Basic Book Spotlight
Title: Path of Relics: Aether Shard
Author: DJ LeJeune
Genre: Science Fiction / GameLit
Main character description (short): Terry is a down-on-his-luck gig-worker in a job-starved future who loves to play video games. He’s hardworking, but suffers from low self-esteem.
Synopsis:
He entered the contest to win cash…
Now millions could die.
Random gigs and ramen noodles… that’s how out-of-shape gamer Terry survives the job-starved future of 2044. Until he’s accepted into the Path of Relics tournament—the most anticipated virtual reality RPG event of the decade—where he has the chance to win some real loot.
But does he have a fighting chance against the world’s top Active-VR athletes?
Not to mention the ancient dungeons, puzzles, scorpion-wolves, and all-too-realistic NPCs the game world throws at him. And just how advanced is this “Portal Rig” that lets him physically experience the fantasy world as if he were transported there?
Worse, could his suspicions be true?
Are the strange and deadly malfunctions plaguing Manhattan somehow triggered by Path of Relics?
Now, outmatched and exhausted, can Terry’s mysterious ability to level-up quickly and his meager martial arts skills help him avert catastrophe in the real world?
Lose yourself in a fantasy world of dead gods, lost civilizations, and forgotten lore, made possible by the advanced technology of 2044.
Brief Excerpt 250 words:
As Terry feared, their HP only whittled away. They must be high-level. Terry yelled as he neared the scuffle, drawing attention away from Chris.
Two of the four men broke off, racing to meet him.
He whirled his Kali sticks, deflecting each of their attacks in turn. Then Terry whipped around and caught the nearest man with solid strikes to hip and neck. He leapt back as the man’s companion thrust forward with his blade.
Together, the two men pressed Terry, putting him on the defensive.
He shuffled back through the obelisks, blocking and dodging. Still, he took a couple of hits, bringing his health down by a quarter.
These NPCs were high-level. Unlike the goblins, they fought smart, pushing Terry between them. His heart thundered, straining at the collective effort of the fight and his earlier sprint up the stairs.
The killing intent in the men’s eyes chilled him. Up to this point, he’d only fought creatures in PoR. Battling human NPCs was disturbing.
He wondered briefly if they might be special, like Jade. In the heat of battle, it was impossible to tell, but it didn’t matter. He needed to turn that seal back on, no matter what. Lives in the real world were at stake—lives he knew weren’t faked by an algorithm.
Why should readers buy this book (50 words max)?
If you want an adventurous escape that’s a mix of Ready Player One, Lord of the Rings, and Indiana Jones, give Path of Relics a try. Experience the action, secrets, real-world stakes, and compelling weak-to-strong progression, plus get a sneak-peek into the near future of advanced AI and full-immersion VR.
Links etc.
Website: https://djlejeune.com
Amazon Path of Relics Link: https://www.amazon.com/Path-Relics-Aether-Seeker-Odyssey-ebook/dp/B0B9RRJ2MQ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/djlauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DJLAuthor
