Warcross by Marie Lu

Synopsis (From Goodreads)

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.

My Review
4 out of 5 stars

Mrs. Lu creates an incredibly believable world that features virtual reality. It’s actually a rendition of the way that virtual reality is projected to go– an augmented (virtual objects projected within the real world) or even a mixed reality (virtual objects co-exist and interact with the real world). I know Mrs. Lu used to work in the video game industry, which may have either gave her the insight or she knew to further research its development, but in any case, her story’s technology is incredibly well done and easy to follow. She also describes the game, Warcross, well, and thus it is easy to see yourself situated within the game and know what is going on despite the level of action.

Mrs. Lu also recognizes that online gaming is a global event, and incorporates a diverse cast from all over the world. (This is, of course, set in the future, so I’m sure all pro-gaming skill levels of other countries would have caught up with South Korea by then, right? xD). She doesn’t miss out on the opportunity to give a disabled character the spotlight of being a team captain in the e-sport and also incorporates some LGBTQ+ characters. Our main character helps give voice to girls within the technology field, as she knows how to code. She has a well developed backstory, and she grows on you as you learn her motivations and interests. She also gets a pretty adorable and shippable love story, which I keep having a hard time finding in YA these days.

If there is anything to dock a star from, it’s due to the fact that it’s pretty predictable. It also ends on a cliffhanger, which, due to a series of twists and turns, is a bit forced to create the sequel. I think this book would have been a great standalone story, but, unfortunately, more books means more book sales, so we must wait to see the resolution in the next book.

See this review on Goodreads.

Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy meets Eurovision in an over-the-top science fiction spectacle from bestselling author Catherynne Valente has galaxies competing for glory in a universe-wide musical contest—where the stakes are as high as the fate of planet Earth.

A century ago, the Sentience Wars tore the galaxy apart and nearly ended the entire concept of intelligent space-faring life. In the aftermath, a curious tradition was invented—something to cheer up everyone who was left and bring the shattered worlds together in the spirit of peace, unity, and understanding.

Once every cycle, the civilizations gather for Galactivision—part gladiatorial contest, part beauty pageant, part concert extravaganza, and part continuation of the wars of the past. Instead of competing in orbital combat, the powerful species that survived face off in a competition of song, dance, or whatever can be physically performed in an intergalactic talent show. The stakes are high for this new game, and everyone is forced to compete.

This year, though, humankind has discovered the enormous universe. And while they expected to discover a grand drama of diplomacy, gunships, wormholes, and stoic councils of aliens, they have instead found glitter, lipstick, and electric guitars. Mankind will not get to fight for its destiny—they must sing.

A band of human musicians, dancers, and roadies have been chosen to represent Earth on the greatest stage in the galaxy. And the fate of their species lies in their ability to rock.

My Review
2 out of 5 stars

So, you want to know whether this book is worth the read? If this book is your taste in books? Well, go read the “Look inside” preview provided by Amazon; it’s a little over a chapter’s worth of material, but that is all you need to read to know if this book is your style. However, I will provide some guidance here because I believed this book was my style just from the preview. I will add that hearing about this from various peoples, most notably Hank Green from the Vlogbrothers, also made it pique my interest.

I am now going to assume you read a preview of this book (it’s okay if you didn’t). Did you enjoy the witty writing style, similar to Hitchhiker’s Guide? I know I did– it’s a pretty entertaining start! A personal favorite excerpt from the first chapter really had me hopeful about this book:

“Life is beautiful and life is stupid. This is, in fact, widely regarded as a universal rule not less inviolable than the Second Law of Thermodynamics, the Uncertainty Principle, and No Post on Sundays. As long as you keep that in mind, and never give more weight to one than the other, this history of the galaxy is a simple tune with lyrics flashed on-screen and a helpful, friendly bouncing disco ball of all-annihilating flames to help you follow along.

This book is that disco ball. Cue the music. Cue the lights.”

