sinister_kiwi's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
indieandajean's review
5.0
I laughed, snorted, and laughed some more. Honestly I started this thinking that the fourth wall breaking and the author commentary throughout the book was something that would turn me off, but Dr. Mills's (definitely not his nephew Arin Hanson in a wig) interjections really elevated the story.
Highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a good mystery, but also likes to see the genre spoofed. Don't plan to take this story too seriously and you'll have a great time.
Highly recommend this one to anyone who loves a good mystery, but also likes to see the genre spoofed. Don't plan to take this story too seriously and you'll have a great time.
ktothelau's review
3.0
I've been a fan of Dr. Cecil H.H. Mills's work since his debut novel, I Loved Infinity, released back in 2012. I'll spare the details on the reading of that 1,200+ page tome of a novel, but I still fondly recall coming across it on my 16th birthday as perhaps the greatest visit to Barnes & Noble. Dr. Mills was at my store for his book tour and I had just caught the tail end of it. The crowd was dwindling and I managed to have a short exchange with Dr. Mills on his journey as a writer and what I Loved Infinity was all about. It was then that he gave me what I once considered the best writing advice I had ever heard from any author:
"Writing isn't easy. It's hard as hell and sometimes it feels like you have to sacrifice the soul of a loved one just to have something you hope an agent will want to glance at. There are days where, as I'm writing my next novel, that I feel a cold, shadowy presence haunting me, reminding me of past sins, and it's all I can do to just keep my eyes on the blank page and force my fingers to press the keys. But remember this, kid: The page is the medium, but the truth is your ink. Find your truth, write it, and one day you'll sell millions."
At the time, I lived that advice. I found my truth, I wrote my novel, but it never sold. I didn't give up, though. I kept writing. I kept rewriting. Most importantly, I kept reading. Though Stephen King, Jim Butcher, and Katrina Leno all fueled my love of the medium and inspired how I wrote, the releases of Dr. Cecil H.H. Mills's bi-annual novels were always an event I looked forward to. I always pre-ordered and, once I received my copy, always dropped what I was doing and devoured the 1,000+ novels that explored what it meant to be human.
I never did see Dr. Mills since that day and I unfortunately missed out on his virtual book tour for this book's release. But upon reading his first foray into YA fiction, I can't help but wonder if he's become a sell-out of sorts.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the adventure of the mystery duo J.J. and Valentine Watts (who may or may not actually be brothers) and Trudi de la Rosa's inclusion seems to bring in a fresh spin on the "Hardy Boys" type genre. But... Well, whereas Dr. Mills's work were vast epics, this one barely clocks in at just above 200 pages. A lot of the themes that Dr. Mills explores deeply in his adult novels are barely detailed here, and I couldn't help but feel like Dr. Mills underestimates the intelligence of his audience. Yes, the mystery was clever, full of twists and turns, but I was hoping that at some point Dr. Mills was going to explore the relationship between J.J. and Valentine and how it relates to both their fathers abandoning them during their impressionable years and learning to be strong male role models for others despite knowing that nothing is permanent. And with Trudi involved, I wondered what her relationship with her father was like. Was it similar? Different? If different, how does this affect the group dynamic on a thematic level?
Hopefully we've reached the portion of the review where people have either given up because of the length or skimming over just to get to the end, so here is my actual review of the first Game Grumps novel!
In terms of craft, this is better than I expected. The plot is tight and keeps a brisk pace, but the characters fall flat and definitely fill roles instead of forging their own roles. In terms of comedy, it's not as good as you may hope. Sure, there are solid laughs to be had, but the ratio is about 1 solid joke every 7 pages. "Dr. Cecil H.H. Mills" only inserts himself into the book a total of 4 times, and though each time is the saving grace of the novel, it's nowhere near the same level nor amount other novels such as The Princess Bride have already done.
I liked it, though. It's a light read, but works more as novelty merch than a stand-alone book. Some of the humor of Game Grumps carries over, but it lacks the "anything goes" freestyle that keeps me, personally, watching the show. I always love Arin and Dan's sense of improv and "see what sticks" mentality, but, unfortunately, I didn't see it carry over here except for the few shining moments. I'd still be interested in what else they bring to the table, though, and hope they choose to challenge the form similar to Brandon Sanderson with Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians.
Now back to my fake review!
In conclusion, Dr. Mills has written a good book. It's just not a good Dr. Mills book. I know that I'm eventually going to receive comments from his rabid fanbase that I either missed the point or wasn't intellectual enough to see the bigger picture, but the problem is that I do. Dr. Mills made some shady deals, gambled a bit more than he was worth, and now he must write to a larger market to pay off his debts.
