Convergence

by Esther Pia Cordova

In a secluded village untouched by modern technology, seventeen-year-old Maya has always known her place. But when her sister Sophie falls gravely ill, and mysterious newcomer Ethan appears with promises of a cure from the high-tech city Maya's forced to question everything she believes in.

Desperate to save Sophie, Maya and Ethan embark on a dangerous journey to the high-tech city, risking everything for a cure. As Maya’s world expands beyond Brookfield’s boundaries, she uncovers a sinister plot that threatens not just her sister but humanity’s very existence. In a dazzling world of skyscrapers and virtual realities, the line between human and artificial intelligence blurs—and the growing connection between Maya and Ethan threatens to ignite a fire that could destroy everything she holds dear.

With time running out, Maya must decide who to trust: her heart, or the traditions that have protected her people for generations.

255 pages, Paperback

Published January 22, 2025

About the author

Esther Cordova is an accomplished author with a passion for storytelling. Known for her captivating children's picture books, including the bestseller I Can't Do That, Yet, which has sold over 90,000 copies, she has delighted young readers with tales that inspire wonder and imagination.

Now, with her debut young adult dystopian novel, Convergence, she brings her unique voice to a new audience, blending gripping narratives with thought-provoking themes. Esther currently lives in Austin with her husband, son, and toy poodle, Baxter.

Reviews

[Samantha Myszkowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well written YA Sci-fi novel. I most definitely see this becoming the next big hit amongst readers of all ages. The world building and plot was fantastic. I could picture all of it playing out like a movie perfectly in my head. Beautifully written. Well done!

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Convergence was the first ARC I've read via BookSirens and the first I've read from Cordova and it truly didn't disappoint.

It's a fairly short read (either that, or I read too fast) and is one of those that will have you immersed from the opening paragraphs and keeps you intrigued throughout.

You start off thinking that it's one of stories; where blood is thicker than water and the lengths you'll go to for a sibling know no bounds, and then you find yourself into a world of AI, clones and one man's existential threats to humanity.

It's a pacey read that's narrated from multiple POV and has some fantastic imagery. The characters are well written and I would be interested in hearing more about them in the near future.

Definitely an author to keep on my radar.

[Lisett's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Convergence is a YA story about a traditionalist community that has chosen to keep itself separate from the modern world. No phones, cars, doctors, and very little use of technology. They grow their own food, make their own clothing and trade with the outside world only when necessary. Despite this, they still try to keep informed of the high tech world outside their borders, only from a distance.

When 17 year old Maya's younger sister, Sophie, becomes sick, the community's healer uses what limited tools she has, a computer, a small lab for blood tests, and a CT scanner to diagnose her with cancer. With only antibiotics and herbs to treat the cancer, Sophie doesn't have much hope. Maya is devastated, and will do anything to save her sister, including sneaking off to the city with a newcomer, Ethan, to search for a cure.

I thought this book raised some very interesting questions about artificial intelligence and what makes us human. One of my favorite scenes involved a virtual reality helmet that engages all of your senses and Maya's reactions to the immersive technology. This is an enjoyable read, especially suited for a younger audience. It blends light romance, ethical dilemmas, and a bit of si-fi leaving you with thought provoking questions long after putting it down.

Thank you to Esther Pia Cordova for the wonderful opportunity to read and review Convergence

[Angela Jones-Cuéllar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 stars
First of all thank you so much to the author for sending me her new book to read and review! She had me hooked right away with the blurb and it was the perfect time for me to switch things up and dip back into some good ol' YA dystopia.

Overall it's exactly what you might be looking for with a young adult story packed with things that aren't all they seem, an unexpected arrival, and a call for action. It's exciting and familiar but with its own voice giving it a nice fresh air about it. Definitely entertaining! My only drawback is really just my own personal shouldn't-sway-you opinion, in that the writing had a slightly more juvenile feel to it than I'm used to these days but I haven't really been reading much YA in a while which is a shame and so while that younger feel made it a bit hard to get into the book at first or took me out of the story once in a while, it also has me wanting to read more YA books again. I enjoy being able to read books for any age and I don't like feeling rusty! Lol!

