Book Review: The Polaris Uprising by Jennifer Ibarra

Title: The Polaris Uprising (Polaris #1)
Author: Jennifer Ibarra
Genre: YA, Science Fiction
Date Published: October 27, 2013
Publisher: Tiwala Books

Seen in: Goodreads

Buy links: Amazon ll B&N ll iBooks ll Kobo ll Smashwords

 Before we get to the review, here's a note from the lovely author: 

Cancer has touched all of us in one way or another. Those who have read THE POLARIS UPRISING will know that I dedicated it to my dear friend, Brittanie, whom we lost to Stage IV ovarian cancer in 2010. She was only 26 years old. In her memory, I am pledging to donate $1 out of every sale on Amazon and Barnes & Noble to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society from now until October 6--the day she was diagnosed with the disease that took her life. Every donation up to $2,000 will be matched by my employer, so your generosity will be doubled! Thank you in advance for helping me in this special cause.

No citizen shall be left behind.

Life in Neress is simple. For nearly four decades, people have known exactly what’s expected of them. Obey the rules, follow the path that’s been laid out, and everything will be provided for: food, shelter, education, safety. No need goes unmet.

But the cost is steep: you lose all rights to make your own choices in life.

In seven years, eighteen-year-old Ryla Jensen will come of age and take over for her father as president of this idyllic nation. Groomed since childhood to take on a role she’s not even sure she wants, Ryla’s only escape from the pressures of duty is her sister, Alanna. But when her eyes are finally opened to the oppressive regime her father built, she begins to question everything she’s set to inherit—and finds herself at odds with her sister’s blind allegiance to their father.

Torn between loyalty to her family and the fight for freedom, Ryla must decide just how far she’s willing to go to make a stand and risk losing the person she loves most in the world: Alanna.

 

This book reminds me of The Hunger Games, albeit a little less gore and children dying. The government plays a huge role that they do not only control the society, they control a significant part of the person's life. They have made the citizens entirely dependent on them that the government is the one that decides for them.

What makes this book tick for me is the details. It helps me envision the world they are in particularly what the characters have to deal with.

Odd enough, it reminds me of Frozen as well because of the bond between Ryla and Alanna Jensen.

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The differences between the sisters can be seen clearly and yet they have one similarity: a sense of duty. The different ideals at the time (because it may change in the next books) has caused them to display another facet of their personality that hasn't been seen prior to the changes that began to happen throughout the story.

The little bit of Owen x Alanna story is a nice prelude as to what we may expect on the upcoming books.
The Frozen x Hunger Games mix works quite well and I honestly can't wait for the second book as I am on my toes, waiting for its release (which is on 2015!). 

"Look, love and romance may be nice, but they only create complications where there shouldn't be any. Security and companionship -"

"And a strong genetic fabric form the foundation of great societies... Yes, I've seen the footage of Father's inaugural speech, too."  

Jennifer Ibarra grew up on a steady diet of books, Star Wars, and other fantastic feats of the imagination. Her debut novel, THE POLARIS UPRISING, is the first book in a planned trilogy and has been called "Frozen meets THE HUNGER GAMES," exploring family drama, romance, and political intrigue against a dystopian backdrop.

She lives in Silicon Valley, where she does marketing for a tech company and spends her time running, cooking, baking, and keeping up with celebrity gossip. 




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