A review by crimsoncor
Atlas Alone by Emma Newman

5.0

Definitely takes it time getting revved up. This is the first book in the series that really circles back on character's we've already met. And it is interesting to see Carl from the outside. Dee is a different sort of character to spend time with, yet the book can drag a bit in the first half. Why are we spending all this time in these VR games, you ask. But all that is laying the ground for ending, which is just straight fire. The moment of the big reveal

Spoiler

which isn't all that mysterious since it is pretty obvious that the presence interacting with Dee wasn't human

everything gets turned up to 11. And then the ending is just both unexpected and so predictable in retrospect. Really incredible job subverting the audience expectations.