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Consortium Rebellion #3
Chaos Reigning
Interplanetary intrigue and romance combine in this electrifying finale to the Consortium Rebellion series.
As the youngest member of her High House, Catarina von Hasenberg is used to being underestimated, but her youth and flighty, bubbly personality mask a clever mind and stubborn determination. Her enemies, blind to her true strength, do not suspect that Cat is a spy—which makes her the perfect candidate to go undercover at a rival House’s summer retreat to gather intelligence on their recent treachery.
Cat’s overprotective older sister reluctantly agrees, but on one condition: Cat cannot go alone. Alexander Sterling, a quiet, gorgeous bodyguard, will accompany her, posing as her lover. After Cat tries, and fails, to ditch Alex, she grudgingly agrees, confident in her ability to manage him. After all, she’s never found a person she can’t manipulate.
But Alex proves more difficult—and more desirable—than Cat anticipated. When she’s attacked and nearly killed, she and Alex are forced to work together to figure out how deep the treason goes. With rumors of widespread assaults on Serenity raging, communications down, and the rest of her family trapped off-planet, Catarina must persuade Alex to return to Earth to expose the truth and finish this deadly battle once and for all.
But Cat can’t explain why she’s the perfect person to infiltrate hostile territory without revealing secrets she’d rather keep buried. . . .
As the youngest member of her High House, Catarina von Hasenberg is used to being underestimated, but her youth and flighty, bubbly personality mask a clever mind and stubborn determination. Her enemies, blind to her true strength, do not suspect that Cat is a spy—which makes her the perfect candidate to go undercover at a rival House’s summer retreat to gather intelligence on their recent treachery.
Cat’s overprotective older sister reluctantly agrees, but on one condition: Cat cannot go alone. Alexander Sterling, a quiet, gorgeous bodyguard, will accompany her, posing as her lover. After Cat tries, and fails, to ditch Alex, she grudgingly agrees, confident in her ability to manage him. After all, she’s never found a person she can’t manipulate.
But Alex proves more difficult—and more desirable—than Cat anticipated. When she’s attacked and nearly killed, she and Alex are forced to work together to figure out how deep the treason goes. With rumors of widespread assaults on Serenity raging, communications down, and the rest of her family trapped off-planet, Catarina must persuade Alex to return to Earth to expose the truth and finish this deadly battle once and for all.
But Cat can’t explain why she’s the perfect person to infiltrate hostile territory without revealing secrets she’d rather keep buried. . . .
399 pages, Paperback
First published May 19, 2020
386 people are currently reading
2522 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Mihalik
13 books2,142 followersJessie Mihalik has a degree in Computer Science and a love of all things geeky. A software engineer by trade, Jessie now writes full time from her home in Texas. When she’s not writing, she can be found playing co-op video games with her husband, trying out new board games, or reading books pulled from her overflowing bookshelves.
Sample chapters of all of my books are available on my website!
The Consortium Rebellion trilogy: Polaris Rising, Aurora Blazing, Chaos Reigning.
The Rogue Queen novellas: The Queen's Gambit, The Queen's Advantage, The Queen's Triumph.
Sample chapters of all of my books are available on my website!
The Consortium Rebellion trilogy: Polaris Rising, Aurora Blazing, Chaos Reigning.
The Rogue Queen novellas: The Queen's Gambit, The Queen's Advantage, The Queen's Triumph.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 690 reviews
April 9, 2020
So I super loved this book and this whole series. I just love sci-fi and found all 3 of these sisters and this whole series to be perfectly satisfying to me. One thing that continued to be developed in a way I really liked was that even though the siblings are very close -- they are all keeping secrets from each other. Cat is a great character and I liked the blend of tough individualism with her ability to take care of her family. I loved reading this series and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in a big sweeping space opera epic....
HOWEVER, if you are looking for a strong sci-fi romance, I think you might not enjoy it as much. I did think of the romance arc as the B-plot because the "saving the world" plot was primary. In fact, the regular "beats" of the romance plot aren't even really there-- There's no low moment of angst and conflict, they basically hook up and work together and all of the conflict in the book is external. Because the POV sticks to Cat, Alex is kind of meh. She liked him so I liked him, but it was definitely under-developed compared to the rest of the book.
HOWEVER, if you are looking for a strong sci-fi romance, I think you might not enjoy it as much. I did think of the romance arc as the B-plot because the "saving the world" plot was primary. In fact, the regular "beats" of the romance plot aren't even really there-- There's no low moment of angst and conflict, they basically hook up and work together and all of the conflict in the book is external. Because the POV sticks to Cat, Alex is kind of meh. She liked him so I liked him, but it was definitely under-developed compared to the rest of the book.
Want to read
January 2, 2020Interplanetary intrigue and romance combine in this electrifying finale to the Consortium Rebellion series.
WAIT, WHAT???????
ARE WE NOT GETTING A FERDINAND AND EVELYN BOOK?????
I neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed that couple after getting a hint of them in Aurora Blazing.
WAIT, WHAT???????
ARE WE NOT GETTING A FERDINAND AND EVELYN BOOK?????
I neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed that couple after getting a hint of them in Aurora Blazing.
June 8, 2020
This is third in a series and, unlike the others, it weaves events and threads from the others into its plotline. So I recommend reading the others first. Both of them.
Having read the others, you know what you're getting with this one. Cat hasn't been on-stage much, but Alex was all over Aurora Blazing. So I'll say that this is between the first and second in quality. The romance is stronger and their relationship and trust builds naturally and I really liked seeing them work together. Cat is a bit less integrated than the other two and her journey is all about discovering who she is and what she wants. Which isn't a bad thing, just not as strong a character arc as the others, I think.
The pace of this one is faster and the stakes are higher. Which it needed to be as the last book in the trilogy. The other books have shown the rot at the core of the system the von Hasenberg's are at the top of so a big disruption is needed to get to a place where we can believe that the morality and kindness we've seen so far from the von Hasenberg scions can be established and become self-sustaining. Mihalik manages this, but again, not to the standards you'd expect in a series where the sci-fi was predominant.
Anyway, this is a solid four stars and I really liked both leads and their relationship was excellent. I love how well Mihalik shows miscommunication between partners and their efforts to learn, understand, and adapt. Love it! I look forward to what she comes up with next.
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes and some fiddling around, but they're all short (necessarily, see pacing above). So this is still on the light side of my steam tolerance, but only just. Frankly, by the time we get to them, I thought I'd end up skimming because the emotional arc had already culminated as far as I was concerned. But it was so short, I had just gotten to the skim impulse when I noticed a section break was immanent...
Having read the others, you know what you're getting with this one. Cat hasn't been on-stage much, but Alex was all over Aurora Blazing. So I'll say that this is between the first and second in quality. The romance is stronger and their relationship and trust builds naturally and I really liked seeing them work together. Cat is a bit less integrated than the other two and her journey is all about discovering who she is and what she wants. Which isn't a bad thing, just not as strong a character arc as the others, I think.
The pace of this one is faster and the stakes are higher. Which it needed to be as the last book in the trilogy. The other books have shown the rot at the core of the system the von Hasenberg's are at the top of so a big disruption is needed to get to a place where we can believe that the morality and kindness we've seen so far from the von Hasenberg scions can be established and become self-sustaining. Mihalik manages this, but again, not to the standards you'd expect in a series where the sci-fi was predominant.
Anyway, this is a solid four stars and I really liked both leads and their relationship was excellent. I love how well Mihalik shows miscommunication between partners and their efforts to learn, understand, and adapt. Love it! I look forward to what she comes up with next.
A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes and some fiddling around, but they're all short (necessarily, see pacing above). So this is still on the light side of my steam tolerance, but only just. Frankly, by the time we get to them, I thought I'd end up skimming because the emotional arc had already culminated as far as I was concerned. But it was so short, I had just gotten to the skim impulse when I noticed a section break was immanent...
