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Avalon #2
Polaris
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 novel Avalon, 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.
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 novel Avalon, 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.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 20, 2015
About the author
Mindee Arnett
12 books1,420 followersYA Author of Onyx Ivory, Avalon, and the Arkwell Academy series. Represented by the fabulous Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary. Addicted to jumping horses and telling tales of magic, the macabre, and outer space.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
January 9, 2017
Polaris is the final book in the Avalon duology. The first book, Avalon, follows Jeth and his band of friends who steal space ships for an interstellar crime boss. I thought the first book had a ton of potential and was a fun ride. It deals with a Bermuda triangle-like part of space that messes with the threads of reality, and set up a lot of potential for the second book.
This series ran out of time, sadly. It's one of those rare instances where a trilogy would have been a better fit than a duology. It packed a lot of information into the second book, and it didn't have enough time to wrap everything up successfully. There were so many points that weren't explored enough, and whether it was character relationships, character development, or cool elements of the world. I can always use more description of scifi tech, particularly in this world where a lot of interesting, unique things were introduced, but so many of the elements were dropped. Even the villain felt one dimensional in a lot of ways.
I wish this series had more time. It was still fun, but it could have been so much more.This review was originally posted on Thoughts on Tomes
This series ran out of time, sadly. It's one of those rare instances where a trilogy would have been a better fit than a duology. It packed a lot of information into the second book, and it didn't have enough time to wrap everything up successfully. There were so many points that weren't explored enough, and whether it was character relationships, character development, or cool elements of the world. I can always use more description of scifi tech, particularly in this world where a lot of interesting, unique things were introduced, but so many of the elements were dropped. Even the villain felt one dimensional in a lot of ways.
I wish this series had more time. It was still fun, but it could have been so much more.This review was originally posted on Thoughts on Tomes
January 15, 2015
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Polaris by Mindee Arnett
Book Two of the Avalon series
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: January 20, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
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 novel Avalon, 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.
What I Liked:
Oh Polaris. How you broke my heart and had me on the edge of my seat and then broke my heart all over again. I thought Avalon was tragic and heart-stopping and exciting - but I feel like Polaris outdid Avalon. Arnett definitely did not hold back when it came to sacrifices and such. Personally, I thought Polaris was even better than Avalon!
Polaris begins at a fast pace, in with Jeth and the crew are fleeing from Wainright and the ITA. Within chapters of the story starting, someone crucial is dead. Jeth struggles to regroup his team and move forward. But then Jeth, the crew, and Avalon are captured by Dax, a new crime lord, who has made a deal with Marian Seagrave - Jeth's mother. Jeth has to work with Dax in order to protect his family and friends, but it will cost him dearly.
To be honest, I didn't remember a lot of specific things that happened in Avalon, and I thought that would be an issue, but it wasn't. If you don't recall events in the first book, that's totally okay! Arnett makes it easy for us - by either prepping us in the beginning of Polaris with details we need to know, or by continuing the story without us needing to know much from Avalon. It was easy to slip right into the action of Polaris!
The story was not-stop action! There is the book's action, and there is the series's action, which crossed over and tied things together. I was hoping the conflict with Empyria would have been more centralized in this novel, but saving Marian and not giving Dax what he wanted were important too. There are a lot of new characters in this book, so that allows for tons of crazy action and scheming and potential betrayals and whatnot.
I love science fiction, and this book/series is heavily science-based. However, it's not so much that the average reader will feel overwhelmed or lost in the science. Arnett does a great job of keeping things simple, but making sure there are explanations to the science of this world.
Jeth has a lot of internal struggling, in this book. Implants are kind of a huge thing in the series. Once you have an implant, the person with the master implant can basically control you. And you're connected to everyone else who has an implant, so everyone can hear and see your thoughts. Jeth struggles with being able to control himself and his thoughts, if he were to follow through with Dax and his mother's crazy plan. In the end, we know he is going to have to make a huge choice, and he does.
The romance is there, but it's not important. Like, if you're hoping for a steamy or slow-burn or hot romance, you're not going to get that in this series. I like the romance in this series, but it's not steamy or anything. No insta-love, and no love triangle though. ALSO. I like the romance because the characters aren't professing their undying love for each other like lovesick idiots. Which I liked.
Overall, I liked this book a lot. I was terrified of certain things happening (and some of them happened), and I was pleased by other things happened, and I was sad because of the deaths. There was one particular loss that crushed me... but I understand why Arnett did it. The ending, overall, is pretty satisfying. Not bittersweet!
What I Did Not Like:
I mentioned earlier in my review, I had hoped for more about the Pyreans - that Empyria would be more centralized in this book. It doesn't really pick up speed until the last 20% or so. I feel like there are certain things leading up to Empyria, but I wanted more? It's hard to describe what I'm trying to convey. Perhaps Arnett did it perfectly and I have no idea what I'm saying. I just feel like I wanted more, in terms of Empyria/the Pyreans.
Would I Recommend It:
I liked this book a lot, as well as Avalon, so I would highly recommend the series! Science fiction, thriller, awesome story, not a trilogy... I'm all for it!
Rating:
4 stars. Definitely a great example of an excellent space opera in YA science fiction. I hope to see more well-written space opera series like this in the future!
Polaris by Mindee Arnett
Book Two of the Avalon series
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: January 20, 2015
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
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 novel Avalon, 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.
What I Liked:
Oh Polaris. How you broke my heart and had me on the edge of my seat and then broke my heart all over again. I thought Avalon was tragic and heart-stopping and exciting - but I feel like Polaris outdid Avalon. Arnett definitely did not hold back when it came to sacrifices and such. Personally, I thought Polaris was even better than Avalon!
Polaris begins at a fast pace, in with Jeth and the crew are fleeing from Wainright and the ITA. Within chapters of the story starting, someone crucial is dead. Jeth struggles to regroup his team and move forward. But then Jeth, the crew, and Avalon are captured by Dax, a new crime lord, who has made a deal with Marian Seagrave - Jeth's mother. Jeth has to work with Dax in order to protect his family and friends, but it will cost him dearly.
To be honest, I didn't remember a lot of specific things that happened in Avalon, and I thought that would be an issue, but it wasn't. If you don't recall events in the first book, that's totally okay! Arnett makes it easy for us - by either prepping us in the beginning of Polaris with details we need to know, or by continuing the story without us needing to know much from Avalon. It was easy to slip right into the action of Polaris!
The story was not-stop action! There is the book's action, and there is the series's action, which crossed over and tied things together. I was hoping the conflict with Empyria would have been more centralized in this novel, but saving Marian and not giving Dax what he wanted were important too. There are a lot of new characters in this book, so that allows for tons of crazy action and scheming and potential betrayals and whatnot.
I love science fiction, and this book/series is heavily science-based. However, it's not so much that the average reader will feel overwhelmed or lost in the science. Arnett does a great job of keeping things simple, but making sure there are explanations to the science of this world.
Jeth has a lot of internal struggling, in this book. Implants are kind of a huge thing in the series. Once you have an implant, the person with the master implant can basically control you. And you're connected to everyone else who has an implant, so everyone can hear and see your thoughts. Jeth struggles with being able to control himself and his thoughts, if he were to follow through with Dax and his mother's crazy plan. In the end, we know he is going to have to make a huge choice, and he does.
The romance is there, but it's not important. Like, if you're hoping for a steamy or slow-burn or hot romance, you're not going to get that in this series. I like the romance in this series, but it's not steamy or anything. No insta-love, and no love triangle though. ALSO. I like the romance because the characters aren't professing their undying love for each other like lovesick idiots. Which I liked.
Overall, I liked this book a lot. I was terrified of certain things happening (and some of them happened), and I was pleased by other things happened, and I was sad because of the deaths. There was one particular loss that crushed me... but I understand why Arnett did it. The ending, overall, is pretty satisfying. Not bittersweet!
What I Did Not Like:
I mentioned earlier in my review, I had hoped for more about the Pyreans - that Empyria would be more centralized in this book. It doesn't really pick up speed until the last 20% or so. I feel like there are certain things leading up to Empyria, but I wanted more? It's hard to describe what I'm trying to convey. Perhaps Arnett did it perfectly and I have no idea what I'm saying. I just feel like I wanted more, in terms of Empyria/the Pyreans.
Would I Recommend It:
I liked this book a lot, as well as Avalon, so I would highly recommend the series! Science fiction, thriller, awesome story, not a trilogy... I'm all for it!
Rating:
4 stars. Definitely a great example of an excellent space opera in YA science fiction. I hope to see more well-written space opera series like this in the future!
January 17, 2018
A really solid conclusion to the Avalon duology. The series was very entertaining, and a page turner all the way through. I think it's one of the better YA SF space adventure stories around, and would be a good pick if you liked Starflight by Melissa Landers and wanted something along the same lines.
