Review: Nirvana (Nirvana #1) by J.R. Stewart

26164334Author: J. R. Stewart
Publisher: Blue Moon
Publication Date: November 10th 2015
Source: ebook (given by Netgalley)
Rate:



Summary:

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. 

Review:
*The publisher provided this book in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.*
Kenders was a punk singer and activist with a whole life ahead of her, but that was before the bees were extinct and the quick world degradation that followed it. All that has happened and she isn't even 18 years old!
She now lives like the rest of humanity, secluded into a facility, owned by Hexagon, a company that employs her fiancé and that guarantees that the humans that live within their boundaries survive, as long as they pay them... Her job is to connect and monitor people's virtual reality experiences in Nirvana, a virtual world where all your deepest wishes will come true.
When Andrew disappears, Kenders discovers how wonderful it is to relive her moments with him in Nirvana, but when living in a tight security and controlled environment you start to get suspicious, so she starts uncovering some very disturbing realities to the Hexagon complex that may not be all that it seems.
Reading this book was exactly like an out-of-body experience: completely surreal. In the beginning, I could not exactly grasp the world and the story but, very slowly, things started to make sense and to form logical lines of action. Truths were uncovered and I cried, and I laughed and I grasped my bedsheets because of the amount of stress the suspense in this book!
Kenders is such a deep character! She's young and not afraid that afraid at the same time if that makes any sense. She's a strong young woman and is able to do anything she sets her heart into, even if that implies certain dangerous things that I'm not going to talk about.
Usually, I don't like reading books that contain severe dystopian elements like "the end of nature" and the "discovery of virtual reality experiences" (and many like that), but those elements and the story itself were so well woven together that I enjoyed them!
Overall this is a very enjoyable read, not a light read but one that will make you think about everything you've ever learned and put your own life into perspective while also fascinating you and making you feel! Give it a try!

2 comments

  1. The real world meets virtual reality sounds intriguing, but I think if it took too long to grasp the world I would be annoyed. Maybe I'll still try it sometime and see. Great review! :)

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! This one really surprised me in a very positive way!

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