May 24, 2020
I was expecting a fireworks good finale for an awesome trilogy and I've got a low-key one instead.
Too much and too little happens here.
Events in book 1 and 2 were not enough to lead to the escalation we witness in book 3.
And for all that unravels here, we were left with a lot of loose ends and unanswered questions.
(*See bottom)
The ending in Chaos Reigning is based on a major event that is too wide affecting to be shouldered by just one character (plus some side ones) and what we're given, is not enough.
Catarina and Alex weren't on par with their predecessors.
Despite being introduced before, the only thing we got to know about Alex is the confirmation of his nature. He was just a name in Aurora Blazing, and is more a shadow than a male lead in Chaos Reigning. A physical relief or a pep talk giver for Cat when the occasion requires it.
Bianca - the only sibling actively present at the beginning - seemed to want to nurture Cat's gifts and her freedom when talking about her in the previous book, here instead she goes behind Cat's back, disrespecting her.
Catarina is a nice character, and showed potential, but she didn't have time to grow on me.
Being the youngest, the fulcrum of her as a character is in her undermining and undervaluing herself, in comparison to her siblings.
A lot of page time is spent on self-talk about her own perceived lackness, a concept reiterated several times along the way, resulting in needless repetition.
I wasn't swept away by Alex like Cat was, and I couldn't really feel the physical attraction deepening to love in their interactions.
The friendship between Cat and Ying was better handled. And thus appreciated.
I like the adventure and intrigue we witness to but the action lacks suspence.
Despite things being dire, you could be sure everything was going to turn out fine.
I couldn't feel no real tension, danger, nor drama.
The only person that comes out a little battered is Cira, the anonimous bodyguard, left behind so to put Aoife in Ying's circle.
[About that, I understand the need to include type of characters as wide and different as possible, but it felt forced here: in a society based on strong blood ties, genetics, on family legacies, how can I take for granted that there are House matrons with wives? If it was hinted at in previous books, it was done so en passant that I missed it (I doubt it).]
And after all the damage caused by the older generations, their anticlmactic departure is such a letdown. It is too simplistic.
It was done following the easiest way.
The scene with the von Hasemberg siblings' unanimous vote was significant but where is the satisfaction in that?
After all the trouble Ferdinand and Evelyn went through, they deserved at least a short novel, if not their own book. Same for Benedict.
Hannah was only mentioned a couple of times so we had no way to grow attached to her, but when you ground characters on their fraternal bonds, shouldn't you plan adventures for each one of them?
And only then, finally close the circle with a collective book.
So I just repeat myself: what we have with Chaos Reigning is quite good but it is not enough.
*loose ends and unanswered questions:
What happens to the James? To Hitoshi?
Who goes to exact revenge from the Silvas?
Who was the inner House von Hasemberg spy (aside from Pierre)?
What was the purpose of focusing on Bianca's saved girls, and Lynn Segura, Chloe's friend, in particular, if not for using her/them later, let her interact with Catarina? Same for the fashion designer: we went shopping with Ada and Bianca both, but not with the shopping addict Cat?!
We had to put up with Richard Rockhurst for 2 books and he's not even mentioned here, but what about Bianca's debt to him?
Did Bianca's mission to free Yuko's daughter from the prison on Pluto happened? Did she succeed? Yuko the informant would be useful in such universe-spread events!
We met 5 (probably 6) of the Genesis squad, let us meet the remaining 2 too!
And explain why, when they consider each other like family, Loch and Ian couldn't suffer each other in book 1, or the need to make Alex, Aoife and Rhys look like they didn't know each other...
Too much and too little happens here.
Events in book 1 and 2 were not enough to lead to the escalation we witness in book 3.
And for all that unravels here, we were left with a lot of loose ends and unanswered questions.
(*See bottom)
The ending in Chaos Reigning is based on a major event that is too wide affecting to be shouldered by just one character (plus some side ones) and what we're given, is not enough.
Catarina and Alex weren't on par with their predecessors.
Despite being introduced before, the only thing we got to know about Alex is the confirmation of his nature. He was just a name in Aurora Blazing, and is more a shadow than a male lead in Chaos Reigning. A physical relief or a pep talk giver for Cat when the occasion requires it.
Bianca - the only sibling actively present at the beginning - seemed to want to nurture Cat's gifts and her freedom when talking about her in the previous book, here instead she goes behind Cat's back, disrespecting her.
Catarina is a nice character, and showed potential, but she didn't have time to grow on me.
Being the youngest, the fulcrum of her as a character is in her undermining and undervaluing herself, in comparison to her siblings.
A lot of page time is spent on self-talk about her own perceived lackness, a concept reiterated several times along the way, resulting in needless repetition.
I wasn't swept away by Alex like Cat was, and I couldn't really feel the physical attraction deepening to love in their interactions.
The friendship between Cat and Ying was better handled. And thus appreciated.
I like the adventure and intrigue we witness to but the action lacks suspence.
Despite things being dire, you could be sure everything was going to turn out fine.
I couldn't feel no real tension, danger, nor drama.
The only person that comes out a little battered is Cira, the anonimous bodyguard, left behind so to put Aoife in Ying's circle.
[About that, I understand the need to include type of characters as wide and different as possible, but it felt forced here: in a society based on strong blood ties, genetics, on family legacies, how can I take for granted that there are House matrons with wives? If it was hinted at in previous books, it was done so en passant that I missed it (I doubt it).]
And after all the damage caused by the older generations, their anticlmactic departure is such a letdown. It is too simplistic.
It was done following the easiest way.
The scene with the von Hasemberg siblings' unanimous vote was significant but where is the satisfaction in that?
After all the trouble Ferdinand and Evelyn went through, they deserved at least a short novel, if not their own book. Same for Benedict.
Hannah was only mentioned a couple of times so we had no way to grow attached to her, but when you ground characters on their fraternal bonds, shouldn't you plan adventures for each one of them?
And only then, finally close the circle with a collective book.
So I just repeat myself: what we have with Chaos Reigning is quite good but it is not enough.
*loose ends and unanswered questions:
What happens to the James? To Hitoshi?
Who goes to exact revenge from the Silvas?
Who was the inner House von Hasemberg spy (aside from Pierre)?
What was the purpose of focusing on Bianca's saved girls, and Lynn Segura, Chloe's friend, in particular, if not for using her/them later, let her interact with Catarina? Same for the fashion designer: we went shopping with Ada and Bianca both, but not with the shopping addict Cat?!
We had to put up with Richard Rockhurst for 2 books and he's not even mentioned here, but what about Bianca's debt to him?
Did Bianca's mission to free Yuko's daughter from the prison on Pluto happened? Did she succeed? Yuko the informant would be useful in such universe-spread events!
We met 5 (probably 6) of the Genesis squad, let us meet the remaining 2 too!
And explain why, when they consider each other like family, Loch and Ian couldn't suffer each other in book 1, or the need to make Alex, Aoife and Rhys look like they didn't know each other...
February 5, 2023
The third book in the Consortium Rebellion trilogy was better than I was expecting and I found it to be the one I enjoyed the most. I can see this author growing with every book and I am excited to see what more she comes up with. I liked the main character in this one, Cat, quite a lot. She is a great protagonist because she has done such a great job convincing everyone else she is a dim princess type that she doesn’t even understand how great she can be. Cat is determined to figure out House James’ secrets after she knows they were involved with the kidnapping of her brother. She plans on attending a two week long gathering at one of their homes but her sister Bianca ambushes her with an extra pair of guards and tells her she must bring one of them, Alex, as her guest so he can stay by her side. Of course there is chaos and plotting galore and an attempt to overthrow everything, but Cat is determined to not just save the day but continue to work to change the system for the better.
February 8, 2021
SF adventure with a decent sized serving of SexyTimes; the heat level was turned up quite a bit over book two, Aurora Blazing.
