I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The future is loading…

To escape rising seas and rampant epidemics, most of society lives “upcountry” in glistening virtual reality, while those who can’t afford the subscription are forced to remain in crumbling “downcountry.”

But upcountry isn’t perfect. A cold war rages between two powerful nations, Medaluo and Atahua—and 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 NileCorp’s private forces downcountry, exactly as she was supposed to. Then Atahua’s most wanted anarchist frames her for assassinating a government official, and she’s 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 wrong…

Though Eirale and Lia tear through Medaluo on different planes of reality, the two start to suspect they are puzzle pieces in a larger conspiracy—and the closer they get to the truth, the closer their worlds come to a shattering collision.

Short and Sweet Review

In a future split between the shiny virtual “upcountry” and the crumbling “downcountry,” Eirale and Lia are living completely different lives and yet, somehow, they’re pieces of the same puzzle. Eirale gets framed for an assassination she didn’t commit and is forced into a dangerous mission in Medaluo, while Lia is finishing her final year at Nile Military Academy, trying to beat her nemesis for valedictorian. Political intrigue, AI technology, and rebellion simmer in the background, and you know these two stories are going to collide in a big way.

We get to read from both Eirale and Lia’s POVs and both were great and very distinct. Eirale’s gritty, ground-level chaos contrasted perfectly with Lia’s calculated, high-stakes academy tension. I loved seeing how their different perspectives slowly started to line up it kept me turning pages and questioning everything and trying to put the pieces together myself. The world building was layered and immersive. AI tech, class divides, government control, Gong wrote it in such a way that it’s terrifyingly believable, and it makes you think about how close this could be to our reality. I will say some chapters had me double-checking names, tech, and political layers. But the payoff is worth it. The conspiracies unravel slowly, and every reveal hits. There’s even a little romance sprinkled in that never takes over the story, just adds a tiny spark of warmth and something to look forward to as the series progresses.

Overall, the tension, the twists, the stakes, are everything you want in a book. Coldwire is smart, thrilling, and ambitious. This is different from Gong’s previous books as this feels more futuristic but she does it well. I would definitely recommend this book!