Blurb: A space princess on the run and a notorious outlaw soldier become unlikely allies in this imaginative, sexy space opera adventure—the first in an exciting science fiction trilogy.
In the far distant future, the universe is officially ruled by the Royal Consortium, but the High Councillors, the heads of the three High Houses, wield the true power. As the fifth of six children, Ada von Hasenberg has no authority; her only value to her High House is as a pawn in a political marriage. When her father arranges for her to wed a noble from House Rockhurst, a man she neither wants nor loves, Ada seizes control of her own destiny. The spirited princess flees before the betrothal ceremony and disappears among the stars.
Ada eluded her father’s forces for two years, but now her luck has run out. To ensure she cannot escape again, the fiery princess is thrown into a prison cell with Marcus Loch. Known as the Devil of Fornax Zero, Loch is rumored to have killed his entire chain of command during the Fornax Rebellion, and the Consortium wants his head.
When the ship returning them to Earth is attacked by a battle cruiser from rival House Rockhurst, Ada realizes that if her jilted fiancé captures her, she’ll become a political prisoner and a liability to her House. Her only hope is to strike a deal with the dangerous fugitive: a fortune if he helps her escape.
But when you make a deal with an irresistibly attractive Devil, you may lose more than you bargained for . . .
Review: Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik was one of the books I stupidly put off reading. Sci-fi isn't my favorite subgenre of romance novels and I suppose I was just a little hesitant to throw myself into a book I might not love. But then I read Kill the Queen by Jennifer Estep--another book I stupidly put off reading--and when I discovered how amazing that book was I knew that I had to pick up Polaris Rising, too.
And damn, I was missing out.
Polaris Rising is everything I love in a romance novel. It's fast-paced and sexy, features a strong heroine and a buff hero with a wicked grin, and it takes place in a well-thought out, entrancing world. It's a story that gets right to the action and never misses a beat, just one exciting, nail-biting scene after another.
Ada is a competent, skilled, and dangerous heroine. She doesn't wait to be rescued, she does the rescuing. But one of my favorite parts about her is that she actually knew her limits. She wasn't one of those characters who charges headfirst into the action and damn the consequences. I particularly enjoyed this quote from a scene in which she was practicing her fighting skills with our hero, Marcus:
"Hand-to-hand fighting is a last resort for me, and I generally learned how to do it just long enough to make an opportunity to run." I blocked a stomach blow then flowed away from a right cross that would've clipped my shoulder. "Which means I fight dirty then run away."
She's the sort of heroine you wish you were. She's not ashamed of her limitations, she works within them.
As far as heroes go, Marcus Loch isn't all that unique--he's handsome, buff, devilish, and sarcastic--but you won't hear me complaining. He's a hunk of muscle with the brains to match and will be the star of many a reader's fantasy. I loved that he didn't treat Ada like a fragile creature, but trusted in her abilities as a fighter and a strategist. A partner, rather than someone to protect every step of the way.
Jessie Mihalik's writing talent and world-building is on par with Sherrilyn Kenyon (although her book was a little less confusing than some of the more recent Kenyon books with all those names and places and relationships I cannot remember). Overall, Polaris Rising is an amazing addition to the world of romance novels & the sci-fi subgenre.
You can pre-order it today. It's out February 5th!