Coldwire by Chloe Gong
Epidemics and climate change force people to completely change their lives. Most people move “upcountry,” a virtual reality. Those who are poor, though, are forced to live in “downcountry.” In upcountry, things are far from perfect, though, as aColdWar rages between the two nations of Medaluo and Atahua. It’s Medan orphans in Atahua who suffer the most, though, forced to enroll in the Military Academy.
Eirale did everything as she was supposed to and, upon graduation, joined the private forces in downcountry. But then an anarchist from Atahua frames her for government assassination, and now she’s got to either partner with him for a dangerous assignment or be implicated in treason.
Meanwhile, Lia is nearly finished with her time at the Military Academy when she’s forced to do a final assignment with her nemesis. Lia will work with him, but she’s going to do it better so she can secure the status of valedictorian. Except there’s a lot more at stake than either of them knows.
When Eirale and Lia’s lives continue to intertwine, despite being in different reality planes, they start to wonder what their connection is . . . and what kind of conspiracy is at hand that keeps bringing them together.