An eldest of four siblings, Colm, a struggling student without a pinch of credit on hand, is desperate to feed his siblings. Forced to clean an abandoned building at school, he meets a man named Viktor, who invites him to a rather expensive omnidirectional equipment used by players to earn their keep—in the game, Corepunk, where credits are traded for in-game equipment. A game over 200 years old.

Thinking he will hunt monsters and progress, Colm must now navigate the politics of the game while trying to stay alive for as long as he possibly can without getting stabbed in the back!

(CHANGED) DROPPED

1. Focuses more on politics and intrigue (there's action too though!)

2. Focuses more on character dynamics rather than power fantasy. This novel is more of a collection of character studies.