Her Elysium

All Alex was looking for was a healer. Someone to keep the guild safe and then BelleFleur came on the scene and could move with the Tank and heal everyone. Synchronicity. Now what happens when they meet IRL?

Fleur had been playing “Destruction of Elysium” for awhile now but had not joined any guilds. She plays a healer and has been concentrating on raising her levels. Fleur will be the first to confess that she can be a little obsessive over her online gaming. She loves it. She still goes to school and holds a job on the weekend. Fleur just prefers gaming to everything else.

Then Fleur meets Alex in a dungeon game. Alex is a tank. A tank takes all of the hits and distracts the bad guy for the rest of the team. They seem to move in sync. Alex is really funny and makes her smile and the time just fly. They spend many a night playing Elysium and chatting. Then Alex invites her out in IRL to a guild event.

Fleur cannot wait as she has developed quite a crush on Alex and she thinks he likes her too. He has been flirting with her.

They finally meet in IRL: Alex is a girl and the feelings are still there.

If you like online gaming or video games in general, you will really like this book. Emmy Engberts is in full game mode in Her Elysium (B07CX5VVVV, 2018) the first book in the “Flowers and Keyboards” series. The first four chapters mainly take place in the “Destruction of Elysium”. Engberts explains all of the terms, but still you spend the first four chapters in a video game (laugh).

Luckily for both main characters, they have best friends who humanize them. For Alex, it is Troy another gamer who understands and accepts that Alex is a lesbian who loves to quickly. Fleur has Jade, who is a little older and wiser and is excited to go on this journey with Fleur.

The story explores insecurities, labels, perceptions, acceptance of oneself and by parental units, and life with ADHD. The story is great. I have to admit after reading all about gaming, I no longer have a desire to try online video gaming (laugh). Fleur and Alex work as a couple and the supporting cast is excellent.

I keep feeling that I need to say something else, but I guess that is it (laugh). Get lost in Elysium and maybe you too will get the gaming bug.✶✶✶✶

I received an ARC of this book and I am writing a review without prejudice and voluntarily.