Hey all this week for Bookish Wednesday I’m going to cover the first in a LitRPG series that is one of the best I’ve ever read. It’s Awaken Online: Catharsis by Travis Bagwell!

Plot Synopsis: Jason logs into Awaken Online fed-up with reality. He’s in desperate need of an escape, and this game is his ticket to finally feeling the type of power and freedom that are so sorely lacking in his real life.  Awaken Online is a brand new virtual reality game that just hit the market, promising an unprecedented level of immersion. Yet Jason quickly finds himself pushed down a path he didn’t expect. In this game, he isn’t the hero. There are no damsels to save. There are no bad guys to vanquish…

Plot: The plot of this book is really awesome, it also really highlights what people can do when pushed too far. This isn’t a book for children, it’s not full of fun times. It’s quite graphic at times and while there are plenty of laughable moments, it is more dark humor than light.

Characters: Jason is the real star of this book, but of all the side characters I think I like Jerry the most. He’s a roguish fellow who doesn’t take much, if anything, seriously.

Overall: This is a must read for any gamer, and frankly it might just be a must read period. The subject matter that comes up in this book is something a lot of people could do with more insight in. Awaken Online does a great job at providing that.

For those who like: LitRPGs, Fantasy, Magic, Action, Drama, Excellent Plot, Fantastic Cast of Characters.

Not for those who don’t like: Any of the above.