Dystopian fiction really is rising in THP’s rank of favorite genres this year! In our pursuit to expand our reading horizons, we’ve read so many incredible dystopian novels that it almost feels like 2012 again. We’ve had the pleasure of reviewing Coldwire by Chloe Gong to continue this streak.
Coldwire is the first book of Chloe Gong‘s new dystopian series. We were so hyped to see her new cyberpunk world come to life! Most of society subscribes to the virtual reality known as “upcountry.” Those who can’t afford it, however, must live in the physical reality called “downcountry.”
As a cold war between Medaluo and Atahua becomes imminent, two girls find themselves on a hunt for a program that could change who has the upper hand. Here are three things we love about Coldwire by Chloe Gong!
Book Overview: Coldwire
Content warnings: death, parent death, mention of suicide, assassination, racism, classism, amnesia, bombs, warfare, weapons (Read at your discretion!)
Summary: 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.
Not-So-Distant Dystopia
One of our favorite things about reading dystopian novels like Coldwire is seeing how realistic it could be. We see the constant rise of artificial intelligence in everyday operations. The uncanny ability to create lifelike deepfakes and a virtual reality that’s almost tangible is becoming more and more real. Those who are rich enough can escape the conditions of the physical world by keeping their bodies in pods. Those who can’t afford it must live in the deteriorating reality. We love being able to make these connections and evaluate our current world.
Eirale & Lia’s Entanglement
We also really love the dual points of view in Coldwire. Eirale has been framed by an anarchist for assassinating a government official. She must work with her kidnapper or be captured by her employer for treason. Lia goes on an assignment to find an Atahuan traitor, who is someone she knew as a child. As their missions take these girls to the same locations, we started to put pieces together. And their paths converged in a way we couldn’t believe. By that, we mean we had to reread several pages to fully understand.
The Twist Ending
Don’t worry: you won’t find any spoilers for Coldwire here. But let’s just say after we finally process the big reveal, Eirale and Lia now face a life-changing decision (as if their lives haven’t already changed enough). And the twist ending beautifully sets up the sequel. Now that the die has been cast and pieces are moved, our main characters must prepare to overcome so many more obstacles than they faced in this book. We already can’t wait to see how they’ll pull off their next mission in book two!
A dystopian series starter that is as refreshing as it is uncanny, Chloe Gong’s Coldwire absolutely lives up to the hype!
Coldwire by Chloe Gong comes out November 4th, and you can order a copy of it here!
What do you think of Chloe Gong’s new dystopian series starter? Are you getting your hands on a copy of Coldwire? Let us know on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram!
Want to hear some of our audiobook recommendations? Here’s the latest!
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHLOE GONG:
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