Crimson Alliance (Viridian Gate Online #2)

Pros: A creative take on the “digital world” subgenre.

Cons: In a review of book 1, I mentioned how the protagonist was kind of a wuss who didn’t stick up for himself. Well, in book 2 the emasculation continues, even leading up to a point where he allows something super drastic to happen to himself with literally no resistance. I understand that some main characters are antiheroes like this, but in the context of this story that kind of protagonist just doesn’t work. This sort of behavior lowers the entertainment value dramatically.

Another bit that lowers entertainment value is that the protagonist keeps mentioning one thing (how all he wants to do is live life in quiet, non-confrontational peace) and yet he acts in an opposite manner (does things that guarantee ongoing conflict for himself). This sort of dichotomy might work in a “I have no choice” kind of tale, but that isn’t the situation here, the protag has all the choice.

Unexplained reasoning. The overarching plot involves a mustache-twirling bad guy who has everything he wanted (literally, he’s got his own military force, his own faction, etc.) and everything he paid for, so why is he driven to hunt the protagonist? Due to certain story elements, I can understand if he were a little peeved, but it would be the “you better not cross my path” kind of peeved. Instead it’s the “I’m dropping everything and dedicating my life to destroying all you hold dear and everyone who knows you” kind. It’s an extreme and irrational response. Additionally, they’re in a computer game where everyone respawns so…yeah, what’s the point? It just seems like the author needed an antagonist so he created Snidely Whiplash.

There’s a few more nitpicks but overall there are more cons than pros in book 2 and I find it hard to recommend unless you’re a dedicated fan of the subgenre. It’s just too frustrating otherwise.

I have to admit, I had to hold on for VGO: Crimson Alliance. The world is built well and fairly consistently, and the characterization and plotting is realistic and consistent with the first book, but there were things looming that concerned me… and reading Crimson Alliance didn’t comfort me. Then it ended, and I was satisfied.

The book COULD have – and maybe WOULD have – ended with a satisfying *CLUNK* but thankfully James Hunter actually took a step back and looked at the world logically, and ended up justifying a lot of the odd choices presented through both book 1 and book 2 – there’re still questions that I have about how the world functions and is built, but honestly? The biggest problems were reasonably addressed, without giving up on a reasonable premise.

It’s not an immature series, but it’s satisfying to read through its growth. Well done.

So got this book immediately after the first (and probably do the same with the third) as it was a good series so far. Grim Jack has come a long way from his EMT origins to leader of a Faction, but its not all rainbows and cupcakes. He has to make some questionable alliances (summary reference?) and we finally get to see how death is handled, not pretty. I like how this series seems to tie in the dark and violent nature of dark fantasy with the more lighter aspects of gaming and social experience of the litrpge genre. This series is definitely a blend all its own.

I will say however that there seemed a lack of a spark for me, however overall this book was a great follow up. The first had him discovering the game, his class and kit, followed by a little lore. This one, too, hinted at more lore and the potential for some more gaming but it gets quietly shuffled to the back as this one focused more on his imminent confrontation from the drug-king he stole from in the first book.

My hope is, as I get ready for the third book is that we get more into the game (leveling,loot, questing, lore, loot…) and we see more of the “other players” shine through. Not that I’m knocking Cutter and gang in the least bit but more personalities the better.

Anyways, I give it a hearty thumbs up and if you read the first you’ll enjoy the second. Now off for more loot and the third book.

I’m fully addicted to this series. Hunter pinpointed the desire for gamification inside us all and brought it to the surface in this awesome continuation of Grim Jack’s story in Viridian Gate Online. I’m stoked for the next release. Armen’s presentation of the story is also excellent. I bought Mud Man (another Hunter story VO’d by Armen) because I liked the interplay between the duo’s wordsmithing and wordspewing. Admittedly, VGO is much more my style, but still good.
He did a lot of tie-in’s this time around, and there was a lot less of the exposition required for this books, since most of it came in the first. Tons more action, and some other really sweet gamer-esque components that I was really excited were happening. Its awakening my desire to play MMO’s again…

Recently LIT RPGs are just starting to bloom as a genre and thus there have a flood of books many of which are trash just hoping to cash in on its new popularity. This makes it hard to find the true gems of which Viridian Gate Online is definitely one. With a MC that finds the perfect balance between being bada** but not to overpowered and a supporting cast you cant help but want to know more about especially the emperor I will look forward to seeing where the series goes next. The only advice I could give is dont lose sight of what draws people to LIT RPGs in the first place. My favorite part of these books are the dungeon crawls, the collecting of loot and the learning of new skills. To many authors forget this and they get so caught up in the overreaching plot line that there later books start to read more like regular fantasy instead of a RPG though after seeing the way Hunter balanced the Carrera plotline I dont think he will have this problem. So, to sum up anyone who loves LIT RPGs should definitely read this book.

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