- Edition: Hardcover + ebook
- Page Count: 352 pages
- Publish Date: September 18th, 2018
- Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
*SPOILER FREE REVIEW*
please note that there isn't spoilers for book 2 but will be for Warcross
please note that there isn't spoilers for book 2 but will be for Warcross
I was kindly sent a copy of Wildcard by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Wildcard is the sequel to Warcross by Marie Lu. To avoid any spoilers here on my blog, I'll be posting the description to the first book only. If you'd like to see my spoiler filled review, check out my Goodreads on the release date!
Wildcard is the sequel to Warcross by Marie Lu. To avoid any spoilers here on my blog, I'll be posting the description to the first book only. If you'd like to see my spoiler filled review, check out my Goodreads on the release date!
"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. Needing 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."
I loved Warcross last year so much that I read the entire book in one sitting. Little did I know, I'd have to wait an entire year for Wildcard to come out. I had written a mini review after reading Warcross because it was in the middle of the night and I was a mess. As if things have changed much, I ended up a mess at the midnight of the night after finishing Wildcard. I didn’t know what to expect, but I know it wasn’t all of this!
I'm familiar with Marie Lu's writing as I've read both of her other series. I've come to the conclusion that her writing style and stories are meant for binge reading. You can't help but want to sit there and finish all at once because she's somehow able to leave a cliff hanger at the end of every chapter. In Wildcard, I found myself genuinely shocked that there was so many twists and turns that I wasn't even expecting (especially the giant one at the end!!). I read so much Young Adult that I can easily predict what is going to happen most of the time. But, I wasn't able to do that with Wildcard. You know whenever you're laying down in bed reading a book but all the sudden you sit up and get closer to the book because that "OH THAT DIDN'T JUST HAPPEN" moment happens? I can't count the amount of times I did that on my fingers. It was ridiculous. As a writer, I strive to consistently shock within my writing but it seems almost impossible. Marie Lu seems to have done it no problem with both Warcross and Wildcard.
One of my favorite parts about Wildcard is that we get even more Warcross games! They’re so interesting to read. I usually get bored at action scenes because they’re always so over descriptive (Weird, I know) but I get so pumped for Warcross games. I’m honestly so dedicated to the Riders at this point. Catch me wearing their merch at the next championship. Let's talk about characters!
Emika - I knew Emika was going to be a kick butt character ever since the beginning. She was a broke girl in New York who couldn’t pay her rent but was a Warcross bounty hunter on the side. The missions she goes on in this book are so much more dangerous. She eventually becomes super wanted for obvious reasons. There’s this entire chase scene that you see her vunerability in and it was so pure. Not to mention, she’s still in love with Hideo. I have no idea why or how but her feelings for him are definitely there. It might have caused her to do many different and dangerous things out of love, but it was worth it. It’s not a YA story if the main character isn’t making bad decisions for love, right?
Zero - I oddly loved Zero when all we knew about him was the black shadow and he tried to kill Emika and basically everyone in that game. Getting to know him is truly one of the better parts of this book. His character is so deep and rich. You keep learning more and more ever second (I mean, she is hunting him.) Despite learning so much about him, there’s this weird mysterious vibe that stays with his character.
Jax - I LOVE JAX. I’ve never been a big fan of side characters but I couldn’t wait for more Jax content. Her entrance was honestly SO perfect and tough. Her background makes it even better because she was able to grow into an incredibly strong woman who doesn’t need anybody. I could read a book about her alone, to be honest. But as a side character to Emika, they were a perfect duo. They both came from nothing and learned to adapt by themselves. I loved Jax as her sidekick and I’m so glad she got the amount of content she did. She definitely deserves it.
Tremaine and Asher: I just wanted to quickly say that I absolutely adored their entire relationship and I'm so glad she included them into the story.
I knew Marie Lu was going to blow me away but once you think the book is over, it isn’t. I didn’t think I would cry at this book because I’m not that emotionally invested… Sike. I cried at that ending newspaper article. I’m genuinely surprised I didn’t predict any of this but I’m so glad it ended like this. Not going to lie, I do wish there was more though. To conclude, I’m definitely trash for this duology and I’ll be reading literally anything that Marie Lu writes from now on. I don’t know how she wasn’t an auto-buy author for me already but she is now. I can’t possibly give a book that made the reading experience that fun lower than a five star rating. So, five out of five stars from me.
Are you going to be reading Wildcard? Let me know!
Pre-order or buy Wildcard on Amazon | Book Depository | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble!
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