Isabella's Reading Corner: Warcross

Warcross

Author: Marie Lu

Publication Date: September 12th 2017

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Emika Chen makes her living as a bounty hunter in New York City. She tracks down those conducting illegal activities within a hugely popular online game called Warcross. During the opening of the Official World Championships, she discovers a tiny glitch in Warcross's security and is able to steal an expensive item just before one of the tournament players is about to use it. By doing so she inadvertently hacks herself into the game. Instead of being banned from the game or worse, she becomes an instant celebrity, attracting the attention of its creator, Hideo Tanaka. With barely a moment to catch her breath, she is personally invited to travel to Tokyo and work for him. But what awaits her there is more than she’s expecting and danger is just around the corner.

Author Marie Lu does a fabulous job describing the game and how widespread its importance is. The Official Warcross Championships are watched the world over and the top-ranking players are superstars. Images of the game and its stars are displayed all over the city. The audience for the opening ceremony numbers five hundred and twenty million.  Warcross is a not just a form of escapism, it is also a way of life. 

Emika is a strong, sympathetic and worthy character. When her father dies unexpectedly, she is left with a huge debt and sent to live in a group foster home. Although she struggles to make ends meet and works hard to support herself, she feels empathy toward those even less fortunate than she is. She wants to escape from the poverty stricken life she leads and often dreams of becoming a star Warcross player. She is a loner, her only friend being her roommate Keira. Desperate for money, with threat of eviction looming over her, it is understandable why she is eager to leave her unhappiness in New York City behind and agree to Hideo’s offer. Emika is convincing as a girl thrown into an unsuspecting circumstance. She handles pressure well and is used to dealing with criminals and situations quickly and efficiently. She accepts her new surroundings quite easily when her fantasy becomes reality. Her relationship with the wealthy, mysterious Hideo is intense and intriguing.

Lu invents a world that is imaginative and detailed. Creations like the NeuroLink - thin wireless glasses that trick the brain into believing the virtual is indistinguishable from reality, are exceptionally illustrated. The differences portrayed between the bright neon lights of Times Square, the dirty, garbage-strewn streets of the Bronx and the dynamic, vibrant city of Tokyo with its virtual models, flying ships and unusual pets, is superb. The game itself is magnificently depicted, with spectacular scenic views and incredible landscapes. 

Warcross is a clever and addictive thrill ride from start to finish. Complete with a relatable heroine, colourful imagery, a fast-paced story and the most amazing tech to die for, this book kept me on the edge of my seat! Highly recommended to gamers, Science Fiction fans or anyone who enjoys an exciting, action-packed novel.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the ARC provided for review.

From the publisher:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu—when a game called Warcross takes the world by storm, one girl hacks her way into its dangerous depths.

For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn’t just a game—it’s a way of life. The obsession started ten years ago and its fan base now spans the globe, some eager to escape from reality and others hoping to make a profit. Struggling to make ends meet, teenage hacker Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks into the opening game of the international Warcross Championships—only to accidentally glitch herself into the action and become an overnight sensation.

Convinced she’s going to be arrested, Emika is shocked when instead she gets a call from the game’s creator, the elusive young billionaire Hideo Tanaka, with an irresistible offer. He needs a spy on the inside of this year’s tournament in order to uncover a security problem . . . and he wants Emika for the job. With no time to lose, Emika’s whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune that she’s only dreamed of. But soon her investigation uncovers a sinister plot, with major consequences for the entire Warcross empire.

In this sci-fi thriller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu conjures an immersive, exhilarating world where choosing who to trust may be the biggest gamble of all.

You can read my original Isabella's Reading Corner post on Warcross here.