Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson - Fiction for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This book is WarGames with a touch of Avatar, which is why I picked it up in the first place. This was my first foray into this author's work. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for me.
The concept is great. I love the football star gets thrown off track and ends up in a totally different direction. And the blurb was super promising, but the execution was boring for me. I pushed and pushed and pushed until I just could not push anymore. I found the world building confusing and not well thought out.
I didn't like the characters, they were boring and underdeveloped. I just could not relate to them or care about them in the least.
It did touch on government intervention in people's lives and I thought this part was spot on. People are very quick to let the government do what they please and not question it.
Overall, not my cup of tea but others may like it.

(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

New High Score! New Record Time!
Rick nodded with grim satisfaction. He laid the game controller aside on the sofa and reached for his crutches.
Rick Dial was the best quarterback Putnam Hills High School had ever seen. Unflappable. Unstoppable. Number 12. But when a car accident left him crippled, Rick’s life as he knew it ended. He disavowed his triumphant past. He ignored his girlfriend. He disappeared into his bedroom—and into the glowing video screen.
But Rick’s uncanny gaming skills have attracted attention. Dangerous attention. Government agents have uncovered a potentially devastating cyber-threat: a Russian genius has created a digital reality called the Realm, from which he can enter, control, and disrupt American computer systems...from transportation to defense. The agents want Rick, quick-thinking quarterback and gaming master, to enter the Realm and stop the madman—before he sends America into chaos.
Entering the Realm will give Rick what he thought he’d never have again: a body as strong and fast as it was before the accident. But this is no game, there are no extra lives, and what happens to Rick in the Realm happens to Rick’s body in reality.
Even after Rick agrees to help, he can’t shake the sense that he’s being kept in the dark. Why would a government agency act so aggressively? Can anyone inside the Realm be trusted? How many others have entered before him . . . and failed to return?

Actually, this was definitely a one-star effort. I just don't like to put them on the ratings, makes me feel bad...

I have read pretty much ever adult novel that Andrew Klavan has written and, except for one, I think they were all fabulous novels. Great characters, believable plots, and action/thrills that make me want to keep turning the pages.

This had none of that. Insipid characters, lame plot and a lack of imagination make this book near impossible for me to read.

Sorry.


Paul
ARH

Thanks so much for the ARC! I didn't enjoy this one as much as I thought I would, though.