The Broken Binding SF&F Sub #2: January 2026
To be honest, blogging hasn’t been going so well for me lately. Just…not feeling like it. It happens, but my numerous book subscriptions keep coming in, and I don’t want to deprive you of those unboxings.
Last October, I started the new SF&F subscription from The Broken Binding. At the time, it was still a bimonthly subscription, good for six books a year. Unlike their other subscriptions – Fantasy and Sci-Fi – this subscription focuses on newly published books, kind of like FairyLoot and Illumicrate.
In January, it was time for my second box in this subscription. And with the announcement of the theme and the much speculation online about which book it would be, I knew I wanted this one.
The theme for January was Invading Gamers. According to The Broken Binding, the accompanying book would be perfect for fans of dark humor, adrenaline-fueled, high-stakes stories, and LitRPG enthusiasts.
LitRPG, for those unfamiliar with the genre, combines a fantasy or sci-fi story with elements from role-playing video games. Think levels, stats, quests, and the like, but then incorporated into a novel. The genre has become incredibly popular in recent years, largely thanks to a certain author…
…and yes, the book in this box turned out to be by that author. Only, it’s not a new series, but a standalone story.
Of course, I’m talking about Matt Dinniman with the book Operation Bounce House.
But now the colossal Apex corporation has been hired to commence an ‘eviction action’ – exterminate all life on New Sonora in preparation for a reboot. And they charge bored Earthers for the opportunity to design their own war machines, remotely pilot them and make it a game.
The game is called
OPERATION BOUNCE HOUSE…
And New Sonora is its playing field.
Determined to defend the only home he’s ever known, Oliver and his friends find themselves fighting for their lives against these machines.
To Earth it’s a game, but to Oliver, it’s war.
I know this author mainly from the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, which is incredibly popular. The average Goodreads rating is around 4.48 stars, which is actually absurdly high.
And yet, I’ve always been a bit hesitant about it. It all sounds rather Dude Bro. 😉
That’s why a standalone book in a similar genre seems like the perfect way to get acquainted with this author, without having to immediately commit to a series of I-don’t-know-how-many books.
The blurb certainly sounds fun, although it might also seem a bit too action-packed for what I usually enjoy reading. Anyway, we’ll find out, because this book is on my TBR for March, to read together with an online book club!
The cover that The Broken Binding commissioned from @jeffbrown_graphics is completely different from the original cover.
My initial reaction was: beautifully illustrated, but perhaps a little less humorous than the original cover. That was until I noticed the rock band above the title. That detail alone piqued my interest.
Other than that, it looks very pew-pew explosive. So again, I have no idea if this book will be my cup of tea, but I definitely think the cover itself is a success. I especially like the 3-D typography of the title.
The bare hardcover features a continuous illustration by @penglu_art that runs across the front, spine, and back cover.
This illustration really enhances the video game atmosphere of the story. The only detail I’m a little hesitant about is the colour of the title on the spine. On the dust jacket, the title is white, and I think white might have worked a bit better and more coherently. But that’s a minor detail, because otherwise, the entire illustration fits the book’s vibe perfectly.
The endpapers also received illustrations, completely in the same style and atmosphere. These were created by @ptdat1610 and @volapardus.
Again, very fitting with the book’s atmosphere. But the final illustration in the chicken coop, in particular, brought out that touch of dark humor that the theme hinted at.
Of course, this book also features spray-painted edges and a matching illustration. I’m a fan of the colours, they really pop.
And this exclusive edition is also signed by the author, which is always a nice bonus.
This is a truly cool and cohesive edition.
Everything about the design, from the cover to the illustrations and the edges, exudes that video game vibe. Based on the blurb alone, The Broken Binding has really done a fantastic job translating the story into a visual edition.
The Broken Binding books aren’t cheap, but for me, they’re absolutely worth the price. The quality and care they put into their editions remains impressive.
Now it remains to be seen whether the story will win me over just as much.
Cheers,
Charlotte
