An instant New York Times bestseller! From #1 New York Times bestselling author Chloe Gong
comes the first book in the dystopian Strangleloom trilogy an “ adrenaline-fueled mystery ” (
School Library Journal starred review) in which humanity has moved to virtual reality to flee
their deteriorating world following two young soldiers who must depend on unlikely allies in
their fight for survival. 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.
