In the heart of Anchorage, Alaska, Derek, a man deeply scarred by emotional trauma, searches for connection and empathy. His life hardened his heart. Motivated by his desire to bond with his wife Marie and their unborn child, seeks to establish an emotional connection and build a positive future for their family. While on a journey to heal his trauma, life takes a violent turn when Earth is suddenly integrated into the Collective. With this integration, a system becomes accessible through an interface, marking the beginning of a new reality. The integration has come at a chilling cost. Portals hosting monsters and unknown peoples open across the planet, unleashing a horde of mythical and fictional monsters. Survival is not guaranteed, however, violence is. Though the system, humanity has been given a chance, but is up to them to use the tools they are given to survive in this newly altered world. ----------- Despite the Romantic tag, the only real romance is between the MC and his wife, which is limited. There isn't any sexual content, though with a few fade-to-black moments and lots of bad jokes along the way. Rise of the Ravager has a serious tone with occasional comic relief, but starts to get darker and more serious as the death toll increases. It isn't a tragedy (yet), but depending on how Book 2 proceeds, it will set the pace for the direction Derek's life turns if he fails his quest.