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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
This is the story about a group of high school friends that find themselves finding themselves playing a virtual reality game testing their ethics and morals that leads them into more and more dangerous situations.
This was just a bit too much over-the-top for me. If this set in the near future or a dystopian world I think I could have suspended my disbelief for what occurred in the story, but because it was set in a contemporary world I just kept being taken out of the story with the drama.
The short chapters were short and the concept was interesting, so it was a relatively quick read. If you are interested in gaming with thriller elements this may be your jam.
This was just a bit too much over-the-top for me. If this set in the near future or a dystopian world I think I could have suspended my disbelief for what occurred in the story, but because it was set in a contemporary world I just kept being taken out of the story with the drama.
The short chapters were short and the concept was interesting, so it was a relatively quick read. If you are interested in gaming with thriller elements this may be your jam.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
4.5 stars! The story started out a little slow, and a lot of chararcters were thrown in right away, but by page 50 I was already hooked. This is a different type of book than I normally read, so while I had an idea where the story was going, I had no idea how it was going to get there.
The writing and framing reminded me of a Stephen King novel. Lots of character development, and foreshadowing of how the characters may turn out in the end. It was also a little cheesy, like most King novels can be, but it was fun and somewhat thought provoking.
It's a long book, but a quick read, and I definitely recommend!
4.5 stars! The story started out a little slow, and a lot of chararcters were thrown in right away, but by page 50 I was already hooked. This is a different type of book than I normally read, so while I had an idea where the story was going, I had no idea how it was going to get there.
The writing and framing reminded me of a Stephen King novel. Lots of character development, and foreshadowing of how the characters may turn out in the end. It was also a little cheesy, like most King novels can be, but it was fun and somewhat thought provoking.
It's a long book, but a quick read, and I definitely recommend!
Gosh, this was interesting. It is basically a collection of twists and plot all with an AI that is asking some very intriguing questions. The part I enjoyed the most was figuring out the AI/learning about it as we go along and even preknowing enough trying to wonder what it was attempting to do.
This book does need a multiple amount of trigger warnings because there's so much going on I have lost count of everything that goes on. And the adults are all horrendously bad adults, which is sad because it would've been good to find a good one among them.
This book does need a multiple amount of trigger warnings because there's so much going on I have lost count of everything that goes on. And the adults are all horrendously bad adults, which is sad because it would've been good to find a good one among them.
As a coder, this book terrified me.
An AI who thinks it's God and can control every part of your life??? Mannn. This was some good stuff.
An AI who thinks it's God and can control every part of your life??? Mannn. This was some good stuff.
What if there was an artificial intelligence that had the ability to draw you into a game and then could impact your life based on how you play. That’s the creepy thrilling scenario Tobey creates in this edge-of-the-seat head-off-the-pillow science-fiction book. I started this early on a Sunday evening, and I refused to go to bed until I finished it at around 11. No way could I pause the God Game. I’ve a hunch if you start this, you won’t pause it either.
Grief has swallowed Charlie Lake. He’s a good kid whose grades were excellent until his mom died. Now he and his dad are trying to put their lives back together. Charlie’s grades have suffered, and computer gaming motivates him far more than anything else school related.
It’s a rather uneventful day while Charlie and his friend, Peter, play with the laptop. That’s when they get the invitation to play a game. An artificial intelligence that calls itself G.O.D. wants the boys to play a game. It’s not just any game. It’s one that, as they soon find out, transitions into their actual offline lives. The AI promises that if you win, your dreams will come true. If you die in the game, well, that’s another matter altogether.
The boys accept the invitation and introduce the game to a group of geeky high-school friends who have formed a computer club called the Vindicators. Soon, the club members are in also. Initially, it’s a fun game. Do what G.O.D. asks, you get golds—cash-like reserves you can use to purchase things. Disobey G.O.D., and you get blacks—demerits, if you will. Get enough blacks, and terrible things happen in your offline life.
Initially, it’s fun. Then the AI makes increasing demands of the kids. Charlie becomes increasingly conflicted as it orders him to do things that run counter to his natural decency. Gamers need only ask for blessings from G.O.D., and they get them. But players must endure creepy strings and consequences when they ask for things.
Using the kids, G.O.D. reveals reputation-damaging secrets and throws the school into turmoil beyond belief. Charlie’s dad mysteriously gets the opportunity to own a restaurant—something he’s dreamed about for years. But when Charlie stands his ground and refuses to do G.O.D.’s bidding, a mysterious fire consumes the new restaurant.
This is thrilling creepiness that will draw you in and keep you wondering whether there’s any way out of the game once you’re in. My only complaint about the book was the author’s apparent Trump Derangement Syndrome. If you share that condition, you’ll relish this book even more. I found the frequent anti-Trump references tiring; they broke the flow of the book for me, and I felt they were largely irrelevant and didn’t add value to the storyline.
But that’s a small thing that won’t be a deal breaker even if you’re an ardent fan of the sitting president. Tobey will draw you to these characters and their missions. You’ll be horrified by mysterious deliveries and freaky distortions of reality brought on by VR glasses which the game enables the kids to purchase.
This is science fiction and suspense rolled into one, and it will tamper with your ticker in ways not always pleasant.
Grief has swallowed Charlie Lake. He’s a good kid whose grades were excellent until his mom died. Now he and his dad are trying to put their lives back together. Charlie’s grades have suffered, and computer gaming motivates him far more than anything else school related.
It’s a rather uneventful day while Charlie and his friend, Peter, play with the laptop. That’s when they get the invitation to play a game. An artificial intelligence that calls itself G.O.D. wants the boys to play a game. It’s not just any game. It’s one that, as they soon find out, transitions into their actual offline lives. The AI promises that if you win, your dreams will come true. If you die in the game, well, that’s another matter altogether.
The boys accept the invitation and introduce the game to a group of geeky high-school friends who have formed a computer club called the Vindicators. Soon, the club members are in also. Initially, it’s a fun game. Do what G.O.D. asks, you get golds—cash-like reserves you can use to purchase things. Disobey G.O.D., and you get blacks—demerits, if you will. Get enough blacks, and terrible things happen in your offline life.
Initially, it’s fun. Then the AI makes increasing demands of the kids. Charlie becomes increasingly conflicted as it orders him to do things that run counter to his natural decency. Gamers need only ask for blessings from G.O.D., and they get them. But players must endure creepy strings and consequences when they ask for things.
Using the kids, G.O.D. reveals reputation-damaging secrets and throws the school into turmoil beyond belief. Charlie’s dad mysteriously gets the opportunity to own a restaurant—something he’s dreamed about for years. But when Charlie stands his ground and refuses to do G.O.D.’s bidding, a mysterious fire consumes the new restaurant.
This is thrilling creepiness that will draw you in and keep you wondering whether there’s any way out of the game once you’re in. My only complaint about the book was the author’s apparent Trump Derangement Syndrome. If you share that condition, you’ll relish this book even more. I found the frequent anti-Trump references tiring; they broke the flow of the book for me, and I felt they were largely irrelevant and didn’t add value to the storyline.
But that’s a small thing that won’t be a deal breaker even if you’re an ardent fan of the sitting president. Tobey will draw you to these characters and their missions. You’ll be horrified by mysterious deliveries and freaky distortions of reality brought on by VR glasses which the game enables the kids to purchase.
This is science fiction and suspense rolled into one, and it will tamper with your ticker in ways not always pleasant.
This book was gripping and I couldn’t put it down! Such a scary but realistic concept!
Absolutely buck, would like to both reread and never look at again
This book was really good! I thought it was just going to be your run of the mill crazy AI story (which is a big yes), but this book had so much more depth than that. I was pleasantly surprised to find this story as a theology lesson and a moral discussion as well. Where does one draw the line? At what point is it okay to degrade or take advantage of another person? What do you do when you're powerless against the direction your life is going? All of this, plus a lot more, gets discussed in this book. Think you can handle it? Welcome to the game. 4 stars!
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
No
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes