When Dagmar lands in Jakarta, she finds her connecting flight has been canceled… along with every other flight out of the country. The currency is under attack and a revolution is underway. Luckily, Dagmar is the major producer/writer for Great Big Idea, a company that specialized in creating ARGs: alternate reality games. Her boss is a multimillionaire and he’s determined to get Dagmar out of the country and back to safety, where she can start writing the next big game. When some of the more conventional rescue attempts fail, Dagmar turns to the online gaming community to help her.

Fast forward to a few months later, with Dagmar back in LA and starting a brand new ARG. As the game gets underway, one of Dagmar’s longtime friends is murdered. Can she once again call on gamers to help solve this murder? And, as Dagmar digs deeper to solve this mystery, other countries come under attack, just like Jakarta. The line between game and reality begins to blur… however, This Is Not A Game.

Okay, this book is difficult to sum up, particularly without sounding cheesy. Williams does an excellent job between joining online games with reality, as well as recognizing the strange potential of massive amounts of gamers. I think he creates a story that will appeal to classic RPGers as well as those who’ve only gamed on a console or computer. I liked Dagmar – she was resourceful, funny, and creative.

If I have any complaints for this book, it’s that it felt like there were a few loose ends or unnecessary characters/plot bits. The transition from the chapters in Jakarta to the start of The Long Night of Briana Hall was abrupt, and the ending didn’t have quite the punch I expected… or maybe I was just thinking there was going to be another plot twist. The moments with the gamers are gold… I wish there were more (why is it I hate reading message boards in real life, but enjoy them in a story?). And there’s just something thoroughly enjoyable about a plot involving what happens when gold-farming goes so wrong.

If you love gaming, whether it’s on paper and involves d20s or if it’s on a console or involves being in character, this is a book you’ll probably enjoy. I’m glad it was recommended to me!