Theme Thursday

Theme Thursday: Virtual Reality

Sophie @ BlameChocolate

Hello internet people! Welcome to another Theme Thursday 🙂

I hope you all enjoyed this manic week, what with the Blogger Awards and all – I know I had a mini-nervous breakdown trying to come up with my own nominations but, in the end, I feel I did well 😁

Speaking of which, we are now in the final round so please check out May’s post and VOTE VOTE VOTE on your favourite bloggers! It’s so important that they get the recognition they deserve, and get our love!

Now, a massive thank you to all the people who took part in the meme this month (some of which I only found out about recently – I’M SO SORRY!! Here, have some chocolate!!!) Be sure to head over to their blogs afterwards 😊

💟 Bloggers Shoutout 💟

Theme Thursday - Virtual Reality

Theme Thursday is a new monthly feature created by Sophie @ Blame Chocolate where bloggers can share recs and newly found books featuring that month’s theme.

  • There will be a different theme (genre, trope, etc) every month. Check the calendar here.
  • Those participating have to list titles that feature that theme in some way (doesn’t have to be the main theme of the book).
  • You can choose one of the four (or five) Thursdays of every month to post.
  • You can use the three main categories: Books I’ve Read/I’m Reading, Books I Want to Read, and Other Books That Fit The Theme but this isn’t mandatory.
  • Please use this boxed text (or similar) in your post, which doubles as a pingback.
  • Additional info is available on the Theme Thursday page.

This month’s theme is: Virtual Reality!

So I might not be the best person to recommend Virtual Reality books as I rarely venture into that territory BUT the idea of it is really intriguing to me. I also feel lots of people love it and are happy to share their lists, so this should be fun! 😊

🕹️

🍫 Books I’ve Read/I’m Reading:

In Real Life by Cory Doctorow

Visual novels count, right? Because if they don’t, well, this list will be even shorter than I anticipated 😂

In Real Life wasn’t anything special, in my opinion, but it’s still a cute read if you’re into stories about gamer girls!

Warcross by Marie Lu

I actually started Warcross after drafting this post but have yet to form an opinion…

The only other book I’ve read by Marie Lu was Legend and I wasn’t a huge fan but I have high expectations for this one!

🕹️

🍫 Books I Want to Read:

The Leveller by Julia Durango

I’m really, really excited about this book! It’s about this girl whose job is to drag kids out of VR games back to their parents… Like a bounty hunter. Which is apparently a thing in this world.

Seriously, though, how cool does The Leveller sound?

Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

Jason Segel!!! Is there anything this man can’t do?

I was so shocked to hear he had written a book/series about VR and so many people rave about it so it’s about time I mentioned Otherworld on the blog!

Girl Gone Viral by Arvin Ahmadi

Um, hello amazing title and cover! How can I be of service?

Coder and hacker Opal has to win a virtual reality game in order to find and save her father. Simplistic, yes, but Girl Gone Viral still sounds brilliant.

Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

Dangerous virtual games yet again…

The Diabolic was all the rage back when it first came out so I’m curious to see what Kincaid is capable of with Insignia.

Press Start by Clancy Teitelbaum

Look, this can’t go on any longer… I don’t need any more books on my TBR so please stop with the awesome covers and titles!

Also, badass female game developer? Press Start already looks like a winner.

🕹️

🍫 Other Books That Fit The Theme:

Blow Me Down by Katie MacAlister

I honestly have no idea what Blow Me Down is doing on my TBR… I think I found it while I was searching for more pirate books to add to my collection.

But apparently it’s about this virtual reality game called Buckling Swashes and it’s a fun romance between a financial analyst and the game’s developer? Guys, I don’t know but I’m intrigued.

Invitation to the Game by Monica Hughes

The Game (I can’t not think about memes) is apparently this virtual reality place a group of friends decide to escape to in order to cope with their pretty miserable adult lives.

Not the most optimistic of outlooks but Invitation to The Game does have a weird appeal to it. Like Stranger Things but with VR.

