Virtual reality (VR) has been a theme in sci-fi novels since before VR was actually a reality. Obviously, it’s a little more prevalent now, with a common plot line being what could go wrong either due to the technology itself or the people using and abusing it. Perhaps the best known VR-set novel of recent years is Ready Player One. A more recent addition to that collection is Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller. 

Set in the real world (to begin with), the novel follows Simon, a delinquent teen without many friends, who gets kicked out of boarding school. When he returns home, his best friend (and love interest) Kat avoids him and he can’t figure out why. But when there’s an accident that seems to leave her comatose, the Company steps in to make Kat part of a beta test of a VR game to allow her to live again. But Simon suspects something isn’t right, so he enters the VR world to find her.

As noted, VR-set novels are nothing new at this point, especially for the YA category (which this falls into). Otherworld does have a good combination of corporate corruption and espionage along with the adventures of a VR fantasy game. But a lot of this feels like it’s things I’ve read before, with almost the same sort of plot “twists” along the way. I’ll admit that I don’t typically read YA, so perhaps things are typically a little easier to spot, but some plot points are a bit too obvious in this.

Overall, Otherworld is reasonably enjoyable and easy to get through. You won’t be taxing your brain reading this one, but you might have a bit of fun along the way. Also, if you do enjoy it, there is a follow-up titled Otherearth.