Do they need to read Book 1 first?

Ideally, yes. This is the second half of a story that started in the first book (Goblin). While you can piece together what's happening, the emotional stakes for the characters won't land as well if you skip the intro.

Is this basically just 'Sword Art Online' in book form?

It shares the same DNA—trapped in a game, tower levels, life-or-death stakes—but it's more focused on traditional tabletop RPG mechanics. If they liked SAO, they will almost certainly like this.

How much 'math' is in the book?

There are stat blocks and level-up notifications, but it's not a math textbook. It’s enough to make the world feel like a game without slowing down the story for most readers.

Is there any romance or 'adult' content?

It’s very clean. The focus is almost entirely on the quest, the mechanics, and the survival of the group. It's safe for middle-grade readers.

LitRPG – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

LitRPG

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2018

82%

WISE Score

A 'stuck in the game' fantasy where leveling up is the plot and teamwork is the only way out of the tower.

LitRPG

book

2018

82%

WISE Score

A 'stuck in the game' fantasy where leveling up is the plot and teamwork is the only way out of the tower.

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Screenwise Verdict

If your kid spends more time looking at stat blocks in Roblox than reading actual paragraphs, this is the bridge. It’s a fast-paced, system-heavy fantasy that respects the reader's gaming knowledge without requiring a screen.

It isn't high art, and it doesn't try to be. It's a 'Level Up' story that works because it understands the dopamine hit of a completed quest. For a reluctant reader who loves Minecraft or Sword Art Online, this is a low-friction way to get them to put down the headset and pick up a book.

Age Fit

Perfect for the 10-14 crowd. It’s written at a Middle Grade to Young Adult level that hits the sweet spot for kids who have outgrown Diary of a Wimpy Kid but aren't ready for the grimdark violence of adult fantasy.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Focuses heavily on party dynamics, cooperation, and shared goals. While there is fantasy combat, the core is about a group of friends trying to solve a problem together.

Imaginative

The LitRPG genre is built on the intersection of narrative and game design. It encourages readers to think about systems, stats, and how rules can be used creatively to overcome obstacles.

Safe

Standard fantasy violence (goblins, towers, levels). As a book, it lacks the social risks of actual gaming, making it a safe way to explore 'stuck in a game' themes.

Enriching

Excellent for developing the 'language comprehension' strand of literacy for reluctant readers. It uses familiar gaming vocabulary to build narrative stamina.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Gamified reading helps kids who usually prefer controllers to covers stay engaged through stat blocks and level-ups.
System-based thinking is required to follow the plot, encouraging readers to understand how different 'game' rules interact.
Relatable stakes for anyone who has ever felt the frustration of a difficult boss fight or a glitchy quest.
Team-first narrative emphasizes that no one clears the tower alone, modeling basic social-emotional cooperation.

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What to Watch For

The 'death matters' trope: The book uses the threat of permanent character death to create tension, which might be stressful for younger, sensitive readers.
Indie publishing quirks: As an independently published work, the prose is functional rather than flowery. It’s a plot-driven 'snack' book, not a literary masterpiece.

Conversation Starters

"If you were stuck in a game world, what would be your primary stat—strength, agility, or intelligence?"
"Why do you think Eric's group works well together, and what would happen if one person tried to do everything solo?"
"If the game rules in the Tower of Gates were real, which one would be the most annoying to live with?"
"How is reading about a game different from actually playing one? What parts are better?"

Deep Dive

The Gateway Genre

LitRPG (Literary Role Playing Game) is a polarizing genre for adults but a godsend for parents of gamers. The Tower of Gates series, specifically this second volume, leans hard into the 'stuck in the machine' trope. It’s a narrative structure that mirrors the loop of modern gaming: encounter a problem, check your resources, level up, and try again.

For kids who struggle with abstract metaphors or slow-burn character studies, the concrete nature of LitRPG is a massive win. You always know exactly how strong the protagonist is because the book literally tells you their level. This transparency lowers the cognitive load for struggling readers, allowing them to focus on the narrative arc rather than getting lost in complex subtext.

Why This Specific Series?

Paul Bellow’s work is squarely in the 'indie-adventure' camp. It’s professionally edited and moves quickly. Unlike some LitRPG that gets bogged down in hundreds of pages of math and spreadsheet-style stat readouts, Tower of Gates keeps the focus on Eric and his party.

It’s worth noting that this book was originally part of a larger work called Goblin. The author split and expanded it, so if the pacing feels like you're jumping into the middle of a dungeon crawl, it's because you are. It’s best to start with Book 1, but for a kid who just wants to see someone fight a boss in a tower, they can catch up pretty quickly.

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