Booklist Review

Evie, an introverted teen, is longing for a world that doesn't exist in this follow-up to Sugg and Whyman's series starter, Username: Evie (2015). The first book saw Evie finally fitting in to a virtual paradise of her father's design, but a struggle for control forced the program to reboot; she escaped but longs to go back. The sequel lacks the same tense and adventurous feel as the setting of the corrupted computer world, and instead focuses on fleshing out some of the original characters. Evie's struggles are now more internal, with complex feelings for the avatar River, who suddenly finds his way into the real world, and for her mother, who is somewhere deep inside the virtual landscape. While the plot can be a little predictable and there's not much in the way of emotional subtlety, fans of the first installment will appreciate the expanding scope of the story. Superhero-style artwork doesn't quite match the more contemplative tone of this volume, but it's perfect for the dramatic closing chase scene. Hand to fans of cyberpunk thrillers.--Blenski, Peter Copyright 2017 Booklist