Wildcard (Warcross #2)

I absolutely loved this book!

Where we last left off, most of the world’s population had been introduced to the new version of the Warcross algorithm, and could no longer commit crimes. Who decides right from wrong though? This could have developed into a huge mess. Representatives from countries all over the world are now meeting with Hideo to get their version of the laws passed. This could get ugly, fast.

Only a small percentage of the population remains that isn’t hooked up to the new algorithm, and there will be an upgrade in eight days. Time is ticking…

Throughout this book, it’s hard to tell who the real enemy is. Is it Hideo, who is trying to control the population and make everybody play nice? Is it Zero, who is trying to stop Hideo through unethical means? Or is there something else going on entirely?

This book speaks a lot about artificial intelligence and what could potentially go wrong with it. As someone that majored in computer science, I loved this aspect of the book. It grappled issues that as humans, we’ll probably find ourselves dealing with in the next ten years or so.

In the end, it wasn’t technology that saved the day, but humanity.

This book wasn’t as strong in the romance aspect as the Legend or The Young Elites series were, but I was okay with that. I think that the characters were who they needed to be.

My reactions as I read the book ran from happiness to shock to tears.

Sad to say goodbye to this series, but it was lovely and I’m sure that I’ll give it a reread at some point.

Is that it? Only 2 books?

Don’t leave me hanging like that Marie Lu! I need a book all about Darkcross!

I LOVED Warcross and thought it was one of the best books I’d ever read, so I was really looking forward to this one. I’ve talked about Wildcard for months and had a countdown for the release day on my phone. Got the book on it’s release day and was so excited to read it. So, I eagerly tore into this book. Disappointment followed.

And this book was…..well, it was okay. Blah at times, I was ready to rate it with 4 stars before the ending and the ending just was the kicker there. No high review for this one. I’m a fan of Emika and Hideo, but this ending just didn’t work for me. It feels awfully FINAL. And way too “they lived happily ever after” for me. At the end of Warceoss, you knew another book was coming because of that cliff hanger ending. Wildcard, however, not a chance. It didn’t live up to the first book. Just call me disappointed

I wanted to like this book. I don’t think this was a good ending to Warcross. I would have been completely fine with keeping everything a mystery and not knowing what happens in the second book. If she just made the 1st book longer and included most of the details of second book, I would have been fine. I felt like the second book was a filler book. Yes things happen and things are explained but the book wasn’t very necessary. If I happen to re-read Warcross I don’t think I’ll re-read Wildcard. I did give this book 2 stars as I was able to finish it within a 2 day period but mainly from skimming some spots. I didn’t care about the characters as much. I felt like none of them jumped off the page especially the team mates.

I refuse to believe that hes nothing more than a monster. I cant watch him sink like this. I keep going because I need to find that boy again, the beating heart buried underneath his lie. I have to stop him in order to save him.

Following the events of Warcross, Emika now knows the truth behind Hideo’s new NeuroLink algorithm. She can no longer trust the one person she’s always looked up to, who she once thought was on her side.

Determined to put a stop to Hideo’s grim plans, and with a bounty on her head, her sole chance for survival lies with Zero and the Blackcoats, his ruthless crew. But as Emika delves deeper into her new allies, she learns that Zero isn’t all that he seems. Caught in a web of betrayal on both sides, with the future of free will at risk, she must decide who to trust before the clock stops ticking.

Wildcard wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. It would have been nice to bring in more of the gaming elements that I so loved from the first book as I feel Emika’s real strength is how she games the system and the dynamic she has developed with her team. I found her less engaging than in the first book and ultimately docked a star because this feels less like a continuation and more like a companion novel.

That being said, discovering Zero’s story takes up about 75% of the book and it’s fascinating! Marie Lu questions the morality of human experimentation and AI vs. human intelligence. She shines a light on those that do horrible things in the quest for doing good. She takes some twists and turns that I didn’t expect and the resolution of it all was a satisfying one.

I’m kinda hoping we get a short story later on just for kicks.

Also, her acknowledgement to readers is (again) powerful:
Do great things and challenge the world.

Recommended for fans of iRobot (and possibly Robocop?) as well as those interested in exploring the morals of scientific research and interactions between the human brain and technology.

Ah, theres just something about this world I love. Possibly the cool tech and awesome sounding game hehe.

And I properly LOVED getting more info on Zero. His backstory was so so so good, and I just wanted to hug him. I also like Hideo more than at the end of Warcross, and really like his relationship with Emiko near the end. I like that it is a culmination of events and not ignoring things.

However Emiko, who I really liked in book one, didnt really seem to *do* anything here? She almost felt a bit unnecessary to the story, which isnt great for a main character. Like yeah, shes determined to save the world, but everyone else does so much for her, and at several points shes literally just passing messages. Hmm. I still like her, and especially her interactions with the Phoenix Riders and with Jax, but I just wanted something more for her.

Talking of Jax, I think she was the most interesting character and part of me wants a spin off with her life! I really liked her.

So yeah, a good end to the story, and its easy to read and super fun, but I just wanted a tiny bit more.

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