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artgor's review
5.0
An interesting book. It was fun to read, looking forward to reading the next book. Full review will be after reading all the trilogy.
digregorio_chris's review
4.0
I'm not super familiar with the LitRPG genre, but this was pretty enjoyable. Not a huge fan of how little happened in the book. This felt like part one of a larger novel rather than a stand-alone. Still, definitely excited to read the next one.
esadday's review
4.0
A good start to the trilogy
From the outset, we are put right in the action. There’s no prologue nor is there exposition. We meet Chris, we find out his stakes and quickly we enter the world of Euphoria Online. Gradually we’re introduced to Chris’s real world - in the future, impacted by climate change and being led by a sentient, benevolent AI. In some ways, our immersion into the story is similar to an MRPG: we have an idea but what actually happens is a surprise.
The book ends on a cliff hanger, as well as a mystery or 2, and we’re rooting for the hero to win. Nothing has come easy yet and I have a feeling it’s only going to get harder from here. At least Chris just leveled up...
From the outset, we are put right in the action. There’s no prologue nor is there exposition. We meet Chris, we find out his stakes and quickly we enter the world of Euphoria Online. Gradually we’re introduced to Chris’s real world - in the future, impacted by climate change and being led by a sentient, benevolent AI. In some ways, our immersion into the story is similar to an MRPG: we have an idea but what actually happens is a surprise.
The book ends on a cliff hanger, as well as a mystery or 2, and we’re rooting for the hero to win. Nothing has come easy yet and I have a feeling it’s only going to get harder from here. At least Chris just leveled up...
dustinwrites's review
5.0
Interesting book
Well written and brings up some interesting concepts. Definitely looking forward to more. Better editing than usual, which is always nice.
Well written and brings up some interesting concepts. Definitely looking forward to more. Better editing than usual, which is always nice.
nevergreen's review
5.0
Another excellent example of the LitRPG genre and itll be interesting to see how those series progresses.
matt_darksidreads's review
5.0
Death March is the first book in the Euphoria Online series from Phil Tucker. This book is extremely fast paced and an utter joy to read. You follow Chris on his journey to use Death March mode of the Euphoria Online game to win a pardon for his brother.
its_justine's review
5.0
A jaded teacher residing in Florida, Chris goes through the motions of every day life in order to remain close to his brother, who has found himself being charged with a crime he didn't commit. Several weeks after their breakup, Chris receives an invitation from his ex-girlfriend to play Euphoria Online, a fully immersive VR world where players are neurally linked to the environment. With the expensive price tag of one play session, Chris is weary of the offer, but decides to accept in an attempt to save his brother’s life. You see, surviving for six months in Euphoria on Death March mode will grant the player any favor from Albertus Magnus, the world's AI overlord, including pardons for convicted criminals. The only problem: if you die in Euphoria Online while playing Death March, you also die in the real world. Throwing caution to the wind, Chris quickly embarks on the journey, only to be dumped into a decimated stronghold filled with dangers he has no hope of surviving.
Death March is my initiation into the LitRPG genre, and what an introduction it has been! After briefly establishing the who and the why, we're quickly transported into an immersive world, where the tension is unceasing, and action gets progressively more intense. Without knowing what to really expect, this book has been a real treat for me, a gamer at heart. The battles are carefully crafted, the tactical planning intelligent, the leveling and strategizing feel realistic - as realistic as it can get while delving into a world literally filled to the brim with magic. There's an air of mystery as to what has happened to the Cruel Winter stronghold, now battered, broken, and filled with undead. Where a lively and influential player mage once resided, the Dread Lord, a highly intelligent and powerful entity, now rules over the area, but its intentions remain unclear.
Euphoria is a medieval-based world, filled with magic and all manner of monsters and mayhem. Feldgrau, the Winter Castle (and its grounds), as well as the surrounding meadows and forests are handsomely described in such a vivid way, whether painting the mysteriously beautiful landscape, shattered abodes, or soaring towers, you're completely absorbed into the world Tucker has created. The setting itself is littered with all sorts of interesting arcane happenings and traps, not to mention some high level, terrifying enemies. Throughout the chapters, readers are rewarded with beautiful illustrations that bring the world to life even more, showcasing some of the baddies Chris, Lotharia, and Falkon face. I can't reiterate this enough…these are gorgeous! I also found it really interesting how the world genuinely reacts to how the players conduct themselves. Witnessing the benefits and drawbacks of diplomacy versus fighting kept the story compelling, and downright hilarious at times! Lookin' at you, Barfo!