Maybe Dr. Mills's journey as an author serves more as a cautionary tale. I, as a budding writer, hope that I can resist the same temptations that lured Dr. Mills into the situation he is in now. After all, what greater hell is there than writing young adult fiction?
"Writing isn't easy. It's hard as hell and sometimes it feels like you have to sacrifice the soul of a loved one just to have something you hope an agent will want to glance at. There are days where, as I'm writing my next novel, that I feel a cold, shadowy presence haunting me, reminding me of past sins, and it's all I can do to just keep my eyes on the blank page and force my fingers to press the keys. But remember this, kid: The page is the medium, but the truth is your ink. Find your truth, write it, and one day you'll sell millions."
At the time, I lived that advice. I found my truth, I wrote my novel, but it never sold. I didn't give up, though. I kept writing. I kept rewriting. Most importantly, I kept reading. Though Stephen King, Jim Butcher, and Katrina Leno all fueled my love of the medium and inspired how I wrote, the releases of Dr. Cecil H.H. Mills's bi-annual novels were always an event I looked forward to. I always pre-ordered and, once I received my copy, always dropped what I was doing and devoured the 1,000+ novels that explored what it meant to be human.
I never did see Dr. Mills since that day and I unfortunately missed out on his virtual book tour for this book's release. But upon reading his first foray into YA fiction, I can't help but wonder if he's become a sell-out of sorts.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the adventure of the mystery duo J.J. and Valentine Watts (who may or may not actually be brothers) and Trudi de la Rosa's inclusion seems to bring in a fresh spin on the "Hardy Boys" type genre. But... Well, whereas Dr. Mills's work were vast epics, this one barely clocks in at just above 200 pages. A lot of the themes that Dr. Mills explores deeply in his adult novels are barely detailed here, and I couldn't help but feel like Dr. Mills underestimates the intelligence of his audience. Yes, the mystery was clever, full of twists and turns, but I was hoping that at some point Dr. Mills was going to explore the relationship between J.J. and Valentine and how it relates to both their fathers abandoning them during their impressionable years and learning to be strong male role models for others despite knowing that nothing is permanent. And with Trudi involved, I wondered what her relationship with her father was like. Was it similar? Different? If different, how does this affect the group dynamic on a thematic level?
Hopefully we've reached the portion of the review where people have either given up because of the length or skimming over just to get to the end, so here is my actual review of the first Game Grumps novel!
In terms of craft, this is better than I expected. The plot is tight and keeps a brisk pace, but the characters fall flat and definitely fill roles instead of forging their own roles. In terms of comedy, it's not as good as you may hope. Sure, there are solid laughs to be had, but the ratio is about 1 solid joke every 7 pages. "Dr. Cecil H.H. Mills" only inserts himself into the book a total of 4 times, and though each time is the saving grace of the novel, it's nowhere near the same level nor amount other novels such as The Princess Bride have already done.
I liked it, though. It's a light read, but works more as novelty merch than a stand-alone book. Some of the humor of Game Grumps carries over, but it lacks the "anything goes" freestyle that keeps me, personally, watching the show. I always love Arin and Dan's sense of improv and "see what sticks" mentality, but, unfortunately, I didn't see it carry over here except for the few shining moments. I'd still be interested in what else they bring to the table, though, and hope they choose to challenge the form similar to Brandon Sanderson with Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians.
Now back to my fake review!
In conclusion, Dr. Mills has written a good book. It's just not a good Dr. Mills book. I know that I'm eventually going to receive comments from his rabid fanbase that I either missed the point or wasn't intellectual enough to see the bigger picture, but the problem is that I do. Dr. Mills made some shady deals, gambled a bit more than he was worth, and now he must write to a larger market to pay off his debts.
Maybe Dr. Mills's journey as an author serves more as a cautionary tale. I, as a budding writer, hope that I can resist the same temptations that lured Dr. Mills into the situation he is in now. After all, what greater hell is there than writing young adult fiction?
