I don't tend to write feedback/reviews on the books I read to better inform author interviews, but COLDWIRE is an exception. As usual, I went in knowing little-to-nothing about this dystopian/cyberpunk novel, so I ended up extremely intrigued with the world building. While the countries and places have different names, it's difficult to not see the parallels between Medaluo and Atahua as China and the U.S. Add in the fact that adoption of Medan orphans plays such a significant role in the story...

So, as a Chinese American adoptee — who was adopted when the One Child Policy was in effect — I had many, many thoughts while reading COLDWIRE. I was a bit hesitant about how the author would write about adoption and write her adoptee characters, but honestly, a lot of their thoughts reflected my own at one time or another. I was pleasantly surprised. COLDWIRE's inclusion of adoptee characters (actually, the story kind of hinges on them) really drives home that adoption is, in fact, a complex *industry*.

Other than these thoughts, I loved the last quarter of the book. The classic Chloe Gong plot twists really came through. Pacing was a bit of a hit-or-miss at some points, although looking back, these choices do make sense.

If you want a story with layered world building set in the near-future — with virtual reality! — that excavates many of the realities we are experiencing now with a healthy dash of banter between characters, COLDWIRE should probably be your next read.

I think that making an AI-focused sci-fi dystopian novel was a very clever and interesting choice given the current climate when it comes to AI. (AI is very bad if you do not know that and I do not know how you wouldn't know that at this point in time. Bestie, you are living under a rock. It is ethically, mentally, and environmentally detrimental.)

I liked how this dystopian sci-fi world is very much a future built off of the harm we are actively doing to the world, I think that added a level of spook to this.

This book has dual POVs, a unique societal system (the "downcountry" and "upcountry" thing was very interesting to me, very plot-driven with a touch of romance (I didn't really care for this romance all that much), teaming up with your enemy, and being accused of murder.

I think the reason that I didn't care about the romance was because the characters didn't feel fully developed. They didn't have as much depth as I think they needed for their romance to matter as much as it should to me. I am very much a character-driven reader and I think that was put to the test with this book because of how cool I thought this world was vs how much more I wanted from these characters.

I will be continuing this series, I am very intrigued with where this may go!

I also like the cover.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Coldwire is, without a doubt, one of my favorite books I have read this year. Bear with me as I give a more in-depth background for the book, but I believe it is necessary to realize just how much of a mastermind Chloe Gong is.

In Coldwire, the world is split into two main realms: Downcounty and Upcountry. Downcounty is Earth as we know it on the physical level. It has been plagued by disease, murder, natural disasters, you name it. StrangeLoom was a program created to encapsulate the world into a virtual replica known as Upcountry. When people are five years old, they are implanted with a chip that allows them to go into either a Pod or use a headset called a Claw and upload themselves into Upcountry. Upcountry is an exact replica of Downcountry, but there is no violence, murder, etc. and it is mainly run by NileCorp who are the creators of the StrangeLoom program. Upcountry is not without flaws, however, as a cold war between the two main nations Atahua (where NileCorp and StrangeLoom primary exist and hold reign) and Medaluo effects every aspect of both the virtual world and the real world.

Upcountry holds reign over the world as most of the world’s economy and in general, life entirely functions in virtual – that is, for those that can afford it. The book follows two main storylines: Lia and Eirale. Eirale’s storyline takes place entirely in Downcountry, where she is a NileCorp solider tasked to hunt down an anarchist named Nik Grant. During this mission, Nik Grant frames her for murder and then proceeds to kidnap her. To bargain for her freedom, he claims he will release the deepfake footage of the murder to clear her name if she helps him track down a program. Eirale, desperate to clear her name, agrees.

Lia’s story is entirely Upcountry. She is in her final year at Nile Military Academy, vying for valedictorian with the principal’s son, Kiernan. As part of her final exam, she is sent on a mission to hunt down Chung Yin, an Atahuan defector who joined Medaluo’s side in the war and has potentially created an incredibly dangerous AI weapon. Her and Kiernan take on this final exam together as a joint mission which, due to the threat of the danger at hand, requires absolute secrecy to execute.