This was a fast paced ending to the Consortium Rebellion trilogy, which showcased the badass and justice motivated adventures of the ultra competent and beautiful von Hasenberg sisters and their super hot and muscled fighting men.
I liked it, although I did monitor the audiobook pretty carefully when my kids were in the car with me.
This was a fast paced ending to the Consortium Rebellion trilogy, which showcased the badass and justice motivated adventures of the ultra competent and beautiful von Hasenberg sisters and their super hot and muscled fighting men.
I liked it, although I did monitor the audiobook pretty carefully when my kids were in the car with me.
June 17, 2020
I liked this with caveats! I’m happy that I tried Mihalik again because I disliked POLARIS RISING and then felt terrible about it (all my friends love this series). 😭 I don’t know why, but CHAOS REIGNING just clicked better. Maybe because it has my favorite tropes. Y’all know how much I love house parties; I can’t resist the catnip of a house party in space with a socialite spy and a brooding bodyguard in a fake relationship. Great diplomacy, exciting action scenes, and a nonstop thrill from start to finish.
My caveats are three:
- I still think the romantic relationship is the weakest/least interesting aspect of the series. I liked Alex and Cat as individuals but never became invested in them as a couple. I mean, I’m always pro-kissing and wasn’t against the romance, but my love for Cat is infinitely greater than my love for Alex. I’m in the minority opinion here because most of my friends loved the romantic arc. That being said, I didn’t mind this so much because I had geared my expectations to read CHAOS REIGNING as sci-fi and not sci-fi romance. And the non-romantic sci-fi political intrigue is the best part of the book.
- my Many Thoughts on how the worldbuilding (it’s Earth, but thousands and thousands of years into the future) addresses ethnicity/names/character descriptions (particularly skin). Some aspects are very good; some aspects make me want to bang my head against my e-reader. My opinions are complicated/nuanced because I think the book gets it both right and wrong. I have zero desire to write out 1000 words about this, but it irked me enough to affect my rating.
- The ending and how the rebellion/power structure sorted out. I have questions, y’all. A lot of it was WTF, and at several times I asked to myself “why on earth would I believe X would do a better job at maintaining this dangerous/shitty status quo than Already Established And Terrible Y?” It makes less sense the more you think about it.
So! Caveats aside, I liked reading CHAOS REIGNING overall and am interested in trying out more of Mihalik’s space adventures. Glad I gave the author another shot.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
My caveats are three:
- I still think the romantic relationship is the weakest/least interesting aspect of the series. I liked Alex and Cat as individuals but never became invested in them as a couple. I mean, I’m always pro-kissing and wasn’t against the romance, but my love for Cat is infinitely greater than my love for Alex. I’m in the minority opinion here because most of my friends loved the romantic arc. That being said, I didn’t mind this so much because I had geared my expectations to read CHAOS REIGNING as sci-fi and not sci-fi romance. And the non-romantic sci-fi political intrigue is the best part of the book.
- my Many Thoughts on how the worldbuilding (it’s Earth, but thousands and thousands of years into the future) addresses ethnicity/names/character descriptions (particularly skin). Some aspects are very good; some aspects make me want to bang my head against my e-reader. My opinions are complicated/nuanced because I think the book gets it both right and wrong. I have zero desire to write out 1000 words about this, but it irked me enough to affect my rating.
- The ending and how the rebellion/power structure sorted out. I have questions, y’all. A lot of it was WTF, and at several times I asked to myself “why on earth would I believe X would do a better job at maintaining this dangerous/shitty status quo than Already Established And Terrible Y?” It makes less sense the more you think about it.
So! Caveats aside, I liked reading CHAOS REIGNING overall and am interested in trying out more of Mihalik’s space adventures. Glad I gave the author another shot.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
May 27, 2020
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2020/05/26/...
With Chaos Rising comes the story of Catarina, the youngest daughter of the Von Hasenberg high house, as well as the epic conclusion to the Consortium Rebellion trilogy that exquisitely combines the sci-fi thrills of a space opera and the heated passions of a sultry romance.
As the baby of the family, Cat is used to being underestimated. In fact, she uses it to her advantage, masking her true self behind a mask of flightiness and frivolity. But the truth is, she has lived a troubled life, growing up secretly experimented on by her father because he had wanted to mold her into a super soldier. Using deception and her cunning, however, Cat managed to make everyone believe that the experiments had failed, and that she is now nothing more than your typical spoiled princess of the Consortium. Not even those closest to her are aware that she still possesses the super strength and powerful abilities the tests had given her.
Of course, this also makes her the perfect spy for her family, and Cat wants to do her part by going undercover at an upcoming gala held by a rival high house to gather information. Unfortunately, her overprotective older sister Bianca is about to ruin all those plans. Having guessed what Cat is about to do, Bianca has planted two of her most trusted operatives on our protagonist’s ship so that she would have others to help her on the mission. It’s a complication for sure, but nothing Cat can’t handle—except one of the agents, Alexander Stirling, is proving to be a dangerous distraction. Handsome and charming, her newest bodyguard is also going to be doing double duty as her date to the party. Despite knowing that it’s all for show, Cat can’t help but be drawn to Alex and regrets that they couldn’t have met under different circumstances. But when an unexpected attack on the Consortium causes all hell to break loose, the two of them are brought closer together as they work to find the culprits and restore order.
I think it’s safe to say that if you enjoyed the first two books, you’ll enjoy Chaos Reigning. The story unfolds and is written in roughly the same vein, except the author has really pulled out all the stops for this one. The stakes are higher, plot developments are much more consequential, and the overall action is more intense. Not surprisingly, the romance is dialed up several notches as well, without losing any of its cheesiness. Truth be told, it might even be over the top. Everything was all NEED and HEAT and BURNING, if things got any hotter this book would have spontaneously combusted in my hands. I’m not going pretend and say it didn’t get ridiculous after a while, but it’s par for the course with this series and the reason why I can only take it in small doses. Could I read books like this back to back without wanting to tear my hair out? No. But doing so once in a while? They can be great escape.
Jessie Mihalik has also saved the best for last. The crux of Chaos Reigning involves an event that rocks the Consortium, altering the fates of Cat and her siblings forever. For me, it gave this book slightly more weight than the others which I suppose is appropriate for the final installment, and it also helped me see past a lot of the story’s flaws. After three books, it’s clear that the series’ biggest weaknesses are the men—our heroines’ love interests. To be frank, Loch, Ian, Alexander—they’re really all variations of the same type: domineering alpha males who are supremely full of themselves. To be fair, Alex might fare slightly better in this respect because his and Cat’s romance could arguably be considered slow-burn, plus he’s sweet and charming. That said, it didn’t help that he fell into the “fake boyfriend” cliché for so much of the story so that when his profession of love finally came, it felt rather sudden and unconvincing. As a result, there wasn’t much about his character that stood out.
So really, for me it was all about Cat. She’s independent and determined like all the von Hasenberg women, but can kick so much more ass—even more so than Ada. Furthermore, I felt Cat was also the best at leadership, which was ironic considering how desperately she didn’t want to end up the head of her house. Given the responsibilities dumped on her though, I thought she handled herself marvelously well and showed more agency and motivation in her choices than her sisters. It’s just a shame that the conflict in this book was resolve so abruptly—and a little too neatly—because I would have loved to see more of Cat in action.
And so, the Consortium Rebellion has come to an end. Romance is not typically a genre I read, but I won’t lie, I had a lot of fun with this one. Cat and Alexander’s relationship might not have been as satisfying, but the action and suspense definitely made up for it, and ultimately Chaos Reigning ended on a finale-worthy note.
With Chaos Rising comes the story of Catarina, the youngest daughter of the Von Hasenberg high house, as well as the epic conclusion to the Consortium Rebellion trilogy that exquisitely combines the sci-fi thrills of a space opera and the heated passions of a sultry romance.