December 23, 2014
I'm sad it's over! I loved it, and all the action scenes...full review to come! :)
December 27, 2022
Polaris is the sequel to Avalon and continues the story of Jeth Seagrave now a wanted criminal with the might of the ITA after him. Jeth just wants to rescue his mother to start a new life out of the confederation however first they must free the Empyrian race which is held prisoner by the ITA who is using them to enable interstellar space travel.
Its alot of fun and full of space fights, deals with enemys, new characters who may not be who the first seem, dangerous heists and plenty of tension.
Not everyone will make it out of this mission alive but will they be able to rescue Jeths mother and save the Empyrian race before its too late?
Not as good as Avalon but a fine ending to the two book series. If you like light science fiction or space operas check it out.
Its alot of fun and full of space fights, deals with enemys, new characters who may not be who the first seem, dangerous heists and plenty of tension.
Not everyone will make it out of this mission alive but will they be able to rescue Jeths mother and save the Empyrian race before its too late?
Not as good as Avalon but a fine ending to the two book series. If you like light science fiction or space operas check it out.
April 14, 2018
4.5 stars
That was great!!! I never expected to love this book as much as the first, but it's a sequel done right!
Polaris takes place several months after the events of Avalon, and we follow Jeth and his crew on a new adventure. But this time, there are also some new crew members around and we are introduced to some new characters. Again, this book is fast paced and has almost non stop action. Plus everything else I'm looking for in an entertaining sci-fi novel!
Spaceships? ✔
Technology? ✔
'Aliens'? ✔
It's all there, and I loved how well everything came together.
The plot is so exciting, making for a super quick read. I couldn't put the book down! Alliances are forged and destroyed, there's love, friendship (again, the crew gave me some Six Of Crows vibes), family, betrayal and the question of who you can trust. There are awsome battles (both in space and planetside) and there's also death and destruction. I'd never expected to be so touched by a spaceship getting blown up, but I was. This was not ok!!
In between there are always some slower chapters with a lot of dialogue in which we get to know the new characters and some important background information. This is something a good sci-fi novel needs imo: explanation of how all the tech and stuff works. Some things I already knew from the first book, some new stuff (especially regarding the 'aliens') was introduced in Polaris.
I liked Jeth as a MC, he definitely cares and his inner struggle became really clear throughout the book. I also really like his sister Lizzie, without whom the crew wouldn't be able to pull some of the stuff off. I love that the crew is a mixture of males and females from children up to 'older' people, and everyone is equally important. Some of the minor characters could've been a bit better developed, but this really wasn't a big deal. They're minor characters, after all^^
The last thing I just have to talk about is the ending. It was great! There was soo much going on, but still it didn't feel rushed. There was this one scene where I really held my breath. And the last chapter, the very ending, felt just so right. I was so happy for the characters and couldn't help but smile. This duulogy came to a great conclusion and Polaris is a sequel that definitely doesn't have to hide behind the first book!
Recommended? Yes, absolutely! A great duology if you're into sci-fi and looking for some heartpounding action and a book to leave the real world behind for some hours!
That was great!!! I never expected to love this book as much as the first, but it's a sequel done right!
Polaris takes place several months after the events of Avalon, and we follow Jeth and his crew on a new adventure. But this time, there are also some new crew members around and we are introduced to some new characters. Again, this book is fast paced and has almost non stop action. Plus everything else I'm looking for in an entertaining sci-fi novel!
Spaceships? ✔
Technology? ✔
'Aliens'? ✔
It's all there, and I loved how well everything came together.
The plot is so exciting, making for a super quick read. I couldn't put the book down! Alliances are forged and destroyed, there's love, friendship (again, the crew gave me some Six Of Crows vibes), family, betrayal and the question of who you can trust. There are awsome battles (both in space and planetside) and there's also death and destruction. I'd never expected to be so touched by a spaceship getting blown up, but I was. This was not ok!!
In between there are always some slower chapters with a lot of dialogue in which we get to know the new characters and some important background information. This is something a good sci-fi novel needs imo: explanation of how all the tech and stuff works. Some things I already knew from the first book, some new stuff (especially regarding the 'aliens') was introduced in Polaris.
I liked Jeth as a MC, he definitely cares and his inner struggle became really clear throughout the book. I also really like his sister Lizzie, without whom the crew wouldn't be able to pull some of the stuff off. I love that the crew is a mixture of males and females from children up to 'older' people, and everyone is equally important. Some of the minor characters could've been a bit better developed, but this really wasn't a big deal. They're minor characters, after all^^
The last thing I just have to talk about is the ending. It was great! There was soo much going on, but still it didn't feel rushed. There was this one scene where I really held my breath. And the last chapter, the very ending, felt just so right. I was so happy for the characters and couldn't help but smile. This duulogy came to a great conclusion and Polaris is a sequel that definitely doesn't have to hide behind the first book!
Recommended? Yes, absolutely! A great duology if you're into sci-fi and looking for some heartpounding action and a book to leave the real world behind for some hours!
December 28, 2017
Avalon ends with a "happy for now" ending with Hammer defeated and Jeth Seagrave's ally Dax in a position of power. But there's still a problem with metatech, the ITA still want Cora back desperately and the Seagrave kids' mother is still an experimental subject of the ITA.
And by the time of this book Jeth and the crew of the Avalon aren’t doing so great. After a disastrous introduction to the big bad of the ITA, Jeth finds himself in the hands of Dax again, who has a whole new outlook and agenda, and a very familiar way of ensuring Jeth’s loyalty.
This is a great conclusion to the duology (although there’s clearly room for the series to continue). The “upping the ante” from the previous book is the starting position of this one and stakes just increase from there. I do have an issue with a major plot point though (very spoilery: )
And by the time of this book Jeth and the crew of the Avalon aren’t doing so great. After a disastrous introduction to the big bad of the ITA, Jeth finds himself in the hands of Dax again, who has a whole new outlook and agenda, and a very familiar way of ensuring Jeth’s loyalty.
This is a great conclusion to the duology (although there’s clearly room for the series to continue). The “upping the ante” from the previous book is the starting position of this one and stakes just increase from there. I do have an issue with a major plot point though (very spoilery: )
February 7, 2017
I'm actually really sad to have finished this series. I thought Polaris was even better than Avalon and I really enjoyed Avalon!
The author pulled no punches and from the beginning, crushed my heart! The action was non-stop and I stayed up way too late because I had to read "just one more chapter, oh oh, now I have to find out how they get out of this... ok, 2 more chapters..." and before I knew it, another hour had passed. I loved the motley crew of Avalon, especially Lizzie and Cora. And I was very satisfied with the series ending. Nice treat to start off the new year with!!
The author pulled no punches and from the beginning, crushed my heart! The action was non-stop and I stayed up way too late because I had to read "just one more chapter, oh oh, now I have to find out how they get out of this... ok, 2 more chapters..." and before I knew it, another hour had passed. I loved the motley crew of Avalon, especially Lizzie and Cora. And I was very satisfied with the series ending. Nice treat to start off the new year with!!
August 25, 2017
Actual rating 4.5 stars
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
Check out my series review here: https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/...
Critically
Plot – 4.5 out of 5 stars
action packed, full of death, despair, themes of family, friendship, romance, betrayal, it’s full of twists and turns and exciting, yet not enough to get 5 stars from me
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
fast paced, engaging, entertaining, much deeper and emotional this time around, not too complicated when it came to the science aspect, you can tell the author has great ideas and a huge imagination.
Characters – 4.5 out of 5 stars
This second book was much better in regards to the characters, I felt more connected to them and their struggles and it made the story much more exciting. I’m still not 100% in with Jeth, he’s cool and I liked his personality but sometimes he felt too teenager for my liking, specially considering his current situation. He’s strong but he’s also a lot more vulnerable in this one. He’s angry, emotional and helpless sometimes. There’s also a few more side characters in this book that take more of a center stage. They’re really interesting and complex and sometimes even weirder and creepier than I ever expected. It had something to do with some science experiments and crazy stuff like that and it would’ve been cool to find out more about that.
Emotionally
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
Check out my series review here: https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/...
Critically
Plot – 4.5 out of 5 stars
action packed, full of death, despair, themes of family, friendship, romance, betrayal, it’s full of twists and turns and exciting, yet not enough to get 5 stars from me
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
fast paced, engaging, entertaining, much deeper and emotional this time around, not too complicated when it came to the science aspect, you can tell the author has great ideas and a huge imagination.
