Ascendant

In the wake of OmniJoy’s collapse, seventeen-year-old Maya Thorne becomes the world’s most wanted terrorist after the rise of The Mesh, a system that links human minds into a peaceful, collective consciousness. As she faces a pivotal choice between embracing this blissful unity or fighting to preserve the painful but authentic aspects of humanity, Maya confronts the true cost of peace. With outside forces working to dismantle the system, she must decide how much of her individuality—and humanity—is willing to be sacrificed. This haunting dystopian sequel explores the moral tension between suffering and serenity, raising compelling questions about the nature of happiness and pain.