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Hardwired #1
Hooked
When virtual reality surpasses people’s wildest dreams, many struggle to remain in the real world. Sixteen-year-old Ari has watched the financial and emotional cost of virtual reality addiction for years as her father continues barely existing in a VR coma. Unfortunately, her only option to help her family escape poverty is if she studies the one subject she hates and virtual reality programming.Despite her misgivings, Ari soon develops a rare talent that makes her question everything. Now she must hide her ability or risk becoming a priceless commodity that governments and corporations will fight, steal or even kill to possess. As officials tighten the shackles surrounding Ari, she rebels against her imposed future and searches for a way to save those she loves. Yet, running proves impossible, when the government is always one click away.
- GenresDystopia
298 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 2018
52 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
DeAnna Browne
13 books243 followersDeAnna Browne graduated from Arizona State University with her BS in Psychology. She finds it helps to corral those voices in her mind and put them to paper. Her debut novel, A DEMON RISING, was out in August 2017 with Black Opal Books. An avid reader and writer, she loves all things fantastical and bizarre with a touch of romance. Despite her love for food and traveling, she always finds her way back to Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, children, and pet dog.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
May 7, 2018
i received an ARC in exchange for an honest review
my review:https://nanasbookreviews.blogspot.gr/...
video: https://youtu.be/5OzD0ZLhW1I
my review:https://nanasbookreviews.blogspot.gr/...
video: https://youtu.be/5OzD0ZLhW1I
September 28, 2024
this was so stupid.
i dont even know WHEN i started it but it took MONTHS to finish it and it was SOOOO boring and AUIFHSRHUHIUAGHR ill finish this review later when i'm finally at peace!!
i dont even know WHEN i started it but it took MONTHS to finish it and it was SOOOO boring and AUIFHSRHUHIUAGHR ill finish this review later when i'm finally at peace!!
March 6, 2018
It was an entertaining read! I enjoyed the spunky character Tess, and liked seeing the friendship between Tess and Ari develop. It was the kind of book that made me want to finish the adventure to see how it ended. (NOTE: I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for my review.)
February 6, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! I was hooked from the first page. I loved how developed the characters were and the way the story was written was really engaging. I would highly recommend "Hooked" to people interested in an exciting, sci-fi read.
March 28, 2018
Wonderful story about virtual reality. It was a cross between Divergent and Ready Player One. Great beginning to a trilogy.
February 11, 2019
Hooked is aimed at the upper YA market for dystopian sci-fi and I recommend it as a fun read with some thought-provoking themes. It's full of teens concerns with caffeine, drugs and social standing, government conspiracies and a romance. What's not to love, right?
I like it when books have a racially diverse cast, and when the whole book doesn't focus on race. Ari - the protagonist - is Hispanic and is downtrodden due to her family circumstances (her dad is in a VR coma and her mom is working two jobs). Her advisor at school is a total jerk to her but his bias is because of her poverty rather than race. There are no racial slurs in the book. Another big plus.
Reed, Marco, Garrett, and Tess are equally interesting characters with loads of flaws and multiple motivations. Reed is the nearly squeaky clean boy from the old neighborhood. He doesn't like school and wishes he could pursue art. Marco is the angsty older brother, haunted by his addiction to VR and his shady operations. Garrett is in on the illegal business along with Reed and Marco, but he's completely lost his moral compass. Even so, he takes the moral high-ground with Ari when he doesn't like her behavior. Tess is the spoiled rich girl but she also is at peace with herself in her slightly chubby body and her mad game skills.
The setting is believable, and not that far off if you've ever watched teens today. Even in the same room, they are on their media so the jump to VR bars and VR comas seem logical. The school with armed gunmen, religious fanatics, unreasonable teachers, and bullies also seems reasonable. Dave, the man from the corporation could be seen as a stretch except we have head-hunters come to schools to find talent, so I even found his role believable.
There are characters virtually drinking - meaning that the drinking and drugs (and implied sex) are in the VR. Garrett even points out how if it happens in the VR it doesn't count because it's not real, but he also argues everything is as real as you want to believe it is while in the program. Characters also go 'tab' which is the equivalent of drugs and drinking but the government has controlled the substances so it's not as harmful to teens. I think all of these themes provide a great opportunity for a dialogue about drugs and how actions always have consequences. There are other themes like forgiveness and sacrifice that could be explored.
Hooked has a grit, making it feel current and alive for readers. It doesn't ever push things too far to be inappropriate for upper teens because they deal with the issues presented in this story, well, except for government conspiracies and such.