Characters – 4.5 out of 5 stars
This second book was much better in regards to the characters, I felt more connected to them and their struggles and it made the story much more exciting. I’m still not 100% in with Jeth, he’s cool and I liked his personality but sometimes he felt too teenager for my liking, specially considering his current situation. He’s strong but he’s also a lot more vulnerable in this one. He’s angry, emotional and helpless sometimes. There’s also a few more side characters in this book that take more of a center stage. They’re really interesting and complex and sometimes even weirder and creepier than I ever expected. It had something to do with some science experiments and crazy stuff like that and it would’ve been cool to find out more about that.
Emotionally
January 5, 2015
Polaris is an action intense thrill ride from start to finish.
Jeth and the crew of Avalon are on the run from the ITA. Desperate to keep his sister and friends safe, he turns to the one man he suspects will double cross him…only to find his mother is already his partner.
This story is full of twist and turns, heartache and extremely original and totally new storyline that you won’t find anywhere else. Got to say Arnett’s imagination is a little scary but wow, does it make for an amazing storytelling.
Captivating, prepared to be sucked into a young sci-fi fantasy reader’s perfect adventure when you pick up the Avalon series.
I received this ARC copy of Polaris from Balzer + Bray in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication January 20, 2015.
Written by: Mindee Arnett
Series: Avalon
Sequence in Series: 2
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: January 20, 2015
Rating: 5 Stars
ISBN-10: 0062235621
ISBN-13: 978-0062235626
Genre: Teen | YA | Scifi | Fantasy
Find this book on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Jeth and the crew of Avalon are on the run from the ITA. Desperate to keep his sister and friends safe, he turns to the one man he suspects will double cross him…only to find his mother is already his partner.
This story is full of twist and turns, heartache and extremely original and totally new storyline that you won’t find anywhere else. Got to say Arnett’s imagination is a little scary but wow, does it make for an amazing storytelling.
Captivating, prepared to be sucked into a young sci-fi fantasy reader’s perfect adventure when you pick up the Avalon series.
I received this ARC copy of Polaris from Balzer + Bray in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication January 20, 2015.
Written by: Mindee Arnett
Series: Avalon
Sequence in Series: 2
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: January 20, 2015
Rating: 5 Stars
ISBN-10: 0062235621
ISBN-13: 978-0062235626
Genre: Teen | YA | Scifi | Fantasy
Find this book on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
January 5, 2015
**I received this book for free from (Balzer & Bray) via (Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**
*Genre* Young Adult, Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
Polaris is the apparent final installment of the Avalon duology. The story is told in the first person narrative by Jethro "Jeth" Seagrave. Jeth and his crew of teenaged thieves have been on the run for the past 8 months, but they haven't forgotten about Jeth's plan to rescue his mother (Marian Seagrave) from the Interstellar Transport Authority (ITA).
With Jeth holding someone that the ITA wants back badly, Cora, finding the necessary funds needed to rescue Marian isn't as easy as it seems, especially when Jeth also has a huge bounty on his head. Outrunning a badass hero of the ITA known for smiting a rebellion and allowing for no survivors.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://www.gizmosreviews.blogspot.com...
*Recvd 08/28/2014 via Edelweiss* Expected publication: January 20th 2015 by Balzer & Bray/Harperteen
*Genre* Young Adult, Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5
*My Thoughts*
Polaris is the apparent final installment of the Avalon duology. The story is told in the first person narrative by Jethro "Jeth" Seagrave. Jeth and his crew of teenaged thieves have been on the run for the past 8 months, but they haven't forgotten about Jeth's plan to rescue his mother (Marian Seagrave) from the Interstellar Transport Authority (ITA).
With Jeth holding someone that the ITA wants back badly, Cora, finding the necessary funds needed to rescue Marian isn't as easy as it seems, especially when Jeth also has a huge bounty on his head. Outrunning a badass hero of the ITA known for smiting a rebellion and allowing for no survivors.
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
http://www.gizmosreviews.blogspot.com...
*Recvd 08/28/2014 via Edelweiss* Expected publication: January 20th 2015 by Balzer & Bray/Harperteen
November 9, 2018
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to HarperCollins and Edelweiss.)
This was an interesting sci-fi sequel, and I liked the action.
I liked Jeth in this book, but I was also wary of him. His increasing dependence on the brain implant made him a bit of a liability for me, and I was constantly worried about what it would lead him to do.
The storyline in this was pretty good, and I really liked the action. I was quite upset over the loss of one particular thing, and I was also surprised by the unexpected deaths we got in this instalment! Nothing like a few deaths to spice a story up!
There was a tiny bit of romance in this, but it really was tiny. Jeth did not endear himself to his significant other, let’s just put it that way!
The ending to this was okay, and we did get a bit more action. It was definitely the action that made this book for me, and I wonder how many more spaceships Jeth will manage to destroy in his lifetime.
Overall; lots of sci-fi action,
7 out of 10.
This was an interesting sci-fi sequel, and I liked the action.
I liked Jeth in this book, but I was also wary of him. His increasing dependence on the brain implant made him a bit of a liability for me, and I was constantly worried about what it would lead him to do.
The storyline in this was pretty good, and I really liked the action. I was quite upset over the loss of one particular thing, and I was also surprised by the unexpected deaths we got in this instalment! Nothing like a few deaths to spice a story up!
There was a tiny bit of romance in this, but it really was tiny. Jeth did not endear himself to his significant other, let’s just put it that way!
The ending to this was okay, and we did get a bit more action. It was definitely the action that made this book for me, and I wonder how many more spaceships Jeth will manage to destroy in his lifetime.
Overall; lots of sci-fi action,
7 out of 10.
December 21, 2014
Overwhelmingly disappointing. I don't understand what I saw in Avalon after beginning Polaris because it was lacking in so many areas. There's a lot of telling and Jeth monologuing. Yes, it is his POV but it seemed awfully excessive and detracted from everything else. There was a lot of action and the series of events just passed by so quickly, there wasn't really any room for other character development apart from Jeth and because of that there was a lack of connectivity to any of the characters. I was bored because there wasn't anything that kept me hooked, the story simply wasn't enough alone.
November 18, 2015
OMG!!!! You were SOOO right Gia! This book was amazing. I wouldn't consider it my favorite, (I'll leave all of Cassandra Clare's book's to that title) but it was great. I would recommend it to anyone. The first one "Avalon" was really great too. It's not filled with over the top romance, but rather a lot of action and suspense. And oh gosh when The author kept everything interesting, and I think that's why I liked it so much. This was a great book! But I will finish with that, so I don't ruin it for anyone else! :)
January 16, 2015
I get really squeamish about placing things in people's heads like the implants talked about in this book. And they talk about them a lot! I understand why it was present in the story, but I still kinda shuddered every time it was mentioned. The story was wonderful though. Full of complex and wonderful relationships. Jeth is a great main character. I am happy that I was able to read his story, and while I appreciate that his story only took two books, I really hope Mindee Arnett finds her way back to this universe. I would love to read more set here.
March 20, 2015
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Mindee Arnett's Avalon is a wonderful YA science fiction duology. I loved Avalon when I read it last year and Polaris picks up right where that story left off. I loved learning more about Jeth and his family and seeing more of Sierra. There were also some new characters introduced that I found very interesting. This book was a fast-paced thrill ride and I am sad the series looks to be over, but at least we were given these two very solid reads.
In Polaris, Jeth and his crew are still on the run from the ITA. Though they no longer work for Hammer, they are still trying to pull jobs so they can earn enough money to liberate Jeth's mother. When a deal goes sideways and they end up on the ITA's radar, a misplaced distress call lands them in the grip of Daxton Price -- the new Hammer. Can Jeth cut a deal to save his family, his crew, and himself?
Enjoyment of this series stems a lot on whether or not you like Jeth. I personally enjoy his character and have found his journey to be very thrilling. We started with this cocky, young kid who was only concerned with having fun and pulling the best jobs for his crime lord boss in the hopes of one day buying his ship outright. He loved his crew members, but didn't really have anything to fight for but his younger sister, Lizzie. Now, Jeth has another sister, Cora, and has found out his mother is still alive and being used as a research experiment. He is dedicated to saving her and keeping her and Cora off the ITA's radar so that they can't be experimented on anymore. Jeth also worries about Sierra, a former ITA agent and his current girlfriend. In addition to keeping his other crew members alive and his ship running, Jeth has a lot to be concerned about. Add to everything else that he ends up with a brain implant that puts his free will into question and he is forced to work with an unknown crew and a girl who double crossed him and Jeth definitely has issues.
My favorite character in Polaris was definitely Sierra. She's such an in charge character that I loved seeing her deal with all manner of situations. Whether it was Jeth's inconsistency, breaking into a high-security ITA facility, or dealing with a conniving show off, Sierra handled it all. She was resigned to making the hard choices and helped to keep everyone afloat at different times. Because of his implant, Jeth wasn't always making the best choices and there were a few times where he got very scary. Sierra was the one that shut him down and helped him find himself again.
