Justin Calderone

I had a lot of trouble getting into this book. I think it could have used a stronger editorial hand, because there's a gem of a tale in there and some interesting character interactions, but I found the beginning lagged. I also found it really hard to empathize with the characters given that they were basically uncomfortably ignoring how their buddy was harassing their one female friend despite her having made her lack of romantic interest clear -- sorry, I realize this happens, but it's hard to see hero material when they couldn't even get themselves together enough to help her out ("oh she can handle herself" is not an excuse when he's so clearly oblivious to her responses). I got more into it once the action really started (more than halfway through the book) and we didn't have to watch the friends be so painfully terrible to each other, and it was great seeing them become more self-aware as the story progressed. I feel like this had the bones of a great story, but it probably needs some heavy-handed re-writing to tighten up the pacing and not belabour the awkwardness so much that you lose love for the characters before they've even begun to shine.… (más)

I had a lot of trouble getting into this book. I think it could have used a stronger editorial hand, because there's a gem of a tale in there and some interesting character interactions, but I found the beginning lagged. I also found it really hard to empathize with the characters given that they were basically uncomfortably ignoring how their buddy was harassing their one female friend despite her having made her lack of romantic interest clear -- sorry, I realize this happens, but it's hard to see hero material when they couldn't even get themselves together enough to help her out ("oh she can handle herself" is not an excuse when he's so clearly oblivious to her responses). I got more into it once the action really started (more than halfway through the book) and we didn't have to watch the friends be so painfully terrible to each other, and it was great seeing them become more self-aware as the story progressed. I feel like this had the bones of a great story, but it probably needs some heavy-handed re-writing to tighten up the pacing and not belabour the awkwardness so much that you lose love for the characters before they've even begun to shine.… (más)

This review is of the epub version, from the Library Thing Early Release list.

LARP: The Battle for Verona is a modern day adventure story. A group of young adults spend weekends enacting "battles" (choreographed and planned encounters) for "kingdoms" (groups of people) using fiberglass and foam armor, swords, and weapons -- the intent is to live the combat, with only points and not wounds to decide the winner.

Four friends in LARP travel to a regional event, and return home to their island community off the coast of Washington State to find their island occupied by invading Mongols -- backed by North Korea. The Mongols intend to return the island to a level of technology and lifestyle of the Middle Ages -- with only LARP forces to oppose them.

I mostly enjoyed reading the book, at least after the off-putting first 20 pages, but the shallow treatment of characters, the social and military inaccuracies (role and actions of US Army, construction of community, hit-or-miss randomness of Mongol actions, boats and other resources magically appearing, etc.) were annoying and distracting.… (más)