Mesmerizing blend of reality and magic, where war becomes a twisted reality TV show. Hollow Quinn, a university student, joins the British army, while her friend Ezra Blake immerses himself in a gothic world of self-aware furniture. Forsyth’s writing is enchanting, but not enough for a full 5 stars. 4.5 stars!

Thanks to Net galley for providing a copy of this book.

I've just finished this book and I'm feeling a little confused. I think I liked it.
It had a slow start. Then the middle at first felt jarring as one main character was at war and another is in England doing an internship. But then I realised that was sort of the point and it became a really well written depiction of the effects of war on soldiers.

Then the last 30% everything moved quite quickly. Things got a bit difficult to understand and I'm not sure I got the ending. I've had to think it through a bit to try and understand.

Overall as I said I think I enjoyed it but parts were so confusing it's hard to say. I don't want to give spoilers but some of the language used by some characters was a little difficult to get my head round.

This was so much fun and different! I’ve never read anything like it before. I thought the characters were interesting and the plot was very fast paced and weird in the best way. Will be recommending and purchased for our library!

Hollow Quinn makes an impulsive decision to enlist in the army, whilst BFF Ezra Blake wants to serve his GiFT time in a safer setting. The world is currently at war with 'the Mandolin' (a highly advanced enemy) - a war that is currently being fought in Afghanistan & which is being televised as part of a reality show designed for public entertainment. What no-one realises it that they're all non-player characters in an ancient game, with side characters such as Mac Eden keeping NPCs from finding out the game is being played. Hollow snags a lead role in the reality show whilst Ezra makes some decisions which lead to his working in a mystical museum & both of them make decisions which threaten to reveal the game.

The reader is dropped into the action straight away, & I spent the first two chapters wondering what the hell was going on. I wasn't really being drawn in, when all of a sudden I found myself completely immersed in this dual world. The narrative is split mainly between soldier Hollow in Afghanistan, & Ezra's stint in a museum with magical properties, with occasional chapters from Mac Eden. It was strange as I preferred Ezra as a character but Hollow's reality was more interesting.

Anyway, I don't want to say too much & spoil anything as this is one of those books that it is best to read without knowing too much about the plot in advance. I will say that the reveal didn't go quite the way I thought it would & that I would love to read the sequel. The book cover is simple in design yet stunning in its use of colour & drawing the eye. Love it.

TLDR: Weird, but oddly compelling reading.

My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Troubador, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

This was a really good book with a very interesting concept and some shocking revelations.

Based around two key characters, both caught up in their own versions of the war effort, it was fascinating to see how two mundane teenagers deal with their lives, one joining the British Army and the other volunteering in a kind of gap year at a magical museum house type thing.

The characters are real and raw, even the side characters. Each one is nuanced and different. The little asides in the filming of the reality TV show are great insights into what each is thinking. This really would make a great show.

My only complaint is that, at times, the dialogue tried to be a little too clever, but overall it was quite witty.

I've already looked to see about the next book because I'm left wanting to know what happens next. 4.5 stars.

Mac Eden’s role as a side character in an ancient game is to make sure the non-player characters don’t find out about the game. Subsequently, when an extraordinary superspecies known only as the Mandolin emerges in Afghanistan, the non-player characters do what they do declare war and make a reality TV show.

Eight months of televised war later, and a reality show is the only truth anyone cares about. Frustrated by civilian life, university student Hollow Quinn volunteers to join the British army. Her only friend Ezra Blake justifies the decision not to enlist, taking solace in a gothic anomaly full of magical innovation, mystical intrigue and self-aware furniture. But when Hollow grabs a starring role in the reality show, Ezra makes an impulsive decision. A decision that forces Mac Eden to override her standing orders and instigate a gameplay that will overshadow even the horrors of a paraspecies war in Afghanistan.

And as the game levels up, the non-player characters unlock the terrible secrets of WØLF. A reality show created for war, and designed for public entertainment.

This was a fun and entertaining book, I dont really like the lit rpg style though. For fans of rpg games and the pregressive fantasy genre, this should be right up your alley. Very well written

So good. Loved this book so much. Jac Forsyth is such an amazing author. Oh my God, the storyline, the characters were just so well put together. So so good.