Review of Endgame: The Calling by James Frey & Nils Johnson-Shelton

Advance Review of James Frey & Nils Johnson-Shelton's Endgame: The Calling

Release Date: October 7th, 2014

Synopsis as found on GoodReads.com:

Twelve thousand years ago, they came. They descended from the sky amid smoke and fire, and created humanity and gave us rules to live by. They needed gold and they built our earliest civilizations to mine it for them. When they had what they needed, they left. But before they left, they told us someday they would come back, and when they did, a game would be played. A game that would determine our future.

This is Endgame.

For ten thousand years the lines have existed in secret. The 12 original lines of humanity. Each had to have a Player prepared at all times. They have trained generation after generation after generation. In weapons, languages, history, tactics, disguise assassination. Together the players are everything: strong, kind, ruthless, loyal, smart, stupid, ugly, lustful, mean, fickle, beautiful, calculating, lazy, exuberant, weak. They are good and evil. Like you. Like all.

This is Endgame.

When the game starts, the players will have to find three keys. The keys are somewhere on earth. The only rule of their Endgame is that there are no rules. Whoever finds the keys first wins the game. Endgame: The Calling is about the hunt for the first key. And just as it tells the story of the hunt for a hidden key, written into the book is a puzzle. It invites readers to play their own Endgame and to try to solve the puzzle. Whoever does will open a case filled with gold. Alongside the puzzle will be a revolutionary mobile game built by Google’s Niantic Labs that will allow you to play a real-world version of Endgame where you can join one of the lines and do battle with people around you.
Will exuberance beat strength? Stupidity top kindness? Laziness thwart beauty? Will the winner be good or evil? There is only one way to find out.

Play.
Survive.
Solve.
People of Earth.
Endgame has begun.

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Hunger Games minus Dystopia versus I Am Number Four minus Powers with a World Wide Scavenger Hunt a la Around The World in 80 Days = Endgame

In my opinion, this book is going to be a phenomenon! When you give as much press & put as much money into branding & marketing, you know there has to be a reason behind it. The back of my ARC's box says "Groundbreaking Seven-Figure Global Marketing Campaign!"

So we will get to the story itself in a moment... this book is set to be not only a series, but also a world-wide puzzle based scavenger hunt that was thought up by 3 MIT PHD's. My copy does not give all the clues that are needed to complete it (or even understand the clues whatsoever!), but the final copy that will be sold on shelves will help the reader to find a key that will open a bullet-proof glass case at Harper-Collins headquarters that contains a "massive pile of gold coins."

The story is about 12 children between the ages of 13 & 20 from 12 different ancient cultures (ie. Olmec, Sumerian, Minoan, etc) who will hunt for 3 keys. The winner (in which there can be only 1... very Highlander, I know!) will control who will live & die on earth. It is said, only if they win, will they be able to save their friends, family, & people. When Endgame starts, it is ALL OUT WAR!! This is a kill or be killed kind of game.

There is a lot of action, a lot of fighting, & a lot of death. Even though, I loved this book, I do not suggest it for younger kids. If you are a wiz at puzzles, are really into scavenger hunts, or just really want to win the prize, make sure to pick up your copy of Endgame, out this October.