About Maestra Rising
She’s a gifted scientist. He’s a robot with a human mind. Can they save a lost ship and find love among the stars?
Nivi awakes from cryosleep plagued by guilt. The scientific genius had hoped her people would avoid war if she went into cold sleep, but she learns her sacrifice was in vain. And now a vicious enemy approaches a stranded Earth spaceship. Desperate to reactivate the technology she needs for the rescue, Nivi enlists the help of an attractive robot with a human consciousness and wisdom beyond his years…
Moose survived slavery but never forgot the feeling of worthlessness it forced upon him. After living in the body of a robot for years, he sees an opportunity to help the brilliant Nivi if he becomes human once again. In a new body with new dangers, he worries that the genius scientist will never see him as more than the robot he once was.
Outnumbered by a relentless foe, Nivi and Moose attempt to put their desires on hold to ensure humanity’s survival.
With time running out, can they defeat the enemy and enjoy a future filled with love
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Rreview of Maestra Rising
Nivi may be one of my favorite characters in the series. Her background is mysterious. She wakes from years of cryosleep immediately into crisis and must assume her Maestra status for the good of her people, the robots, the Gadi, the Phoenicopterians, and the people from earth. “Your people need you.” Talk about a stress headache. She does happen to have a bit of mysterious technology that may help – the urclock.
In the meantime, there is the bad guy and his crew of evil robots who are tracking the good robots and the urclock. At first, Nivi is quite unaware of the added danger they will be directing her way. That little bit of bad news adds to the stress a little later in the story. We, as the readers, get to anticipate the trouble all through the book.
Then there is Moose. Even before transferring to his new human body he becomes Nivi’s friend, strength, and gives her his loyalty, even without truly understanding her nature. This slow growing friends to lovers romance was just perfect, never getting in the way of the bigger picture, but always there for the reader to place her hopes on.
There are many great secondary characters, including several earth-like animals that are sentient. There older ones that have had their story including Doc from Girl Gone Nova (my first Pauline Baird Jones book). And newer characters who’s big story is yet to come. I love the subtle development of these characters and their relationships. I am especially interested to learn more about Ale. The cast of characters is getting larger and may soon reach the point where I can’t keep track of who is who (not yet, but soon!). Note to Pauline and any other author of long running series – not every book has to include every character. Just a suggestion.
Two major plot climaxes will occur in Maestra Rising. So, bonus – totally appreciated! One of those scenes is an epic space battle between four, count ‘em, four sides. Maybe 5 if you count the side that who’s ranks are divided. Is it still ‘between’ if there are four or five sides? Wow, I could not stop reading as the complex action unfolded, eager to see how this could possibly turn out and how the author could keep track of everything going on. It was well done with a twisty ending that I could have foreseen if I had not been so caught up in the action. But I didn’t. But the clues where there. Just saying.
Oh my, so much good stuff in this book! Both Found Girl (which ended on what I called a quasi-cliffhanger) and Lost Valyr provide background to Maestra Rising, so I think would be a good idea to read both of those first. Then read Maestra Rising to wrap those two stories up. In truth, Maestra Rising closes a circle clear back to The Key, so if you are a fan of the Project Enterprise series, you really should read Maestra Rising.
Thanks to the author who kindly provided a copy of her book in exchange for my honest review.
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Links
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Other purchase links here: http://paulinebjones.com/books/maestra-rising/
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Vivien Jackson writes fantastical, futuristic, kissing books. Her debut science fiction romance, Wanted and Wired, was selected as an Amazon Best Book of 2017 and a Romance Writers of America RITA finalist. A devoted fangirl and inveterate gamer, Viv lives in Austin, Texas, with a herd of small, hairy pets. Also a husband. Hang out with her on Twitter @Vivien_Jackson or on the web at VivienJackson.com.
