My Coldwire Review

Enter Chloe Gong's dystopian cyberpunk world of Coldwire and prepare for one of the wildest rides of the year. Read my 4-star review below:

Rising seas and epidemics have led the world to live in a virtual reality called upcountry. Those who can't afford it live in the crumbling 'downcountry'. A cold war is raging between the nations of Medaluo & Atahua. The Medan orphans in Atahua are obligated to go to Nile Military Academy and then serve. Eirale has graduated and serves downcountry. An anarchist she is pursuing, frames her for the death of a government official. He blackmails her into helping him find a dangerous program in Medaluo. Meanwhile, Lia is forced to work with her educational rival on a mission to find a traitor. As they both search in their respective realities, their worlds will inexplicably collide on their journey to the truth.

I really like that it started right in the middle of a mission, instantly captivating us due to the in-depth scope of the action and serving us piping hot catalyst for the story. Chloe Gong's worldbuilding is a scifi aficionado/cyberpunk/gamer wet dream, the detail and precision to this reality or should we say realities she's created are mind-blowing. This is a virtual reality that mimics the real world down to the nuts and bolts. And there are a lot of fun stuff, but also devastating occurrences that make you ponder about where we are going as a species — as a world.

If you like things explained comprehensively from the get-go, then this is for you. The truth is a lot of information is thrown at us so we can understand this world as quickly as possible. It's up to you to decide if that is a good thing. You cannot deny though, that it is utterly engaging.

The 1st person POVs are all-encompassing, the willful prose making it an 'all-dimensions' experience for the reader. The far from ordinary details, of small gestures, descriptives and the surroundings help us immerse. You can feel it brewing epicness. The pacing is good, each storyline weaving its unique perspective without trampling the other, building the intrigue as tidbits spark your intent in figuring out what else is going on. Personalities shine through the words for all the characters, even for the bots. The line between hero and villain grows blurry, between who is what.

Two feisty leads, both orphans though they grew up in very different circumstances, they were still differentiated because of their foreign descent. A sadness that sparks determination follows them, the need to prove themselves. I love that our main characters know they want to be, as persons I mean. I immensely enjoyed the way the two stories were brought together. The author has such a gift for storytelling.

The scale is so big it is a bit confusing at times, and I believe the author's excitement to convey all that she has envisioned is the cause. Like when something happens and you're trying to tell somebody and you're talking too fast, stumbling over or omitting words. I think some aspects needed more time. That enthusiasm might be the reason for some storyline hiccups so mild you might not even notice.

The book focuses on the concept of reality, the tangible grasp of what constitutes as real. It is food for thought that if we mostly destroyed the world and had to live virtually, we would still probably foster prejudice, greed and the socioeconomical & political sins that got us there. This story beautifully examines these, as it does the nature of humanity, empathy and identity.

Giving high-octane thriller vibes, Coldwire is heart-wrenching, full of twists and turns, double-dealings and betrayals. You will not believe the theories that ran through my head with each secret uncovered. But the 'reality' was even wilder, with that it-all-comes-to-this reveal that was beyond awe-inspiring. I cannot wait for the sequel.