Viridian Gate Online: Dead Man's Tide

Illusionist Series, Book 2

By: D.J. Bodden, James Hunter

Narrated by: Daniel Thomas May

Viridian Gate Online is more than just a game...and now, it's Alan Campbell's whole world.

Recently deceased and squishy as hell, Alan, a newly minted Illusionist, is forced to flee for his life. He needs time to deal with his loss, both in-game and IRL, but first he'll have to escape his crazy ex, the treacherous Firebrand, Thalia Daceran.

On his way to safety and revenge, he'll team up with Titus, the Imperial spymaster, as well as a crew of pirates, commandos, and even a shapeshifting Mimic with a taste for blood. His path leads to Wyrdtide, a gaslit city hidden in mists and governed by dark demigods.

But even with Alan dead, the world marches on. Will the government seize control of V.G.O.? Did Horace, the blind beggar, really die? And whatever happened to Jeff? Find answers, new purpose, and the machinations of the gods in this action-packed continuation of the Illusionist series.

©2019 James A. Hunter and Shadow Alley Press, Inc. (P)2019 Tantor

AI vs Gods

Anyway, let me get down to the brass tacks, this side series continues to be among my favorites I’ve read, beating out the main series due entirely due to its content lining up closer to myself than due to any problems with the origonal series. I just see more of myself in these charecters.
This second book head a lot of interesting exploration of the world through new charecters, characters that I can’t talk about outside of spoilers but each bring something new to the lore, or at least reaffirm it.
Several new settings are introduced and leave me speechless, and of course there is more lore reguarding the overminds. I continue to think I could do an entire video essay series on AI vs gods…

Loved it

It is more VGO awesomeness, great narration. If you have listened to any of the other books, then you already know it's entertaining

good book

Recently deceased and squishy as hell, Alan, a newly minted Illusionist, is forced to flee for his life. He needs time to deal with his loss, both in-game and IRL, but first he’ll have to escape his crazy ex, the treacherous Firebrand, Thalia Daceran.

On his way to safety and revenge, he’ll team up with Titus, the Imperial spymaster, as well as a crew of pirates, commandos, and even a shapeshifting Mimic with a taste for blood. His path leads to Wyrdtide, a gaslit city hidden in mists and governed by dark demigods.

But even with Alan dead, the world marches on. Will the government seize control of V.G.O.? Did Horace, the blind beggar, really die? And whatever happened to Jeff? Find answers, new purpose, and the machinations of the gods in this action-packed continuation of the Illusionist Series.

From James A. Hunter—author of Viridian Gate Online, Rogue Dungeon, War God's Mantle, and the Yancy Lazarus Series—and D.J. Bodden, author of The Black Year Series, comes an epic new entry into the Expanded Universe of Viridian Gate Online that you won't want to put down!

Point of view

I was hoping it was just the first book in the series but the point of view changes throughout the book can be very confusing. New character perspectives were introduced very late in the book which at times was interesting but at other times was confusing or frustrating. I do like the overall story but the issues I mentioned can make it difficult to keep up with which is why I only gave it three stars for the story. The viridian gate online is still an interesting world and I like the main character so it certainly has some redeeming qualities.

Good book two

Follows along where book one left off with good intensity and remains true to the storyline from the first book

great story

been listening to all these books in the viridian gate online series loving every minute

Pretty Good Book

I enjoyed the book. I really enjoyed the character progression. I thought the first book took too long in the progression and it was nice to see the main character finally come into his own in this book. However, I was unsatisfied with the ending of the book. I won't go into spoilers, I will just say I don't like how the main character's nemesis was handled in the end of the book.

Very Good

This continues to be a very good series. The MC isn't one dimensional, the story moves along well, and the secondary characters in the game are developing well. As in my review for book 1, the boss and romantic interest's motivations in RL are very dark. I expected those to break out and have more in book 2, but those characters and part of the story weren't explored in book 2. Maybe book 3 will start exploring that part of the story and characters.

Pretty good.

The story was a lot of fun. I enjoyed the book and definitely recommend reading it or listening to it yourself.

needs a sound effect for swapping character dialog

so, I really enjoyed the book. but all to often I listen to a new book and get really frustrated when there a is a character swap and there is no foretelling to let me know, just need a small noise that maybe flutters for bgm effect. but that is only a gripe. the only other thing I was irritated about was the less use of outside characters from outside the game. but I understand. this is a book about Alan. and not vgo and the work arounds characters