Discount Dan

I’ve never actually read a litRPG before. It’s a genre that has intrigued me, but I’ve never picked up a book in the genre until now and Discount Dan by James Hunter has proved to be an enjoyable introduction to the genre.It is difficult to describe the literary genre that Discount Dan sits in. Set in a sprawling mall-like world called the Backrooms, it resembles somewhat of an eclectic mix between fantasy, horror and apocalyptic science fiction. This works well, because speculative fiction that blurs the lines between science, fantasy and horror is a particular interest of mine. This mix gives Discount Dan a unique setting that feels fresh and interesting with each discovery made in it.The story follows the eponymous Dan as he attempts to set up a convenience store to help new Delvers traverse the Backrooms and make a bunch or money (or tokens) in return. It's a really interesting premise that is not often seen in fantasy. Dan is a charming character and provides enough humour to be entertaining, but Croc can be a little over the top sometimes.The novel sometimes relies too heavily on memes and references to get a few cheap laughs and I found myself skipping over a lot of the ability and achievement descriptions. I know that they are probably a staple of the litRPG genre, but they started to get a little repetitive. I'm not entirely sure that litRPG is for me, but even so, I can tell a lot of love went into this novel.Discount Dan is a novel with tons of heart and a great read for anyone looking for a eclectic mix of litRPG, humour, and horror.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.