Review: Warcross (Warcross #1)

Title: Warcross (Warcross #1)
Author: Marie Lu
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Penguin Group
Source: Purchased
Release Date: September 12, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads 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.

Review:

Most people don’t know that I love video games. I used to be hooked on World of Warcraft and I love other games too. But since I started university, I haven’t had as much time to play. This story gave me the experience of playing a new game.

This book definitely lived up to the hype. I flew through it! It was so fast paced. I loved the intensity of Emika’s bounty hunt. I kept holding my breath when she had to sneak around, and when she barely escaped getting caught.

The diversity in this book was great too. The main characters were Asian. One of Emika’s teammates was in a wheelchair, though his avatar in the game wasn’t. In the game Warcross, everyone can have equal abilities, even though they may not in real life. I think that’s one of the great things about games. You can live through a different life in games, just like in books.

I loved this book!! I can’t wait to see what happens next in the series!