Early Review: Aurora Blazing by Jessie Mihalik (Consortium Rebellion #2)

Aurora Blazing (Consortium Rebellion #2)
Jessie Mihalik
Published: Oct. 1, 2019 (Harper Voyager)
Purchase at: Amazon
Review Source: Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for and honest review

Reviewed by: Amy

Rating (out of 5): 4.5 stars

Note: While this review will be spoiler free, it will reference previous events in the series. If you haven’t yet started, check out VBC’s review of Polaris Rising.

For years Bianca von Hasenberg has played the dutiful daughter, up to and including marrying the man of her father’s choosing, a man whose cruelty knew no bounds. Now, after the untimely—though certainly freeing—death of her husband, Bianca has vowed to never be in that situation again and helps others who find themselves in similar circumstances. That is just one of the ways Bianca has built up one of the most reliable information networks in the Consortium. Which is extra convenient now that House von Hasenberg is officially at war with House Rockhurst.

After an attack, Bianca’s oldest brother, and heir to the House, goes missing. Bianca immediately begins the search to find him regardless of her own safety. She doesn’t get very far before she’s pursued by the House’s head of security, Ian Bishop, who is determined to see Bianca safely back home.

Once they decide to start working together, the sparks fly, but Bianca’s hesitant to put her heart on the line again, and her brother’s safe return is top priority. As their investigation takes them back and forth across the galaxy, they risk endangering themselves in a war that’s only just begun.

The scenes in Polaris Rising when we finally get to meet the other von Hasenberg siblings were some of my favorite. So I was looking forward to older sister Bianca being front and center despite not feeling finished yet with Ada and Loch. Plus, the very powerful chemistry that was already so present between Bianca and Ian in that first book just begged to be explored.

I really liked getting a better look at the Houses, their structure and the politics of everything. Bianca is such a different character than Ada. The interesting way in which Bianca moves within society all while having this alternate life gathering secrets and information. She certainly knows how to play the game. I loved that Bianca is such a force, especially after everything she went through in her marriage. You still see the scars that have been left behind, but moreso you see a woman who will fight with everything she’s got to survive. I equally loved that there was no belittling on Ian’s part in regards to Bianca’s capabilities. Despite wanting to protect her, he also concedes that she is very good at what she does and is more asset than liability. I loved that Bianca asserting herself and her strength was not based in recklessness. There’s a thoughtfulness and shrewdness to all of her actions that I appreciated.

For me, Aurora Blazing was more of a slow-burn read in everything from to Bianca’s information gathering on her brother—and the subsequent searches that ensued—to the romance between Bianca and Ian. There were definitely quite a few edge-of-your-seat moments, but I feel like these came after being built up over the course of the book. I loved how drawn out the romance was. It made every interaction between Bianca and Ian so delicious.

Jessie Mihalik caught my attention first with the release of Polaris Rising earlier this year. With Aurora Blazing she’s moved into auto-buy territory. If you haven’t started this series yet, you’re missing out. It hits the mark on blending sci-fi, romance, and adventure perfectly.

Sexual Content: Recounted scenes of emotional/physical abuse, graphic sex