J. R. StewartRezensionen

I received an e-arc of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

Nirvana was a quick and fairly enjoyable read. I really liked how the author used the novel to bring to life an interesting reflection on the world we live in. The starting point of this story is that Earth has been damaged too extensively by the savage exploitation of natural resources and the environment. After the extinction of several species, most importantly bees, humans are forced to retire in an artificial environment entirely controlled by the corporation Hexagon in order to survive. Throughout the novel, the author offers several reflection points on the environment and the power that is given to corporations in the contemporary era. I found this to be extremely interesting and well thought out, even though at times the things being said were slightly obvious or patronising. Still, it left me thinking a little more carefully about issues which I'm well aware of, but sometime just fall in the background.

As far as the actual plot goes, I was unimpressed by it. The whole book basically focuses on Kenders' search for Andrew, despite the fact that everyone keeps telling her that he's dead and in spite of the pressure Hexagon keeps putting on her to sign the papers that will make his death official. That's it. Not much else happens in the book... at all. There's a lot of talking and infodumps on virtual reality and how it works that really put a damper on my enjoyment of this book. Also, it ends with a BIG cliffhanger. Now, this is a purely personal point, but I loathe cliffhangers. So that was a definite no-no for me.

Kenders as a character, however, was very interesting. She has a very complex personality and definitely has a lot of issues that she is slowly working through. She is a woman trying to overcome past traumas and at the same time having to cope with grief, desperately attempting to figure out what is real and what isn't in a world invaded by virtual reality. Unfortunately, she was the only character to really come out of the book as one with a full personality. Even though it is entirely possible that the other characters could be better developed in the next books in the series (this is only the first book after all), I was disappointed to only see underdeveloped characters at play.

Overall, Nirvana was an enjoyable read, but not one that blew me away. It had the potential to do a lot more than it actually does, but I hope this flaw will be corrected in the next books in the series.

This book was a great start for a new author, though there were a few small things that niggled at me.

From the get go, I was completely drawn into this world. The action moved really quickly and it was really easy to stay involved in this story. There was a clear plot with tension on all pages.

The premise of the book as described by the blurb promised a lot more virtual reality than delivered. In the book, people would shell out half of their weekly paycheque for fifteen minutes in Nirvana, the VR program, which honestly isn't really enough time to have an enveloping experience or to keep the people subdued.

I felt like too many things were going. The author had a lot of ideas but didn't manage to focus them down into one concise line. There were a few details I thought could have been explained in much more depth--the importance of the bees, the bubbles in other countries, and even the setting--I didn't realise we were in Ontario until halfway through the book.

Kenders honestly was to young. I get that Stewart is going for the YA audience, but Kenders is basically a 24-year-old who is being told she is 17. We should stop lying to Kenders and just admit that she is 24 before she has identity issues. She's known her fiancée for three years, meaning they met when she was 14. Excuse my cynicism, but unless this is a whole book about first love, I'm not going to buy a 17-year-old's undying devotion. There's too much sex for her to be 17. And oh, her fiancée is 26. Sorry, but that's creepy. He had come out of a 5-year-long relationship, so that means Kenders was what, 9 when he was falling in love with the first girl? Eh. These are all generalizations, of course, but as they weren't the focus of the story, I found them a complete distraction.

I also wasn't really clear on how Kenders was being a punk star--if she was only known to people in Nirvana or if she had made a name for herself outside and then been subdued into work. (And if the latter, how had she managed to go to school? And if the former, were they experiencing concerts in their fifteen minute time slots? I'm confused.)

There were a couple of characters who also really confused me as I thought they were on different sides. Maybe one was 'deciding' but I felt like it was very convenient to have double agents in high places. Also, Serge is supposedly Kenders's childhood best friend, but she doesn't seem to even remember he exists until he shows up. A little too convenient, in my opinion.

The plot in general seemed rather predetermined, and by the end I didn't feel like Kenders was really all that vital to the movement. I was unsure why she really mattered, and why the author was choosing to tell her story out of all these other people.

I was a little disappointed by the ending. It was all racing along beautifully, and then the author threw in a curveball that was, in my opinion, unnecessary, as if she had realized that everything had been wrapped up a little too neatly and she wanted to make us read the next book. It was inelegant.

A lot of small things bothered me in this book, but on the whole it was a really good book and anyone who enjoys tense thrillers should enjoy this one. I think Stewart has a lot of potential as a storyteller.

