Polaris by Mindee Arnett: Review

Synopsis:

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of mercenaries are pulled into one last high-stakes mission in this breathtaking sequel to Mindee Arnett’s fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi thriller Avalon.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew are on the run. The ITA, still holding Jeth’s mother in a remote research lab, is now intent on acquiring the metatech secrets Jeth’s sister Cora carries inside her DNA, and Jeth is desperate to find the resources he needs to rescue his mother and start a new life outside the Confederation. But the ITA is just as desperate, and Jeth soon finds himself pursued by a mysterious figure hell-bent on capturing him and his crew—dead or alive.

With nowhere to run and only one play left, Jeth enters into a bargain with the last person he ever thought he’d see again: Daxton Price, the galaxy’s newest and most fearsome crime lord. Dax promises to help Jeth, but his help will only come at a price—a price that could mean sacrificing everything Jeth has fought for until now.

The conclusion to the story Mindee Arnett began in her acclaimed novelAvalon, Polaris is a dangerous journey into the spaces between power and corruption, life and death, the parts of ourselves we leave behind, and the parts we struggle to hold on to.

***

"A wise man once said if you meet a thief, you may suspect him to be no true man."

I remember liking Avalon very much. But I can't seem to find that sort of fondness towards Polaris. Which is weird, because Polaris is a lot like Avalon. A shit ton of stuff still happens in the book. Even more is at stake in the book. The world is getting more complex. However, the characters are lacking. They are not as vivid as in the first book. I find myself actually getting bored reading the book. 

Good things:

Well, the plot is still good. Surely the whole "a lot of things are at stake" thing is no joke. I like how the implant plays a bigger role in the book. As Jeth describes, the implant is like a "living thing". It controls a lot of your actions and thoughts, changing the person that you once were. It's more of a mental game than a physical battle. A lot of stuff has changed in the book. The relationship between people, and new threats are emerging. The addition of a bigger antagonist is exciting. However, he should be in the picture and should play a bigger role, instead of appearing briefly towards the end of the book.

Things that I don't really like:

The character strength are generally dwindling. Especially Jeth. He was quite a cunning and quick-witted person in Avalon. But that seems to degrade in the sequel. He's desperate and unable to make considerate decisions. In fact, everyone is getting desperate in Polaris, some more than others. That leads to events I'm not particularly happy with. The only part that I actually like is the growing importance of Aileen in Polaris. She's probably the only character I'm interested in the whole book. 

The ending is not particularly impressive either. It's not bad, of course. I just feel kind of sad that a duology has to end that way, when the first book is really great. Although it's fairly constructed, it's very predictable and you pretty much expects that's how things will go when the objective is revealed. It's a good thing that it's a duology. I'm sure I will flip out if that's the end of a trilogy.

Polaris is not bad. But it's not good for a last-installment.

Rating: 6/10

TBR #9: January 2014

2013 is slipping away fast and 2014 is coming! The first month is always the best and the worst. Best, because this is the first, after all, and anticipation is growing fast. Worst, because this is also the month of school tests, which is the sole reason why I'm reading fewer and fewer books these days. Some of the books above are sequels in series which I haven't even read the first book. So yeah, my situation is pretty grim.

Here am I, presenting my TBR list in January 2014.

1. Enders (Starters #2) by Lissa Price

Synopsis:

With the Prime Destinations body bank destroyed, Callie no longer has to rent herself out to creepy Enders. But Enders can still get inside her mind and make her do things she doesn't want to do. Like hurt someone she loves. Having the chip removed could save Callie's life - but it could also silence the voice in her head that might belong to her father. Callie has flashes of her ex-renter Helena's memories, too ...and the Old Man is back, filling her with fear. Who is real and who is masquerading in a teen body? This is the thrilling sequel to "Starters".

Expected Publication: January 7, 2014

2. Erased (Altered #2) by Jennifer Rush

Synopsis:

They thought they had escaped. They were wrong.

After fleeing the Branch with Sam, Cas, and Nick, Anna is trying to make sense of the memories resurfacing from her old life. At the same time, she's learning how to survive in hiding, following Sam's rules: Don't draw attention to yourself. Always carry a weapon. Know your surroundings. Watch your back.

Then a figure from Anna's childhood reappears. Is it a Branch setup, or could it be the reunion Anna has hoped for? Uncertain of where her loyalties lie, Anna must fight to learn the truth -- before she is betrayed again. Ultimately, the answers hinge on one question: What was the real reason her memories were erased?

Jennifer Rush delivers a thrilling sequel to Altered in a novel packed with mysteries, lies, and surprises that are sure to keep readers guessing until the last age is turned.

Expected Publication: January 7, 2014

3. Vitro (Origin) by Jessica Khoury

Synopsis:

A death-defying tropical adventure delivers a frightening message about dabbling with creation from the talented author of Origin.

