Zundy has always been different. As a pal-tee, a distant cousin to the dwarves, he, and all others of his race, absorb traits from the very first item they touch upon birth. Instead of absorbing the essence of stone, or steel, like most others in his town, Zundy accidentally absorbed those of a beetle. Those who are different, are often treated poorly, and for Zundy, this was no exception.
His time in the small town is coming to an end though. The Great Journey, the time when all pal-tee youths of age set out in search of their race's most valued treasure, is upon them. Beyond his small town, Zundy will discover a world far grander and fantastic than he ever could have imagined.
Travel to the Green Sea, the last know sighting of the Viridian Core will be far from easy. Before he can even lay eyes on the sprawling ocean, Zundy will first need to pass through the Giantlands, and with powerful Guardians blocking his path, the task seems impossible. Zundy was never one to give up and quit though, and to him, there is no greater thrill than facing a challenge and coming out the victor.
Warning: This book contains GameLit elements, such as stats sheets, a form of leveling and experience gain.
My Opinion: 330 pages, $4.99, Available On Kindle Unlimited
Unique character race and world building
I really enjoyed the first 20% of the story with all the deep world building and character development. It was a good description of RPG mechanics becoming part of the culture and history of the fantasy world. There’s also good character development and a coming of age aspect that was really satisfying.
One of the few things that took a little away from the story for me was the odd plot turn the novel takes at about the 38% mark. It's a departure from all the stated goals that had come before it about getting through the gates of the Giantland, getting to the Green Sea, and searching for Viridian Core. It's a good story arc, it just felt out of place. Though I did like the dungeon dive that happened.
Game mechanic wise, things are solid. With the RPG mechanics being part of the world setting and cultures of the various races. For example, as infants, the MCs race gets a special attribute based on the first thing they touch besides their mother. So, a baby touching stone gets Stoneskin, one touching fire might get fire powers, etc. It's a risk reward decision with more dangerous items potentially giving more powerful abilities but also risking the babies life. There are also character sheets, stats, skills, special abilities, and a number of items that give temporary or permanent boosts. It's all woven very well into the world building of the story.
Overall, this is another good story from the author.
Score: 7.5 out of 10