J. R. Stewart

I would like to thank Blue Moon Publishing & NetGalley for giving me a copy of this e-ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. Though I received this e-book for free that in no way impacts my review. I also have to say that I read both the original ARC and the version being reviewed below. There is no contest, and thank you for listening to early reviewers' comments and suggestions. It's nice to know someone is listening!

Goodreads Teaser: "When the real world is emptied of all that you show more love, how can you keep yourself from dependence on the virtual?

Animal activist and punk rock star Larissa Kenders lives in a dystopian world where the real and the virtual intermingle. After the disappearance of her soulmate, Andrew, Kenders finds solace by escaping to Nirvana, a virtual world controlled by Hexagon. In Nirvana, anyone’s deepest desires may be realized - even visits with Andrew.

Although Kenders knows that this version of Andrew is virtual, when he asks for her assistance revealing Hexagon’s dark secret, she cannot help but comply. Soon after, Kenders and her closest allies find themselves in a battle with Hexagon, the very institution they have been taught to trust. After uncovering much more than she expected, Kenders’ biggest challenge is determining what is real – and what is virtual.

Nirvana is a fast-paced, page-turning young adult novel combining elements of science fiction, mystery, and romance. Part of a trilogy, this book introduces readers to a young woman who refuses to give up on the man she loves, even if it means taking on an entire government to do so."

Having read the original ARC and now this released version, well it's almost as if I've read two entirely different books. And this one, this one is the keeper!

The story opens with Kenders and Andrew, and covers their courtship, romance, and ongoing relationship. On the surface, if you go by job titles and descriptions, these two are night and day. She's the lead singer of a hugely popular punk rock bank and he's a genius computer geek. But if you look past the labels you'll see what's behind the facade. Kenders was a child prodigy, could play virtually any instrument, and basically finished college before she was fifteen. So she's more than a mental match for Andrew. But where his focus is on exploring the virtual world, hers is all about saving the physical world. She becomes an animal activist, helping on lab raids to free animals being used for experiments, and doing her best to wake people up to the plight of the bees. But by then it's far to late, and as go the bees, so too goes humanity. Only it will take us a bit longer to become extinct. Though if the Hexagon corporation has their way nothing will happen to humans. We'll live well, and eventually reclaim the world we lost. At least that's their public line.

As usual reality and propaganda don't match. Hexagon is a business, and like any business they must answer to their shareholders. Most of whom are the top executives. And they want more than just money. They want it all. And they're more than willing to kill to get it. So when Andrew disappears with his latest virtual reality research, the head honchos at Hexagon go on a manhunt. And they plan on using Andrew's grieving fiancé to get the research they funded back.

Andrew's sudden disappearance sparks a wild chain of events that make for an engrossing read. Most of the book from this point on is told through Kenders' point of view. Be prepared to experience all the ups and downs right along with her, including wondering if she hasn't gone off the deep end when she starts thinking she's seeing Andrew in Nirvana. The real Andrew that is, not a virtual recording of their past sessions. Are the hints he drops in the Nirvana sessions she's revisits, the cryptic messages, all part of her grieving mind's way of keeping him alive? Or is he really still alive somewhere, and actually leading her back to him?

As the story unfolds the levels of paranoia just keep climbing, and not just for Kenders. Everyone suspects everyone else of plotting against them, and while they have no proof, most are right. So once she gets past the question of Andrew being alive, the question for Kenders becomes one of who to trust. Everyone is suspect, at least according to Andrew. And the one person he told her to trust should anything ever happen to him is suddenly acting very suspicious. If she puts her trust in the wrong person she could lose not only her one chance to get her Andrew back, she could lose her life.

Pacing and character development are spot on in this story, which is a real feat given the amount of mystery that is required to keep the plot alive and kicking. Yet Stewart pulls it off brilliantly. This is more than worth a read, one you'll be very glad you did. Just be sure to get out of my way when the next book is released - otherwise I'm not responsible for anything that happens to those who get between me and the next book in this series! show less

Nirvana: an ideal or idyllic state or place.

When I first looked at reviews for this book I did wonder if I had read the same book. Well apparently I hadn’t! I have read and reviewed the new edited version of Nirvana.

Bees have become extinct and the world crumbles, plants cannot be pollinated, crops and animals die. Only the rich thrive in this new dystopian world where everything is generated by computers. Every aspect of your life is recorded by big brother corporation Hexagon. Everyone show more must spend time in Nirvana. A virtual world meant to relax you and relive your happiest moments. But always Big Brother is watching.

Putting aside the end of the world as we know it scenario this story is not so far fetched. There are so many elements already being explored. I have heard of in roads in virtual holidays where the busy executive can dial in a holiday and the memories are delivered straight to your brain. A two week holiday in two hours!

You don’t necessarily need to be computer literate to understand the concept of the story with virtual reality, holograms and nanobots. Although I’m sure the Young Adult target audience are well versed on all things tech.

Melissa Kenders is a likeable protagonist. She is unprepared for what is being asked of her but is willing to believe in Andrew. She admits to being scared but love is what pushes her on.

This is a light read and a really cute story that I think teens will enjoy. It’s filled with mystery, tension and heartache. It’s the quintessential good guy versus the big evil corporation that puts money above people’s lives.

