DungeonCrawl (Print)
Author: Mychael Black
Cover Art: Angela Knight
BIN: 010399-03378
ISBN (13): 9781605218304
Genres: Action Adventure, Dark Fantasy, Print, Romance
Themes: Alternative Universe, Elves, Dragons & Magical Creatures, Gay, Magic, Sorcery, and Witchcraft
Series: DungeonCrawl (#7)
Book Length: Print
Page Count: 226
Disowned by his parents, gay gamer Elijah Burrows takes solace in his video games. When a lightning strike takes out his electricity, he finds himself stuck in his favorite game -- DungeonCrawl -- where he becomes his game character, the assassin Elian Surgis, and meets his lover, lupine mage Sarin Eckhert. Then Fate throws a wrench into the mix: the appearance of another gamer, stuck in the game world Elijah now calls home.
With war looming over their heads, and King Mirov hellbent on destroying all of Sarin’s kind, Elijah faces decisions no man should ever have to make. Mirov’s forces march toward them, hell bent on destroying the mages and their supporters. Elijah must stand by his lover Sarin, and with their friends, they must win the battle or face utter destruction. War is an ugly thing, though, and no one comes out unscathed. But hope looms on the horizon, if they can only make it through the night.
Praise for DungeonCrawl (Box Set)
"I enjoyed this series about a young gamer, Elijah, who finds himself suddenly trapped in his favorite computer game and how he adjusts to his new reality. It's a very engaging sword and sorcery story with friends, enemies, drama, and danger. There are also some steamy scenes between Elijah and his lover, the mage Sarin. I highly recommend this if you love gaming and fantasy stories with an MM bent."
-- 4 Stars from alias11, Amazon Review
"I love the premise for this book— a protagonist who finds himself transported to a video game world, finding romance, adventure, and a new life— what’s not to like?"
-- 4 Stars from Coffee <3 Amazon Review
"This was a great read for me as there are many games I would like to play but I just can't get into them, so reading about one like this worked well. I enjoyed the characters and the world."
-- 4 Stars from Rani, Amazon Review
"The series has amazing world building and unique. Its story is quite captivating and unpredictable. The characters are well written and interesting."
-- 5 Stars from J's Reviews, Amazon Review
"Enjoyable read. Lots of action twists and turns. Interesting characters and relationships among them. Good world building. Enjoyable and sexy."
-- 4 Stars from Ula, Amazon Review
"If you're into gaming and would like to read a story set in what sounds like a great game, if you enjoy the male/male aspect of and adventure-romance not (yet) found in any of the games I am familiar with, and if you're looking for a read that is a hot combination of love story and action, then you will probably enjoy this short story."
"If you're into gaming and want to know what happens when a gamer suddenly comes to life inside his game, if you'd like to see a gay hero battle seemingly overpowering odds, and if you're looking for a read that is a cute combination of action and a blossoming love story, then you will probably enjoy this short story."
"I'm enjoying this story. I like the concept -- a man ending up inside his favourite game -- and the way the author applies it. The story is well written and very easy to read... the balance between action and intimacy was just about spot on in this installment."
"If you're into action/adventures of the slightly fantastical kind, if you'd like to see an increasingly loving couple band together and fight overpowering odds, and if you;re looking for a read that gets more tension-filled and action-packed by the moment, then... enjoy this third volume of the 'what happens when a computer game comes to life' series."
"I love Elijah and Sarin. I would recommend reading this especially if you love sexy men, feisty mates, quirky friends, excitement, adventure, suspense, danger, hot sex, forever love, and a fight to right the wrong."
"...the main characters are men that are in love. They are doing their part in getting rid of a brutal leader that has stolen the throne. I liked the way that they took a guy in under their wings that was scared to state his sexuality... it was an interesting story plot and I hope that there will be more to these characters."
"If you're into action/adventures of the slightly fantastical kind, if you want to see how Elijah and Sarin deal with the newest evil plans from their opponent, and if you're looking for a read full of tension, action, and hot loving, then you might enjoy this fourth volume of the 'what happens when a computer game comes to life' series."
