Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite

May, a high schooler who goes by Garlic on the MMORPG Zenix Online, bumps into Finn, a high schooler from another school and a Rogue in the game, and they quickly become acquaintances. Garlic introduces Finn to Bodvar, an older player and Garlic’s friend, who urges Finn to join their group for quests. Bodvar realizes they all make a good team and forms a guild called Aegis. The more quests they do and the more time the guild spends together, the closer Finn and Garlic grow. Soon, Bodvar updates the guild about a huge upcoming change in the game. Players will be allowed to cross over to a new gaming world, where everything will be reset, including the current rules and player status. Most Aegis members want the move. However, Finn and Garlic are reluctant. When Finn learns that Garlic has accepted the move without informing him, he feels betrayed. He is about to shock Aegis with his next move. What exactly will Finn do? Find out in Mayfly by Nathan Roth.

If you are looking for a young adult gamelit novel flavored with teenage drama, adventure, fantasy, action, thrills, realism, and suspense, Mayfly by Nathan Roth is a perfect pick. Roth wastes no time introducing readers to the action in Zenix Online and the characters’ personal struggles. The narration moves at a steady pace, alternating moments of reflection, tension, and bursts of action. One moment, I would be watching May or Finn in the real world, dealing with friendship, relationships, and family situations. The next thing, I’d be following both in the game, accomplishing missions, connecting, and learning about each other. Many young readers will relate to May and Finn. They both love being online in the game because it is the only place they get to be themselves. Roth shows how video games and virtual immersive platforms help kids deal with real-world challenges and also form connections. I highly recommend reading the previous book to enjoy this enthralling read.