Synopsis:
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 players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. Needing 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.
*Thank you to Penguin Random House for sending me a finished copy of Warcross for review*
Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮
Every locked door has a key. – Warcross by Marie Lu
Warcross is one of a kind. It was addictive, unputdownable and literally blew my mind. The book was so different yet somewhat familiar as compared to Marie Lu’s previous trilogies: Legend and The Young Elites. The descriptions of the entire game, complete the setting in NYC and Tokyo was perfection– with a kickass protagonist, plot and diverse characters. It is a must-read for readers of all genres as you will be blown away into this VR life and game.
I loved that the protagonist, Emiko Chen was Chinese-American who has been through a lot in her 18 years of life, including getting bullied and losing her family at a young age.
One of my favorite quotes in Warcross about loss was how, “Death has a terrible habit of cutting straight through every careful line you’ve drawn between your present and your future.” and how Emika stands up herself due to the bullying she endured, “Sometimes, you find yourself standing in exactly the right position, wielding exactly the right weapon to hit back. So I hit. I hit fast and hard and furious. I hit with nothing but the language whispered between circuits and wire, the language that can bring people to their knees.”
The diverse cast of characters was something really nice and different and I really loved how the author included a character with disabilities- as I so happen to have a physical disability as well. The Game was filled with high stakes and I was literally on the edge of my seat as I read. Hideo Tanaka is also my favorite character apart from Emiko as he had this backstory and character depth which I totally did not expect. It made me so emotional and I simply can’t wait for Book 2!
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