A lot of the characters we met in Avalon were sidelined a bit here -- Lizze, Shady, Celeste, and Milton. Instead, we were introduced to new characters like Aileen, the super smart girl who took Jeth's place in Daxton's crime family; her bodyguard Remi, Jeth's mother Marian, and Perry and Eric, two of Daxton's men. I ended up enjoying Aileen's character immensely. I started out not liking her very much, but the more we learned about her and her background, the more I liked her. It would be interesting to see a book about her and her adventures. I also liked that we had Jeth's mother along for the ride this time and learned more about her experiences with the Pyreans and in the labs. Through her, we also learned more about Cora and her abilities.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but this book does have its share of sadness. We lose two characters in heartbreaking ways and an act of revenge takes something very important away from Jeth. There's betrayals and backstabbing and bleak times, but Jeth does his best to keep believing in something better. I was pleased at the way this series played out, but I would be lying if I said I didn't want more. I feel like there is still a lot of story that could be told so I hope that Mindee Arnett decides to return to this world in the future.
Recommend for readers looking for a softer science fiction read with a strong, male lead and tons of action.
Thank you to Balzer + Bray and Edelweiss for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Mindee Arnett's Avalon is a wonderful YA science fiction duology. I loved Avalon when I read it last year and Polaris picks up right where that story left off. I loved learning more about Jeth and his family and seeing more of Sierra. There were also some new characters introduced that I found very interesting. This book was a fast-paced thrill ride and I am sad the series looks to be over, but at least we were given these two very solid reads.
In Polaris, Jeth and his crew are still on the run from the ITA. Though they no longer work for Hammer, they are still trying to pull jobs so they can earn enough money to liberate Jeth's mother. When a deal goes sideways and they end up on the ITA's radar, a misplaced distress call lands them in the grip of Daxton Price -- the new Hammer. Can Jeth cut a deal to save his family, his crew, and himself?
Enjoyment of this series stems a lot on whether or not you like Jeth. I personally enjoy his character and have found his journey to be very thrilling. We started with this cocky, young kid who was only concerned with having fun and pulling the best jobs for his crime lord boss in the hopes of one day buying his ship outright. He loved his crew members, but didn't really have anything to fight for but his younger sister, Lizzie. Now, Jeth has another sister, Cora, and has found out his mother is still alive and being used as a research experiment. He is dedicated to saving her and keeping her and Cora off the ITA's radar so that they can't be experimented on anymore. Jeth also worries about Sierra, a former ITA agent and his current girlfriend. In addition to keeping his other crew members alive and his ship running, Jeth has a lot to be concerned about. Add to everything else that he ends up with a brain implant that puts his free will into question and he is forced to work with an unknown crew and a girl who double crossed him and Jeth definitely has issues.
My favorite character in Polaris was definitely Sierra. She's such an in charge character that I loved seeing her deal with all manner of situations. Whether it was Jeth's inconsistency, breaking into a high-security ITA facility, or dealing with a conniving show off, Sierra handled it all. She was resigned to making the hard choices and helped to keep everyone afloat at different times. Because of his implant, Jeth wasn't always making the best choices and there were a few times where he got very scary. Sierra was the one that shut him down and helped him find himself again.
A lot of the characters we met in Avalon were sidelined a bit here -- Lizze, Shady, Celeste, and Milton. Instead, we were introduced to new characters like Aileen, the super smart girl who took Jeth's place in Daxton's crime family; her bodyguard Remi, Jeth's mother Marian, and Perry and Eric, two of Daxton's men. I ended up enjoying Aileen's character immensely. I started out not liking her very much, but the more we learned about her and her background, the more I liked her. It would be interesting to see a book about her and her adventures. I also liked that we had Jeth's mother along for the ride this time and learned more about her experiences with the Pyreans and in the labs. Through her, we also learned more about Cora and her abilities.
I don't want to give away any spoilers, but this book does have its share of sadness. We lose two characters in heartbreaking ways and an act of revenge takes something very important away from Jeth. There's betrayals and backstabbing and bleak times, but Jeth does his best to keep believing in something better. I was pleased at the way this series played out, but I would be lying if I said I didn't want more. I feel like there is still a lot of story that could be told so I hope that Mindee Arnett decides to return to this world in the future.
Recommend for readers looking for a softer science fiction read with a strong, male lead and tons of action.
Thank you to Balzer + Bray and Edelweiss for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 20, 2021
Polaris is conclusion to the duology that started with Avalon. The stakes get higher as the group race against their enemies to save the people they love.
I absolutely adored this duology as a whole. Although I think that the plot of Polaris was weaker than the first book, it was still an impressive book. There was so much going on and the stakes were a lot higher and plot twists and information kept getting thrown around everywhere that I was genuinely getting whiplash. And it was so addictive. These sci-fi books are damn addictive because of the cut-throat plots and the way the story just comes together.
Just like the first book, I adored the characters so much. I have a soft spot for found families, especially when it’s a crew on a ship. The only thing that bothered me was that I feel like Jeth was really unfair to Celeste and Shady. I admit that they made a mistake but I feel like he took way too long to forgive them. Also, the romance was better in this but I have to admit I still really wasn’t that invested. I was more invested in the plot and story and that’s okay as well!
Overall, Polaris was a really good conclusion and I wouldn’t be opposed at all to the author writing another book in this series. I think this duology has definitely cemented her now. I will read anything she writes, especially if it’s another sci-fi book (pretty please?).
“The high that came after a close call was unlike any other. It was a moment of complete fulfilment, complete elation, as if every fiber of your body and soul was fully engaged in the here and now, fully electrified. Doubts and worries did not exist in that moment. The persistent empty feeling – the daily want for something more, something greater always just out of reach – disappeared.”
I absolutely adored this duology as a whole. Although I think that the plot of Polaris was weaker than the first book, it was still an impressive book. There was so much going on and the stakes were a lot higher and plot twists and information kept getting thrown around everywhere that I was genuinely getting whiplash. And it was so addictive. These sci-fi books are damn addictive because of the cut-throat plots and the way the story just comes together.
“Flynn sighed. “Everything is changing.” He pulled a piece of chocolate from his pocket and began unwrapping it. “I hate change.”
“Me too,” Jeth said. “Me too.”
Just like the first book, I adored the characters so much. I have a soft spot for found families, especially when it’s a crew on a ship. The only thing that bothered me was that I feel like Jeth was really unfair to Celeste and Shady. I admit that they made a mistake but I feel like he took way too long to forgive them. Also, the romance was better in this but I have to admit I still really wasn’t that invested. I was more invested in the plot and story and that’s okay as well!
“She reached up and cupped his chin. “I know you feel like you’re broken, Jeth, but you’re not. You’ve only been bent. But I promise that will change. You will be whole and upright again.”
Overall, Polaris was a really good conclusion and I wouldn’t be opposed at all to the author writing another book in this series. I think this duology has definitely cemented her now. I will read anything she writes, especially if it’s another sci-fi book (pretty please?).
January 14, 2015
Polaris begins as Jeth and his crew are desperately trying to escape the jaws of the ITA, earn some money by selling valuable information, and find Jeth’s mother. Like Avalon, Polaris focuses a lot on Jeth’s determination to save his sisters and his mom. While it doesn’t necessarily shove it in your face, if you look through all of the action of the story, these books are very much about family. Jeth has his biological family, but he also has his crew, who are just like family, as well. As the story adds layers of complication, there will be betrayal and some very tough choices. The story did a good job of balancing the physical action with emotional story lines, and it made the book very enjoyable to read. Polaris added some great, and by great I mean super evil, villains. It also had some people who lived in the gray area of villainy, which I loved. Never really knowing if someone you’re working with is the bad guy or the good guy really adds suspense to any story.
While I liked Avalon, I had some reservations, and was on the fence about reading this sequel. Polaris had much better pacing than the first book, so I’m glad that I decided to give it a shot. The foundation of a good story was definitely there and I did enjoy Avalon, I just felt that Polaris finally came into its own. I felt like I knew Jeth and Sierra better this time around and it definitely enhanced my reading experience. Jeth’s inner turmoil is even greater in this book, which makes sense because his choices are more heartbreaking, as well. The mystery surrounding his mother, Cora’s mysterious powers, and his quest to save his family all weighs on him. Not everyone makes it out of this book alive, sadly, but I really loved the ending. It was bittersweet and fit well with the tone of the rest of the story. If you are looking for a good sci-fi duology, Avalon and Polaris deliver something for everyone, and I enjoyed reading them.
