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Get ready to dive into a colorful, action-packed, and thrilling new world in Warcross. Marie Lu has outdone herself with masterful world-building, shocking plot twists, and a beautifully diverse cast of characters in her new futuristic duology based on the world of gaming.

Eighteen-year-old Emika Chen is many things. Bounty hunter. Hacker. Expert Warcross player. By day she tracks and captures criminals illegally betting on Warcross games. But under the cover of dark, she hacks into the popular virtual reality world to escape her grim life like the rest of the population. When one of her hacks leads to a glitch in the game, it transports her to the opening competition of the Warcross Championships. Emika’s life is thrown into sudden chaos and she becomes an overnight celebrity. Instead of being arrested for interfering in the game, Emika is offered a job by Hideo Tanaka, the creator of Warcross. He has need of her unique skill set to find the source of a security breach in Warcross. Emika’s undercover spy mission leads to a game-changing truth no one sees coming.

Lu has done an exceptional job of crafting a creative, unique, and mesmerizing world that leaves readers thoroughly entranced and wanting more. From the imaginative virtual worlds to traveling through a digitally wired Tokyo to the intricacies of the Warcross competition, each part is well-developed and nuanced. The technological advancements (ex: hoverboards, NeuroLinks, and Memory Worlds) that are part of the world are familiar, easy concepts to understand.

Emika is our main narrator and protagonist. She’s tough, smart, compassionate, and continuously strives to do what is right. Life hasn’t been easy for Emika, but she never gives up and keeps fighting to survive. She’s definitely a character to root for, and whom you want to see come out on top. Hideo Tanaka is the brilliant billionaire that designed Warcross when he was just thirteen years old. He is shrouded in mystery, secrets, and is haunted by something from his past. It’s no surprise that Emika and Hideo’s partnership develops into a genuine friendship and eventual romance. There is a sweet kind of chemistry between the two, and they have a subtle romantic build-up. I’m very interested to know what the nature of their relationship will be in the sequel. The diverse representation in the supporting cast is a stand-out feature of this book. It was wonderful to read about people of color, LGBTQ, and differently-abled characters working together towards a common goal.

There are some clever twists and surprising reveals that raise the stakes for the main characters. It will be interesting to see how they play out in the sequel. Lu delivers a plot that is well-thought out, riveting, and extremely enjoyable to read.

There is so much to love and enjoy in Warcross! Fantastic world-building, complex characters, and a fast-paced plot that will leave your head spinning. It’s an addictive page turner that you won’t want to put down until you reach the end. If you haven’t read a book by Marie Lu yet, this is a great one to start with.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for sending us a review copy in exchange for an honest review!