I don’t know about you, but for me, “No Post on Sundays” definitely has to be alluding to Uncle Vernon in Harry Potter. I’m pretty sure Uncle Vernon would agree that No Post on Sundays is a universal rule similar to those of physics and quantum mechanics.

Yes, this made me chuckle. Then, throw in promises of a bouncing disco ball with fire and I am all ready to strap myself into the STS-Space Opera, commandeered by Catherynne M. Valente. I think to myself that she will not steer me wrong, not with this glorious writing and witty banter.

However, this ends up being the problem with the book. It goes off on so many very wordy tangents to include geeky references, puns, and other jokes that we never actually get any development or plot. Two-thirds of the book is just filler talking about random alien races and past Galactivision competitions to just simply include all of the author’s wit. It ends up being exhausting, and I just wasn’t laughing anymore.

By the time we get to the end, we’re basically just thrown right in not caring at all about our glam rock characters because we don’t really get to know them. There is one past mistake that troubles our lead singer, but unfortunately it ends up being a ridiculous solution to the problem at hand. It all ends up being glossed over to give something of an ending. Most likely the ending occurs because Mrs. Valente ran out of jokes.

I think this book would have perhaps made a better short story. The actual content that exists is very little and choosing to go with a selection of creative banter would have been a delightful read.

If you do think you can put up with 304 pages of this type of writing, I do recommend the audiobook. It is a pretty wordy writing style and the narrator does a wonderful job choosing where to inflect words and in delivering the jokes. Plus, there is a little singing involved, and he’s got a nice voice.

See this review on Goodreads.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Synopsis (From Goodreads)

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade’s going to survive, he’ll have to win—and confront the real world he’s always been so desperate to escape.

My Review
2 out of 5 stars

Ah, the 80s. Though I was born in the 90s, some of the 80s culture spurred into my life and there are many things I love or appreciate from it. From some movies like Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Back to the Future, to video games like Galaga and Pac Man; music including Madonna and Journey, and even some reruns of cartoons like Thundercats. But you know what might be the most influential thing of the 80s that affected me while reading this book? The eye-roll. Eye-rolling is a form of nonverbal communication. Shakespeare used eye-rolling  in his poem, The Rape of Lucrece, where it was used to portray lust or passion for another character. Eye-rolling continued to be used as a means of flirtation all the way through the 1950s and 1960s. It wasn’t until the 1980s where eye-rolling was instead used to communicate displeasure due to disapproval or annoyance. This book was just so eye-roll inducing that I lost count over the amount of times I did  while reading it.

What’s that you say? Eye-rolling is generally performed by adolescent girls? That I, as a grown woman, should have grown apart from such a juvenile action, especially over reading a book? Well, maybe I would be ashamed of this if the book itself wasn’t so juvenile. It felt like a 16-year-old boy from the 80s wrote it with dreams of meeting an awesome gamer chick and falling in love. Plus, performing the eye-roll to its truest 80s definition is the best way to respond to a book that is all about 80s culture.

I know, I know. I am here to write a review, not spout out 80s-related trivia. But you should know, that’s exactly what this book is. It’s so full of -insert coin here- 80s references that very few actually serve a point or lead anywhere other than to be nerdy about the 80s. Mr. Cline also feels the need to explain every 80s reference he includes. He doesn’t rely on a reader having personal knowledge of that thing, thus allowing for the reader in-the-know to smile to himself over the reference. No, instead it must be explained to everyone, so everyone can understand how awesome the 80s were. This just causes info-dumping.

Mr. Cline needs to learn the art of “show, not tell”. The first 75 pages or so are all just info-dump chapters about Wade’s life, how the virtual world OASIS works, and the life and interests of OASIS’s creator, Mr. Halliday. Our prologue promises an exciting start of Wade first appearing on the scoreboard to solving the puzzles, but the buildup to him appearing on the board was so actionless that it was misery to read up to that point. The actual puzzle itself was all right because things are actually, you know, happening, but after it’s solved there are more info-dumps of other things leading to the next puzzle. Additionally, any interactions between Wade and other characters end up being an info-dump themselves. We don’t get to see how Wade ends up falling for the girl; after a few pages of an IM chat between the two, we get about a page’s worth about how they now hang out and play board games.

