A Gentle Tyranny

Nedé Rising, Book 1

What if women unraveled the evils of patriarchy?

With men safely “gentled” in a worldwide Liberation, the matriarchy of Nedé has risen from the ashes. Seventeen-year-old Reina Pierce has never given a thought to the Brutes of old. Itching to escape her mother’s finca—and desperate to keep her training and forbidden friendship a secret—her greatest worry is which Destiny she’ll choose on her next birthday. But when she’s selected as a candidate for the Succession instead, competing to become Nedé’s ninth Matriarch, she discovers their Eden has come at a cost she’s not sure she’s willing to pay.

Jess Corban’s debut novel presents a new twist to the dystopian genre, delivering heart-pounding action, thought-provoking revelations, and a setting as lush as the jungles of Central America

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FREE Discussion Guide

Questions to dive deeper with your book club or classroom

Coming August 2021...

A Brutal Justice

Nedé Rising, Book 2

Protect the weak. Safety for all. Power without virtue is tyranny.

Nedé has a new Apprentice, and now Reina Pierce must come to grips with what she sacrificed to secure Matriarch Teera’s favor.

As secrets unfold and danger mounts, Reina will test the bounds of trust and be forced to answer the question that has haunted her since her first night in the jungle: Which is better—Gentle or Brute? And how far will she go to ensure tyranny is eradicated from Nedé?

In this fast-paced conclusion to the Nedé Rising series, A Brutal Justice weaves action, romance, and provocative questions into a finale that readers won’t be able to put down.

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Nedé Rising Series Q&A

Like so many books, this one began with the question “what if…?” My heart had been heavy over what seemed like story after story of women being mistreated, abused, and degraded by men. And the question came, “What if women could do something about it?” What would it take and how would the world look different? Would women wield power perfectly? Or is the problem deeper than gender?

While Nedé is a fictional place, the setting was inspired by my travels in breathtaking Central America. If you want to step into Reina’s world—cave kayaking, ancient ruins, tropical islands with world-class snorkeling, and even a bioluminescent lagoon—Belize is your place. For volcanos and the inspiration for Bella Terra, look no further than Costa Rica. Guatemala and Nicaragua also lent colorful inspiration to the series.

From idea to publication, five years! There were other projects peppered in there, but I have dedicated the better part of half a decade to writing, rewriting, and editing this series. It has been a huge learning experience and labor of love. I hope you enjoy it!

Reina is a girl after my heart in so many ways, but the character I had the most fun writing was Bri. What that says about me and the things I wish I could say, we’ll leave to my therapist to decipher.

At this point, A Brutal Justice concludes the series. But there are other stories to be told in Nedé, and with enough reader interest, I might be persuaded to tell them. 😉

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