The plot, premise, and characters in this book are so incredibly well written I could not put this book down. Both POVs are engaging and despite the initial confusion with trying to understand the world (which inevitably happens in every good fantasy/sci-fi world), the book quickly drags you into it. I had lots of theories – some of which were correct, but most were not. Usually, I am pretty good at guessing the ending of books, or potential plot twists, but I can truthfully say the plot twist for this book truly shocked me. I had to sit there staring at the book for a good 5 minutes before continuing to read because I had no idea.

I am anxiously awaiting book two and cannot begin to convey my excitement for this series. I would highly recommend this book, and I hope you pick it up to experience it too!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Chloe Gong for the ARC.

As a Chloe Gong fan since the DAY her debut series was released, I was extremely excited for this book. I mean - it felt like it was just written FOR me. Cyberpunk dystopia is my favorite genre of ALL TIME, and I love the twist (no spoilers!) Chloe added to the end - it's one of my favorite narrative devices, and I'll love it in every novel I come across.

However, I think Coldwire was an extreme let down for me - though it did still keep me hooked enough for the sequel... and I think I liked how the ending played out? Hence, I've been quite confused about how to rate this after the rollercoaster of my reading experience.

I'll start with the positives: I loved how the ending was written, and.... I love the setup for book 2.

For the negatives:

All I'll say is while the premise of the book logically shouldn't work based on the ending and all the information Chloe set up in this book, and the plot holes were so many that it genuinely detracted from my reading experience, and I could see Chloe trying to pull a Shatter Me Warner/Juliette romance with Lia and Kieran, and I do think the ending frustrates me, no matter how much I love this narrative device ... I have also adored Chloe's work up until this book, and I still have hopes for the second book.

I'm super excited to see where this goes next!

Chloe Gong is an autobuy author for me so I was ecstatic to get a chance to read Coldwire early. I’ve loved all of her previous books and this premise sounded so unique so I couldn’t wait to dive in. Unfortunately, it’s my least favorite Gong book so far. Which in hindsight is my fault, I saw dystopian Chloe Gong and I was all over it but if I had stopped to think about it I would realized that I don’t really like tech stuff in books and that’s really where I struggled with this one.

Don’t let this deter you, this is quite literally a me thing and I still would recommend this book!

EXCERPT: "If there are too many objectives to download in Coldwire, there are many more that should be saved and starred for later on when more developments unfold. The story is self-driving in that regard, with the author propelling it to greater heights. Gong brings up an expansive set of ideas that shows readers the advanced depth of her thinking. Coldwire is about technology and innovation, but really, the existence of it is proof itself that innovation — the creative, human kind — is still here and present."

Full review published online at Asia Blooming.

I may or may not have guessed the plot twists because of my synesthesia and not really for valid reasons, but I think I still deserve to keep my detective license.

Coldwire was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 (I will read literally anything Chloe Gong writes), and it fully delivered everything I wanted and more. The dystopian genre is back, y'all. The cyberpunk aesthetic, the Ready Player One vibes, the dystopian setting ... this is putting me in the mood to reread Legend ASAP. I can't decide what I want first: Flesh & False Gods #3 or Coldwire #2.

This book follows two protagonists: Eirale and Lia. Eirale has already graduated from her military academy and is currently supposed to be hunting down the famed anarchist, Nik Grant. When Nik frames her for the assassination of a political official, Eirale is roped into helping him steal a mysterious program in exchange for footage that will prove her innocence. Meanwhile, Lia is about to graduate top of her class at the academy when she is given her last assignment: work with her academic rival, Kieren, to track down a figure from her past that betrayed her country. The POV chapters are alternated, which helps to keep the pace moving swiftly (though, in typical Chloe Gong fashion, the last 30% is explosive). It took me a bit longer to become fully invested in Lia's chapters, mostly because Eirale's have a bit more action. Both POVs are full of suspense and intrigue; I was thoroughly engrossed in trying to guess the plot twists and managed to call most of them, albeit for the wrong reasons. (There is really well-written foreshadowing and, yes, I saw some of it, but I grabbed the wrong pieces of the puzzle and mashed them together into some semblance of a theory that just happened to be mostly right). The mystery is blended well with the action, and the stakes are fairly high for both Eirale and Lia for most of the story. My only complaint is that sometimes the upcountry/downcountry stuff is confusing, and it's not always specified where characters are, but I think it clarifies itself as the book progresses. The ending is insane, and I'm already obsessed with the implications. I will not be patient in my wait for book two. It's giving major Legend vibes, and I'm already anticipating this being a new favorite.

