Pinkertons version of the world has the majority of the world addicted to VR experiences through a chip implanted in their heads. They spend their days as wastoids who are only interested in the next virtual high and totally ignoring the real world. Only a few holdouts are still engaged with reality and determined to not lose sight of whats real.

Then the government gets involved and things go from bad to worse.

This was a great romp, exploring what things would be like if tech addiction ran rampant. Pinkertons smooth writing and signature humor made for a fun escape - and made me appreciate interacting with the real world that much more.

The notion of a world where everybody is plugged in and not socializing with others feels very relevant in today's socially distant world. I liked the parallel storyline and the tension played out well throughout the story.

This was much better than I thought it was going to be and far too realistic because it takes place only a few years into the future. This is a dystopian novel at its finest. The world has become from obsessed with technology and virtual reality in particular because there is no more economy. The government that is left uses this obsession to their advantage. There is a small group of people with the main characters being Clarissa and Aaron fighting for their lives and for humanity.

People obsessed with technology and games to the point it takes over their lives? Scary AF concept and something that could happen, hopefully not in my lifetime; but much to ponder. The concept of this book scared the bejesus out of me!

Recommended to anyone who is glued to technology and enjoys a dystopian thriller.

Thanks to Netgalley, Brian Pinkerton and Flame Trees Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 4/20/21

4.5 stars
A breakthrough in virtual reality technology leaves the economy and society in shambles. Many people are virtually prisoners in their own minds, staying indoors all day every day in order to plug in and escape. When the government gets involved and decides that use of this technology is no longer an option, but a requirement, Aaron and Clarissa become members of the resistance movement along with a handful of other people. How long can they evade capture, and how long can the human race survive?

So I love dystopian novels, but I prefer when they take place hundreds of years in the future. The events in this book take place just a few years in the future, and that makes it way too realistic and terrifying. This book scared the absolute crap out of me. We are already almost addicted to our technology. How many of us are on our phones and tablets all day long? How many of us play video games for hours on end? How many of us order everything you could want online and have it delivered straight to your home? Especially this year, who wouldn’t want to escape reality? But the possibility of addiction is so real, and so great.

If you want to give yourself the heebie-jeebies and read about a world way too similar to our own, read this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Flame Tree Press for this advanced reader copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.