The Recruit

The offer he couldn't refuse trapped him in a game he may never win…

Bryce never meant to disappear. At the start of his senior year of high school, his focus was on getting into college, running track, and spending as much time as possible with his girlfriend, Maggie. But a cryptic invitation to join an elite computer programming unit at one of the world's top high-tech gaming companies unlocks a level of intrigue and deception far beyond his imagination.

Together with fellow recruits Charlie and Rachel, Bryce enters the shadowy realm of billionaire Ji Yao and his company's secret project to bridge the virtual world. As the toll from late-night coding assignments mounts and other recruits begin disappearing, Bryce realizes too late that he's made a terrible mistake.

Can Bryce and his teammates survive to match wits with their treacherous captors, or will they be lost in the alternate universe of Final Kingdom's digital world forever? The Recruit is the thrilling second book in the Final Kingdom middle grade virtual adventure series. If you like video-game heroes, edge-of-your-seat action, and electrifying mysteries, you'll love Steven K. Smith's gripping story.