Gritty, clever, and gripping.
Gong’s latest is a sharp, immersive dystopian thriller where loyalty fractures, rebellion brews, and two intertwined destinies race toward a collision that could upend their world. In a future divided between a pristine virtual realm and a collapsing real world, two young soldiers—one fighting on the ground, the other inside a digital academy—uncover a conspiracy that threatens every version of reality they know.
Eirale’s gritty, high-stakes life on the ground contrasts sharply with Lia’s controlled, strategic reality inside the virtual military academy. Their perspectives mirror and challenge each other, tightening the tension as their paths move toward an inevitable intersection. The dense worldbuilding may feel overwhelming at first, as political structures and specialized terminology come fast. But once the rhythm settles, the complexity becomes one of the book’s strengths. Gong trusts her readers to keep up, and that confidence pays off. Beneath the technological and political chaos lies a subtle emotional core. Vulnerability breaks through hardened exteriors, light touches of romance add warmth, and the ending lands with force. Urgent and haunting, a compelling read that will leave readers eager for the next installment.
Pub date November 4, 2025
Margaret K. McElderry Books
ISBN 9781665960137
Price $20.99