While I liked Avalon, I had some reservations, and was on the fence about reading this sequel. Polaris had much better pacing than the first book, so I’m glad that I decided to give it a shot. The foundation of a good story was definitely there and I did enjoy Avalon, I just felt that Polaris finally came into its own. I felt like I knew Jeth and Sierra better this time around and it definitely enhanced my reading experience. Jeth’s inner turmoil is even greater in this book, which makes sense because his choices are more heartbreaking, as well. The mystery surrounding his mother, Cora’s mysterious powers, and his quest to save his family all weighs on him. Not everyone makes it out of this book alive, sadly, but I really loved the ending. It was bittersweet and fit well with the tone of the rest of the story. If you are looking for a good sci-fi duology, Avalon and Polaris deliver something for everyone, and I enjoyed reading them.
February 2, 2015
Another duology that I had the idea it was trilogy and it was not until I finished reading it, that I realized that this was the last book. I really enjoyed this duology, which has an intense action from start to finish.
In the previous book Jeth discovered that his mother, whom he thought had been executed for treason, is alive and captive by the ITA which are experimenting with her, because of her DNA was changed when she was in Empyria, which is a planet from another dimension that´s responsible for the Metatech used by humans, so that´s why everyone wants to find the location of Empyria, but the only person that knows its location is Marian Seagrave, Jeth´s mother. In addition to that Jeth achieved to retrieve information from the investigation of his mother, which is sensitive information that the ITA want to have and they also want to capture his little sister Cora, which is coveted for her special DNA.
For all this Jeth and his crew are fugitives, and the ITA will not rest until they catch them, so when against his will he´s reunited with Daxton Price, the new criminal boss whom replaced his former boss, he´s not very happy with the situation, but he has no choice but to accept Dax conditions to help in what he needs, which could affect his humanity, but it's a sacrifice that Jeth is willing to do for his family.
There are sad moments in the plot, as the death of certain characters and seeing Jeth slowly losing himself due to the deal he made with Dax and there are also some twist and turns that kept me worried throughout the book, because I wasn´t sure what will happen with Jeth and his family.
Overall, Polaris a good science fiction book with lots of action, suspense, mystery. It grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go, and it has a good ending. I highly recommended this duology for those that enjoy YA science fiction books.
In the previous book Jeth discovered that his mother, whom he thought had been executed for treason, is alive and captive by the ITA which are experimenting with her, because of her DNA was changed when she was in Empyria, which is a planet from another dimension that´s responsible for the Metatech used by humans, so that´s why everyone wants to find the location of Empyria, but the only person that knows its location is Marian Seagrave, Jeth´s mother. In addition to that Jeth achieved to retrieve information from the investigation of his mother, which is sensitive information that the ITA want to have and they also want to capture his little sister Cora, which is coveted for her special DNA.
For all this Jeth and his crew are fugitives, and the ITA will not rest until they catch them, so when against his will he´s reunited with Daxton Price, the new criminal boss whom replaced his former boss, he´s not very happy with the situation, but he has no choice but to accept Dax conditions to help in what he needs, which could affect his humanity, but it's a sacrifice that Jeth is willing to do for his family.
There are sad moments in the plot, as the death of certain characters and seeing Jeth slowly losing himself due to the deal he made with Dax and there are also some twist and turns that kept me worried throughout the book, because I wasn´t sure what will happen with Jeth and his family.
Overall, Polaris a good science fiction book with lots of action, suspense, mystery. It grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go, and it has a good ending. I highly recommended this duology for those that enjoy YA science fiction books.
July 13, 2015
I don't know, it took me ages to get through this because it's been a while since I've read the first book and I needed a recap on the characters and the first book. I wasn't emotionally invested, although I did find Jeth's plight with his implant mildly interesting and the cloning. I don't know if I expected more? Anyway, it was a great ending to the series.
December 18, 2014
Oh, such a great book! So action packed! And it's been a while since I read Avalon, so I confused a few of the characters at first, but that was just at the beginning!
January 13, 2015
I have wanted to read this book for a long time now. I was worried I wouldn't enjoy it, as I had some issues with book one, but oh. Then I started reading this book. And I liked it from the beginning. Which still surprises me a little. But I enjoyed this book a lot. And I'm just so glad that I finally decided to read it.
I regret not re-reading book one, Avalon, before I started this one. But at the same time I'm okay with it, as I did seem to remember some important things. And I still understood everything that happened in Polaris. But I do think I should re-read this duology sometime soon, maybe. As I really liked it.
I'm not sure how to begin talking about it, though. I found the writing to be great. Didn't have any issues with it; which is a huge plus for me. I liked the characters more than I did when I read the first book. And I enjoyed the plot a lot too. I didn't fully love Polaris, but I enjoyed it a lot and I didn't really hate anything about it, and I never wanted to not read it, so I'm giving it four stars. I thought I would like it less, but I liked it more, and I'm so happy about that. I love when a book surprises me, and Polaris did that. I also very much adore the author, Mindee. <3 She's awesome. And I cannot wait to read more books by her. I know there is only two books in this series, and there doesn't need to be more with this ending, but yeah. I would really love a third book or just short stories about what happens next :) I would love that a lot.
Polaris takes place many months after the end of Avalon. This usually bothers me in other books, but with this one I was happy about the time jump. I liked getting to know that Jeth and Sierra are a couple and love each other. Though I wish I had seen more of their romance. There is so much going on with his ship, Avalon, and his crew. They are on the run. Things are going badly. People betray. I didn't like that very much. Sigh. I didn't get the whole forgiving part. I'm not so easy to forgive people who hurt me.
There is a whole bunch of characters in this book. I'm not sure how I felt about all of them. Some I really liked. I adored Jeth. And his sisters, Lizzie and Cora. They were adorable. I still like his uncle, Milton. But he was barely in this book. Hmph. And Jeth's girlfriend, Sierra. I disliked her in book one. But in this one I liked her more. Some things she did annoyed me, but I did like her. And I'm happy about that. I thought the romance was pretty sweet, though it isn't there often. Hmph. But still awesome. Liked it.
There is also some new characters. And I enjoyed reading about them a lot. The girl was awesome. And her bodyguard. Though now I really think I should read the short story set before Avalon, called Proxy. Might read that one next, as I'm curious about it. Fingers crossed I'll love it. Anyway. All the characters. I enjoyed reading about them all and getting to know them. We learn more about Jeth's mother. I must admit that I don't think I liked her at all. Which depresses me a little bit. Hmph. I'm okay with that.
There is a lot of plot in this book. And I enjoyed that a lot. Lots of space travel. And some planet visits. I enjoyed those the most, I think. But yeah. I love that these books takes place in space. I liked reading about all the things. Wish there had been a bit more about why it was all like that, but I'm okay with it. There is also a lot of other things happening. Bunch of bad guys. I won't say more than that :D Just that I found the plot to be interesting and exciting. Some things were awful. Shudders. And I loved all of it.
I enjoyed Polaris a whole lot. I found it to be an exciting book with great characters. There is a lot of heartbreak. There is a lot of pain. And I loved it to pieces. I adore tortured characters, lol. And Jeth faces a lot of bad luck in this book. Sigh. It was all so sad. Yet I enjoyed reading about it so much. Some things bothered me in this book, but there weren't many of them. Mostly I just enjoyed this read. I enjoyed reading about Jeth and Sierra and just everyone. Wishing there had been a little bit more :)
Huge thank you to Balzer + Bray / HarperTeen for the auto approval on Edelweiss that made me able to read and review Polaris early. <3 I'm so glad I finally read it. Took me months, eeek, but I did it, hah. And I'm pleased with it. I cannot wait to get the finished copy later this month. If you guys have read Avalon, then I really think you should read Polaris as well. As it was better than book one and it is pretty exciting. Though if you still haven't read Avalon, you really should do that too. <3 I'm glad I read them.
I regret not re-reading book one, Avalon, before I started this one. But at the same time I'm okay with it, as I did seem to remember some important things. And I still understood everything that happened in Polaris. But I do think I should re-read this duology sometime soon, maybe. As I really liked it.
I'm not sure how to begin talking about it, though. I found the writing to be great. Didn't have any issues with it; which is a huge plus for me. I liked the characters more than I did when I read the first book. And I enjoyed the plot a lot too. I didn't fully love Polaris, but I enjoyed it a lot and I didn't really hate anything about it, and I never wanted to not read it, so I'm giving it four stars. I thought I would like it less, but I liked it more, and I'm so happy about that. I love when a book surprises me, and Polaris did that. I also very much adore the author, Mindee. <3 She's awesome. And I cannot wait to read more books by her. I know there is only two books in this series, and there doesn't need to be more with this ending, but yeah. I would really love a third book or just short stories about what happens next :) I would love that a lot.