Larissa Kenders is having a hard time accepting that Andrew is dead; he's her soulmate and her everything. The circumstances surrounding Andrew's apparent demise are also more than suspicious. And when she starts to have visits from Andrew in Nirvana, a virtual reality world, she feels even more confident that he's still alive--and he has a mission for her. It's a mission that she won't be able to complete alone, and it won't be easy.

This is an interesting and engaging dystopian novel with all of the psychological elements that one might expect. In many ways, it reminded me of Armada by Ernest Cline without the young adult aspect/elements. There is some predictability to some of the turns in the story, but I certainly wouldn't say it is boring by any means. And the character of Larissa is strong, tenacious, and not willing to give up. She's someone readers definitely will want to root for over and over again.

If you're looking for science fiction dystopia that doesn't fit the mold of the past several years, this is one to take a look at.

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

Another story set in a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world - but this one, I had hopes for. I loved the summary. I loved the cover. The basis sounded good - the bees are extinct, life as we knew it is gone and big business - Hexagon - is controlling everything. For most people, life is about surviving and they can find an escape in a world of virtual reality - Nirvana.

What happened with this great start? I'm not so sure. I WANTED to love this story, but for me, the characters weren't fleshed out enough. While I'm usually good not figuring out until the end who is really the good guy and who is the bad...yeah, here, not so much.

Part of my problem was with the main character, Kenders - to me, I'm just never sure what really drives her, and what she is about. Her husband does research for Hexagon; a project he is working on puts him at risk, and he goes missing. Hexagon tries to convince Kenders that he is dead, but she gets messages from him in Nirvana. But for what? Because in the end...well, you'll see.

Would I read the second book in the trilogy? Perhaps, because I was left with a LOT more unanswered questions than answers at the end of this first book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this story.

This review is based off of the new, revised copy of Nirvana. Please check out my original review here.

Okay, so this was most certainly a completely different story compared to what I read in the beginning, but did it get better? Not really.

The back and forth (until later on when it just... stopped) of character perspectives really killed me on top of the switching of tenses. I still didn't feel emotional connections, or any connections at all, to the characters. The lack of the connections made it extremely difficult for me to really care about what happens with the character's friends. Seriously. In scenes where I should feel sad, upset, pissed, etc., I was basically blank-staring at the pages while I continued to read.

In addition to the "same problems that I had with the other edition" list, the writing was... (more via website)

Goodreads Synopsis:
When the real world is emptied of all that you 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.

My Review:
I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for a review.

The year is 2086. The world is crumbling. The bees are extinct, there's almost no water, and food is dwindling. Everyone either lives in bunkers, or the bubble, but only the rich live in the bubble. The air is thick and polluted and stings when you breathe. Virtual reality is taking over the world in the form of Nirvana, here you can sit in a completely immersive room and do literally whatever you want. It's addicting, and that's exactly what the company Hexagon wants. To some Nirvana is the best anti anxiety, anti depression medication. You just plug in and you're weightless, everything making you tense just dissolving as you can do literally anything in the virtual reality. People spend all their hard earned money for Nirvana sessions.

Larissa Kenders, seventeen, is in an animal rights activist band called Sixty Sextet that plays mostly in bars by night, and by day she works at Hexagon recording peoples Nirvana sessions. Her fiancee, Andrew, is the head programmer for Nirvana. People only live to be about forty or fifty these days, and Kenders and Andrew are convinced Hexagon spying on everyone and everything is not for the greater good. Everyone who lives in the bubble uploads their consciousness to the server, making them essentially immortal.

I was sucked into this story from the moment I started reading it. Although I'm not usually a big fan of viewpoint changes, I really liked getting to see both sides of the story like in this book. I loved the characters, they seemed so cool. The story is exciting and I didn't expect what was happening next. It's so unlike any of the other dystopia books I've read lately. I want to read the next book but it's not out yet! Definitely check it out if you get the chance.

Here's a link to buy the book on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.ca/Nirvana-Book-1-J-R-Stewart-ebook/dp/B014LLM1XW/ref=sr_1_1?...

Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
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Probably one of the worst books I've read in a long time.

Set in a chaotic future following an environmental disaster, Larissa or Kenders, as she prefers due to a past trauma, faces a dilemma now her husband is gone, she has to sign off his death or risk a very difficult path that could involve poverty and/or even a trial, of which the results seemed fixed not to be on her favor.

