Polaris Rising

by Jessie Mihalik, Emily Woo Zeller (Read by)

Overview

“Polaris Rising is space opera at its best, intense and addictive, a story of honor, courage, betrayal, and love. Jessie Mihalik is  an author to watch.”—Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author

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 . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781982609481
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/05/2019
Series:	Consortium Rebellion Trilogy, 1
Edition description:	Library Edition
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.50(h) x 5.00(d)

About the Author

Jessie Mihalik has a degree in computer science and a love of all things geeky. A software engineer by trade, Jessie now writes full time from her home in Texas. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing co-op video games with her husband, trying out new board games, or reading books pulled from her overflowing bookshelves. Polaris Rising is her debut novel.

Editorial Reviews

11/12/2018
The opener to Mihalik’s debut trilogy, a simplistic space opera with a side of erotica, starts far too slowly and fails to build dramatic tension even in its most frantic escape scenes, while both character and plot development lean toward the bland and stereotyped. Ada von Hasenberg, fifth child of one of the three High Houses of the Consortium, has spent two years running from her father’s forces in order to avoid a political marriage. As she eludes pursuit by her undesired betrothed, Richard Rockhurst, she finds an unlikely ally: fugitive Marcus Loch, considered one of the universe’s most dangerous criminals. After a bit of hopping planets, manipulating connections, and killing people who are in the way, Ada and Marcus end up with a stolen House Rockhurst ship with a new kind of faster-than-light travel technology, an understanding that the failure of Ada and Richard’s union means inter-House war, and a sexual connection too strong to ignore. Mihalik‘s storytelling leaves an impression of having checked off plot requirements and never draws readers into Ada’s world, leaving them bored well before the end. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

This is space-opera adventure and sweeping romance in equal parts, an enthralling and eminently satisfying book.

New York Times Book Review

The badass space princess adventure we deserve.

Kit Rocha

Along with her remarkable world building, Mihalik introduces rich supporting characters that are deftly drawn into both the running battles as well as the layered political intrigue... Polaris Rising sets a magnificent stage for Mihalik’s next installment in the Consortium Rebellion trilogy.

BookPage.com

POLARIS RISING is space opera at its best, intense and addictive, a story of honor, courage, betrayal, and love. Jessie Mihalik is  an author to watch.

Ilona Andrews

An intoxicating journey through the galaxy.

Entertainment Weekly

I loved everything about this story...when I finished and the story left me craving more of this world and characters. Highly recommend!”

Jeffe Kennedy

Heart-pounding futuristic action and scorching chemistry make Polaris Rising a thrilling ride. A gripping and sexy space adventure!

Amanda Bouchet

Read this book. Right now. Immediately.

Smart Bitches

12/01/2018

DEBUT Ada von Hasenburg is the fifth of six children, and as a member of one of the High Houses that head the Royal Consortium and rule the universe, she's worth a lot to her family. Rather than be married off to rival house member Richard Rockhurst, Ada decides to run away. Discovered after two years, she's locked away with the notorious Devil of Fornax Zero, Marcus Loch. When their ship is intercepted by one from House Rockhurst, captained by none other than Ada's discarded fiancé, she knows that in his hands she will be no more than a prisoner and a detriment to her house. So what else can a space princess do but make a deal with a devil? Smart dialog among sharp-witted characters, as well as tight action scenes and a bit of sex and romance all come together for an exciting tale across the stars. VERDICT This fun debut frolics through the space opera setup with an exciting and brave new heroine.—Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Library Journal

03/01/2019

As the fifth child of a family of six, 23-year-old Ada von Hasenberg is not particularly valuable to her wealthy family. Her marital alliance and subsequent espionage on behalf of House von Hasenberg (one of the three High Houses that wield power in this universe) are her assets in this carefully plotted novel that blends science fiction and political intrigue. Ada's strength is tempered by her vulnerability. No political plot is complete without a completely unsuitable love interest, and Marcus Loch plays that role well. Initially brought together out of self-preservation, the pair heat up the story with barely restrained sexual tension. Ada and Loch are joined by two unlikely accomplices in their effort to uncover the machinations of House Rockhurst (technology is decidedly on the side of House Rockhurst). Will their discoveries avert a war between the High Houses? The characters and romances are deliciously predictable, and the action is nonstop, though the writing gets slightly repetitive. VERDICT A series starter for those who enjoyed Melissa Landers's "Staflight" series or Sharon Shinn's Shattered Warrior. Purchase for teens who prefer more mature themes and off-planet action.—Jodeana Kruse, R.A. Long High School, Longview, WA

School Library Journal

2018-11-12

Mihalik debuts with the first book of a science-fiction trilogy filled with high-tech action, political intrigue, and steamy romance.

Two years ago, Ada von Hasenberg, fifth daughter of the powerful von Hasenberg House, fled the life her father arranged for her: a political engagement to a rival House in order to spy on her husband-to-be. Using all her von Hasenberg training—a skill set that includes hacking, combat, and social manipulation—Ada ran. But when she's captured by bounty hunters eager to claim her father's reward, Ada meets their other prisoner: a dangerous murderer named Loch. Loch's personal magnetism draws Ada even as his violent reputation makes her wary. But when her jilted fiance, Richard Rockhurst, intercepts the bounty hunters' ship, Ada must ally with Loch whether she trusts him or not. Together, they escape Richard and make it to a frozen backwater planet, but Richard pursues. As they evade his men and plan a way to get off-world, Loch and Ada start to trust each other—something that comes naturally to neither of them. When Loch is captured, Ada rescues him with the help of her new ally, a fence named Veronica. The three of them pull off an audacious theft of Richard's ship—and discover that it has technological secrets that could change the balance of power for everyone. The ship isn't the only thing with secrets: Loch's mysterious past threatens the highest levels of government. To save her new (and old) friends, as well as her House, Ada will need to exercise all her ingenuity and ruthlessness and play the political game like the thing she least wants to be: a von Hasenberg.

Fast-paced space opera, filled with daring rescues and blaster fire, thrown into high gear by the passionate romance between the lead characters.

Kirkus Reviews