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Faded Skies #1
Heir Ascendant
In the aftermath of World War Three, the most famous face in the world belongs to a nine year old girl.
Maya Oman is the daughter of the woman who controls what’s left of civilization, the CEO of Ascendant Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Her smile is as ubiquitous as air, selling everything from vital medicine to vanity drugs with risky side effects. Lifelike android clones reside in over a dozen homes, shielding her from the violent resentment of a population straining under her mother’s boot heel.
Ascendant’s power comes from Xenodril, a drug capable of reversing the effects of Fade, a disease some claim came from aliens or from the governments that predate the war. Only Ascendant sells it, and at a price only Citizens can afford. The rest are left to die.
Maya’s earliest memories are of living alone in a penthouse apartment, desperate for the attention of a mother who never visits. Forbidden to go out except to record advertising video, her only friend has been the ‘net. When she is taken for ransom by a group of mercenaries with nothing left to lose, she discovers her life may not be what she thought it was-or wants.
Maya Oman is the daughter of the woman who controls what’s left of civilization, the CEO of Ascendant Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Her smile is as ubiquitous as air, selling everything from vital medicine to vanity drugs with risky side effects. Lifelike android clones reside in over a dozen homes, shielding her from the violent resentment of a population straining under her mother’s boot heel.
Ascendant’s power comes from Xenodril, a drug capable of reversing the effects of Fade, a disease some claim came from aliens or from the governments that predate the war. Only Ascendant sells it, and at a price only Citizens can afford. The rest are left to die.
Maya’s earliest memories are of living alone in a penthouse apartment, desperate for the attention of a mother who never visits. Forbidden to go out except to record advertising video, her only friend has been the ‘net. When she is taken for ransom by a group of mercenaries with nothing left to lose, she discovers her life may not be what she thought it was-or wants.
- GenresDystopiaScience Fiction
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 5, 2017
16 people are currently reading
337 people want to read
About the author
Matthew S. Cox
192 books265 followersBorn in a little town known as South Amboy NJ in 1973, Matthew has been creating science fiction and fantasy worlds for most of his reasoning life. Somewhere between fifteen to eighteen of them spent developing the world in which Division Zero, Virtual Immortality, and The Awakened Series take place. He has several other projects in the works as well as a collaborative science fiction endeavor with author Tony Healey.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
Hobbies and Interests:
Matthew is an avid gamer, a recovered WoW addict, Gamemaster for two custom systems (Chronicles of Eldrinaath [Fantasy] and Divergent Fates [Sci Fi], and a fan of anime, British humour (<- deliberate), and intellectual science fiction that questions the nature of reality, life, and what happens after it.
He is also fond of cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
October 15, 2017
Heir Ascendant (Faded Skies) by Matthew S. Cox is a book I grabbed as soon as I saw he had a new one out, on Kindle Unlimited. He is one of my favorite authors and I was so excited I stayed up all night again reading. The cover is misleading, I thought it might have some fantasy or paranormal in it but alas, no, :( . But I love sci-fi and that is what this is. After WW3, and boy does it sound just like what it would be like realistically, he describes a world and who is in control. Again, sounds too realistic. Some of what he talks about sounds real today. The cause of the problems, the solution and how to get it, yep, I can see it now...part of that is NOW! He is so farseeing, is that a word? Anyway, this book had me and didn't let me go, it is super charged and suspenseful. So much is going on in the book, all the while I am thinking, is this going to really happen? Could it happen? Is parts of it happening somewhere, somehow in a different situation/condition/scenario now? This is a book that is an adventure into the future with high and low tech, with disease and solutions, with hate and love, greed and corruption, compassion and care..it is android arms, drones that kill, soldiers that care, soldiers that don't. I loved this story, it made me think and it entertained me. It was so good for my brain and my heart. I loved this story and I loved Maya...the girl with a giant heart who was brave and loved despite the odds.
November 13, 2018
I'm not sure I've ever been in a situation with a book where I adore, admire and am adversely conflicted by a nine-year-old protagonist. Matthew S. Cox has managed to do something that most authors struggle with; given an authenticity to the voice of a young girl. And all the while Cox is able to bring the reader into an intriguing dystopian future that could be our own with only a few missteps.
Nine Years Old
I cannot possibly say enough good things about the construct and characterization that Cox gives to one little girl. We see the story through her eyes and learn as she learns; yet all the while being a little bit smarter than her (as we know what a McDonald's arch is, and perhaps how to play Magic: The Gathering). This nine-year-old girl, Maya, is smarter than the average nine-year-old but it's in a believable and concise way. She spends all her time being a doll for advertisements; or studying online. Therefore she knows little of socialization and a lot about random things that are not all that helpful if you end up on the run from (what feels like) everyone. Maya has genuine relationships with others and like many children falls instantly into trust with some people. Children seem to have an innate sense of who to trust when they are not taught to fear everyone; and as Maya has not had to fear anyone in her life she falls easily into the hands of others. Luckily for her, most of the people she ends up with are not out to get the ransom money they expect she is worth.
The Action
There is so much action (especially at the beginning) of this book that it's hard to believe that along the way Cox is able to also tell a charming story focusing on family, love and friendship. In and amongst the bombs going off, death defying drone flights and other equally terrifying (and deadly) shoot-outs we manage to find a connection with each character that Maya encounters. Heir Ascendant reads very quickly because of this action and is likely to keep readers on the edge of their seat. From the opening sequence to about 50 pages in you will have a good sense for this book and it's style. I'd say if you don't enjoy it at that point you can safely put it away and not finish it. But I dare you to not want to know more about Maya and her plight after those first 50 pages.
Dystopian
It's not a mystery for my regular followers that I love dystopian books. The only genre I value above dystopia is fantasy. And give me a messed up fantasy world anyday and I'll be thrilled. The technology in Cox's dystopian world is interesting. It's beyond what we have today; but not so far beyond that it's hard to relate to or believe in. I really appreciate this link back to today's world that Cox makes so that we feel like this dystopian world is very plausible. The easier it is to relate to a dystopian book the better we are at feeling connected to the story and it's characters.
Overall
I really, really enjoyed this story and cannot wait to get my hands on the second book. I know it's a bit harder to find but I encourage you to seek it out if you love dystopian stories that feature children. There are so many wonderful themes in Heir Ascendant I couldn't possibly list them all. Cox jumps from the meaning of motherhood, or what makes a mother; over to what makes a bad guy bad? Are all people who fight to stay alive bad? Or are they only bad when they cross a line? And thus, of course the question is, where is that line?