As the baby of the family, Cat is used to being underestimated. In fact, she uses it to her advantage, masking her true self behind a mask of flightiness and frivolity. But the truth is, she has lived a troubled life, growing up secretly experimented on by her father because he had wanted to mold her into a super soldier. Using deception and her cunning, however, Cat managed to make everyone believe that the experiments had failed, and that she is now nothing more than your typical spoiled princess of the Consortium. Not even those closest to her are aware that she still possesses the super strength and powerful abilities the tests had given her.
Of course, this also makes her the perfect spy for her family, and Cat wants to do her part by going undercover at an upcoming gala held by a rival high house to gather information. Unfortunately, her overprotective older sister Bianca is about to ruin all those plans. Having guessed what Cat is about to do, Bianca has planted two of her most trusted operatives on our protagonist’s ship so that she would have others to help her on the mission. It’s a complication for sure, but nothing Cat can’t handle—except one of the agents, Alexander Stirling, is proving to be a dangerous distraction. Handsome and charming, her newest bodyguard is also going to be doing double duty as her date to the party. Despite knowing that it’s all for show, Cat can’t help but be drawn to Alex and regrets that they couldn’t have met under different circumstances. But when an unexpected attack on the Consortium causes all hell to break loose, the two of them are brought closer together as they work to find the culprits and restore order.
I think it’s safe to say that if you enjoyed the first two books, you’ll enjoy Chaos Reigning. The story unfolds and is written in roughly the same vein, except the author has really pulled out all the stops for this one. The stakes are higher, plot developments are much more consequential, and the overall action is more intense. Not surprisingly, the romance is dialed up several notches as well, without losing any of its cheesiness. Truth be told, it might even be over the top. Everything was all NEED and HEAT and BURNING, if things got any hotter this book would have spontaneously combusted in my hands. I’m not going pretend and say it didn’t get ridiculous after a while, but it’s par for the course with this series and the reason why I can only take it in small doses. Could I read books like this back to back without wanting to tear my hair out? No. But doing so once in a while? They can be great escape.
Jessie Mihalik has also saved the best for last. The crux of Chaos Reigning involves an event that rocks the Consortium, altering the fates of Cat and her siblings forever. For me, it gave this book slightly more weight than the others which I suppose is appropriate for the final installment, and it also helped me see past a lot of the story’s flaws. After three books, it’s clear that the series’ biggest weaknesses are the men—our heroines’ love interests. To be frank, Loch, Ian, Alexander—they’re really all variations of the same type: domineering alpha males who are supremely full of themselves. To be fair, Alex might fare slightly better in this respect because his and Cat’s romance could arguably be considered slow-burn, plus he’s sweet and charming. That said, it didn’t help that he fell into the “fake boyfriend” cliché for so much of the story so that when his profession of love finally came, it felt rather sudden and unconvincing. As a result, there wasn’t much about his character that stood out.
So really, for me it was all about Cat. She’s independent and determined like all the von Hasenberg women, but can kick so much more ass—even more so than Ada. Furthermore, I felt Cat was also the best at leadership, which was ironic considering how desperately she didn’t want to end up the head of her house. Given the responsibilities dumped on her though, I thought she handled herself marvelously well and showed more agency and motivation in her choices than her sisters. It’s just a shame that the conflict in this book was resolve so abruptly—and a little too neatly—because I would have loved to see more of Cat in action.
And so, the Consortium Rebellion has come to an end. Romance is not typically a genre I read, but I won’t lie, I had a lot of fun with this one. Cat and Alexander’s relationship might not have been as satisfying, but the action and suspense definitely made up for it, and ultimately Chaos Reigning ended on a finale-worthy note.
June 4, 2020
This was an action-packed tale that left little room for romantic development. Key moments provided plenty of sexual tension, and the suspense allowed for growth and trust. I enjoyed how Alex and Cat worked together. Cat is clever but quick to action and Alex helped by adding his tactical knowledge while allowing her lead.
Cat stepped up, making hard decisions even as she held back and doubted herself. I loved that she could share her secrets with Alex and he with her. The two sparred, laughed and shared some incredible swoon-worthy kisses.
The second half of the audio was intense with political maneuvers, quick thinking escapes and sacrifice. The world-building was strong from the tech to the space stops and will feed your inner geek.
Mihalik delivered some quiet time after the climatic battle and allowed us to see changes made. All of it left me smiling and swooning. Catarina von Hasenberg proved herself and grew throughout the tale. I enjoyed her, cheered for her and was happy to see her step into her name.
Emily Woo Zeller did a stellar job with the story and voice of Cat. I probably won’t ever be a fan of her male voices, but she did a fantastic job from pacing to tensions. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
Cat stepped up, making hard decisions even as she held back and doubted herself. I loved that she could share her secrets with Alex and he with her. The two sparred, laughed and shared some incredible swoon-worthy kisses.
The second half of the audio was intense with political maneuvers, quick thinking escapes and sacrifice. The world-building was strong from the tech to the space stops and will feed your inner geek.
Mihalik delivered some quiet time after the climatic battle and allowed us to see changes made. All of it left me smiling and swooning. Catarina von Hasenberg proved herself and grew throughout the tale. I enjoyed her, cheered for her and was happy to see her step into her name.
Emily Woo Zeller did a stellar job with the story and voice of Cat. I probably won’t ever be a fan of her male voices, but she did a fantastic job from pacing to tensions. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
August 9, 2023
4.5 Stars for Chaos Reigning: Consortium Rebellion, Book 3 (audiobook) by Jessie Mihalik read by Emily Woo Zeller.
What a wonderful end to the trilogy. Fortunately the spying that Cat is going to do on the other families is so dangerous that her sister insists on sending extra security to protect her. And just by chance she is really attracted to him. And it seems like they may have some other things in common too. Can you find love and protect the galaxy?
What a wonderful end to the trilogy. Fortunately the spying that Cat is going to do on the other families is so dangerous that her sister insists on sending extra security to protect her. And just by chance she is really attracted to him. And it seems like they may have some other things in common too. Can you find love and protect the galaxy?
September 4, 2020
Still good, but not up to the other two.
Why?
Because it gave me NA wibe and that's not my thing...
Yes, I know Cat is young, but still.... There's something about NA being heroes that irks me...
Still the book is good and I liked it!
I hope the author will write Ferdinand's book. I'm really curious about his story!
Why?
Because it gave me NA wibe and that's not my thing...
Yes, I know Cat is young, but still.... There's something about NA being heroes that irks me...
Still the book is good and I liked it!
I hope the author will write Ferdinand's book. I'm really curious about his story!
May 15, 2020
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
I have been loving this world in the Consortium Rebellion trilogy. One of three sisters is featured in each of the three books and now we meet Catarina. She is the youngest sister and I didn't feel I knew her very well from previous stories. While her sisters were out fighting and learning off planet, she stayed home.
Catarina has played her role as a high house princess, going to social events and parties. She meets people, gathers information, and has developed some knowledge, maybe even some allies. Now she has a chance to find out information on the James house, as she is invited to a party at their place, off on another planet.
Bianca, (older sister from Aurora Blazing) ever the master of intelligence, doesn't want her going alone and plans to send along two friends as bodyguards. Catarina has played "silly party girl" so well, sometimes others don't think she can handle herself.
Catarina is so much more than I expected, even though she is so young. She's smart and capable under that pretty facade. I love how she dived into the fray, to get the needed evidence to support her family and then to protect them. Thankfully, Bianca's friends, Eva and Alex have her back. She also has her best friend from another house.
Packed with action, sexual tension and political maneuvering, I loved Chaos Reigning! Catarina was compassionate, well-trained and knowledgeable. Alex was more the strong, silent type. I didn't get much from him. I did appreciate how he supported and encouraged Cat. I felt the connection between all the siblings and enjoyed how they came together to support the family in the end.
