PACIFICA by Kristen Simmons Review

Photo Content from Kristen Simmons

KRISTEN SIMMONS is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series, THE GLASS ARROW, and METALTOWN. She has worked with survivors of abuse and trauma as a mental health therapist, taught Jazzercise in five states, and is forever in search of the next best cupcake. Currently she lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, where she spends her days supporting the caffeine industry and chasing her delightfully rambunctious son.

        

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen (March 6, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0765336634
ISBN-13: 978-0765336637

Praise for PACIFICA

“Simmons (Article 5, 2012; Metaltown, 2016) excels at dystopian fiction, and her admirable latest takes to the sea. …A breathtaking story full of high-seas adventure, power struggles, romance, betrayal, and more... Simmons’ great-grandmother was taken to a Japanese internment camp during WWII, and her experiences influence those of Marin and the pirates. ...Non-stop action and surprises will keep readers enthralled through both rough waters and smooth sailing alike.” ―Booklist, starred

"A harrowing world where overpopulation is rampant and pollution stifling. The characters creep into your heart with raw, familiar issues of love, friendship, and family ties, careening you on a plot fraught with just as many twists as there are pieces of trash in the ocean. Pacifica will have you breathlessly fearing our own future." ―New York Times bestselling author Sara Raasch

Praise for KRISTEN SIMMONS

"Like The Handmaid's Tale, Simmons's book serves as essential commentary on women's rights." ―Cosmopolitan.com on The Glass Arrow

“I’m clutching my mangled heart and smiling madly, so it’s that kind of book. Such gorgeous heartbreak! Smart, absorbing, and deeply human.” ―New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor on Metaltown

“A compelling, inspiring read. The characters had me rooting for rebels, fights worth fighting, and girls with gumption. By the time it was over, I had my fist in the air.” ―New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake on Metaltown

Marin is cosario royalty, a pirate like her father and his father before him. Sailing the ocean to chase adventure is in her blood. But these days no one cares that the island town her people call home is named after her grandfather. They have a new leader, one who promises an end to their hunger – and one who thinks that girls are meant for the kitchen or the brothel. Marin knows she's meant for more than that, and with the sudden influx of weapons on the island, and rumors of a pending deal with the enemy oil nation in her wake, she knows a big score to gain the council's favor is the only way to save her people, and herself.

Ross lives a life of privilege. As the president's son he wants for nothing, but he longs for a life of adventure. On a dare, he convinces his best friend Adam to sneak out to the Docks, the site of local race riots between the poor Shorlings and the upper class. But when Adam is arrested along with the other Shorlings, and not even the president is willing to find him, Ross finds himself taking matters into his own hands. He journeys back into the Docks, ready to make deals with anyone, even a beautiful pirate, if it means Adam's safe return.

When Marin and Ross meet in dangerous Shoreling territory he sees a way to get his friend back and she sees her ticket home. The ransom a president’s son would command could feed her people for years and restore her family’s legacy. But somewhere in the middle of the ocean, Marin must decide if her heart can handle handing over the only person who has ever seen her as more than a pirate.

PACIFICA is set in a post-apocalyptic world where climate changes have caused a negative effect on our planet making it a frightening world to live in, the least likely of all places where hope could be found is sparked between two very intriguing and fierce characters. From their perspectives, they engage readers into a futuristic unwelcoming world with guidance from the remarkable character and world building literature by author Kristen Simmons.

As a corsario pirate, Marin has the same passion as her father for sailing the ocean and chasing adventures. With a corrupt leadership in her stable of people and rumors of deals with her nation’s enemies, Marin seeks to save her people from the impending trouble up ahead. Meanwhile, the adventurous son of the president of the upper class Ross and his friend Adam are arrested alongside the poor Shorlings, Ross is forced to supply dealings with others to make it out of their predicament. Even if it means making a deal with a pirate named Marin.

In any futuristic setting, world setting is key to suspend disbelief and to keep readers engaged. Although this world is nonexistent in our own world, Simmons’ amazing world building backed by scientific facts, paints a place that could very well be real if all the events prior to it occurs. It is quite beautiful and scary at the same time and it provides the perfect setting for the adventures that Marin and Ross experience separately and share together.

Readers are given back stories of the main characters but yet leaving some mystery of their past. This kind of character building gives curiosity and maintains the reader’s attention with a firm grip. Readers will quickly find themselves caring for the characters and yearning for more. With real world events happening in a fictional story, everything felt organic, real and a lot of times, quite frightening. PACIFICA is another masterpiece by Kristen Simmons. It has incredible world and character building, fantastic dialogue and very intriguing story.

You can purchase PACIFICA at the following Retailers:

        

And now, The Giveaways.

Thank you KRISTEN AND TOR TEEN for making this giveaway possible.

2 Winners will receive two sets of Kristen’s books (Article 5, The Glass Arrow
and Metaltown) in a TOR Teen Tote.

WEEK ONE

MARCH 5th MONDAY Wishful Endings REVIEW
MARCH 5th MONDAY Reading for the Stars and Moon REVIEW
MARCH 6th TUESDAY JeanBookNerd REVIEW
MARCH 7th WEDNESDAY Fiction Fare REVIEW
MARCH 7th WEDNESDAY Sabrina's Paranormal Palace REVIEW
MARCH 8th THURSDAY Literary Meanderings EXCERPT
MARCH 8th THURSDAY Rants and Raves of a Bibliophile REVIEW
MARCH 9th FRIDAY The Avid Reader REVIEW
MARCH 9th FRIDAY Teachers of YA's Book Blog REVIEW

WEEK TWO

MARCH 12th MONDAY A Dream Within a Dream REVIEW

MARCH 13th TUESDAY Undeniably Book Nerdy REVIEW

MARCH 13th TUESDAY TFAULC Book Reviews EXCERPT

MARCH 14th WEDNESDAY Book Lady's Reviews REVIEW

MARCH 14th WEDNESDAY Blushing Bibliophile REVIEW
MARCH 15th THURSDAY Chapter by Chapter REVIEW 

MARCH 15th THURSDAY Insane About Books REVIEW 

MARCH 16th FRIDAY BookHounds YA REVIEW 

MARCH 16th FRIDAY Book Briefs REVIEW

jbnpastinterviews