For more suggestions go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
I like it when books have a racially diverse cast, and when the whole book doesn't focus on race. Ari - the protagonist - is Hispanic and is downtrodden due to her family circumstances (her dad is in a VR coma and her mom is working two jobs). Her advisor at school is a total jerk to her but his bias is because of her poverty rather than race. There are no racial slurs in the book. Another big plus.
Reed, Marco, Garrett, and Tess are equally interesting characters with loads of flaws and multiple motivations. Reed is the nearly squeaky clean boy from the old neighborhood. He doesn't like school and wishes he could pursue art. Marco is the angsty older brother, haunted by his addiction to VR and his shady operations. Garrett is in on the illegal business along with Reed and Marco, but he's completely lost his moral compass. Even so, he takes the moral high-ground with Ari when he doesn't like her behavior. Tess is the spoiled rich girl but she also is at peace with herself in her slightly chubby body and her mad game skills.
The setting is believable, and not that far off if you've ever watched teens today. Even in the same room, they are on their media so the jump to VR bars and VR comas seem logical. The school with armed gunmen, religious fanatics, unreasonable teachers, and bullies also seems reasonable. Dave, the man from the corporation could be seen as a stretch except we have head-hunters come to schools to find talent, so I even found his role believable.
There are characters virtually drinking - meaning that the drinking and drugs (and implied sex) are in the VR. Garrett even points out how if it happens in the VR it doesn't count because it's not real, but he also argues everything is as real as you want to believe it is while in the program. Characters also go 'tab' which is the equivalent of drugs and drinking but the government has controlled the substances so it's not as harmful to teens. I think all of these themes provide a great opportunity for a dialogue about drugs and how actions always have consequences. There are other themes like forgiveness and sacrifice that could be explored.
Hooked has a grit, making it feel current and alive for readers. It doesn't ever push things too far to be inappropriate for upper teens because they deal with the issues presented in this story, well, except for government conspiracies and such.
For more suggestions go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
July 17, 2018
Virtual reality and science fiction come together to form an intriguing tale with surprises, emotion and unexpected secrets.
Ari isn't a fan of virtual reality, something which makes her more than an odd egg. So when she receives a rare scholarship to become a VR programmer/designer, it doesn't make complete sense, but it's the chance for her to secure a better future for her poor family. As she hits the academy and tries to deal with classes and people, her rare talent surfaces, and she finds that the fears of VR which have haunted her are nothing in comparison to the nightmare she now faces.
This book takes an intriguing look at a society addicted to virtual reality and some possible results such a wide-spread addiction could bring. The pages bring lots of food for thought, while hitting a thematic teens and even adults can easily understand. This is wrapped up into a fast-paced, engaging plot, which keeps the pages turning until the very end. And what a ride it is!
Ari is an endearing character. She doesn't fit in, has a good heart, and harbors determination. She has flaws and is a bit naive at times, but it's exactly this which makes her easy to connect to and believable as a character. But it's not only Ari which is easy to cheer for. The other characters have their own original personalities and problems giving each one a character arc to follow. All together, this weaves a gripping tale with VR and computer flare. Of course, there are numerous unexpected twists as things unfold, creating a true conspiracy which lays the foundations for a sure to be intriguing series. Simply said, it's a good read.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the read so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
Ari isn't a fan of virtual reality, something which makes her more than an odd egg. So when she receives a rare scholarship to become a VR programmer/designer, it doesn't make complete sense, but it's the chance for her to secure a better future for her poor family. As she hits the academy and tries to deal with classes and people, her rare talent surfaces, and she finds that the fears of VR which have haunted her are nothing in comparison to the nightmare she now faces.
This book takes an intriguing look at a society addicted to virtual reality and some possible results such a wide-spread addiction could bring. The pages bring lots of food for thought, while hitting a thematic teens and even adults can easily understand. This is wrapped up into a fast-paced, engaging plot, which keeps the pages turning until the very end. And what a ride it is!
Ari is an endearing character. She doesn't fit in, has a good heart, and harbors determination. She has flaws and is a bit naive at times, but it's exactly this which makes her easy to connect to and believable as a character. But it's not only Ari which is easy to cheer for. The other characters have their own original personalities and problems giving each one a character arc to follow. All together, this weaves a gripping tale with VR and computer flare. Of course, there are numerous unexpected twists as things unfold, creating a true conspiracy which lays the foundations for a sure to be intriguing series. Simply said, it's a good read.
I received a complimentary copy and enjoyed the read so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
January 15, 2023
Okay, so I’ve given this book 5 stars for one reason out of all the books I have ever read in my entire life this is the one book have I ever gone back to actually re-read. 🥰
So I first read this book in 2020 during lockdown because I was feeling depressed and scared and I needed a distraction and none of the books. I had on my bookcase at my dad’s watching my fancy and I read the synopsis of this book on my kindle I was like, yeah will give it a try that through the first book I brought on my kindle And I read it, I didn’t put it down the entire time reading it I’d forgotten about it. I will last two years and then I saw. I think I saw on my kindle again and was like oh I really enjoyed that book I really wanna read it again, but in paperback and I’ll tell you what best idea I’ve had. I love this book just as much and I am looking forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy.
