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Cheat Code
GenE must outwit Codebreakers to win a high stakes (Real Player Game)RPG for terminal patients who made the ‘Intelligence Donor List’, where failure equals death in real life, and winning means eternal life.
Teaming up with competitive gamers increases GenE’s chances of surviving the challenges of each level, until she realizes her most trusted ally is using her. And rules? Rules are made to be reprogramed, along with everything else.
Teaming up with competitive gamers increases GenE’s chances of surviving the challenges of each level, until she realizes her most trusted ally is using her. And rules? Rules are made to be reprogramed, along with everything else.
- GenresScience FictionAudiobook
396 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
2 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 10, 2018
I have been waiting to post this review since January.... I kid you not when I say that this day has been marked in my calendar for months!
Cheat Code is unlike any science fiction novel ever written to date. It takes this genre to the next level. (Pun intended) Have you ever wondered what it would be like for a game to be in charge of life and death? What if you winning means being able to live and you losing means you die? Cheat Code takes you on a thrilling journey where no one is safe and leaving you with an ending so shocking that not even the world's best psychic could see coming. Without giving anything away and keeping my rule of no reveals in my review I will end this review by saying Cheat Code is hands down the best book of the year!
Cheat Code is unlike any science fiction novel ever written to date. It takes this genre to the next level. (Pun intended) Have you ever wondered what it would be like for a game to be in charge of life and death? What if you winning means being able to live and you losing means you die? Cheat Code takes you on a thrilling journey where no one is safe and leaving you with an ending so shocking that not even the world's best psychic could see coming. Without giving anything away and keeping my rule of no reveals in my review I will end this review by saying Cheat Code is hands down the best book of the year!
May 18, 2019
In the future, death doesn’t mean the end. Instead, the dead have their personalities uploaded to a computer game to battle it out to see who will be the most capable of living forever as an AI. Things aren’t as straightforward as they seem though because there can only be one winner, and the creator of the game is determined to wipe every player off the board.
Each of the characters had distinct personalities that really made them stand out. The MC was full of curiosity and a drive to win even though the odds were against her from the start. AK was no different. He was headstrong and smart, though frequently found himself backed into corners.
This was such a unique plot, that I devoured this book in a matter of hours. Every second was compelling, and when it got to the end, my mouth was left hanging open because I didn’t see it coming and at the same time, the author found the perfect way to wrap it up.
Also, the narration was perfect for the MC and the story. Really helped to bring it to life.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Each of the characters had distinct personalities that really made them stand out. The MC was full of curiosity and a drive to win even though the odds were against her from the start. AK was no different. He was headstrong and smart, though frequently found himself backed into corners.
This was such a unique plot, that I devoured this book in a matter of hours. Every second was compelling, and when it got to the end, my mouth was left hanging open because I didn’t see it coming and at the same time, the author found the perfect way to wrap it up.
Also, the narration was perfect for the MC and the story. Really helped to bring it to life.
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
July 11, 2019
This book is like Maze Runner + Hunger Games on steroids: fast-paced, punchy, and violent. Every scene includes a new climactic battle, so it is creative and stressful. This Sci-fi thriller was written well enough to give me genuine anxiety throughout the scenes. I’m a mellow reader, so I had to take it in small doses, it was that intense!
GenE is a very likeable character, and the banter between each of the cast members is genuine and emotional. I really liked some of the plot twists, though I did have a hard time orienting myself every time the challenge changed. Mostly because the characters had no idea what was going on themselves. If you enjoy hard sci-fi, thrillers, RPG’s, and zombie battles, then definitely pick this book up.
GenE is a very likeable character, and the banter between each of the cast members is genuine and emotional. I really liked some of the plot twists, though I did have a hard time orienting myself every time the challenge changed. Mostly because the characters had no idea what was going on themselves. If you enjoy hard sci-fi, thrillers, RPG’s, and zombie battles, then definitely pick this book up.
April 18, 2018
Cheat Code is wild. It's the kind of plot that makes tight hairpin turns and leaves you scrambling to reorient -- in all the best ways. The setting is unique and reminds me of TRON, if everything in TRON were out to kill you. And the ending!!! I won't give it away, just read it and find out for yourself.
June 19, 2019
This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
Cheat Code starts off with a young female protagonist that has no memory of who she is, where she is or why she is there. The action starts almost immediately and does not let up for a moment. She is in a game where she does not know the rules but making it to the next level is literally life or death. Since she is our sole POV we are learning while she is. She gains teammates and knowledge but not all of her information is reliable nor can she trust those around her. She isn't even sure if they can trust her.
