VRMMORPG has arrived, along with: bugs, exploits, OP classes, over the top nerfs, p2w, ridiculous RNG, lockboxes, raging players, broken mechanics, limited bag space, tedious crafting... and then there are the goblins and ogres.
Bitter is an ongoing slice-of-life story about a girl who finds her life isn't what she wanted. So she gets another one.
Bitter started as a daily online serial, available to read at MoodyLit.com. This book collects chapters 101-200 in an edited form.
My Opinion: 327 pages, $3.99, Not Available on Kindle Unlimited
The author’s description of the story isn’t very good and is copy and pasted for each book. So here’s a reminder of book 1 and a better description of book 2.
Book 1: Britta, a teenage girl, is curious to understand why her dad is always playing some VR game. Late at night one day, she decides to use his expensive VR gear to create her own character and see what all the fuss is about. She doesn’t care about what character she has and randomly chooses to be a gnome illusionist, one of the games weakest builds. Yet, something goes awry. Instead of the standard MMO experience, the teen seems to have some mysterious connection with the AI governing the game and each NPC interaction is as full and detailed as it would be IRL. Is it because of her unique non-violent play style? Or her random build? The developers want to find out.
Book 2: Britta is back. Fresh off her deal with the developers, she’ll be monitored to see how her unique interactions with the game world change things. Britta however, is only interested in having fun in the game and decides to try her hand at a beginner level dungeon. Only nothing unfolds as it should. Instead, she finds a possessed dwarf chasing her and her backstabbing group through a kobold filled mine. Can she defeat the dwarf and free the kobolds from its terrifying presence?
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This is a slice of life story that was originally published online as a serial story. However, of all the books in the series so far, this one has the most coherent plot. Mostly.
About 80% of the story revolves directly around the beginning dungeon, The Mines of Korlath, and the Britta’s attempt to beat it. Because the game world interacts differently with Britta, the main character (MC), she gets a different experience with the dungeon. Her and Stan get involved in a unique storyline involving a possessed dwarf, kobold miners, the town crime family, and a corrupt mayor.
Part of the story is about how big a jerk Stan is, since he can’t get that same quest line when he tries to run the dungeon on his own and tries to force the MC to group with him again.
The other main part of the story is actually about figuring out different tactics to beat this high level possessed dwarf in an almost Groundhog Day cycle of death. It’s neat.
I could feel the story arc coming to a resolution, then near the end of the novel, it just swerves onto a different story path away from the dungeon directly. Instead, it focuses on her normal life and a murder mystery thing.
Overall, I was a little disappointed that the arc seemed like it was so close to finishing and didn’t. Then I remembered this story is a serial online and it warns in advance it’s a slice of life story. It is what it is and I still had a good time reading it. But be aware of what this is before you expect normal plotlines and resolutions in each book.
Score: 7 out of 10.