Cover Image: Warcross

Warcross

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I absolutely loved Warcross! This book features a futuristic world where technology has advanced through a virtual reality game that is popular with every person around the world. This virtual reality is so unique because it uses the human brain to create extremely realistic worlds. Our main character, Emika Chen, is an awesome hacker who finds herself in public view after accidentally glitching herself into a major Warcross professional match which leads to her being pursued for a job opportunity by billionaire, Hideo Tanaka, the creator of Warcross. She learns more about the world of Warcross and her relationship with Hideo develops in new ways but there is a looming threat over both that she must work to uncover. I loved reading about this world, the idea of this virtual reality honestly made me feel extremely anxious because it is used in a fun game but that kind of technology could so easily be dangerous in the wrong hands and that was always a worry for me. I don't know how everyone in the world was convinced to try out this kind of technology because if I was there, I would definitely have concerns. Emika as a main character was fantastic, I absolutely loved her. Her hacking skills were so cool and I loved getting to see that. I really can't wait to see more from her in the rest of this series. I also really loved Hideo. He is so intelligent and hearing about each new idea he comes up with is baffling, the contact lenses were especially impressive, even if each new idea also seemed kind of terrifying. The Warcross games themselves were incredibly well written, I found myself really invested in the games like I was actually watching them happen and I was tense for Emika while she played each round. There is this underlying tension of Emika working to find this hacker who wants to destroy Warcross and I really liked the bounty hunter element of the story as well. There was so much going on in the story but it all worked and it was so enjoyable to read. I knew who Zero was going to turn out to be pretty quickly but the twist at the end came out of no where, I did not see it coming at all and I loved that. I like to be surprised, even if it hurts my heart like this one did. I can't believe how this story ended but I am so intrigued and I cannot wait for the next book and to continue this story. This is excellent and people who love adventure and games would love this book.

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Marie Lu is at her best with "Warcross." Worst thing about it is having to wait for the next book!

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In the future, millions login and play Warcross every day, a virtual reality game that for many is a way of life. Teenager Emika Chen works as a bounty hunter, tracking down players who gamble illegally in the game. During a Warcross championship, Emika takes a risk and hacks the game - but accidentally glitches herself into the championship - and is seen by everyone watching. Emika is shocked when the young and handsome creator of Warcross, Hideo Tanaka, offers to hire her to look into another hacker who could compromise the future of Warcross. Emika goes undercover and enters the championship as a Wild Card player, and discovers someone is planning to sabotage the game. As she digs deeper, she uncovers a vindictive plot that could not only compromise the future of Warcross, but could hurt those she loves. THOUGHTS Marie Lu’s newest title should find a niche with fans of Ready Player One, but also appeal to fans of her immensely popular Legend series. Warcross is a smart, thrilling read for older middle school and high school students.

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Warcross by Marie Lu is an amazing novel that I would highly recommend to anyone. It has suspense, action, a mystery that matches it´s content and very well-written characters. I enjoyed myself immensely and I really liked the aspect of virtual reality and how the tournament worked. I would gladly review the second book as well and I shall put in an order for this terrific book at once! Marie Lu has done it again and written a truly mesmerizing ya book! Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this before it was published!

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I hate to say it, but I was pretty disappointed with Warcross. In fact, I would say that it was my least favorite of all the Marie Lu books that I've read. Honestly, if there was a formula for YA novels, this book is it. A quirky, "different from other girls" MC who is down on her luck and has resorted to criminal activity in order to survive is "whisked off to Tokyo and thrust into a world of fame and fortune." Which I wouldn't even mind if I felt that somehow this was a new spin on a classic trope, but there wasn't enough new about it for me to be able to ignore its derivative plot.

To be frank, this book is so different from what I'm used to from Marie Lu. The development of the characters and the world-building were lacking and I was left with more questions than answers. I never had a moment of satisfaction, or even a single feeling of an awe while reading. It's one of those books where I was rooting for the antagonist because I found it difficult to cheer for the main characters.

