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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
dark
informative
medium-paced
challenging
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
challenging
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Classism
Moderate: Chronic illness, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Drug use, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Alcohol
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
I picked this book up while I was in a rush at the library so I didn't really know what to expect, but it was enjoyable! With the title The Sorcerer of Pyongyang, it didn't click it was going to be about DND until I took a closer look.
It was an unexpected solid read and I'd say the only downside was the weird narrator moment. Other than that, the book made me feel anxious at times, and happy at others!
If you're looking for something different to read, maybe set in North Korea, I would recommend this. I don't think I would read it again though just because it isn't the usual thing I'd go for.
⭐⭐⭐.5 / 5
It was an unexpected solid read and I'd say the only downside was the weird narrator moment. Other than that, the book made me feel anxious at times, and happy at others!
If you're looking for something different to read, maybe set in North Korea, I would recommend this. I don't think I would read it again though just because it isn't the usual thing I'd go for.
⭐⭐⭐.5 / 5
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
fast-paced
The premise (D&D and North Korea) was so good I bought it and kept reading it. It’s a fast read, but the writing was distracting. It just wasn’t written that well, it felt like an early draft that needed a few rounds with a great editor. The end also concerned me greatly, it felt disjointed and contradictory to the characters. I’m glad I read it overall though.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I dunno, it's fine, but the prose struck me as simplistic and childish
“It was a moment that Cho Jun-su would replay in his imagination for the rest of his life. In years to come, he would joke that it was like a celestial object falling from the sky to be discovered by some bewildered nomad and made the centerpiece of a new religion.”
Finding the right book at the right time can be life-changing, especially when you live in one of the most isolated countries in the world. When middle schooler Jun-su finds a forgotten copy of The Dungeon Master’s Guide, he is introduced to worlds far beyond North Korea. But soon it becomes clear that his discovery has put him directly in conflict with everything he was raised to believe — and the government that can decide whether he lives or dies.
Like many readers, I picked this up because of the Dungeons & Dragons connection; unlike many readers, I appreciated that gameplay wasn’t the actual focus. I love how Theroux made it the bedrock of the story, showing how Jun-su’s learning the concepts/themes and how to play impacted his decisions throughout his life. That said, the plot itself was a little predictable, and I found the combination of third-person and first-person distracting. I didn’t need a narrator (who we don’t meet until the last chapter) interjecting their personal opinions and observations on things I’d rather have interpreted on my own.
Read this if you like character studies, D&D (without the nitty-gritty gameplay), and learning about a country most Americans never even think about.
Finding the right book at the right time can be life-changing, especially when you live in one of the most isolated countries in the world. When middle schooler Jun-su finds a forgotten copy of The Dungeon Master’s Guide, he is introduced to worlds far beyond North Korea. But soon it becomes clear that his discovery has put him directly in conflict with everything he was raised to believe — and the government that can decide whether he lives or dies.
Like many readers, I picked this up because of the Dungeons & Dragons connection; unlike many readers, I appreciated that gameplay wasn’t the actual focus. I love how Theroux made it the bedrock of the story, showing how Jun-su’s learning the concepts/themes and how to play impacted his decisions throughout his life. That said, the plot itself was a little predictable, and I found the combination of third-person and first-person distracting. I didn’t need a narrator (who we don’t meet until the last chapter) interjecting their personal opinions and observations on things I’d rather have interpreted on my own.
Read this if you like character studies, D&D (without the nitty-gritty gameplay), and learning about a country most Americans never even think about.