Rise of the Protector (Jinx Chronicles) by Winn Taylor
If the witty banter and steadfast loyalty of Chronicles of Nick is your jam, and you jones for the fast pace of Warcross, you’ll devour Rise of the Protector. It’s packed with the sort of suspense, heart, and humor that keeps the pages turning well past bedtime.
AT SEVENTEEN, Jinx is doing a below-average job of staying out of trouble.
In her defense, being the first and only reject from the Virtual World she was born to enter was a bit of a bummer.
While every other denizen on her space station trains for their future life in the VR (a virtual reality designed for discovering higher wisdom and recording it), Jinx prepares for Galactic Release by shifting her trouble-making into overdrive.
When she isn’t sneaking into restricted areas, she’s devising ways to check on the only denizen she cares for, Laris (the girl soon to make her feel flush in unexpected ways).
But when the space station’s VR goes into lockdown, trapping Laris and thousands more, Jinx is pulled into a mystery. Her race to uncover the truth reveals galactic thugs hunting her kind, an annoying zealot undermining her every move, and a hazardous virtual landscape to navigate.
So yeah, Jinx has got her hands full.
Fortunately, she’s got a waggish geek and an ice cream addicted tween AI who’ll risk their backsides to make sure she fulfills her so-called destiny. Not to mention a few new powers that’ll come in handy . . . if she can stay alive long enough to discover them.
Fingers crossed she’ll master her inner hero. The survival of Laris, humanity, and all organic life depends on it.
But, hey, no pressure. She’s got till the end of the day.
REVIEWS
If you like a kickass heroine with a sense of humor and a dash of snark, well then, meet Jinx. Rise of the Protector is the YA SciFi-Fantasy /Light Romance that will leave you wanting more!
I love Jinx. The prose is excellent. The emotion is so often exquisitely handled. The ideas are fun, especially the crossbreeding between the spiritual and the science fictional. The dialogue is crisp and often hilarious, and I got very emotionally invested. — Amy Bennet, Former Locus magazine editor and critically acclaimed and agented novelist.
I LOVED your story. Absolutely riveting! The characters were vibrant, relatable, and easy to like, and your storyline was creative and engaging. You are truly a gifted writer with a strong sense of humor! I can't wait for more. — India, Fiverr.com Review
OBSESSED. This has been an absolute JOY to read. Such a great story! The writing was incredible. Seriously, it was so fun to read and well-done. I loved the story! — Alex, Fiverr.com Review