The goal was simple: level up and earn enough points to pay for my mother’s medical needs.
I’m Kayla and I wanted to soar through the air and command the wind as a feared and respected Airmancer in an online Gothic fantasy world. I’d collected what experience we needed, but someone decided victory shouldn’t be mine. I got hacked, and they used my points on a build used for mule accounts. Now, apparently, I cook. I do magic with my food, but not by choice.
Not only do I have to deal with that, but I have to survive a world filled with the undead, vampires, and a group of people who think I should suffer some more.
With the help of my friends—a flesh-golem, fairy illusionist, and a shape shifter—we put a plan in place to prove to my enemies I can win and help my mom with flour power.
If you love unique classes, strong female protagonists, non-harem GameLit/LitRPG elements, and a self-contained story, you’ll love Cookmancer Online!
My Opinion: 266 pages, $3.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited
Not Much Depth
I didn’t like this story. It’s not badly written, but I never connected with the main character (MC) and actually kinda didn’t like her. Her backstory pushes her into this victim role that didn’t feel right.
The story world is set in a far flung future where humanity is saved from environmental and social destruction by an A.I. that now works with governments to preserve and better humanity. All the major woes, like housing and food have all been solved. Yet, this same A.I. unfortunately, can’t seem to tell when a scummy ex-boyfriend is lying or that there’s a pattern of bad behavior on his part. The real world honestly lacks in much detail or depth and unfortunately that pattern follows the story into the game world. There’s not only a lack of depth to the game mechanics, but the game world in general. I mean, beyond playing the game for social credits, what’s the point? Sure the MC is supposed to be working to save enough credits for her mom’s surgery, but wouldn’t getting a job and saving actual money be better?
On the subject of the game mechanics, the story is pretty light. I mean, there are plenty of scenes in the game, and characters have builds and you can tell the author has gaming experience from how the fights are described. But the game mechanics just lack depth and balance. Additionally, I just expected more cooking from a build called Cookmancer. Instead the MC summons any ingredients she wants in the air and drops them on people and monsters, seemingly without cost of any kind.
Overall, the novel didn’t work for me. It didn’t satisfy that LitRPG itch for me. I actively disliked the beginning of the story and while the end was good enough to mitigate some of that, it was an uphill battle. The story feels like a write to market attempt from someone that’s more used to writing another kind of novel. There are really big emotional stakes and development but little depth to the world or game and in the plot, the game just felt of secondary concern which made the story less than entertaining for me.
Score: 6 out of 10
Cookmancer Online: A LitRPG / GameLit Novel (VR Verse Book 1)