Title: Hardass City
Author: Kiernan Kelly
Publisher: Torquere Press
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Length: Novella / 100 pages
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
A guest review by Kassa
THE BLURB:
Dare Vengeance is tall, gorgeous, rugged, and dangerous. Unfortunately, he’s also not real – he’s only a character Brad plays in a virtual reality game called “Hardass City.” He has no idea that the creators of the game stole the idea from another player until he meets Jeff, who plays Spike Hammer in the game.
When Jeff — who looks a lot like his smoking hot character — enlists Brad’s help in finding the proof Jeff needs to reclaim his property, Brad finds out that when the stakes are high, it’s not a game anymore.
THE REVIEW:
When I realized Hardass City was a video game the characters in the story play, I wanted to read this immediately. Being a big video game fan, I love finding stories that incorporate those aspects with hot sex and gorgeous geeky men; perfect combination. To enjoy the story you have to suspend your disbelief a bit, but if you can do that then the entertainment factor is pretty high and worthwhile.
The story is told in dual settings. The first is Hardass City, the virtual reality video game with hunters, monsters, and all the usual fun accoutrements. Here Dare Vengeance and Spike Hammer are the best players in the game. The second setting is reality where Dare’s player Brad and Spike’s player Jeff meet up to save their beloved game. There is some dirty dealing going on with the execs of Hardass City and Brad and Jeff are going to get to the bottom of it.
The premise is fun and entertaining, though a real stretch for reality. The reasons for the changes in the video game and later actions by the CEOs are unrealistic. So you have to be willing to put that aside and enjoy the story for what it is. The final resolution as well makes some considerable leaps, ignoring previously offered information and just wraps everything up nicely despite the numerous unsolved problems. I admit I rolled my eyes a few times since I just couldn’t buy into any of the corporate espionage and CEO actions, but the story is a lot of fun to read so it’s worth ignoring the bumps. After that the back and forth between reality and the virtual reality is amusing and engrossing.
Kelly’s easy style of writing compliments the setting as the virtual reality world offered is very familiar and recognizable for gaming fans. It has all the classic elements that catch your eye and the competition that keeps players devoted. Jeff and Brad are also well crafted geeks that are determined to save the game they adore at almost all costs. They are sometimes indistinguishable from each other and this is only saved when Brad stutters so that is a nice added touch. Their stealthy movements in reality to save the game mirror their movements within the game, well without the blood and violence of course.
There are some moments of real humor, an area the author does very well, so this is one that fans will likely enjoy. It’s a nice twist on the games series (which tends to focus more on bdsm games) so throwing in a video game where the heroes get to save the day makes for a nice change. There are a few editing errors but nothing that should annoy readers. For the most part this is a fun, entertaining story with a good setting and makes geeks proud.
Great review, Kassa! I know absolutely nothing about video games or RPG, but I’ll admit that I’ve never seen this particular plotline in m/m before and that has to be a good thing! It’s rare that we get something this unique. I’m definitely going to give this a try. 🙂
I’ve read a few gamer orientated stories but I like Kelly’s writing and she has a real flair for humor. The game is recognizable too, so while this may be a niche market for fans.. it’s pretty fun and something different.
Kassa
Wonderful job on the review. When I read the blurb I knew right away what the attraction was for you, being an avid gamer yourself.
I’ve read a few books with gaming as the main plot but this one seems to delve into the gaming aspects more than the others. These two characters probably have a hard time distinguishing reality from the gaming world. LOL I have to check my books to see if I can find at least a couple for you – although you have probably read them all. 🙂
I also love the fact that the book has some humour which is always a plus.
Thanks Wave! I know that some readers probably won’t get the gamer references – or why the characters play the game so much. That’s something that really only other players get, when you’re into a game so much you play it obsessively. Kelly really captured that well and makes you laugh when you recognize the behavior.
It’s a light treatment with not everything being believable but it’s definitely a fun, quick story. If you have any other gaming stories I don’t know about, would love to hear them. I’ve read a lot of Miza I. who writes fantasy/RPG shorts.
I’m not a gamer, but the title caught my eye, as did the author. Anything with a motorcycle and handcuffs on the cover sparks my interest, too. Great review, Kassa.
And really, who -wouldn’t- want to encounter Dare Vengeance all in leather, on a motorcycle with some kinky toys with him? Virtual reality or not, that’s pretty hot 😀
I know that some readers probably won’t get the gamer references – or why the characters play the game so much.
Waves hand furiously. Me, me, pick me. LOL
I really enjoy this author as a rule and I appreciated the way the book was structured, I like books that do things in a different way and having the two stories kind of run parallel but separate was an neat concept and I think worked with the story, but I really don’t get it. LOL I’ve never even played PacMan. We don’t own a gaming system in our house and I never played as a kid. So I think said to those who are avid gamers it will be a lot more interesting and “mean” something than to people like me who really don’t get the mind-set of hardcore gamers. But I appreciated the concept for a story.
Yea I think you said it well. You can certainly understand the story without being a gamer, but those who are may appreciate the sly nod more. Having played games with friends where we spend 4-5 hrs a night non-stop playing a newly released game, I can understand the mentally and obsession.
The story is a fun premise and gives enough background for anyone to understand. At the heart the story really is universal (defeat the bad guy, save the prize and win the guy in the end) but gamers will definitely get more out of it.