Epic

Epic by Conor Kostick

Erik lives in a world controlled by a video game called Epic. Want to eat? You have to play. Want to go to college? You have to play. If you win, you can get the things you need. But lose and the consequences may kill you. When his family is treated unfairly, Erik decides to try and beat the system by beating the game. Soon, though, the masters of the game, the Committee, are coming after Erik and his friends with everything they have. If they win, they will have all of the power, but if they lose they will lose it all.
The story continues in Saga and Edda.