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kittycatlover's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mariecuriepo's review
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
thepurplepixel's review
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
First book in a series you'll want to hand off to your gamers and dragon enthusiasts!
phyrre's review
4.0
You can find my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for a review copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
This book was obviously written for me, because it has all the things: rogue AI, dragon, virtual reality gone wrong, dragon, sibling bonds, glorious gamer references, dragon, wonderfully nerdy references. And have I mentioned the dragon?!
Dragon Ops is basically Sword Art Online for young readers, with an exciting virtual world, many challenges for the team to overcome, and enough gamer references to make my nerdy little heart sing.
This definitely felt like a more middle mid-grade read, where the challenges were solved a little too easily to keep the pace moving right along, but despite that, the book was just so much fun to read. And for all you non-gamers out there: don’t worry. Mancusi has your back. The gamer references are low-key explained, so you don’t have to wander through the book completely lost.
My Thoughts:
- Our main character, Ian, is a nerdy pre-teen gamer who tries hard to be cool, but succeeds only in being himself. Which is why I loved him. I, too, was a nerdy pre-teen gamer once upon a time. I wish I could say I grew out of it, but … y’know. Ian is super excited about the chance to beta test Dragon Ops before it opens … and who the heck wouldn’t be? Ian’s narrative voice is fun and funny, and his excitement for the game is infectious. He’s not just a one-dimensional character, though, and I loved how concerned he was for the characters around him. Ian was great, and I feel like he’d be easy to relate to, regardless of age and gender.
- The secondary characters in this were equally a ton of fun, and they all get their own little arcs. Ian, I didn’t feel like, had much of an arc. That was mostly reserved for the secondaries, and that’s where the real emotion and meat of this book was, because it’s not all just fun and games. Lilli is Ian’s older sister, and she’s clearly going through something, because she had a falling out with her game boyfriend and has since refused to touch any sort of online game. Which is a bummer for Ian, because the two had been really close and always gamed together, and they had especially loved the original Dragon Ops game. He doesn’t understand why his sister is suddenly like this, but he’s doing his best to rekindle the bond they had, and just yes. Sibling bonds is a trope I live for, so seeing them work together in the game was just *chef’s kiss*. My favorite secondary character, though, has to be Yano, the group’s fearless (and oftentimes sarcastic) guide. Because not all AIs have to be rogue to be entertaining. Some are just naturally that way. Yano’s purpose is two-fold. Of course he provides lots of in-game advice and information that the characters (and the reader) wouldn’t otherwise have, but he’s also so freaking funny. His parts are just great.
- Not gonna lie, rogue AI is my favorite AI, but aside from that, this world is just so freaking fun that I’m low-key angry that it doesn’t exist in real life. That was actually a lie. I am wholeheartedly and utterly disappointed by the lack of this virtual reality game. What are game developers even doing with their lives at this point?! I don’t want to reveal too much about the world, because it’s something that should be discovered with the book. Needless to say, though, there were a lot of surprises, and so many cool little elements of world-building that I would 100% love playing a Dragon Ops MMORPG. The author is clearly a gamer, and that shines through pretty well.
- The ending wraps up nicely, but also perfectly sets up the potential for a sequel. It’s not like I’m going to be knocking down Mancusi’s door for a follow-up novel to this, because I thought everything tied up pretty nicely. The very ending, though? Perfect segue for a sequel at some point. I didn’t feel like it needed another book to feel complete, but it's a world I would love the chance to explore again.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for a review copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
This book was obviously written for me, because it has all the things: rogue AI, dragon, virtual reality gone wrong, dragon, sibling bonds, glorious gamer references, dragon, wonderfully nerdy references. And have I mentioned the dragon?!
Dragon Ops is basically Sword Art Online for young readers, with an exciting virtual world, many challenges for the team to overcome, and enough gamer references to make my nerdy little heart sing.
This definitely felt like a more middle mid-grade read, where the challenges were solved a little too easily to keep the pace moving right along, but despite that, the book was just so much fun to read. And for all you non-gamers out there: don’t worry. Mancusi has your back. The gamer references are low-key explained, so you don’t have to wander through the book completely lost.
My Thoughts:
- Our main character, Ian, is a nerdy pre-teen gamer who tries hard to be cool, but succeeds only in being himself. Which is why I loved him. I, too, was a nerdy pre-teen gamer once upon a time. I wish I could say I grew out of it, but … y’know. Ian is super excited about the chance to beta test Dragon Ops before it opens … and who the heck wouldn’t be? Ian’s narrative voice is fun and funny, and his excitement for the game is infectious. He’s not just a one-dimensional character, though, and I loved how concerned he was for the characters around him. Ian was great, and I feel like he’d be easy to relate to, regardless of age and gender.
- The secondary characters in this were equally a ton of fun, and they all get their own little arcs. Ian, I didn’t feel like, had much of an arc. That was mostly reserved for the secondaries, and that’s where the real emotion and meat of this book was, because it’s not all just fun and games. Lilli is Ian’s older sister, and she’s clearly going through something, because she had a falling out with her game boyfriend and has since refused to touch any sort of online game. Which is a bummer for Ian, because the two had been really close and always gamed together, and they had especially loved the original Dragon Ops game. He doesn’t understand why his sister is suddenly like this, but he’s doing his best to rekindle the bond they had, and just yes. Sibling bonds is a trope I live for, so seeing them work together in the game was just *chef’s kiss*. My favorite secondary character, though, has to be Yano, the group’s fearless (and oftentimes sarcastic) guide. Because not all AIs have to be rogue to be entertaining. Some are just naturally that way. Yano’s purpose is two-fold. Of course he provides lots of in-game advice and information that the characters (and the reader) wouldn’t otherwise have, but he’s also so freaking funny. His parts are just great.
