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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
this was essentially a science fiction thriller.
The basic premise and idea were imaginative but for me, it fell short of the mark slightly.
if I'm honest it was all the mythical and religious philosophy that lost me that and all the coder talk it left me a tad lost and slightly confused within the narrative.
In short, I enjoyed it when it just played out more normally without all the pretentiousness and hidden meanings.
So the basic premise is an invitation to play the god game and the vindicator's a ragtag group of high school misfits with high IQ's well its right up there street.
Told from all the kids POV but with the main focus, in my opinion, being on Charlie this was somewhat interesting if sometimes confusing but the characters themselves here were just not very likeable individuals this, in turn, made it difficult to invest in them.
Things then start to escalate and events almost have a snowball effect with each action causing a reaction and so forth until everything starts to implode in a dramatic fashion.
It's all about the three degrees of separation and this featured this heavily.
If you like your science fiction and philosophical debates about right and wrong and so forth then this may be a fit for you.
I found myself skimming a lot especially over the heavy stuff still it was a somewhat solid read and I did finish.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of The God Game.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
The God Game may be one of the strangest books that I've ever read. Not because it was confusing or had a complex world, but because it is absolute nonsense. Every single character or event is a plot device, meant to move a story with no story along, and eventually off a cliff. The plot becomes progressively ridiculous, until it reaches a ridiculous climax. The book is also at least 100 pages longer than it needs to be.
Also, the writing is just bad. This emotionless style of writing might have worked better in a book that wasn't YA, but Tobey continually tries to get us to care for these characters. Each of the main characters is no more than a stereotype: the cool one, the angsty one, the girl one. My favourite (least favourite) part was when the girl one says something like "we need more female coders" and then is immediately excluded from the story for the last 50 pages. Also this line. He had a panicked though. What if the computers were so old they didn't even have a USB port? But they did. Why bother including that at all? There's no tension build! Either put the beginning line earlier, or cut it all together.
The selling point of this story is the concept of the game, but the game is so nonsensical that even that falls apart.
Destiny's review really sums up my thoughts on this book a lot more eloquently than I can.
However, this book has some pros. There is constantly something happening, and it went by a lot faster than a 450 page book normally would. Also the cover. Pictures don't do this real life cover justice. It's reflective and changes in the light. Someone give whoever did that a promotion. But whoever agreed that publishing this book was a good idea, demote them.
Also, the writing is just bad. This emotionless style of writing might have worked better in a book that wasn't YA, but Tobey continually tries to get us to care for these characters. Each of the main characters is no more than a stereotype: the cool one, the angsty one, the girl one. My favourite (least favourite) part was when the girl one says something like "we need more female coders" and then is immediately excluded from the story for the last 50 pages. Also this line. He had a panicked though. What if the computers were so old they didn't even have a USB port? But they did. Why bother including that at all? There's no tension build! Either put the beginning line earlier, or cut it all together.
The selling point of this story is the concept of the game, but the game is so nonsensical that even that falls apart.
Destiny's review really sums up my thoughts on this book a lot more eloquently than I can.
However, this book has some pros. There is constantly something happening, and it went by a lot faster than a 450 page book normally would. Also the cover. Pictures don't do this real life cover justice. It's reflective and changes in the light. Someone give whoever did that a promotion. But whoever agreed that publishing this book was a good idea, demote them.
Very creepy and intriguing! I really enjoyed this book. It makes you think deeply about the world around us- real and virtual. I appreciate the ARC from St. Martin's Press!
Teenagers play with things they don't understand and no one is happy.
The characters were relatively realistic teenagers (impulsive, annoying, selfish) and made one stupid decision after another. Everyone had some level of trauma (or barring that, some pretty high pressure laid on them) and everyone placed their own gain above others'.
Conceptually, there were things I liked about the book, and the game, and the way the story was structured. Some of it didn't really feel consistent. (For example, the point of view shifts.) The carrying force that kept me reading was the need to know how it would all end up, and I'm so disappointed that the author felt the need to tack on Chapter 102. So. Fucking. Dumb.
Alas, you can't always have great books, sometimes you have to make do with mediocre.
The characters were relatively realistic teenagers (impulsive, annoying, selfish) and made one stupid decision after another. Everyone had some level of trauma (or barring that, some pretty high pressure laid on them) and everyone placed their own gain above others'.
Conceptually, there were things I liked about the book, and the game, and the way the story was structured. Some of it didn't really feel consistent. (For example, the point of view shifts.) The carrying force that kept me reading was the need to know how it would all end up, and I'm so disappointed that the author felt the need to tack on Chapter 102. So. Fucking. Dumb.
