Warcross (Warcross #1)

Summary:

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. (Summary and cover courtesy of goodreads.com)

Review:

This was a fantastic world-building and book that I really enjoyed, the scenery in Japan was particularly great.  In the beginning I was completely enthused with the book, couldn’t stop talking about it and recommending it to everyone because I just reread “Ready Player One” and it was so nice to revisit a similar story.

Over time, however, the book felt a little too close to “Ready Player One” and had a lot of YA tropes scattered throughout that had me vaguely disappointed towards the end.  I absolutely had to read the second book in the series so ultimately, I guess that means it was compelling enough story telling I wanted to know what happened and still recommend the series. The insta-love was a little frustrating and felt a bit like “50 Shades of Gray” introduction, but any other comparison immediately fades away, which was a relief.

Warning: Contains repeated violence

Rating: 4 stars!

Who should read it? Fans who want to revisit a “Ready Player One” type world-building!

Want to read the whole series?

• Wildcard (Warcross #2)