A dying boy on a dying planet plays a dangerous, sophisticated, and addictive game that could save his life—if it doesn’t kill him first. A complex, gorgeous, literary thriller for fans for Ernest Cline, Brandon Sanderson, Orson Scott Card, and M.T. Anderson.

In a futuristic version of Earth, society is mostly controlled by a company that produces an addictive virtual reality game called Chimera. Everyone plays Chimera. Defeating the levels is how you earn enough points for clothes, food, even medical enhancements. Miguel Anderson is good at it. In fact, he’s better than anyone he knows. He spends all of his free time playing, hoping to reach Level 25. At Level 25 you can pick any prize you want—and Miguel needs a new biometric heart. When the game runners announce a global competition to launch a new version with untold prizes, Miguel enters and becomes a team leader. That’s new for him—playing on a team. And complicated, as the game becomes a delicate power play between wholly unexpected players. This is the first of two books and features gorgeous writing, compelling action, and a flawed and memorable hero.

He’s playing for his life. But in a game this deadly, can he trust his new teammates—or even himself?

• A High-Stakes Competition: To get the biometric heart he needs to survive, Miguel must enter a global tournament for a new version of Chimera. The prize is everything, but the cost could be his life.
• Full Dive Virtual Reality: Step into the gamescape of Chimera, a world so immersive and addictive that players risk it all for in-game rewards that translate to real-world survival.
• Corporate Dystopia: On a futuristic Earth where a single company controls everything from food to medicine, the only way to get ahead is to play their game.
• Reluctant Teamwork: A lone wolf by nature, Miguel is forced to lead a team for the first time. But in a competition with unexpected players and shifting alliances, betrayal is just one wrong move away.