I think it's major flaw was the beginning. We're thrown in the middle of a great number of unknown characters clearly holding different agendas plus this is the future, a lot has happened that everyone in the book knows about except for us. his book could have gotten even three stars had the author taken the time to present characters, terrain and then plot instead of mixing it all and throwing it in our face. I find the parts with the Bubble and Serge to be what the beginning should have. There she seemed to get the pacing right. Something has to be wrong with a book taking so long to teach us the main character's first name.

I read it to the end just because it was short. This wouldn't even get the single star otherwise.

Still, situating the reader was one of many mistakes. We'd get into important flashbacks all of a sudden, as if the reader wasn't confused enough.

Too much is going on with Larissa but I liked her character. Corporal and she were the only ones I actually enjoyed.

I can't say the same about the world. I mean, what was the world? I understood there were the Farms, surely to be explore in a following book I'll make sure never to touch, the Bubble and the Barracks. Also, where were they? I never understood where in Earth were any of those points, if it really was planet Earth. There was a mention of the Milky Way. Also, the author mentions some outside threat or was it just me imagining too much?

The whole Extinction caused by and leading to some big corporation turned Big Brother sounded silly. Instead of showing us the issues gradually, the author would dump information of that as if taken off the summary to a very weird Japanese animation. It was too fabricated, too superficial. I regret the Japanese animation mention, I mean to say that cartoon, The Bee Movie. If anyone has watched, let's imagine the bees never went back to work at the end, also let's imagine them not working was cause by a big company seeking to control the world. And that's what caused the catastrophe. No bees, major disaster...

Oh, yes, there's this machine that generates virtual reality by copying you into the program. And suddenly Larissa sees her missing husband there.

To be honest, if there was something of the plot I enjoyed was Larissa's confusion and search for her husband. Not my favorite drama, but the only part that read real, with verisimilitude. And that I can get from any other book without the headache the rest of the plot gave me.

This copy was offered to me by Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Is this cover cool or what? I love it. The book's blurb seems very interesting also. Actually the author does do a pretty good job creating the world within the book. My biggest issue is that so much of it felt like reading a report without any actual emotion. I had no connection with the plot. I wasn't in pain with loss or filled with nervousness and excitement when trying to solve the mystery. There is a story here, but the style it was told in wasn't for me.

***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***

Is this cover cool or what? I love it. The book's blurb seems very interesting also. Actually the author does do a pretty good job creating the world within the book. My biggest issue is that so much of it felt like reading a report without any actual emotion. I had no connection with the plot. I wasn't in pain with loss or filled with nervousness and excitement when trying to solve the mystery. There is a story here, but the style it was told in wasn't for me.

***Copy given in exchange for an honest review***

DNF.
Just couldn't get into it. The virtual reality stuff was just too much.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was really looking forward to this book. It sounded absolutely fascinating. Ever since reading The Hunger Games I have fallen in love with the dystopian genre. Almost right off the bat I did not get along with the main character of this story. She seemed to rebel almost just to rebel. The whole animal activist/punk rocker felt a little ridiculous. And the world building didn’t really make a lot of sense. Yes, it is a dystopian but the world is now without plants of any kind because all of the bees die. I don’t claim to know a lot about pollination but I know that there are other ways to pollinate plants than by bees alone. It just didn’t seem feasible. Unfortunately I just had too many issues with this book to enjoy the action.

Review of ARC copy at end, hidden by spoiler tag. This is new review on updated copy.
Received via NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishing in exchange for an completely unbiased review.

I'm pretty sure Nirvana was rewritten to fit with a middle grade audience or YA focus on the second go around. I'm not a reader of middle grade fiction, so my review probably doesn't really fit with the intended audience..

To be fair, in such a short amount of time the author rewrote Nirvana better than I ever could.

Uhh..okay. So, the release copy of Nirvana is a completely different book from the ARC copy. I kind of really enjoyed the ARC copy. I don't know if liking the first copy ruined the completely altered version of Nirvana for me, but I didn't really enjoy it as much. It felt like a different novel with a completely different story and tone..

First off, I didn't really click with Kenders. She's kind of strange and the whole punk rock star thing turned me off immediately. Originally I hated how weak her character was, but now its over compensated by a fanatical "save everyone" version of Kenders who still makes really selfish decisions.

