Review: Nexis by A.L. Davroe

Nexis

Author: A.L. Davroe

Release Date: December 1, 2015

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Tricksters Book #1

ISBN:  1633750175

ISBN13: 9781633750173

Genre: Young Adult Dystopian

Review Copy Source: Publisher

In the domed city of Evanescence, appearance is everything. A Natural Born amongst genetically-altered Aristocrats, all Ella ever wanted was to be like everyone else. Augmented, sparkling, and perfect. Then…the crash. Devastated by her father’s death and struggling with her new physical limitations, Ella is terrified to learn she is not just alone, but little more than a prisoner.

Her only escape is to lose herself in Nexis, the hugely popular virtual reality game her father created. In Nexis she meets Guster, a senior player who guides Ella through the strange and compelling new world she now inhabits. He offers Ella guidance, friendship…and something more. Something that allows her to forget about the “real” world, and makes her feel whole again.

But Nexis isn’t quite the game everyone thinks it is.

And it’s been waiting for Ella.

I'm not a video gamer, but if I was, Nexis would be the game I would want to play.

NEXIS was such a unique book and I enjoyed uncovering all of its mysteries. Ella is a Natural born in a city filled with genetically-altered to be flawless Aristocrats and all she wants is to fit in. After a tragic accident—or not so accident as it's revealed—Ella escapes her new reality in her fathers game world for the very first time and finds out that the game isn't as it seems. In fact, the game was made for her and a very important mission she must complete.

It was very easy to fall into caring about Ella. She is dealt some crappy cards and doesn't have anyone to turn to. The world building was pretty fantastic and it was neat that we got to experience two very different worlds. There were some great twists and turns thrown in in both the game and in Ella's real world. There is some romance which was nice. I liked Guster from the beginning and the connection that Ella and him have seemed real and strong. There is a big Guster mystery revealed at the end of NEXIS and it has me giddy with the possibilities. Unless you read the book you will have no clue what I am talking about, but I have my fingers crossed that her connection is with the new possibility.

The ending of NEXIS leaves a lot of new questions and possibilities for the future. I fully plan on continuing this series and I look forward to the release of book 2.

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.