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Player vs Player
Pushing for change can be dangerous when change starts pushing back.
Video game writer Niles River loves the work he does at Third Wave creating games with mass appeal that feature women, people of color, and LGBTQ characters. To make his job even better, his best friend is his boss, and his twin brother works beside him. And they mostly agree that being on the forefront of social change is worth dealing with trollish vitriol—Niles is more worried about his clingy ex and their closeted intern’s crush on his brother than he is about internet harassment.
But now the bodies on the ground are no longer virtual, and someone’s started hand-delivering threats to Niles’s door. The vendetta against Third Wave has escalated, and to make matters worse, the investigating detective is an old flame who left Niles heartbroken for a life in the closet.
No change happens without pain, but can Niles justify continuing on with Third Wave when the cost is the blood of others? If he does, the last scene he writes may be his own death.
Word 74,600;; page 282
Video game writer Niles River loves the work he does at Third Wave creating games with mass appeal that feature women, people of color, and LGBTQ characters. To make his job even better, his best friend is his boss, and his twin brother works beside him. And they mostly agree that being on the forefront of social change is worth dealing with trollish vitriol—Niles is more worried about his clingy ex and their closeted intern’s crush on his brother than he is about internet harassment.
But now the bodies on the ground are no longer virtual, and someone’s started hand-delivering threats to Niles’s door. The vendetta against Third Wave has escalated, and to make matters worse, the investigating detective is an old flame who left Niles heartbroken for a life in the closet.
No change happens without pain, but can Niles justify continuing on with Third Wave when the cost is the blood of others? If he does, the last scene he writes may be his own death.
Word 74,600;; page 282
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2014
6 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Amelia C. Gormley
24books224followersAmelia C. Gormley published her first short story in the school newspaper in the 4th grade, and since then has suffered the persistent delusion that enabling other people to hear the voices in her head might be a worthwhile endeavor. She’s even convinced her hapless spouse that it could be a lucrative one as well, especially when coupled with her real-life interest in angst, kink, social justice issues, and pretty men.
When her husband and son aren’t interacting with the back of her head as she stares at the computer, they rely on her to feed them, maintain their domicile, and keep some semblance of order in their lives (all very, very bad ideas—they really should know better by now.) She can also be found playing video games and ranting on Tumblr, seeing as how she’s one of those horrid social justice warriors out to destroy free speech, gaming, geek culture, and everything else that’s fun everywhere.
You can find her self-published Impulse trilogy almost anywhere ebooks are sold, and check out her catalog of Riptide Publishing releases at their website.
(NOTE: If you are sending me a friends request just to try to promote your books to me or invite me to release events, I will unfriend and block you. I don't use GoodReads to spam people and neither should you.)
When her husband and son aren’t interacting with the back of her head as she stares at the computer, they rely on her to feed them, maintain their domicile, and keep some semblance of order in their lives (all very, very bad ideas—they really should know better by now.) She can also be found playing video games and ranting on Tumblr, seeing as how she’s one of those horrid social justice warriors out to destroy free speech, gaming, geek culture, and everything else that’s fun everywhere.
You can find her self-published Impulse trilogy almost anywhere ebooks are sold, and check out her catalog of Riptide Publishing releases at their website.
(NOTE: If you are sending me a friends request just to try to promote your books to me or invite me to release events, I will unfriend and block you. I don't use GoodReads to spam people and neither should you.)
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December 28, 2014of the presumably queer men mentioned in the blurb:
40 percent are in the closet
40 percent are related to one another
20 percent are described as "clingy"
*long, slow, calculating side-eye*
40 percent are in the closet
40 percent are related to one another
20 percent are described as "clingy"
*long, slow, calculating side-eye*
February 20, 2017
DNF at 45% and 3 stars. Yeah, I know that's weird.
I was really excited to read this book. There was going to be angst, a mystery, a hot cop, and best of all there were going to be serious discussions about issues like misogyny, racism and homophobia. And all of these things are definitely there, but I overlooked one key point: there was also going to be a whole lot of gamer stuff. Now you might shake your head and point out that the blurb, the title and the cover make it pretty clear that this is gamer-centric, but I honestly didn't think that the technical/technological aspects of the gaming industry would be so prominent. Not being a gamer myself, and having a very basic understanding of computers and technology, these parts of the book just confused me to no end.
But it was more than just the technology-talk that convinced me to DNF it. In fact, it was the relationship aspect of this book that really convinced me to put it down. The 'former lovers' theme is usually either a hit or miss for me. And unfortunately, I could see that Niles' and Tim's relationship was going down a path that I wasn't going to enjoy. It reminded me a lot of another book about re-uniting lovers that I 1-starred a couple of months ago.
And there was also the fact that there was another ex that seemed to be turning in to the psycho-ex trope, and a third potential love interest who I actually liked more than I liked Tim. There were just way too many balls up in the air (hah, balls..er, back to the review). I could tell it wasn't going to be fun for me, so I quit while I could still say that the book was "okay."
Now why did I give this an extra star? Simple: this book is political, and I loved that. 'Player vs Player' doesn't address serious issues like systemic misogyny and systemic racism in a politically correct manner. Amelia C. Gromley is upfront about her opinions on these matters; opinions that I share. She acknowledges that systemic racism is not something that can be experienced by all people (i.e. the white majority), it is a decidedly minority- and POC-experience. She acknowledges that systemic sexism does not victimize men, and opposition to feminism is simply misogyny and male chauvinism.
To sum up, the author recognized that when people call out forms of discrimination, they are not only reacting to individual incidents. Whether POC complain about racism, or women complain about sexism, or queer folks complain about homo/trans-phobia, the problem is societal. They are calling in to question a culture and systems that excuse or promote these forms of discrimination.
So that's why I gave this book an extra star. For being politically incorrect and acknowledging the truth of the society we live in. And for also giving me a lot to think about regarding sexism and racism in the gay community. I can say unequivocally that these are significant problems in the LGBQT community. Just ask lesbian women, trans men and women, or POC queers how they feel regarding these issues. More likely than not, they'll have quite a bit to say.
I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in the gaming industry, and in socio-political issues, particularly misogyny and sexism.
I was really excited to read this book. There was going to be angst, a mystery, a hot cop, and best of all there were going to be serious discussions about issues like misogyny, racism and homophobia. And all of these things are definitely there, but I overlooked one key point: there was also going to be a whole lot of gamer stuff. Now you might shake your head and point out that the blurb, the title and the cover make it pretty clear that this is gamer-centric, but I honestly didn't think that the technical/technological aspects of the gaming industry would be so prominent. Not being a gamer myself, and having a very basic understanding of computers and technology, these parts of the book just confused me to no end.
But it was more than just the technology-talk that convinced me to DNF it. In fact, it was the relationship aspect of this book that really convinced me to put it down. The 'former lovers' theme is usually either a hit or miss for me. And unfortunately, I could see that Niles' and Tim's relationship was going down a path that I wasn't going to enjoy. It reminded me a lot of another book about re-uniting lovers that I 1-starred a couple of months ago.
And there was also the fact that there was another ex that seemed to be turning in to the psycho-ex trope, and a third potential love interest who I actually liked more than I liked Tim. There were just way too many balls up in the air (hah, balls..er, back to the review). I could tell it wasn't going to be fun for me, so I quit while I could still say that the book was "okay."
Now why did I give this an extra star? Simple: this book is political, and I loved that. 'Player vs Player' doesn't address serious issues like systemic misogyny and systemic racism in a politically correct manner. Amelia C. Gromley is upfront about her opinions on these matters; opinions that I share. She acknowledges that systemic racism is not something that can be experienced by all people (i.e. the white majority), it is a decidedly minority- and POC-experience. She acknowledges that systemic sexism does not victimize men, and opposition to feminism is simply misogyny and male chauvinism.
To sum up, the author recognized that when people call out forms of discrimination, they are not only reacting to individual incidents. Whether POC complain about racism, or women complain about sexism, or queer folks complain about homo/trans-phobia, the problem is societal. They are calling in to question a culture and systems that excuse or promote these forms of discrimination.
So that's why I gave this book an extra star. For being politically incorrect and acknowledging the truth of the society we live in. And for also giving me a lot to think about regarding sexism and racism in the gay community. I can say unequivocally that these are significant problems in the LGBQT community. Just ask lesbian women, trans men and women, or POC queers how they feel regarding these issues. More likely than not, they'll have quite a bit to say.
I would recommend this book to those who have an interest in the gaming industry, and in socio-political issues, particularly misogyny and sexism.
January 28, 2015
I thought this was going to be romantic suspense with a m/m romance and that combination sounded great. It turned out to have a different focus.
The video gaming industry is front and center with a lens on discrimination practices by players and developers. The main character, Niles River, has just introduced a game that flies in the face of the stereotypes for women, people of color and LGBTQ characters. The haters come out in force spewing vitriol through social media and other outlets. When fans of the game end up dead and Niles receives threats that go beyond the typical, the police get involved, bringing in a detective from his past.
The emphasis on the gamer world and the activism for change eclipse both the mystery and the romance. I might have had a better experience if I was a player and understood anything about today's popular games. It was extremely educational and enlightening, just not what I was expecting or interested in.
It's a well written story and a tribute to those attempting to change the gaming environment. The discriminatory images are deplorable and behaviors not much better. I'm glad I read the story but wish I had had a better understanding of the subject matter.
(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review)
The video gaming industry is front and center with a lens on discrimination practices by players and developers. The main character, Niles River, has just introduced a game that flies in the face of the stereotypes for women, people of color and LGBTQ characters. The haters come out in force spewing vitriol through social media and other outlets. When fans of the game end up dead and Niles receives threats that go beyond the typical, the police get involved, bringing in a detective from his past.
The emphasis on the gamer world and the activism for change eclipse both the mystery and the romance. I might have had a better experience if I was a player and understood anything about today's popular games. It was extremely educational and enlightening, just not what I was expecting or interested in.
It's a well written story and a tribute to those attempting to change the gaming environment. The discriminatory images are deplorable and behaviors not much better. I'm glad I read the story but wish I had had a better understanding of the subject matter.
(I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review)
December 12, 2014
Update: I was contacted by author Amelia Gormley who'd read my intial review. We had the best discussion about what I considered erasure of PoC cosplayers in this book and she explained why she went the route she did in regards to the character in question and it was a very thoughtful and nuanced response. I still had my reservations and still believe that geeks of colour are woefully underrepresented, but I appreciate an author who respects their readers and who know how to behave professionally, so it was worth the read.
