Title: Warcross
Author: Marie Lu
Publisher: Speak
Publication Date: September 12, 2017
Number of Pages: 353
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Level: Young Adult
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 Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. However, 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.
My Thoughts
The first book I’d read by Marie Lu was Legend. It was action-packed and I loved it. So, when I stumbled on Warcross, I knew I needed to read it since the same author wrote it. Without even reading the summary, I got myself a copy and dove right in.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before I realized that Warcross was the name of a virtual reality game. I sighed. I shook my head in frustration. How did I not realize this book dealt with virtual reality? That’s what summaries are for. I should’ve read it. I have this habit where the thought of virtual reality catches my attention initially, but struggles to hold it. For some reason, VR isn’t my cup of tea. At all. But, this was Marie Lu, I reminded myself, so it must be good. Because of this, I have to finish.
I made myself keep going. Overall, the VR didn’t bother me as much as I anticipated it would, so that was a plus. However, it didn’t feel like I was reading something by the same person who’d written Legend. Warcross felt slower paced and had way too many flashbacks that really had no bearing on the plot. I expected better from Marie Lu.
Even so, there was good mystery and twists, pretty good action, and a lot of cultural immersion once Emika flew to Japan. The characters were likeable enough, but the romance was a bit predictable.
Representation
As far as representation goes, Emika is of Chinese-American descent. We later meet two rival Warcross players who are gay (m/m). They’d had a nasty break up, so there was a lot of tension between them. There is a character who is bound to a wheelchair. There was also a character who we briefly meet in the sequel, Wildcard, who is nonbinary and uses the pronouns they/them.
Did I like It?
In the end, I have to say I enjoyed it, but definitely not as much as I enjoyed Legend. Even so, Warcross was way better than the other virtual reality stories I’ve read, including The Eye of Minds by James Dashner and New World by Gillian Cross. Those were a chore to finish and weren’t worth the effort, whereas Warcross ended with a twist that enticed me enough to read Wildcard.
Wildcard was good. It delved deeply into sci-fi, and we got a whole lot of backstory on one of the characters. It got really twisted, but I don’t want to ruin it, so that’s all I’m gonna say.
Basically, if you’re into science fiction, VR, and action stories, Warcross might be a good fit for you.
My Rating out of 5
Accelerated Reader (AR) Info
Level: 5.6
Points: 16
Quiz Number: 191432
Word Count: 100298
Interest Level: Upper Grades (UG 9-12)
Let’s Chat!
Do you enjoy reading virtual reality stories?
What position in Warcross would you want to play?
Comment below with your answers! I’d love to hear from you!