I felt like most of the book was sensationalized to pander to reviewers who called the first copy boring. The characters were dramatic, over-embellished instead of mysterious. There was a scene about a coyote/fox/something that was run over multiple times to show how evil a particular character was that really bothered me..

Mostly, I was sad that the science portion of the novel was cut and the novel became predominantly middle grade focused (except there's a sexual element that makes it YA?). I still stand by my comment that Nirvana did a great job separating itself from the current speculative fiction genre, but I also mourn the disappearance of a the aspects of the book that really hooked me the first time.

I wouldn't be opposed to reading an NA or Adult spin off of Nirvana with all the aspects of the first novel: conspiracy, dysoptian, mystery. Maybe a pre-fall novel surrounding the creators of Hexagon?


Received via NetGalley and Blue Moon Publishing in exchange for an completely unbiased review.
Also posted on Silk & Serif

I’m not usually a fan of fiction that features virtual worlds in any form. I really love the idea of Virtual Reality in real life, but on paper it tends to lose my interest. I like my fiction and VR separate, I guess. Nirvana did a great job in separating itself from the current speculative fiction genre. The VR aspects are super important to the story which readers learn later on, but it isn’t the VR mysteries that kept my interest.

The world struggles to go on after a mysterious illness kills all the bees which caused ecological devastation. No one knows why the bees disappeared. The elite are the only members of society who can afford real food and the safety of living in luxury laden glass domes. The majority of the population lives outside the domes in trenches and barracks awaiting attacks from the outside while escaping into Nirvana, a virtual reality where everything is possible.

Larissa Kenders loves her husband Andrew more than anything or anyone in the world. When he dies her whole world falls apart, but is Andrew really gone? With the government pressuring Larissa to move on and sign Andrew’s death certificate Larissa finds an escape in Nirvana, a virtual world, where she can be with Andrew again. Larissa struggles to discern fact from fiction, real from virtual, while unknowingly threatening to expose Hexagon’s deepest secrets.
One part apocalyptic dystopia, one part conspiracy theory, Nirvana is a unique novel with romantic overtones.

Larissa spends a lot of time proclaiming her love for Andrew and being completely blind to her childhood best friend’s love for her. I found that Larissa was often extremely selfish and cruel to Serge who was only trying to help her come to grips to her situation. Sadly, I didn’t really understand why Serge continued to be her friend after everything she says and does to him. Larissa leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to intelligence and altruism which actually makes her extremely unlikeabe for a main character.

I loved that Stewart enmeshed giant conspiracy theories, secret fraternities and evil corporations into the virtual reality and romance mix! The development of a failing world, dark secrets and unrivaled corporations is a chilling and realistic premonition of our society’s future. I will definitely continue on with the series to learn more about the world, conspiracy and Hexagon’s role in everything. I really would love to have more world building and action in book two..with less Larissa being a depressed and selfish brat..fortunately where Stewart struggles in character development he more than makes up for in world building.

Nirvana is written for what appears adults, but its probably better suited for young adults. The characters and world had many elements you’d find in new adult novels with a love story that feels very “young”. I don’t know how this will affect sales, but the novel doesn’t really fit with New Adult or Young Adult pigeon holes, which is interesting.

This book would appeal to readers who enjoy dystopia, science ficiton, romance, societies with class systems based on technology, young adult and new adult literature.

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 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.½

3.5 Stars
A YA Sci-fi dystopia with virtual reality technology, an evil corporation, and some romance. First, let me say that I received 2 versions of this novel. I only got through about 1/2 of the first version before it expired and it needed some work (2.5-3 stars). Fortunately, the second version was much better (the choppy writing had been fixed and the flow of the story was a huge improvement)! Parts of this book remind me a little of a few scenes in Minority Report and Total Recall. There's plenty of good ideas and themes in this novel, but the execution was either hit or miss. I love the gritty setting and that the lead female character is a musician! It starts off well and the world-building is decent, but the ending could have been stronger. Overall, this author has potential and hopefully the release of the next book will illustrate that potential even more.
Absolutely beautiful cover!

Net Galley Feedback½

Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com

I was confused even before I started reading, since on my Kindle I had two versions of this book. Two different versions. Before I had the chance of reading my copy I'd received a message which urged me to redownload the titles as there had been changes to the book. I thought, at that time, it were some spelling and grammatical errors that had been removed, but no, this was not the case. Based on certain points ARC reviewers pointed out in the (mostly negative) early reviews, the author took to changing these things in the final work. This is a great example I believe of listening to readers instead of insulting them. Many people decided to reread this new version, and finding it much improved. I decided to just read the new version, which has since been published.