So it’s about this girl who has a special ability that a few others can have that soon as the government finds out about them. They end up going off the face of the Earth and being wiped out of history pretty much the no one knows where they go. She also develops a relationship with her brothers, best friend who she’s always had a crush on , and then she ends up getting help from a technology company and she is not taking herself and her boyfriend her brothers best friend by the way with her because he agrees to go with her because he loves her and they’re on the helicopter. The last is at the end of the book, so I will be getting the rest of the trilogy to read such a good book and 100% recommend this book, you can buy it on Amazon in paperback and you can also get it on the kindle
So I first read this book in 2020 during lockdown because I was feeling depressed and scared and I needed a distraction and none of the books. I had on my bookcase at my dad’s watching my fancy and I read the synopsis of this book on my kindle I was like, yeah will give it a try that through the first book I brought on my kindle And I read it, I didn’t put it down the entire time reading it I’d forgotten about it. I will last two years and then I saw. I think I saw on my kindle again and was like oh I really enjoyed that book I really wanna read it again, but in paperback and I’ll tell you what best idea I’ve had. I love this book just as much and I am looking forward to reading the other two books in the trilogy.
So it’s about this girl who has a special ability that a few others can have that soon as the government finds out about them. They end up going off the face of the Earth and being wiped out of history pretty much the no one knows where they go. She also develops a relationship with her brothers, best friend who she’s always had a crush on , and then she ends up getting help from a technology company and she is not taking herself and her boyfriend her brothers best friend by the way with her because he agrees to go with her because he loves her and they’re on the helicopter. The last is at the end of the book, so I will be getting the rest of the trilogy to read such a good book and 100% recommend this book, you can buy it on Amazon in paperback and you can also get it on the kindle
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2022
Hooked (Hardwired, #1) written by DeAnna Browne was a wonderful story, full of interesting spunky characters, and a fairly unique storyline, being a time when being plugged into Virtue Reality is just a part of everyday life. The main character Ari, is terrified of being hooked up after watching her father succumb to a virtual reality coma, where he has been for years, preferring the virtual world to his real one.
The author has developed wonderful relationships between the characters, and I enjoyed watching as they grew. A world where VR is commonplace, and often offering fun and excitement that is missing from everyday life, left me feeling a little uncomfortable. The story is plausible.
There was plenty to keep my interest, room mates who seems to be addicted to caffeine, some party drugs that have been endorsed by the government, conspiracies, social classes are all running topics through this story.
Hooked is very well written, kept my interest right until the very end. It hooked me (excuse the pun) in right from the very beginning. The story was exciting, full of drama the odd secret or two and certainly gave me food for thought. I am very keen to read the next in the series.
This book is aimed at young Adults, and crosses dystopian and sci fi genres, I highly recommend Hooked to anyone who likes a little intrigue in their reading.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author.
The author has developed wonderful relationships between the characters, and I enjoyed watching as they grew. A world where VR is commonplace, and often offering fun and excitement that is missing from everyday life, left me feeling a little uncomfortable. The story is plausible.
There was plenty to keep my interest, room mates who seems to be addicted to caffeine, some party drugs that have been endorsed by the government, conspiracies, social classes are all running topics through this story.
Hooked is very well written, kept my interest right until the very end. It hooked me (excuse the pun) in right from the very beginning. The story was exciting, full of drama the odd secret or two and certainly gave me food for thought. I am very keen to read the next in the series.
This book is aimed at young Adults, and crosses dystopian and sci fi genres, I highly recommend Hooked to anyone who likes a little intrigue in their reading.
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author.
March 20, 2018
If dystopian stories are your thing, you are going to want to read this.
In this novel, people are addicted to hooking themselves in to alternate digital realities, because VR is far superior to the world our characters actually live in. This idea is plausible-- and therefore a little scary and unnerving. I think all the best near-future dystopian books explore those bits of our everyday life that have the potential to take society to a very bad place. Hooked brings us to a future that is broken, but we are hoping that our heroine can help fix it. (We also get some great relationships and character arcs along the way, but I don't want to spoil anything!) I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
The premise is interesting, the pace is quick, and the storyline is engaging. If you are looking for a book that ticks all those boxes, pick this one up.
(FYI I received a free copy for my honest review.)
