Warcross by Marie Lu | Audiobook Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu—when a game called Warcross takes the world by storm, one girl hacks her way into its dangerous depths. 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.

In this sci-fi thriller, #1 New York Times bestselling author Marie Lu conjures an immersive, exhilarating world where choosing who to trust may be the biggest gamble of all.

Why Did I Listen To Warcross by Marie Lu?

I actually have never read a Marie Lu book, prior to Warcross, that is. Granted, I have been to a signing with Marie Lu for Legend. Still, how have I gone so long without reading her books? Warcross basically hit my radar with its gorgeous, colorful cover! Then it showed up on the Volumes app and I was sold, hook line and sinker. As it turns out, the book is bleak with a pretty wild view of the future and virtual reality. I also have decided I DEFINITELY want to read more of Lu’s books.

What’s The Story Here?

Warcross is about this girl named Emika Chen who lives in New York City. Basically it is the future and jobs are hard to come by. Emika supports herself and her sister by bounty hunting. You see, there is so much crime that the police are overloaded. So, they outsource and pay bounties to people who help catch criminals. Unfortunately, Emika is three months overdue on rent. She has a lot of credit card debt. Things are looking bleak. As the book opens, she is about to get a huge bounty and solve a few problems. We start with a whole lot of action. Eventually, Emika finds herself pulled into a tournament for the virtual reality called Warcross. There’s also romance. Oh and some conniving and plotting. Basically, a whole lot of twists happen.

How Did I Like Warcross?

The verdict is in. I like Marie Lu’s writing! Yay! So, Warcross was actually a good book. I found myself pretty on edge while reading. I just sort of worried about Emika the whole time. She’s the sort of character that I ended up attached to and caring about. Also, she has been dealt some awful circumstances. I liked that she doesn’t give up though. She’s a really hustler. Emika does what she needs to do to survive. Also, the romance portions certainly did not hurt my enjoyment of this book. And the technology within is really quite interesting.

How’s The Narration?

Nancy Wu narrates the audiobook. She’s not terrible. Of course, I listened to the audiobook at 1.5x speed and 2x speed at varying points depending on my level of concentration. I think that if I had not listened to the audiobook speeded up, I would not have been as enthusiastic. Still, she does a nice job conveying Emika’s emotions. I can’t really say anything negative about the audiobook. Overall, I would recommend listening through an app where you can speed up the narration.

Other reviews of Warcross by Marie Lu:

• The Book Smugglers – “absolutely worth the read“
• Rhapsody In Books – “The characters are interesting“
• What A Nerd Girl Says – “I was hooked from page one, and that’s not a lie“

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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