Alas, you can't always have great books, sometimes you have to make do with mediocre.
thanks for the ARC. this is not something i would normally read and it took me a bit to get into it as i dont do games so the visuals etc didn't speak to me but the group of very real friends and the morality/philosophy on top of the mystery got my attention and held it. lots to think about
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Five high school students join together to form The Vindicators, and find themselves drawn to The God Game when they receive a much sought after invitation. The group takes a chance and joins the game despite the number 1 rule “Win and all your dreams come true. Lose and you die!”
I took a chance on this book and unfortunately, it came up short for me. The premise for The God Game is clever and a potentially true situation in today’s technology driven society. The characters and story line is thought provoking, but I just could not fully get into this one as i had ongoing questions and difficulty with the abstract fantasy and YA theme.
I took a chance on this book and unfortunately, it came up short for me. The premise for The God Game is clever and a potentially true situation in today’s technology driven society. The characters and story line is thought provoking, but I just could not fully get into this one as i had ongoing questions and difficulty with the abstract fantasy and YA theme.
Solid Yet Could Have Been Transcendental. If you've seen the 2016 movie Nerve, you have a pretty good idea what you're getting into here. The two are very similar in overall concept, though ultimately both use the common concept to speak to different issues. With this particular book, you get more into The Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase's mantra - everyone has a price - even as the book tries in spits and spurts to discuss much weightier metaphysical topics. Hell, the book name drops Aquinas and Lewis and uses Thoth, Christ, Freud, and Heaphestus as characters! And while all of these add some interesting wrinkles to the overall tale, ultimately this book suffers from the same fate as Marcus Sakey's Afterlife. By this I mean that, as I said in the title, it is a solid action/ scifi book that could have been transcendental with a bit more care. Very much recommended.
I love game fiction, and I enjoy science fiction, which is why I thought I'd absolutely love The God Game, unfortunately, I didn't really warm to it.
Let me talk about the positive things first. I adored the theme of free will and how choice in the game end up having real life consequences.
The characters are constantly tempted to make awful decisions and sacrifice their friendships in order to advance their own lives. Tempting, of course, especially if you might think (at least at first) oh, it's just a game. Once the reality dawns on them, it's far too late.
Throughout the book the characters are faced with moral choices and must decide which path to take.
The AI in this book is magnificent, manipulative, outright evil and chilling. But it always leaves you a choice. Free will, remember? That the AI is the best part of the book is not surprising considering the author is an expert in AI.
Now, I'll have to talk about the bits I liked less. The characters are mostly two-dimensional, and perhaps I'm too old, but they were all a bit whiny. Some of their secrets they harboured felt silly, and I didn't empathise with all of their problems.
In fact, I found them quite simplistic and juvenile, overall. And it rendered the book more YA than the blurb suggested.
I didn't gel with the writing either. I found it too straightforward, too simple. It lacked real depth and felt juvenile in places, just like the characters.
To end on a positive note, this book is incredibly fast-paced, and there's never a dull moment. The cast is incredibly diverse, and none of them feel like token characters. With its simple prose The God Game promises to be a fairly quick read and is the perfect company for a rainy weekend.
I recommend The God Game to all LitRPG and Game Lit fans. Take a look at the Look Inside excerpt on Amazon, it either sucks you in or not. If it does, you'll love this.
[I received a physical copy from the publisher.]
Let me talk about the positive things first. I adored the theme of free will and how choice in the game end up having real life consequences.
The characters are constantly tempted to make awful decisions and sacrifice their friendships in order to advance their own lives. Tempting, of course, especially if you might think (at least at first) oh, it's just a game. Once the reality dawns on them, it's far too late.
Throughout the book the characters are faced with moral choices and must decide which path to take.
The AI in this book is magnificent, manipulative, outright evil and chilling. But it always leaves you a choice. Free will, remember? That the AI is the best part of the book is not surprising considering the author is an expert in AI.
Now, I'll have to talk about the bits I liked less. The characters are mostly two-dimensional, and perhaps I'm too old, but they were all a bit whiny. Some of their secrets they harboured felt silly, and I didn't empathise with all of their problems.
In fact, I found them quite simplistic and juvenile, overall. And it rendered the book more YA than the blurb suggested.
I didn't gel with the writing either. I found it too straightforward, too simple. It lacked real depth and felt juvenile in places, just like the characters.
To end on a positive note, this book is incredibly fast-paced, and there's never a dull moment. The cast is incredibly diverse, and none of them feel like token characters. With its simple prose The God Game promises to be a fairly quick read and is the perfect company for a rainy weekend.
I recommend The God Game to all LitRPG and Game Lit fans. Take a look at the Look Inside excerpt on Amazon, it either sucks you in or not. If it does, you'll love this.
[I received a physical copy from the publisher.]
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
very intense, particularly since the protagonists are high school kids and the content is heavy