Regardless of how you answer the above questions there is one thing for sure in Heir Ascendant; you will be cheering for Maya to 'win'. Even if you are not sure what 'winning' might look like for Maya you'll want her to be happy, safe and loved because she's just that loveable. But watch out because she's a little daredevil that is willing to steal your heart and jump off a cliff with it. Action, family, love and dystopian values all mix together in Heir Ascendant to give it a rounded out story, characters and setting.
For this and more of my reviews please visit my blog at: Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
Nine Years Old
I cannot possibly say enough good things about the construct and characterization that Cox gives to one little girl. We see the story through her eyes and learn as she learns; yet all the while being a little bit smarter than her (as we know what a McDonald's arch is, and perhaps how to play Magic: The Gathering). This nine-year-old girl, Maya, is smarter than the average nine-year-old but it's in a believable and concise way. She spends all her time being a doll for advertisements; or studying online. Therefore she knows little of socialization and a lot about random things that are not all that helpful if you end up on the run from (what feels like) everyone. Maya has genuine relationships with others and like many children falls instantly into trust with some people. Children seem to have an innate sense of who to trust when they are not taught to fear everyone; and as Maya has not had to fear anyone in her life she falls easily into the hands of others. Luckily for her, most of the people she ends up with are not out to get the ransom money they expect she is worth.
The Action
There is so much action (especially at the beginning) of this book that it's hard to believe that along the way Cox is able to also tell a charming story focusing on family, love and friendship. In and amongst the bombs going off, death defying drone flights and other equally terrifying (and deadly) shoot-outs we manage to find a connection with each character that Maya encounters. Heir Ascendant reads very quickly because of this action and is likely to keep readers on the edge of their seat. From the opening sequence to about 50 pages in you will have a good sense for this book and it's style. I'd say if you don't enjoy it at that point you can safely put it away and not finish it. But I dare you to not want to know more about Maya and her plight after those first 50 pages.
Dystopian
It's not a mystery for my regular followers that I love dystopian books. The only genre I value above dystopia is fantasy. And give me a messed up fantasy world anyday and I'll be thrilled. The technology in Cox's dystopian world is interesting. It's beyond what we have today; but not so far beyond that it's hard to relate to or believe in. I really appreciate this link back to today's world that Cox makes so that we feel like this dystopian world is very plausible. The easier it is to relate to a dystopian book the better we are at feeling connected to the story and it's characters.
Overall
I really, really enjoyed this story and cannot wait to get my hands on the second book. I know it's a bit harder to find but I encourage you to seek it out if you love dystopian stories that feature children. There are so many wonderful themes in Heir Ascendant I couldn't possibly list them all. Cox jumps from the meaning of motherhood, or what makes a mother; over to what makes a bad guy bad? Are all people who fight to stay alive bad? Or are they only bad when they cross a line? And thus, of course the question is, where is that line?
Regardless of how you answer the above questions there is one thing for sure in Heir Ascendant; you will be cheering for Maya to 'win'. Even if you are not sure what 'winning' might look like for Maya you'll want her to be happy, safe and loved because she's just that loveable. But watch out because she's a little daredevil that is willing to steal your heart and jump off a cliff with it. Action, family, love and dystopian values all mix together in Heir Ascendant to give it a rounded out story, characters and setting.
For this and more of my reviews please visit my blog at: Epic Reading
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.
July 23, 2018
This was my first book I read by Matthew S. Cox and is the one that started my love of his stories. I plan to work my way through the rest of his series' and if they turn out to be as compelling and imaginative as "Heir Ascendant" was, I will be a very happy (reading) bunny! I hope people begin to pay more attention to indie authors and publishers as there are some truly spectacular titles out there just waiting to be discovered. I always remind myself that some of my favourite books of the last year were from small, indie publisher and there are countless times when I can say I was truly blown away by an indie author's work. I do hope people consider reading them more and find out for themselves that indie books have the same potential as conventionally published ones to absolutely blow you away. "Heir Ascendant" is a perfect example of this!
Maya Oman is a fantastic protagonist - she is smart, sassy, wise beyond her nine years and you really root for her in the dire situations that she finds herself in. She helps to balance out the dark dystopian setting by being positive and a force of nature. It would be difficult for even the most hard-nosed person not to admire her with what she endures and all at such a young age. Despite only being nine, she has a deep inbuilt sense of morality and this leads to her having a large problem with her biological mother who is both ruthless and useless. The author does use some of those dreaded tropes but this didn't have an impact on my reading experience as the book is so damn good, it would have taken some real deep flaws to put me off. Cox has an accessible and easy writing style which whisks you into the story and grips you quickly. He also knows how to hold your interest with an unpredictable and thrilling plot. Basically, everything just worked and came together in a magical way. Cox has created an intriguing and dangerous dystopia that is a difficult place in which to live for anyone let alone a younster who is more or less looking after herself owing to her mother's neglect and narcissism.
All in all, this is a book that I will remember for a long time to come, this is partly thanks to the wonderful Maya - I couldn't have loved her more if i'd tried! I look forward to the third book in the series and will be checking out which of the author's other series' to try out next. I am optimistic that I will appreciate them as much if not more than the wonderful "Faded Skies" series. If you are wondering whether to give this a go then what you waiting for? You're in for a treat let me tell you!
Many thanks to Curiosity Quills Press for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Maya Oman is a fantastic protagonist - she is smart, sassy, wise beyond her nine years and you really root for her in the dire situations that she finds herself in. She helps to balance out the dark dystopian setting by being positive and a force of nature. It would be difficult for even the most hard-nosed person not to admire her with what she endures and all at such a young age. Despite only being nine, she has a deep inbuilt sense of morality and this leads to her having a large problem with her biological mother who is both ruthless and useless. The author does use some of those dreaded tropes but this didn't have an impact on my reading experience as the book is so damn good, it would have taken some real deep flaws to put me off. Cox has an accessible and easy writing style which whisks you into the story and grips you quickly. He also knows how to hold your interest with an unpredictable and thrilling plot. Basically, everything just worked and came together in a magical way. Cox has created an intriguing and dangerous dystopia that is a difficult place in which to live for anyone let alone a younster who is more or less looking after herself owing to her mother's neglect and narcissism.
