Reviewed by Sam@WLABB on
This time around, we got to go to a gaming convention, where we followed the exploits of various YouTubers, streamers, and their fans, which was really interesting and eye-opening for me. I am not that well acquainted with the gaming community, so it was an intriguing peek into their world. I liked that Priemaza took the time to present the pros and cons of this community, and she did so by telling the story from three different points of view.
1. Sam was a fledgling streamer, who was bullied at school and trying to deal with his dermatillomania, came to the con with the hope of getting Code, a popular streamer, to help him promote his channel. I really liked Sam. He was a prince among men in this story. He chose to be kind and tried to see things from other people's points of view, and I found him a pleasant way to counteract some of the more toxic male characters. I really loved how he found his people at this con and seeing him gain the confidence to stand up for what he believed in.
2. ShadowWillow was a semi-successful girl-gamer, who had made a ripple in the streaming world via a supposed relationship with Code. I appreciated that ShadowWillow had goals, when it came to her channel, but it all was so calculated. She was in a constant battle with herself. She was tired of being objectified and not being respected for her gaming skills, but at the same time, she was not ashamed to use her "wiles" to get ahead. In the end, she made some interesting decisions, but I thought they came at some expense to herself.
3. Lainey was Code's sister, and was looking to teach her brother the error of his ways. She was tired of his bad attitude and misogynistic ways, and planned to reform him via some destructive means. I love people with passion, and Lainey had a lot of passion, but she often came across as so self righteous, and I had a love/hate relationship with her. It wasn't all bad for me though, because I adore her and LumberLegs together. Aside from their adorable romance, I thought he was a good foil for her, helping her to look at multiple sides of every issue and to consider different points of view.
Overall, I found that this story revealed the good, the bad, and the ugly side of the gaming world, while also calling out unacceptable behaviors which support racism, sexism, and rape culture.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 13 August, 2019: Finished reading
- 13 August, 2019: Reviewed