The characters are interesting with subtle cues that there is always more than meets the eye. The scheming and execution of plans are both curious and engaging. The danger feels undeniably authentic. The final battle is epic, leaving you on the edge of your seat, keeping the pages practically flying by. We're left at one hell of a cliffhanger, but luckily the whole trilogy is published and readily available. I'm really excited to jump into book two, Nightmare Keep, to continue my quest through Euphoria with Chris and the gang. Whether you're a seasoned reader of the genre or just looking to finally dip your toes in like me, Death March will surely leave you happily wanting more. I highly recommend.
Death March is my initiation into the LitRPG genre, and what an introduction it has been! After briefly establishing the who and the why, we're quickly transported into an immersive world, where the tension is unceasing, and action gets progressively more intense. Without knowing what to really expect, this book has been a real treat for me, a gamer at heart. The battles are carefully crafted, the tactical planning intelligent, the leveling and strategizing feel realistic - as realistic as it can get while delving into a world literally filled to the brim with magic. There's an air of mystery as to what has happened to the Cruel Winter stronghold, now battered, broken, and filled with undead. Where a lively and influential player mage once resided, the Dread Lord, a highly intelligent and powerful entity, now rules over the area, but its intentions remain unclear.
Euphoria is a medieval-based world, filled with magic and all manner of monsters and mayhem. Feldgrau, the Winter Castle (and its grounds), as well as the surrounding meadows and forests are handsomely described in such a vivid way, whether painting the mysteriously beautiful landscape, shattered abodes, or soaring towers, you're completely absorbed into the world Tucker has created. The setting itself is littered with all sorts of interesting arcane happenings and traps, not to mention some high level, terrifying enemies. Throughout the chapters, readers are rewarded with beautiful illustrations that bring the world to life even more, showcasing some of the baddies Chris, Lotharia, and Falkon face. I can't reiterate this enough…these are gorgeous! I also found it really interesting how the world genuinely reacts to how the players conduct themselves. Witnessing the benefits and drawbacks of diplomacy versus fighting kept the story compelling, and downright hilarious at times! Lookin' at you, Barfo!
The characters are interesting with subtle cues that there is always more than meets the eye. The scheming and execution of plans are both curious and engaging. The danger feels undeniably authentic. The final battle is epic, leaving you on the edge of your seat, keeping the pages practically flying by. We're left at one hell of a cliffhanger, but luckily the whole trilogy is published and readily available. I'm really excited to jump into book two, Nightmare Keep, to continue my quest through Euphoria with Chris and the gang. Whether you're a seasoned reader of the genre or just looking to finally dip your toes in like me, Death March will surely leave you happily wanting more. I highly recommend.
kartiknarayanan's review against another edition
5.0
Read the full review at Digital Amrit
We had the opportunity to read the advance reader copies of the three books in the series – Death March, Nightmare Keep & Killer Dungeon – and here’s our almost spoiler free review of it.
Now, we are huge fans of Phil Tucker ever since we read his ‘Chronicles of the Black Gate’. On a side-note, you should check that series out if you like epic fantasy which explores some complex themes. Phil’s books tend to be action heavy with great characters and world building while delving into weighty topics.
And Euphoria Online, his new trilogy, is no exception.
At its core, the story revolves around Chris Meadows who must literally put his life on the line by playing Euphoria Online to save his brother from death. Euphoria Online is a fantasy MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) like World of Warcraft or Ultima Online except that it has been created by the first sentient AI for reasons unknown. Oh, and the fact that there is a literal Death Match mode which is called Death March, where you die in real life if you die online. Any player who manages to spend 6 months in game time on the ‘Death March’ mode gets a boon from this all-powerful AI. Chris, who is a savvy video gamer caught in a dead-end job, wants to use this boon to save his little brother from being sentenced to death for reasons that are not really important to the story. Of course, life is not just that simple. In addition to fighting for his life, Chris has to deal with other complicating factors like a conniving ex-girlfriend and a potential world-changing conspiracy which gets murkier the more he plays the game.