It's a thrilling rollercoaster full of twists, turns, betrayals, revelations upon revelations and it even by the conclusion you never truly get a chance to catch your breath. The writing, characters and plot keep pulling you along and the action continues to escalate. The novel can be frustrating if you as a reader want to understand what is happening and why at all times. If you are fine being taken on a ride then strap in. This is more an experience than a straight up story. I'm still wrapping my head around the ending. I can promise that you will never be bored.
Narrator Sierra Kline keeps you in the moment and delivers a riveting performance. She brings GenE and the other members of the cast to life and her voice is very expressive carrying a lot of emotion in her voice. I could barely breath just listening. I have no idea how she was able to record it as well as she did.
Cheat Code starts off with a young female protagonist that has no memory of who she is, where she is or why she is there. The action starts almost immediately and does not let up for a moment. She is in a game where she does not know the rules but making it to the next level is literally life or death. Since she is our sole POV we are learning while she is. She gains teammates and knowledge but not all of her information is reliable nor can she trust those around her. She isn't even sure if they can trust her.
It's a thrilling rollercoaster full of twists, turns, betrayals, revelations upon revelations and it even by the conclusion you never truly get a chance to catch your breath. The writing, characters and plot keep pulling you along and the action continues to escalate. The novel can be frustrating if you as a reader want to understand what is happening and why at all times. If you are fine being taken on a ride then strap in. This is more an experience than a straight up story. I'm still wrapping my head around the ending. I can promise that you will never be bored.
Narrator Sierra Kline keeps you in the moment and delivers a riveting performance. She brings GenE and the other members of the cast to life and her voice is very expressive carrying a lot of emotion in her voice. I could barely breath just listening. I have no idea how she was able to record it as well as she did.
May 3, 2019
( Format : Audiobook )
"I want to win... I want to live."
She wakes in a room crowded with people with no idea of where she is, or why, or even who she is. No memories. But something felt wrong. The other people leave and she is almost alone: it is a game, she discovers, and the stakes are high, the highest. Winning offers immortality, the consequence of failure is death, real death.
And so begins her journey through horrendous landscapes, always trying to level up when even the level itself is unknown, allegiances to help the movement where friend can turn to foe at crucial moments and those who have betrayed her can be her next best hope of survival. Very cleverly written in the first person, the protagonists are devious and well developed, the world building brutally graphic and the story twists and turns even more than the game itself. This is LitRPG which doesn't need a gamer to appreciate it.
Sierra Kline's performance is superb. She fully becomes the woman caught in a nightmare with no option but to carry on or die, with all of her terrors, hates and loves signaled in her vocalization as well as in the text. The other characters, also, are clearly and individually voiced. An excellent performance.
I knew nothing about Cheat Code when first I requested, then was freely gifted with, a complimentary copy by the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. The book held me gripped, fascinated and guessing, throughout, never really knowing what to expect next. It is one I can enthusiastically recommend to science fiction fans of any type, and gamers, too. A really good read.
"I want to win... I want to live."
She wakes in a room crowded with people with no idea of where she is, or why, or even who she is. No memories. But something felt wrong. The other people leave and she is almost alone: it is a game, she discovers, and the stakes are high, the highest. Winning offers immortality, the consequence of failure is death, real death.
And so begins her journey through horrendous landscapes, always trying to level up when even the level itself is unknown, allegiances to help the movement where friend can turn to foe at crucial moments and those who have betrayed her can be her next best hope of survival. Very cleverly written in the first person, the protagonists are devious and well developed, the world building brutally graphic and the story twists and turns even more than the game itself. This is LitRPG which doesn't need a gamer to appreciate it.
Sierra Kline's performance is superb. She fully becomes the woman caught in a nightmare with no option but to carry on or die, with all of her terrors, hates and loves signaled in her vocalization as well as in the text. The other characters, also, are clearly and individually voiced. An excellent performance.
I knew nothing about Cheat Code when first I requested, then was freely gifted with, a complimentary copy by the rights holder, via Audiobook Boom. Thank you so much. The book held me gripped, fascinated and guessing, throughout, never really knowing what to expect next. It is one I can enthusiastically recommend to science fiction fans of any type, and gamers, too. A really good read.
December 8, 2021
I’ve made it clear time and time again in my reviews that I’m not a fan of modern SciFi. As I was setting up the review page on my blog and noticed this was a SciFi story, I groaned. Lucky for me, this story is really damn good.
