ARC | Book Review #167 – Warcross, by Marie Lu

Hello y’all!

Here’s my review for Warcross, by Marie Lu.

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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.

 

Pros:

• very interesting premise
• I liked Emika
• diversity

 

Cons:

• a bit cliché in plot
• which made it totally boring about less than a half way through
• nothing really that captivating (to me)

 

Verdict:

This was pretty much one of my most anticipated reads of the year, not only because everyone kept hyping it but because I’ve always wanted to read something by Marie Lu. And in contrary to everyone else, I love the cover! Unfortunately, I have to say this one feel a bit short too me. I thought the premise was really interesting, for starters. It is a fact that virtual reality is something almost imminent so I’m glad it is being more explored by contemporary authors. But I think it’s there that my curiosity ended. Not much else kept me going. I found the plot extremely cliché, despite the setting. Most plot points, and even the big plot twists, were so so predictable. It kinda hurt at times. I don’t even want to start about how the author uses the classic “I was holding a breath I didn’t know I was holding” not once, but TWICE. I was so, so disappointed by this. It seems silly but I rolled my eyes so hard. Can’t say I was too impressed with this book in terms of writing. Besides the premise, I also liked the main character, Emika. I love how she looks and how cool she felt. Can’t really complain too much about the characters either, they were extremely diverse and pretty well developed. Although I feel like this was a good effort, unfortunately, it did not deliver for me.

Not sure I’ll continue this but, in case you have read it, please let me know what you thought! I don’t think I’ve seen a bad review.

Until soon,

Cat.