All in all, this is a book that I will remember for a long time to come, this is partly thanks to the wonderful Maya - I couldn't have loved her more if i'd tried! I look forward to the third book in the series and will be checking out which of the author's other series' to try out next. I am optimistic that I will appreciate them as much if not more than the wonderful "Faded Skies" series. If you are wondering whether to give this a go then what you waiting for? You're in for a treat let me tell you!
Many thanks to Curiosity Quills Press for an ARC. I was not required to post a review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
November 2, 2017
In a dysfunctional future, nine-year-old Maya leads a life of luxury--but only sees her mother one hour a week when starring in TV commercials for her mother's company. Her life is a lonely, unhappy one, but she's smart as a whip and learns everything about her society on her computer. In fact, the only time she's able to leave her apartment is when making company appearances. Until she's kidnapped. Then her life changes utterly and she reaches out for the love of a mother that she's always yearned for and surprising friendships with other kids her age.
The most beautiful girl in the world is frightened but brave, with a heart for justice, and she's resourceful. She embraces a new existence of poverty and squalor and steams over her mother's lack of heart. The one-time heir to the Ascendant company fortune is going to make the world a better place.
From the moment we readers find the child living alone in her grand apartment, through her discoveries of life for those who have next to nothing, we are taken in by the authenticity and depth of her portrayal. We share her experiences of a culture in disarray. We're hooked by her honesty and her understanding beyond her years, by her courage and her desire to live a meaningful life in relationship with others. We can't turn away from reading this book because we can't turn away from Maya. Definitely an engaging journey for readers to take.
The most beautiful girl in the world is frightened but brave, with a heart for justice, and she's resourceful. She embraces a new existence of poverty and squalor and steams over her mother's lack of heart. The one-time heir to the Ascendant company fortune is going to make the world a better place.
From the moment we readers find the child living alone in her grand apartment, through her discoveries of life for those who have next to nothing, we are taken in by the authenticity and depth of her portrayal. We share her experiences of a culture in disarray. We're hooked by her honesty and her understanding beyond her years, by her courage and her desire to live a meaningful life in relationship with others. We can't turn away from reading this book because we can't turn away from Maya. Definitely an engaging journey for readers to take.
October 23, 2021
Maya is a sweet young girl who has been living alone in a penthouse apartment who is alone every day until her mother comes for a visit. She is just used for advertising . Until the day she is stolen by a band of mercenaries . She then discovers a family who has nothing left to loose and maybe her life is better now then it was before.
The characters in this story are very well written and have complex natures . Maya is a sweet girl who is lonely and starving attention from anyone . She is sweet and loving but also tough as nails . Sometimes you feel that she older then 9. She is resourceful and has the heart as big as the world . She want to make the world a better place . With the help of her friends and the woman who is more of a mother to her then her real mother . They will try and make the world a little better and more fair to those who are less then .
This is a book that will take you away into a world after World War 3 in a dystopian world where the rich are the rich and the poor are the poorest . The author paints us a wonderful world full of great characters and sometimes gritty scenery . There is so much that goes on through out this book , and trust me you will get sucked into the world and care for Maya and the gang . This has a young main character but it is not meant for younger readers . This is the story that will keep you reading all through the night . So if you want a book that will engross you and keep you reading . So if you have an evening grab a cup tea and settle down and start a journey . Check it out .
The characters in this story are very well written and have complex natures . Maya is a sweet girl who is lonely and starving attention from anyone . She is sweet and loving but also tough as nails . Sometimes you feel that she older then 9. She is resourceful and has the heart as big as the world . She want to make the world a better place . With the help of her friends and the woman who is more of a mother to her then her real mother . They will try and make the world a little better and more fair to those who are less then .
This is a book that will take you away into a world after World War 3 in a dystopian world where the rich are the rich and the poor are the poorest . The author paints us a wonderful world full of great characters and sometimes gritty scenery . There is so much that goes on through out this book , and trust me you will get sucked into the world and care for Maya and the gang . This has a young main character but it is not meant for younger readers . This is the story that will keep you reading all through the night . So if you want a book that will engross you and keep you reading . So if you have an evening grab a cup tea and settle down and start a journey . Check it out .
November 4, 2021
“This is book is way out of my usual reads and not gonna lie it was a challenge. I’m more into dark romances with lots of hot chemistry and spicy senes well this book of course wasn’t like that. Did I mention the main lead was a kid? No kidding! It was disappointing because I’d hope that at least some romance and tension would developed but soon my dreams were crashed lol. BUT surprisedly the plot was intriguing for me to continue and forget about the romance. It wasn’t a shot story but the chapters were short enough to finish them fast, not gonna lie the book was long! Back to the plot and characters, being dystopian the world the author created was all about technology as drones. That particularly point was really interesting and if you add the constant action the plot was good. A story that focus on family and friendships in a world that’s… well not gonna say it. As for Maya, the main character, wasn’t the typical FMC that’s for sure. As a kid she was smart and her character wasn’t childish to the point that annoys you.”
February 15, 2018
Matthew Cox wound a dark tale around a beacon of light in his protagonist, Maya. Maya is a young girl in search of what we all want...love, family, and a place where we belong. His development of characters and his cunning little heroine, Maya make you feel like you want to step in and help her in her journey no matter the risk you might face. Matthew Cox displays a way with words that draws you into his world and you feel the heartache, loneliness and desire in the heart of this young girl.
June 24, 2025
A fast paced dystopian thriller that follows a young girl named Maya.
I enjoyed the overall concept. It was exciting with dodging drones and authorities, fighting corruption, and bad parent relationship.
I did find it a bit difficult to really connect to the main character which made the story hard for me to get into.
I enjoyed the overall concept. It was exciting with dodging drones and authorities, fighting corruption, and bad parent relationship.
I did find it a bit difficult to really connect to the main character which made the story hard for me to get into.
January 20, 2018
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
Heir Ascendent was one weird book. Following Maya, the 9(!) year old daughter of the CEO of the only pharmaceutical company that provides an antidote towards the poisons in the atmosphere, as she gets kidnapped, decides she likes her kidnappers better than her mother and quickly turns into a rebel leader. All of this at the tender age of 9!
At times I thought it was difficult to follow. The world building was rather sparse, which was in line with Maya's limited knowledge of the world. However, it made her quick and young transformation in a leader of the rebels rather unbalanced. It was a quick read, but I was never completely buying the story. I haven't decided yet whether I will continue the series.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Heir Ascendent was one weird book. Following Maya, the 9(!) year old daughter of the CEO of the only pharmaceutical company that provides an antidote towards the poisons in the atmosphere, as she gets kidnapped, decides she likes her kidnappers better than her mother and quickly turns into a rebel leader. All of this at the tender age of 9!