In a world where bees have gone extinct, and with it much of the fun of real life, meet Nirvana, a virtual world where everything is possible. (Although most of it just mimics normal life). Kenders refuses to believe her husband is dead when he disappears and she starts to get strange messages. Exactly what is it the government is hiding?

It was a very fast and easy read, that for sure. The story wasn't that original though and it featured everything we've come to expect from YA near-future Dystopian. The motives of some of the companies/characters didn't make too much to me, and I still think that Kenders has a too strong believe that Andrew isn't dead right from the start. I don't completely see why the loss of bees would suddenly force everyone into the virtual reality world, but after a while I decided to just let it rest. However, the multiple love triangles that were thrown into the story are a completely different thing. I couldn't let them rest, but I've high hopes there will be less in the next novel, which I will be curious to read since Nirvana ends quite interesting.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Wow...
Nirvana is an awesome mix between dystopian and sci-fi, with a very nice hint of romance and a full scoop of adventure. The reality and virtual world tangle with each other, which create a great and gripping atmosphere forNirvana. J.R. Stewart's writing is heart-throbbing and full of details, and I love the pull that this book gave me. Overall, this was a great read, and the cover is just *sign* amazing.

This was one of the most confusing books I have read in a long time... parts of it just didn't make sense to me. And it wasn't even the part that was delving into the mathematics of music or quantum theory of matter, which is enough to make my brain spin sometimes. But in this case, the story seemed to jump around sometimes and I couldn't always tell whose POV I was supposed to be focused on.

So this book is set in a dystopian future which is barren and desolate due to the extinction of earth's honey bees. The world building in this book was slack. The wealthy are living in bubbles that (I think) are in the Milky Way, there is tons of virtual reality going on, a bad place called "the Farm," and soldiers stuck in the Barracks to patrol the barren wasteland. While we know these places exist, that is nearly all we know. The different places are not explained, nor how they were created, how people were segregated, etc. My inquisitive mind wanted more. We really didn't even learn how the universe came to be in this condition, other than one weird conversation between Krag and Kaster that seemed thrown in just to give us a little insight. Instead it came off as forced and awkward - there was just too much telling and not enough showing.

The whole time I was reading I kept thinking that I should DNF this book, but I kept going because I wanted to find out what happened to Andrew. Our H/h in the story are Larissa Kenders and her husband, Andrew. I'm not sure why I keep seeing the book classified as young adult because our main characters are 30ish. Anyway, Andrew disappears and this is the story of Kenders believing he is alive when everyone else says he is dead. She spends the book searching for him and trying to find out what he was working on. There is lots of conspiracy and theories... but nothing is resolved. So beware of that, this is not a standalone and it has a cliffhanger.

None of the characters in this book felt real to me - they were all one-dimensional and flat. I found the often long and involved explanations of math and science to be more interesting than the characters. I found myself skimming over some long drawn-out detailed sections. It seemed that the areas where a lot of detail was added were not pertinent to the story, while we were left wanting for things that would have enhanced the reading experience (i.e. the world, history and character development).

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 2 stars / No heat.

***Updated Review***
I reread a revised copy of this book, courtesy of the publisher. It reads like a completely different book! Same underlying premise, but lots of the details were changed and everything fits together much better. I am impressed at the extent of the revisions; it's a dramatic example of how much good editing can make or break a book.
***Original Review below***

If I were rating this book as a concept, I'd give it at least 4 stars. It's an interesting premise; the mystery portion is suitably, well, mysterious, and well-integrated.

Put differently, I think this is a book that could have been very, very good if it had found the right editor. Unfortunately, if it was edited, it was edited with a very light touch, and this is a book that needed to be actively shaped, pruned, reshaped, and molded into what it was meant to be. Or to use a different metaphor, we started with some good marble and an artistic vision, but no one put the necessary elbow grease into polishing the surfaces, wiping away the dust, and patching the handful of cracks. So, I have to call it like I see it: this book wasn't ready to be shown to the public yet.

I spent a fair portion of the book questioning my grasp of what was really going on. Now, I absolutely believe that you shouldn't over-explain a well-designed world (see my review of [b:The Maze Runner|6186357|The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)|James Dashner|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1375596592s/6186357.jpg|6366642]), but under-explaining can be just as bad. I need to know the rules of your world, or I just get confused.