On a remote island in the Pacific, Corpus scientists have taken test tube embryos and given them life. These beings—the Vitros—have knowledge and abilities most humans can only dream of. But they also have one enormous flaw.

Sophie Crue is determined to get to Skin Island and find her mother, a scientist who left Sophie behind years ago. She enlists hunky charter pilot Jim Julien to take her there. But once on the island, Sophie and Jim encounter more than they bargained for, including a charming, brilliant Vitro named Nicholas and an innocent, newly awoken one named Lux.

In a race for their lives, Sophie and Jim are about to discover what happens when science stretches too far beyond its reach.

Expected Publication: January 14, 2014

4. Evertrue (Everneath #3) by Brodi Ashton

Synopsis:

Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But Cole tricked Nikki into feeding off him, and she’s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself... which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon — or die.

Terrified for her survival, Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process using any means possible. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally — but how long can it last? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him — and together, they must travel back to the Underworld to undo Nikki’s fate and make her mortal once more. But Cole isn’t the only one with plans for Nikki: the Queen has not forgotten Nikki’s treachery, and she wants her destroyed for good. Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the Underworld, or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?

In this stunning conclusion to the Everneath trilogy, Brodi Ashton evokes the resiliency of the human spirit and the indomitable power of true love.

Expected Publication: January 21, 2014

5. The Course of True Love [And First Dates] by Cassandra Clare

Synopsis:

Magnus Bane and Alec Lightwood might fall in love—but first they have a first date.

When Magnus Bane, warlock, meets Alec Lightwood, Shadowhunter, sparks fly. And what happens on their first date lights a flame...

Expected Publication: January 21, 2014

6. Avalon (Avalon #1) by Mindee Arnett

Synopsis:

A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.

Expected Publication: January 21, 2014

Check out my review of Avalon here: http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2013/12/avalon-review.html

7. Into The Still Blue (Under The Never Sky #3) by Veronica Rossi

Synopsis:

The earth-shattering conclusion to Veronica Rossi's "masterpiece" Under the Never Sky trilogy and sequel to the New York Times bestselling Through the Ever Night (Examiner.com).

Their love and their leadership have been tested. Now it's time for Perry and Aria to unite the Dwellers and the Outsiders in one last desperate attempt to bring balance to their world.

The race to the Still Blue has reached a stalemate. Aria and Perry are determined to find this last safe-haven from the Aether storms before Sable and Hess do-and they are just as determined to stay together.

Meanwhile, time is running out to rescue Cinder, who was abducted by Hess and Sable for his unique abilities. And when Roar returns to camp, he is so furious with Perry that he won't even look at him, and Perry begins to feel like they have already lost.

Out of options, Perry and Aria assemble a team to mount an impossible rescue mission-because Cinder isn't just the key to unlocking the Still Blue and their only hope for survival, he's also their friend. And in a dying world, the bonds between people are what matter most.

In this final book in her stunning Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi raises the stakes to their absolute limit and brings her epic love story to an unforgettable close.

Expected Publication: January 28, 2014

Check out my review of Into The Still Blue here: http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2013/12/into-still-blue-arc-review.html

8. Uninvited (Uninvited #1) by Sophie Jordan

Synopsis:

The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.

Expected Publication: January 28, 2014

9. Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Synopsis:

Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

Expected Publication: January 28, 2014

Avalon: Review

Synopsis:

A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.

***

Avalon takes space traveling to a whole new level. The concept of metatech, starships traveling between stars that lies thousands of light years from each other as well as Earth (aka First Earth), the corruption of the ITA, all the secrets behind ITA...this makes up one of the greatest story I've ever read.

Avalon is unique. There are no good guys in the book. Not even the main protagonist, Jeth. Everyone has their own agenda and ends. And they will do anything -- including betraying their own family or friends in order to achieve their goal. The big bad hides a lot of secrets. Secrets that will have you stunned and horrified. These leads to only one thing: Surprises. And Avalon is full of surprises. Right from the first chapter of the book. And the trend continues in the book, leaving me breathless and awed.

Despite all the betrayal and secrets in Avalon, one thing stands out from all the darkness: loyalty. The loyalty of Jeth's crew towards Jeth is remarkable. Even when Jeth makes wrong decisions. Even when the whole team is on the verge of dying. Even if they are safe from harm. They don't leave Jeth behind. It's not something you will see every day in this world, let alone the dark futuristic world. 

I'm so glad that I find a great new series. My only regret is that I didn't buy Proxy from Amazon. I'm sure Proxy will be a good prequel for a book as explosive as Avalon. 

Rating: 8.5/10

Teaser Tuesday: Avalon by Mindee Arnett

This weekly bookish meme is host by MizB @ Should Be Reading

To participate you:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn¡¦t give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
5. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

This week I choose Avalon (Avalon #1) by Mindee Arnett

Jeth sighed. And this is why cats have no business on starships.

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