after a terrible car crash puts seventeenyearold noah newbolt into a coma he is hooked up to the innovative dream enginea virtual reality helmet that immerses the player in an online fantasy game the dream engine keeps noahs mind alive while doctors frantically work to heal his body but his death in the game could result in irreversible brain damage while noah learns to navigate the dream game his girlfriend sue suffers injuries from the same crash then the doctors attempts to connect her to the game result in her apparent death when a mysterious avatar drops notes suggesting the last remnants of sues consciousness are being held prisoner in the most dangerous part of the game noah takes it upon himself to rescue herhe allies himself with a group of highlevel players to help him in his quest but his rise through the ranks earns him a bounty with top players across the world gunning for noah can he stay aliveand awakelong enough to save sue and escape the game