Unplugged
⭐ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Unplugged (The Wired, Book 1) by Donna Freitas
THIS BOOK MAKES NO SENSE! (a rant)
This book tries so hard to be original, but instead lands squarely in every YA dystopia cliché imaginable. The concept could have been interesting, but the execution is clumsy, the creativity is lacking, and the world-building is practically nonexistent. Nothing is explained, you’re just expected to accept that “things are the way they are” and roll with it.
Honestly, this was going to be a one-star review, but I generously gave it two because the premise on paper sounded promising. Then I reread what I wrote here… yeah, no, it’s a one-star.
Sigh.
Let’s start with the “virtual” world. Instead of a creative or memorable name, it’s just called the App World. That’s it. The Matrix had the Matrix. SAO had Aincrad. Ready Player One had the Oasis. It doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, but App World feels lazy. To make matters worse, characters frequently talk about downloading “apps” within the App World, so the word “app” is repeated so many times that you’ll start to hate it.
But that’s just a minor annoyance compared to the real issue: the story, or lack thereof. I honestly don’t understand how there’s even a conflict here. The “Keepers” (people in the real world) supposedly feel oppressed because they have to care for the bodies of those plugged into the App World. I get being resentful… but nothing’s actually stopping them from just not doing it. They could unplug them, shut down the servers, or simply walk away. The plugged-in people would never know. The Keepers are clearly in control, so this “conflict” should have been over before it began.
Then there’s the “resistance” (because of course there’s a resistance). They’re rebelling against… essentially lifeless bodies. Why? They hate the plugged-in people, they never interact with them, and they live in separate worlds. What exactly are they waiting for? If they truly wanted change, they could accomplish it in an afternoon.
And then there’s Rain. His sole function seems to be “generic love interest” (because YA law requires one). After the first half of the book, he serves no real purpose. Skyler only leaves the App World to help bring him back… even though she doesn’t know him at that point. And why did he leave in the first place? Maybe it was explained somewhere, but by then I was too busy trying to untangle the nonsensical “big picture” to notice.
So, once again: THIS BOOK MAKES NO SENSE.
In the end, Unplugged tries way too hard and collapses under its own weight. It’s not the first book to mash up LitRPG with YA dystopia, but it might just be the worst attempt I’ve read.
