More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.
Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War III. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him?
Gripping and provocative, S. J. Kincaid’s futuristic thrill ride of a debut crackles with memorable characters, tremendous wit, and a vision of the future that asks startling, timely questions about the melding of humanity and technology.
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"This was just what I needed--a fast-paced, exciting, intriguing read. Think Ender's Game, but without the language and extreme violence. And ultra-modern. And with a wonderful theme of friendship throughout. Okay, so maybe think a more humane Ender's Game that highlights relationships. That was perhaps my favorite thing about this book--how our protagonist learns about real friends, how real their interactions were, and how those relationships come to be meaningful to him. Very high tech and cool, but not so much so that I was left trying to figure out what was going on. Really enjoyed the characters."
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Raven (4 out of 5 stars)