Wildcard

Emika Chen has just survived the Warcross Championships, and she now knows what Hideo's new NeuroLink algorithm really does. The man she looked up to, and believed was on her side, can no longer be trusted. She sets out to stop his plans, and the Phoenix Riders join her.

Tokyo, with its neon-lit streets, brings a fresh danger. Someone has put a bounty on Emika's head. Her only real chance of staying alive is Zero and the Blackcoats, his ruthless crew, though she soon sees that Zero is not what he appears to be. His protection has a price.

This is a science fiction thriller for young adult readers, and the second book in the Warcross series, so it is best picked up after the first. The action is fast and the setting is a high-tech city where virtual and real worlds meet. Betrayal runs through the plot, and the book treats free will as the thing at stake.

The emotional core is Emika's bond with Hideo. She has to decide how far she will go to bring down someone she loves, and the answer shapes how the series ends. Expect a quick pace, shifting loyalties and a tense, high-stakes mood.