This cast of characters was so addictive from the beginning. Eirale is a strong, female protagonist, but that doesn't take away from her complexity. Her internal conflict was enticing, and I loved seeing her interactions with Nik and his crew. I loved how clever Nik was, and his motivations are just *chef's kiss.* I'm excited to see more of Miz and Blare, as I felt like we didn't get a ton of time with them. Blare reminded me a bit of Bode from Locke and Key, and I just liked Miz's shifting dynamics with Eirale. Lia is a bit softer than Eirale, so I liked the contrast between them as well. Lia's academic weapon aesthetic was relatable and enjoyable; I thought her complexity made her intriguing to follow, even if her plot was a bit less exciting than Eirale's at times. Her dynamics with Kieren are perfect (we love banter between rivals), and speaking of Kieren, we love simp boys too. I loved their relationship, and while I was hesitant to see Hailey and Rayna join the team, I grew to appreciate them very quickly. Seeing the way everyone's stories intertwined was so rewarding, and I'm already excited to see how new dynamics are forged and old ones are changed in the next book.

Coldwire has easily found its place among my top books (it might even rise to my favorites shelf depending on how book two goes), and I'd highly recommend anyone who is looking to reenter the era of dystopian books that not only have a story to tell, but something to say.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

4.75/5

Thank you so much to Netgalley for accepting my request and for providing me with an advance reading copy! I had the honor to read Coldwire. This was definitely one of my most anticipated books coming from one of my favorite authors of all time. The book did not disappoint. Chloe Gong is a master at creating complex characters and interesting plots. I enjoyed this so much, I can’t wait to read more.

3/5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

As far as dyspotians go this was a pretty good one. And I've read some very bad ones this year. I liked Coldwire, it was a good blend of dyspotian and science fiction creating an intriguing cyberpunk world. It reminded me a lot of the old school dystopian books where the focus is more on the world and the rules and politics of the world. But Chloe Gong did a good job with the characters as well. They were so well written that I did not put two and two together until right before the big twist.

It's told from two POVs. Lia and Eirale, both teenagers, both trying to survive and thrive as best as they can in this futuristic world where virtual reality seems to be the only answer to all the problems. It was kind of confusing in the beginning jumping from one perspective to another as they both seem to have very different plot lines (or so it seemed) but eventually I got used to it. Also authors in recent times writing dystopian with romance please take notes, this is how its done. Do not get me wrong I like romance as much as the next person but in a world where everything seems to be falling apart a girl needs to get her priorities straight so thank you Chloe Gong for writing sensible and strong female characters.

⤷ 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
thank you netgalley and simon & schuster publishing for an e-arc ⊹ ࣪ ˖

Now this is how you do dystopian right. It perfectly captured the essence of what made this genre so fulfilling back then. Anyone craving a good science-fiction YA novel with vivid, cyberpunk world building, definitely check this one out on release day!!
Chloe Gong crafted such an exciting plot that kept me on my feet and theorizing what secrets these characters will uncover. The cast was so fun and I loved joining them on their journey. This author always creates the most lovable characters 🤍

Coldwire tackles corporate greed and their monopolies, uncanny dangers of AI, and regional inequalities. It is layered with many political themes and a strive for rebellion despite the newly advanced forces against them. The world-building features a bustling, lavish virtual upcountry and the crumbling downcountry reality where global warming, pollution, and other factors have taken their toll. There's also a sense of xenophobia the people of Medulao face in Atahua and all orphans are required to enlist in military schools and later work for said government in order to clear their debts.

