The Dark Side of Winning: How Competitive 'Pokémon' Inspired a New Dystopian YA Series Ava Reid's new novel, "Winterveil", is set in a dark academia world where students are trained to be elite assets in a Cold War that has dragged on for nearly a century.
This tale differs from the usual dystopian fare by drawing inspiration from competitive 'Pokémon'.
In young adult fiction, themes of rebellion and resistance often dominate, but Reid's use of this unexpected source raises questions about the nature of competition and the lengths we'll go to in pursuit of victory.