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3.08 AVERAGE
3.08 AVERAGE
{Digital Copy provided by NetGalley and University of Iowa Press}
This is a short tale centered around a group of LGBTQ+ DnD players and their lives in Cleveland. There are quite a few characters and their group dynamics were very interesting. I especially enjoyed Mooneyham’s experience being gay in a corporate environment as well as his relationship with Huey. I didn’t care too much about Ben and his relationship troubles, however. Not a lot happens in this book, which makes it a bit boring. But the twenty-somethings trials of figuring yourself out and what you want to do in life were very well done and realistic in my opinion. As an amateur DnD player I also appreciated the passionate and detail-oriented portrayal of it in this story.
If you like role playing games, queer characters, and a slice-of-life type of story, this is the book for you!
This is a short tale centered around a group of LGBTQ+ DnD players and their lives in Cleveland. There are quite a few characters and their group dynamics were very interesting. I especially enjoyed Mooneyham’s experience being gay in a corporate environment as well as his relationship with Huey. I didn’t care too much about Ben and his relationship troubles, however. Not a lot happens in this book, which makes it a bit boring. But the twenty-somethings trials of figuring yourself out and what you want to do in life were very well done and realistic in my opinion. As an amateur DnD player I also appreciated the passionate and detail-oriented portrayal of it in this story.
If you like role playing games, queer characters, and a slice-of-life type of story, this is the book for you!
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-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:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
This story intersperses a series of LGBTQ love story vignettes with those same characters coming together to play a table-top RPG (Dungeons and Dragons).
In theory, the characters are all supposed to be in their mid-twenties, but I felt most (if not all) of them acted younger, and while there are A LOT of sex jokes and references, there is no explicit sex to restrict this to a more adult audience.
In addition to the relationship ups and downs, and the characters’ inner struggles – Ben’s low self-esteem and loneliness; Valerie’s lack of communication and volatility; Moonyham’s issues with external and internalised homophobia – there is a sub-plot about vampire cosplayers challenging the D’n’D’ers in an imaginary power contest, which felt a little underdeveloped and underconnected to the rest of the plot.
While I didn’t really connect to the characters on an emotional level, finding the focus on relationship drama a little too intense for me (I preferred the RPG drama) and the characters a little bit unlikable, this was a fairly enjoyable, easy read which covered some interesting relationship issues and may find a more appreciative audience in a teen-/young adult readership.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
In theory, the characters are all supposed to be in their mid-twenties, but I felt most (if not all) of them acted younger, and while there are A LOT of sex jokes and references, there is no explicit sex to restrict this to a more adult audience.
In addition to the relationship ups and downs, and the characters’ inner struggles – Ben’s low self-esteem and loneliness; Valerie’s lack of communication and volatility; Moonyham’s issues with external and internalised homophobia – there is a sub-plot about vampire cosplayers challenging the D’n’D’ers in an imaginary power contest, which felt a little underdeveloped and underconnected to the rest of the plot.
While I didn’t really connect to the characters on an emotional level, finding the focus on relationship drama a little too intense for me (I preferred the RPG drama) and the characters a little bit unlikable, this was a fairly enjoyable, easy read which covered some interesting relationship issues and may find a more appreciative audience in a teen-/young adult readership.
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
A group of young adults get together weekly to play D&D, a respite from their lives and loves: unrequited, closeted, or of unknown casual/serious status. Trying to figure out life is a whole lot more messy than casting spells against demon hoards, after all.
I liked this, I did - it was a quick and pleasant read. I usually hate romance, but that side is nicely 'real'. I discovered D&D myself during lockdown, and it's a fun take - you don't need to know anything about it - balancing out the real life woes.
However, it isn't wholly satisfying: I'd say only one character gets any kind of story resolution, the others - and several plot elements - are just left rather unfinished.
Full review, and me trying to explain the "I liked it but", is up on my blog.
I liked this, I did - it was a quick and pleasant read. I usually hate romance, but that side is nicely 'real'. I discovered D&D myself during lockdown, and it's a fun take - you don't need to know anything about it - balancing out the real life woes.
However, it isn't wholly satisfying: I'd say only one character gets any kind of story resolution, the others - and several plot elements - are just left rather unfinished.
Full review, and me trying to explain the "I liked it but", is up on my blog.
Unfortunately I was a bit disappointed in this book. While it has a fun premise, there really wasn’t much of a plot line, which made it feel rambling and directionless.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Picked this up at a library just south of Cleveland Heights. Couldn't finish.
I wouldn't finish playing a D&D game session if the DM so totally removed player agency like Celeste did (pages 23-24), either.
Also, most of the interaction seemed to be about sex, which, to me, perpetuates a stereotype about the titular community. Of course, it's been quite some time since I was 20-something.
Disappointing.
I wouldn't finish playing a D&D game session if the DM so totally removed player agency like Celeste did (pages 23-24), either.
Also, most of the interaction seemed to be about sex, which, to me, perpetuates a stereotype about the titular community. Of course, it's been quite some time since I was 20-something.
Disappointing.
The title of the book sounds like a lot of fun. Role playing games have the potential to go in just about any direction, and the fact that this was filled with LGBT representation had me excited.
Unfortunately, the book was just not well executed. Readers are overwhelmed with a slew of characters who were immaturely written, grappling with feelings in a very boring way. They went over and over their feelings without truly processing them, and their communication was abhorrent but never discussed as part of their character flaws. There was some character development, but it felt haphazard and abrupt. With tons of starts and stops, it was hard to decipher what was important to the overarching story, and instead left me feeling like a collection of moments had been thrown together in an attempt to make meaning where there was very little.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, the book was just not well executed. Readers are overwhelmed with a slew of characters who were immaturely written, grappling with feelings in a very boring way. They went over and over their feelings without truly processing them, and their communication was abhorrent but never discussed as part of their character flaws. There was some character development, but it felt haphazard and abrupt. With tons of starts and stops, it was hard to decipher what was important to the overarching story, and instead left me feeling like a collection of moments had been thrown together in an attempt to make meaning where there was very little.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.