I just finished and really don't know what to make of it. The subject matter--inclusion by marginalized groups such as PoC, women, GLBTQ, the differently abled, online harassment and bullying--is pertinent in light of Gamergate and the Cosplay is not Consent movement. I just couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the main characters were depicted as victims, and not in a way that made them stronger in their resolutions to stand up in the face of ignorance and bigotry. It sometimes seemed that these characters raison d'etre was to be bullied and/or harassed. It was an uncomfortable feeling because I should've been rooting for the Third Wave gaming staff. I should've been rooting for the second-chance romance between Niles and Tim. I should've been more invested in the relationship between Niles and his twin brother Jordan (both of whom are gay). Instead I felt that I was reading two-hundred plus pages of indictments against gaming/geek culture, which wouldn't have been a bad thing IF I was reading sites like i09, Fangs for the Fantasy or Ars Marginal (which fairly critique geek/gamer culture while showcasing the inclusion aspects). To be fair, it was more than apparent that knows and cares a whole lot about what's been going on in this world, which for better or worse, is fallout from our society. Still, there's a fine line between skillfully weaving social critique in a fictional milieu (i.e. Octavia Butler) and being preached at.
Hence, the three stars.
So, the intial problematic paragraph:
"Niles narrowed his eyes and looked closer. To her credit, the girl in the leather hadn’t made any attempt at darkening her skin to portray Issis, who was a tall, ebony-skinned powerhouse of a mercenary in-game. The care she had taken with her outfit showed in the minute details and quality of its craftsmanship. The neckline over Issis’s not-inconsiderable rack was squared off, rather than the plunging vee the marketing dickwads at EEU had slipped past them for the promo images, and hanging from her shoulder was a bandolier of ammunition, lockpicks, and various tools of the character’s mercenary trade. “Oh, hello, looks like we have a beta participant. Lucky lady.�
My initial response:
Uh hello, there ARE Black cosplayers. There are Black FEMALE cosplayers. I see many at the numerous cons I've attended over the years. You can even Google "black cosplayers" and find numerous examples:
and
and
Ms. Gormley replied to me in a PM: Let's just say that events happen regarding this character that I felt would be problematic if I wrote them as happening to a WOC,characters already experience a disproportionate amount of violence in fiction. So while I wanted the game character, Issis Lowe, to be a character of color (confession time: Issis is largely inspired by Isabella from Dragon Age II) because having a prominent and empowered WOC character in their game is exactly the sort of thing the fictional game company would do, I didn't want the cosplayer portraying Issis to be a WOC because of subsequent events that happen to that cosplayer.
Now that I've read the book, I do understand what she meant. However, our society has always viewed violence against WoC as something unworthy of notice. Sexual assault, domestic violence and violence against WoC happens at a rate far higher than with Caucasian women, but their stories tend to be dismissed and/or erased. We know all about Trayvon Martin, but Renisha McBride's story has pretty much gone under the radar. For me, having the cosplay character be a young Black woman (despite her eventual fate) would have gone a little way to illustrate #BlackLivesMatter, especially considering the presence of Detective Angela Payne, a Black woman on the Portland police force who, along with Tim Wyatt, were the lead investigators on the case. Yes, the other cosplayer/victim, Lakshmi Agrawal was Indian, however, there are so FEW Black superheroines/gamer heroines/anime heroines, it would've been nice to give a fictional Black female someone to look up to.
Where this book does well is the diversity. Frankly, I am really disgusted with the endless whitewash in M/M romance. This is a genre that has had endless opportunities to showcase diversity in a meaningful way, yet continues to fail. Then again, perhaps the genre is merely reflecting the real-life erasure, racism, trans and bi-phobia, and misogyny in gay culture. Thankfully Ms. Gormley doesn't 'Portlandia' her cast. There are PoC, GLBTQ and characters of size. They aren't window-dresing, but fully-actualized characters who drive the action. I loved the fact that she gave Detective Payne a short Afro rathet than typically "long flowing locks that are swept into a ponytail" that sadly tends to happen in far too many books. I was definitely a fan of Rosie Candaleria, the smart and savvy CEO of the innovative and inclusive Third Wave gaming company. My only caveats with both characters is that I never truly had a sense of what they looked like. Rosie was Latina and Angela was Black. That's it.
Rosie's character tended to speak on a platform full of social justice-talk, which didn't sound realistic. Sometimes, one must call out fail as it is and not dress it up. There are some people who cannot be reasoned with. In geek/gamer spaces, there are sexist and racist asshats who don't need coddling, but need to be dragged screaming and kicking from their controllers into the 21st century. And while conventions definitely have had (continue to have) issues with harassment and assault, it has also been gratifying to see them listening and taking steps to handle these situations better, because people are being proactive and speaking out. The other problem I had with this book was that it didn't showcase the good and healthy side of gaming/geek culture. Sadly, we've allowed the neanderthals to dominate and derail the discussion, which is exactly what they want.
is a novel on a mission. It is not light-hearted or smutty M/M romance. In fact, that aspect takes a back seat to the larger narrative. I was fine with that. There was just too much going on for a novel this short. I would've liked more balance, because geek spaces can be welcoming when you find the right ones. Many marginalized geeks/gamers are staking their claims and doing so in big and positive ways.
I just finished and really don't know what to make of it. The subject matter--inclusion by marginalized groups such as PoC, women, GLBTQ, the differently abled, online harassment and bullying--is pertinent in light of Gamergate and the Cosplay is not Consent movement. I just couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the main characters were depicted as victims, and not in a way that made them stronger in their resolutions to stand up in the face of ignorance and bigotry. It sometimes seemed that these characters raison d'etre was to be bullied and/or harassed. It was an uncomfortable feeling because I should've been rooting for the Third Wave gaming staff. I should've been rooting for the second-chance romance between Niles and Tim. I should've been more invested in the relationship between Niles and his twin brother Jordan (both of whom are gay). Instead I felt that I was reading two-hundred plus pages of indictments against gaming/geek culture, which wouldn't have been a bad thing IF I was reading sites like i09, Fangs for the Fantasy or Ars Marginal (which fairly critique geek/gamer culture while showcasing the inclusion aspects). To be fair, it was more than apparent that knows and cares a whole lot about what's been going on in this world, which for better or worse, is fallout from our society. Still, there's a fine line between skillfully weaving social critique in a fictional milieu (i.e. Octavia Butler) and being preached at.
Hence, the three stars.
So, the intial problematic paragraph:
"Niles narrowed his eyes and looked closer. To her credit, the girl in the leather hadn’t made any attempt at darkening her skin to portray Issis, who was a tall, ebony-skinned powerhouse of a mercenary in-game. The care she had taken with her outfit showed in the minute details and quality of its craftsmanship. The neckline over Issis’s not-inconsiderable rack was squared off, rather than the plunging vee the marketing dickwads at EEU had slipped past them for the promo images, and hanging from her shoulder was a bandolier of ammunition, lockpicks, and various tools of the character’s mercenary trade. “Oh, hello, looks like we have a beta participant. Lucky lady.�
My initial response:
Uh hello, there ARE Black cosplayers. There are Black FEMALE cosplayers. I see many at the numerous cons I've attended over the years. You can even Google "black cosplayers" and find numerous examples:
and
and
Ms. Gormley replied to me in a PM: Let's just say that events happen regarding this character that I felt would be problematic if I wrote them as happening to a WOC,characters already experience a disproportionate amount of violence in fiction. So while I wanted the game character, Issis Lowe, to be a character of color (confession time: Issis is largely inspired by Isabella from Dragon Age II) because having a prominent and empowered WOC character in their game is exactly the sort of thing the fictional game company would do, I didn't want the cosplayer portraying Issis to be a WOC because of subsequent events that happen to that cosplayer.
Now that I've read the book, I do understand what she meant. However, our society has always viewed violence against WoC as something unworthy of notice. Sexual assault, domestic violence and violence against WoC happens at a rate far higher than with Caucasian women, but their stories tend to be dismissed and/or erased. We know all about Trayvon Martin, but Renisha McBride's story has pretty much gone under the radar. For me, having the cosplay character be a young Black woman (despite her eventual fate) would have gone a little way to illustrate #BlackLivesMatter, especially considering the presence of Detective Angela Payne, a Black woman on the Portland police force who, along with Tim Wyatt, were the lead investigators on the case. Yes, the other cosplayer/victim, Lakshmi Agrawal was Indian, however, there are so FEW Black superheroines/gamer heroines/anime heroines, it would've been nice to give a fictional Black female someone to look up to.
Where this book does well is the diversity. Frankly, I am really disgusted with the endless whitewash in M/M romance. This is a genre that has had endless opportunities to showcase diversity in a meaningful way, yet continues to fail. Then again, perhaps the genre is merely reflecting the real-life erasure, racism, trans and bi-phobia, and misogyny in gay culture. Thankfully Ms. Gormley doesn't 'Portlandia' her cast. There are PoC, GLBTQ and characters of size. They aren't window-dresing, but fully-actualized characters who drive the action. I loved the fact that she gave Detective Payne a short Afro rathet than typically "long flowing locks that are swept into a ponytail" that sadly tends to happen in far too many books. I was definitely a fan of Rosie Candaleria, the smart and savvy CEO of the innovative and inclusive Third Wave gaming company. My only caveats with both characters is that I never truly had a sense of what they looked like. Rosie was Latina and Angela was Black. That's it.
Rosie's character tended to speak on a platform full of social justice-talk, which didn't sound realistic. Sometimes, one must call out fail as it is and not dress it up. There are some people who cannot be reasoned with. In geek/gamer spaces, there are sexist and racist asshats who don't need coddling, but need to be dragged screaming and kicking from their controllers into the 21st century. And while conventions definitely have had (continue to have) issues with harassment and assault, it has also been gratifying to see them listening and taking steps to handle these situations better, because people are being proactive and speaking out. The other problem I had with this book was that it didn't showcase the good and healthy side of gaming/geek culture. Sadly, we've allowed the neanderthals to dominate and derail the discussion, which is exactly what they want.
is a novel on a mission. It is not light-hearted or smutty M/M romance. In fact, that aspect takes a back seat to the larger narrative. I was fine with that. There was just too much going on for a novel this short. I would've liked more balance, because geek spaces can be welcoming when you find the right ones. Many marginalized geeks/gamers are staking their claims and doing so in big and positive ways.
