The Story
An instant New York Times bestseller!
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong comes
the start of a daring new dystopian series where humanity has moved to virtual
reality to flee their deteriorating world, following two young soldiers who
must depend on unlikely allies in their fight for survival.
The future is loadingâŚ
To escape rising seas and rampant epidemics, most of society lives âupcountryâ
in glistening virtual reality, while those who canât afford the subscription
are forced to remain in crumbling âdowncountry.â
But upcountry isnât perfect. A cold war rages between two powerful nations,
Medaluo and Atahuaâand no one suffers for it more than the Medan orphans in
Atahua. Their enrollment at Nile Military Academy is mandatory. Either serve as
a soldier, or risk being labelled a spy.
Eirale graduated the academy and joined NileCorpâs private forces downcountry,
exactly as she was supposed to. Then Atahuaâs most wanted anarchist frames her
for assassinating a government official, and sheâs given a choice: cooperate
with him to search for a dangerous program in Medaluo or go down for treason.
Meanwhile, Lia is finishing her last year upcountry at Nile Military Academy.
Paired with her academic nemesis for their final assignment, Lia is determined
to beat him for valedictorian and prove her worth. But there may be far more at
stake when their task to infiltrate Medaluo and track down an Atahuan traitor
goes wrongâŚ
Though Eirale and Lia tear through Medaluo on different planes of reality, the
two start to suspect they are puzzle pieces in a larger conspiracyâand the
closer they get to the truth, the closer their worlds come to a shattering
collision.
About the Author
Chloe Gong is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Secret Shanghai novels, as well as the Flesh and False Gods trilogy.
Her books have been published in over twenty countries and have been featured in the New York Times, People, Cosmopolitan,and more.
She was named one of Forbesâs 30 Under 30 for 2024. Chloe graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English and international relations. Born in Shanghai and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, she is now located in New York City, pretending to be a real adult.
Description
An instant New York Times bestseller!
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong comes
the start of a daring new dystopian series where humanity has moved to virtual
reality to flee their deteriorating world, following two young soldiers who
must depend on unlikely allies in their fight for survival.
The future is loadingâŚ
To escape rising seas and rampant epidemics, most of society lives âupcountryâ
in glistening virtual reality, while those who canât afford the subscription
are forced to remain in crumbling âdowncountry.â
But upcountry isnât perfect. A cold war rages between two powerful nations,
Medaluo and Atahuaâand no one suffers for it more than the Medan orphans in
Atahua. Their enrollment at Nile Military Academy is mandatory. Either serve as
a soldier, or risk being labelled a spy.
Eirale graduated the academy and joined NileCorpâs private forces downcountry,
exactly as she was supposed to. Then Atahuaâs most wanted anarchist frames her
for assassinating a government official, and sheâs given a choice: cooperate
with him to search for a dangerous program in Medaluo or go down for treason.
Meanwhile, Lia is finishing her last year upcountry at Nile Military Academy.
Paired with her academic nemesis for their final assignment, Lia is determined
to beat him for valedictorian and prove her worth. But there may be far more at
stake when their task to infiltrate Medaluo and track down an Atahuan traitor
goes wrongâŚ
Though Eirale and Lia tear through Medaluo on different planes of reality, the
two start to suspect they are puzzle pieces in a larger conspiracyâand the
closer they get to the truth, the closer their worlds come to a shattering
collision.
About the Author
Chloe Gong is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the critically acclaimed Secret Shanghai novels, as well as the Flesh and False Gods trilogy.
Her books have been published in over twenty countries and have been featured in the New York Times, People, Cosmopolitan,and more.
She was named one of Forbesâs 30 Under 30 for 2024. Chloe graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in English and international relations. Born in Shanghai and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, she is now located in New York City, pretending to be a real adult.