At times I thought it was difficult to follow. The world building was rather sparse, which was in line with Maya's limited knowledge of the world. However, it made her quick and young transformation in a leader of the rebels rather unbalanced. It was a quick read, but I was never completely buying the story. I haven't decided yet whether I will continue the series.
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
November 6, 2017
Goodreads Synopsis:
In the aftermath of World War Three, the most famous face in the world belongs to a nine year old girl.
Maya Oman is the daughter of the woman who controls what's left of civilization, the CEO of Ascendant Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Her smile is as ubiquitous as air, selling everything from vital medicine to vanity drugs with risky side effects. Lifelike android clones reside in over a dozen homes, shielding her from the violent resentment of a population straining under her mother's boot heel.
Ascendant's power comes from Xenodril, a drug capable of reversing the effects of Fade, a disease some claim came from aliens or from the governments that predate the war. Only Ascendant sells it, and at a price only Citizens can afford. The rest are left to die.
Maya's earliest memories are of living alone in a penthouse apartment, desperate for the attention of a mother who never visits. Forbidden to go out except to record advertising video, her only friend has been the 'net. When she is taken for ransom by a group of mercenaries with nothing left to lose, she discovers her life may not be what she thought it was--or wants.
My Review:
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Before I even picked this book, I thought, wow that's a really nice cover. Then I went to the first chapter and was blown away by more beautiful art. It's just so detailed and interesting and unlike the chapter art in other books. I love it.
In the apocalyptic future, sometime after WWIII, nine year old Maya Oman is neglected by her mother. The owner of a massive pharmaceutical company called Ascendant, she doesn't seem to even have time to come home much less answer her daughter's calls. The only thing she actually sees her for anyways is commercial shootings. So when she gets kidnaped from her bed in the middle of the night, she doesn't expect to hear anything from her mom, like usual.
A world where an alien virus has taken over, Xenodril is the only solution. Overwhelmed by the price, most people can't even afford a single dose. There's a local war going on between the rich and the poor. Vanessa Oman doesn't care about her daughter, and proves it when she has a replacement on hand for the camera's after she goes missing to prove to the country that the rumours are just that. Maya is nothing more than an actor for the company, a slave. Not a daughter. But she's smart, and sneaky, and isn't afraid of herself. She's not against blackmailing people to getting what she wants. She's strong and unlike any other nine year old I know, but what else would you expect from someone who's been locked up with a computer for the entirety of her short life?
I absolutely loved this book from the moment I started it. The world they live in is one filled with tech and mechanical limbs and homeless people, junkies and moldy apartments. The ground is littered with who knows what, and most people only have the clothes on their backs. It adds a harsh reality to the book, and it's easy to imagine. In my head it reminded me of the Fallout games. Although the main character is under ten years old, I didn't feel too old to be reading this book. The story is exciting and takes turns I never expected. Usually little kids say things they don't mean, but Maya meant everything she said. Everything wrapped up nicely. I definitely recommend checking out this book if you get the chance and I can't wait for the next in the series!
Here's a link to the book on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.ca/Heir-Ascendant-...
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
In the aftermath of World War Three, the most famous face in the world belongs to a nine year old girl.
Maya Oman is the daughter of the woman who controls what's left of civilization, the CEO of Ascendant Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Her smile is as ubiquitous as air, selling everything from vital medicine to vanity drugs with risky side effects. Lifelike android clones reside in over a dozen homes, shielding her from the violent resentment of a population straining under her mother's boot heel.
Ascendant's power comes from Xenodril, a drug capable of reversing the effects of Fade, a disease some claim came from aliens or from the governments that predate the war. Only Ascendant sells it, and at a price only Citizens can afford. The rest are left to die.
Maya's earliest memories are of living alone in a penthouse apartment, desperate for the attention of a mother who never visits. Forbidden to go out except to record advertising video, her only friend has been the 'net. When she is taken for ransom by a group of mercenaries with nothing left to lose, she discovers her life may not be what she thought it was--or wants.
My Review:
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Before I even picked this book, I thought, wow that's a really nice cover. Then I went to the first chapter and was blown away by more beautiful art. It's just so detailed and interesting and unlike the chapter art in other books. I love it.
In the apocalyptic future, sometime after WWIII, nine year old Maya Oman is neglected by her mother. The owner of a massive pharmaceutical company called Ascendant, she doesn't seem to even have time to come home much less answer her daughter's calls. The only thing she actually sees her for anyways is commercial shootings. So when she gets kidnaped from her bed in the middle of the night, she doesn't expect to hear anything from her mom, like usual.
A world where an alien virus has taken over, Xenodril is the only solution. Overwhelmed by the price, most people can't even afford a single dose. There's a local war going on between the rich and the poor. Vanessa Oman doesn't care about her daughter, and proves it when she has a replacement on hand for the camera's after she goes missing to prove to the country that the rumours are just that. Maya is nothing more than an actor for the company, a slave. Not a daughter. But she's smart, and sneaky, and isn't afraid of herself. She's not against blackmailing people to getting what she wants. She's strong and unlike any other nine year old I know, but what else would you expect from someone who's been locked up with a computer for the entirety of her short life?
I absolutely loved this book from the moment I started it. The world they live in is one filled with tech and mechanical limbs and homeless people, junkies and moldy apartments. The ground is littered with who knows what, and most people only have the clothes on their backs. It adds a harsh reality to the book, and it's easy to imagine. In my head it reminded me of the Fallout games. Although the main character is under ten years old, I didn't feel too old to be reading this book. The story is exciting and takes turns I never expected. Usually little kids say things they don't mean, but Maya meant everything she said. Everything wrapped up nicely. I definitely recommend checking out this book if you get the chance and I can't wait for the next in the series!
Here's a link to the book on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.ca/Heir-Ascendant-...
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
July 12, 2019
I think of all the books, Heir Ascendant has been bumped up to one of my favorite books I've read by Matthew Cox.
In many of Cox's books, he is always a very vivid and detailed world builder. When it comes to his books I never have to worry about not being able to imagine myself within the world his characters are set in.