December 8, 2014
Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod. I LOVE Amelia C. Gormley’s brain! Niles River and his twin brother Jordan River work together at Third Wave Studios, where they create first person player video games. Stop for a moment and re-read the first eight words of the previous sentence. I’ll wait. I KNOW, right? The twins were conceived while their parents, volunteering for Doctors Without Borders were volunteering and they believed the babies should me named to commemorate the trip on which they were conceived.
Third Wave is owned by a Latina woman (who is also Niles’s best friend) whose mission is to make games more representative of the changing face of society. Until now gamers have been mostly white cis heterosexual men. Anyone who didn’t fit into that mold was shunned, bullied or worse. So if a woman or a gay man wanted to play in the interactive games, she or he needed to pretend to be something they weren’t. Rosie’s goal is to include characters in her games that are strong, independent women, gay men involved in relationships, as well as people with brown and black and yellow skin. While playing the games, the player character makes different choices which determine where they game will take them and the characters created by Third Wave.
Suffice to say that Third Wave has had more than its share of hate mail and threats of violence, rape, and even death. When at a con, Niles and Rosie witness the physical harassment the cosplayers dressed as some of their more controversial characters suffer. It makes them both sick to think that they play even a small part in the suffering these people are going through. It also makes them more determined than ever to make their games as inclusive as possible.
While the Third Wave team is used to on-line and e-mail harassment, a line is crossed when a threatening letter is hand-delivered to Niles’s house. When Rosie & Jordan convince him to take the letter to the police, the detective he ends up with is his closeted college lover; Tim Wyatt, who broke his heart ten years ago and whom he hasn’t seen since. Once Tim sees the letter and the texts on Niles’s personal cell phone, he decides to open a case.
Soon, the Homicides that Tim and his partner are working take them to the offices of Third Wave and it becomes apparent that someone or a group of people is acting out the worst-case scenarios of the game. The terrible end that would come to the Third Wave characters if the player character made all the wrong choices throughout the game. In order to know what these outcomes are, the murderer has to have access to inside information about parts of the game that haven’t been released yet.
Player vs Player is a love story, wrapped in a murder mystery, wrapped in a social statement. Ms. Gormley has written another masterpiece. The range she shows from one book to the next is just awesome. Her in depth knowledge of gaming and police procedure show a dedication to in-depth research before writing, and personal political and social beliefs are intelligently and clearly stated as those held by Rosie. All this comes together while she takes the reader on a curvy, twisty thrill-ride that has everything you could want: hot cops, geeks, twins with that telepathy thing they do, a hot lesbian (?) Latina boss, smart, witty dialogue, and a surprise around every corner. This is a really well written and intelligent book. I freakin� loved it. Just don’t start it unless you have all day, ‘cause it kept me up until three a.m.
Third Wave is owned by a Latina woman (who is also Niles’s best friend) whose mission is to make games more representative of the changing face of society. Until now gamers have been mostly white cis heterosexual men. Anyone who didn’t fit into that mold was shunned, bullied or worse. So if a woman or a gay man wanted to play in the interactive games, she or he needed to pretend to be something they weren’t. Rosie’s goal is to include characters in her games that are strong, independent women, gay men involved in relationships, as well as people with brown and black and yellow skin. While playing the games, the player character makes different choices which determine where they game will take them and the characters created by Third Wave.
Suffice to say that Third Wave has had more than its share of hate mail and threats of violence, rape, and even death. When at a con, Niles and Rosie witness the physical harassment the cosplayers dressed as some of their more controversial characters suffer. It makes them both sick to think that they play even a small part in the suffering these people are going through. It also makes them more determined than ever to make their games as inclusive as possible.
While the Third Wave team is used to on-line and e-mail harassment, a line is crossed when a threatening letter is hand-delivered to Niles’s house. When Rosie & Jordan convince him to take the letter to the police, the detective he ends up with is his closeted college lover; Tim Wyatt, who broke his heart ten years ago and whom he hasn’t seen since. Once Tim sees the letter and the texts on Niles’s personal cell phone, he decides to open a case.
Soon, the Homicides that Tim and his partner are working take them to the offices of Third Wave and it becomes apparent that someone or a group of people is acting out the worst-case scenarios of the game. The terrible end that would come to the Third Wave characters if the player character made all the wrong choices throughout the game. In order to know what these outcomes are, the murderer has to have access to inside information about parts of the game that haven’t been released yet.
Player vs Player is a love story, wrapped in a murder mystery, wrapped in a social statement. Ms. Gormley has written another masterpiece. The range she shows from one book to the next is just awesome. Her in depth knowledge of gaming and police procedure show a dedication to in-depth research before writing, and personal political and social beliefs are intelligently and clearly stated as those held by Rosie. All this comes together while she takes the reader on a curvy, twisty thrill-ride that has everything you could want: hot cops, geeks, twins with that telepathy thing they do, a hot lesbian (?) Latina boss, smart, witty dialogue, and a surprise around every corner. This is a really well written and intelligent book. I freakin� loved it. Just don’t start it unless you have all day, ‘cause it kept me up until three a.m.
Read
December 12, 2014Gamer vs Reader
I am a gamer and a reader and I am struggling with how to rate this book.
As a gamer I approve that this is even done.
I think 2014. was the year when lack of diversity in video games issue generated the highest number of discussions, essays, creative pieces and initiatives in media. It's not a problem tickled just recently, but Anita Sarkeesian and GG clusterfuck definitely made it mainstream and Colbert..well, he just sealed the deal.
Reader in me found this book...shoddy.
I didn't like romance.
Mystery was interesting...if a bit predictable.
But I absolutely dislike what she's done with characters.
Characters were so one-dimensional it's not even funny.It's like the only thing that was important about them was that they are queer. No, wait.. Jordan was also very protective of his younger brother, and that's it. They were just written here to be harassed and that's why them being queer or woman was important. -__- I will go so far to assume they were simply there to act as proverbial soapbox, so Gormley can say everything that's on her mind about this:
“Guys groping women, calling everyone fags and bitches, trying to push women around. Was I just too young and ignorant to notice, or has it actually gotten worse?�
“I’m not sure. I think maybe the attitude was always there, but that internet culture and the anonymity it affords have amplified everything. Lack of accountability has given those sorts of people the idea that it’s okay to behave that way, so they maybe don’t have the filters they used to?�
Well, it gets especially vitriolic when a woman makes a specific goal public, particularly one that threatens the maleprivileged status quo. There’s nothing they won’t sink to in order to shut up a woman shining a spotlight in the dark and creepy corners of the genre.
“Predictably, this means a lot of cis-het male gamers-who are used to being considered the only audience that matters in gaming culture—are interpreting this as a frontal assault on the bastion of their privilege.
And you know what's funny? This was supposed to be about me as well. I am supposed to identify with characters because that's how reading and gaming works- hence the need for diversity. But ...this book? I don't feel it's about me. Or you. Or Anita Sarkeesian. It's about ACG.
But this is about a story I found lacking in so many ways. And not having fun as reader.
Showing what's wrong about sexism and misogyny? Nothing wrong about it.
For that I am thankful to ACG.
In these days, when one negative comment about black Stormtrooper makes me feel like humanity just retracted two steps back... every author who puts a romance story with diverse characters out there, brings it back to balance. Fate in humanity restored.
ETA: TheFountainPenDiva wrote excellent review on this.
December 16, 2014
Interesting characters, though I was suspicious of everyone, but that's just my nature. I don't really know much about the topic, but I wanted to see where the story went and how things were resolved. I wish there hadn't been quite so much death and the hate mail..ugh...terrible.
I appreciate Rosie and Niles's dedication, but there were a few times when I felt I was being more than just lectured to.
I wish there had been a little more emotionally development in our romance. I don't mind when the romance isn't at the forefront of the novel, but *shrugs* it would have been nice to just feel a little bit deeper connection between the two.
I did like Niles, but I think Jordan really tagged him when he was talking about his being too trusting, and while I understood Niles being frustrated when people were being hurt and he felt that he just knew people well enough to know whether they were dangerous...that was...just the kind of naivete that makes me want to shake someone.
I liked that we get to see from other perspectives as well. Rosie, Tim, Jordan.
There was a lot to be bothered about in this book, so much hate and people that were just emotionally unhinged.
I would read more from this author.
Would recommend to fans of the genre.
I appreciate Rosie and Niles's dedication, but there were a few times when I felt I was being more than just lectured to.
I wish there had been a little more emotionally development in our romance. I don't mind when the romance isn't at the forefront of the novel, but *shrugs* it would have been nice to just feel a little bit deeper connection between the two.
I did like Niles, but I think Jordan really tagged him when he was talking about his being too trusting, and while I understood Niles being frustrated when people were being hurt and he felt that he just knew people well enough to know whether they were dangerous...that was...just the kind of naivete that makes me want to shake someone.
I liked that we get to see from other perspectives as well. Rosie, Tim, Jordan.
There was a lot to be bothered about in this book, so much hate and people that were just emotionally unhinged.
I would read more from this author.
Would recommend to fans of the genre.
December 16, 2014
2.5 stars.
Well, this book was a downer.
It was stressful to read, it tackled too many issues..it made my head spin. The game-talk, the mystery, and the rather heavy focus on bullying/homophobia/misogyny/racism - all made for a dry and rather depressing read. Kudos to the author for being so passionate about all those socio-political problems, but the was it was expressed in the book was heavy-handed and preachy. To top it all, the romance plot-line was so thin it was practically non-existent. Tim and Niles had had a relationship in the past, but we get only the bare bones of their history. As for the present, they have just a few scenes together in the whole book. I didn't feel the attraction, the chemistry, and most certainly not the love. It didn't help that the sex scenes were fade-to-black.
The two upsides to the book were Rosie with her magnificent speeches, and the relationship Niles had with his twin brother Jordan. You could just feel how deeply those two cared for each other.. I really liked Jordie..I'd definitely read his story.
As for Niles - I didn't care for the guy at all. He was bland, hopelessly naive - almost TSTL, and at times a real douche. The same for Tim, who was a total cliché and lacked personality.
So, overall, this was disappointing. I expected more of the author..I loved her . But the only time I could believe it was the same author was the hawt makeout scene in the very end, which, alas, was just a cruel tease.
**ARC received from Riptide Publishing via NetGalley.**
Well, this book was a downer.
