MetaGame by Sam Landstrom

Life is a game, literally. Winners earn immortality, while losers are condemned to aging and death. D_Light, a gifted player, knows this all too well and he’s willing to do anything to win—even kill. It is no wonder then that when given the chance to enter a MetaGame—an exclusive, high-stakes, anything goes contest—he’s quick to jump at the opportunity. The MetaGame starts out well enough for D_Light, the first quest being to hunt down a dangerous fugitive, but through his own ambition, the tables turn and D_Light finds himself the renegade. Now, D_Light pits himself against his world to find the truth behind “The Game” and must decide between winning it and saving what’s left of his humanity. This book blends emerging political and cultural trends, such as gaming culture, globalization, and the ever-increasing hegemony of corporations, with technological trends, such as genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality. Oh, and if that is not enough, there's even some romance!

I don't read sci-fi books often, but the synopsis intrigued me. I dropped a star because for me the book gradually lost it's ... sparkle, and by the end I was wondering where the finish line was. It started strong but at times during the middle I was lost. It may have been easier to follow if I had connected to the main character, D_Light, more than I did. 

That said I thought it as well written and made complex relationships, and practices that are seen as taboo in today's society easy to follow, and accept.

I liked how humanity was portrayed as "jacked in" consumers dominated by TheGame and slaves to the whims of their "families". Surprisingly, the constant use of techno jargon didn't annoy me, but helped to solidify the story as I read. I won't say I found the plot surprising or unique, at each plot point it was quite clear what was going to happen, but the explanation of how the OverSoul worked did catch me off guard, and was delightful to read.

 4 skulls genius.