Review – Warcross by Marie Lu

Title Warcross

Author Marie Lu

Description 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 ten 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 into 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.

Release Date September 12, 2017

Initial Thoughts

I’ve been a Marie Lu fan for the better part of ten years. Oddly, this is the only series of hers that I hadn’t read so I decided to remedy that in 2020.

Some Things I Liked

• Futuristic NYC. I loved this element. As a person who **used to** commute every day, I love seeing a familiar city featured in a book. Similarly, I loved seeing the way Tokyo was described. Tokyo is one of the top destinations on my bucket list and this book only made me want to go there more.
• The romance. Romance is never the focal point of Marie Lu’s books but she does it so well. I’d love to see her write a rom-com because she does dialogue and tension so well. Warcross is no exception. I loved Hideo and Emika and want a billion, yes a billion, more books about them.
• Moral greyness. Once again, this is something I have to consistently applaud Marie Lu for. She adds such interesting moral dilemmas and plots to her stories. I can’t say too much without spoiling the plot, but this book did not let me down. I loved questioning who was right because it was not cut and dry.

Series Value

I am definitely going to read Wildcard, and there are several scenes in Warcross that I’d love to see novellas or extra chapters about. I love Marie Lu’s writing. But, I knew that already. This series only confirmed what I already knew and I will most certainly be continuing.

Final Thoughts

I loved this book. It didn’t beat out Skyhunter as my favorite Marie Lu book, but it’s right up there.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

• Wildcard by Marie Lu – I haven’t started it yet but if it’s even half of the thrill ride that Warcross was, I know it will be amazing.
• Renegades by Marissa Meyer – if you enjoyed the futuristic setting as well as the idea of virtual reality and super hero vibes, try this series.
• Legend by Marie Lu – if you liked the writing style here, definitely check out Marie’s first series. It’s fantastic.