This was awesome on so many levels. A book about a video game and set in Tokyo that's enough to satisfy me but Warcross does even more. The diverse set of characters is great. Their personalities are nicely played out and there wasn't really anyone I didn't like. I really liked Emika, the lead, and was so invested in her story that I wanted to rapidly read the remaining pages but at the same time I didn't want the book to end. I don't want to wait for book 2. I loved the romance in Warcross! Most of the time in books and manga I seem to find myself drawn to the non-stereotypical, different, sometimes dark/bad characters who are never going to end up with the lead but you still can't help hoping. In Warcross I totally shipped Emika and Hideo all the way. I haven't felt these lovely fluttery feelings, of wanting two characters to be together and enjoying their relationship, since reading Hirunaka no Ryuusei (where I shipped Chun-chun and Shishio so much only to have my heart crushed by the terrible terrible ending). Something about Emi and Hideo had me routing for them all the way and their romance had me smiling a ridiculous amount. Obviously, I loved the setting, Tokyo was so vivid and the world building was top-notch. The video game aspects were detailed and exciting. I'd love to experience Lu's virtual reality for real. I did call the identity of Zero from quite early on but I didn't see the other reveal coming so the ending was still exhilarating. I'd never read a Marie Lu book before but Warcross impressed me so much that I will be seeking out her other books, and of course Warcross 2. Can't wait!

Warcross is one of the most interesting books I've read so far, and the addition to it being inspired by video games had my attention immediately. Marie Lu's worldbuilding had me hooked and I couldn't put it down! If you like thrillers with a side of sci-fi fantasy, pick this up!

I put this book down about half an hour ago and HOLY CRAP. I honestly do not know what to do with myself anymore because while I thought Warcross would be good, I didn’t KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE THIS GOOD? Also, that ending took the WIND out of me and I ACTUALLY let out a scream (nobody was around to hear me, so I’ll just post it on the internet for everyone to publicly judge me) and I cannot EXPLAIN how much I need the sequel right now. I read Marie Lu’s The Young Elites trilogy only a month (or so) ago and while it had its ups and downs, Warcross was PURE 100% PERFECTION AND ADRENALINE FILLED AND MIND TWISTINGLY GOOD AND I CANNOT CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT RIGHT NOW. (Does this sentence even make any sense?) I simply have to get my thoughts out on this review, regardless if they make sense or not, so prepare for a lot of capital letters and fangirling down below. MY THOUGHTS: 1. I always go into hyped books a little jaded. I mean *what if* after I believe that it will be the best book EVER, it isn’t and then I HAVE TO TEND TO MY POOR BRUISED BOOKWORM HEART AND SOUL? Yeah, I can’t. SO, I went into Warcross a little jaded but within NO TIME AT ALL I JOINED THE FANDOM and I SUPPORT ALL THE HYPE because this book is CRIMINALLY INSANE (in the best way possible.) 2. THE WORLD BUILDING (especially the Virtual Reality World Building) is INSANE. HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH WORLDS LIKE THIS, MARIE LU? The technology, the arenas, the power-ups, the dark world inside the world – ALL OF IT WAS shockingly good and kept my brain spinning in marvel. 3. I LOVED Emika Chen. I loved her independent streak, her fighter attitude, her genius brain and her inability to back down. She was one of the best characters I’ve met this year and I AM SO EXCITED TO DO IT AGAIN in book two! 4. I loved Hideo Tanaka as well. He was quiet, withdrawn, OBVIOUSLY a genius and I LOVED HIM AND EMIKA TOGETHER. Also, the story of his past broke my heart into tiny little pieces. 5. The pace of this book was (also) INSANE. There was always something happening with never a dull moment and with SO MANY characters and insane technology, the plot twists JUST KEPT COMING and I loved it. I read it in two days with college around AND an exam in between because it was SO HARD to tear myself away from it. 6. Can I also talk about how stunning Warcross (the actual game) was? More, specifically, I LOVED the championships and everything to do with them. From the dome fights, the insane worlds that teams had to battle it out in and even the structure of each team – Captain, Architect, Fighter, Thief and Shield. Which brings me to HOW MUCH I LOVED The Phoenix Riders and the way they trained and their camaraderie! I only wish we had MORE of them and of the actual game! 7. I think the ONLY THING I didn’t like (much) about the book was that I pretty much predicted one of the MAJOR plot twists and made it not so shocking – but I was SO WRONG about the rest of it, AND IT AMAZED ME. All in all, this book is so SO worthy of every amount of praise that’s been thrown at it. Warcross is spectacular, adrenaline filled, mind twisting and I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT. 5 stars.

Warcross is one of the most well-written novels that I've read in a while. Lu crafts their near-futuristic world well. Emika Chen, Warcross' protagonist, is intriguing from the get-go. First of all, she has rainbow hair?! Secondly, Emika is do-er and gets stuff done even if it's not the most conventional way of doing them, e.g. hacking herself into the official Warcross games - Emika is definitely a chaotic good.

This is the first book I've read of Marie Lu and it was brilliant I can totally see why she is a best selling authour. The story is captivating and vivid with imagination. Marie Lu greets us into this beyond Sci Fi electronic world that we all dream of. I loved every detail she added of the Warcross game and the technology around them and how it affects everyone's lives and it was truly inspiring it makes me want to picture all this in person as a high budget cinematic film. The story flowed brilliantly and never faulters or tires and is constantly interesting and makes you want to read more and more. The main characters I don't really care for or have any sort of attachment to as I'm more interested in the story and I know that this is how the book is suppose to be written which I love as I definitely prefer Story over characters specially when it comes to SCI FI books. However a little character development could of been added to make me have more of an emotional connection to some of the characters and some moments specially the ending was really obvious as to what was going to happen and who Zero was etc but I didn't mind as I'm pretty good at guessing endings anyway