Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik

Author: Jessie Mihalik
Title: Polaris Rising
Series: Consortium Rebellion #1
Genre: Science fiction/romance
Publisher: Harper Voyager

Links: Adlibris / Bokus / Goodreads

Polaris Rising was a huge surprise for me. I started listening to the audiobook on Storytel by chance, because I thought the plot sounded great and it was described as a "sexy space-opera". And I was hooked immediately. I liked the intrigue and the characters and I was never bored. The main character is Ada, who's the fifth child of six in one of the most important families in the universe. She's also run away from home, escaping an arranged marriage to a rivaling family. You see, the aristocrats grow up, being prepared for both treachery and espionage. But as much as she loves her family, Ada won't have it and decided to bail. Two years later, she's caught, meets a handsome, mighty dangerous fellah, escapes with him and comes over something that might start a war between the families. What will she do? Keep running, but be free to make her own decisions, or return to her family, risking both herself and her friends?

Okay, that's basically the plot (and the reason why I so rarely write summaries, because I never seem to get it right), but there's so much more going on. There's love and trust between friends and family, badassery, a not too complicated plot-line which still manages to make me interested in finding out more, space-ships, sexual tension (and okay, it does get a bit weird in those descriptions, but I hardly even notice anymore), intrigue, diplomacy, action and a beginning of a great background story. I can't wait to read the next book, which is about a character I definitely hoped I'd see more of. 

Also: It's a bit insta-love, but not so much as to be ridiculous, so I'm letting it pass. Loch is possessive, but not in a stifling way and Ada is so badass, she can take care of herself, thank you very much. I also loved the fact that Ada let herself have weaker moments - to let herself fall apart, to be able to put herself together even stronger and more purposeful. And the way the secondary characters where portrayed gave the story more depth and helped it move forward. Yeah, I liked this read. 

5/5 stun guns

/ Denise