For instance, Nirvana. It's a sort of virtual reality thing, where people can see and spend time in the Earth as it once was. Okay. But then, when you're in Nirvana, maybe your body doesn't really stay behind? Maybe it's with you in Nirvana, wherever that is? So you can get trapped in there?

Anyway, I can get on board with the general idea -- it doesn't sound THAT different from the Phantom Zone. But at least with the Phantom Zone, you get a basic understanding of how it works, how someone gets in and how they can get out, and why they can't just contact someone to come free them. I don't get any of that with Nirvana. I still don't know whether someone trapped in Nirvana has physical needs. And once they stumble on someone else in there, can't they just hitch a ride back to reality?

Those are just a small sampling of the questions I had. I really think a good editor would have asked the same questions and pushed the author to find answers, to explain things better. And the book would have been much better for it.


Note: I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Kenders is a 17 year old punk rock animal activist whose music and life thrives on saving the planet one animal or song at a time. Earth is not like it once was, with the disappearance of the bees it has turned to a wasteland. Hexagon is the corporation that stepped in to save the planet and most people went to work there including Kenders and her boyfriend Andrew, who is a programmer. When Andrew goes missing Kenders can trust no one and must resolve the mystery behind his disappearance. With the help of a few friends and Nirvana, a virtual reality program, she realizes that Andrew is alive but in hiding and she must retrieve several hologram discs that he has hidden and return them to him. The story line seemed to be lacking and unbelievable. In such a huge corporation it is implausible that so much power and responsibility would be placed on one individual and that by deserting him alone could cause so much turmoil. The ending was disconnected from the story as well. It took Kenders 3 months to tell Andrew details of her Nirvana experience and the aftermath and then like that it starts all over again. The last chapter needs to be reworked or just skipped.

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 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!

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 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.½

When punk rocker and animal activist, Kenders, is shown a charred body and is told that her husband is dead, she finds herself first in a state of shock. However, after a few times of meeting up with him in the virtual reality world of Nirvana, she tends to notice a subtle difference each time, suggesting that he is still alive and is trying to send her clues. Who can she trust to help her, if any? And, why is a psycho bitch trying to kill her?

This sci-fi story has a lot going for it. It begins after the extinction of bees, that are no longer able to pollinate plant life. The world is decimated and cannot sustain life except for the dependence of a few corporations whose sole goal is to take in profits. Anyone who deviates from their plans are "red doored", and never seen again. There really is no true explanation regarding the red door. The book would have been better had it been elaborated on more.

The story, itself, seems eerily familiar, with the loss of millions of bees each year in real life. Our planet may be without plant life or sustainable drinking water in a few decades if this keeps up. And, with big business against ordinary people, this scenario could truly happen. That makes the fear in this book more real and much more scary.

I love how the heroine in this story is vulnerable yet pulls out strength and resilience from deep within when she needs to. Unable to fully determine friend from foe leaves the reader on the very edge of their seat. One can never tell which direction the story will lead next, which gives you to a true sense of vertigo, in a good way. Will life on earth ever have a favorable outcome or will big business win out in the end. The future is unclear, unless Kenders can save the day. Tune in for the next episode to find out. You'll be glad you did. Our own futures may depend on it.

Thank you to Blue Moon Publishers and Netgalley for giving me an advance copy of this book to read and give my honest review.

The world of 2030’s is a hard place of barren land; the bees have all died. The “company” Hexagon, controls everything and unless you are one of the few, life is very hard.

This is the world where Larissa Kenders and Andrew live . Her world is music, his world is science, but they come together in one accord. After Andrew disappears while on a mission, Kenders can visit Andrew in Nirvana, a computer virtual reality world. Kenders is trying to deal with the question of Andrew’s survival, is he alive or not. She is told over and over he is dead, that Nirvana is a game, but strange things are happening in Nirvana and in the real world. There are mysteries afoot and secrets to reveal. Who is friend and who is really foe, what is real and what is not, and will she find all the answers to her burning questions.

This genre of book is often hard for me to read as I am usually not a fan of dystopian stories, but I found this one interesting as the author created a story designed to grab you and not let go. The ending of the story has a surprise in store. J. R. Stewart plotted twists and turns and mystery into this story and did so very well. Over all, this was a very interesting read that held my attention.

I receive this book from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an honest review.