nocturnallevi's review
4.0
Generally really enjoyed my time with this one. JJ was really annoying at times but other than that I was taken by surprise quite often and enjoyed the “author”’s antics. If you enjoy the game grumps you will enjoy this
darryn_gray's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Honestly a really fun book. There's a lot in it that brings itself out from just being like every other mystery book and I really appreciate that, it has it's own personality and emotions, it breaks rules and uses things most other books don't to its advantage. This book throws you right in, almost making you feel like you picked up the 2nd or 3rd book in a series with some of the references to something that's happened in the past, but not enough that it leaves you confused about what's going on. Arin Hanson Dr. Cecil H.H. Mills did a surprisingly good job with this book! It deserves more attention that it's gotten so far
poorsapadvocate's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
4.5
The Venn Diagram between "people who use goodreads" and "Game Grumps fans" must be very thin, but there is at least a little overlap because I'm here. And I'm a little worried that a lot of people are going to skip this one over because it a "Game Grumps book". The fact is you don't need any understanding of, or even have to like, Game Grumps to really like this book. If you're in the mood for a funny Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys-style mystery, this is the book for you. The actual mystery is less of a whodunit (although there are elements of that) and more of a treasure hunt, based not on ruling out suspects and uncovering clues but on solving puzzles and having an adventure. Said puzzles have the right balance between challenging enough to warrant solving but not so difficult that the average young adult reading them can't solve it or the answer comes out of nowhere. Who the mastermind is is also very solvable if you pay attention (although I don't think we ever figured out what was up with the henchperson and why they wanted to help, maybe they talked about it and I just missed it?). Speaking of "who", the thing that really sets this book apart is its characters. It's hard to determine who contributed what to each aspects of the story considering even the copyright page credits the author as Game Grumps, but Arin Hansen has a real talent for creating really fun characters and that shines through here. Every character has a distinctive trope that fits them in to this kind of story, from Eccentric Writer to Bitter Ex-Wife to Cop Who Just Wants These Stupid Kids to Stop Showing Up at the Crime Scene, but they're all handled in such a way that makes them feel simultaneously believable and lend themselves well to jokes. Even Truci, the one that's supposed to become the brains of the operation, still does her own sound effects as she rushing around trying to solve things. My favorite is Marcella; she starts off almost 0ver-the-top ridiculous but when you actually discover what her deal is, she becomes very likeable very fast. And, of course, there's the "author". Dr. Cecil H. H. Mills. Mills is just a very funny concept that lends itself well to jokes: the reclusive author who has almost certainly committed crimes and despises the fact that his "talents" are relegated to writing stupid stories for kids. Think Lemony Snicket but with less depression and far more snark. Like Lemony Snicket, it's often a lot more fun to figure out what's going on with the author than it is to figure out what's going on with the kids. But without giving too much away, the way Cecil interacts with the universe of the story is really fascinating and weird and so so so much fun. That's the best thing I can say about this book: it's very fun. If you're looking for a fun mystery with fun characters and an even more fun framing device, do yourself a favor and pick this up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Blood, and Death
Minor: Police brutality
mar_gier's review
4.0
3.5 / 5 stars.
The audiobook is amazing, but the characters and plot meander quite a bit and the prose is slightly overwritten. It's an overall good book though.
The audiobook is amazing, but the characters and plot meander quite a bit and the prose is slightly overwritten. It's an overall good book though.
_sequel_'s review
5.0
This book has all the energy, spontaneity, and self-awareness of the 1985 movie Clue and the video game about Keanu Reeves committing crimes and subverting justice “Absolutely: a True Crime Story” (by creators of the Stanley Parable) combined.
What the Game Grumps created in the character of Cecil H.H. Mills (also the author of the book) is a true gem of comedy and I really, really enjoyed the pacing and the mysteries and puzzles of this book. My only critique (which I’m sure is fixed in the sequel!) is that the mystery was a little overly straightforward, but honestly that didn’t diminish the book’s intrigue in the slightest!
What the Game Grumps created in the character of Cecil H.H. Mills (also the author of the book) is a true gem of comedy and I really, really enjoyed the pacing and the mysteries and puzzles of this book. My only critique (which I’m sure is fixed in the sequel!) is that the mystery was a little overly straightforward, but honestly that didn’t diminish the book’s intrigue in the slightest!
digitalmozart's review
3.0
So, I was really hoping I'd love this novel as I'm a GG fan, but unfortunately it really fell short for me. It was definitely aimed toward a younger audience (like around 11-13), which I was not expecting. The plot is a tongue-in-cheek kind of Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew pastiche, but it takes itself a bit too seriously to be considered satire or parody. The plot was fairly bland, and the whodunit aspect was pretty obvious.
I will however say that any time the author inserted himself into the work it gained new life. The interlude, Q&A, and the weird meta moments were definitely the highlights of the book. More of that would be lots of fun.
I will however say that any time the author inserted himself into the work it gained new life. The interlude, Q&A, and the weird meta moments were definitely the highlights of the book. More of that would be lots of fun.