It was stressful to read, it tackled too many issues..it made my head spin. The game-talk, the mystery, and the rather heavy focus on bullying/homophobia/misogyny/racism - all made for a dry and rather depressing read. Kudos to the author for being so passionate about all those socio-political problems, but the was it was expressed in the book was heavy-handed and preachy. To top it all, the romance plot-line was so thin it was practically non-existent. Tim and Niles had had a relationship in the past, but we get only the bare bones of their history. As for the present, they have just a few scenes together in the whole book. I didn't feel the attraction, the chemistry, and most certainly not the love. It didn't help that the sex scenes were fade-to-black.
The two upsides to the book were Rosie with her magnificent speeches, and the relationship Niles had with his twin brother Jordan. You could just feel how deeply those two cared for each other.. I really liked Jordie..I'd definitely read his story.
As for Niles - I didn't care for the guy at all. He was bland, hopelessly naive - almost TSTL, and at times a real douche. The same for Tim, who was a total cliché and lacked personality.
So, overall, this was disappointing. I expected more of the author..I loved her . But the only time I could believe it was the same author was the hawt makeout scene in the very end, which, alas, was just a cruel tease.
**ARC received from Riptide Publishing via NetGalley.**
December 31, 2014
As I started reading, I had that settling in feeling I usually get from Gormley’s writing. It feels like an invitation to engage no matter the setting or subject matter.
I’m not a gamer, don’t do cosplay, and the last time I was really into comics, it was all about Star Wars and GI Joe. In other words, the detail about the world of gaming was sufficient without reaching a level at which I couldn’t understand what was going on. Context was used well in making that possible. Fair warning, though, there is gamer speak.
This starts off a little heavy handed (and highly relevant), even flirting with crossing the line into overly politically correct. Then I felt that click during a convo between a group of the characters and I got hooked in, curiosity poked.
Some of that curiosity is swiftly doused, however, as this story occasionally suffers from a case of the too obvious. Some of these characters have known each other a long time. This should lend itself to the less obvious but instead I felt like not much was left unsaid or explained. This is especially true when presenting a story through multiple points of view, which this does. It all interfered with me getting to know and therefore invest in these characters � there wasn’t anything on which for me to spend my literary currency, it was handed to me freely. The journalistic style used in some of the dialogue read more like a presentation than two or more people conversing. It made it more difficult to feel the emotion and individual humanity of the characters.
Speaking of which, I love the realistic hodgepodge of characters in this story. Just like life, you’ve got the literal rainbow of all types, sizes and flavors represented, and very well, at that. I know and have known people just like all of them.
There is emotion, though � I don’t think it’s possible for Gormley to not make me feel things.
”Quiet and shy doesn’t mean spineless."
That belongs in the no truer words spoken category. There are other truths throughout this story, truths from which many of us are trying so hard to make, not just visible but, a safer, equal and more loving reality for everyone.
This leads to my next thought: the mystery and social commentary (on gender, misogyny, race, etc., and how they’re all a part of the gaming world) tussled for top dog status all throughout this book. The mystery was obvious in some aspects while decently vague and cloudy in others. I will say that this does portray without a doubt the frightening randomness of crime, the personal nature of hate crime, and all of the horrible havoc it can cause, often blindsiding everyone involved. For me, this was also one of the difficulties of this story, those warring factions, leaving neither of them with complete attention and focus given.
This is a good story, a unique and important story, one that will open doors for more exploration of the topics and ideas within. I just wish it had gripped me thoroughly, without a chance of letting go.
This feels like an obvious statement piece. I agree with the statements, and think about and discuss them with friends. As a cis het woman, one of these statements shone a light so bright, I was naked beneath it as it held court on the way we are expected to accept many behaviors from misogynistic people in this society:
”In hundreds of little ways, it tells him that he’s right and she was unreasonable.�
Exactly.
This isn’t a romance but more of a depiction of regular folk who are passionate about their ideas and professions, have pasts and demons to deal with, a couple of small twists, murder, and how it all impacts the future and possibility for second chances for some of these characters. Gormley’s writing is confident, with good form and natural rhythm.
This is enjoyable as a social commentary, merely ok as the reading of a piece of fiction. I’m glad I did read it, and I do think it’s important and that anyone who comes across it should also take the time to do the same.
April 1, 2015
Let me start with: Player vs Player is not a romance novel. There is some romance, but it's a tiny part of the story.
This is first and foremost a great and suspenseful LGBTQ mystery/thriller about some intriguing poltical topics.
I'm a huge geek. Naturally I also enjoy videogames (though I barely have the time to actually play anymore). And the gaming subculture - as the Gamergate controvery last year showed - is still plagued by misogynie, homophobia and racist tendencies.
Try entering an online-gaming community as an openly queer person and you will get loads of abuse for it.
This basic premise is used by Gormley to spin a well-crafted mystery around an inclusive videogame company that strifes for diversity in it's games - the parallels to BioWare are quite obvious and even mentioned once.
People around the protagonist start getting killed in a manner inspired by his game, and soon he and his colleagues, friends and his brother are all targets.
Apart from the topic - which immediatly drew me to this novel, just from reading the blurb - I most of all loved, that being gay/lesbian/trans/queer is not the dominant attribute of the characters. Instead it's one of the refreshing stories that are told from the perspective of a LGBTQ-person, but the story itself is not about their orientiation/identity.
There are some romantic entanglements and they worked well. But if you are looking for long and detailed erotic content, you are going to be very disappointed.
If you are looking for a really good queer mystery though, you are probably going to enjoy it.
Player vs Player is a well-written, smart and suspenseful thriller that I couldn't put down. Gaymers and queer geeks will probably enjoy it as much as I did, but if you are really not interested in videogames, gaming-culture or representation in media, you should probably skip it.
I personally loved it!
This is first and foremost a great and suspenseful LGBTQ mystery/thriller about some intriguing poltical topics.
I'm a huge geek. Naturally I also enjoy videogames (though I barely have the time to actually play anymore). And the gaming subculture - as the Gamergate controvery last year showed - is still plagued by misogynie, homophobia and racist tendencies.
Try entering an online-gaming community as an openly queer person and you will get loads of abuse for it.
This basic premise is used by Gormley to spin a well-crafted mystery around an inclusive videogame company that strifes for diversity in it's games - the parallels to BioWare are quite obvious and even mentioned once.
People around the protagonist start getting killed in a manner inspired by his game, and soon he and his colleagues, friends and his brother are all targets.
Apart from the topic - which immediatly drew me to this novel, just from reading the blurb - I most of all loved, that being gay/lesbian/trans/queer is not the dominant attribute of the characters. Instead it's one of the refreshing stories that are told from the perspective of a LGBTQ-person, but the story itself is not about their orientiation/identity.
There are some romantic entanglements and they worked well. But if you are looking for long and detailed erotic content, you are going to be very disappointed.
If you are looking for a really good queer mystery though, you are probably going to enjoy it.
Player vs Player is a well-written, smart and suspenseful thriller that I couldn't put down. Gaymers and queer geeks will probably enjoy it as much as I did, but if you are really not interested in videogames, gaming-culture or representation in media, you should probably skip it.
I personally loved it!
October 15, 2020
***3.5 stars***
November 4, 2014
I want to start off by pointing out that this book deals heavily on bullying—both cyber and otherwise. It is ugly; there’s no way to tone it down. And that’s exactly how the author handled it.
It is timely. This year has been an important year for an important issue in the bookish community, namely, Diversity in Literature. In the book, the main characters are harassed left right center for pushing social change in the form of non-sexualized women, queer and people-of-color characters in video games. I don’t actually live under a rock—which is pretty obvious since I blog—I’ve seen how haters hate on the internet. With its curtain of anonymity, these people have no filter and will go to any lengths to hurt and debase others. It is disheartening and, in some terrible cases, unfathomable but it IS happening and I laud Gormley for writing about it in a very realistic approach if painfully so.
Also, the suspense spectrum is commanding. I grew tense in a variety of scenes and felt compelled to know what happens next.
As for the characters, I’ve a mixed view. Niles is not a strong protagonist—physical force is besides the point—and I’m not quite sure if Jordie isn’t either, though both are relatable. But I like the relationship between the twins. Rosie, on the other hand, is badass with a capital B. One of her dialogues is at once passionate and moving it is enough a statement on Diversity in Literature, no scratch that, Society. But the one that stood out for me is the intern Patrick. He’s complex and his story arc so twisted.
The only trouble I had was with the voices. For many instances, I’d had to do a double take to figure out who’s talking. But it was an inconvenience I was willing to overlook.
It is timely. This year has been an important year for an important issue in the bookish community, namely, Diversity in Literature. In the book, the main characters are harassed left right center for pushing social change in the form of non-sexualized women, queer and people-of-color characters in video games. I don’t actually live under a rock—which is pretty obvious since I blog—I’ve seen how haters hate on the internet. With its curtain of anonymity, these people have no filter and will go to any lengths to hurt and debase others. It is disheartening and, in some terrible cases, unfathomable but it IS happening and I laud Gormley for writing about it in a very realistic approach if painfully so.
Also, the suspense spectrum is commanding. I grew tense in a variety of scenes and felt compelled to know what happens next.
As for the characters, I’ve a mixed view. Niles is not a strong protagonist—physical force is besides the point—and I’m not quite sure if Jordie isn’t either, though both are relatable. But I like the relationship between the twins. Rosie, on the other hand, is badass with a capital B. One of her dialogues is at once passionate and moving it is enough a statement on Diversity in Literature, no scratch that, Society. But the one that stood out for me is the intern Patrick. He’s complex and his story arc so twisted.
The only trouble I had was with the voices. For many instances, I’d had to do a double take to figure out who’s talking. But it was an inconvenience I was willing to overlook.
December 7, 2014
This was an interesting read, it's about time I got to read something which dealt with the white het-cis male gamer crap. Most of my friends are white het-cis male gamers and while they don't act like the dicks in this book, often they can't understand the difference between people bullying them while gaming and having people casually threaten to rape you for expressing an opinion which makes them certain you are either a "girl" or a "fag". I like that now I feel I have some better ways to explain it to them.
On the romance side of the story I felt there could have been a little more development. It wasn't that it was bad per say, but rather that it didn't overly wow me. I love reading non-romance books with LGBT characters, but when it comes to love interests in these books I prefer them to work on a slow burn approach.
