A review by billblume
Sword Art Online 1: Aincrad by Reki Kawahara

4.0

I'm giving this four stars, but I should probably qualify it by saying that it's really only a four-star book if you've watched the anime series first. Reading the book adds some layers to what happens in the anime, and it's certainly worth the time for Sword Art Online fans. I'm not sure a person who's never watched the anime would enjoy the book as much, but it still delivers a clever spin on virtual reality, multi-player gaming. You can tell the author loves MPG, and that knowledge adds a layer of realism to things happening here. I also think he's the only author I've seen give a book about a story in a virtual world such strong, real stakes. Definitely enjoyed reading the book, and I'll definitely explore more of the books to add to my enjoyment of the anime.