Narration:
I've always admired this narrator. Her voices for all the characters, male or female, sounded appropriate. The voices were somewhat distinct so I could tell who was speaking. Most of the time, we were in Cat's head with her thoughts and it felt right. I enjoyed listening at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:
https://soundcloud.com/harperaudio_us...
Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
I have been loving this world in the Consortium Rebellion trilogy. One of three sisters is featured in each of the three books and now we meet Catarina. She is the youngest sister and I didn't feel I knew her very well from previous stories. While her sisters were out fighting and learning off planet, she stayed home.
Catarina has played her role as a high house princess, going to social events and parties. She meets people, gathers information, and has developed some knowledge, maybe even some allies. Now she has a chance to find out information on the James house, as she is invited to a party at their place, off on another planet.
Bianca, (older sister from Aurora Blazing) ever the master of intelligence, doesn't want her going alone and plans to send along two friends as bodyguards. Catarina has played "silly party girl" so well, sometimes others don't think she can handle herself.
Catarina is so much more than I expected, even though she is so young. She's smart and capable under that pretty facade. I love how she dived into the fray, to get the needed evidence to support her family and then to protect them. Thankfully, Bianca's friends, Eva and Alex have her back. She also has her best friend from another house.
Packed with action, sexual tension and political maneuvering, I loved Chaos Reigning! Catarina was compassionate, well-trained and knowledgeable. Alex was more the strong, silent type. I didn't get much from him. I did appreciate how he supported and encouraged Cat. I felt the connection between all the siblings and enjoyed how they came together to support the family in the end.
Narration:
I've always admired this narrator. Her voices for all the characters, male or female, sounded appropriate. The voices were somewhat distinct so I could tell who was speaking. Most of the time, we were in Cat's head with her thoughts and it felt right. I enjoyed listening at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:
https://soundcloud.com/harperaudio_us...
June 17, 2020
Last instalment in this fun space opera romance trilogy!
As in Polaris Rising and Aurora Blazing, the narration follows a von Hasenberg sibling, this time, Catarina, the youngest. We meet her as she is about to go on a dangerous information-gathering mission, when her eldest sister lumbers her with a couple of special bodyguards. Not that bad, if it wasn’t for the fact that she finds the male one way too attractive...
Once again, the heroine has had to deal with some pretty horrible things, mostly at the hand of her father, and hidden herself behind her royal persona of ditzy princess, who everyone underestimates, herself included. Events however push her into finding who she really is.
Easy and entertaining read, full of action scenes, sprinkled with a bit of romance. Exactly what is needed when you want to push real life away :O)
As in Polaris Rising and Aurora Blazing, the narration follows a von Hasenberg sibling, this time, Catarina, the youngest. We meet her as she is about to go on a dangerous information-gathering mission, when her eldest sister lumbers her with a couple of special bodyguards. Not that bad, if it wasn’t for the fact that she finds the male one way too attractive...
Once again, the heroine has had to deal with some pretty horrible things, mostly at the hand of her father, and hidden herself behind her royal persona of ditzy princess, who everyone underestimates, herself included. Events however push her into finding who she really is.
Easy and entertaining read, full of action scenes, sprinkled with a bit of romance. Exactly what is needed when you want to push real life away :O)
July 23, 2020
May the stars shine brightly on you.
This quote was the cutest thing ever and it was a blessing said to soldiers before war. It was beautiful.
If you don’t know this about me by now, I’m going to tell you. I have favorite tropes. Like everyone. Mine are very specific to bodyguards, undercover lover, and one bed. This book had it all!!! Alex was pretending to be Catarina’s lover so he could be her undercover bodyguard. Come on!!! Underscored lover bodyguard, with one bed problems since day one! This book was made for me. It takes place in outer space. There’s action and fighting and a badass heroine. It was great.
The only complaint I have is that I think the author missed the mark on who the series should follow. It should be the 8 soldiers who survived the Genesis Project. Three books in this series is not enough, in my opinion. But maybe that’s just because I want more.
This quote was the cutest thing ever and it was a blessing said to soldiers before war. It was beautiful.
If you don’t know this about me by now, I’m going to tell you. I have favorite tropes. Like everyone. Mine are very specific to bodyguards, undercover lover, and one bed. This book had it all!!! Alex was pretending to be Catarina’s lover so he could be her undercover bodyguard. Come on!!! Underscored lover bodyguard, with one bed problems since day one! This book was made for me. It takes place in outer space. There’s action and fighting and a badass heroine. It was great.
The only complaint I have is that I think the author missed the mark on who the series should follow. It should be the 8 soldiers who survived the Genesis Project. Three books in this series is not enough, in my opinion. But maybe that’s just because I want more.
June 20, 2020
Fun!: space opera, super soldiers, secrets, assassination attempts, flirting, danger, politics, more secrets, and romance.....this series has been lots of fun, and this time we spend time with youngest sib Cat, whose superpowers are charm, being totally underestimated, and a few other critical skills that enable her, her best friend and amazing woman Ying, and hunky Alexander, to deal with an explosive situation that’s been building since book one. Like the previous books, this is frothy, light, space popcorn.
July 28, 2023
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series! Cat is frequently underestimated thanks to her flighty and frivolous public persona. This serves her perfectly as a spy. But it’s less helpful when it’s up to her to save the world and everyone keeps being skeptical about her abilities. Lucky for them, Cat is a force to be reckoned with and no one doubts her by book’s end. It was a real bummer the way Bianca kept interfering under the guise of looking out for her little sister though; I was glad Cat was able to stand up for herself even with her siblings.
The space opera action plot kept me thoroughly invested. Alex was less developed than I’d prefer. He was a great bodyguard and I really appreciated how quickly he came to believe in and support Cat. But I don’t have a sense of his personality, interests, or goals. The pace of their relationship was off for me and this meant I enjoyed this couple the least out of the trilogy. Alex is perfectly fine and I'm sure they'll be great together. But Cat remained my reason to keep turning the pages. She’s the real deal and it was a treat to watch her figure out how to put an end to everything that threatened Serenity.
Cat’s friendship with Ying was also a highlight. They’re able to figure out how to maintain a close relationship despite being from rival High Houses. While things are very much put to the test, they remain loyal to each other, which was lovely to see.
Characters: Catarina is a 21 year old white spy and aristocrat. Alex is a 26 year old bodyguard and ex-soldier with light brown skin.
Content notes: death of parents , emotionally abusive father, toxic mother, past medical experimentation (FMC’s dad had her genes illegally manipulated as a child; FMC’s sister’s husband experimented on her brain and nanobots without consent and tortured her; MMC volunteered to be turned into a supersolder), murder, assassination attempts, physical assault, imprisonment, hover bike accident (almost died), war, attempted coup, misogyny, unhoused children/teens (including nonbinary character), past maiming of brother (tongue cut out), MMC’s captain faked the deaths of their squad after they were ordered to kill starving women and children (past), past childhood chronic illness, bolt wounds, lacerations, dislocated shoulder, pregnant secondary character, on page sex, exhibitionism, alcohol, gendered pejoratives, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide
The space opera action plot kept me thoroughly invested. Alex was less developed than I’d prefer. He was a great bodyguard and I really appreciated how quickly he came to believe in and support Cat. But I don’t have a sense of his personality, interests, or goals. The pace of their relationship was off for me and this meant I enjoyed this couple the least out of the trilogy. Alex is perfectly fine and I'm sure they'll be great together. But Cat remained my reason to keep turning the pages. She’s the real deal and it was a treat to watch her figure out how to put an end to everything that threatened Serenity.
Cat’s friendship with Ying was also a highlight. They’re able to figure out how to maintain a close relationship despite being from rival High Houses. While things are very much put to the test, they remain loyal to each other, which was lovely to see.
Characters: Catarina is a 21 year old white spy and aristocrat. Alex is a 26 year old bodyguard and ex-soldier with light brown skin.
