Where to start… I’m at a loss for words. Marie Lu is a great writer, there’s no doubt about that, but something about this book is spectacular. She creates stunning worlds with beautiful, rich detail. Her characters are so intricate and dynamic. Then she combines the two and it’s like nothing you’ve ever read before.
I was thinking that Warcross by Marie Lu was just another one of those books set in a futuristic world with high tech gadgets etc. but WOW did I underestimate this book. The story line and the flow of this story keeps you coming back for more. It’s been a while since I read a book that’s kept me up at night, turning pages frantically. There’s elements of mystery, comedy, romance and of course futuristic tech! It’s just the right amount of everything. And can we talk about this main character?
Emika Chen… she’s fierce and badass. Courageous, brave, clever and stands up for what she believes in. She can be angry and upset, embarrassed and sad. I got the full roller coaster range of highs and lows with my dear Emika Chen. If I could, I would become Emika Chen. She is such an amazing role model and character to follow along on a journey.
The dynamic between the characters is so rich. I would loosely compare Emika and Hideo’s dynamic to that of Rey and Kylo Ren in Star Wars. The tension, suspense and intensity between the two of them was incredibly well developed. I thoroughly enjoyed the underlying plot between the two of them.
There were so many moments during this book when my mouth just dropped in awe of Marie Lu’s writing. She conjures up the perfect sentences for the right moments, leaving you speechless. I had to keep a notebook beside me because there were so many great book quotes! This book is 353 pages long and I finished it in four days. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the words. I felt completely submerged in this complex world Marie Lu built.
The one and only thing that keeps Warcross from being my all time favourite book is that sometimes the sentences were difficult to follow. Occasionally I found that I didn’t quite understand what I’d just read until I reread the sentence a few times. Whenever this happened, I felt all the momentum jerk to a stop, pulling me out of the world. Despite this taking away some of the enjoyment, I would still consider Warcross as one of my favourite reads!
Official 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.
Book details:
353 pages (Hardcover)
Genres: YA, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Main characters: Emika Chen, Hideo Tanaka
Setting: New York City (USA), Tokyo (Japan)
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