Ryan Nightingale never wanted much out of life—just video games, weed, and avoiding his judgmental family. But on Christmas Eve, while hiding away from yet another awkward gathering, his life takes a turn for the worse. Earth has been forcibly inducted into the galactic collective, and groups of people must offer up someone for The Tithe. As the least favorite at the Nightingale residence that evening, Ryan is an easy choice. Without warning, he’s thrown into a brutal, game-like world filled with goblins, ogres, and horrors beyond imagination. Awarded the seemingly useless class of Safety Inspector, Ryan is saddled with debt, stranded in hostile territory, and, somehow, made the leader of a guild he never asked for. If he wants to survive, he’ll have to grow up fast. Fortunately, he’s not entirely alone. With the help of some unlikely allies—both old and new—he might just stand a chance. But monsters aren’t the only threat. A cryptic and very invested quest voice, a sadistic goblin circus, and a rogue group of military operatives all have their sights set on him. And in a world where the rules are rigged, survival might just be the deadliest game of all.