A modern Ready Player One with way more.

Imagine you have The Matrix Style VR that you can jack in and out of, then you add Ready Player One vibes with real world consequences. Then sprinkle some action packed high stakes gaming and mysterious happenings in both the real world and the VR.

Add Kai, an awkward and self conscious guy trying to make it in the midst of middle class poverty.

Cyber Squad are there to check for in game bugs that could mess you up through your neural implant, or rescue you from a major glitch that shouldn't happen.

Then mix Kai in with the Cyber Squad and the joyride starts and doesn't let you go.
This book has layers in it, hints of many things to come in the rest of the series. The characters and the story are rich and the female characters strong. I think this would appeal to sci-fi fans from 16 to 30+ who grew up playing online games.

As a first in the series there is a bit of setup, Kai is relatable but his starting point is quite self conscious. It's a criminally underrated hidden gem of a book.

Any elements you aren't enjoying on the way through, just wait until the end. it's all worth it. Whatever happens read to the end. For me it was a great read, until the end where all I wanted was to start Book 2.

I listened to the Audiobook version and the narration was a very high standard and easy to listen to. A well directed and performed story.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!