On the romance side of the story I felt there could have been a little more development. It wasn't that it was bad per say, but rather that it didn't overly wow me. I love reading non-romance books with LGBT characters, but when it comes to love interests in these books I prefer them to work on a slow burn approach.
November 4, 2014
This book is well worth a read for the truth it states. Props to the author for writing about the issues.
December 7, 2014
Niles River is a Video Game Designer with a vision to create more diverse games that don’t put woman, gays or people of color into a tiny, one sided view box. While he and his twin brother are happy to bring this new face to the gaming world, they are also aware there are people out there that won’t be happy about their approach. Niles and Jordie have to deal with bullying, cyber bullying, a not so open crush and an ex-boyfriend that didn’t get the memo on the ex part.
While Niles is passionate about his work and following through with his vision, can he justify his cause when people are dying as a result of the changes he is trying to make. Somewhere in the middle of all the madness and mayhem, Niles gets a second chance with the one that got away. But will he survive the insanity and actually get that chance?
This was a suspenseful and powerful story. Bullying, cyber bullying, hate and vengeance are a norm of society today, sadly. And if there is one thing that Gormley does well it is take real life situations and circumstance that are twisted and hateful and write about them realistically, yet tastefully. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this entire story, wondering what lurked around the next corner and who would drop next.
Loved the way the relationship between the twin brothers was written, and that almost juicy little tidbit at the end, that was just mean to dangle that carrot and then jerk it away. How rude! And anyone that follows my reviews knows I do LOVE me a bitch on wheels, enter Rosie. Strong, fierce and she ain’t taking no shit off of nobody, I just loved her! It wouldn’t be a true Gormley novel without at least one twisted SOB though, now would It? I give you Patrick.
My only issue here was the conversations and back and forth between characters. I got lost a few times and had to go back to be sure I was hearing the correct voice in the story. Aside from that I was just completely engrossed in this story and was seriously upset when I reached the end, I wasn’t ready for it to be over.
The subject matter is series and the content is definitely not for the faint of heart, but the story is so well written and conveyed that I have to tell you this one is a must read. If you like strong characters and storylines steeped in reality from an Author that is not afraid to tackle the darkness of our world and society today, this one is a must read I assure you.
* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review through *
While Niles is passionate about his work and following through with his vision, can he justify his cause when people are dying as a result of the changes he is trying to make. Somewhere in the middle of all the madness and mayhem, Niles gets a second chance with the one that got away. But will he survive the insanity and actually get that chance?
This was a suspenseful and powerful story. Bullying, cyber bullying, hate and vengeance are a norm of society today, sadly. And if there is one thing that Gormley does well it is take real life situations and circumstance that are twisted and hateful and write about them realistically, yet tastefully. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this entire story, wondering what lurked around the next corner and who would drop next.
Loved the way the relationship between the twin brothers was written, and that almost juicy little tidbit at the end, that was just mean to dangle that carrot and then jerk it away. How rude! And anyone that follows my reviews knows I do LOVE me a bitch on wheels, enter Rosie. Strong, fierce and she ain’t taking no shit off of nobody, I just loved her! It wouldn’t be a true Gormley novel without at least one twisted SOB though, now would It? I give you Patrick.
My only issue here was the conversations and back and forth between characters. I got lost a few times and had to go back to be sure I was hearing the correct voice in the story. Aside from that I was just completely engrossed in this story and was seriously upset when I reached the end, I wasn’t ready for it to be over.
The subject matter is series and the content is definitely not for the faint of heart, but the story is so well written and conveyed that I have to tell you this one is a must read. If you like strong characters and storylines steeped in reality from an Author that is not afraid to tackle the darkness of our world and society today, this one is a must read I assure you.
* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review through *
September 2, 2015
I'm still a bit split about this book and this pretty much reflects how I feel about every aspect of it. I was really looking forward to reading this and enjoyed the sample - but when I began to read it in full, I wasn't massively keen on the first half of the book. It was a bit take-it-or-leave-it, but the second half picked up the pace and then some. Whilst I truly applaud the author in bringing to light the issues of societal inequity which was done in a very non-pushy way, it felt like there were too many assumptions made about the level of gaming knowledge of the reader, which is what led to me not enjoying the first half so much. I was constantly googling the acronyms used just so I knew what the characters were talking about, and in some places it was a tad too disruptive to my reading flow.
So, if you can accept that you may need to brush up on your doc, cosplayer, poc, pc, npc, aov, leet.... acronyms and can stick it to the second half, then you're in for a treat of a book that's as informative as it is entertaining as it is eye-opening about the way different sectors of society are viewed and treated. A good 4 star read overall: first half 3, second half 4, overall take in the genre/theme 5.
So, if you can accept that you may need to brush up on your doc, cosplayer, poc, pc, npc, aov, leet.... acronyms and can stick it to the second half, then you're in for a treat of a book that's as informative as it is entertaining as it is eye-opening about the way different sectors of society are viewed and treated. A good 4 star read overall: first half 3, second half 4, overall take in the genre/theme 5.
December 15, 2014
My experience in the gaming world is about six years out of date, but even back then, there was an overwhelming 'white maleness' of the culture. If you weren't one of these privileged elites, you were sidelined, mocked, and told to go play Bejeweled and leave the real games to real gamers. Both years I attended E3, a major gaming convention, I was overwhelmed by half-naked booth babes, beefy white male gaming avatars, and an absolute lack of diversity and acceptance.
Fast-forward six years, and I have little difficulty believing the accuracy of the harsh, even brutal world Gormley describes here.
Player vs. Player is well-written, with engaging characters and a clear, fun plot. I especially liked that Gormley didn't take the 'obvious' route on some of the plot twists, and I was pleasantly surprised by the end whodunit reveal.
At times, the book felt a little preachy, but not enough to interfere with the plot. Better preachy than glossing over the ugly truth of racism, homophobia, and intolerance.
I definitely recommend this book. Four stars for most readers, five for those of us in the video gaming world.
Fast-forward six years, and I have little difficulty believing the accuracy of the harsh, even brutal world Gormley describes here.
Player vs. Player is well-written, with engaging characters and a clear, fun plot. I especially liked that Gormley didn't take the 'obvious' route on some of the plot twists, and I was pleasantly surprised by the end whodunit reveal.
At times, the book felt a little preachy, but not enough to interfere with the plot. Better preachy than glossing over the ugly truth of racism, homophobia, and intolerance.
I definitely recommend this book. Four stars for most readers, five for those of us in the video gaming world.
December 10, 2014
Well written mystery not a romance.
This is a ripped from the headlines mystery. I'm not a gamer but my daughter is. I have read a lot about gamergate because of that. What I've read has shocked and worried me. This is a subject the author obviously feels passionate about and was inspired by. I know some readers of her other work will expect certain things in this book and be disappointed but I liked it.
This is a ripped from the headlines mystery. I'm not a gamer but my daughter is. I have read a lot about gamergate because of that. What I've read has shocked and worried me. This is a subject the author obviously feels passionate about and was inspired by. I know some readers of her other work will expect certain things in this book and be disappointed but I liked it.
October 19, 2014
I was able to buy this at GRL yesterday. Read it in one sitting. Omg! It is excellent. Heart wrenching and scary in its realism. Adored all the main characters. And the resolution was thoroughly satisfying.
December 24, 2017
Good plot in between lectures.
December 15, 2014
Best gaming-related book I have ever read, but not an easy one as it was inspired by real hate acts against females in the gaming industry.
December 22, 2014
5 star rview by Vicki
Wow. This is how you write a complex plot!
This book centers around a video game company called Third Wave that focuses on creating games that include characters who are generally NOT included in mainstream gaming. People of color, women, and LGBTQ characters. The company is owned by Rosena (Rosie), a woman who falls in to several of those catagories herself. Twin brothers Niles and Jordan Rivers work for Rosie, Niles writing storylines and Jordan in marketing. The gaming industry is very white male dominated, and Rosie and Niles are trying to fight from the inside, by giving reasonable, responsible storylines to characters who don’t fit the norm. They have been subjected to repeated threatening messages, Rosie has been forced to move from her house in to a condo when her home address was revealed, and there are protests outside of the company. These threats are coming from gamers who don’t like having their “perfect� games ruined by female or gay characters and players, as well as protests from relegious groups accusing Third Wave of pushing a gay agenda.
I am having such a hard time writing anything about this plot without giving it all away! Geez� why is this so hard?
Niles and Rosie live with this hate and negativity, knowing that it is all online vitriol, and no one would really make it physical. Until it starts to happen. Niles receives a threatening letter at his home, and Jordan and Rosie encourage him to go to the police, just in case. He does, and runs in to his college boyfriend, outside the police station. Tim Wyatt was the man that broke Niles� heart in college, refusing to come out of the closet, returning to his home town to get married, ten years ago. Niles has long since moved on, but is quite surprised to see Tim. They go to lunch, and talk about what is happening with Niles and Rosie and their issues. Tim assures Niles that it’s probably nothing, but files a police report to make sure. Of course it does turn out to be something, and we get a very nasty plot�
So we follow two sides of this story, looking down from above, knowing what the other side doesn’t know. We see Niles, Rosie, and Jordan as they struggle to understand what is happening to their world. We see Tim and his partner Angela, as they try to determine why two woman dressed in weird costumes have been killed. We see things go wrong, we see them miss obvious things, we see the threat from afar and can’t help. We also see them all making the connections and gettig it all together, but not always in time. I thought I knew who the bad guy was, then I was sure it was someone else, then back again. I loved it, it was a very unique and interesting plot, I learned something bad about the world, I have to say. I knew this was an issue in gaming, but not to this extreme.
As this is a romance, you can guess that Niles and Tim reconnect after ten years apart. I really liked them together as a couple, and as individuals. Niles is almost niave, or innocent, or� I can’t get the right word. Idealistic maybe works better. He wants so bad to change the world, and is so surprised when he can’t. Tim wants to protect Niles from the big bad world, but can’t. I liked that he isn’t the knight in shining armor, he tries to be, but isn’t actually there at the critical moments. I don’t want to say how the confrontations played out, but it was perfect. So they connect, they work well together, they have great sex, and we get a happy ending. Their story was great.
There are lots of other characters in this book that enhanced the story. Niles and Jordan are very tightly bound twins, Jordan denying any mental or emotional connection, yet it is there, we see it. I loved Jordan on his own, he is so caring of his brother, and Rosie as well. I wanted to see some happiness for him, he seems lonely. Rosie was just bad-ass. I loved her too! Shes strong, stubborn, and smart. There were moments with her that worked so well, her and Niles, also with Jordan. The three are so closely tied together with this company. Tim’s partner Angela was cool, and her friendship that developes with Rosie. Rosie’s friend/attorney/former lover whose name I can’t remember (dammit!) was a nice little addition. The game that plays such a big part had characters, and the girls that paid too high of a price. Patrick the intern who just wanted to be liked. Anthony the creepy stalker exboyfriend of Niles had his place as well. Daniel, a reporter that Niles connects with, I really liked him. Anyway, lots of additional characters that rounded out the plot beautifully.
I was concerned starting it that since I am not a gamer at all, I would be lost in the acronyms and lingo, but for the most part I was fine. It’s not a world I live in, but I understand the passion it engenders, both love and hate.
This is a very good book. The plot, the details, the characters, the bad shit, the love, it just all worked so well! It was dark at times but that only made the good parts better. I’ve read a few books by Amelia C. Gormley, and I’ve liked them just fine, but this one was fantastic. Well written, well researched, a very detailed plot, deep and developed characters, and a perfect ending.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
Wow. This is how you write a complex plot!
This book centers around a video game company called Third Wave that focuses on creating games that include characters who are generally NOT included in mainstream gaming. People of color, women, and LGBTQ characters. The company is owned by Rosena (Rosie), a woman who falls in to several of those catagories herself. Twin brothers Niles and Jordan Rivers work for Rosie, Niles writing storylines and Jordan in marketing. The gaming industry is very white male dominated, and Rosie and Niles are trying to fight from the inside, by giving reasonable, responsible storylines to characters who don’t fit the norm. They have been subjected to repeated threatening messages, Rosie has been forced to move from her house in to a condo when her home address was revealed, and there are protests outside of the company. These threats are coming from gamers who don’t like having their “perfect� games ruined by female or gay characters and players, as well as protests from relegious groups accusing Third Wave of pushing a gay agenda.
I am having such a hard time writing anything about this plot without giving it all away! Geez� why is this so hard?
Niles and Rosie live with this hate and negativity, knowing that it is all online vitriol, and no one would really make it physical. Until it starts to happen. Niles receives a threatening letter at his home, and Jordan and Rosie encourage him to go to the police, just in case. He does, and runs in to his college boyfriend, outside the police station. Tim Wyatt was the man that broke Niles� heart in college, refusing to come out of the closet, returning to his home town to get married, ten years ago. Niles has long since moved on, but is quite surprised to see Tim. They go to lunch, and talk about what is happening with Niles and Rosie and their issues. Tim assures Niles that it’s probably nothing, but files a police report to make sure. Of course it does turn out to be something, and we get a very nasty plot�
So we follow two sides of this story, looking down from above, knowing what the other side doesn’t know. We see Niles, Rosie, and Jordan as they struggle to understand what is happening to their world. We see Tim and his partner Angela, as they try to determine why two woman dressed in weird costumes have been killed. We see things go wrong, we see them miss obvious things, we see the threat from afar and can’t help. We also see them all making the connections and gettig it all together, but not always in time. I thought I knew who the bad guy was, then I was sure it was someone else, then back again. I loved it, it was a very unique and interesting plot, I learned something bad about the world, I have to say. I knew this was an issue in gaming, but not to this extreme.
As this is a romance, you can guess that Niles and Tim reconnect after ten years apart. I really liked them together as a couple, and as individuals. Niles is almost niave, or innocent, or� I can’t get the right word. Idealistic maybe works better. He wants so bad to change the world, and is so surprised when he can’t. Tim wants to protect Niles from the big bad world, but can’t. I liked that he isn’t the knight in shining armor, he tries to be, but isn’t actually there at the critical moments. I don’t want to say how the confrontations played out, but it was perfect. So they connect, they work well together, they have great sex, and we get a happy ending. Their story was great.
There are lots of other characters in this book that enhanced the story. Niles and Jordan are very tightly bound twins, Jordan denying any mental or emotional connection, yet it is there, we see it. I loved Jordan on his own, he is so caring of his brother, and Rosie as well. I wanted to see some happiness for him, he seems lonely. Rosie was just bad-ass. I loved her too! Shes strong, stubborn, and smart. There were moments with her that worked so well, her and Niles, also with Jordan. The three are so closely tied together with this company. Tim’s partner Angela was cool, and her friendship that developes with Rosie. Rosie’s friend/attorney/former lover whose name I can’t remember (dammit!) was a nice little addition. The game that plays such a big part had characters, and the girls that paid too high of a price. Patrick the intern who just wanted to be liked. Anthony the creepy stalker exboyfriend of Niles had his place as well. Daniel, a reporter that Niles connects with, I really liked him. Anyway, lots of additional characters that rounded out the plot beautifully.
I was concerned starting it that since I am not a gamer at all, I would be lost in the acronyms and lingo, but for the most part I was fine. It’s not a world I live in, but I understand the passion it engenders, both love and hate.
This is a very good book. The plot, the details, the characters, the bad shit, the love, it just all worked so well! It was dark at times but that only made the good parts better. I’ve read a few books by Amelia C. Gormley, and I’ve liked them just fine, but this one was fantastic. Well written, well researched, a very detailed plot, deep and developed characters, and a perfect ending.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
January 6, 2015
Murder suspense set within gaming culture and fandom make an interesting combination that works pretty well. Niles works for a gaming company as a writer for games that push boundaries with their focus on diversity. Plus, he is gay, and his boss is a confident woman of color. He (and his boss) get a lot of hate mail and harassment, but, this time, things go beyond harassment and get personal with murders that grossly parody their games.
I noticed reviews complaining the book was too political. It definitely did have a strong stand on issues of diversity, but I did not find it heavy-handed. It is not clearly good vs evil, and even the eventual culprits' mindset is explored and considered. Things are complicated, and there are unpleasant revelations. Believe me, I've read other books that were diatribes loosely connected by an attempt at a story and no character development, just mouthpieces for the author's opinions. This one took serious issues, explored it from different perspectives (like having characters who were non-fans trying to understand, or the business end of things when the murders lead to bad press for the main characters and their company and, by extension, their parent company), had sympathetic characters with strong interactions, and a good story. Sometimes, the characters got a little long-winded. I appreciate how the issues and political views were incorporated into the story, how it illustrated online harassment being ignored due to its anonymous nature and that there is a valid issue with prejudice in gaming culture.
I have a casual interest in anime, scifi/fantasy, and gaming and can see the issues illustrated here. I actually learned more about general gaming from reading this story, and it matches what I have seen so far myself. I found it pretty well-researched, or maybe drawn from some personal experience. It's great to share passion and enthusiasm for something with other like-minded people, and my introduction to anime was just like that, but there's a uglier side to fandom which I experienced with other "fans" that soured my views on fandom and kept my interest casual. I didn't see the prejudice (then, due to bad experience with those "fans," my interest never grew into cosplay and online connections), but I saw the snobbery, exclusivity, and elitism fans had and the refusal to accept others who did not see things the same way they did and were not "good enough" and just dismissed. It's not just gaming culture that sees prejudice and diversity issues. I follow several authors blogs (including women and people of color) ,and they speak openly about the lack of diversity and awareness in worldbuilding in the stories of the scifi/fantasy genre, and their harassment experiences and the lack of support from their niche community, also made up of primarily white straight men.
I do not usually read mystery or suspense, but the gaming part of the premise intrigued me. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think this is a murder mystery because the protagonists are not investigators or sleuths, not even amateur ones, actively trying to solve the murders. I read other reviews before reading this that complained that Niles and the other characters were likeable and all but were too much the victim. I actually found that the story was more believable for that. These are regular people who love gaming, want to share their love, and they are being targeted for being different, and their reactions, of denial/disbelief and fear, seem pretty understandable. They try to keep moving on with their lives like usual and life happens. There is some romance, but it is not as prominent and does not take over the story (and the sex is not very explicit). They cooperate with the police when they can offer insight that the non-fan police can use. They don't suddenly start sleuthing to get to the bottom of it, nor are they action heroes with secret mad fighting skills. I'm not sure if it's typical police procedure that they're working so closely with the police as consultants and providing insight into gaming culture and the mindset of gamers. That said and without getting into spoilers, I thought the ending was tied up in a believable way. There was no wish fulfillment type of fantasy happy ending with unrealistic changes/developments where society suddenly understands how wrong things are. Everything doesn't end up perfect or close to what they were before, the issues with diversity and fandom prejudice have not disappeared, but the characters are dealing with it and moving on as positively as they can.
I read this as an ARC through Netgalley.
I noticed reviews complaining the book was too political. It definitely did have a strong stand on issues of diversity, but I did not find it heavy-handed. It is not clearly good vs evil, and even the eventual culprits' mindset is explored and considered. Things are complicated, and there are unpleasant revelations. Believe me, I've read other books that were diatribes loosely connected by an attempt at a story and no character development, just mouthpieces for the author's opinions. This one took serious issues, explored it from different perspectives (like having characters who were non-fans trying to understand, or the business end of things when the murders lead to bad press for the main characters and their company and, by extension, their parent company), had sympathetic characters with strong interactions, and a good story. Sometimes, the characters got a little long-winded. I appreciate how the issues and political views were incorporated into the story, how it illustrated online harassment being ignored due to its anonymous nature and that there is a valid issue with prejudice in gaming culture.
I have a casual interest in anime, scifi/fantasy, and gaming and can see the issues illustrated here. I actually learned more about general gaming from reading this story, and it matches what I have seen so far myself. I found it pretty well-researched, or maybe drawn from some personal experience. It's great to share passion and enthusiasm for something with other like-minded people, and my introduction to anime was just like that, but there's a uglier side to fandom which I experienced with other "fans" that soured my views on fandom and kept my interest casual. I didn't see the prejudice (then, due to bad experience with those "fans," my interest never grew into cosplay and online connections), but I saw the snobbery, exclusivity, and elitism fans had and the refusal to accept others who did not see things the same way they did and were not "good enough" and just dismissed. It's not just gaming culture that sees prejudice and diversity issues. I follow several authors blogs (including women and people of color) ,and they speak openly about the lack of diversity and awareness in worldbuilding in the stories of the scifi/fantasy genre, and their harassment experiences and the lack of support from their niche community, also made up of primarily white straight men.
I do not usually read mystery or suspense, but the gaming part of the premise intrigued me. Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think this is a murder mystery because the protagonists are not investigators or sleuths, not even amateur ones, actively trying to solve the murders. I read other reviews before reading this that complained that Niles and the other characters were likeable and all but were too much the victim. I actually found that the story was more believable for that. These are regular people who love gaming, want to share their love, and they are being targeted for being different, and their reactions, of denial/disbelief and fear, seem pretty understandable. They try to keep moving on with their lives like usual and life happens. There is some romance, but it is not as prominent and does not take over the story (and the sex is not very explicit). They cooperate with the police when they can offer insight that the non-fan police can use. They don't suddenly start sleuthing to get to the bottom of it, nor are they action heroes with secret mad fighting skills. I'm not sure if it's typical police procedure that they're working so closely with the police as consultants and providing insight into gaming culture and the mindset of gamers. That said and without getting into spoilers, I thought the ending was tied up in a believable way. There was no wish fulfillment type of fantasy happy ending with unrealistic changes/developments where society suddenly understands how wrong things are. Everything doesn't end up perfect or close to what they were before, the issues with diversity and fandom prejudice have not disappeared, but the characters are dealing with it and moving on as positively as they can.
I read this as an ARC through Netgalley.
December 11, 2014
My daughter is a gamer. I sometimes think she spends way too much time on the computer playing her games. Seems all her friends are there. She doesn’t seem to have many “real world� friends. But, she tells me, it is her coping mechanism and since I spend just as much time buried in my make believe world of books, who am I to say otherwise? So I sit, glassy eyed, as she goes on and on and on and on about what is happening in the guild or with her character when we are together. Consequently, when I saw this, I thought why not. It might give me a different perspective and insight.
I even discussed the book with my daughter, but the conversation didn’t go quite the way I thought it might. According to her, the bigotry and harassment discussed in this book is ten years old. She doesn’t see it much anymore, in the games. However, what we know about the “glass ceiling,� and general bigotry and intolerance in the real world, we could see the events in this story happening.
In reading this book, I do have a better understanding of the gaming culture. For instance, I didn’t know I was an unusual parent in that, not only did/do I know about her gaming and the characters she plays, but I know the names of her “friends� and guild mates � by both their player name and, sometimes their real world name � in spite of the fact I am in no way a gamer. I was appalled to read that the parents of the victims in this story had no idea what their kids did on the computer. Was that poetic license on the part of the author, or real world? Considering that the author spent time letting us know that some of the things discussed in this book was based on real world events, I am left wondering.
Now all this personal stuff aside, as you can see, the book did spark some thoughts, in my mind, to think about, as well as being a rather good murder mystery. It further discussed the whole video/computer games have undue influence on today’s youth controversy. The pros and the cons. I do have my own thoughts on that, but this is not the forum to discuss that. Suffice it to say, I was impressed with how this author incorporated such controversial hot buttons into a gripping and entertaining story.
This story had murder, stalking, betrayal, good friends � old and new, romance, hot twins, hot cops, all the elements of a good story. I really didn’t want to put it down for things like sleep, but couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore. In some spots the soap box took over a bit too much, but not enough to throw me from the story. There was gaming, suspense, action, multiple visits to the hospital, angst, excitement, hot sex, and cuddles all done with good pacing.
In my humble opinion, like Rose, Niles, Jordan, and all the staff of Third Wave gaming studios, participate � read the book. Everyone! It just might influence some change, acceptance and tolerance. Okay, I need to step off my soap box.
This is an entertaining read with a wonderful story. Give it a try!
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I even discussed the book with my daughter, but the conversation didn’t go quite the way I thought it might. According to her, the bigotry and harassment discussed in this book is ten years old. She doesn’t see it much anymore, in the games. However, what we know about the “glass ceiling,� and general bigotry and intolerance in the real world, we could see the events in this story happening.
In reading this book, I do have a better understanding of the gaming culture. For instance, I didn’t know I was an unusual parent in that, not only did/do I know about her gaming and the characters she plays, but I know the names of her “friends� and guild mates � by both their player name and, sometimes their real world name � in spite of the fact I am in no way a gamer. I was appalled to read that the parents of the victims in this story had no idea what their kids did on the computer. Was that poetic license on the part of the author, or real world? Considering that the author spent time letting us know that some of the things discussed in this book was based on real world events, I am left wondering.
Now all this personal stuff aside, as you can see, the book did spark some thoughts, in my mind, to think about, as well as being a rather good murder mystery. It further discussed the whole video/computer games have undue influence on today’s youth controversy. The pros and the cons. I do have my own thoughts on that, but this is not the forum to discuss that. Suffice it to say, I was impressed with how this author incorporated such controversial hot buttons into a gripping and entertaining story.
This story had murder, stalking, betrayal, good friends � old and new, romance, hot twins, hot cops, all the elements of a good story. I really didn’t want to put it down for things like sleep, but couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore. In some spots the soap box took over a bit too much, but not enough to throw me from the story. There was gaming, suspense, action, multiple visits to the hospital, angst, excitement, hot sex, and cuddles all done with good pacing.
In my humble opinion, like Rose, Niles, Jordan, and all the staff of Third Wave gaming studios, participate � read the book. Everyone! It just might influence some change, acceptance and tolerance. Okay, I need to step off my soap box.
This is an entertaining read with a wonderful story. Give it a try!
I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 17, 2015
I received one copy of this book at no charge from the publisher to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own. Review first written on Nautical Star Books.
There aren’t many fictional books that truly leave me feeling smarter when I finish reading them. I am not a gamer at all. Mario Brothers is about as close as I come to a video game and even that is rare. To read in such detail about the design, marketing and culture that surrounds the gaming community was truly fascinating.
Niles and his twin brother Jordan work for a company called Third Wave. Rosie, a strong and vibrant Latina woman, owns Third Wave and also happens to be best friends with Nile. The video games that they produce are designed to NOT fit the stereotypical heterosexual male gamer. The role playing games they create include smart, kick butt women (rather than busty airheads you often find in games) as well as LGBTQ characters. Their forward thinking game creation pisses off a lot of fringe groups and dead bodies start piling up around them.
Player vs Player is told from several different characters points of view. Throughout the story you learn a lot about each character by seeing the story play out in their voice. You can just feel how intense Jordan is about protecting his brother. You understand Rosie’s passion for the mission behind Third Wave. And you really connect with Niles and the guilt he feels for creating story lines that are getting people killed.
The mystery in this story is very well thought out. And once you come to the ‘conclusion� of the mystery you still have about 50 pages left because it isn’t quite as done as you thought it was. Not giving any spoilers here, though!
Now, I will say that Player vs Player is not for the faint of heart or those looking for an easy, breezy book to flip through. There is a lot of gamer speak and explanation of gamer culture and protocol. I found it very interesting and not at all difficult to understand. You will LEARN something and I, for one, really enjoyed that aspect of it. Player vs Player is also a bit on the gory side at times. There is death and violence and bloodshed and it isn’t all glossed over and hinted at. Also, if you are looking for sex and romance, it isn’t really heavy on that either. The book is about half way through before any real ‘romance� is initiated and sex is hinted at but not written. There is heat and teasing and kissing and then we cut to the next scene. I think this book would be classified more as a mystery rather than a romance. However, it is still an amazing book…I just like a little bit more smut with my mystery!
I loved Player vs Player and it was one of those ‘can’t put it down til it’s finished� kind of stories. I highly recommend it if you are looking for an intense mystery that really makes you think.
One final note to the author: That last scene was just mean. I really wanted it to play out in full and graphic detail! And please tell me that Jordie gets his own book very soon!
There aren’t many fictional books that truly leave me feeling smarter when I finish reading them. I am not a gamer at all. Mario Brothers is about as close as I come to a video game and even that is rare. To read in such detail about the design, marketing and culture that surrounds the gaming community was truly fascinating.
Niles and his twin brother Jordan work for a company called Third Wave. Rosie, a strong and vibrant Latina woman, owns Third Wave and also happens to be best friends with Nile. The video games that they produce are designed to NOT fit the stereotypical heterosexual male gamer. The role playing games they create include smart, kick butt women (rather than busty airheads you often find in games) as well as LGBTQ characters. Their forward thinking game creation pisses off a lot of fringe groups and dead bodies start piling up around them.
Player vs Player is told from several different characters points of view. Throughout the story you learn a lot about each character by seeing the story play out in their voice. You can just feel how intense Jordan is about protecting his brother. You understand Rosie’s passion for the mission behind Third Wave. And you really connect with Niles and the guilt he feels for creating story lines that are getting people killed.
The mystery in this story is very well thought out. And once you come to the ‘conclusion� of the mystery you still have about 50 pages left because it isn’t quite as done as you thought it was. Not giving any spoilers here, though!
Now, I will say that Player vs Player is not for the faint of heart or those looking for an easy, breezy book to flip through. There is a lot of gamer speak and explanation of gamer culture and protocol. I found it very interesting and not at all difficult to understand. You will LEARN something and I, for one, really enjoyed that aspect of it. Player vs Player is also a bit on the gory side at times. There is death and violence and bloodshed and it isn’t all glossed over and hinted at. Also, if you are looking for sex and romance, it isn’t really heavy on that either. The book is about half way through before any real ‘romance� is initiated and sex is hinted at but not written. There is heat and teasing and kissing and then we cut to the next scene. I think this book would be classified more as a mystery rather than a romance. However, it is still an amazing book…I just like a little bit more smut with my mystery!
I loved Player vs Player and it was one of those ‘can’t put it down til it’s finished� kind of stories. I highly recommend it if you are looking for an intense mystery that really makes you think.
One final note to the author: That last scene was just mean. I really wanted it to play out in full and graphic detail! And please tell me that Jordie gets his own book very soon!
February 9, 2015
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book looked very promising and the summery look like a book I would really want to read, except I forgot about one thing�.GAMING�. I know nothing about gaming which in turned left me feeling a little retarded throughout this book.
Niles River and his twin brother Jordan River work together at Third Wave Studios, where they create first person player video games
Third Wave is owned by a Latina woman (who is also Niles’s best friend) whose mission is to make games more representative of the changing face of society. Until now gamers have been mostly white cis heterosexual men. Anyone who didn’t fit into that mold was shunned, bullied or worse. So if a woman or a gay man wanted to play in the interactive games, she or he needed to pretend to be something they weren’t. Rosie’s goal is to include characters in her games that are strong, independent women, gay men involved in relationships, as well as people with brown and black and yellow skin. While playing the games, the player character makes different choices which determine where they game will take them and the characters created by Third Wave.
Suffice to say that Third Wave has had more than its share of hate mail and threats of violence, rape, and even death. When at a con, Niles and Rosie witness the physical harassment the cosplayers dressed as some of their more controversial characters suffer. It makes them both sick to think that they play even a small part in the suffering these people are going through. It also makes them more determined than ever to make their games as inclusive as possible.
While the Third Wave team is used to on-line and e-mail harassment, a line is crossed when a threatening letter is hand-delivered to Niles’s house. When Rosie & Jordan convince him to take the letter to the police, the detective he ends up with is his closeted college lover; Tim Wyatt, who broke his heart ten years ago and whom he hasn’t seen since. Once Tim sees the letter and the texts on Niles’s personal cell phone, he decides to open a case.
Soon, the Homicides that Tim and his partner are working take them to the offices of Third Wave and it becomes apparent that someone or a group of people is acting out the worst-case scenarios of the game. The terrible end that would come to the Third Wave characters if the player character made all the wrong choices throughout the game. In order to know what these outcomes are, the murderer has to have access to inside information about parts of the game that haven’t been released yet.
This book looked very promising and the summery look like a book I would really want to read, except I forgot about one thing�.GAMING�. I know nothing about gaming which in turned left me feeling a little retarded throughout this book.
Niles River and his twin brother Jordan River work together at Third Wave Studios, where they create first person player video games
Third Wave is owned by a Latina woman (who is also Niles’s best friend) whose mission is to make games more representative of the changing face of society. Until now gamers have been mostly white cis heterosexual men. Anyone who didn’t fit into that mold was shunned, bullied or worse. So if a woman or a gay man wanted to play in the interactive games, she or he needed to pretend to be something they weren’t. Rosie’s goal is to include characters in her games that are strong, independent women, gay men involved in relationships, as well as people with brown and black and yellow skin. While playing the games, the player character makes different choices which determine where they game will take them and the characters created by Third Wave.
Suffice to say that Third Wave has had more than its share of hate mail and threats of violence, rape, and even death. When at a con, Niles and Rosie witness the physical harassment the cosplayers dressed as some of their more controversial characters suffer. It makes them both sick to think that they play even a small part in the suffering these people are going through. It also makes them more determined than ever to make their games as inclusive as possible.
While the Third Wave team is used to on-line and e-mail harassment, a line is crossed when a threatening letter is hand-delivered to Niles’s house. When Rosie & Jordan convince him to take the letter to the police, the detective he ends up with is his closeted college lover; Tim Wyatt, who broke his heart ten years ago and whom he hasn’t seen since. Once Tim sees the letter and the texts on Niles’s personal cell phone, he decides to open a case.
Soon, the Homicides that Tim and his partner are working take them to the offices of Third Wave and it becomes apparent that someone or a group of people is acting out the worst-case scenarios of the game. The terrible end that would come to the Third Wave characters if the player character made all the wrong choices throughout the game. In order to know what these outcomes are, the murderer has to have access to inside information about parts of the game that haven’t been released yet.
January 2, 2015
Review also
*ARC courtesy of NetGalley*
is quite difficult to review for me: it has a non-fiction vibe - and that's not a genre I read often - since the romance or the mystery storylines are, in order of importance, way beyond the socio-political one.
As it was pointed out by other readers, I often got the impression reading this story of being lectured by the author and, while I get the importance of showing the wrongness about sexism, misogyny and homophobia, I also think the author went a little overboard in this case.
Rosie and Niles, most often than not, seemed 's spokespersons rather than their own characters: I didn't get to really know them, as well as I didn't get to feel any attachment for Niles and Tim and to their relationship.
The reason I'll still give 3 stars to this book is the following: "Player vs Player" is different from most book I usually read and still I liked it enough to end it. It's not an easy read and if you're not into video games - and that's my case - it could be tedious at times, but if you enter it without too much expectations about the romance part it also could be an interesting experience.
At last, I'd like to thank the author for the chance to read her book through NetGalley; I hope she appreciates my honest review.
*ARC courtesy of NetGalley*
is quite difficult to review for me: it has a non-fiction vibe - and that's not a genre I read often - since the romance or the mystery storylines are, in order of importance, way beyond the socio-political one.
As it was pointed out by other readers, I often got the impression reading this story of being lectured by the author and, while I get the importance of showing the wrongness about sexism, misogyny and homophobia, I also think the author went a little overboard in this case.
Rosie and Niles, most often than not, seemed 's spokespersons rather than their own characters: I didn't get to really know them, as well as I didn't get to feel any attachment for Niles and Tim and to their relationship.
The reason I'll still give 3 stars to this book is the following: "Player vs Player" is different from most book I usually read and still I liked it enough to end it. It's not an easy read and if you're not into video games - and that's my case - it could be tedious at times, but if you enter it without too much expectations about the romance part it also could be an interesting experience.
At last, I'd like to thank the author for the chance to read her book through NetGalley; I hope she appreciates my honest review.
January 7, 2015
A review.
4.5 stars
There aren’t enough stories portraying geeks in a positive light. This story was more murder mystery than romance, but it was written incredibly well, and I didn’t have an inkling as to who was behind it until just before the characters did.
A big part of this book is highlighting the misogynistic world of video games in general. It’s definitely something we all should be aware of, and it’s also fantastic to think of a gaming company that would be stretching its role and being all inclusive with the types of characters within games. And as much as I appreciated this aspect, towards the end of the novel, it got just a bit tedious. The same information was presented yet again, and by that point, I felt it was unnecessary. It had been clearly drummed into my head just how cis-male, heterosexual the gaming world is, and honestly, I got tired of hearing it yet again. That being said, some serious atrocities are being played out in the gaming world, and the author adds a note at the end to point out just how much women in this field have to deal with, and the obscenities they are forced to put up with. It’s definitely not something that should be ignored, nor swept under the rug, but I do wish that by the end of the book we hadn’t heard it quite so many times.
Read Kris� review in its entirety .
4.5 stars
There aren’t enough stories portraying geeks in a positive light. This story was more murder mystery than romance, but it was written incredibly well, and I didn’t have an inkling as to who was behind it until just before the characters did.
A big part of this book is highlighting the misogynistic world of video games in general. It’s definitely something we all should be aware of, and it’s also fantastic to think of a gaming company that would be stretching its role and being all inclusive with the types of characters within games. And as much as I appreciated this aspect, towards the end of the novel, it got just a bit tedious. The same information was presented yet again, and by that point, I felt it was unnecessary. It had been clearly drummed into my head just how cis-male, heterosexual the gaming world is, and honestly, I got tired of hearing it yet again. That being said, some serious atrocities are being played out in the gaming world, and the author adds a note at the end to point out just how much women in this field have to deal with, and the obscenities they are forced to put up with. It’s definitely not something that should be ignored, nor swept under the rug, but I do wish that by the end of the book we hadn’t heard it quite so many times.
Read Kris� review in its entirety .
April 25, 2015
I reviewed my personal copy of this book for Wicked Reads.
People connected to Niles and the gaming company he works for, Third Wave, start dying and Tim, the former love of his life, is investigating. Niles is sweet, trusting and sees the good in everyone. Tim who was formerly in the closest in now out and has grown up.
The story is told from multiple points of view but is centred around Niles. Part of the story is told from the point of view of Rosie, Niles' best friend. She is intelligent, strong and totally kick arse. We also gets parts of the story from the point of view of Niles' twin Jordan, who is very protective of his brother.
Player vs Player has strong themes of equal rights for women, people of different ethnicities and the LBGTQ community. The abuse that Niles and Rosie face from misogynistic, homophobic and racist gamers is pretty shocking. I asked my gamer husband if that is actually what it is like in the gaming world and he said real life is probably worse. A scary thought. I was thinking about these issues long after I finished the book.
I enjoy a good mystery romance and Player vs Player was very well told story. An excellent read.
People connected to Niles and the gaming company he works for, Third Wave, start dying and Tim, the former love of his life, is investigating. Niles is sweet, trusting and sees the good in everyone. Tim who was formerly in the closest in now out and has grown up.
The story is told from multiple points of view but is centred around Niles. Part of the story is told from the point of view of Rosie, Niles' best friend. She is intelligent, strong and totally kick arse. We also gets parts of the story from the point of view of Niles' twin Jordan, who is very protective of his brother.
Player vs Player has strong themes of equal rights for women, people of different ethnicities and the LBGTQ community. The abuse that Niles and Rosie face from misogynistic, homophobic and racist gamers is pretty shocking. I asked my gamer husband if that is actually what it is like in the gaming world and he said real life is probably worse. A scary thought. I was thinking about these issues long after I finished the book.
I enjoy a good mystery romance and Player vs Player was very well told story. An excellent read.
January 23, 2015
This is an action-packed mystery with some romantic themes. While this book is a departure from the normal sweet and sexy romances in the m/m genre it is still worth reading. This story will grab onto you from the very beginning and doesn’t let go until the end. I loved the characters Ms. Gormley created and I would love to read another book with these characters.
This book revolves around Niles River, the head writer for a video game development company. However, we are given insight into not only him, but the other top execs at Third Wave as well. Rosie and Jordan were just as fully fleshed out as Niles and his boyfriend. I am really hoping Ms. Gormley writes another story with these characters but concentrates on Niles� twin, Jordan, this time as he deserves to find love and acceptance as well.
The main themes in this book are the homophobia and misogyny that are prevalent in online gaming forums. I have seen some debate about whether or not these things are actually happening currently, but regardless they are good things to be aware of. While this book did get a little soap boxy at times it fit with the story and did not seem overwhelming to me. Overall, a thought provoking and thrilling read.
This book revolves around Niles River, the head writer for a video game development company. However, we are given insight into not only him, but the other top execs at Third Wave as well. Rosie and Jordan were just as fully fleshed out as Niles and his boyfriend. I am really hoping Ms. Gormley writes another story with these characters but concentrates on Niles� twin, Jordan, this time as he deserves to find love and acceptance as well.
The main themes in this book are the homophobia and misogyny that are prevalent in online gaming forums. I have seen some debate about whether or not these things are actually happening currently, but regardless they are good things to be aware of. While this book did get a little soap boxy at times it fit with the story and did not seem overwhelming to me. Overall, a thought provoking and thrilling read.
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