LARP: THE BATTLE FOR VERONA.
By Justin Calderone.
Dennis is a larper and he’s been
a larper ever since he stood up for two of the unpopular kids at school. That
decision sealed Dennis’ fate as one of the losers and lost him the protection
and status having a football star brother had gained him. Dennis is still
friends with those same two kids, still larping and still being mocked by his
brother and everyone like him. And it’s not fair. He’s a professional success,
intelligent and there’s far more to him than larping.
Dennis has reached a point where
he feels trapped. Trapped by the life he is leading and trapped by the decision
he made all those years ago. What ifs plague him. What if he had not saved them
from the bullies? What if he had not taken up larping? What if he had listened
to his brother? Perhaps the life he is living is not the one he is supposed to
be living. And with that, Dennis decides that this weekend’s larping tournament
will be his last. Unfortunately when crisis hits his hometown it looks as
though Dennis won’t be able to turn away from larping just yet.
The book begins very much with
Dennis in focus, but the roaming point of view that is used throughout is
occasionally confusing, as it switches frequently mid-chapter and mid-scene. In
fact there is a section in the latter part of the book where one of Dennis’
friends becomes the main focus of the story, and that means Dennis, who has
been the hero of the story up to this point, takes a back seat for a
considerable period, which feels slightly out of kilter with the rest of the
narrative.
What is interesting is that when
the main crisis of the story begins, Dennis and his friends are not immediately
plunged into the centre of events, which makes for a refreshing angle on the
‘save the world’ adventure story. Much of the book is unpredictable which also
works in its favour.
This is definitely a feel good
book for all those who were mocked and called a nerd during their younger
years. LARP fans will be thrilled at the level of detail and realism that
Calderone captures. This is the kind of story where it is necessary to suspend
belief and just go with it, but if you do you will find yourself enjoying a
light-hearted and fun read. Pure escapism.
Elloise Hopkins.
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