Heir Ascendant takes place after WWIII. What's left of civilizations is controlled by Ascendant Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Our main character Maya Oman is the daughter of the CEO of this corporation and basically used as a prop rather than treated as a child. One of the ways Ascendant Pharmaceuticals is able to exert it's control over the population is by making and manufacturing a drug called Xenodril, which is to reverse the effects of a disease called Fade that came from aliens prior to the war.
Maya's journey truly begins when she's kidnapped to use in exchange for Xenodril/money. While in her kidnappers possession she truly has seen that her mother (the CEO) doesn't actually care for her in a way a mother should. When things start to go haywire with the kidnapping and everyone starts turning on everyone, one of the last people Maya would've expected to protect her does and takes her in and gives Maya the one thing living in the lap of luxury as a citizen couldn't give her...love.
I think my one complaint about this story is Maya is 9... Now I get that's she was created to be genius level IQ's and her mother made sure she was taking classes and she was already at high school level, but for me it's a bit hard to see a little child traveling through a broken city and in plenty of firefights and finds herself in plenty of dangerous situations.
In many of Cox's books, he is always a very vivid and detailed world builder. When it comes to his books I never have to worry about not being able to imagine myself within the world his characters are set in.
Heir Ascendant takes place after WWIII. What's left of civilizations is controlled by Ascendant Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Our main character Maya Oman is the daughter of the CEO of this corporation and basically used as a prop rather than treated as a child. One of the ways Ascendant Pharmaceuticals is able to exert it's control over the population is by making and manufacturing a drug called Xenodril, which is to reverse the effects of a disease called Fade that came from aliens prior to the war.
Maya's journey truly begins when she's kidnapped to use in exchange for Xenodril/money. While in her kidnappers possession she truly has seen that her mother (the CEO) doesn't actually care for her in a way a mother should. When things start to go haywire with the kidnapping and everyone starts turning on everyone, one of the last people Maya would've expected to protect her does and takes her in and gives Maya the one thing living in the lap of luxury as a citizen couldn't give her...love.
I think my one complaint about this story is Maya is 9... Now I get that's she was created to be genius level IQ's and her mother made sure she was taking classes and she was already at high school level, but for me it's a bit hard to see a little child traveling through a broken city and in plenty of firefights and finds herself in plenty of dangerous situations.
December 13, 2017
Usually I read books in one to three days, but it took me two weeks to finish Heir Ascendant. Two freaking weeks! Not because it was bad, but because I had a hard time getting into it.
Maya is a very smart nine year old who gets kidnapped. Maya is very strong, knows a lot of information about her mothers company and the society she's living in. She's also very determined to find her mother. I liked Maya, but why oh why did the author made the main character nine years old? She was way too smart for a nine year old and that made the story quite unbelievable. So, to read further I made her older in my mind. I just couldn't picture a nine year old doing all the things Maya did in the story.
The plot was interesting. It did take me a few tries to really get into, but when I finally did it was good. There was a lot going on, but the 'adventure' Maya is undertaking to find her mother was very entertaining to read. I wanted someone to hug her and say that everything was going to be alright and I was super happy that some characters on her journey weren't all evil.
Heir Ascendant was entertaining to read and it made me want to add more books in this genre to my to want read list. That's always a good thing.
If you need a nice adventure story set in a dystopian world, you should read Heir Ascendant.
Maya is a very smart nine year old who gets kidnapped. Maya is very strong, knows a lot of information about her mothers company and the society she's living in. She's also very determined to find her mother. I liked Maya, but why oh why did the author made the main character nine years old? She was way too smart for a nine year old and that made the story quite unbelievable. So, to read further I made her older in my mind. I just couldn't picture a nine year old doing all the things Maya did in the story.
The plot was interesting. It did take me a few tries to really get into, but when I finally did it was good. There was a lot going on, but the 'adventure' Maya is undertaking to find her mother was very entertaining to read. I wanted someone to hug her and say that everything was going to be alright and I was super happy that some characters on her journey weren't all evil.
Heir Ascendant was entertaining to read and it made me want to add more books in this genre to my to want read list. That's always a good thing.
If you need a nice adventure story set in a dystopian world, you should read Heir Ascendant.
January 23, 2018
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this strange book
vanessa a powerful ceo in charge of a company that sells all forms of drugs to help combat fade..a new deadly disease.....or does she....
maya is vanessa daughter who helps advertise her mothers drugs and she is 9 years old, and one day she is kidnapped and thats where the story begins because for most of her life she has been kept in solitary condition in an apartment with no mother to keep her company just computers
maya is held to ransom by these people but vanessa has other ideas about paying and so the story continues at quite a pace
my only bugbear about this story is that the hero...maya is 9 years old and what she has to go through ,so in my mind i thought of her as older and really enjoyed the story from then on...
plenty of action though in some places hard to believe with maya again being 9 but who wouldnt want to ride on a drone to save her would be mom
vanessa a powerful ceo in charge of a company that sells all forms of drugs to help combat fade..a new deadly disease.....or does she....
maya is vanessa daughter who helps advertise her mothers drugs and she is 9 years old, and one day she is kidnapped and thats where the story begins because for most of her life she has been kept in solitary condition in an apartment with no mother to keep her company just computers
maya is held to ransom by these people but vanessa has other ideas about paying and so the story continues at quite a pace
my only bugbear about this story is that the hero...maya is 9 years old and what she has to go through ,so in my mind i thought of her as older and really enjoyed the story from then on...
plenty of action though in some places hard to believe with maya again being 9 but who wouldnt want to ride on a drone to save her would be mom
January 27, 2018
Heir Ascendant surprised me, it is far from easy to write a science fiction novel where a 9 year old girl is the central figure. No matter how intelligent she is, she is still a child. Matthew Cox did a superb job of making Maya authentic. Though she is intelligent, she is naive and starved for affection and that makes her vulnerable. Some may question her sudden deep attachment to Genna, but in a way it’s realistic. Genna may have been one of her kidnappers, but she also protected Maya, and Maya being starved of any kind of female attention was drawn to that and what Genna represented - a strong but emotional female figure.
I won’t be giving too much away by saying that the majority of the novel focuses on Maya’s attempts to find and rescue her new mother. She doesn’t intend to be a hero or an agent for change, she is just a little girl, but Matthew Cox proves just how powerful the desire for an ideal can be.
Cox’s world is far from friendly. Most people live in crumbling ruins, living a hard existence. Lucky ones go to the city to work during the day. The city is where citizens live and everything you dream of can be found for a price. Drones patrol and the police are little more than corporate enforcers. Worst of all is the Fade, a deadly disease leftover from the war. Noone is safe from the disease, and the treatment is only available to those with the means to pay.
