Aurora Blazing

Starred review from September 1, 2019

Bianca von Hasenburg fulfilled her duty to her family when she entered a loveless political marriage. Now widowed under mysterious circumstances, Bianca stays single, using her wealth and influence to help other young women, in return for information that would rival any spy ring. When Bianca is almost killed and Ferdinand, her oldest brother and heir to House von Hasenburg, ends up missing, Bianca is determined to find him, against the wishes of her father. Ian Bishop, head of security for von Hasenburg, is sent to retrieve her. Bianca uses all her skills to elude him, but when she and Ian finally meet, Bianca realizes that they could find Ferdinand together, if only Ian would stop thinking of her as a superficial princess. Working together means dealing with all of their past emotions--and the truth about Bianca's marriage and its long-term consequences. VERDICT This second book in the "Consortium Rebellion" trilogy (after Polaris Rising) is another exciting, action-driven read. Strong female characters, a slow-burn romance, and interplanetary adventures will draw in both sf and romance readers, especially fans of Ilona Andrews, Becky Chambers, and Mary Robinette Kowal's "Lady Astronaut" series.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2019
Mihalik follows Polaris Rising (2019) with another fast-paced sf adventure. The head of High House von Hasenberg has several children, and one of the most prized is Bianca. She paid her dues early by consenting to a loveless, political marriage but, now that she is a widow, she is free to pursue her own personal goals while gathering valuable intelligence to aid her father and the family. And thanks to a questionable "gift" inflicted on her by her morally bankrupt husband, she can mentally intercept and decrypt wireless signals?an advantageous skill for someone with several secrets to hide. When her elder brother is kidnapped, Bianca sets out to track him down, if she can only avoid Ian Bishop, the annoyingly persistent head of her father's security team, and prevent him from unraveling the riddle behind her abilities. Suspense, family loyalty, the perils of advanced technology, and a clash-of-wills contest between strong-minded individuals combine in a spirited, romantic space opera. Fans will be clamoring for the third book in the Consortium Rebellion trilogy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)