Content notes: death of parents , emotionally abusive father, toxic mother, past medical experimentation (FMC’s dad had her genes illegally manipulated as a child; FMC’s sister’s husband experimented on her brain and nanobots without consent and tortured her; MMC volunteered to be turned into a supersolder), murder, assassination attempts, physical assault, imprisonment, hover bike accident (almost died), war, attempted coup, misogyny, unhoused children/teens (including nonbinary character), past maiming of brother (tongue cut out), MMC’s captain faked the deaths of their squad after they were ordered to kill starving women and children (past), past childhood chronic illness, bolt wounds, lacerations, dislocated shoulder, pregnant secondary character, on page sex, exhibitionism, alcohol, gendered pejoratives, ableist language, hyperbolic language around suicide
June 3, 2020
When I started Chaos Reigning I was a bit surprised to find out that it was the final book in the series… there is so much going on and only two of the six von Hasenberg siblings had their HEAs… won’t they all have a story?! While the book doesn’t address all of the outstanding subplots, and in fact adds a few more to the pot, it does conclude a major story arc. Let’s all pray that Ms. Mihalik writes more!
Chaos Reigning picks up shortly after the conclusion of the previous title and is shared from the POV of the youngest von Hasenberg, Catarina (Cat). Cat holds close a secret that if out, would make her a weapon for her father, so she uses her history of health issues and plays up her socialite status, to give others a sense that she’s a dim-witted party girl. However, she’s been helping her siblings from the sidelines in the war. Now she’s got a lead of her own, but sister Bianca is managing her activities, forcing her to have a faux plus one at a two-week party; someone who will keep an eye on and protect her. While Cat doesn’t want the extra “help,” she quickly learns to appreciate Alex for his sharp mind and quick action. It doesn’t hurt he’s extremely attractive and a genuinely nice guy.
Like the two stories previous to it, Chaos Reigning is a fantastic adventure from beginning to end. Cat and her allies start to piece together who exactly was behind the kidnapping of her eldest brother, and soon they are targets of more than one assassination attempt. When the Verse falls apart, Cat risks everything to get back to Earth to try and save not only her family, but the entire Consortium. A plot that no one (including the reader) knows about rears its ugly head and soon, life as they know it is on the brink of collapse. There are ambushes and chases, fast ships and high-tech gadgets. There are secrets and layers, but it all comes together seamlessly.
While the story is heavy on action, there is a slow-burn romance developing between Cat and Alex. Unlike the previous two romances which really tugged on my heartstrings, Cat and Alex fall for one another fairly quickly, and they attempt to get together nearly the entire book. It’s just they keep getting interrupted! I liked the pair together and enjoyed watching Cat learn to trust Alex, which also helps her trust her siblings with her big secrets.
Narration: Chaos Reigning is shared via the first person POV of Cat. Ms. Zeller gives Cat a strong, feminine voice, with a youth and vitality. She alters every character’s voice for dialogue, with each having a unique sound. She does a great job keeping each character distinct. Alex’s voice is deeper with a touch of gentle fondness that betrays his feelings for Cat. The narrator does a good job infusing emotion and situational non-speech verbal cues into the story; she isn’t just reading the story, she brings the characters to life.
The Consortium Rebellion trilogy has been a favorite of mine for three books, and with so many stories still out there to explore, I sincerely hope the author finds time to share them.
My Ratings:
Story: B+
Narration: A-
Chaos Reigning picks up shortly after the conclusion of the previous title and is shared from the POV of the youngest von Hasenberg, Catarina (Cat). Cat holds close a secret that if out, would make her a weapon for her father, so she uses her history of health issues and plays up her socialite status, to give others a sense that she’s a dim-witted party girl. However, she’s been helping her siblings from the sidelines in the war. Now she’s got a lead of her own, but sister Bianca is managing her activities, forcing her to have a faux plus one at a two-week party; someone who will keep an eye on and protect her. While Cat doesn’t want the extra “help,” she quickly learns to appreciate Alex for his sharp mind and quick action. It doesn’t hurt he’s extremely attractive and a genuinely nice guy.
Like the two stories previous to it, Chaos Reigning is a fantastic adventure from beginning to end. Cat and her allies start to piece together who exactly was behind the kidnapping of her eldest brother, and soon they are targets of more than one assassination attempt. When the Verse falls apart, Cat risks everything to get back to Earth to try and save not only her family, but the entire Consortium. A plot that no one (including the reader) knows about rears its ugly head and soon, life as they know it is on the brink of collapse. There are ambushes and chases, fast ships and high-tech gadgets. There are secrets and layers, but it all comes together seamlessly.
While the story is heavy on action, there is a slow-burn romance developing between Cat and Alex. Unlike the previous two romances which really tugged on my heartstrings, Cat and Alex fall for one another fairly quickly, and they attempt to get together nearly the entire book. It’s just they keep getting interrupted! I liked the pair together and enjoyed watching Cat learn to trust Alex, which also helps her trust her siblings with her big secrets.
Narration: Chaos Reigning is shared via the first person POV of Cat. Ms. Zeller gives Cat a strong, feminine voice, with a youth and vitality. She alters every character’s voice for dialogue, with each having a unique sound. She does a great job keeping each character distinct. Alex’s voice is deeper with a touch of gentle fondness that betrays his feelings for Cat. The narrator does a good job infusing emotion and situational non-speech verbal cues into the story; she isn’t just reading the story, she brings the characters to life.
The Consortium Rebellion trilogy has been a favorite of mine for three books, and with so many stories still out there to explore, I sincerely hope the author finds time to share them.
My Ratings:
Story: B+
Narration: A-
May 24, 2020
If you are looking for a space opera trilogy with action, intrigue, and a little bit of heat, look no further. The Consortium Rebellion series is a winner. This is the third book and while you could read it as a standalone, why would you want to? Start with Polaris Rising and get comfortable.
Each book focuses on a different sister in the Von Hasenberg family. They come from a High House of the galaxy, basically one of the ruling families which wield great power. But with great power… Well, you know. Each of these sisters hides a secret or special ability. This is Catarina‘s story and She is the product of genetic tinkering, much like the heroes of books one and two. Cat pretends to be a flighty socialite, but it is a mask she uses to infiltrate society and make connections for her family's benefit. She’s a good person underneath, though, and does what she can to help the less fortunate. She’s smart and she’s strong, she just hides it very well.
She is using an invitation to a huge party to try to figure out who is responsible for kidnapping her brother and targeting her house. but her sister Bianca won’t let her go alone. She sends two bodyguards. Alex is one of them and he hides under the pretense of being her lover. All too soon their feigned attraction grows very real. And a Series of assassination attempts quickly proves Bianca made the right call in sending reinforcements.
There is a lot going on here. Great action moves the plot along at a good clip and with all the political machinations it’s fun trying to keep up with who Cat can trust and who she can’t. It is very similar in tone and rhythm to the other books in the series. So if you like those, you’ll probably like this one too.
That said, in my opinion, this installment is the weakest of the three. Though don’t misunderstand, I still enjoyed it. It’s just that maybe it felt a little too much like the other two books. The particulars were different but the bones felt the same. And while I felt like I knew Cat, Alex was rather undeveloped. He could’ve been any super soldier who fell for her. I wouldn’t go so far as to call him a placeholder, but he was definitely not someone I felt like I knew. and while I felt the attraction between the main characters, I wasn’t really in my feels.
I liked it, but it was more like an action movie. A good two hours of movement and a fun ride. But it doesn’t reinvent the wheel.
Still, this is not a bad review by any means. I I will totally 100% read from this author again. And I would recommend the series. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
Each book focuses on a different sister in the Von Hasenberg family. They come from a High House of the galaxy, basically one of the ruling families which wield great power. But with great power… Well, you know. Each of these sisters hides a secret or special ability. This is Catarina‘s story and She is the product of genetic tinkering, much like the heroes of books one and two. Cat pretends to be a flighty socialite, but it is a mask she uses to infiltrate society and make connections for her family's benefit. She’s a good person underneath, though, and does what she can to help the less fortunate. She’s smart and she’s strong, she just hides it very well.