Heir Ascendant is an impressive science fiction novel, richly imagined with a large cast of characters. At its heart though is one 9 year old girl determined to find her new mother. I look forward to reading the next novel in the series.
5 / 5
I received a copy of Heir Ascendant from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
I won’t be giving too much away by saying that the majority of the novel focuses on Maya’s attempts to find and rescue her new mother. She doesn’t intend to be a hero or an agent for change, she is just a little girl, but Matthew Cox proves just how powerful the desire for an ideal can be.
Cox’s world is far from friendly. Most people live in crumbling ruins, living a hard existence. Lucky ones go to the city to work during the day. The city is where citizens live and everything you dream of can be found for a price. Drones patrol and the police are little more than corporate enforcers. Worst of all is the Fade, a deadly disease leftover from the war. Noone is safe from the disease, and the treatment is only available to those with the means to pay.
Heir Ascendant is an impressive science fiction novel, richly imagined with a large cast of characters. At its heart though is one 9 year old girl determined to find her new mother. I look forward to reading the next novel in the series.
5 / 5
I received a copy of Heir Ascendant from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
July 7, 2019
A world where a child is used for publicity by a woman who only wants her for that reason. Where people are considered as nothing unless they have the money to buy what that woman controls. Your considered lucky to have work just to survive in a God awful world. Maya fascinates me as a child who is calm enough when she is kidnapped, can talk to those who took her in a quiet voice yet she knows what she is doing to learn about them. A world that I never want to see, somethings I can see in our world and makes a person think about how lucky we are. This is a fascinating book , we learn about Maya, her kidnappers, the woman who Maya calls a mother (even though she only wants Maya for her own uses) A must read and I'm ready for the next in this series as I can't wait to see what happens.
February 5, 2018
I received an ARC courtesy of Netgalley for my honest review. I read this book although it's not in my usual genres of books. The premise sounded interesting although it ended up going in a different direction than I anticipated. The story involves a nine year old girl who is the daughter of an executive of a large pharmaceutical company. Her mother has !ittle to do with her and Maya mostly takes care of herself. The only interaction she has with her mother is when she's needed for photo shoots promoting company products. The real story begins when Maya is abducted and held for ransom. The story takes some twists and turns that I did not see coming. The book was filled with a lot of adventure and I enjoyed it a lot. I will look for future books by this author.
May 21, 2018
A tale of kidnapping and a dystopoia where human lives aren't worth the cost of the drugs made to keep them alive. An interestingly told story.
March 11, 2018
Summary: Maya is a nine year old Rapunzel who is trapped inside her tower by her evil biological mother. Which is very original Grimm Fairy tale of this story before parents complained and everyone acquired evil stepparents.
Recommend? If you don't mind a patchwork of a story with the protagonist being a genetically modified nine-year old then yes. In the acknowledgement talks about how this was originally a short story and when you're reading you can tell it's been stretched. But the acknowledgement seems to help confirm this.
Rest of review here
July 20, 2019
This book is an intense story about the things that a company will do to sell their products, and to hell with the people it hurts in the process. Maya's mother only cares about her company and profit. She uses Maya just like any other marketing tool and ignores her most of the time. Maya's path to the truth about her mother's company is a painful and intense experience. She has to find a way to survive in a world where people hate her because of who she is, and they will rob and steal anything even clothes to sell them for money. People are desperate and hungry. There is violence, and no explicit adult content. However, there are things that skirt around the edges of what can happen to a little girl all alone by dangerous men. I would recommend older teen at least.
October 20, 2021
There is a special place in my heart for young girls that stand against Tyranny and Injustice.
While children should be cherished to many are used for profit. I remember being just about this age when I grasped that concept. It changed my perspective. Each story of one's survival and perseverance brings me Hope.
While children should be cherished to many are used for profit. I remember being just about this age when I grasped that concept. It changed my perspective. Each story of one's survival and perseverance brings me Hope.
July 20, 2019
WOW. I'm absolutely blown away. I lack the words to explain how amazing Maya is and how gripping this story is.
November 29, 2017
Matthew Cox giveth, and he taketh away. This was an odd sensation, as I read Silver Light and Heir Ascendant back to back, and have the opposite reaction to each.
Sorry, but this was just too much to take. Especially once I read the afterward.
So, Heir Ascendant is the tale of Maya Oman, the daughter of the woman who controls what’s left of civilization, the CEO of Ascendant Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Maya is used as more prop than child, selling everything from vital medicine to vanity drugs with risky side effects. Lifelike android clones reside in over a dozen homes, shielding her from the violent resentment of a population straining under her mother’s control. The evil drug company's power comes from a drug called Xenodril, a drug capable of reversing the effects of Fade, a disease some claim came from aliens or from the governments that predate the war (a WWIII event that is only loosely explained). Only Ascendant sells it, and at a price only those who can afford to live in the walled cities can afford. The rest are left to die.
Maya lives alone, with no companionships except computers and the smart apartment, and is only allowed out to promote the company in ad shoots. Until a group of...hard to say, since they are alternately described as mercenaries (blurb), freedom fighters, revolutionaries, or terrorists...kidnap her for ransom. And this was where it stopped, originally, with the interactions between Maya and the kidnappers.
That part of the story is really well done. And works, regardless of the outcome that was originally there. I liked that, even though it comes at you very quickly, and without any real setup. That's ok, it still works.
But that isn't where it stops. And this is where I start shaking my head. Maya is nine. Nine. And she is engineered to be smart, yes, and all the other things, but she is still nine. She spends the whole book (or close enough) barefoot in a nightgown. And winds up in multiple firefights, crossing miles and miles of broken, ruined, city, and so on and so forth (no spoilers, right?). It leaves believable quickly, and moves into the realm of sub-par fan fiction. Sorry, but this is just not something I can buy into.
I do want to point out that at no point is the very real threat (in the modern world, much less this dystopian version) of sexual assault realized. So you won't face that. It is discussed, and there is some off-camera abuse of a side character. It was in the past, so while it informs character actions, it is not happening in the time frame of the book.
I do think that Cox's instinct was correct - he needed to age the character more. A mid-to-late teen would have helped a lot, even without any real plot changes. A more believable set of circumstances would have helped. Shoes. Damn, just some shoes would have helped.