That being said, I don't hate this book and I don't regret reading it... for the most part. I was interested in Emika and Hideo's backstories, and I was involved in the plot enough to want to know what happens at the end. And even though I'm not sure what kind of turn this story will be taking, I'm curious to see where this duology leads. Therefore I'll probably read the next book, but I also really hope it will be an improvement from this one.

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Um, this is one of my favorites of 2017. Maybe ever. There were some unexpected twists and turns that I kept me turning pages (swiping!) quickly. The technology aspect was fascinating and not too techie. Marie Lu is definitely one of my favorite YA writers. I can't wait for the sequel!

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This was my first Marie Lu book and it did not disappoint!! I was instantly pulled into the story and the game that I was just reading it too fast. I was also able to listen to the audiobook which is also really well done! Since finishing this I will definitely be reading her other books! Marie Lu has delivered us action, romance, and intrigue! I definitely need the next book in this series. This has to be one of my favourite books of this year!

Warcross is such a unique book with a great plot because it's a story about Emika who has hacked into the most famous game out there. She then hacks into the system during the opening games only glitch herself into the system. Then competes in the game itself as a spy to find out a security problem. I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end. There were so many twists and turns that you will not be able to put this book down. Emika is a very likeable character. She is smart, fierce, and even has rainbow hair! I really like how much she develops as a character. Her backstory is so interesting that I was on the edge of my seat!

Overall, Warcross is a must read! While it may appeal to gamers it can be loved by everyone! Looking for a fast paced book you will want to grab the book immediately because Marie Lu is now on my list of favourite authors because her writing is incredible! Now to wish I had the sequel!!

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I really didn’t expect what happened in the ending.
This book was soooo good!!!
I don’t understand anything about videogames and such, but I totally got immersed in the world that was cleverly built.
Totally recommend this book.
I’m so hoping that the sequence is so good as this one! :)

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I was reading many books at the time and I just abandoned all of them to focus on Warcross and boy was it a GREAT decision! I had never read anything by Marie Lu although I was planning to because I've seen mad reviews about her Young Elites trilogy. I was craving something that was action-packed and that's exactly what I got!

First of all, through one book, Marie Lu has managed to do so much! It had the right dosage of mystery, of sci-fi and even of romance (even though I was not a big fan of the latter)! But the world-building though... It all revolves around the world-building for me because it was AMAZING. I remember that whenever I'd put the book down, I've started imagining life as it is in Warcross. It reminded me a lot of League of Legends which I used to play and also Quidditch but LoL next to Warcross was nothing but children's games really. I was fascinated by the universe and how the author has managed to paint a pretty vivid image of it. There were plenty of Warcross games described and I loved how each game had its own scenery and that you'd easily start imagining it while reading the book. The world is brilliant. I feel like I've gone to the future and now I really need technology to give me something like what's in Warcross!

Warcross featured a real diverse set of characters which is a really great thing. I was very surprised to have an asian girl with RAINBOW colored hair as an MC. I instantly fell in love with her and now, a few days later, I'm considering to dye my own hair for the first time! I want to be Emika so bad but sadly, I don't think I'm badass enough to rock rainbow hair and I have no idea how to code . I love the relationship she had with her dad though! I think, even though he was not entirely a good person as he gambled and left his daughter with loads of debts to pay, that he was a great parent to her. He taught her to never give up and to always try to see the bigger picture to solve any problem she encounters. Of course, there are tons of other characters that I loved, especially from the Phoenix Riders members. They were all so very welcoming and did their best to make the team work well together. I loved how Hammie was a bit protective of her. Also, Asher, who's a person with disabilities, is one hell of a captain and I really admired how he managed to lead his team. They all grew into a family and I can't wait to read what's coming!

On the other hand, I did not really like Hideo. The kid who suddenly becomes millionaire because of awesome abilities, who's dark and mysterious but ends up having actual feelings and blah blah blah.  I did like the relationship he has with his parents but perhaps what made me dislike him was the whole romance situation he had going on. As an action packed book, I really did not need the romance bits and I just kept rolling my eyes at everything. 

The whole book was very action packed and felt more like watching an action futuristic movie. It's very fast-paced and you get through it so fast. Again, the world being so amazing, it just wanted you to devour every little detail about it and to feel yourself in it. Sadly, it was a tad predictable which was a bit underwhelming but it didn't affect my satisfaction real bad and so it didn't take away from the story for me. 

All in all, Warcross has been not just an amazing read but an amazing experience. It has also made me think about the effects of technology in our lives. How much technology is too much? If you're looking for an entertaining, thought-provoking read with an amazing world and badass characters, then Warcross is the book for you!

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Books about virtual reality or gaming are generally not for me. I enjoyed Marie Lu's first trilogy but had trouble getting into her second series. Happy to report that overall, I did like this!

I enjoyed the futuristic Tokyo setting and the intrigue. The virtual reality stuff seemed cool, even if I couldn't quite grasp all of it. My imagination just doesn't work well on sporty (confession: I skimmed most of the Quidditch scenes in HP) or tech-y stuff, and this game seems like a cross between both. So Warcross seemed sort of like a virtual reality capture the flag to me.

The plot involved a lot of mistrust and suspicion among different characters, which added a nice level of suspense.

I figured out the Zero mystery pretty quickly. There was some backstory about one of the characters and I was like: well, of course that's connected. I kind of wanted to be wrong because I love it when a book can completely outwit me. I didn't love the romance in this one, but there's hope for a triangle, and I will definitely read the next book to find out if that happens.

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Warcross is my favorite sci-fi of 2017, hands down, and I'm afraid no review can do it justice. Whenever I had a moment to read, I tore through this book, entranced by the world of the game. Emika was smart, strong, and fun to root for. The plot was fun and fast-paced, while still feeling like the stakes were real and imperative. I think Marie Lu has written her best book yet, and I'm really excited to see what else she does with this world. Is it 2018 yet?!?

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Even though I had a lot of mixed feelings about The Young Elites Trilogy, I was really excited to read this new book by Marie Lu. I am happy to report that I was not disappointed this time. This is a very exciting and fast paced read that was hard to put down. I still can’t decide if I like the cover though. It is interesting, but not sure it is enough to make me pick it up and take a closer look.

I loved Emika almost from the start. Here is a girl who even when things are looking very bleak, keeps going forward and trying to make things better for herself. Yes she makes lots of mistakes, but she keeps going no matter what. She also has a strong moral compass that mostly steers her in the right direction. Her hacking skills are amazing as well. I really liked her memory about how she got into coding, she just started looking at it like a puzzle that needed figuring out. I can get into that. Her relationship with her father was very sweet, but also forced her to grow up quickly. Her experiences and her inability to trust people gets in her way sometimes. I get it, I’m a lone wolf too, but I know when to ask for help. She often pushes away people who can help her and has a hard time being a team player.

The other characters in the book are well done as well. The other players on her team, as well as the others she encounters, are all smart and loyal to their teammates and to the game. I especially liked Hammie, the other girl on Emi’s team. She is a thief in the game, and I love that she can see moves before they happen. She almost seems to know what someone is going to do before they do it. Hideo was an enigma almost from the start, I wanted to like him as much as Emi did, but I always felt there was something off about him.

The plot is amazing. I like the Warcross game, although the rules were hard to follow at times. The whole idea of a virtual reality game becoming so popular is an interesting concept. I also liked the descriptions of the darknet as a virtual world, where the criminals hang out. Some of the other tech mentioned throughout the book is also amazing and just advanced enough to make it believable. Some of it is similar to what we have now, just more advanced. The whole book is very fast paced and hard to put down. The ending was not a total surprise to me, but still not what I was expecting. The next book will be amazing as well.

Overall, a kick-ass plot with characters that you will root for.

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This book is definitely one of my most anticipated reads this year because (uhm... duh?) it's Marie Lu. I willingly dived blindly into this Warcross world because I trust that Marie Lu would be writing an elaborate one. And I'm not wrong; the world building was intricately written, so vivid, I could almost imagine myself playing Warcross. You'd think that a book filled with technical terms would make someone yawn, but this book made it easy to like futuristic technologies. Since I have a background on computer engineering, everything I read is a new way to look at something I've learned in the past. One fun nugget that I love about this is: Marie Lu truly knows what she's writing as she have been immersed in the video game world.

One of the biggest thing that I love in this book is our main character, Emika Chen. She's a smart, strong-willed, determined, independent, young woman, who knows how to code — which makes my computer engineering heart trembles.
Hideo Tanaka, the Warcross creator himself, is a character that I couldn't fully like because 1) he's a prime example of tsundere*, which I don't really like, and 2) I find him shady af. He's this mysterious type of character that would make you wonder if he's a protagonist or an antagonist. Marie Lu surely knows how to keep us on the edge of our seats. The other supporting characters were such a fun and diverse (and I mean diverse) addition to this book. They all played their roles beautifully and I couldn't wait to read more of them. I'd love to read more of Kenn Edon, though.

Overall, this was such a great book to start a series/duology. It's been weeks since I've read this but reminiscing about it still makes me feel giddy and excited. I don't really have anything to compare Warcross to since I haven't read anything similar to this but it definitely opened a big, new realm of reading possibilities for me.
I highly, highly, recommend this one to everyone. You like sci-fi? Read this. You don't like sci-fi? No worries, you would after reading this one.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to read and review Warcross by Marie Lu! Emi is a young bounty hunter that lives on her own. She desperately needs a bounty or she's going to be evicted from her apartment in less than three days. She's smart enough and quick enough to capture a criminal for the police but they give the money to someone else! She goes back to her apartment, despondent, and resigns herself to enjoying the last hours she has with a roof over her head. She hacks into Warcross and her image shows up in the internationally played and viewed game. This catches the eye of the Warcross creator, Hideo, who gives Emi a very well-paid job offer. I appreciate that Marie Lu lets readers know, through dialogue, the correct pronunciation of Hideo's name. I have heard many students/library patrons discuss name pronunciations in the past, unsure of how to say the name. The game background descriptions are detailed and aesthetic while the game is action-packed and the stakes raise higher and higher for the characters. 5 stars for a new sci-fi read from Marie Lu!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book for voluntary consideration.

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The first 2/3 of this book is pretty awesome. Fast-paced, well-written, entertaining. It starts to fall apart when the reveal approaches. I guessed the antagonist ridiculously early on...and the antagonist's reasons and methods are confusing and don't make much sense. The insta-attraction between Hideo and Emi is forgivable because it's not the main focus of the story. In such a long story, I wish we had a better chance to get to know the other teammates. They're fairly one-dimensional.

Overall, it's a fun read, which is why I am still giving it four stars. However, I'm not sure I'm going to return for the sequel.

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Just no words for how much I loved this...I don't quite know what to do with myself- I can't wait to read more.

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Professional gaming, female hacker, VRMMORPG, augmented reality, bounty hunter, Tokyo, Japan… I’m totally sold!!! This novel alone encompasses all the things I love and I know I have to get my hands on this novel once it’s released. Firstly, I would like to give a huge thank you to Penguin Group and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. I love you Penguin Group! ❤ ❤

I’ve never read any of Marie Lu’s books before and Warcross is the 1st. Nonetheless, I’m completely blown away by the world, characters, and plot. This novel is amazing and utterly captivating. The descriptive texts immerse me into the world of Warcross and the shimmery landscape of Tokyo, Japan. As an avid gamer myself, Marie did a great job in explaining the mechanics of Warcross to the readers.

I’m hooked right from the beginning. Usually, a 400+ page long novel will take me at least 2 days to finish but I finished Warcross in less than a day. I was literally devouring every single page in the novel. XD

Emika is a lovable character. I love how she sticks to her beliefs and doesn’t get swayed easily by other people. I should really learn that from her… Though Emika is a really good hacker, she isn’t arrogant and knows her own limitation and boundaries.

I like how Marie shows the characters traits and abilities through the use of action rather than words. We all know Emika is an excellent hacker and Hideo is a child prodigy, but it is the kind of hacking Emika does and the numerous tools which Hideo invents that show their true abilities and make readers appreciate their talents.

The reason why I’m knocking off 1 star is that I already anticipated the twists even before they occur. As such, I’m not really mind blown by any of the twists. I shall not name any since I wouldn’t want to give away any spoilers. Even so, the major cliff hanger at the end did get me.

Thank you, Marie Lu for writing such an amazing read and for getting me out of my dreaded reading slump. I love you! *insert a million hearts* This is by far, one of the best books I’ve read this year. I will definitely be re-reading Warcross again once I get my hands on the finished copy. I’m so ready for the 2nd novel in the duology. XD

*psst* Someone please make Warcross a reality. I would love to play this game!

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Intentando llegar a fin de mes, la cazarecompensas y hacker Emika Chen se filtra en la partida más importante del año de Warcross, el juego de realidad virtual que se ha convertido en un fenómeno mundial. Excepto que algo sale mal, ella aparece en mitad del juego y causa un escándalo.

En lugar de ser arrestada, Emika recibe una irresistible oferta del creador del juego, el genio billonario Hideo Tanaka, quien necesita un espía en el interior del torneo para descubrir un fallo de seguridad. Una vez en Tokio se encuentra en un mundo de fama y fortuna, pero pronto su investigación descubrirá una siniestra trama con enormes consecuencias para Warcross.


¡Tengo tantas ganas de empezar que no sé por dónde hacerlo! Supongo que por Emika, nuestra protagonista, una hacker adolescente con el pelo de colores y muchos tatuajes. Al principio del libro está en una situación precaria: tiene antecedentes penales, sin estudios, trabaja de cazarrecompensas para la policía y está a punto de ser desahuciada de su piso. Por eso decide arriesgarse a hackear un partido importante de Warcross, el juego online más famoso del mundo, para robar un objeto que luego podrá revender. Por supuesto, todo sale mal.

El juego lo creó Hideo Tanaka, el inventor de las gafas de realidad virtual que revolucionaron la tecnología y el mundo entero. Warcross es una especie de atrapa la bandera donde cada equipo tiene cinco jugadores con distintos papeles (el arquitecto, el ladrón, el escudo...) y deben trabajar juntos para arrebatar la joya que flota sobre el capitán del equipo contrario. Es una de las partes más divertidas del libro y le da unos toques de acción geniales.

And everyone—everyone—played Warcross. Some played it intensely, forming teams and battling for hours. Others played by simply lounging on a virtual beach or enjoying a virtual safari. Still others played by wearing their glasses while walking around the real world, showing off their virtual pet tigers or populating the streets with their favorite celebrities. However people played, it became a way of life.

Cuando Hideo le pide a Emika que se una a la competición de Warcross para ayudarle a descubrir un complot para hundir su empresa, nos lanza de lleno a una historia con un ritmo impecable y llena de personajes intrigantes. Como siempre Marie Lu ha incluido un cast súper diverso sin que parezca forzado y los equipos de Warcross incluyen muchas personas racializadas, queer y un capitán va en silla de ruedas. La camaradería entre los Jinetes de Fénix, el equipo de Emika, es genial, pero aún mejor resultan sus relaciones con los demás jugadores. Algunos son amigos que se enfrentan en la competición, otros sólo rivales, algunos incluso exparejas y hay material para muchísimo drama adolescente.

La investigación y las sospechas de Emika sobre quién está atacando a Hideo se mezclan con las partidas de Warcross, que les encantarán a los más fans de los videojuegos (incluyen una carrera en patinete volador al más puro estilo Mario Kart y una batalla de mechas que no podía faltar). Con estas dos tramas se intercala la relación de Emika y Hideo, que aunque es frío y cerrado poco a poco aprende a confiar en ella y le deja ver momentos de su pasado y por qué creó Warcross. Del mismo modo aprendemos mucho más de Emika de lo que se ve a simple vista.

El mundo futurista también es una pasada. Describe cómo sería Tokio visto a través de la realidad virtual, que la gente usa para alterar su aspecto, y al principio también vemos una versión casi distópica de Nueva York, donde la policía está tan desbordada que tienen que contratar cazarrecompensas adolescentes para atrapar delincuentes. Además de las gafas de realidad virtual aparecen vehículos inteligentes y no podía faltar el patinete flotante de Emika, un clásico de la ficción futurista.

Y porque esto lo escribió Marie Lu, preparáos para los giros argumentales y la moralidad ambigua, que sinceramente es lo que a mí me da la vida.

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