When Adam Goodwin invites Amanda Buckland, a technology reporter, to try his latest invention, designed to navigate the metaverse, her initial reaction is skepticism. Amanda has reservations about the whole affair, but she is determined to give it her best effort. What the reporter does not realize is that, behind the smoke and mirrors of world-changing technology, Adam is hiding a big secret about his creation. When disaster strikes, the fate of the world lies in Adam's invention. Amanda is the only one he trusts enough to help rectify the damage. In Marcelo Marcal's Disconnected, only time will tell whether she figures out what makes RealOne so different before it is too late.

Marcelo Marcal's world-building emphasizes details in Disconnected, such as the physical and emotional effects of the time differential on the people traveling between RealOne and the real world. He complements the attention to detail with realistic responses from government agents when faced with the repercussions of Adam's actions. The dialogue oscillates between scientific, when Adam and his allies try to find workable solutions to their predicament, and emotional, when Amanda comes to terms with the realities of building a future in two worlds. Marcal heightens the suspense through strategically placed clues and a rapid pace. When woven together with a descriptive narrative style, it creates an immersive adventure whose suspense builds as the narrative unfolds. I enjoyed reading Disconnected, and I am sure that science fiction, romance, and drama enthusiasts will find the thought-provoking questions that the author weaves into this narrative just as entertaining.

Disconnected by Marcelo Marcal takes Amanda Buckland, a technology reporter, to an interview with Adam Goodwin, creator of the MetaOne virtual universe, and she immediately feels a visceral attraction to the handsome man. He brings her to his virtual world, indistinguishable from the real one, except that one hour in the real world is one day in MetaOne. People can create any reality they wish and live a lifetime in a few months of real time. When RealOne is launched, millions eagerly rush to connect and embrace their dreams. Nostradamus, a secret US supercomputer project, predicts an imminent nuclear war. Adam and his team in RealOne are working to find an anti-missile defense system and transmit the information to the real world before war wipes out everything. Suddenly, those in RealOne find they cannot exit the program, but that is only the start of everybody’s problems. Will nuclear fire extinguish reality?

In Disconnected, Marcelo Marcal thrusts readers into a fascinating scenario of ultimate escape for the masses trapped in dreary, and perhaps even unsatisfying lives, who are ready to leave reality and finally experience living their wishes in a virtual reality system. Amanda Buckland and Adam Goodwin are complex, genuine characters with redeeming attributes and human failings, which makes following their adventure in RealOne a genuine treat. Disconnected presents thrilling possibilities that virtual reality can give mankind, but it doesn’t shy away from the dark side. Amanda’s struggle to join Adam when he is locked out of RealOne, a government ready to do anything to obtain the secrets of RealOne from her, and Adam trying valiantly to find a way to prevent a nuclear war, are elements of a gripping, superbly written story. A very interesting book that should draw lots of readers. Readers will not be able to stop turning the pages as they, too, become trapped in a virtual reality.

Disconnected by Marcelo Marcal follows Amanda Buckland, a technology journalist who has landed the interview of her life. She is to meet Adam Goodwin, a tycoon who has just designed RealOne, a virtual world with endless possibilities. Before its launch, Adam invites Amanda to a special experience of this world, and in the process, they fall in love. They also discover that someone in the virtual world is trying to send them a message, but they ignore it, as there are many users, and they think it could just be a minor glitch. Adam tells Amanda about Temporal Experience, a time flow effect that allows users to experience one day in the virtual world in one hour of real time. On the day of the launch, Amanda returns home to Oregon to attend to her father, who was in an accident, while Adam and millions of other users enter the system and find themselves trapped. The hijacking of the system causes the authorities to panic and to start hunting down anyone connected to the project. Amanda ends up teaming up with Thomas—Adam’s best friend—to try to save the man she loves, and everyone stuck inside RealOne.

Disconnected is a very intriguing story that deals with immersive technology and virtual immortality. It is extremely emotional, and the plot incorporates time travel and apocalyptic elements that make the lives of the main characters even more complicated. Marcelo Marcal splits the book into four sections, making it easy to understand the different timelines. I found the story interesting because it deals with current issues, such as Metaverse technology, threats of nuclear wars, and what the future might hold for technological advancements and our world. The story has romance with complicated love triangles and delves into family trauma and friendship drama. The suspenseful moments will keep you glued to the pages. The unpredictable plot and the beautiful illustrations kept me interested. I loved how the story came full circle. It was so satisfying and gave the book an optimistic ending. Disconnected is a smart, engaging read. If you are into sci-fi that makes you think about where humanity is going and what virtual reality could mean for us, you need to read this book.

Disconnected by Marcelo Marcal is a realistic time-travel drama about virtual reality and advanced technology that can foresee the future. It follows the story of Amanda Buckland, a tech journalist, and Adam Goodwin, a visionary technologist and creator of RealOne, a Metaverse similar to the real world. The two meet during an interview and spend time together in the virtual world before its official launch. Their visits to the virtual world let them bond in a realm where one virtual day equals an hour in real life. Eventually, Amanda and Adam develop feelings for each other and get engaged. However, on the day of the launch, a group of scientists hacks the system to prevent a looming nuclear catastrophe that threatens the real world, taking millions of users hostage. Adam and Amanda are separated as Amanda travels for a family emergency, and Adam is stuck in the virtual world.

Disconnected by Marcelo Marcal is an interesting story that blends romance, mystery, and suspense. The very realistic illustrations depict the worlds referred to in the storyline. The narrative is engaging as it explores the emotional effects of technology that creates a gap between real life and a virtual life, to a point where you start to wonder whether it is more appealing to live in a virtual reality. Amanda and Adam's relationship will take you on an emotional ride as it is threatened by the time difference and by the possibility that they might not see each other again. The memorable plot is dynamic, covering very real themes such as geopolitical unrest, threats by countries with nuclear bombs, military torture and imprisonment, and the creation of AI and virtual technology. I truly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a compelling story about technological advancements, humanity's survival, and connections.