Obviously our queen Marie Lu had to slay her new release yet again. This was just the sneak peak but i did manage to buy myself a copy so i could finish it just in time for an awesome review. Wildcard is the second installment in Warcross series which instantly blew my mind when i read it and i had no doubts about this one either. A must recommend for every fantasy YA reader. This pick will be your next favorite!!

This was a neat little sneak peek into my most anticipated read of fall 2018! I loved seeing Emiko and the gang again and I can't wait to read the rest of the book!

Wildcard by Marie Lu is the sequel to Warcross, which actually made it onto my Top Ten Books of 2017 list, so I had pretty high hopes for the conclusion in this duology. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed. Wildcard picks up right where Warcross left off, and I don’t want to spoil that book, but basically it’s the story of teenage hacker, Emika, who joins the championship of the virtual reality game, Warcross, and is tasked with spying on the other players only to discover a much more sinister plot. I was honestly surprised by how much I loved Warcross, it’s a thrilling, intense, creative science-fiction novel so I was even more surprised when I found Wildcard to be kinda boring.

The pacing of Wildcard definitely seems off, and while it picks up after a huge reveal in Warcross, it seemed to take forever for the action to actually start. When it does start, the story keeps getting more and more complicated, resulting in what feels like a lot of “telling” instead of “showing”. I remember really liking Emika in the first book, but she basically has no depth in the sequel, she just seems like she’s there so she can find and reveal twists. There’s also a lot of morally ambiguous things going on and she seems to have no real opinion on them, which was frustrating.

I really loved the team dynamic in Warcross but that’s basically absent in the sequel, where the focus is on much less fun and engaging characters and relationships. I listened to the audiobook of Warcross and I would have been a lot more tempted to DNF if it had I had a paper copy instead. Wildcard is not a terrible book, but it was certainly a huge disappointment after how much I loved Warcross. That said, I’d still be willing to give Lu another shot, just to see if she could replicate that Warcross magic.

The sample had the first 3 – 4 chapters from what I remember and it was really goood. It felt a bit different from Warcross and I was very intrigued with what was going on. It ended very abruptly in a plot-twist (OF COURSE!) and I really want to know what’s going to happen. I started reading this sample because I had doubts about whether I should continue the duology or not, but I’m sold. I’ll read the book, hopefully I’ll love it more than Warcross too.

Can't wait to read the real thing! This was just enough to whet my appetite for the gaming world of Emika Chen and friends. I really enjoyed Warcross and anticipate liking this just as much.

Wildcard kept to the same formulaic writing Marie Lu has produced before. Predictable twists and poignant romance scenes between the female heroine, who seems like a regurgitated JUNE for Legend, and her on again off again boyfriend...also...just like in legend.

Just a warning about this book: If you haven’t read Warcross (and what are you waiting for?) do not read this novel yet. You start right where the last book left off. There is no time jump and there is no back story explanation.

Warcross took us into a not so far off universe in which a video game designer found a way to hack the human brain to experience the game in a dream-like state. Besides the actual game, which is now a prominent sport that has overtaken all sporting events (Olympics, World Cup, etc) in terms of renown, the users also encounter a realm outside their own struggles. They can adjust their avatar to anything they prefer, frequent places they would never have the money to visit otherwise, and get lost in the virtual experience.

Similar to the Oasis from Ready Player One, the virtual space has taken over peoples’ physical lives. They are never without their “lenses” which act a a portal to the software, even interacting with the physical world in many cases.

Emika Chen, the main character, hacks into the world tournament of the game, catching the attention of Hideo, the designer of the program. He recruits Emika to join one of the most famous teams as a cover while she tracks down a hacker that has been messing with their systems.

While working for him, Emika falls for Hideo and he reveals that his brother was kidnapped as a small child.
When Emika comes in contact with the hacker, “Zero”, she discovers that he is Hideo’s little brother.
Hideo, unaware of the turn of events, then releases an algorithm that shifts the weight of the entire world.

And THAT is where Wildcard starts. People are now rendered incapable of committing crimes and they are turning themselves in to authorities in droves. Sounds like a good thing right? In fact, it’s easy to see where Hideo’s motivation comes from. Devastated over the loss of his brother nearly twenty years ago, a life free of crime sounds like paradise.

