Solarversia: The Year Long Game - Toby Downton
I received a digital copy of this book from the author, in exchange for my honest review.
The story of a teen girl, Nova, who with her friend Sushi sign up to play a year long game to win money and the chance to help design the next year long game. Along the way Nova is struck with tragedy when Sushi is killed in a terrorist attack on a gaming cafe. With the assistance of her friend Burner, Nova vows to track down Sushi's killers putting herself and those she loves in more danger than she realises.
The novel is well written and quite clever, I enjoyed the gaming aspects and the augmented and virtual realities in use. However, pacing issues with the story made it feel as though it was dragging in some places.
I was not a fan of Nova, she really didn't appeal to me. Her personality seemed to be somewhere between narcissist and spoiled brat. Using people to get ahead in both the game and life. And if anyone called her out, or disagreed with her she's have a tantrum.
Charlie is just flat. A 2 dimensional character with no interest to the reader, very little effort was put into building him into anything more than Nova's love interest.
Burner is the character I liked most, and in my opinion the true hero of the story. He's described as the nerdy genius that helps Nova in game and out. The closest thing she has to a real world friend after Sushi's unfortunate demise. If anyone deserved the victory it was this guy.
I'm not writing this book off completely, like I said it was quite clever in some aspects, so if you are a fan of Ready Player One I would suggest checking this out, but don't have high hopes.
I give Solarversia 3.5/5 stars.
