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A review by nietzschesghost
Heir Ascendant by Matthew S. Cox
5.0
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.