Review of Steam Whistle Alley by Joshua Mason

I like the pro/con format so it prevents me from only focusing on the negative.

A review of Steam Whistle Alley by Joshua Mason. Tl;dr: 4 stars out of 5. This is a YMMV novel because so many things it gets right and wrong will sway how you feel about it, depending on personal preferences.

The pros:

• Detailed World.
• Character driven.
• Likable cast.
• PG-13.
• Fun and more personal story than many of the LoTR style books out there in the genre.

The Cons:

• Game mechanics are light, (intentionally so, may be pro or con depending on your flavor.).
• Bad guys are not believable, either in motivation or how they go about everything.
• Serious legal issues would be raised by this game.
• Final goal is a plot trope that’s not one of my favorites.
• Cliffhanger ending.

Referenced articles:

• Use and Abuse of Tropes
• Two Worlds Problem and common pitfalls in LitRPG books