If you love role playing games and adventures than this book might be for you. I’m new to this genera of games so there was a little terminology that was new to me but it wasn’t overwhelming nor did it deter me.

The story pops you right in to a tournament and I applaud Sparks for capturing my attention from the start. It was fast paced and you got to learn about Daxx, our main character and his backstory. Really enjoyed how relatable he is and through gaming you got to see how much of a passion he not only has for what he does but the friendships he has made.

To me the story had a strong beginning but it seemed to have run into a bit of a slow almost meandering pace in attempt to flesh out the characters and story while on side quests. Sparks did a great job on the humor and for me the adventure could have moved a bit faster but the concept of this book was very appealing to me.

Thank you Arc Manor and NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

New Rock, New Role is a fantasy based on RPG games. Our protagonists happen to be champions of this RPG they play, but as soon as they win the championship tournament, they are sent into another universe similar to their game. In the process, they are turned into their avatars, only to start with their basic equipment. Right away, I can applaud Sparks for crafting a unique plot concept. The execution isn't that bad, and throughout the first half I am quite engaged by it.

Our protagonists consist of Daxx, Grell, and Qyrsta (which I may or may not have spelled wrong, it's a difficult name). They each have strong personalities, especially Grell. I would have to say that Qyrsta is the weaker of the three, being introduced after a longer portion of time than Daxx or Grell. You see, they all spawned in the world in different places, and that, too, I feel was not explained well, though it could be reserved for the sequel.

As for the secondary cast, they are surprisingly memorable. Even if I can't keep track of their names, I can recall actions they did, or traits they showed. Those whose appearance was limited to one chapter are still fresh in my mind as well. No one sticks out as shallow.

Alas, this book is not a five-star read, as there are some major issues I had as it progressed.

For one, exposition was fed to the reader more than once. I'm not referring to several paragraphs, but entire chapters. Sometimes two, one after the other. All of this serves to explain a character's whereabouts during a disappearance. It was interesting to see what these characters were up to, but at the same time, I believe inputting the information into a novella of sorts would be better. That, and it can result in more information than characters going on and on about an event, with occasional interjections from those nearby.

Secondly, there were times where it began to feel like a generic fantasy. Don't get me wrong, the book is great! But I chose to read because of the idea of gamers being put in a game world. I guess when not all the mechanics of the game are present, it can be difficult to keep the game atmosphere, so I won't hold too much against Sparks for this. However...

The plot felt disjointed. In the first half, the goal seemed to be to find the rest of Daxx's party and get out. Then, they meet a character in the second half and have to escort her, and by now none of the characters really want to leave. By the last half, it shifts into a different plot entirely. They are connected but don't feel like the same novel. With the book clocking in at 465 pages, some trimming might have worked in the book's favor. Find what's needed and what's not, then remove it.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and Sparks is a vivid and talented writer. I will eagerly await the next novel, even if I might have given this book a less-than-stellar review.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Did I finish this book? No.
Did I enjoy it, and do I think it’s a three star read? Yes.

DNF at 30%

This is a tough one. I was enjoying this book, but it’s very slow. Not the pacing - it’s just that a LOT happens. At 30% through, the story already spans more than a year. However, the main characters then started discussing how they hadn’t even started the Main Quest yet. That’s when I had enough. I liked this book, I wanted to finish the story, but it’s not happening.

The MC’s are likeable, but I wish the female group member had been around. She’s introduced at the start, but a third in and she’s still not joined the party (pun intended). Also, again, lots happening, so many, many characters. Not generally something I mind, especially in fantasy, but in the end there are only so many characters I can really care about. Daxx and Grell are endearing enough, though, and minor characters are quite well fleshed out.

The plot? I can’t say too much, really, because I don’t know where this goes in the end. It’s somewhat meandering. Entertaining, and probably more-so if you’re more familiar with RPGs. The story is easy to follow for anyone who’s not, though, without over-explaining. The humor is a nice touch, being just the right amount of self-deprecating. I just wish some of the plot- and worldbuilding had been edited out. At its core, this is an adventure story, and faster plot progression would have helped (me).

So: read if you are more patient than I am, and play ALL the side quests always.

When I first joined NetGalley, I was mistaken about how it worked. I was under the impression that we received physical copies of books. I didn’t realize it was strictly online. So I requested some books thinking I’d be getting them in the mail, and once I figured out how the app works, I realized I had made a mistake. I tried my very best to read these books, but my eyes just can’t handle it. I can’t read a book online. It has to be a physical copy or it hurts my eyes and gives me headaches. From here on out, I will only be requesting graphic novels, comics, and manga. Those don’t hurt my eyes. I will most certainly be buying these books in physical form the very day they are published! And then I will most certainly leave a review on goodreads. I look forward to reading the rest of the books. They are all very good so far, and I can’t wait to finish them! Thank you for this opportunity and I am sorry that I was wrong about how it worked at first. Now I know.

I love role playing games so I was excited for this one. I enjoyed it at points but it wasn't a book that gripped my attention.

New Rock, New Role by Richard Sparks will be released December 12, 2023. Arc Manor/CAEZIK SF & Fantasy provided an early galley for review.

As a gamer and a big fantasy fan, this one easily appealed to me. The story concept I've seen before in various mediums (the first time being in Joel Rosenberg's Guardians of the Flame series which began in the early 80's), but I am always open to it - especially if the author can bring something new to the table in their work.

Right off the bat, I like that Sparks fills in the non-gamer reader with details so they understand from where the main characters are coming. He isn't assuming that everyone came to the story from the same viewpoints. I like too how he takes time for the main characters gather their bearings in the new world they've found themselves. He covers all the bases in the ways it would make sense. He also does not go down the standard routes with his worldbuilding; the fantasy world he presents has some different choices that make the world its own.

Clocking in at 500 pages, there is a lot of story here. At times, it might seem to be moving slowly, but Sparks is being very thorough. The reader discovers things as the main characters do with a steady trickle, and even smaller side treks end up providing layers to the overall narrative. This is a slow simmering tale with moments to savor and digest. I won't lie - it does get a little weirder towards the end, but it does make sense.

Even as this book ends, there is a lot more of this story to tell. I've read that the author has completed two more titles in the series (slated for 2024 releases) and is working through several more after those. Clearly, Sparks has a passion for these characters and the world he has created. The reading experience is enhanced when there is passion in the writing.