COLDWIRE by Chloe Gong (Teen/Young Adult)

5 stars

A super fun launch of a teen young adult series that’s a blend of sci-fi, cyberpunk, adventure and romantasy – fast paced and exciting!

On a climate ravaged Earth, those who can afford it have retreated into an elaborate virtual reality, StrangeLoom, created by a powerful global corporation, NileCorp. The real world becomes known as “downcountry,” where people immerse themselves in full body pods to enter StrangeLoom, which has become known as “upcountry.” The two worlds are physically mapped identically, and you must own property in downcountry to own the same property in upcountry. To the most extent, only the very poor eke out an existence in downcountry, and others rotate in person only to maintain basic security on private properties.

Two countries on Earth via for global dominance, Ahahua (cues white) and Medalua (cues Asian). Nile Corporation, based in Ahahua, has formed a strong co-dependence with the Ahahua government and oversees all security via NileCorp trained soldiers – both in terms of defense against Medalua as well as shutting down anarchists who protest NileCorp’s invasive surveillance and AI. Medalua relies on NileCorp for StrangeLoom but completely distrusts it and Ahahua as sovereign threats. Accusations of espionage between the two countries run rampant.

There’s such distrust that any Medalua orphans raised in the Ahahua, while given to adoptive parents, are considered wards of the state. The orphans must attend military academies starting around age 5 and then have mandatory military service upon graduation.

We’re quickly plunged into the lives of four main characters, with dramatic alternating story lines that will eventually merge. The two female heroines are Medalua orphans raised in Atahua and attended NileCorp’s elite military academy. Eirale Ward (last name of all orphans is Ward as in ward of the state) is a recent academy graduate who’s serving her mandatory term in NileCorp. She’s been tasked on a team trying to capture a young, notorious, handsome, and elusive anarchist, Nik Grant. Turns out not only does Nik elude capture but his team drags Eirale into Medalua.

Simultaneously, Lia Ward (another orphan) and Kiernan Murray are vying for the top valedictorian spot as seniors at NileCorp military academy. Lia’s adoptive Dad is a powerful Atahuan Senator, and Keirnan’s Dad is former head of security for NileCorp and current Headmaster of the military academy. Lia and Kiernan have a friendly flirtatious, deeply competitive friendship. They’re startled when they get a co-placement for field evaluation working as a team in Medulua to locate Chung Yi, an AI scientist and former friend of Lia’s father who’s gone missing. Chung may be the inventor of Coldwire, a rumored AI weapon that could give Medulua control over Strangeloom.

The pace is taut and exciting, setting up the next book in this series. Hopefully we’ll see more character development of and introspection by the main characters.

In the meantime, enjoy the plunge!

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.