Epic by Conor Kostick

(364 p., Call Number: Y FICTION KOSTICK, CONOR sci-fi)

In a society where violence is banned, people must settle their disputes in a massive computer game called Epic. In addition, all forms of commerce and justice take place between characters inside Epic. Fourteen-year-old Erik is spurred into action when Central Allocations, the ruling power, exiles his father for an old crime (a single moment of justified violence). Erik creates a new Epic character, Cindella, and takes her along nontraditional paths inside the game: rather than drudge for years accruing tiny bits of money like his friends, spirited Cindella attempts world-changing adventures. Erik finds a loophole that allows him to defeat a red dragon, making him one of the wealthiest players around; suddenly he is a threat to Central Allocations, a team of powerful players that are the world's de facto rulers, even though they do not fully understand the system they are manipulating. As the game becomes self-aware, there are whispers of a revolution among those who would use the game's technology for conversations and elections rather than endless fighting.

Like The Hunger Games, the heroes of Epic are forced to participate in a game that will determine their prosperity by a dictatorial rulership. Fans of the former book should consider checking out this one.