. It rips the pants off the issues in the gaming community & real-world issues of sexism, racism, & more. Kluwe didn’t sugarcoat ANYTHING. He put it out there clear as day & I’ve never felt more seen as a female gamer. Hats off to you sir. GG.
naomireadsworld's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5 stars
Kluwe’s debut novel, Otaku, follows Ashley. resident of Ditchtown. Ash is also Ashura the Terrible, leader of the SunJewel Warriors and the scoreboards within Infinite Game, a virtual world requiring physical prowess and militant excellency. Stumbling upon a conspiracy that threatens to bring the virtual and the real worlds violently crashing and collapsing into each other, Ash and her team set out to save the world.
Some Notes
The first chapters of the novel felt a bit like Kluwe ranting. I enjoy a feminist rant as much as the next angry feminist killjoy, but I felt like the points he was having Ash state (over and over again) could have been woven in more eloquently. The conflict within the first portion of the novel consists of a lot of men attempting to unsuccessfully sexually assault the protagonist. Ash kicking their asses (among other body parts) is fun, but it got a little redundant. The protagonist is a queer woman of color, and sometimes while reading, I was very aware of the author’s white, straight and male identities.
I think I was a little disappointed in the villain behind the nefarious plan. Perhaps I wanted something bigger? The various bad guys throughout the novel were often made to look like bumbling idiots, which I suppose is accurate, but it doesn’t make for as interesting of a read.
I was also a bit confused by the last few paragraphs - someone tell me who it is!
Overall, Otaku is a feminist, kick-in-the-groin response to #gamergate, and a nod to gamers everywhere. Kluwe has a talent for description and for action-packed storytelling. If you’re into unapologetic female protagonists who can take care of themselves and save the world this may be your next sci-fi read.
Warning
This book doesn’t shy away from graphic violence, language, and difficult topics like sexual assault.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Kluwe’s debut novel, Otaku, follows Ashley. resident of Ditchtown. Ash is also Ashura the Terrible, leader of the SunJewel Warriors and the scoreboards within Infinite Game, a virtual world requiring physical prowess and militant excellency. Stumbling upon a conspiracy that threatens to bring the virtual and the real worlds violently crashing and collapsing into each other, Ash and her team set out to save the world.
Some Notes
The first chapters of the novel felt a bit like Kluwe ranting. I enjoy a feminist rant as much as the next angry feminist killjoy, but I felt like the points he was having Ash state (over and over again) could have been woven in more eloquently. The conflict within the first portion of the novel consists of a lot of men attempting to unsuccessfully sexually assault the protagonist. Ash kicking their asses (among other body parts) is fun, but it got a little redundant. The protagonist is a queer woman of color, and sometimes while reading, I was very aware of the author’s white, straight and male identities.
I think I was a little disappointed in the villain behind the nefarious plan. Perhaps I wanted something bigger? The various bad guys throughout the novel were often made to look like bumbling idiots, which I suppose is accurate, but it doesn’t make for as interesting of a read.
I was also a bit confused by the last few paragraphs - someone tell me who it is!
Overall, Otaku is a feminist, kick-in-the-groin response to #gamergate, and a nod to gamers everywhere. Kluwe has a talent for description and for action-packed storytelling. If you’re into unapologetic female protagonists who can take care of themselves and save the world this may be your next sci-fi read.
Warning
This book doesn’t shy away from graphic violence, language, and difficult topics like sexual assault.
Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Books for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.
zachedwards89's review against another edition
3.0
The author shouldn't take on this character unless theyre living as a POC in a dystopian theocracy after a nuclear holocaust... I think this is a lot of SJWs first fiction book, and I think that's great, but maybe they can try not to be so triggered over absolutely everything all the time. It's honestly exhausting.
Anyway, it's an OK book.
Anyway, it's an OK book.
frankasaurusmex's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75