Fathom Fall - Matteo L. Cerilli

The Maze Runner meets Fortnite in this action-packed young YA about a boy who finds out the monsters from his favorite video game are real.

They came for our water, but they'll settle for your blood.

On Fathom Fall's leaderboard, player Wyatt “DoctorDoctor” Docherty ranks at number three. In real life, he's seen only as the privileged kid of head engineers at Hydrexo, the company that supplies 75% of North America's water. He has easy access while others must line up to pay exorbitant prices at public water taps, and he feels totally useless.

To prove he's more than a spoiled Water Baby, Wyatt wants to win the upcoming Fathom Fall competition and finally make a name for himself. But when he starts seeing Bluddites – the water-guzzling monsters from the game – in real life, Wyatt suspects that the tournament is about more than just prize money.

Wyatt wants to win, but as the tournament approaches, he starts to worry: Why won't anyone tell them what's really going on? Why would the game – the military, even – be training kids to hunt monsters for them? And how far is he willing to go to prove himself?

Set in a near-future, water-scarce Toronto, Fathom Fall is a high-octane speculative thrill ride that questions the ethics of new technology and how it defines our very reality.

Matteo L. Cerilli (he/him) is a trans masc author specializing in speculative fiction for all ages. His work includes the YA novels Lockjaw and Bad in the Blood, the middle grade Something's Up with Arlo, and various poems in various places. He currently lives in Toronto with his partner.
https://www.matteolcerilli.com/
@matteolcerilli

“A visceral psychological thriller. . . . The writing is relentlessly intense and successfully conveys the high stakes and psychological trauma endured by the young protagonists, dealing honestly with issues of class, corporate power, and violence. The apt use of sarcastic humor breaks up the intense thriller storyline. . . . This grim, sophisticated, and deeply unsettling story is a necessary addition for readers dealing with complex social and ethical issues. Fans of gritty, politically charged thrillers will be highly engaged.” —School Library Journal, starred review

“[A] pulse-pounding dystopian thriller. . . . A provocative look at how technology can shape society and necessity can drive humankind.” —Publishers Weekly

“A compulsive read with room for a sequel. . . . A fast, ferocious thriller in which water wars, virtual violence, and murky morals collide.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A dystopian tale ideal for fans of video games and readers who appreciate works with complex ethical questions.” —Booklist