Euphoria Online is part of a genre called LitRPG where the conventions of a MMORPG are mixed with novels. In addition, there is a clear demarcation between the game world & real life with characters in both settings and being aware of the differences. Tron, while not a LitRPG, is pretty close to being one. The other examples that come to mind are Tad Williams’ four-part series -'Otherland' as well as the now popular 'Ready Player One'. So, if you ever played a MMORPG (or single player RPGs like we have) and love fantasy, this genre provides a perfect blend of both. Books like Will Wight’s Cradle series or Andrew Rowe’s Arcane Ascension, while good on their own, are not LitRPG even though they have complex magic systems with levels because the characters are not aware of their reality.
Read the full review at Digital Amrit
We had the opportunity to read the advance reader copies of the three books in the series – Death March, Nightmare Keep & Killer Dungeon – and here’s our almost spoiler free review of it.
Now, we are huge fans of Phil Tucker ever since we read his ‘Chronicles of the Black Gate’. On a side-note, you should check that series out if you like epic fantasy which explores some complex themes. Phil’s books tend to be action heavy with great characters and world building while delving into weighty topics.
And Euphoria Online, his new trilogy, is no exception.
At its core, the story revolves around Chris Meadows who must literally put his life on the line by playing Euphoria Online to save his brother from death. Euphoria Online is a fantasy MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) like World of Warcraft or Ultima Online except that it has been created by the first sentient AI for reasons unknown. Oh, and the fact that there is a literal Death Match mode which is called Death March, where you die in real life if you die online. Any player who manages to spend 6 months in game time on the ‘Death March’ mode gets a boon from this all-powerful AI. Chris, who is a savvy video gamer caught in a dead-end job, wants to use this boon to save his little brother from being sentenced to death for reasons that are not really important to the story. Of course, life is not just that simple. In addition to fighting for his life, Chris has to deal with other complicating factors like a conniving ex-girlfriend and a potential world-changing conspiracy which gets murkier the more he plays the game.
Euphoria Online is part of a genre called LitRPG where the conventions of a MMORPG are mixed with novels. In addition, there is a clear demarcation between the game world & real life with characters in both settings and being aware of the differences. Tron, while not a LitRPG, is pretty close to being one. The other examples that come to mind are Tad Williams’ four-part series -'Otherland' as well as the now popular 'Ready Player One'. So, if you ever played a MMORPG (or single player RPGs like we have) and love fantasy, this genre provides a perfect blend of both. Books like Will Wight’s Cradle series or Andrew Rowe’s Arcane Ascension, while good on their own, are not LitRPG even though they have complex magic systems with levels because the characters are not aware of their reality.
Read the full review at Digital Amrit
timwhitecastle's review against another edition
5.0
I stayed up way too late reading this, and have done nothing at all but continue reading this morning. My house looks a mess from last night when I didn’t clear the dishes because I started reading this book. I hope you’re proud of yourself, Phil Tucker, this is all your fault!
I haven’t read much GameLit/LitRPG but this is easily the best XP I had since Ready Player One, only actually it’s better because I didn’t much appreciate the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-ness of Cline‘s novel.
This is a well thought out, awesomely paced, fantastically written book which will leave you crumpled with insomnia and a messy house/crap day at the job because of manic reading ... un-put-downable? Is that a word? Am I too sleep-deprived or am I making sense?
Read it!
I haven’t read much GameLit/LitRPG but this is easily the best XP I had since Ready Player One, only actually it’s better because I didn’t much appreciate the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-ness of Cline‘s novel.
This is a well thought out, awesomely paced, fantastically written book which will leave you crumpled with insomnia and a messy house/crap day at the job because of manic reading ... un-put-downable? Is that a word? Am I too sleep-deprived or am I making sense?
Read it!
eyed's review against another edition
5.0
This was my first LitRPG that was a full length book, so I was not sure how I was going to feel about it. Being that I am a fan of Mr. Tucker based on my enjoyment of the Chronicles of the Black Gate I figured this would be a good place to start with the genre. Turns out I find it quit interesting.
It takes place in the future and starts out in the in the real world. Chris seems like a good guy. He is a teacher in a what seems to be a very poorly funded school. He is working to try to help his brother who is in jail and facing the death penalty. He is offered the opportunity to spend a weekend in the virtual reality world of Euphoria Online. There is some potential in this venture to help safe his brother. If he can survive for 6 months game time in Death March mode he can ask the AI that created Euphoria Online for a favor.
