Path of Relics: Aether Shard by DJ LeJeune

About the Book

He entered the contest to win cash…

Now millions could die.

Random gigs and ramen noodles… that’s how out-of-shape gamer Terry survives the job-starved future of 2044. Until he’s accepted into the Path of Relics tournament—the most anticipated virtual reality RPG event of the decade—where he has the chance to win some real loot.

But does he have a fighting chance against the world’s top Active-VR athletes?

Not to mention the ancient dungeons, puzzles, scorpion-wolves, and all-too-realistic NPCs the game world throws at him. And just how advanced is this “Portal Rig” that lets him physically experience the fantasy world as if he were transported there?

Worse, could his suspicions be true?

Are the strange and deadly malfunctions plaguing Manhattan somehow triggered by Path of Relics?

Now, outmatched and exhausted, can Terry’s mysterious ability to level-up quickly and his meager martial arts skills help him avert catastrophe in the real world?

You’ll love this LitRPG Lite / Gamelit adventure because of its action, secrets, real-world stakes, and compelling weak-to-strong progression.

Lose yourself in a fantasy world of dead gods, lost civilizations, and forgotten lore, made possible by the advanced technology of 2044.

Author Interview

DJ LeJeune sends his readers on near and far future Science Fiction adventures, blended with a dash of thriller and a lot of character. Grand Prize winner for the Summer 2020 Writing Contest at Short Fiction Break, he minored in Creative Writing in college, and is finally using that forgotten degree. 

 Can you tell us a little about your publishing journey, please?

Sure! So far, I’ve published one novel, Path of Relics, and it’s been an interesting journey. I decided to self-publish based on the advice of several authors I trust, with the basic mindset being this… the traditional publishers usually expect new, unknown authors to market their book themselves. They rarely devote much of a budget to market the book for you. So I figured if I’d have to market my book myself anyway, I might as well make more of a percentage of the profits.

For me, it was a process of writing, getting feedback, revising, and repeating. I also learned a ton over the course of creating the novel. Everything from how to be a better writer to how to launch a novel. Now I’m learning the long game of how to market a novel once it is already out.

How do you decide who to dedicate your books to?

Only have one novel out so far, and the dedication was easy. It went to my mother, who always encouraged me to go for my dreams.

What was the inspiration behind your latest release?

The inspiration was in wanting to tell a story that explored what full-immersion virtual reality would be like to experience. But also, to tell that story with real-world life-or-death stakes. The trope of “die in the game and you die in real life” has been done so often. I wanted to try something different. 

I also felt inspired to write a story that took readers on a fantastical journey like in Jim Henson’s Labyrinth.

Do you find it hard to let your characters go when you finish writing the book?

Well, I’m writing a series, so I haven’t had to “fully” let go of my characters yet. I’m working through the sequel now, and I’m right back with them. But it was strange not being with them every day when I finished book one. Still, after so many revisions, I was happy to get some distance when I finally published it.

Who is your favourite author?

That’s tough. My all-time favorite is Issac Asimov. But I’ve been enjoying Blake Crouch and Adrian Tchaikovsky, lately.

Was there a point in your life that a book helped you get through, and which one?

Yes. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse had a profound impact on me. I read it in college when I was questioning just about everything, including who I was. It helped me realize it’s okay not to know exactly who you are for a while. Self-knowledge comes with time.

Is there anyone that you would like to mention and thank for their support of your writing?

My family and friends have always been supportive of me, and for that I’m very grateful. I never had that naysayer person who discouraged me from trying to write a novel. I also had a great launch team of alpha and beta readers who made the book a success.

If you had the power to give everyone in the world one book, what would it be and why?

Conversationally Speaking by Alan Garner. It’s a simple but effective book on holding conversations. I suffered shyness for a good deal of my life, and I know how much it can rob a person of time and experience. Now that we’ve all gone through the pandemic, I feel many of us are feeling a little socially stunted, even stand-off-ish. A book like Conversationally Speaking could go a long way to helping people build their social muscles again.

What are you working on now?

Working on the sequel to Path of Relics: Aether Shard. It should be out by the end of 2023 and will feature the same blend of science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and adventure.

Lastly, do you have any questions for your readers?

Plenty! But for now, I’ll settle on one. What usually draws you to a story? For me, it’s often some hook of awe and mystery that pulls me in and gets me reading.

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