In this novel, people are addicted to hooking themselves in to alternate digital realities, because VR is far superior to the world our characters actually live in. This idea is plausible-- and therefore a little scary and unnerving. I think all the best near-future dystopian books explore those bits of our everyday life that have the potential to take society to a very bad place. Hooked brings us to a future that is broken, but we are hoping that our heroine can help fix it. (We also get some great relationships and character arcs along the way, but I don't want to spoil anything!) I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
The premise is interesting, the pace is quick, and the storyline is engaging. If you are looking for a book that ticks all those boxes, pick this one up.
(FYI I received a free copy for my honest review.)
June 5, 2018
I concur with the reviewer that stated “A dash of Ready, player one. A splash of Divergent and a small sprinkling of the Matrix …..” I had similar thoughts. I completed the book in less than 24 hours. I found it very engaging and entertaining I wanted to know where the story was headed. I don’t want to give to much away but I found the “villain” a little to recognizable early on. I would have loved to have been more surprised by that person at the end. With that said I enjoyed watching the interaction between Ari and the different characters. I would like to have had more of an explanation of what was up with Marcos but that did not distract from the overall story. With that said I very much look forward to reading the next book in the series when it is completed.
I received a free copy for a fair and honest review.
I received a free copy for a fair and honest review.
February 18, 2020
Pretty good story
This was a great idea for a book. The idea of entering into virtual realms and even being able to control them reminds me of the movie matrix. Of course the person is always vulnerable when they’re out. This author put together a pretty cool story about a teen girl just learning to use her abilities only to find out that she has extra abilities like neo in the matrix. With her father stuck in a virtual reality coma, she has other issues going on as well.
The book was fairly clean. There was a little bit of teen romance, but it didn’t get explicit. Mostly just kissing. There were a few bad words in the book. Not very many though. I would recommend it to anyone 14 years old and up.
This was a great idea for a book. The idea of entering into virtual realms and even being able to control them reminds me of the movie matrix. Of course the person is always vulnerable when they’re out. This author put together a pretty cool story about a teen girl just learning to use her abilities only to find out that she has extra abilities like neo in the matrix. With her father stuck in a virtual reality coma, she has other issues going on as well.
The book was fairly clean. There was a little bit of teen romance, but it didn’t get explicit. Mostly just kissing. There were a few bad words in the book. Not very many though. I would recommend it to anyone 14 years old and up.
April 28, 2018
A dash of Ready, player one. A splash of Divergent and a small sprinkling of the Matrix this book is a beautiful blend of all my favourite things in VR literature.
The story is well written with a rich world that you are fully immersed in right from the start. I do wish our hero took longer to get used to VR but that probably would have made the book boring but it didn't seem realistic to get over a phobia so easily. Especially without panic attacks and throwing up. Running out of a classroom because of embarrassment just felt a little too weak for what a phobia really is.
This is a great YA book.
The story is well written with a rich world that you are fully immersed in right from the start. I do wish our hero took longer to get used to VR but that probably would have made the book boring but it didn't seem realistic to get over a phobia so easily. Especially without panic attacks and throwing up. Running out of a classroom because of embarrassment just felt a little too weak for what a phobia really is.
This is a great YA book.
March 6, 2018
I just finished reading “Hooked” and absolutely loved it. This book is very well written. It keeps you wanting to read more, and you will not want to put the book down. You are drawn into the characters’ lives and feel like you can be right there with them. I loved getting to know Ari and find out her secret and what she goes through to keep this secret, while trying to find a way to save the ones she loves and make a better life for them. I wish I didn’t have to wait for the next book in this trilogy.
*note, I received an Free Advanced Reader Copy for an Honest Review.
*note, I received an Free Advanced Reader Copy for an Honest Review.
January 2, 2020
Really enjoyed this book. Reminiscent of a few other series but had a lot of original stuff too and I liked the various relationships - family, friends, and romantic. I'm definitely excited to read the rest of the series.
January 11, 2021
I loved this book! Great characters, interesting story and thought provoking insights. Can't wait to pick up the next book.
March 21, 2018
Browne does an excellent job creating likeable and realistic characters throughout Hooked. The story weaves between reality and virtual reality dealing with the difficult circumstances that plague communities, individuals and families. Browne's writing is clear, clean, powerful and descriptive as she invites the reader to step into Ari's shoes to discover the enticing virtual world verses the harsh realities of the real world. The choices she sees many make, including her father and brother, inspire Ari to step out of her comfort zone and face her fears. This YA novel is a must read for those who enjoy escaping to a world filled with adventure, love, heartache and friendship. It will leave you wanting more and questioning the realities of the real world.
*FYI - I received an advance copy for an honest review
*FYI - I received an advance copy for an honest review
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews