Last Updated on January 3, 2024 by Taylor
There’s a new sequel to Ernest Cline’s mega hit, Ready Player One! It’s called Ready Player Two, and it’s got the characters you know and love from the original – but they’re on a brand new quest.
But this time around, they’re dealing with even more futuristic, state-of-the-art gaming technology. James Halliday created more than just the OASIS, and his invention completely changes the state of the world. With it comes a new Easter egg with hidden clues. But this isn’t an ordinary challenge – the fate of the entire world depends on its success.
My husband and I both loved the first book, so we actually had a little book club/discussion going while we both read this one!
*I received this book for free from the publisher (Random House – Ballantine) in exchange for an honest review.
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Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline: My Thoughts
This story is pure escapism. Was it realistic? Not so much. Was it fun? Yes, most of the time. I had some conflicting thoughts, though – let’s start with what I liked.
As much as I loved the first book, I tried to go into this without super high expectations, and I think that helped. The concept was fascinating, and the virtual reality worlds were just as creative this time around. The story was full of adventure and discovery, and you know I love a good mystery with hidden clues. And just like with the first book, I was totally geeking out to all the pop culture and old school video game references.
Is it possible to be nostalgic for the 80s when you hadn’t been born yet? I’m a huge fan of The Brat Pack – you know, The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, etc. John Hughes’ movies play a role in this book (as well as J.R.R. Tolkien’s works), which I loved.
While I always wanted to keep reading, I did enjoy the first half of this a lot more than the second half. Some parts felt drawn out, and there were a LOT of 80s references (some of which went over my head). Some moments even slightly infuriated me.
Throughout the story, I felt like Wade was immature and hadn’t learned much from his past mistakes. Honestly, I liked almost all of the other characters more than I liked him. I also didn’t love the ending, but I really think that’s in the eye of the beholder.
As long as I didn’t dwell too much on the parts that bothered me, though, I had a lot of fun reading this.
Overall, it doesn’t have quite the same magic as the first book, but I’m still glad I read it. If you liked Ready Player One, I think this is worth the read!
Rating: 3.75 (out of 5) stars
Release date: November 24th, 2020
Looking for more great book recommendations for video game lovers? Check out my list of awesome fiction books about video games!
