Review by Booklist Review
In an epic quest to save the world from the nefarious necromancer Doomface, a young, hearty party of heroes is pulled through the multiverse and thrust into a Dungeon Brawl campaign too real for their own good. What was supposed to be a glorious end to the campaign seventh-grader Riley and his best friend had been playing for years, quickly turns into an egotistical battle across Mordrea, the capital planet of the Tenth Realm (which orbits a dying star named Eternitus, to be exact). Riley's worried enough about falling behind in school and getting grounded--let alone being whisked off to another dimension! If he doesn't make it back home before his parents know he's missing, he might as well say goodbye to fun forever. Despite troubles at home and at school, the party knows the exact roles they play, and the story takes off at full throttle with action-packed illustrations in tow. Fans of gut-busting, fast-paced stories will get a kick out of this group of gamers.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Debut author Sidhu's good-humored and gleefully self-aware fantasy adventure draws on familiar gaming tropes and mechanics to offer an epic, comedic tale of good vs. evil. Seventh grader Riley Singh would rather use his academic aptitude and computer skills to play online RPG Dungeon Brawl than apply himself at school. Though his parents assert that he's one bad report card away from being sent to boarding school, he takes comfort in his steadfast relationships with his friends: intellectual Simon Plotts, fiercely athletic Georgie Chen, and Georgie's exuberant younger brother Jasper. Upon beginning a new Dungeon Brawl game, however, the group is transported into the virtual landscape by the video game's antagonist, the dark necromancer Lord Doomface. Trapped in an alternate dimension with only a few spells and tricks to their names, Riley and company must complete quests, fight evil, level up, and defeat Lord Doomface if they want to get home in time to intercept their report cards. Dungeon Brawl's lively and vibrantly rendered setting provides the ideal backdrop for a satisfying story across which tween characters kick butt and uncover previously untapped self-confidence. The cast is racially diverse. Final art not seen by PW. Ages 8--12. Agent: Emilie Burl, Susan Schulman Literary. (July)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A role-playing game goes haywire when four kids offend a deranged wizard in an alternate universe. Riley Singh's long been told he's capable of greatness, if only he'd apply himself. But he prefers to take the easy way out--such as by forging his report card to keep his parents off his back--rather than buckling down and studying. After all, Dungeon Brawl awaits! He and his friends can't get enough of the game…until the day they're sucked into another dimension and onto a strange planet ruled by the demented Lord Doomface. Craving a fight with a "worthy adversary" to enliven his dull existence, he challenges the kids to a thrilling battle to the death. Through a gripping journey involving teamwork, sorcery, shape-shifting, and a magical guitar, Riley is forced to confront his own flaws, learning that honesty and hard work are the true keys to success. This fast-paced, action-packed story balances laughs with poignant moments of Riley looking inward and grappling with insecurities. Perfect for fans of fantasy role-playing games as well as newcomers, this tale is both meaningful and entertaining. With themes of friendship, honesty, trust, and forgiveness, Riley's journey proves that the real magic lies in perseverance. Riley is Indian American; there's diversity among his friend group. Final art not seen. A rollicking adventure sure to capture the imaginations of middle schoolers.(Fantasy. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