Polaris takes place many months after the end of Avalon. This usually bothers me in other books, but with this one I was happy about the time jump. I liked getting to know that Jeth and Sierra are a couple and love each other. Though I wish I had seen more of their romance. There is so much going on with his ship, Avalon, and his crew. They are on the run. Things are going badly. People betray. I didn't like that very much. Sigh. I didn't get the whole forgiving part. I'm not so easy to forgive people who hurt me.
There is a whole bunch of characters in this book. I'm not sure how I felt about all of them. Some I really liked. I adored Jeth. And his sisters, Lizzie and Cora. They were adorable. I still like his uncle, Milton. But he was barely in this book. Hmph. And Jeth's girlfriend, Sierra. I disliked her in book one. But in this one I liked her more. Some things she did annoyed me, but I did like her. And I'm happy about that. I thought the romance was pretty sweet, though it isn't there often. Hmph. But still awesome. Liked it.
There is also some new characters. And I enjoyed reading about them a lot. The girl was awesome. And her bodyguard. Though now I really think I should read the short story set before Avalon, called Proxy. Might read that one next, as I'm curious about it. Fingers crossed I'll love it. Anyway. All the characters. I enjoyed reading about them all and getting to know them. We learn more about Jeth's mother. I must admit that I don't think I liked her at all. Which depresses me a little bit. Hmph. I'm okay with that.
There is a lot of plot in this book. And I enjoyed that a lot. Lots of space travel. And some planet visits. I enjoyed those the most, I think. But yeah. I love that these books takes place in space. I liked reading about all the things. Wish there had been a bit more about why it was all like that, but I'm okay with it. There is also a lot of other things happening. Bunch of bad guys. I won't say more than that :D Just that I found the plot to be interesting and exciting. Some things were awful. Shudders. And I loved all of it.
I enjoyed Polaris a whole lot. I found it to be an exciting book with great characters. There is a lot of heartbreak. There is a lot of pain. And I loved it to pieces. I adore tortured characters, lol. And Jeth faces a lot of bad luck in this book. Sigh. It was all so sad. Yet I enjoyed reading about it so much. Some things bothered me in this book, but there weren't many of them. Mostly I just enjoyed this read. I enjoyed reading about Jeth and Sierra and just everyone. Wishing there had been a little bit more :)
Huge thank you to Balzer + Bray / HarperTeen for the auto approval on Edelweiss that made me able to read and review Polaris early. <3 I'm so glad I finally read it. Took me months, eeek, but I did it, hah. And I'm pleased with it. I cannot wait to get the finished copy later this month. If you guys have read Avalon, then I really think you should read Polaris as well. As it was better than book one and it is pretty exciting. Though if you still haven't read Avalon, you really should do that too. <3 I'm glad I read them.
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July 28, 2021dnf at 34%. i don’t have motivation to finish this
February 27, 2017
Similar to the original book in the series, Avalon, this book contained four hundred pages of nonstop action and conflict. Jeth Seagrave reuniting with his long-lost mother provides many emotional and interesting scenes and help to develop Jeth as a character. In the original story, Jeth's character is portrayed by a teenage boy who has strong leadership skills, confident, and is admired by the people around him. I believe that in this story, his character is portrayed as a more normal, average boy who happens to have just as much weaknesses as the rest of us. This development also results in many problems in his relationships with the rest of his crew. Many of his best friends begin to look at him differently and question his leadership. I believe that the author did a great job of keeping the normal nonstop action that the series is known for and also adding some more interesting personal problems among the characters to make the book even better. I would definitely suggest this book to anyone who enjoyed the first book and to those who are interested in an action-packed series.
January 21, 2015
I want to thank HarperTeen for supplying me with a copy of this book to read and give an honest review. Receiving this book for free has in no way altered my opinion or review.
If you have not read the first book in this series, then you need to stop here if you don't want spoilers from book one. I cannot promise they will not happen. Plus, you really need the background of book one to understand anything that happens in this book. So go read it, because you won't be disappointed!
I will say that this review is very hard to write without giving too much away, so I'm going to be very broad in my review.
Polaris picks up very soon after Avalon ends. Jeth and his team of misfit pirates are together after their battle with Hammer and his crew. They've overcome great odds to continue their search for Empyria and the Pyreans. Of course this search does not come without it's obstacles, the biggest of which is an ITA tyrant named Saar who is hell bent on making sure Jeth and his sister Cora never remain free. Saar's reach is broader than Jeth could have ever imagined, and escape from the clutches of the ITA seems near impossible.
Jeth and his crew are plotting ways to save Jeth's mother so that he can re-unite his family. But in the process, they are pulled into yet another mission where their lives are put on the line. With nowhere else to run, Jeth is forced into a fragile relationship with the untrustworthy Dax, who now has all of Hammer's power in the palm of his hand.
We meet a few new characters in this book, who have their own agenda when it comes to the deals they have made with Jeth's enemies. Their background and agenda gives the story a good plot twist.
Jeth goes through great struggle in this book. There is such a weight put on his shoulders, it's impossible not to feel it's heaviness press down on you as you experience his pain. But you will cheer him on, hoping beyond hope that he can overcome what shadows him, hoping he has the strength to fight and win.
Arnett keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout this entire book. The characters are never at peace for long periods of time, always fighting for their lives and in some cases losing. The story is filled with non-stop action and adventure. Arnett does manage to infuse some romance into the book, but it's really secondary to everything else that happens. So if you're looking for they typical teen drama and steam that comes with YA, then you will be unhappy. But I think this is what makes this book so great. Arnett does not rely on the romance to carry the characters through the story. The story is really about fighting evil and trying to come out on the other side unharmed.
With vivid imagery and a knack for putting her characters in the most dire of situations, Polaris takes you on a ride from one end of the galaxy to the other, and then beyond. Arnett manages to keep the sci-fi well intact while making it simple enough for the average reader to understand without a lot of confusing scientific jargon. A fantastic conclusion to this wonderful sci-fi duology. I can certainly see the possibility of possible spin offs from this series and wouldn't mind having it happen in the future!
If you have not read the first book in this series, then you need to stop here if you don't want spoilers from book one. I cannot promise they will not happen. Plus, you really need the background of book one to understand anything that happens in this book. So go read it, because you won't be disappointed!
I will say that this review is very hard to write without giving too much away, so I'm going to be very broad in my review.
Polaris picks up very soon after Avalon ends. Jeth and his team of misfit pirates are together after their battle with Hammer and his crew. They've overcome great odds to continue their search for Empyria and the Pyreans. Of course this search does not come without it's obstacles, the biggest of which is an ITA tyrant named Saar who is hell bent on making sure Jeth and his sister Cora never remain free. Saar's reach is broader than Jeth could have ever imagined, and escape from the clutches of the ITA seems near impossible.
Jeth and his crew are plotting ways to save Jeth's mother so that he can re-unite his family. But in the process, they are pulled into yet another mission where their lives are put on the line. With nowhere else to run, Jeth is forced into a fragile relationship with the untrustworthy Dax, who now has all of Hammer's power in the palm of his hand.
We meet a few new characters in this book, who have their own agenda when it comes to the deals they have made with Jeth's enemies. Their background and agenda gives the story a good plot twist.
Jeth goes through great struggle in this book. There is such a weight put on his shoulders, it's impossible not to feel it's heaviness press down on you as you experience his pain. But you will cheer him on, hoping beyond hope that he can overcome what shadows him, hoping he has the strength to fight and win.
Arnett keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout this entire book. The characters are never at peace for long periods of time, always fighting for their lives and in some cases losing. The story is filled with non-stop action and adventure. Arnett does manage to infuse some romance into the book, but it's really secondary to everything else that happens. So if you're looking for they typical teen drama and steam that comes with YA, then you will be unhappy. But I think this is what makes this book so great. Arnett does not rely on the romance to carry the characters through the story. The story is really about fighting evil and trying to come out on the other side unharmed.
With vivid imagery and a knack for putting her characters in the most dire of situations, Polaris takes you on a ride from one end of the galaxy to the other, and then beyond. Arnett manages to keep the sci-fi well intact while making it simple enough for the average reader to understand without a lot of confusing scientific jargon. A fantastic conclusion to this wonderful sci-fi duology. I can certainly see the possibility of possible spin offs from this series and wouldn't mind having it happen in the future!
January 20, 2015
Original Link to the review at my blog Le' Grande Codex - here
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Treading the fine line between power & corruption, good & evil and life & death. Deep Space travel and deadly heists. Mindee Arnett has cooked up a high stakes action-packed finale to Avalon. Jeth Seagrave and his band of mercenaries must execute this high stakes mission, lives depend on it. And if you thought "Avalon" blew your mind well think again because "Polaris" packs that needed extra punch and is a fully packed and a thrilling fast paced drama. (the series remained me so much of Firefly.....)
