Universe of Lost Messages
by Janet Stilson

What if your child has special powers and can get people to do almost anything? What happens if the child is abducted?

Izzie and Tristan were never mere humans. They are Charismites, with almost god-like powers of magnetism. And they couldn’t be more different. Izzie is a reckless, playful megastar whose popularity far exceeds that of any other celebrity. Tristan is a nature-loving recluse, almost completely unknown to anyone beyond a protective biodome.

Their worlds explode when they are abducted by The Fist, a power-hungry political group with a master plan to control the hearts and minds of all people on Earth and satellite colonies beyond. But the plan only works with the help of Charismites.

Their families don’t have much to go on until a feisty, street-wise teen, Cheeta, discovers clues about the Charismites within a strange metaverse filled with millions of missing messages. But will they actually find them? And can they destroy The Fist before they take over the planet?

Filled with an eclectic cast of characters, a slow-burn romance, humor, and wonderful descriptions of a sensual and sometimes violent world, Universe of Lost Messages is a stand-alone sequel to Janet Stilson’s beloved novel, The Juice. Fans of William Gibson, Margaret Atwood, dystopian novels and science fiction thriller books will devour this masterful adventure.

5 out of 5 fairies

Stilson has done an amazing job building a futuristic, unique world, with descriptions that drop you right in, and believable characters. I love the world that’s been built – the robots, the tech, the Charismites. (Although I’m not sure if I’d want to live in that world, I love visiting! But I wouldn’t turn down having one of those food machines in my kitchen…) The different classes and the various opportunities they’re afforded adds to the depth of the world, especially the ability to climb your way up to the higher classes. The cast of characters added in the intro was super helpful, and gives you an idea of who you’ll be meeting once you dive in. The story itself moves along at a good pace, and there’s rarely a dull moment. You’ll find it hard to put this down once you start, as the characters, tension, and twists will keep you captivated from cover to cover.

Amazon | Goodreads

Janet Stilson writes scripts, novels and short stories that largely fall in the sci-fi and fantasy genres and illuminate the human condition in provocative ways.

Her work has been selected to be part of the Writers’ Lab for Women, which is funded by Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman. And it’s also been published by the esteemed sci-fi literary magazine Asimov’s.

As a journalist, Janet got her “chops” at the storied showbiz bible Variety. She has traveled the world, chronicling the business of media. Learn more on janetstilson.com, or connect with her on Instagram @janetstilson and Facebook @authorjanetstilson.