There are a few Easter Egg pleasantries to the book (emphasis on few). The whole premise is pretty creative, and Mr. Cline has enough love and knowledge of nerd and gamer culture to put together an easy-to-read pulp about the ultimate VR video game challenge. If you are a nerd or a gamer, you’ll probably find yourself nodding in understanding as he points out why avatars can’t use their IGNs in the OASIS’s public school system and relate to the need to level up and gain better gear. And, if you have any appreciation at all for the 80s, I am sure you’ll enjoy at least a few of the references, especially ones that end up being better incorporated into the plot.

See this review on Goodreads.

Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Synopsis (From Goodreads)

Thou shalt kill.

A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control.

Citra and Rowan are chosen to apprentice to a scythe—a role that neither wants. These teens must master the “art” of taking life, knowing that the consequence of failure could mean losing their own.

My Review
5 out of 5 stars

There has been an explosion of dystopians published in the Young Adult market since the success of The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. None, however, have really found that large of success or stood out as much. One reason for this was The Hunger Games’ ability to really force readers to think about the ethics at play. How forcing children from 12 districts to kill one another in a “game” represents a peaceful society while the Capital sits back and watches.

Scythe is the first dystopian since The Hunger Games that has allowed me to turn the pages in anticipation of what comes next while also questioning the ethics throughout the story. By following characters learning to be a Scythe, one who must kill people in order to maintain population control, we get to see through fresh eyes how this is done. All Scythe’s have different techniques and reasons in executing their work (pun intended), and we as readers have to question what is right and what is wrong when it is one’s duty to kill. I just loved learning the reasons behind every single approach– it’s done so well that even at a time I could see the reasoning behind the “evil” Scythe’s technique, even if it is the most cruel.

Unlike The Hunger Games, the book isn’t jam-packed with action. It is much more focused on the characters learning about the Scythedom and developing their own morals of how they will approach their oncoming career. It still involves some overarching politics introduced here that I am sure will be explored in later books. The book finishes with a well-rounded ending which is another check off the list as to why this book won a Printz nomination. I look forward to the next as well as checking out other works from Mr. Shusterman.

See this review on Goodreads.

The Spark by David Drake

Synopsis (From Goodreads)

NEW STANDALONE NOVEL BY SF MASTER DAVID DRAKE. In a violent world in which civilization has fallen and monsters roam, a young hero will rise.

In the time of the Ancients the universe was united—but that was so far in the past that not even memory remains, only the broken artifacts that a few Makers can reshape into their original uses. What survives is shattered into enclaves—some tiny, some ruined, some wild.

Into the gaps between settlements, and onto the Road that connects all human reality and the reality that is not human and may never have been human, have crept monsters. Some creatures are men, twisted into inhuman evil; some of them are alien to Mankind—

And there are things which are hostile to all life, things which will raven and kill until they are stopped.

A Leader has arisen, welding the scattered human settlements together in peace and safety and smashing the enemies of order with an iron fist. In his capital, Dun Add, the Leader provides law and justice. In the universe beyond, his Champions advance—and enforce—the return of civilization.

Pal, a youth from the sticks, has come to Dun Add to become a Champion. Pal is a bit of a Maker, and in his rural home he’s been able to think of himself as a warrior because he can wield the weapons of the Ancient civilization.

Pal has no idea of what he’s really getting into in Dun Add. On the other hand, the Leader and Dun Add have no real idea of what might be inside this hayseed with high hopes.

THE SPARK: A story of hope and violence and courage. And especially, a story of determination.