For the most part, it’s intense and doesn’t let up. The protagonist has no idea what’s going on or where she is, so as a reader you get to learn as she does. I’m grateful as a lot of stories wouldn’t handle this well and would just dump exposition on you at the start or drop you in the middle of a world and expect you to know what the hell is going on.
I did find it hard to follow character names. I always do, I have a hard time with names in general. The characters have names such as “GenE” or GenAK”, etc, and when everybody has similar sounding code-names, it can be a hassle to follow who is who.
This is one of those edge of your seat, roller coaster rides full of peaks, valleys, dips, and twists. Oh mercy, the twists. Every time you think you have a grasp on what’s what, some new revelation is shared that flips everything sideways. It never gets dull because something interesting is always happening. Cheat Code is one of the most creative and interesting novels I’ve read (in this case, listened to.)
The narrator does an excellent job with voices. She does mispronounce “they’re” as “there”, saying “there not” instead of “they’re not” as well as saying “perscription” instead of prescription. Both of which I find insufferably annoying. I cannot stand when narrators lack the ability to pronounce basic English words properly.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
For the most part, it’s intense and doesn’t let up. The protagonist has no idea what’s going on or where she is, so as a reader you get to learn as she does. I’m grateful as a lot of stories wouldn’t handle this well and would just dump exposition on you at the start or drop you in the middle of a world and expect you to know what the hell is going on.
I did find it hard to follow character names. I always do, I have a hard time with names in general. The characters have names such as “GenE” or GenAK”, etc, and when everybody has similar sounding code-names, it can be a hassle to follow who is who.
This is one of those edge of your seat, roller coaster rides full of peaks, valleys, dips, and twists. Oh mercy, the twists. Every time you think you have a grasp on what’s what, some new revelation is shared that flips everything sideways. It never gets dull because something interesting is always happening. Cheat Code is one of the most creative and interesting novels I’ve read (in this case, listened to.)
The narrator does an excellent job with voices. She does mispronounce “they’re” as “there”, saying “there not” instead of “they’re not” as well as saying “perscription” instead of prescription. Both of which I find insufferably annoying. I cannot stand when narrators lack the ability to pronounce basic English words properly.
NOTE: This copy was provided to me free of charge as a digital review copy. The opinions stated in this review are mine and mine alone, I was not paid or requested to give this book a certain rating, suggestion, or approval.
July 16, 2018
Great YA read!!
After reading the big buzz of this release all over social media, I picked up this book by fellow Immortal Works Author, Aften Brooks Szymanski. Disclaimer: I am NOT a gamer, but that fact did not hold back my understanding as Szymanski is very articulate and able to explain these concepts in a way I could easily grasp.
The story follows a teenage girl through an AI simulation. The only difference between her and the other players is that she lacks any identifiable coding or memory of who she is and how she got there.
You follow the character through different levels of this AI simulation each level grows more difficult and in turn is increasingly stressful. Szymanski weaves a world that no one can take at face value. With an unreliable narrator this journey through the simulation has nothing but high stakes every step of the way.
I gave this book 4.5 stars because it was truly a page turner but very stressful to the very end.
Dacia M Arnold
After reading the big buzz of this release all over social media, I picked up this book by fellow Immortal Works Author, Aften Brooks Szymanski. Disclaimer: I am NOT a gamer, but that fact did not hold back my understanding as Szymanski is very articulate and able to explain these concepts in a way I could easily grasp.
The story follows a teenage girl through an AI simulation. The only difference between her and the other players is that she lacks any identifiable coding or memory of who she is and how she got there.
You follow the character through different levels of this AI simulation each level grows more difficult and in turn is increasingly stressful. Szymanski weaves a world that no one can take at face value. With an unreliable narrator this journey through the simulation has nothing but high stakes every step of the way.
I gave this book 4.5 stars because it was truly a page turner but very stressful to the very end.
Dacia M Arnold
May 27, 2018
I had the good fortune to read a paperback copy the author autographed for me, and I really enjoyed reading the physical book vs. a digital copy, though I'm glad both options are there! Once I began reading, I didn't read the book - I DEVOURED it. The story was strong and kept me in its clutches from start to finish. Szymanski gives us a well-written, fast-paced tale with an intense, exciting narrative, vivid imagery, and a tight story. GenE is very likeable, sassy, and cool. I enjoyed her relationships between GenAK and GenED, and there is something in this book for everyone. Half the time, the story left me guessing, which was refreshing and exciting. One thing this book certainly isn't is predictable. It's a good book, and original in concept. If you like The Hunger Games, Tron, or Ready Player One, you'll love this book! It's got serious legs. I highly recommend it.