- Not gonna lie, rogue AI is my favorite AI, but aside from that, this world is just so freaking fun that I’m low-key angry that it doesn’t exist in real life. That was actually a lie. I am wholeheartedly and utterly disappointed by the lack of this virtual reality game. What are game developers even doing with their lives at this point?! I don’t want to reveal too much about the world, because it’s something that should be discovered with the book. Needless to say, though, there were a lot of surprises, and so many cool little elements of world-building that I would 100% love playing a Dragon Ops MMORPG. The author is clearly a gamer, and that shines through pretty well.
- The ending wraps up nicely, but also perfectly sets up the potential for a sequel. It’s not like I’m going to be knocking down Mancusi’s door for a follow-up novel to this, because I thought everything tied up pretty nicely. The very ending, though? Perfect segue for a sequel at some point. I didn’t feel like it needed another book to feel complete, but it's a world I would love the chance to explore again.
booksandpops4000's review
3.0
* I got this book for review from the publisher*
I thought this was a fun read. I think this book fast pace nature and focus on video games would be a great book for relecutant readers and books that struggle to stay focused . I also really liked how this book was another the focused on the realtionships between siblings. I thought it was a fun read and one that was quick read. I might check out the sequel!
I thought this was a fun read. I think this book fast pace nature and focus on video games would be a great book for relecutant readers and books that struggle to stay focused . I also really liked how this book was another the focused on the realtionships between siblings. I thought it was a fun read and one that was quick read. I might check out the sequel!
stiftare's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
Gamer geek (but not LARPer) Ian, his estranged-from-video-games-because-a-gamer-broke-her-heart older teen sister, Lilly, and bully-cousin Derek get the opportunity of a lifetime -- a chance to visit an augmented reality gaming park, Dragon Ops, before it opens.
The first hint that things are going to go terribly, horribly wrong is when the ultimate dragon lord, Atraeus, almost successfully lures Ian over the side of the boat, before they've even set foot on the island!
It's downhill from there. Atraeus goes from big softie wanting belly rubs to evil dragon incarnate out to conquer the entire realm. The kids are locked in the game, unable to take off their headsets.
Derek chooses a terrible character to play -- a bard, with no powers whatsoever -- and gets abducted by Atraeus in a blink. Lilly is pulled into playing reluctantly. And Ian...well, can he help it if he thinks their quest to find the stones they'll need to fight Atraeus -- and get out -- is the coolest, ever?!
With the limited knowledge of their game guide, Yano, and a girl who lives in the game, Ikumi, they manage tostay alive long enough to discover the rules no longer bind Atraeus. Can they beat him, if he won't stay within his programming?
This is a fun, quick read for video game and LARPer lovers, all!
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
The first hint that things are going to go terribly, horribly wrong is when the ultimate dragon lord, Atraeus, almost successfully lures Ian over the side of the boat, before they've even set foot on the island!
It's downhill from there. Atraeus goes from big softie wanting belly rubs to evil dragon incarnate out to conquer the entire realm. The kids are locked in the game, unable to take off their headsets.
Derek chooses a terrible character to play -- a bard, with no powers whatsoever -- and gets abducted by Atraeus in a blink. Lilly is pulled into playing reluctantly. And Ian...well, can he help it if he thinks their quest to find the stones they'll need to fight Atraeus -- and get out -- is the coolest, ever?!
With the limited knowledge of their game guide, Yano, and a girl who lives in the game, Ikumi, they manage tostay alive long enough to discover the rules no longer bind Atraeus. Can they beat him, if he won't stay within his programming?
This is a fun, quick read for video game and LARPer lovers, all!
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
nickyb3po's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
labraden's review
3.0
Ian has been a gamer for years and his favorite is Fields of Fantasy. For the first time, Fields of Fantasy is being made into a theme park where players can have a live action/virtual adventure. Ian, his sister Lilly, and their cousin Derek will be among the first to test out the new park because Ian's uncle is part of the design team. It isn't long after they arrive that they are thrown into the adventure, but it turns out that something is wrong with the game and the lines between what is real and what is a game becomes blurred. The three players find themselves on a quest to defeat a dragon that they can't escape, and it might mean their real life deaths if they can't win.
The concept for the book, Dragon Ops is not a new one, but there are some fresh ideas in the story that do make it unique, however, they are not enough to make this more than an average story about a game quest gone wrong. Lots of pop culture references liven up the story, but a little more humor would have made it easier to identify with the characters and their story arcs. Overall, Dragon Ops is a fairly average story about a video game gone wrong.
The concept for the book, Dragon Ops is not a new one, but there are some fresh ideas in the story that do make it unique, however, they are not enough to make this more than an average story about a game quest gone wrong. Lots of pop culture references liven up the story, but a little more humor would have made it easier to identify with the characters and their story arcs. Overall, Dragon Ops is a fairly average story about a video game gone wrong.