by Lev Grossman
First published 2004
Investment banker Will Parry is summoned to catalog a mysterious collection of rare books. As he delves into the volumes, he discovers an ancient codex that mirrors a wildly popular virtual reality game. Drawn into the game's captivating world, Will must confront the dark forces behind it before the line between reality and fantasy blurs forever.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, mystery, fantasy
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: alternate-universe, fish-out-of-water
348 pages · Hardcover · Houghton Mifflin Harcourt