My Review
3 out of 5 stars

The world building of this reminded me heavily of Hiyao Miyazaki movies like Howl’s Moving Castle or Castle in the Sky. It takes place in a medieval-feeling setting with the use of ancient, lost technology and the existence of some mystical beings from “Not-Here”. Our main character, Pal, comes from a very rural small town and after his family dies he decides to sell off the farm and head to the capital to become a Champion. Champions are loyal knights to the king and are sent off to complete quests for the good of the people. To become a Champion, Pal must train and then compete in a combat tournament. The weapons in this story are Made with the use of the lost technology and can be adjusted to specific power levels when fighting others. Pal is also a Maker, so he crafted his own weapon after gathering materials to use from the ancients.

There was just so many things going on that it seemed the world building never felt very complete. I did get a good feel for the capital, the roles of Champions, and general weapon abilities, but the overarching ancient technology got spread thin rather quickly and was not well explained. For example, boats make an appearance as some sort of lost ancient technology ship. I’m not really sure if it is more of a land-vehicle that is called a boat in our medieval-minded characters, or if the whole place is surrounded with water and boats allow for easy travel. Additionally, Pal is a Maker and kind of understands the technology of boats in that he can “talk” to them and fix them, but then he can’t drive them. He needs a special captain/driver to make the boat operate and move. On top of the ancient technology component there is this otherworldly realm known as “Not-Here” were some bad things come from. Beasts, I guess? Honestly I can’t explain it at all, but this whole part was definitely left out the most. Pal wants to become a champion to protect people from Not-Here, but he ends up focusing more on Making stuff instead.

I did find Pal to be an endearing narrator. I haven’t read a book that has that small town main character in quite some time, so he comes across as very humble and naive. It was a cute voice to read from. Pal really just wants to do good for the world and stand up for what is right. I think Pal really helped this Arthurian-tale stay a little bit more on track.

This is just a standalone, but if Mr. Drake ever wanted to write more about Pal’s adventures I think he certainly could. The ending is pretty open ended; however, I do not think I would continue on in the series. I would be too confused from the poor world building.

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Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Synopsis (From Goodreads)

“Are you happy with your life?”

Those are the last words Jason Dessen hears before the masked abductor knocks him unconscious.

Before he awakens to find himself strapped to a gurney, surrounded by strangers in hazmat suits.

Before a man Jason’s never met smiles down at him and says, “Welcome back, my friend.”

In this world he’s woken up to, Jason’s life is not the one he knows. His wife is not his wife. His son was never born. And Jason is not an ordinary college physics professor, but a celebrated genius who has achieved something remarkable. Something impossible.

Is it this world or the other that’s the dream? And even if the home he remembers is real, how can Jason possibly make it back to the family he loves? The answers lie in a journey more wondrous and horrifying than anything he could’ve imagined—one that will force him to confront the darkest parts of himself even as he battles a terrifying, seemingly unbeatable foe.

From the author of the bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy, Dark Matter is a brilliantly plotted tale that is at once sweeping and intimate, mind-bendingly strange and profoundly human—a relentlessly surprising science-fiction thriller about choices, paths not taken, and how far we’ll go to claim the lives we dream of.

My Review
3 out of 5 stars

Holy infinite realities, Batman!

This is a very entertaining read. Things move along quickly and as a reader you’re always wondering what is going on.

However, this book really has no morals or ethics. These types of things are basically thrown out the window in order to keep the reader going. I get that it’s a thriller, but barely anyone takes the time to think about the actual situation at hand. As a physicist, I would think Jason likes to take a moment to think and critically analyze his situation which includes those missing ethics. Instead he only briefly considers the science behind it and then moves selfishly along. All characters are either in Jason’s way or are something for him to use to get what he wants. Maybe some of this fits within the books science, but I still don’t think it means we can recklessly choose what we want. It ended up making it a little too unbelievable and thus ridiculous.

On my Goodreads review I have a small spoiler section, so if you’d like to read that, check out the spoiler tag written at this part of the review on Goodreads.

Again though, it was super entertaining. It’s easy to read and I appreciated the explanation of the science involved. I recommend reading it with a bowl of popcorn.