The messages here are clear - evil pharma companies, exploiting child actors, bad parents. That was also a bit heavy, especially when the full scope of the actions of Ascendant come to light. It just all piled on, and defeated itself. There are bits to like, plot points that could work, I just didn't feel it this time.
I will say this - Cox is a good author, and no one is perfect. So while this one book is not recommended, keep an eye out for his other work - they are very much worth your time and money.
Sorry, but this was just too much to take. Especially once I read the afterward.
So, Heir Ascendant is the tale of Maya Oman, the daughter of the woman who controls what’s left of civilization, the CEO of Ascendant Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Maya is used as more prop than child, selling everything from vital medicine to vanity drugs with risky side effects. Lifelike android clones reside in over a dozen homes, shielding her from the violent resentment of a population straining under her mother’s control. The evil drug company's power comes from a drug called Xenodril, a drug capable of reversing the effects of Fade, a disease some claim came from aliens or from the governments that predate the war (a WWIII event that is only loosely explained). Only Ascendant sells it, and at a price only those who can afford to live in the walled cities can afford. The rest are left to die.
Maya lives alone, with no companionships except computers and the smart apartment, and is only allowed out to promote the company in ad shoots. Until a group of...hard to say, since they are alternately described as mercenaries (blurb), freedom fighters, revolutionaries, or terrorists...kidnap her for ransom. And this was where it stopped, originally, with the interactions between Maya and the kidnappers.
That part of the story is really well done. And works, regardless of the outcome that was originally there. I liked that, even though it comes at you very quickly, and without any real setup. That's ok, it still works.
But that isn't where it stops. And this is where I start shaking my head. Maya is nine. Nine. And she is engineered to be smart, yes, and all the other things, but she is still nine. She spends the whole book (or close enough) barefoot in a nightgown. And winds up in multiple firefights, crossing miles and miles of broken, ruined, city, and so on and so forth (no spoilers, right?). It leaves believable quickly, and moves into the realm of sub-par fan fiction. Sorry, but this is just not something I can buy into.
I do want to point out that at no point is the very real threat (in the modern world, much less this dystopian version) of sexual assault realized. So you won't face that. It is discussed, and there is some off-camera abuse of a side character. It was in the past, so while it informs character actions, it is not happening in the time frame of the book.
I do think that Cox's instinct was correct - he needed to age the character more. A mid-to-late teen would have helped a lot, even without any real plot changes. A more believable set of circumstances would have helped. Shoes. Damn, just some shoes would have helped.
The messages here are clear - evil pharma companies, exploiting child actors, bad parents. That was also a bit heavy, especially when the full scope of the actions of Ascendant come to light. It just all piled on, and defeated itself. There are bits to like, plot points that could work, I just didn't feel it this time.
I will say this - Cox is a good author, and no one is perfect. So while this one book is not recommended, keep an eye out for his other work - they are very much worth your time and money.
June 19, 2025
Heir Ascendant is a masterfully written book about the society after the end of World War 3. It is an action packed rollercoaster ride full of poverty, richness, greed, death, subjugation, fear, trama, angst and the human soul overcoming it all. This is by no means a short novel. It will entice you with its intense storyline and outrageous characters. Cox has written a dystopian society and his world building is succinctly graphic and far reaching. The depravity and greed by the haves and the poverty and illness suffered by the have nots could not have been written better. This book will make you think and wonder how much of this could happen with all that is going on in our world today. The fact that the heroine of our book is a 9 year old girl gives the story so much depth and flow...yes you know it is farfetched but how else could the depths and highs in this society seem real unless seen through the eyes of a Citizen who had it all but saw the black and bitter underbelly and wanted to bring light to the dark. You will not be able to pit this first book of the three book series down. Well done.
June 23, 2025
Maya is the daughter of the CEO of a Pharmaceutical company. Her mom seems to sell any drug that is made. Maya is protected by androids who keep those with grievances away. When an expensive drug that those who are rich can afford, Maya discovers that not everything is as it seems, as she's kidnapped by a group that is against the company. The 'wizard' mustn't be trusted. Sometimes you have to open the curtains to reveal the truth.
June 29, 2025
Wow, just wow. Matthew's books are always superbly written and this one is no exception. The way he builds this world, so different but at the same time so close to what we are living and ( heaven helps us ) moving towards. Maya is a great character, only 9 and with a clear voice, awesome character. Really looking forward to the next book
October 18, 2017
Pretty good first book in a series with an interesting world and characters. There were some inconsistencies and minor issues but it was an entertaining read.
Looking forward to finding out how it develops and to maybe see more of this post WW3 world.
Looking forward to finding out how it develops and to maybe see more of this post WW3 world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2018
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A suspenseful look at a WWIII dystopian world, a young's girl's search for her place in it, and her eventually becoming a rebel leader against her mother and her mother's values. Entertaining.
A suspenseful look at a WWIII dystopian world, a young's girl's search for her place in it, and her eventually becoming a rebel leader against her mother and her mother's values. Entertaining.
August 28, 2022
Wiring a series of nuanced characters into a binary of polished privilege and clunky grunge, Cox builds cyberpunk that connects on an emotional and aesthetic level.
Society is divided between those rich enough to live in comfortable complexes, and those too poor to escape the ruins of World War III. Maya Oman, the daughter of a bioengineering magnate, is kidnapped by terrorists seeking a cure for the latest plague. With her captors already worried by rumours of android duplicates created to foil exactly this sort of scheme, the dismissal of their demands increases tensions within the group. Hoping to turn them against each other, Maya levers the cracks still wider; only to discover not being an combination of accessory and marketing ploy for one of the most powerful women in the world might be worse than having a mother who doesn’t love her.
The opening section of this novel expands Cox’s short story ‘Innocent Deception’.
With a world that spans from the ultra-rich living in AI-controlled luxury to the destitute squatting in ruins, hackers taking control of paramilitary police drones, cybernetically enhanced grunts with PTSD, and air that can kill, this book screams cyberpunk. However, although the characters live in a world cobbled together from the fragments of a disposable world, the tropes have substance as well as style.
While a thematic similarity between Cox’s Division Zero series where the protagonist struggles to provide a better life for an adopted child and this book where a child attempts to find a better life with an adopted parent make it likely fans of that series will find the same emotional resonance here, this book is not merely more of the same: as ever, Cox skilfully demonstrates that the tension is in the details.