I enjoyed this dystopian story that isn’t totally filled with dread and gloom. A cliff hanger ending will have fans screaming for the next book.

Thank you to Blue Moon Publishing via Netgalley for my copy to read and review. show less

Imagine a not-too-distant future where the bees are gone, followed by plants, trees, and slowly disappearing water sources. Imagine that one mega-corporation is providing food, shelter, and employment in this dry dystopian land. This corporation monitors everything that is said and done and as long as you don't upset things, they'll continue to provide for you. Your only escape is into a world of virtual reality also controlled by this mega-corporation, but even this escape world is show more monitored. If you can imagine such a scenario, then you have entered the world of Nirvana by J.R. Stewart.

Larissa Kenders referred to as simply Kenders, is a young woman that remembers the rapid fall from normal into a world of constant monitoring and fear. The love of her life, Andrew, works with Hexagon to control the virtual reality world of Nirvana. Just when Andrew and Kenders think that things can't get any worse, Hexagon institutes a new level to Nirvana called the Red Door. If visitors to Nirvana get flagged for the Red Door they vanish and are never seen again. Andrew, with the help of Kenders, is working to erase these flags from the system and protect as many people as possible. His bosses aren't aware of his activities, but they know that something isn't quite right with his work. And then Andrew disappears and is presumed to be dead. Kenders has a difficult time accepting his disappearance or the notion that Andrew is dead and begins to use virtual reality to help lessen the grief. However, she isn't "remembering" past encounters with Andrew in Nirvana, she is receiving messages from him. How can this be? What was Andrew working on and what made it so dangerous? Why is Hexagon so interested in monitoring Kenders' visits to Nirvana? Is Andrew still alive and if so, where is he?

Nirvana is a quick and engrossing read that is definitely part science fiction, part mystery, part thriller, and a little bit of romance all set in a dystopian future. Kenders is a teenage musical prodigy that has had to grow up very quickly. It is never revealed how old Andrew is, but we now that he is older than Kenders (it is because of Kenders age that Nirvana might be classified as YA or NA). Kenders and Andrew met at one of her punk rock concerts in the pre-dystopian world. They were both activists and became friends and then lovers. In Kenders world, the wealthy live in climate-controlled bubbles with plentiful resources and the survivors live out in cramped living quarters and are forced to work in the dry, dusty world that remains. Ms. Stewart sets up the fall of the world into chaos in a highly believable (okay, scarily believable) manner. The science fiction parts of the story are credible and the mystery-thriller portions added to my overall enjoyment of this story. Nirvana is the first book in a new series by Ms. Stewart, and I can't wait to read the next book in this series and find out what happens next. show less

Edit: I must say that now Larissa has the right character for the story.
I also appreciated the various adjustment, because the story now is really breath-taking. However I find still a small problem: Larissa seems to be 17, so certaing things are quite impossible (for example Larissa can't be in University before Andrew, who is 25, and so on).
Sorry, but I'm an editor, so I'm particularly careful when it comes to inconsistencies of this type :-)

The extinction of bees and the consequent show more collapse of nature and civilization is a topic widely discussed in sci-fi literature (with the aggravating circumstance of the terrifying prospect to become soon reality), and also the reasons for this extinction. The obsessive-compulsive behavior of big corporations and their transformation into totalitarian pseudo-government too. Even the recreational use of virtual reality as a new opium of the people isn't new, and it's not the first time that a real scientist takes up the pen to describe all this in a novel.
Let's also say that about two thousand years ago someone has already played his cards putting up an impossible pregnancy.
Despite this less than encouraging introduction, the book is well written and would read even quite happily if it were not for the protagonist: Larissa is a human being so boring, absolutely unbearable, and that runs all the problems of the world around its own navel. Given that this book should be the first in a series, it is hoped that her character improves over time.
Thank Blue Moon Voices and Netgalley for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

L'estinzione delle api e il conseguente collasso della natura e della civiltà è un tema ampiamente trattato nella letteratura sci-fi (con l'aggravante della terrificante prospettiva di diventare realtà a breve), e le ragioni di questa estinzione anche. Il comportamento ossessivo-compulsivo delle grandi multinazionali e la loro trasformazione in pseudogoverni totalitari anche. Nemmeno l'uso ludico della realtà virtuale come nuovo oppio dei popoli è nuovo, e non è nemmeno la prima volta che un vero scienziato prende in mano la penna per descrivere in un romanzo tutto questo.
Mettiamoci anche che circa duemila anni fa qualcuno ha già giocato le sue carte mettendo sul piatto una gravidanza impossibile.
Nonostante questa poco incoraggiante premessa, il libro è ben scritto e si leggerebbe anche piuttosto volentieri se non fosse per la protagonista: Larissa è un essere umano di una noia mortale, assolutamente insopportabile, e che fa girare tutti i problemi del mondo intorno al proprio ombelico. Considerato che questo volume dovrebbe essere il primo di una serie, si spera che il suo carattere migliori col passare del tempo.
Ringrazio Blue Moon Voices e Netgalley per avermi fornito una copia gratuita in cambio di una recensione onesta. show less