Getting into the game and set up for Death march mode requires a substantial amount of paperwork which make the entrance into the game seem pretty realistic to me. Letting someone play in a mode where they can die in real life is a very serious matter. I really enjoyed the time taken with the character creation process. That is one of my favorite parts of starting new game or even replaying an old one, so I really liked how he didn't rush through it.
Once this is all completed he is off into the game. He quickly learns his ex girlfriend Brianna who invited him to play is a crazy bitch. Not really sure what her plan was for him but I am sure we will hear more about it later. But this is where the action stared and I feel like once it did it never let up. Chris is in an area populated with high level monsters and is in pretty constant fear for his live both in game and in the real world.
It reads just like a very exciting game, he meets other players and forms bonds with them as well as some NPCs. He levels up and learns new skills that will help him along the way in his quest for survival.
The characters are both interesting and likable. Lotharia and Falkon are other players he meets and gets to join his cause of helping him stay alive.
Lothoria is an enchanter and she seems a little awkward about how she handles certain situations. Throughout there seemed to be a little bit of romance going on between her and Chris and maybe we will see more of that later in the series.
Falkon is a knight. He works on the development team for Euphoria Online. So he has some more info about how things work in the game, which is very helpful. He also provides us with some more info about why the game exists at all. Well at least his theories on the subject.
The Green Liver Goblins were quite hilarious additions to the story. I really enjoyed Chris's interactions with them.
Once Chris is in the game and the action starts it is a very fast paced read up the end. It was hard to put down. If I didn't have things I have to do other than read it would have been finished much faster.
I really love the fact that there is interior artwork. I think more books for adults should have this. I was very happy every time I came across a picture. The artwork is amazing and in for me it enhanced my enjoyment of an already great story.
I recommend this to anyone that is a fan of fantasy or RPGs. If you are a fan of both than that's even better. I am really looking forward to reading the next two in the series.
It takes place in the future and starts out in the in the real world. Chris seems like a good guy. He is a teacher in a what seems to be a very poorly funded school. He is working to try to help his brother who is in jail and facing the death penalty. He is offered the opportunity to spend a weekend in the virtual reality world of Euphoria Online. There is some potential in this venture to help safe his brother. If he can survive for 6 months game time in Death March mode he can ask the AI that created Euphoria Online for a favor.
Getting into the game and set up for Death march mode requires a substantial amount of paperwork which make the entrance into the game seem pretty realistic to me. Letting someone play in a mode where they can die in real life is a very serious matter. I really enjoyed the time taken with the character creation process. That is one of my favorite parts of starting new game or even replaying an old one, so I really liked how he didn't rush through it.
Once this is all completed he is off into the game. He quickly learns his ex girlfriend Brianna who invited him to play is a crazy bitch. Not really sure what her plan was for him but I am sure we will hear more about it later. But this is where the action stared and I feel like once it did it never let up. Chris is in an area populated with high level monsters and is in pretty constant fear for his live both in game and in the real world.
It reads just like a very exciting game, he meets other players and forms bonds with them as well as some NPCs. He levels up and learns new skills that will help him along the way in his quest for survival.
The characters are both interesting and likable. Lotharia and Falkon are other players he meets and gets to join his cause of helping him stay alive.
Lothoria is an enchanter and she seems a little awkward about how she handles certain situations. Throughout there seemed to be a little bit of romance going on between her and Chris and maybe we will see more of that later in the series.
Falkon is a knight. He works on the development team for Euphoria Online. So he has some more info about how things work in the game, which is very helpful. He also provides us with some more info about why the game exists at all. Well at least his theories on the subject.
The Green Liver Goblins were quite hilarious additions to the story. I really enjoyed Chris's interactions with them.
Once Chris is in the game and the action starts it is a very fast paced read up the end. It was hard to put down. If I didn't have things I have to do other than read it would have been finished much faster.
I really love the fact that there is interior artwork. I think more books for adults should have this. I was very happy every time I came across a picture. The artwork is amazing and in for me it enhanced my enjoyment of an already great story.
I recommend this to anyone that is a fan of fantasy or RPGs. If you are a fan of both than that's even better. I am really looking forward to reading the next two in the series.