The primary ever Life Is Unusual tie-in novel, subtitled Steph’s Story, has been announced for subsequent yr. The novel will likely be a prequel to final yr’s Life Is Unusual: True Colours, and can observe recurring character Steph Gingrich and her bandmate-slash-girlfriend Izzie on the tour that may finally make them Haven Springs, the sport’s setting.
This is not the primary time the Life Is Unusual franchise has branched out into one other medium in addition to video video games. A collection of tie-in comics persevering with on from one ending of the primary sport debuted in 2018 and ran for six volumes, earlier than wrapping up early this yr. Nevertheless, Steph’s Story would be the first official prose fiction entry added to the collection’ canon. It is being revealed by unbiased style fiction specialists Titan Books and written by younger grownup creator Rosiee Thor, whose earlier books embrace Tarnished Are The Stars, Fireplace Turns into Her, and The That means Of Delight.
Steph was launched as a supporting character in Earlier than The Storm, the prequel to the unique sport launched in 2017. Her reputation led to her eventual return in True Colours in a enormously expanded position, as each a significant character and potential love curiosity for protagonist Alex. She’s even playable within the bonus chapter that comes with the sport’s Deluxe and Final Editions.
There are a couple of components which have contributed to Steph changing into unexpectedly well-regarded among the many LIS fandom. For one factor, she’s a lot nicer than most of the collection’ different characters: her worst on-screen crime is promoting bootleg DVDs to her highschool classmates, and whereas she has her justifiable share of flaws, she’s unwaveringly supportive and fiercely loyal to her associates. Plus her voice actor, Katy Bentz, is extraordinarily engaged with the LIS fan group, which in flip has fed again into Steph’s personal heat reception by gamers.
Izzie, in the meantime, is somebody that, as an LIS die-hard, I have been eager to get to know extra. She made her transient debut in True Colours because the franchise’s first explicitly trans character and solely trans girl to this point, so I am happy that she’s changing into much less of a throwaway facet character, despite the fact that her eventual break-up with Steph is a foregone conclusion. Do I hope she has a secret superpower? Possibly a bit bit. It would be bizarre if there have been none on show in a Life Is Unusual story, in spite of everything.
It’s going to definitely be fascinating to see how the novel offers with the branching storylines from the video games which end result from decisions left as much as the participant. The True Colours story DLC that made Steph playable has already proven that the fates of Rachel, Chloe, and the residents of Arcadia Bay had an understandably enormous impression on her. However of the three, solely Rachel’s future is ready in stone; and, in contrast to a online game, a novel cannot ask you what ending you noticed in Season One earlier than deciding which model of the continued story to point out you. Or can it? Actually, I’ve no clue at this level.
Based on Life Is Unusual’s official social media, we will anticipate extra particulars on this e book, together with a synopsis and pre-order data, very quickly. For now, we should be content material with the information that Life Is Unusual: Steph’s Story is due for publication on March twenty first 2023.