Introducing Have You Come to Bargain?
“The game was quick to welcome Mica in. It’s leaving that’s the issue.”
As part of the Inkfort Press Derby, I collaborated with a few other fantasy authors and we’re helping promote one another before the publishing date on 25 Sept. As such, here’s the first one!
Mica Townsend doesn’t like video games, and they like them even less when they somehow get yanked into one that their partner, Helen, was working on. Under the assumption that Helen is also stuck inside the game and has no way of getting back, Mica trudges forward, desperately trying to get any of the NPC’s to go off script and give real useful information.
The further they get into the game on their quest for the love of their life, however, the more sinister things become. There are reports of rogue characters, whispers of previous players, and a hint of betrayal that nags at the back of Mica’s thoughts. The landscape goes from frustrating to nightmarish as they wade through the lies to discover the truth behind it all.
Will Mica find Helen? Will they make it out alive? Or are they doomed to be trapped, with no bargaining power to help them?
My thoughts?
I think this book is a good introduction into the LitRPG genre, for those not familiar with it. It has all the hallmark points of a quest and the annoying (hilarious) loops that NPCs have, but no stats to make your head spin.
Mica’s personality is not what I’m used to in this genre, but that just makes them feel more real. While it does throw me off, I think the main reason for that is because a lot of the actions that Mica decides on are things that I would do myself if I was in that situation. The annoyance is real and the “I’m so done with this” is too relatable, and then it all comes closing into a final confrontation.
The clearly defined ending is a good conclusion to a half-designed game world, but it also leaves an opening for something more - maybe not even in the LitRPG genre - to continue it along?
Thank you for the read Cameron Fitzgerald, and I will be keeping an eye out for the sequel (or series?) to follow.
Don’t miss out on this book by Cameron Fitzgerald available for pre-order now!
Want to know more about the Derby? Check out my old post here:
And don’t forget to take a look at my own derby book Soultaming the Serpent, available for purchase now.