Of love, friendship and family, sacrifices that push the meaning of tragic, hardship and searing losses and the resulting wonders of success and of hope to the next well. Polaris has it all. Truly I was hesitant at first because I had read Avalon sometime back and didn't quite remember all of it but Arnett puts us all at ease with her master play on words. The flow catches and entrances you in its throws and keeps your attention from the beginning till the end, just push through and you need not worry about anything else.
I love a solid space opera. Although I don't the scientific hoo-hah much but I appreciate solid simple details and Polaris (Avalon by extension) had it in spades. Jeth, I liked very much. The unconventional hero. He is a young man who got the short end of the stick. Bad decisions lead him to Hammer, but desperate ones take him back to the criminal underworld under a new overlord Dax and the thrall of the implant ...... it very nearly defeats him. We see him struggle, desperate to be free, fighting the compulsion to give in to the outside presence in his mind. Space is a beautiful and deadly place and through Jeth, the author tells the story of less than fortunate souls and their struggles against oppressors.
The romance of course is not far behind. Not important but it is these important bonds that help Jeth fight to win. This is their decisive move against the ITA, a move to eradicate their hold over the universe ...... But "Polaris" has something over its predecessor (Poor Avalon), while the ITA is the large evil though-out, the finale added a super creepy villain ...... Its disgusting how creepy and dangerous he was. He wad the wolf in the man costume who just loved to toy with his victim ....... before executing them.
Lastly the plot itself was just smashing. Factor in a strong plot, strong and dynamic characters, every twists & turns and horrible revelations and happy revelations and the grand heist to free the Pyreans .... I was hoping the Pyrean-Empyria agenda would be explored but oh well ..... I liked the hopeful and serene approach at the end. Mindee Arnett has produced a conclusion that is light years ahead of its predecessor not only in terms of quantity but in quality as well. A fast paced smashing high-octane space opera that will have you clammering in surreal frustration at this marvelous creation being a duology "Please tell me there is more ..... I want more" .... Don't knows about you folks but that was my reaction
"A smashing hit .... Frex! This is mind-blowing"
January 11, 2015
Originally posted on City of Books
Avalon wasn't such a great read for me, but unfortunately Polaris wasn't either. In fact, I think I liked Avalon better. This one drags quite a bit, with not much going on, and when things do happen, they're unbelievable even for this sci-fi series. I was hoping for something closer to Firefly, since I loved that show, but the only thing they have in common is the premise.
Jeth is focused on finding his mother now that he knows she's alive. And he's also on the run from the ITA along with the rest of the crew. One instance as they're carrying out a job, things go wrong and Jeth is face-to-face with a new enemy. His relationships with his crew get messed up, and Jeth slowly loses confidence in himself. He turns to Jax out of desperation, and finds his mother there with him. But she's not the woman Jeth knew as a child, and he needs to figure out a way to get his freedom before he loses even more.
I really didn't like a lot of the decisions Jeth makes in this book, and I still couldn't bring myself to like Sierra, his girlfriend. And then something happens that makes me dislike two of his crewmates, ones that I really liked before. So in the end I didn't end up caring about any of them, really. And that's a problem in a YA book because I feel like what sets YA apart is that we can connect more easily with the characters.
A couple things I did like - we get to know more about metaspace and why it exists. That was a cool revelation. I also like Lizzie, Jeth's sister. One of the only logical, not crazy people in the book. There are also more shockers in this that I didn't see coming, and though several of them are pretty far-fetched, I liked that the book could still catch me by surprise. Of course, most of this happens towards the end of the book, like in Avalon. Except for one incident right at the beginning that I think should not have happened at all, as there was no reason for it.
I was pretty confused about the new villainous character - the Storm that Rises or whatever he calls himself. It was super random, and we don't even know his backstory or why he does what he does. He's just popped into the book and he becomes the main villain around which the climax sets itself? It was weird.
Three-quarters into the book, I began skimming, because honestly I just wanted to get it over with. The last thirty-odd pages brought me back in, though. Those were great, a nice climatic end to the series. But thirty awesome pages out of the entire book can't redeem it in my eyes. Polaris was a disappointment for me overall, which really sucks because the premise is fantastic. I just wish we'd got to see more of the space and planets instead of random drama among the crew and Jeth's implant struggles.
*Thank you to HarperCollins for providing me with an eARC for review*
Avalon wasn't such a great read for me, but unfortunately Polaris wasn't either. In fact, I think I liked Avalon better. This one drags quite a bit, with not much going on, and when things do happen, they're unbelievable even for this sci-fi series. I was hoping for something closer to Firefly, since I loved that show, but the only thing they have in common is the premise.
Jeth is focused on finding his mother now that he knows she's alive. And he's also on the run from the ITA along with the rest of the crew. One instance as they're carrying out a job, things go wrong and Jeth is face-to-face with a new enemy. His relationships with his crew get messed up, and Jeth slowly loses confidence in himself. He turns to Jax out of desperation, and finds his mother there with him. But she's not the woman Jeth knew as a child, and he needs to figure out a way to get his freedom before he loses even more.
I really didn't like a lot of the decisions Jeth makes in this book, and I still couldn't bring myself to like Sierra, his girlfriend. And then something happens that makes me dislike two of his crewmates, ones that I really liked before. So in the end I didn't end up caring about any of them, really. And that's a problem in a YA book because I feel like what sets YA apart is that we can connect more easily with the characters.
A couple things I did like - we get to know more about metaspace and why it exists. That was a cool revelation. I also like Lizzie, Jeth's sister. One of the only logical, not crazy people in the book. There are also more shockers in this that I didn't see coming, and though several of them are pretty far-fetched, I liked that the book could still catch me by surprise. Of course, most of this happens towards the end of the book, like in Avalon. Except for one incident right at the beginning that I think should not have happened at all, as there was no reason for it.
I was pretty confused about the new villainous character - the Storm that Rises or whatever he calls himself. It was super random, and we don't even know his backstory or why he does what he does. He's just popped into the book and he becomes the main villain around which the climax sets itself? It was weird.
Three-quarters into the book, I began skimming, because honestly I just wanted to get it over with. The last thirty-odd pages brought me back in, though. Those were great, a nice climatic end to the series. But thirty awesome pages out of the entire book can't redeem it in my eyes. Polaris was a disappointment for me overall, which really sucks because the premise is fantastic. I just wish we'd got to see more of the space and planets instead of random drama among the crew and Jeth's implant struggles.
*Thank you to HarperCollins for providing me with an eARC for review*
January 23, 2015
Last year, Mindee Arnett took readers on a wildly fun, intergalactic sci-fi adventure with Avalon. Well, that fast-paced story continues in the equally enthralling, Polaris!
It’s been several months since the life changing events in Avalon and Jeth Seagrave, and his mercenary crew, are on the run from the ITA. Jeth’s long thought dead mother is still held captive and his new little sister, Cora, is hunted for her unique and priceless DNA. Jeth must make a dangerous deal with a dangerous man in order to save the ones he loves. But this deal comes with a heavy price, and disheartening betrayals and heart-breaking losses come at Jeth and his crew from all sides.
Like Avalon, Polaris is a fascinating and fun sci-fi adventure, full of thrills; twists; and likable characters. Arnett combines action, romance, humor, sci-fi elements, and a lot of heart, to create a captivating and exciting story. Polaris is given the wide expanse of space as its setting, making for an endlessly intriguing world. For the most part, this intergalactic world is vividly and lushly laid out with great world-building. And Arnett has filled this future space world with some seriously cool gadgets, places, and people. Space jumps, telepathy, metatech, mysterious alien life-forms...Polaris has all this and more!
Jeth and his crew find themselves on the run from the ITA and a wickedly dangerous man, and on a fragile, world-changing mission. The action, twists and turns, and revelations are plentiful and entertaining! But, I found Polaris to be quite an emotional journey for its characters as well. Arnett does an excellent job of exploring themes of love, family, power, greed, and self-discovery, making Polaris a very layered, complex story.
Throughout Avalon and Polaris, I’ve enjoyed getting to know this series’ characters very much. Jeth makes for a likable, relatable, and charming hero, who is surrounded by an eclectic crew. And I love how Arnett has allowed her “baddies” to be just as complex and intriguing as the good guys. However, there are a few characters in Polaris that I wish got more story-time, simply because I like them so much!
The conclusion of Polaris took me somewhere quite unexpected, but I think readers will really dig it!
My Final Thoughts: With exciting storytelling, intriguing world-building, and likable characters, Polaris is a fun, satisfying conclusion in an out of this world sci-fi series!