Alongside the risks of trust and betrayal, Cox lays out very real physical dangers, both from the environment and from people whose interests are more visceral than attempting to ransoming Maya back to her mother. While the protagonist is a child, with cannibalism not the worst threat she faces, this is very much not a children’s book.
Maya is complex and sympathetic character. Born and raised with the best medical science can provide, and sealed away from the world with only educational software and the net for entertainment, her mental and physical abilities are plausibly better than a pre-teen. However, with her only experience of social interaction coming from advertising shoots, staged photo ops, and very occasional stilted lunches with her tyrannical mother, she displays both naivety and paranoia.
The supporting cast are equally complex. Terrorists display both a compassion that lifts them above stereotype and a focus on their goals that produces brutality. People who hate the authorities for their oppression love their families enough to sell their neighbours out. And sadistic thugs of the worst sort display a nuanced concern for certain groups.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking gritty dystopian sci-fi driven by complex characters.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
Society is divided between those rich enough to live in comfortable complexes, and those too poor to escape the ruins of World War III. Maya Oman, the daughter of a bioengineering magnate, is kidnapped by terrorists seeking a cure for the latest plague. With her captors already worried by rumours of android duplicates created to foil exactly this sort of scheme, the dismissal of their demands increases tensions within the group. Hoping to turn them against each other, Maya levers the cracks still wider; only to discover not being an combination of accessory and marketing ploy for one of the most powerful women in the world might be worse than having a mother who doesn’t love her.
The opening section of this novel expands Cox’s short story ‘Innocent Deception’.
With a world that spans from the ultra-rich living in AI-controlled luxury to the destitute squatting in ruins, hackers taking control of paramilitary police drones, cybernetically enhanced grunts with PTSD, and air that can kill, this book screams cyberpunk. However, although the characters live in a world cobbled together from the fragments of a disposable world, the tropes have substance as well as style.
While a thematic similarity between Cox’s Division Zero series where the protagonist struggles to provide a better life for an adopted child and this book where a child attempts to find a better life with an adopted parent make it likely fans of that series will find the same emotional resonance here, this book is not merely more of the same: as ever, Cox skilfully demonstrates that the tension is in the details.
Alongside the risks of trust and betrayal, Cox lays out very real physical dangers, both from the environment and from people whose interests are more visceral than attempting to ransoming Maya back to her mother. While the protagonist is a child, with cannibalism not the worst threat she faces, this is very much not a children’s book.
Maya is complex and sympathetic character. Born and raised with the best medical science can provide, and sealed away from the world with only educational software and the net for entertainment, her mental and physical abilities are plausibly better than a pre-teen. However, with her only experience of social interaction coming from advertising shoots, staged photo ops, and very occasional stilted lunches with her tyrannical mother, she displays both naivety and paranoia.
The supporting cast are equally complex. Terrorists display both a compassion that lifts them above stereotype and a focus on their goals that produces brutality. People who hate the authorities for their oppression love their families enough to sell their neighbours out. And sadistic thugs of the worst sort display a nuanced concern for certain groups.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to readers seeking gritty dystopian sci-fi driven by complex characters.
I received a free copy from the author with a request for a fair review.
July 16, 2022
The Truth Is Worse Than You Think
•••NOT for the homophobic, transphobic, closedminded, or faint of heart!•••
This series must be read in order. This is the first book. I can't wait to read the next one!
Maya has never known love, affection, or even consideration. She lives alone in a penthouse with only an AI to take care of her (it is mainly her jailer though to be honest) and computers for company. Vanessa may be her biological mother but she pretty much only had Maya so she could be the perfect marketing tool. They have never lived together (that she can remember) or even spent much time together. If it wasn't for board meetings, publicity shoots, and various other Ascendant duties Maya probably wouldn't even know what she looked like. Being kidnapped might just be the best thing that ever happened to her! What do the kidnappers really want from her? Will Vanessa pay the ransom? Or will she just watch while they kill her? Why doesn't her mother care about her? What could she possibly have done wrong to alienate the woman so completely? All Maya has ever done is try to please Vanessa. How can they be related and be so incredibly different? Why does Vanessa only care about money and power?
I love the way Cox writes children protagonists! They always see the world through unbiased eyes with a unique perspective. Each and every world he creates is unique and enthralling. This world was no different. I immediately fell in love with Maya and cheered her on right till the end. The world she lives in seems entirely plausible which is terrifying in and of itself. I can't wait to read more of Maya's adventures to improve her world and the lives of everyone in it!
***This series is suitable for mature young adult through adult readers who enjoy young, unconventional protagonists, wise well beyond their years who refuse to give up or give in no matter how daunting the task of how insurmountable the odds, set in an entirely plausible post apocalyptic world filled with action, adventure, suspense, horror, humor, and a liberal dose of speculative science fiction :)
•••NOT for the homophobic, transphobic, closedminded, or faint of heart!•••
This series must be read in order. This is the first book. I can't wait to read the next one!
Maya has never known love, affection, or even consideration. She lives alone in a penthouse with only an AI to take care of her (it is mainly her jailer though to be honest) and computers for company. Vanessa may be her biological mother but she pretty much only had Maya so she could be the perfect marketing tool. They have never lived together (that she can remember) or even spent much time together. If it wasn't for board meetings, publicity shoots, and various other Ascendant duties Maya probably wouldn't even know what she looked like. Being kidnapped might just be the best thing that ever happened to her! What do the kidnappers really want from her? Will Vanessa pay the ransom? Or will she just watch while they kill her? Why doesn't her mother care about her? What could she possibly have done wrong to alienate the woman so completely? All Maya has ever done is try to please Vanessa. How can they be related and be so incredibly different? Why does Vanessa only care about money and power?
I love the way Cox writes children protagonists! They always see the world through unbiased eyes with a unique perspective. Each and every world he creates is unique and enthralling. This world was no different. I immediately fell in love with Maya and cheered her on right till the end. The world she lives in seems entirely plausible which is terrifying in and of itself. I can't wait to read more of Maya's adventures to improve her world and the lives of everyone in it!
***This series is suitable for mature young adult through adult readers who enjoy young, unconventional protagonists, wise well beyond their years who refuse to give up or give in no matter how daunting the task of how insurmountable the odds, set in an entirely plausible post apocalyptic world filled with action, adventure, suspense, horror, humor, and a liberal dose of speculative science fiction :)
January 20, 2018
This book was all over the place and really choppy. I couldn’t finish it.
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