Warcross

 

Warcross by Marie Lu      Teen & Young Adult/Action & Adventure/Fantasy

(from Amazon)  For the millions who log in every day, Warcross isn't just a game - it's a way of life. The obsession started 10 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 Warcross players who bet on the game illegally. But the bounty-hunting world is a competitive one, and survival has not been easy. To make some quick cash, Emika takes a risk and hacks in to 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.

(My Review) 

I had heard that if you like Ready Player One, then you might like this book, and for the most part I agree.  I see a lot of similarities, minus the 80's references.  Emika hacks her way into a international Warcross online game, and the creator of the game hires her to become a spy in the games, and search for a security problem that is trying to take down the whole system.  Despite the lack of 80's references, I enjoyed this book.  I did get lost a bit in the gaming parts, not being a gamer myself, but I did not think that took away from my understanding or enjoyment of reading the book.  The one thing I did not like, was the twist at the end.  I understand it, and I can see how it leads to the next book in the series.  I am willing to read the next book to see if it makes me feel better about the choice the author made in making the twist...