Warcross by Marie Lu

Pages: 353

Intended Audience: Teens

Genre: Science Fiction / Thriller

Notes for Parents: There is “virtual” violence (when they’re playing the Warcross game), and some actual violence, but nothing too graphic.

The Inside Cover

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 bouty 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.

What the cover doesn’t tell you:

This is the first book in a series. It takes place in the same universe (but an earlier era) as the Legend series. You don’t have to have read the Legend series to understand this one.

What’s good?

The virtual reality game Warcross has become a global industry and its championships is a high stakes international event in this future world. Emika is a strong, resilient young woman who accidentally gets noticed by the games creator and drawn into a mystery. There’s plenty of action, danger, tension, and excitement. The plot is simple and is surrounded by several strong sub-plots. Emika is a great character – clever, perceptive, and brave. The technology is easy to understand, as is the sla . The ending presents some interesting moral questions.

Best Part: Emika.

What isn’t good?

This is definitely a plot-driven story. While the main character, Emika, is well-drawn, her teammates and other secondary characters are not very developed. The mystery is good, but the romance is weak. A couple of big reveals shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise since the author drops several hints well ahead of time.

Worst part: I didn’t like the romance.

Recommendation ☺☺☺☺☻ (4/5)

This was a hard book to put down. It was a fast-pace, virtual Hunger Games-like adventure that was easy to read. It was always moving forward, even when the story was looking back. I loved the main character, Emika, and enjoyed the diversity of the other characters. Definitely recommended.

Lu, Marie. Warcross. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2017. (Hardcover)