Polaris by Mindee Arnett (review)

Jeth Seagrave and the crew of the spaceship Avalon managed to rescue Jeth’s sister Cora from the Intergalactic Confederation, kill the traitorous agent pursuing her, and free themselves from a vicious gangster boss (in Avalon, BCCB 3/14). Now, with a sizable bounty on their heads and a government assassin on their trail, they’re in more danger than ever. Money and allies are in dwindling supply, so Jeth finds himself forced into a risky coalition with former enemy Daxton Price. As part of the deal, Jeth must lead a makeshift crew of family, friends, and foes to infiltrate a top-secret government lab, destroy an interdimensional mining facility, and free the Pyreans, a sentient alien race enslaved to power human space travel. The biggest threat amid all this might be Jeth himself, when a neural implant places his willpower under someone else’s control. All the strengths of the first novel carry over in this intense and powerful sequel, from the myriad pacts and betrayals to the intricate plans for subversion to the nail-biting near-escapes. An added heft to the emotional core of the story makes this space adventure equal parts heart-racing and heart-wrenching, and it gives the reader a chance to consider the true meaning of leadership and loyalty. Jeth and his friends really come alive here, and the strength of their bond is conveyed with a depth that will have readers feeling like part of the crew. Those who followed Jeth and friends into the Belgrave Quadrant previously will definitely want to buckle up for this edge-of-your-seat science fiction.