The only good thing, I guess, is that it takes away from their ability to write and create good stories. While I’m writing new books, they are bashing me and other Indie Authors as almost a full-time job. Who knows, maybe that’s how they make their money. I’ve gotten so accustomed to it that it’s just par for the course.
The IAK guild has been successful to a point. If not for their constant attacks, my series would be sitting at a solid 4.9 to 5.0 stars rating. If my books are left alone for a week or two, they immediately start rising up through the rating ranks. Still, even with all of the IAK guild love, my books are still “sitting good” in their overall ratings. Yes, they are rift with reviews saying some of the nastiest things about me and the series, but as with most controversy, that just seem to motivate new readers to check out the books even more. So, in some ways, I guess I owe the IAK a big thank you for making The World series stand out that much more in the sea of LitRPG and Gamelit titles.
In the end though, it’s you, the fans of the series, which have stopped these PKers from blocking my books. You have successfully nullified the worst of their attacks and kept the series alive. The initial reviews on the silent release of book four’s audible book built up to the point that the IAK guilds’ attacks fell flat once they realized the new book was out. After that, it was everyone’s reviews that keep the ratings up high enough to encourage new readers to continue seeking out the series. Without your staunch support, The World series would have faded away to obscurity long ago due to the activities of the IAK guild.
Please accept my heartfelt thank you and know that every new book in the series is only possible because of your continued support. This is also why I always encourage everyone to leave reviews for me and all of the authors that you like. Only in this way will you ensure that those authors will continue to write the stories that you love to read and stop the IAK guild from blocking everyone but their members. Otherwise, the genre we love will be full of carbon copy titles that read the same and only vary by different MC names and themes.
Lastly, I want to thank everyone for allowing me, as an author, to experiment with new storylines and ideas. I really went all out in Book four. The good thing is that the novel is nothing like I’ve ever read before. The bad, is that some of the topics can be somewhat uncomfortable at times. It is the nature of my writing to do my best to make the series as realistic, deep and well-written as I possible. My world is not a pretty, cutesy place. It is dark and gritty where the digital AIs that make up The World do their best to live and survive.
Star finds himself in a lot of unique situations. He is not a hero, nor would I say that he’s an anti-hero. He’s just a guy doing his best to play a game and have fun, while trying to help his friends hit the Pro Gamer status. At the same time, he does his best to treat people right, whether they’re digital people or a fellow players like him. As with anyone, he has baggage from his past. Whether it’s in the form of his abusive childhood or relationships with abusive women, it weighs down his soul and makes him who he is. He’s also a young, horny guy in his early twenties who definitely appreciates the physical beauty of women in the game world. That doesn’t mean he’s an overt lecher, but, as with everyone, he has his own internal dialog and thoughts. It has always been my belief that actions speak louder than words. If you’re going to judge Star, judge him for what he does and how he treats people.
While books 1 through 3 were more about Star exploring the world and the people in it, book 4 shows the beginning of his growth on the inside. The level of horror and suffering in The World really hits Star deeply and he begins to change by the end of the story. This change will grow in the proceeding books and I hope does a good job in representing how experiencing trauma and horror can alter a person in real life. I hope you enjoy the journey.
Jason Cheek, author of The World series.
PS: I will be starting a Patreon page soon!