Wow. Best read of December for sure! I’ve heard so much hype about this book, that I did not think there was any way for Warcross to live up to it. I have never been so happy to be proven wrong. This book had a lot working against it too, what with the success of Ready Player One. Warcross could have easily turned into a cheap remake of the successful Ernest Cline novel, but Marie Lu managed to create an intriguing world with vibrant and exciting characters and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. 

 

This was also the first Marie Lu book I have read, and it absolutely made me want to read more by this incredibly talented author. I never read the Legend series when it came out years ago, but I could not keep Warcross off of my radar. 

 

Okay, let’s get on with the review. Starting with the characters. Emi was such a fascinating protagonist to follow, a definite diamond in the rough. Branded as a criminal, she is on a tough path for her life, all because of one incident when she was a kid. Later on when this incident is explained, you fall even more in love with her than you already were. She is not afraid to do what is right, and this trait carries true throughout the entire story. 

 

Then we have Hideo *swoon* Tanaka, the young billionaire who is responsible for creating Warcross. Obviously damaged and covered in shields, Hideo is heartbreaking to watch throughout this story for reasons I cannot explain because of spoilers. 

 

Even the “secondary characters” like Hammie, Asher and Roshan are so completely lovable and supportive. This is a crew of characters that I would compare to the Mortal Instruments crew, where you just want to hang out with them all the time and go on adventures with them.

 

It has also been a very long time since I read a book with a faceless mystery villain, and I forgot how much I disliked this trope. However, Warcross managed to do it right. There is just something about Zero that keeps you guessing and makes you want to keep reading through the night. 

 

Now for the world itself. As I mentioned before, this book is very reminiscent of Ready Player One, but I guess that can be said of any book that centres mostly around virtual reality. Very quickly though, you are sucked into a world that is completely unique with its own rules, laws and competitions. In the end, the only notable similarity between the two worlds is the VR setting. Other than that, Warcross is completely unique, in that it takes the VR concept and applies it to the everyday world around it. As well, the world is not inherently post-apocalyptic, as I would have expected it to be. 

 

Honestly, anything more I say about this book is venturing dangerously close to spoiler territory, so I will just say this: READ THIS BOOK. I cannot wait to pick up the sequel and see where the journey these characters take. Overall, an obvious 5/5 stars to Warcross by Marie Lu. I am hoping to pick up the sequel very early on in the new year.