"Braden has his own secrets, and I was fascinated by the revelations. If you want to find out what it's like to live inside a world created as a game, if you want to see how Elijah and Sarin face their final confrontation with the evil King Mirov, and if you're looking for a read full of suspense, action, revelations, and hot loving, then you will probably like this fifth part of the 'what happens when a computer game comes to life' series."
DungeonCrawl (Print)
Mychael Black
All rights reserved.
Copyright ©2022 Mychael Black
Excerpt from Loading, Please Wait (DungeonCrawl 1)
Thunder shook the windows and startled the ever-loving hell out of Elijah Burrows. He paused the game and went to look outside. The rain hadn't even started and lightning already flashed nearby, lighting up the night sky. He sighed. He loved storms, but this area was notorious for power grid issues during heavy lightning.
He wandered back over to his desk, saved his game and exited the program. At least he wouldn't lose his progress. The quest he'd been on was annoying, to say the least, but it was a necessary step along the main story line.
DungeonCrawl had only been out for a week, and Elijah couldn't tear himself away from it. The dynamic world reminded him of games like Skyrim and several massive multiplayer games he'd played over the years. He'd often wondered what life would be like in one of those games. It had to be better than his life right now, in this world.
He opened up a browser and checked his email. Most of it was junk, with the occasional digest from one gaming group or another mixed in. He scanned the messages, clicking the checkbox to delete each one as he went. He stopped and stared at one message from an address he never expected to see again. Almost dreading to read it, he opened it up anyway.
Elijah,
I received word that you were spotted in one of... those places. As per our arrangement, you were to never show your face in such a way. It reflects poorly on me and Delilah. If you expect to continue receiving financial assistance, then you will refrain from drawing attention to yourself. My reputation is of paramount importance, and Delilah will be ostracized from her social circle should anyone discover our connection to you. Cease and desist immediately.
-- Edmond Burrows, Esq.
Elijah couldn't hit delete fast enough.
He'd been so careful to avoid cameras and anyone who he thought might know the Burrows. He'd stopped calling them his parents two years ago when they'd announced his lifestyle did not suit theirs or their expectations. The pain of them paying him to become a recluse had worn off, but no amount of money helped the loneliness.
Being the only child of the city's most prominent politician had once held perks beyond imagining. Now Elijah wished he'd been adopted. How the fuck could he be related to such cretins?
He closed the browser and sighed. No point in thinking about it now. The "financial assistance" paid for everything: food, clothing, bills. He was still surprised they'd put him in a house they owned. What would the neighbors say if they knew he was a dirty, disgusting, sinning homosexual?
Oh, and celibate. Hell, at this rate, Elijah figured he'd reverted to being a virgin all over again.
Another boom of thunder shook the house, and lightning struck swiftly after. Elijah started shutting down the computer. The last thing he needed was to fry the damn thing. It was his only solace.
Just as soon as the screen went black, the rest of the house did, too.
"Damn it!"
Elijah grabbed his cell phone and turned on the flashlight app. He made his way carefully through the pitch black living room, praying the light from his phone found the furniture before his bare feet did.
When he reached the kitchen, he rummaged for matches and a candle in one of the junk drawers. He'd been raised to always be prepared -- probably the only good thing to come out of his childhood. He found a candle and nestled the short taper in one of the empty silver candlesticks on the dining room table. After lighting it, he turned off the phone app.
Rain pounded the windows. It looked like the Biblical Flood outside as water turned the normally pristine yard into a swamp. More thunder rumbled and lightning lit up the sky. Elijah went to the front door and opened it.
He nearly dropped the candle. "What... the... fuck?"
Elijah stared at the world beyond his front door. Last he checked, he lived in a cul-de-sac in a glitzy neighborhood.
This was not a neighborhood.
Trees surrounded the house and moonlight shone through the canopy, casting pockets of silvery light on the forest floor. Nocturnal animals moved around, unseen but heard, going about their usual night routines. Elijah wandered a few feet from the house, onto a well-worn footpath wet from rain. The trail led deeper into the woods. When he turned, the candle hit the ground, snuffed out by damp leaves.
The house he'd lived in for two years was gone.
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