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Avery Blake
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Family Royale Kindle Edition

by Avery Blake (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.5 out of 5 stars 57
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After losing his wife and son, Orin, due to his alcoholism, Dennis Hoke feels like he really needs a lucky break. He sees the Family Royale online gaming competition as his chance at redemption. This is the moment when he can rise to the challenge and finally become the father Orin needs.

They enter the contest together, competing to see which family can come out on top. What starts out as a great bonding experience for father and son soon derails as Dennis becomes addicted to success and his newfound stardom.

Orin begins to question just how far his father will go to win? And what’s the point in winning the game if you lose your soul?

Family Royale is a new stand-alone near-future SciFi novel by Avery Blake, author of Analog Heart, Vicarious Joe, and The Taken Saga.

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  1. Print length
    188 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    July 24, 2022
  5. File size
    1919 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B5NQD5WV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sterling & Stone (July 24, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 24, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1919 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 188 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.5 out of 5 stars 57

About the author

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Avery Blake

Avery Blake

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Avery Blake is obsessed with all things sci-fi. She writes stories about the things that fascinate and occasionally terrify her and the potential futures humanity might have.

You'll be hard pressed to find Avery, as she's always on the move, staying one step ahead of the tracking bots (that are coming soon, if not already here).

Customer reviews

3.5 out of 5 stars
3.5 out of 5
57 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

SLE
5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic, unpredictable, nice twist!
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2022
This is a story about a father trying to overcome some mistakes and bond with his son. He decides to sign them up for something like an endurance challenge but with a big online side to it. The story unfolds with interesting interactions, realistic situations (some predictable / some not) and a really great twist at the end. I kept finding myself trying to coach the dad to do this or don't do that! It's a quick, enjoyable read!
One person found this helpful
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Charity Rowell
3.0 out of 5 stars As a sci-fi, this fell flat
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2022
I have to admit, I'm a little disappointed with this book. When I think of science fiction, I think of speculative fiction in which future tech has an impact on society or a single person, time travel, futuristic tech, parallel universes, space exploration, artificial intelligence, cybernetics, and other advanced futuristic concepts. I don't think of an app that uses gamification to bring families closer together or to teach children values. This and much of the other technology that is mentioned in the book already exists or is currently being researched.

The plot of the book doesn't focus so much on the impact that the app has made on Dennis and his son, Orin, it seems more focused on Dennis' self-destruction than the app. The app didn't cause Dennis' problems, Dennis did that all on his own by essentially trading one addiction for another. The app could have literally been replaced with anything, such as real-life roleplaying or a video game tournament, and the outcome would be similar to the ending of the book.

As a contemporary fiction/contemporary drama book, my view of the book would be different. Orin and Dennis have decent histories and the dichotomy between the two is illustrated well. The dialog and interaction between father and son with their surroundings were well-articulated. It's easy to see when Dennis begins his spiral downwards and the effect that this has on Orin. Dennis' compulsion to win overrides the original purpose of entering the competition, which was to have fun. I found myself emotionally invested in the plot; sometimes I wanted Orin and Dennis to win, and there were other times when I hoped they'd lose so that Orin could get the love from his father that he was desperately seeking.

As a science fiction book, the premise fell flat. As a contemporary drama/contemporary fiction, I thought it was an enjoyable read.
3 people found this helpful
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N. L.
4.0 out of 5 stars not scifi, but entertaining
Reviewed in the United States on August 4, 2022
Verified Purchase
The setting is borderline scifi but since most of the training and even the actual contest is mostly held in an obstacle course we can conduct today, I think most won't consider this book scifi. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the father Dennis's POV and what we could guess of the son Orin's POV. The plot itself is extremely predictable, down to the switch in addiction and justifying, but I found it overall entertaining. Good read, and will be looking for more of this author's work.
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Lilik
5.0 out of 5 stars In the mind of an addict
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2022
This book gives a good perspective of how an addiction can first change a person, then utterly destroy a life.
It begins with small things, continues with self-deception, then blaming others and then one of 2 things: death or redemption.
It's also about hurt - oneself, but mainly those closest.

Well written, and a good plot.
One person found this helpful
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Lady Author
4.0 out of 5 stars Good, Contemporary Fiction
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2022
Good writing, smooth characterizations, interesting storyline. I couldn't give it 5 stars because it's missing that "something" that could have caught my interest. When I find myself just turning pages without an emotional attachment, I set the story aside. It's odd, really. I enjoy literature and movies from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which, when produced would have been tagged as contemporary. But which are now shelved as historical fiction.
In truth, it isn't the writing, it's the story. I do not have whatever it takes to pick up a book to read about what's going on in contemporary society. I suppose if I lived another 50 years, this type of story would become interesting reading. No, I don't watch or listen to the news. I'm living the news. I don't want to spend my leisure time reading about it. It saddens me that we've forgotten how to add hope to our writing these days.
This is a story to be enjoyed, by those who enjoy contemporary fiction. It is a bit slow, but it moves along. It gets "there". It is enjoyable, perfect for those who enjoy the premise and the setting. So, yes, enjoy. As for me, I shall walk the moors and listen for the forlorn howl of a ghostly canine.
2 people found this helpful
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Wob's Girl
5.0 out of 5 stars This will make you rethink your social media interactions-
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2022
I could totally see the premise of this book playing out in real life. It will definitely make you rethink when you post! Enjoyed this book!
One person found this helpful
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Andrew A. Bassock
4.0 out of 5 stars Father and Son bonding?
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2022
Things have been tough for Dennis and Orin. Dennis and his wife went through a tough divorce because of Dennis’s alcoholism and after years of separation, Dennis finally has an opportunity to reunite with his son. Bonding doesn’t come easy and Dennis tries to win his son back by finding something in common. His son’s affinity towards video games leads Dennis to enroll them both in a father/son competition. Through the story, the reader will witness cracks in Dennis’s resolve. Bouts of selfishness and self pity. But Dennis seems oblivious to his behavior and Orin is all too aware. From there, the tale unfolds……
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Susan Hansen
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2022
This book was a nice read. Fairly predictable but kept me reading until the end. Would recommend it.
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