Description

Hazel Hops has always played differently. While most gamers jack into the Bridge through neural implants known as Wires, Hazel stays disconnected—one of the last elite players navigating the virtual world on her own terms. Her game of choice? Trip, a wartime fantasy simulation built on magic, tactics, and raw skill. But when top-tier players begin collapsing in real life after visiting a hidden in-game grove, Hazel suspects a breach in the system. As the disappearances mount, she turns to her childhood friend, Peter Donovan—the creator of the Wire and a man with more influence than he lets on. Across the country, intelligence agent Rel Martins is chasing shadows—unexplained infrastructure failures, strange silences from powerful people, and a creeping sense that something big is being covered up. When his investigation collides with Hazel’s, they uncover a conspiracy more sophisticated—and more personal—than either expected. Someone is hijacking the Bridge. And as control shifts from satellites to secret ground servers, millions are being positioned for a hard crash. With time running out, Hazel and Rel must outmaneuver the very system that connects the world—before it shuts everyone down for good. [FOR BEST LISTENING EXPERIENCE, PLAY AT 1.2x speed or higher] Comparable works include The Matrix; Ready Player One

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