In short, give this book a chance if you're looking for a new YA dystopian read because it just might grab you with the blurb and keep you hostage to the end until you're begging for more.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun YA read. Two young adults meet from different worlds - one from the tech city and the other from a traditionalist society. Ethan has left the city to find a more calm way of life and approaches the traditionalist settlement seeking to join. As an adult reader, there were places where I had to suspend my adult thinking, and just go along with the story. Having the society accept Ethan so quicky, in a matter of just a few days, is one of those times. This does not detract from the story, but is a bit unrealistic. There are a few other places where this happens, but - again - these don't really detract from the story, which turns into a bit of an exciting and thrilling romp through a biotech research building. Maya has to come to terms with her personal ethics as everyone urges her to destroy the main terminal, but she isn't sure it is the right thing to do. There are a few twists that I expected and a few that I didn't see coming. All in all, a fun read. Thank you to Ms. Cordova for the ARC. This is an honest review.

[Toni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise, but poorly written. Girl from traditionalist society that has rejected technology goes into the big world of tech and AI in order to save her dying sister. (Volunteering as tribute, you could say.) First and foremost, there is not enough world building in this book. You don't get much of a sense of her culture, or the culture of the cities, before they start changing things. There's also no fidelity to the premise. Her people eschew technology and walk around in homespun, drab shifts, they grow carrots and take tea to cure cancer, but they have a CT machine and have a laptop and know how to use guns. Little to no character development, and some unbelievable leaps of faith, bad writing plus a number of typos throughout the book. I'm a little surprised this has as many positive reviews as it does.

[Joey Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up because it sounded like it was something I’d enjoy and when I dove into it, I was hooked from the first page. Maya is an enthralling character, her way of life, the family connections and the way she views the world she’s in allows you to be deep into the story. I adored Ethan, it only took me a little while to warm up to him and after that, I was desperate to know how the many twists and turns pulled the two together along with the overarching story. Cordova has a skill for worldbulding with giving you just enough to keep you hooked and turning the page. Very much recommended for all those who love dystopian and sci-fi!

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s very rare I rate a book this low, but as the chapters progressed it just got worse. Now perhaps this is just my opinion rather than the author’s writing but the inclusion of AI just ruined the book for me. Also the fast pace of this was way more fast than any book I’ve read. The plot was also all over the place and it was hard to keep track off, we were thrown right in on the deep end rather than gradually being introduced into it

[Skickards · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely poorly written. I couldn't help but jot down MULTIPLE notes for this one. The world building was not good. Extremely fast paced with almost no detail. Confusing. One dimensional characters. Absolutely fell flat. I could go on and on. Making a YouTube review of this one soon. But I do not recommend. Ended up skimming the last 20% of the book cause I couldn't make it through another chapter.

[Andrea Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maya from Brookfield, a village untouched by modern technology, goes on a journey she never expected to be on. This story is filled with courage, testing boundaries, ethical dilemmas, and family. What stayed with me most was how Maya was able to overcome fear and turn that into bravery. It's definitely a story I recommend diving into! A good read, no doubt!

[Lizii Gelinas · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good. There were some errant grammar markers in the kindle version, which was a minor annoyance while reading. But the book wraps everything up in one novel, which I can appreciate-no cliffhangers, no anxiety. The book moves at a good pace-recommend for readers who don't like to spend too much time on exposition.

[Bargle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I did. While the writing style is pleasing, I found the plot to be far too predictable. Door is left open for a sequel. On the plus side, the book was packaged with a bit of flair. A nice red ribbon around it and a 3d printed bookmark of the cover design.

[Anastacia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sci-fi novel was a quick and fun read. Maya lives in a tech-free world, but a new boy named Ethan and her sister's diagnosis changed everything.

This book was fast paced and kept my attention, and I hope there is a sequel.

[Nicole Miller-Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not usually a sci-fi reader but I found this book so interesting! I found a lot of parallels between current events and some of the themes in the book. I also like that I was challenged on my gut reactions to AI and what the future of that may look like. I was thoroughly entertained!

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a YA dystopian novel make sure to grab this one! This book will make you think about the disturbing power of AI and how it could affect the future.

Maya is a seventeen year old who lives in the community of Brookfield. This community is off-grid, completely cut off from the outside world. Until her six year old sister falls deathly ill, she never dreamed of visiting the city. With the help of Ethan, a newcomer to her community, they travel to the city to steal the lifesaving medicine for her sister Sophia.

The love between Maya and her sister, Sophia, will pull on your heartstrings. If you have a sibling it will have you emotionally attached to her character and understand why she makes the decisions she does. The relationship between Maya and Ethan was a perfect YA relationship and will leave you wanting more. I’m interested to see where this story will go in book two!