SLAY

I really loved this story so much I was able to really overlook plot holes and details that involved a massive suspension of disbelief. Other reviewers have covered in more depth the absurdity of two people designing and operating a vast virtual world as a part-time thing. And that in a virtual world with hundreds of thousands of people, the main character has an uncanny knack of interacting with people who she will interact with in the virtual world, or vice versa. And in an area with an indame amount of people, always spot essentially a needle in a haystack. There's more, but it's not where I want to dwell. My recommendation asks that you very willingly suspend your disbelief.

I love these characters, and I love the Slay world – both the VR world of Slay, and the “real world” the story is set so much more than the Oasis of Ready Player One. Imagine a book where it's taken for granted women can be fierce gamers, and developers, with no not like other girls BS, tokenism, or fetishization. Because clearly Ernest Cline couldn't, and didn't, imagine this world. Ugh. And Brittney Morris was much more respectful to the LGBQIA+ community. I want to go there while knowing I have no business there.

I think Britney Morris also raised some interesting issues and discussions, and flawlessly portrayed white person privilege. People who are targeted, imo, deserve safe places, and shouldn't have to defend this idea.

I wish we had had more of Kiera post her identity being revealed. I kinda hope we encounter her again.

There's one plot point I don't feel is my place to discuss, and so please see Own Voices reviewers regarding the reveal of the “villain” and all the implications. I read it, took it in, but I don't find it appropriate to weigh in, certainly not as to the implications. I will say, implications aside, the identity falls under the need for a willing suspension of belief.