She is using an invitation to a huge party to try to figure out who is responsible for kidnapping her brother and targeting her house. but her sister Bianca won’t let her go alone. She sends two bodyguards. Alex is one of them and he hides under the pretense of being her lover. All too soon their feigned attraction grows very real. And a Series of assassination attempts quickly proves Bianca made the right call in sending reinforcements.
There is a lot going on here. Great action moves the plot along at a good clip and with all the political machinations it’s fun trying to keep up with who Cat can trust and who she can’t. It is very similar in tone and rhythm to the other books in the series. So if you like those, you’ll probably like this one too.
That said, in my opinion, this installment is the weakest of the three. Though don’t misunderstand, I still enjoyed it. It’s just that maybe it felt a little too much like the other two books. The particulars were different but the bones felt the same. And while I felt like I knew Cat, Alex was rather undeveloped. He could’ve been any super soldier who fell for her. I wouldn’t go so far as to call him a placeholder, but he was definitely not someone I felt like I knew. and while I felt the attraction between the main characters, I wasn’t really in my feels.
I liked it, but it was more like an action movie. A good two hours of movement and a fun ride. But it doesn’t reinvent the wheel.
Still, this is not a bad review by any means. I I will totally 100% read from this author again. And I would recommend the series. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
December 30, 2020
I absolutely adored this book and as the last book in the trilogy and is my favourite which usually never happens.
With the Consortium Rebellion, Jessie Mihalik has created a fantastic space opera series. There is plot, there is depth, there is character development, unique world building and I loved every single moment of this book. I’m fangirl, just saying.
Caterina van Hasenberg is the youngest of the six siblings and now she has to save her family. Her acting skills are too good. She comes across as vapid, bubbly and only interested in social engagements. That is as far from the truth as it can get. But now it is time for Cat to find her strength and show what she can really do.
Alexander Sterling has hidden skills himself being part of a secret Consortium experiment has helped him hone those skills. He owes Bianca a debt and that is to accompany Cat to a stay with a rival house so that information can be gathered about the kidnapping of Ferdinand. But the betrayal goes a lot deeper then fist expected.
I adored Cat and Alexander. They are to me the perfect couple. They complement each other. They are loyal and there is no push/pull. They know what they want and that is each other!
I can really recommend this series and I can’t wait for more to come from this author!
With the Consortium Rebellion, Jessie Mihalik has created a fantastic space opera series. There is plot, there is depth, there is character development, unique world building and I loved every single moment of this book. I’m fangirl, just saying.
Caterina van Hasenberg is the youngest of the six siblings and now she has to save her family. Her acting skills are too good. She comes across as vapid, bubbly and only interested in social engagements. That is as far from the truth as it can get. But now it is time for Cat to find her strength and show what she can really do.
Alexander Sterling has hidden skills himself being part of a secret Consortium experiment has helped him hone those skills. He owes Bianca a debt and that is to accompany Cat to a stay with a rival house so that information can be gathered about the kidnapping of Ferdinand. But the betrayal goes a lot deeper then fist expected.
I adored Cat and Alexander. They are to me the perfect couple. They complement each other. They are loyal and there is no push/pull. They know what they want and that is each other!
I can really recommend this series and I can’t wait for more to come from this author!
April 6, 2020
One of my most anticipated romance reads of 2020, Chaos Reigning was the PERFECT book to launch me out of the atmosphere and into space, far away from my worries here on Earth.
Catarina von Hasenberg, youngest and hiding a secret, must try to leverage the socialite, insipid image she's honed over the years to find evidence framing those responsible for her brother's kidnapping while attending a swanky house party. Her sister Bianca has thrown a wrench into her plans by sending two bodyguards to "help" Cat, including one who is supposed to be Cat's new boyfriend. Alex is mysterious, large, quiet, and devastatingly attractive. So much so Cat worries pretending might turn in to something more.
As with the other books in this series, reader's will enjoy a firm focus on the heroine as she defies expectations and protects those she loves, while falling in love with a delicious cinnamon roll along the way.
I only wish we got to know Alex a little bit more, he is very much a side character to Cat's magnificence and is instantly in love with her.
CW for violence, guns, medical experimentation, explicit war scenes
I received a free copy from Edelweiss+ for review.
Catarina von Hasenberg, youngest and hiding a secret, must try to leverage the socialite, insipid image she's honed over the years to find evidence framing those responsible for her brother's kidnapping while attending a swanky house party. Her sister Bianca has thrown a wrench into her plans by sending two bodyguards to "help" Cat, including one who is supposed to be Cat's new boyfriend. Alex is mysterious, large, quiet, and devastatingly attractive. So much so Cat worries pretending might turn in to something more.
As with the other books in this series, reader's will enjoy a firm focus on the heroine as she defies expectations and protects those she loves, while falling in love with a delicious cinnamon roll along the way.
I only wish we got to know Alex a little bit more, he is very much a side character to Cat's magnificence and is instantly in love with her.
CW for violence, guns, medical experimentation, explicit war scenes
I received a free copy from Edelweiss+ for review.
May 7, 2020
This was probably my least favorite in the series, though I did like seeing all the broader pieces come together in regards to the big galactic issues. Still an enjoyable read, especially if you liked the first books or are a fan of sci-fi space adventures.
My biggest complaint with this book was Alex was such a bland, 2D character and it felt like he added nothing to the story, despite being the love interest. I like Cat a lot as a heroine and seeing her come into her own was great but I honestly could have done without the romance with Alex as I just didn’t get it and it really added nothing to the story for me. The female friendship between Ying and Cat was so much better than the romantic one and I would have been fine with that being the central relationship in the book.
My biggest complaint with this book was Alex was such a bland, 2D character and it felt like he added nothing to the story, despite being the love interest. I like Cat a lot as a heroine and seeing her come into her own was great but I honestly could have done without the romance with Alex as I just didn’t get it and it really added nothing to the story for me. The female friendship between Ying and Cat was so much better than the romantic one and I would have been fine with that being the central relationship in the book.
July 4, 2020
Buy the book or borrow it from the library. This is WAY too expensive in my opinion, so I recommend checking it out from the library before making that kind of purchase.
Better than the previous 2 books but still very middle of the road. The relationship was more believable but still moved at lightning speed and the sex was way better.
Im happy to have read it but I wont be buying this for my bookshelf.
Better than the previous 2 books but still very middle of the road. The relationship was more believable but still moved at lightning speed and the sex was way better.
Im happy to have read it but I wont be buying this for my bookshelf.
June 1, 2023
I liked it -- on par with the prior two.
However, when I started there's a definite 'record scratch' type moment -- that was NOT the plot arc I was expecting. It's like she hit the "rocks fall, everybody dies, end of series" stress point.
Truly expected the battle with the old guard to be the focus for several books, not third & you're out!
However, when I started there's a definite 'record scratch' type moment -- that was NOT the plot arc I was expecting. It's like she hit the "rocks fall, everybody dies, end of series" stress point.
Truly expected the battle with the old guard to be the focus for several books, not third & you're out!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2022
Arriving at the final book in the series, I had mixed feelings. I love this series so much that I really don't want to see it go even as I warily wonder how the author can possibly bring it to a close based on where we left things in Aurora Blazing. However, at the same time, I wouldn't miss another chance to read of the von Hasenberg family adventures for worlds. I couldn't wait to dive into Caterina's book.
In case the earlier paragraph wasn't clear, this series must be read in order as the overall series arc builds through it, there are connected relationships and situations, but also because each book isn't to be missed.
So, Catarina is the youngest sister and the one I knew the least after the first book introduced the family. I was still finding her rather peripheral in the second book. But, wow, did this young woman surprise me. A spy! And a very good one at that with her hidden skills and talents while showing the world her shallow minded socialite persona.
