Review of Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior: Crafting Alliances

Diary of an 8-Bit Warrior: Crafting Alliances (Book 3 8-Bit Warrior Series)

by Cube Kid

Illustrated by Saboten

Having survived a mob attack on his village, Runt, the 8-Bit warrior, returns to school knowing that even with a wall, his village isn’t safe from Herobrine, a terrifying wizard insistent on destroying all of Mindcraftia. Runt only survived the last attack with help from the mysterious Breeze. Runt records everything in diary format including how Breeze and her father Brio were tortured into being enchanted by Herobrine and the arrival of human players who begin to realize the non-player characters like Runt have somehow come to life. Runt’s problems compound when Herobrine shows up to fight an epic battle with the wizard Notch who hints that the humans’ arrival is not a coincidence. After the battle, Runt and his friends work to help the village by harvesting trees. In the forest, they find a tunnel, interrogate a Creeper with kittens, and work toward building traps to defend their home. When an epic attack occurs, Runt leaps into the battle with the Ender Pearl, a powerful weapon that turns him invisible, and ignites the Creepers’ detonation sequence that obliterates the Zombies and causes the Skeletons to run. Runt celebrates the victory, but knows the mob attacks are not over. When Runt receives a diamond from his best friend Stump, he can finally begin working on crafting a diamond sword, and with the discovery of the new Tunnel 67 in the mines, Runt will probably need it. Cube Kid, the pen name of Erik Gunnar Taylor, keeps the plot moving in this humorous installation with few explanations of previous events, little character development, and constant game references. This book is perfect for Mindcraft players, reluctant readers familiar with Mindcraft, and fans of illustrated chapter book for older readers.