It’s been several months since the life changing events in Avalon and Jeth Seagrave, and his mercenary crew, are on the run from the ITA. Jeth’s long thought dead mother is still held captive and his new little sister, Cora, is hunted for her unique and priceless DNA. Jeth must make a dangerous deal with a dangerous man in order to save the ones he loves. But this deal comes with a heavy price, and disheartening betrayals and heart-breaking losses come at Jeth and his crew from all sides.
Like Avalon, Polaris is a fascinating and fun sci-fi adventure, full of thrills; twists; and likable characters. Arnett combines action, romance, humor, sci-fi elements, and a lot of heart, to create a captivating and exciting story. Polaris is given the wide expanse of space as its setting, making for an endlessly intriguing world. For the most part, this intergalactic world is vividly and lushly laid out with great world-building. And Arnett has filled this future space world with some seriously cool gadgets, places, and people. Space jumps, telepathy, metatech, mysterious alien life-forms...Polaris has all this and more!
Jeth and his crew find themselves on the run from the ITA and a wickedly dangerous man, and on a fragile, world-changing mission. The action, twists and turns, and revelations are plentiful and entertaining! But, I found Polaris to be quite an emotional journey for its characters as well. Arnett does an excellent job of exploring themes of love, family, power, greed, and self-discovery, making Polaris a very layered, complex story.
Throughout Avalon and Polaris, I’ve enjoyed getting to know this series’ characters very much. Jeth makes for a likable, relatable, and charming hero, who is surrounded by an eclectic crew. And I love how Arnett has allowed her “baddies” to be just as complex and intriguing as the good guys. However, there are a few characters in Polaris that I wish got more story-time, simply because I like them so much!
The conclusion of Polaris took me somewhere quite unexpected, but I think readers will really dig it!
My Final Thoughts: With exciting storytelling, intriguing world-building, and likable characters, Polaris is a fun, satisfying conclusion in an out of this world sci-fi series!
January 21, 2015
First I have to say that I almost gave up on this book. I liked the first book, so I really wanted to see where things went in this so I continued on. It took a while, but when I finally got into it, I was hooked. It was very action packed and adventure filled. I still didn’t really care too much for the characters, but there was so much going on that I guess I was distracted from them a lot. Speaking of a lot going on, there is conspiracy, after conspiracy and betrayals galore. I really liked the story and how things all led from one thing to another in a shit storm though. I didn’t love it, but it was still enjoyable.
Jeth just doesn’t do much for me as a character. I thought that maybe in this book we would get a bit more from him, but with everything else going on, he was even more detached than ever. He is one determined dude, that’s for sure. He will do anything to get his mother back and keep his sister safe. Even if it means giving in and doing some other really horrible things. He is fighting against more than he knows and he isn’t really in control of himself. He does some really shitty things, and hurts people that he loves. It’s really hard to talk about a character when you feel no real connection to, so I will move on.
The secondary characters weren’t developed any better, so instead of talking about them, I will talk about what is done great. First, the plot is fantastic. I mean, there is so much going on, but it is never confusing. It’s just one big rush from one adrenaline rush to the next. And then the vivid imagery of everything was amazing. I could see what was being described so clearly in my head. From the beautiful scenery, to the more disturbing dark images. I felt like I was immersed in the world around me.
So clearly, I am middle ground on this book. There was a lot of good, but also much that just didn’t do it for me. I am a very character driven reader, so the lack of connection to them really had a big impact on me really getting into this book. I am all about fantastic storyline and great world building, but it’s not enough. Also, I am not super science girl or anything, so I loved that this didn’t totally confuse me like a lot of Sci-Fi books can. I really wanted to love this book. It was so full of action and twisted games, but unfortunately the slow start and lack of character connection really took it down a few notches for me. It was still enjoyable and I am glad that I read this sequel.
Jeth just doesn’t do much for me as a character. I thought that maybe in this book we would get a bit more from him, but with everything else going on, he was even more detached than ever. He is one determined dude, that’s for sure. He will do anything to get his mother back and keep his sister safe. Even if it means giving in and doing some other really horrible things. He is fighting against more than he knows and he isn’t really in control of himself. He does some really shitty things, and hurts people that he loves. It’s really hard to talk about a character when you feel no real connection to, so I will move on.
The secondary characters weren’t developed any better, so instead of talking about them, I will talk about what is done great. First, the plot is fantastic. I mean, there is so much going on, but it is never confusing. It’s just one big rush from one adrenaline rush to the next. And then the vivid imagery of everything was amazing. I could see what was being described so clearly in my head. From the beautiful scenery, to the more disturbing dark images. I felt like I was immersed in the world around me.
So clearly, I am middle ground on this book. There was a lot of good, but also much that just didn’t do it for me. I am a very character driven reader, so the lack of connection to them really had a big impact on me really getting into this book. I am all about fantastic storyline and great world building, but it’s not enough. Also, I am not super science girl or anything, so I loved that this didn’t totally confuse me like a lot of Sci-Fi books can. I really wanted to love this book. It was so full of action and twisted games, but unfortunately the slow start and lack of character connection really took it down a few notches for me. It was still enjoyable and I am glad that I read this sequel.
August 27, 2016
More Reviews Here: Readers Live A Thousand Lives
I’ve been in a massive reading slump since A Court Of Mist And Fury (it's been months now). It’s just a very hard book to follow. I’ve struggled and DNFed quite a few reads. So I decided I really needed something different and the kind of book I hadn’t read in a while. This is where Polaris came in. It’s been a long time since I’ve read (read not listened) to a sci-fi book and it was just what I needed. I thought Polaris was a great sequel to Avalon and liked it even more than the first book.
I gotta start with Jeth because I love his character. I love how resourceful he is and that it is so hard to keep him down. He fights for what he wants and never counts himself out. Even when things seem to be at their worst, Jeth finds a way. But he doesn’t do it alone; he needs the help of his friends and family.
And that brings me to Sierra. Sierra and I didn’t get along all that well in Avalon, mostly because I had a hard time forgiving her for something. But in Polaris I really came to love her. She doesn’t take crap from anyone, she is super smart, and she is willing to make difficult decisions. I really loved her and Jeth together because their relationship drama wasn’t front and center. Actually there wasn’t really much of it. Any time they fought or there was tension, I never had this feeling that they didn’t have one another’s back and I really loved that. They worked well together and I really enjoyed watching that.
Polaris delivered the twists and turns just like Avalon but even more so. This book never went the direction I expected it to go and I loved that it kept me on my toes. That makes the reading experience all the better and kinda makes me regret putting this one off as long as I did. If I had to pick one drawback to Polaris it would probably be the super sci-fi aspects. There were certain things with pyreans and what not that kinda made me scratch my head cause it was really out there, but its sci-fi so it is to be expected and it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.
All in all, Polaris was a great way to wrap up the duology and I’m glad I finally made time for this one. It was action and twists from beginning to end. I highly recommend this series for sci-fi fans.
I’ve been in a massive reading slump since A Court Of Mist And Fury (it's been months now). It’s just a very hard book to follow. I’ve struggled and DNFed quite a few reads. So I decided I really needed something different and the kind of book I hadn’t read in a while. This is where Polaris came in. It’s been a long time since I’ve read (read not listened) to a sci-fi book and it was just what I needed. I thought Polaris was a great sequel to Avalon and liked it even more than the first book.
I gotta start with Jeth because I love his character. I love how resourceful he is and that it is so hard to keep him down. He fights for what he wants and never counts himself out. Even when things seem to be at their worst, Jeth finds a way. But he doesn’t do it alone; he needs the help of his friends and family.
And that brings me to Sierra. Sierra and I didn’t get along all that well in Avalon, mostly because I had a hard time forgiving her for something. But in Polaris I really came to love her. She doesn’t take crap from anyone, she is super smart, and she is willing to make difficult decisions. I really loved her and Jeth together because their relationship drama wasn’t front and center. Actually there wasn’t really much of it. Any time they fought or there was tension, I never had this feeling that they didn’t have one another’s back and I really loved that. They worked well together and I really enjoyed watching that.
Polaris delivered the twists and turns just like Avalon but even more so. This book never went the direction I expected it to go and I loved that it kept me on my toes. That makes the reading experience all the better and kinda makes me regret putting this one off as long as I did. If I had to pick one drawback to Polaris it would probably be the super sci-fi aspects. There were certain things with pyreans and what not that kinda made me scratch my head cause it was really out there, but its sci-fi so it is to be expected and it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book.
All in all, Polaris was a great way to wrap up the duology and I’m glad I finally made time for this one. It was action and twists from beginning to end. I highly recommend this series for sci-fi fans.
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