Elusion by Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam

I’m going to be honest here: this choice was completely based off the cover. It feels so faery-like, I love it!

Though I’m sure Elusion has a great story as well.

For the Win by Cory Doctorow

Not going to lie… Cory Doctorow has not left a great impression on me.

BUT this is a different format so maybe he’s just not the best at visual novels?

For The Win is an epic title, though!

🕹️

That’s it! Make sure to pingback so I can check out your recs. And if I missed your TT post, feel free to send me an email or comment below with your link and I’ll check it out 🙂

The next theme is: Werewolves! Check out the calendar here.

📌 Pin It! 📌

Theme Thursday Virtual Reality
📖  What are some of your favourite virtual reality books?
📖  Are you a gamer or are you interested in the concept of VR?
Let me know in the comments below! 🙂
Blame Chocolate
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48 thoughts on “Theme Thursday: Virtual Reality”

  1. Ooohhh..these are my kind of themes! Virtual Reality, and Werewolves up next? Nice…looking forward to probably adding way too many books to my to read list lol! (This post already did😂😂) As always this was a very cool post. Thanks for showcasing all of these! Some of those covers though….😍😍😍

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    1. Hahaha glad to hear it! It’s unfortunate that I don’t have that many to recommend… But I’m hoping to change that soon 🙂
      Oh dear, I fear for your shelves LOL But I’m sure you’ll enjoy at least a few of these 😉 Thank you so much for reading! 🧡

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  3. Thank you sooooo much for tagging me!! I’m so excited for next month’s theme! Werewolves are really cool and I can’t wait to discover new books with that topic ☺️💕

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  4. You know other than Warcross I’m not sure what I could share for this!!? I’m sure I’ve read other VR books? Maybe?! I did enjoy Warcross even though it didn’t blow me away. I hope you end up enjoying it a little more than Legend. I’m not really a Marie Lu fan either TBH. 😉 I do see some other VR books I maybe need to check out for my own TBR list. Insignia especially since I did enjoy The Diabolic. ❤️

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    1. I was totally stumped as well! Thank the gods for Goodreads 😂
      I felt like that with Legend, but I suspect it was a mix of really high expectations due to hype and the fact that I listened to the audiobook (which CAN and will affect my experience depending on the book). So I’m still hoping I’ll love her other books.
      Oooh that’s awesome! I haven’t read either but they do sound pretty cool so I’m excited 🙂 If only I didn’t have a massive TBR already LOL

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  5. I haven’t read that many virtual reality books… I mostly watch virtual reality movies or anime! 😀 Hehe! I liked Sword Art Online (anime) for this genre. I have read Legend and I actually enjoyed the trilogy, which is why I have high hopes for Warcross. I hope you’ll like it more than her other book you read, and I’ll be anxiously waiting to hear your opinions on that one. I need to read The Diabolic still, but this new Kincaid book has a gorgeous cover and sounds exciting too. 🙂

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    1. Same! I started SAO but never managed to finish it… I didn’t want to be swayed by its reputation but I suppose it did turn me off a bit ^^’ However, I still plan on continuing! I mean, how bad can it really be when so many people love it?
      I did like Legend, it just didn’t blow me away like I was expecting it too (maybe that was the problem?) I hope this one definitely makes a better impression (I did try to keep my expectations down this time)
      I want to read both too! And yes, the cover love is real hahaha 🧡

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  6. Thank you so much for the shoutout! 💕 I don’t think that I’ve come across many virtual reality books, but the topic is very fascinating! I loved Warcross, so I hope you end up liking it – it was the very first book that came to my mind when I read the theme 😄 I also think that the Under the Never Sky books have virtual reality in the society, but it’s mostly about a girl going into the outside world (it has been a while since I read book 1 😅)

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    1. Of course, Caro! Always happy to give you one 🧡
      It certainly is, that’s why I wanted to get more people involved 🙂
      Thank you, I hope so too! Oh really? I did hear a lot about it but didn’t know they had VR in it…. Interesting! Thanks for letting me know 😉 I shall check it out regardless!