But anytime someone attempts to strip freewill from humanity, there are consequences they do not expect. Here it is thousands committing suicide since they cannot live with the thought of their unlawful acts.

Now the tables have turned and Emika must stop Hideo before he can release the algorithm to every set of lenses (including hers) and the suicides continue.

To do so, she must fall into an unlikely team with Zero, Hideo’s brother and former hacker, and his Dark Coats. In doing so she learns more about his past, what actually happened with his kidnapping, and the reason Zero is so set on stopping Hideo.

All of your favorite Phoenix Rider characters are back in action in this sequel, although we do not see too much of them. But during the scenes where they are involved, we learn more about their background as well as see Emika's transformation from a loner to someone who can depend on her friends.

The pacing of the book during the first half was pretty slow, even without any backstory. I was a bit lost in the timeline. There's a ton of things happening, but nothing ever really moves the story along until a little past halfway through where the MAJOR twist leaves you reeling.

I almost started to hope for some sort of romantic connection between Zero and Emika just to have this book be the complete inverse of the last, but the author nips that in the bud pretty quickly. So if that's what you are going in for, you will be disappointed. Emika is still head over heels for Hideo, even though he is on some "take over the world" kick at the moment.

I've read other reviews that say that this book wasn't needed for the story, and technically I can see that. It does seem like one story arc that was broken down into two different parts. But I think that splitting it into two books gave us an opportunity to get more details and allowed for Marie Lu's magnificent world building that she is known for.

3.5 stars

The plot was interesting, but it just felt rushed and poorly executed to me.
I feel like with some skillful editing the duology could have been shortened to a single novel.
There was a large buildup to the end sequence of the book and I felt like it was over quickly in 20 pages.
The same problem with the not well-written fight sequences and the vague worldbuilding in Warcross continued in this novel.
The world sounded interesting, but since it wasn't explained very well I had to fill in the holes by myself.
Overall, it was a nice, enjoyable read, however, it let down my expectations from Warcross (my favorite book of 2017)

I received a preview on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
(I purchased the book, however, and read the whole novel.)

This was a quick look at the first chapters of Wildcard. It picksup where Warcross left off. It picks up with a bang and I look forward to reading the entire novel.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Super fun, delved deeper into the universe as a whole. I feel like I learned a lot more about the characters, and I loved learning about the technology. Recommended!

It's not easy to review a sneak peek, but it did make me feel more excited about Wildcard. Can I just say again how much I love duologies? Awesome format to tell a story and Marie Lu is easily becoming one of my favourite authors!

This was just a sneak peek, so it is difficult to review, but I really liked Warcross, and this seems to be more of the same great stuff! Love the details. Maybe too much description of clothes? But if that is what the kids like...

This sneak peak got me so excited for Wildcard! Warcross was such an exciting ride and I can't wait to see what's in store in Wildcard!
Emika Chen is such a dynamic character and I also love the character of Hideo. There's mystery and secrets all in a badass video game setting; there's not much negative I can say about this series so far! If Wildcard is as good as Warcross was, then we are in for one wild ride!

Fantastic sneak peak of the sequel to Warcross! I can't wait to read the full book! Marie Lu knows how to write engaging exciting stories that stick with you.

I loved the preview for Wildcard by Marie Lu. The way Emika is now torn between the one person she has put all of her trust into and the mysterious Zero left me wanting to read more. I have purchased Wildcard and am excited to read it and place a full review.

WILDCARD has been one of my most anticipated reads of the year. This tiny taste made me desperate to read more and find out how this will all end!

I loved this. I cant wait to read the while book and see where it goes. I'm completely engrossed with the story. after this sneak peak I'm excited to see where the story next.

OMG! I need to get a final copy of this book now! Its really good but just some chapters are not enough!

I find it unnecessary to post this review just before the release date but..... it is necessary to say that it was worth reading these first three chapters, with a cliffhanger at the end that makes me want to get that book into my greedy hands and absolutely devour it, no doubt that I will absolutely love every word of it. Dear god I can't wait another day.

What a great segue into book 2, Wildcard from book 1 Warcross! This sneak peek was the amuse-bouche to the grand meal and I can’t wait to sink my teeth into the full Wildcard! Marie Lu is a must follow author and her books are magic!

Thank you to netgalley and Penguin Group for the opportunity to sneak this peek!