Warcross meets Lost in this haunting young adult sci-fi thriller in which teens compete to survive in the wilderness for one million dollars on a new virtual reality show. When something goes horribly wrong and the contestants realize no one is coming to save them, they must question their very reality—and how much of the game is really for show.

Each contestant has their own reasons—and their own secrets—for joining the new virtual reality show CUT/OFF that places a group of teenagers alone in the wilderness. It’s a simple premise: whoever lasts the longest without “tapping out” wins a cash prize. Not only that, new software creates a totally unprecedented television experience, allowing viewers to touch, see, and live everything along with the contestants. But what happens when “tapping out” doesn’t work and no one comes to save you? What happens when the whole world seemingly disappears while you’re stranded in the wild? Four teenagers must confront their greatest fears, their deepest secrets, and one another when they discover they are truly cut off from reality. Sci-fi, mystery, and romance converge in this high-stakes, fast-paced read that will leave you guessing to the very last moment.

Thank you so much to Edelweiss for the advanced copy of this imaginative novel! I have recently discovered that one of my favorite tropes in books is people trapped in the wilderness. I’ve found this happening within these kinds of stories by accident (plane crash), foiled plans (hiking trip gone wrong), or in the case of this tale, a TV show with a sinister twist. So, of course I was immediately hooked by the synopsis, but I had no idea what I was in for. The survival bits were only the tip of the iceberg, and the story just continued to deepen and flourish after that. Our band of characters had to face so much in so little time, and we are there strung along with them– desperately trying to figure out the truth before everything falls apart.

We are plopped into the vast unknown as the teenagers chosen for the new reality show Cut Off are beginning to realize that something may be horribly wrong. Earthquakes have been devastating the island they are all trapped on, and all attempts to ‘tap out’ have gone unanswered, even for the contestants who may be morally injured. Four of these characters meet up after various mishaps, and together they find a way off of the island, only to discover that their troubles had only just begun. River, an orphan… Cam, the daughter of a murderer… Trip, the tech wiz… and Liza, the wild card– all four of them handpicked for this journey, but totally unprepared for the trials within. Somehow, the world has gone to pieces in their absence, and they must search for answers or be plagued by their own worst fears until it’s too late.

I don’t want to spoil too much, so I will just say that the insane sci-fi twist that the book takes is something I never could have expected. There are hints throughout about the dangers of the tech that Cut Off adapted for the show; all of the players were injected with bots that would connect viewers with them via VR, they are constantly followed around by invasive floating cameras called Skyms, and the buttons that would allow them to escape only emit a high pitched whine before going completely dark. So there is a lot to distrust here, but as the plot is driven onward, the true malice of the system in the wrong hands unfolds. The reader is left wondering what is real, having all sense of security stripped away. You truly get a feel for who these characters are as they start to unravel in the emptiness of the world they once knew, and it really makes you think about how you might respond in a similar situation.

This book had so many layers, and was such a delight to read. It hit so many points from survival to horror to sci-fi to drama, and each one was such an integral part of the story. It gave us many facets of the characters’ personalities, and we were able to get to know them and root for them in a very short amount of time. I can honestly say it’s one of the most unique books I’ve ever read, and I had no idea what was coming page after page. It left me wanting more of Cut Off, as a VR experience of a reality show sounds devilishly good, just like this premise!

5/5 stars