I need book 2 so bad !!! Very satisfied some of my theories for the plot twists were correct since Chloe Gong does creep up with a lot of foreshadowing throughout the novel. I will also be doing a reread of this on release day...if you know, you know 😎

There’s something chillingly familiar about Chloe Gong’s new dystopian world—not in the flying cars or crumbling governments sense, but in the soft, suffocating way it mirrors where we might be headed.

In Gong’s fractured universe, society is split into two realities: the privileged living in an immersive digital dreamland “upcountry,” and the forgotten left behind “downcountry,” their cities rotting in saltwater and silence. The world-building is sharp, layered, and seductively plausible.

If you’ve ever felt like your world was built on borrowed time, this book will haunt you. If you’ve ever tried to outrun a truth you didn’t ask for, it will hold up a mirror. Gong, with a pen like a scalpel, cuts into the fear we dress up as progress and the loneliness we bury beneath connection.

I enjoyed Coldwire by Chloe Gong. This YA dystopian novel was a great read and drew me in. The author does a good job creating a compelling plot and relatable characters. The world-building was immersive, and the pacing kept me engaged throughout. It’s a solid pick for fans of speculative fiction and character-driven stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

Although I thought the author did a great job pitching this book online, I guessed the major plot twist from the premise alone and didn't feel like the story delivered on the promised themes of anarchy and artificial sentience. Plot-wise, this was reminiscent of Marie Lu's Legend (but without Legend's tight pacing and endearing characterization), and feels very much like the kind of YA dystopians that were being released ten years ago, when the category last fell out of popularity. I would have expected science fiction (especially sci fi about AI, written at a time of proliferating LLMs) to have developed since 2015. Additionally, the world-building had a number of inconsistencies (especially around VR, but also covert ops and surveillance, generally) that became irritating.

thank you to netgalley and chloe gong for an e-book and exchange for an honest review.

rating: 4.5/5 stars

wow this was such a fun ride! This is giving dystopian and so so twisty. i loved the characters and actually laughed out loud a bunch.

This is my new favorite book! Everything about it was fantastic, and I had a hard time putting it down to even sleep!

Fast-paced and electric, with Gong’s signature mix of romance, danger, and sharp dialogue. It’s rich in worldbuilding and tension, with an edge-of-your-seat intensity that keeps you hooked.

Coldwire by Chloe Gong is an atmospheric, gripping read that pulls you in from the first page. The worldbuilding is rich, the characters are layered, and there’s a haunting tension woven throughout. I loved how the story slowly unraveled, keeping me guessing and fully immersed. Definitely one to experience without knowing too much going in.

4.5 - This was such a COOL dystopian book, I am so impressed with it being Chloe's first book in the genre!! I am a huge Chloe Gong fan, I love her YA fantasy books, and had high expectations going into this new dystopian series of hers. And I had the most fun time ever reading Coldwire, while also making me think so much about our current world and the time we live in, especially in a world quickly becoming dominated by AI.

Coldwire is set in a dystopian world, where because of the effects of climate change, leading to rising tempatures/sea levels/epidemics, most of humanity has fled to live in a virtual reality system to escape. The humans have created the upcountry, where those who can afford to go to live in the virtual reality system, and the downcountry, where those who cant afford the VR are stuck and most fend for themselves in a deteriorating world. In the upcountry, there is a Cold War raging on between two nations, Medaluo and Atahua. The Nile Military Academy, owned by NileCorp, one of the most powerful corporations in Atahua, raises new generations of soldiers to fight Medaluo. The two main characters that we follow in the book, Lia and Eirale, are both part of the Nile Military Academy, but Eirale is sent on a dangerous mission in the downcountry, while Lia has just graduated from the academy, and is sent on a mission to infiltrate Medaluo in the upcountry.

The book flops between the two point of views, where Lia and Eirale are sent on two missions in two different planes of reality. Throughout the book, you learn more about the world that the two exist in and the politics in Atahua. Lia, in particular, is the daughter of a powerful man in Atahua, and is sent on a mission to uncover an AI weapon being developed to use in the Cold War to prove herself. Eirale is an orphan and is sent to NileCorp downcountry, where she is framed by an anarchist and forced to join his mission and try and uncover a dangerous weapon in Medaluo.