May 16, 2019
So, I really enjoyed this one but as a parent I feel the need to start with a morality rating. If this were made into a movie it would be rated R for the all the very graphic violence scenes alone, there is some mild bad language (no f-bombs), and no sex scenes. This is definitely a young adult to adult read.
This book starts out pretty quickly, is action packed we really hard to put down. The author does a fantastic job of describing in entertaining detail well enough that I could visualize most of the scenes. This was all made even better by the performance given by the narrator, she was incredible and a ton of fun to listen to. If you like RPG, thrillers, action and adventure then this is one you should try.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
This book starts out pretty quickly, is action packed we really hard to put down. The author does a fantastic job of describing in entertaining detail well enough that I could visualize most of the scenes. This was all made even better by the performance given by the narrator, she was incredible and a ton of fun to listen to. If you like RPG, thrillers, action and adventure then this is one you should try.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
April 29, 2019
I generally have a good time when reading LitRPG's, but alas, this time not so much! I found that I liked the protagonist, GenE quite a bit... a girl who finds herself lost in a game, a girl without memories of her past. But that's not gonna stop her from playing her best, because it's that... or die...
And, just as quickly I found myself exasperated, by the very same lack of knowledge GenE is facing, how did she get there? What are the rules? Who is she? Aften Brook Szymanski kept feeding us just enough tantalizing tidbits to sustain us, GenE and myself to the end... but I felt let down. The book just sorta' flat lined, and as the narrator spoke the last two words "The End!" I was relieved it was over!
I was hoping this story would be better than it turned out to be, since LitRPG is one of my favorite genres... So sad. 😢
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
And, just as quickly I found myself exasperated, by the very same lack of knowledge GenE is facing, how did she get there? What are the rules? Who is she? Aften Brook Szymanski kept feeding us just enough tantalizing tidbits to sustain us, GenE and myself to the end... but I felt let down. The book just sorta' flat lined, and as the narrator spoke the last two words "The End!" I was relieved it was over!
I was hoping this story would be better than it turned out to be, since LitRPG is one of my favorite genres... So sad. 😢
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
June 24, 2019
In Cheat Code, the main character "wakes up" in a video game with no memory of who she is or how she got there. She quickly discovers that it's a game for terminal patients who hope to be uploaded as AI and live forever--but only if they win level after level of the fast-paced, constantly changing game. She must team up with other players if she has any hope of winning, but how is she supposed to know who to trust when everyone else wants to win, too?
CHEAT CODE is like THE HUNGER GAMES, but set in an intense, fast-paced video game landscape. It's riveting and action-packed and I devoured it in just over a day! I'm looking forward to diving into the sequel!
CHEAT CODE is like THE HUNGER GAMES, but set in an intense, fast-paced video game landscape. It's riveting and action-packed and I devoured it in just over a day! I'm looking forward to diving into the sequel!
May 21, 2018
The story begins great, until the female main protagonist meets the male protagonist.
After that, the female protagonist starts to constantly look to him for help, guidance and protection. She ends up merely dragged along, often literally, by him for most of the time.
This book is 'young adult'. The constant and unending whining and bickering made me wish for the death of each and every character.
After that, the female protagonist starts to constantly look to him for help, guidance and protection. She ends up merely dragged along, often literally, by him for most of the time.
This book is 'young adult'. The constant and unending whining and bickering made me wish for the death of each and every character.
May 18, 2021
Received as a review copy, this is an honest review. While this author can craft an interesting narrative, this creativity made trying to read this book a struggle. It felt to myself as if the story was a science fiction version of Alice in Wonderland... it really felt like falling down the rabbit hole but not in the way I'm sure the author was going for. A unique mystery that I wanted to be less confusing.
April 21, 2019
Great concept
A lot happeneds to the characters In this book as each level/world gets crazier
Fast paced with lots of action you don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy this
Sierras narration was excellent
Also really liked the ending highly recommended
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
A lot happeneds to the characters In this book as each level/world gets crazier
Fast paced with lots of action you don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy this
Sierras narration was excellent
Also really liked the ending highly recommended
I received a free review audiobook and voluntarily left this review
July 12, 2019
This is an interesting story to listen to and review. There is a lot of things going on in this book and you can get lost in the back-and-forth that happens at times. But it comes together and wraps up in an interesting turn of events.
*I requested this book and am voluntarily leaving this review
*I requested this book and am voluntarily leaving this review
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews