Review: Awesome MG Fantasy!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 8, 2013
As soon as I learned that these books were about a thirteen-year-old girl getting pulled into her favorite video game, I knew I had to read them. I am a gamer at heart and although I may not be a fierce fighter in real life, I certainly transform into one when I'm gaming!The story begins with Jaycee, a nerdy 8th grader, anxiously awaiting the end of the school day so she can get home. She's certain her new controller, the Controllix 500, has arrived, and she is dying to play her favorite game, Hero's Sword, with it. Jaycee is your typical 8th grade nerd, crushing on a popular boy that is out of her league, and trying to steer clear of the cheerleaders that seem to exist just to make fun of her. She has a best friend, Stu, equally geeky and also a huge fan of the game. They make a promise to find each other online later that evening, but in the meantime, Jaycee races through her homework and fires up the game. While she notices that her new controller lights up before she's even turned the power on, she pays no attention because her excitement has taken precedence over logic. She accepts a challenge that flashes on screen and the next thing she knows, she's magically transported into the game. Oh, how I would love for that to happen to me! Jaycee has to prove herself as the character she's created, Lyla Stormbringer -- a cool, strong, and beautiful master of her sword, and Daryl Dixon with her bow -- everything she's not in real life.Let me say again that I would LOVE to be transported into any one of my favorite video games. This series is my fantasy come true. I would become Alice from Resident Evil and obliterate every darn zombie in Raccoon City!Power Play is a tale of fantasy and adventure, and perfect for middle grade and up -- obviously, since I enjoyed it so much. This first book may only be 62 pages, but it was chock-full of action with Jaycee finding herself in one predicament after another. Though the world-building isn't what one would expect in an adult novel, it's perfect for the middle grade demographic, especially those familiar with gaming. I had to fist pump the air at the end of the story when... oh, snap... no spoilers here.