Epic
by Connor Kostick
Author's Description:
“On New Earth, Epic is not just a computer game, it's a matter of life and death. If you lose, you lose everything; if you win, the world is yours for the taking.
Seeking revenge for the unjust treatment of his parents, Erik subverts the rules of the game, and he and his friends are drawn into a world of power-hungry, dangerous players. Now they must fight the ultimate masters of the game -- The Committee. But what Erik doesn't know is that The Committee has a sinister, deadly secret, and challenging it could destroy the whole world of Epic.”
Seeking revenge for the unjust treatment of his parents, Erik subverts the rules of the game, and he and his friends are drawn into a world of power-hungry, dangerous players. Now they must fight the ultimate masters of the game -- The Committee. But what Erik doesn't know is that The Committee has a sinister, deadly secret, and challenging it could destroy the whole world of Epic.”
My Review - Rating - 8/10
I would describe Epic as an even more dystopian Ready Player One, but with an actual game and adventuring as the focus instead of a nostalgia-filled riddle challenge. In the world of Epic, a tyrannical government rules the world of New Earth, led by a council of high-level players in Epic. There is almost no ability to advance or improve in Epic for average people, and no hope of justice for the people of New Earth, as most issues are settled by duels in Epic- in which the government has an insurmountable advantage. Erik, a teenager living on a farm, finds a way to break this endless cycle- and becomes caught up in a deadly adventure, with the grand prize being no less than the control of Epic. I gave this book a rating of 8/10 because the book isn’t exceptional in any way, but it does everything well- the characters are interesting, the plot is engaging, and there are no problems with the book. I imagine adults would enjoy this series too, but I recommend this to readers around the age of fourteen (give or take a few years) who are interested in sci-fi or fantasy.
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