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    1. Ah so you’ve read it! I had never heard of it but for some reason was on my TBR and the premise sounded interesting so here we are ^^’
      Thanks for that! I’ll be sure to check it out 🙂 And yeah, same here… I can name so many movies/anime but very few books…

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  9. Great list! I loved Warcross duology and I hope you enjoy it! I haven’t read Gone Girl Viral but I’ve heard it was a bit similar to Warcross. The leveller and The Otherworld are also on my TBR list. I would recommend Project Nemesis trilogy by Brendan Reichs.

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  10. Awesome list, Sophie. Virtual reality is definitely a fun and very modern idea that allows us to imagine so many fantastic stories! One that I adored was Ready Player One and I think it nailed the concept. Although I wasn’t a huuuuuge fan of the movie, it was also fun. The book was just better. 😛

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    1. Thanks so much, Lashaan! I did hear a lot about it but never actually felt like picking it up… I think I’d rather watch the movie first (ssshhh, pretend I didn’t say that!!!) xD That way when I do get to the book I’ll enjoy it even more! 😛

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  12. OMG I HAVE READ ONE OF THESE BOOKS. I’ve read Elusion and its sequel and they do have VR stuff!!! I can’t say that I particularly liked the duology (I did not) but the covers are very pretty.
    As for that Queens of Cyberspace…that looks cool.

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  13. Great theme! Those covers really are awesome, esp. that Queens of Cyberspace one. I’ve also heard a lot about Otherworld and am always intrigued by the cover. Maybe one day I’ll finally read it 🙂

    The book that always comes to mind for me with virtual reality is Ready Player One. The title wooed me from the first time I saw it and I loved the audiobook.

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    1. Thank you, Nicola! I think so too, and I’m dying to read them now 😍 I was intrigued since it was written by Jason Seagel but the premise does sound super cool as well! (Not to mention the beautiful cover)
      I’m so glad you enjoyed it that much! I’ve heard so many mixed reviews I decided to postpone it… Maybe one day I’ll give it a go! 🙂

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  16. Ohh.. I don’t actually know that many virtual reality books so this is great to have a list. I have read Warcross (which I did much prefer over legend myself) and that was great so I hope you enjoy reading it!!
    I was so surprised when I heard that Jason Segel had wrote a book as well but I have heard good things so I hope you enjoy it when you get to read it!!
    Girl Gone Viral does have a beautiful cover and it does sound interesting!!
    Great list!! I loved reading it!! 🙂

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  17. Ahh this is such a great theme! I really enjoy, every now and then, a good virtual reality book so I’ll have to check out the ones I don’t know on your list! I read and really loved Warcross and I had such a fun time with Girl Gone Viral as well 🙂

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    1. That’s awesome, I’m glad to hear it Marie 🙂 Those two are high on my priority list, and I’ve just recently started Warcross so haven’t really had the time to form an opinion yet (have been reading some ARCs in between) but I’m glad you enjoyed it! 🙂 Girl Gone Viral sounds great too!

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  18. This sounds great! I’m hoping to really get back to blogging and writing as soon as I get my yoga/writing room in order. This move has been messy. 🙂 Thanks for a prompt to get going. I saved the page with the information.

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    1. Yoga/writing room sounds exciting! It’s so nice to have our own space to relax and let our creativity take flight, isn’t it?
      I hope you enjoy it! There should be more coming up soon, though if you’d like to take part this month, we’re doing Werewolves 🙂 You have two more Thursdays so plenty of time until then.
      Good luck with your redecorating, Denise!

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  22. that is a really good idea to talk about themes! I have never read any book of the list nor being part of this theme, but I have Ready Player One and that one fits here but I think maybe is too famous? XD

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  23. I really want to read some of these especially Warcross & Otherworld. I actually think I have s couple of virtual reality books on my 2020 releases lists as well from what I can remember (:

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