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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
This was an advanced reader copy a friend sent me after she read it. I just now got to it. I give this book a good four stars because it kept me on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what will happen next. The technology seemed true of the time period the book was set in and I can imagine something like this happening. I am a software developer, so some of the terminology or scenarios were off a bit for me, but not enough to annoy me. Also I live in Texas and the locations they mention remind me more of areas around Houston, not Austin, but these are just minor things in the book. Overall if you want a technological thriller, read it!
Charlie, Kenny, Peter, Alex, and Vanhi. They call themselves The Vindicators. Outsiders who have found common ground and friendship in one another, they spend their time in their school's unused tech lab, planning fairly harmless pranks. But when they're invited to play The God Game, everything changes.
It's fun at first, even if their tasks within the game are...questionable, to say the least. But the game allows them a freedom they've never experienced. It's something secret. Something just for them. Something that soon lets them explore sides of themselves they never knew they had.
But what starts out as fun soon becomes a darker competition. GOLDZ are good. BLAXX are bad. Really bad. As the group is drawn deeper and deeper into the game, they each begin to question the game's purpose and their purpose within the game. And as they soon learn, while starting only requires and invite, leaving the game requires something much more sinister.
A book in the vein of Black Mirror, what more could I ask for? Well, Danny Tobey specializes in AI, and while I enjoyed this book, I am not. As a result the story went over my head more than just a little bit in some places.
Charlie and his friends aren't part of any clique and so they've made one themselves. They bond over coding and computer games, in spite of their differences. Charlie recently lost his mother to cancer and his grades show it. Vanhi hopes to get into Harvard, but pulling a D isn't going to cut it. Alex struggles academically and suffers at his father's hands for it. Kenny wants to fit in but knows he never will. And Peter, well Peter is the bad boy of the group and ultimately the one who introduces them all to the game.
Angsty teens finding an outlet isn't new. And neither is the idea that they'd get wrapped up in a dangerous online game. I liked the morality questions that came into play here and the fact that everything and everyone is gray, gray, gray rather than black or white.
But I wanted more. The group is fairly well rounded, but Charlie gets most of the focus for sure. Kenny probably gets the least attention, which is kind of a shame as I felt like I really didn't understand his motivation for the most part. But there are other players as well and, with one single exception, we don't know anything about any of them. They appear and disappear without any kind of glimpse into their stories.
Some can argue that the core group is all we need: they each illustrate various motivations in playing the game and following its instructions. But I guess given how dark the book gets, I like to believe it would take pretty extraordinary circumstances for people to do some of the things that are done in the game.
Ha! I just realized my complaint is that the book doesn't adequately support my own hope that people are ultimately good...
My other issue with the book is that it's never clear to me exactly what the game is. At times it seems like Tobey makes the case for it being connected to events that happen a decade before the book takes place. It also seems the game is supposed to be artificial intelligence, but there's never any kind of information about its creator. And while I'm ok with some things left unexplained, I felt like my inability to truly grasp some of the intricacies of the game itself were wrapped up in my need to know more about it as a whole.
All in all, The God Game is inarguably a book that will make you think. And while I didn't fall head over heels for it, I did enjoy the read.
It's fun at first, even if their tasks within the game are...questionable, to say the least. But the game allows them a freedom they've never experienced. It's something secret. Something just for them. Something that soon lets them explore sides of themselves they never knew they had.
But what starts out as fun soon becomes a darker competition. GOLDZ are good. BLAXX are bad. Really bad. As the group is drawn deeper and deeper into the game, they each begin to question the game's purpose and their purpose within the game. And as they soon learn, while starting only requires and invite, leaving the game requires something much more sinister.
A book in the vein of Black Mirror, what more could I ask for? Well, Danny Tobey specializes in AI, and while I enjoyed this book, I am not. As a result the story went over my head more than just a little bit in some places.
Charlie and his friends aren't part of any clique and so they've made one themselves. They bond over coding and computer games, in spite of their differences. Charlie recently lost his mother to cancer and his grades show it. Vanhi hopes to get into Harvard, but pulling a D isn't going to cut it. Alex struggles academically and suffers at his father's hands for it. Kenny wants to fit in but knows he never will. And Peter, well Peter is the bad boy of the group and ultimately the one who introduces them all to the game.
Angsty teens finding an outlet isn't new. And neither is the idea that they'd get wrapped up in a dangerous online game. I liked the morality questions that came into play here and the fact that everything and everyone is gray, gray, gray rather than black or white.
But I wanted more. The group is fairly well rounded, but Charlie gets most of the focus for sure. Kenny probably gets the least attention, which is kind of a shame as I felt like I really didn't understand his motivation for the most part. But there are other players as well and, with one single exception, we don't know anything about any of them. They appear and disappear without any kind of glimpse into their stories.
Some can argue that the core group is all we need: they each illustrate various motivations in playing the game and following its instructions. But I guess given how dark the book gets, I like to believe it would take pretty extraordinary circumstances for people to do some of the things that are done in the game.
Ha! I just realized my complaint is that the book doesn't adequately support my own hope that people are ultimately good...
My other issue with the book is that it's never clear to me exactly what the game is. At times it seems like Tobey makes the case for it being connected to events that happen a decade before the book takes place. It also seems the game is supposed to be artificial intelligence, but there's never any kind of information about its creator. And while I'm ok with some things left unexplained, I felt like my inability to truly grasp some of the intricacies of the game itself were wrapped up in my need to know more about it as a whole.
All in all, The God Game is inarguably a book that will make you think. And while I didn't fall head over heels for it, I did enjoy the read.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the free review copy. All opinions are my own.
What an original, page-turning book this was. I was hooked right away into the world of teenagers, technology, and a game that claims that it is "God." I think that this book showed how invasive technology can be and what happens when gaming can be taken a bit too far. This also is not any ordinary game, it affects so much more than any of the players realize.
I loved how morality was explored in this book. I think it made me reflect on the goodness of people and what will they really do when placed into tight situations. I think it also showed the vulnerability of people and their connection to technology well. I think that the characters personalities were well done in showing how each person reacts to these situations differently. I also thought that the ending was well done. I did not see it coming, yet it didn't feel unrealistic.
What an original, page-turning book this was. I was hooked right away into the world of teenagers, technology, and a game that claims that it is "God." I think that this book showed how invasive technology can be and what happens when gaming can be taken a bit too far. This also is not any ordinary game, it affects so much more than any of the players realize.
I loved how morality was explored in this book. I think it made me reflect on the goodness of people and what will they really do when placed into tight situations. I think it also showed the vulnerability of people and their connection to technology well. I think that the characters personalities were well done in showing how each person reacts to these situations differently. I also thought that the ending was well done. I did not see it coming, yet it didn't feel unrealistic.
This book was such a thrill to read. Every page was filled with action and got my heart racing. As someone who loves to study various religions, I found the concept and execution to be so interesting (although, I wasn't personally a fan of the way Christ was talked about/used in the text). The only downside (outside of personal ones) was the pace at the end. After the book was as fast paced as it was, it was a little disappointing to feel it slow down in the last 30 pages.
I will give the book props for presenting me with a REAL twist ending!
I will give the book props for presenting me with a REAL twist ending!
The God Game by Danny Tobey is an exciting ride. Charlie and his eclectic group of friends are not the most popular kids in high school. They are usually found in the computer or tech labs, playing pranks, or helping their families in their own ways. One day they are invited to play a mysterious online game with G.O.D. Little do they know the game will meld on and off line lives. They can either win their every dream or die trying.
This was a great book that I didn't want to end. Imagine if Stephen King wrote Nerve instead of Jeanne Ryan. The action is fast paced, the dilemmas are gut wrenching, and the some consequences can be terrifying.
In addition to all the fun, the book does a good job of relying on various religions to build the world in which Charlie and friends play. There is also some interesting commentary on new technologies, morality, social class, and even politics.
I'd recommend this for fans of Stephen King and of the books Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and The Circle by Dave Eggers.
This was a great book that I didn't want to end. Imagine if Stephen King wrote Nerve instead of Jeanne Ryan. The action is fast paced, the dilemmas are gut wrenching, and the some consequences can be terrifying.
In addition to all the fun, the book does a good job of relying on various religions to build the world in which Charlie and friends play. There is also some interesting commentary on new technologies, morality, social class, and even politics.
I'd recommend this for fans of Stephen King and of the books Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and The Circle by Dave Eggers.
This was quite the unique take on online games/virtual reality. There were a lot of interesting aspects of the story. However, the middle did seem a bit too long, as some of the action seemed to become repetitive. However, it is definitely a book that makes you think about internet safety differently as well as how your choices can affect more than yourself. I would definitely recommend this.
I received an ARC from the publisher; All opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from the publisher; All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this book, though it’s not something I would normally read. I found the whole morality code super interesting. What would you do to help yourself/your cause and no one would know-except God?
I admit that I didn’t know exactly some of the things that Charlie and his four friends-Peter, Alex, Kenny and Vanhi (AKA The Vindicators) were doing, coding, or talking about, but it didn’t deter my interest in the story.
Charlie and his friends receive an invite to The G.O.D. Game on their computers. They soon learn that “God” will help them and make all their dreams come true, but they have to do something in return. Each friend has excellent stories as to what their needs were in playing the game. The short chapters definitely helped move this story along to its climax.
The author did a great job on focusing on the pressures teens are facing today: drugs, alcohol, sexuality, peer pressure, social acceptance, college pressure, and even family pressure.
Four stars to this exciting, unique thriller.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
I admit that I didn’t know exactly some of the things that Charlie and his four friends-Peter, Alex, Kenny and Vanhi (AKA The Vindicators) were doing, coding, or talking about, but it didn’t deter my interest in the story.
Charlie and his friends receive an invite to The G.O.D. Game on their computers. They soon learn that “God” will help them and make all their dreams come true, but they have to do something in return. Each friend has excellent stories as to what their needs were in playing the game. The short chapters definitely helped move this story along to its climax.
The author did a great job on focusing on the pressures teens are facing today: drugs, alcohol, sexuality, peer pressure, social acceptance, college pressure, and even family pressure.
Four stars to this exciting, unique thriller.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for a review copy in exchange for my honest review.
I received an arc of The God Game from St. Martin’s press to review for my honest opinion.
I wasn’t sure what to expect - it’s like Ready Player One meets a dark thriller. This book brings us to a group of high schoolers called The Vindicators. They’re a group of teens that don’t exactly fit in the popular groups at school and all have hard things going on in their home lives. They became a group because of their coding/hacking skills. All of this is the perfect recipe for them to get involved in an online game, The God Game, that promises to make their dreams come true but may have deadly consequences for them, and others.
This book is a wild ride that at first glance appears to be about a fantasy video game but at closer look is about the choices of right or wrong that we gave and make each day - sometimes knowing the consequences and sometimes not realizing until too late. It deals with many of the struggles of teens (and adults) around what integrity is, fairness, dealing with what life has dealt you and more but in a modern, technology focused way.
Coming in at about 450 pages and not being a gamer myself, I could have used a little less on the coding/gamer nerd side and details. Overall, I thought this was a solid read and I loved the back story on all the characters that unfolded while they played the game.
I wasn’t sure what to expect - it’s like Ready Player One meets a dark thriller. This book brings us to a group of high schoolers called The Vindicators. They’re a group of teens that don’t exactly fit in the popular groups at school and all have hard things going on in their home lives. They became a group because of their coding/hacking skills. All of this is the perfect recipe for them to get involved in an online game, The God Game, that promises to make their dreams come true but may have deadly consequences for them, and others.
This book is a wild ride that at first glance appears to be about a fantasy video game but at closer look is about the choices of right or wrong that we gave and make each day - sometimes knowing the consequences and sometimes not realizing until too late. It deals with many of the struggles of teens (and adults) around what integrity is, fairness, dealing with what life has dealt you and more but in a modern, technology focused way.
Coming in at about 450 pages and not being a gamer myself, I could have used a little less on the coding/gamer nerd side and details. Overall, I thought this was a solid read and I loved the back story on all the characters that unfolded while they played the game.
I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book. It had me captivated from start to finish! I will be recommending it to the ladies at Book Club!
*The following title was a free copies provided by the publisher. All opinions are my own and do not reflect the views of the publishers or authors.
Quick Take: An AI has been created programmed with all of the religious texts of the world. Personality traits are prioritized based on social relevance and number of adherents to a particular faith. Welcome to the G.O.D game, where the AI thinks it’s God and underground hackers are very serious about providing players with an immersive, rewarding experience.
What I Loved: If you read only one thriller this year this should be it. It takes a fascinating look at the morality of artificial intelligence, who is qualified to program it, and how far you will go to get what you think the world owes you. Every character’s motivations were compelling and I found myself empathizing with each of them in some way. This book got so dark and violent in ways not expecting but that I thoroughly enjoyed. God Game is a page turner that live to all the hype. You definitely don’t want to miss this one.
What I Didn’t Love: Honestly, I loved every aspect of this book and I think it will be one of my favorite thrillers of the year. Some people might be bothered by the political bent of the novel but that didn’t bother me and all. It was a roller coaster ride from start to finish.
Quick Take: An AI has been created programmed with all of the religious texts of the world. Personality traits are prioritized based on social relevance and number of adherents to a particular faith. Welcome to the G.O.D game, where the AI thinks it’s God and underground hackers are very serious about providing players with an immersive, rewarding experience.
What I Loved: If you read only one thriller this year this should be it. It takes a fascinating look at the morality of artificial intelligence, who is qualified to program it, and how far you will go to get what you think the world owes you. Every character’s motivations were compelling and I found myself empathizing with each of them in some way. This book got so dark and violent in ways not expecting but that I thoroughly enjoyed. God Game is a page turner that live to all the hype. You definitely don’t want to miss this one.
What I Didn’t Love: Honestly, I loved every aspect of this book and I think it will be one of my favorite thrillers of the year. Some people might be bothered by the political bent of the novel but that didn’t bother me and all. It was a roller coaster ride from start to finish.