The dystopian world that Chloe built up in Coldwire is extensive, intricate, and so fascinating. The concept of humans going to live in a virtual reality system to escape the impacts of climate change, the themes of economic injustice and poverty, and only those who can afford the VR being able to escape, and the concept of building sentient AI systems was discussed throughout the book. I felt like Chloe took a lot of modern concepts, such as AI and virtual reality, and imagined a world in the future where humans are forced to rely on these systems to escape what earth has become from human impacts and actions. There is a lot contained in this first book and a lot to keep up with, but I appreciated that Chloe trusted her readers to pay attention to understand the world and pull together threads.

The characters were SO GOOD, the plot twists, especially at the end and how Lia and Eirale's stories were brought together was EPIC, and I LOVED the little side plot of romance between Lia and Kieran and the minor characters. I simply need the next book in this series NOW, I have so many thoughts on where this series may go!! One of my favorite books of the year for sure. Thank you to Simon Teen for the free book!!

Truly my best read this year!! It deserves all the stars.

I need to talk about the worldbuilding. Atahua (America?) is in the midst of a cold war with Medaluo (China?). In this future, virus and crime have made the world unsafe to live in, with the wealthy and anyone who can afford it living in an alternate reality online: StrangeLoom. StrangeLoom is the 'upcountry', its our world without crime, without global warming and virus. People live safe and happily digitally, and sensations, feelings, emotions, etc are replicated. Meanwhile, 'downcountry', the physical world, is dingy and broken and overtaken by crime. People hardly live there anymore, save the most destitute.

So why a war? Theres this company called the NileCorps, based in Atahua, that monopolizes StrangeLoom technology. They developed it, and they disseminated it to the other countries, meaning they have huge control over every other country. Medaluo obviously doesn't like this cause they want to control the technology too, hence the cold war.

(Also theres a wonderful map of Atahua, Medaluo, and the other countries at the beginning of the book- I love it when books do this! cause I have aphantasia)

I LOVED the characters. Period. Eirale is a loyal soldier for the NileCorps. Shes a Medan orphan in Atahua and does what she needs to provide for herself. Shes wry, blasé, and levelheaded, living an unassuming life when that takes a turn. Then theres Lia, a senior at NileCorps military school, doing anything she can to snag that valedictorian position. As a Medan ethnically, she needs valedictorian to choose where she's stationed afterwards- in the capital where her dad is, rather than shipped off to Medaluo. Shes smart, charming, and funny. Also shes demisexual (representation babyyy). Overall, I loved these two girls so muchh, and how three dimensional they were.

Now, the pacing was sooooo infuriating in the best way. Every chapter was packed with action and suspense, giving you just a little bit of info to go off of and then ENDING in a cliffhanger. *Ughhh* and then switching to the other pov. But the plot + tension continue to build up throughout the story until a series of twists and reveals at the end.

This was my first book by Chloe Gong, but now I plan on reading her other series like These Violent Delights asap! Honestly this book has heavy Black Mirror vibes (futuristic technology monopolized by a greedy corporation), mixed with a well developed crew of lovable characters. Literally every small detail in the book has a meaning and I loved loved loveddd how they connected. Theres not much romance, just a little sprinkling all the way through, but it was super refreshing.

HIGHLY recommend this book, and I cannot wait for the official release!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

I love love love Chloe Gong, so I will pick up literally anything she writes. That being said, this was probably my least favorite of her books BUT I definitely will be buying it and reading the rest of the series whenever it comes out.

I found the beginning and the middle to be really slow as there is a lot of world building. It feels different than her other books, which more obviously follows a historic event or literary story (she is an International Relations and English major, so that makes sense). I suppose you can tie this to the Cold War in the late 1900's where countries weren't necessarily fighting physically, but they were racing to make nuclear weapons that could wipe out cities. I think because of this world building, it took me a while to become interested in the characters. But once everything started falling into place towards the end, I was definitely pulled in.

This book feels like I need to reread at least one more time in order to catch all the things that Chloe Gong was building up to and to understand the world a little more. The plot is dense, but I think it's worth it! Overall, I would recommend reading this book.