Like her sisters, Cat is chipping away at the secrets behind the enemy actions and getting to the bottom of things behind her brother's kidnapping. She gets a surprising invitation into an enemy House's house party, but her oldest sister isn't letting her go in alone. She's saddled with Alex, as a fake plus one and Bianca's friend, Eva. Cat wants to resent this, but soon learns that the strong, silent Alex is a formidable partner with his analytical and capable mind. And, with what they uncover about the attack on their family and, oh yes, the plot against the Consortium itself, it is all hands on deck.
I loved seeing all the familiar faces working in common cause and was more than delighted to have the startling Catarina in the spotlight. While her sisters' romances were filled with struggle, Cat and Alex's slow burn background romance was amusing in that their struggle was to get a moment to themselves.
This was full of action and fast-paced excitement. There was political intrigue and twists to give wonderful surprises. And, the characters were engaging from start to finish. I might point out to the author, entirely guilelessly that we have more von Hasenberg stories to tell and I would totally read/listen to them. But, this was a fabulous finale and did indeed bring the main story arc to a satisfying close.
I am relieved to note the author has busily written more sci-fi and looks like it might share a world so I will continue with her books. Those who love intelligent and well-developed characters paired with pounding pace sci-fi action don't hesitate to pick up this series.
In case the earlier paragraph wasn't clear, this series must be read in order as the overall series arc builds through it, there are connected relationships and situations, but also because each book isn't to be missed.
So, Catarina is the youngest sister and the one I knew the least after the first book introduced the family. I was still finding her rather peripheral in the second book. But, wow, did this young woman surprise me. A spy! And a very good one at that with her hidden skills and talents while showing the world her shallow minded socialite persona.
Like her sisters, Cat is chipping away at the secrets behind the enemy actions and getting to the bottom of things behind her brother's kidnapping. She gets a surprising invitation into an enemy House's house party, but her oldest sister isn't letting her go in alone. She's saddled with Alex, as a fake plus one and Bianca's friend, Eva. Cat wants to resent this, but soon learns that the strong, silent Alex is a formidable partner with his analytical and capable mind. And, with what they uncover about the attack on their family and, oh yes, the plot against the Consortium itself, it is all hands on deck.
I loved seeing all the familiar faces working in common cause and was more than delighted to have the startling Catarina in the spotlight. While her sisters' romances were filled with struggle, Cat and Alex's slow burn background romance was amusing in that their struggle was to get a moment to themselves.
This was full of action and fast-paced excitement. There was political intrigue and twists to give wonderful surprises. And, the characters were engaging from start to finish. I might point out to the author, entirely guilelessly that we have more von Hasenberg stories to tell and I would totally read/listen to them. But, this was a fabulous finale and did indeed bring the main story arc to a satisfying close.
I am relieved to note the author has busily written more sci-fi and looks like it might share a world so I will continue with her books. Those who love intelligent and well-developed characters paired with pounding pace sci-fi action don't hesitate to pick up this series.
May 21, 2020
Finale!? What?! No this can't be it! There are more siblings! I need Ferdinand, well I do not really need it, I kind of need the how they met, now how they continue. But I want Benedict and Hannah too. Sad sad day.
Catarina is the flighty "dumb" socialite, a persona she works hard on. Her siblings thinks she is weak because they do not know what was done to her. She is stronger than any of them, but she does not have the confidence to see it.
She is the risktaker, and she will blaze her way through this war.
Because yes there is that dang war going on between her house and another, and she is sent to gather intelligence, together with a hot bodyguard. And I did feel the connect between her and Alexander, they were alike, I felt it, I got it. Sure they did not have a lot of time to get to know each other. But I believed that instant attraction and that instant connection of finding a kindred spirit.
This book is action filled, intrigues everywhere, space battles and more. The romance is fast, and at the same time really slow burning, they are both careful and that made it better.
But I do want more! The war might be over, but there are more stories to tell. Light action filled scifi with romance, what more can one want!
Emily is great as always, I do like her and she fits well here. She can be every aspect of Caterina, from noseup highborn, to fury. She makes the characters come alive and fills every space (ha, pun intended.) It makes these fun listening to.
Catarina is the flighty "dumb" socialite, a persona she works hard on. Her siblings thinks she is weak because they do not know what was done to her. She is stronger than any of them, but she does not have the confidence to see it.
She is the risktaker, and she will blaze her way through this war.
Because yes there is that dang war going on between her house and another, and she is sent to gather intelligence, together with a hot bodyguard. And I did feel the connect between her and Alexander, they were alike, I felt it, I got it. Sure they did not have a lot of time to get to know each other. But I believed that instant attraction and that instant connection of finding a kindred spirit.
This book is action filled, intrigues everywhere, space battles and more. The romance is fast, and at the same time really slow burning, they are both careful and that made it better.
But I do want more! The war might be over, but there are more stories to tell. Light action filled scifi with romance, what more can one want!
Emily is great as always, I do like her and she fits well here. She can be every aspect of Caterina, from noseup highborn, to fury. She makes the characters come alive and fills every space (ha, pun intended.) It makes these fun listening to.
September 17, 2020
A solid read. This was a sci fi romance which was heavy on the sci fi light on the romance. I liked this 3rd episode in the series. Don't know if the series is over yet or not. It felt like it wrapped most things up. The world building is solid and interesting. The heroine was well written as a youngest sister who had been pampered so while she thought she was more competent than she was given credit for, she had doubts about herself. The book did a good job showing her sort of breaking out of her shell and learning to accept herself. The hero was not as fully fleshed out but he was a nice guy. He wasn't the one with the story arc so you didn't know much about him.
November 8, 2025
There is something about Jessie Mihalik's Consortium Rebellion series that draws me in.
Each book focuses on different family members and their plight to save themselves, other family members and ultimately make the Consortium a better world for all.
I flat out loved this story. I was riveted to the pages from start to finish!
I received this ARC copy of Chaos Reigning from Harper Voyager - HaperCollins. This is my honest and voluntary review.
Each book focuses on different family members and their plight to save themselves, other family members and ultimately make the Consortium a better world for all.
I flat out loved this story. I was riveted to the pages from start to finish!
I received this ARC copy of Chaos Reigning from Harper Voyager - HaperCollins. This is my honest and voluntary review.
December 1, 2024
You can read the tiniest snippet on the author's website here and oh my goodness. Just from that littlest sneak peak I am excited for this story!
August 15, 2020
LOVED this trilogy!!!! Loved loved loved! If you like spare operas and fierce, strong woman, then look no further! These are just the books for you!
Looking forward to reading more from this author. Highly recommend!
Looking forward to reading more from this author. Highly recommend!
December 9, 2020
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Chaos Reining is the finale of the Consortium Rebellion trilogy and part of me is sad because I don't want to say goodbye to these characters at ALL and this family just rocks in so many ways. But I believe she has a companion series that is connected to this one, so its not completely goodbye so I am looking forward to seeing what this author does to build this world even further. But still.....I wanted two other books involving the brothers, that would have been awesome because I fell in love with their sibling bond with their sisters. I know that this is NOT everyone's favorite of the trilogy but I actually LOVED it so much. I am not sure if it was because of the narration (which is fabulous) or just the story just drew me in, but I couldn't put this one down. Its why I listened to it in two days.
Chaos Reigning is focused upon the younger sister, the under appreciated one in many ways....Catarina. She is the public face of the family, the one who wears all the dresses and acts the socialite while being so far different. Catarina has felt so undervalued in the family, and the "black sheep" as it were. She knows that one day she will have to do her duty and marry for the family, but she wants more than marriage to a man older than her father....she wants deep rich love in her life. After the attempt on her eldest brother's life (which still cost him his voice) she is determined to find out who is after her family. She goes undercover at a house party that is full of vipers, but her sister forces her to take two bodyguards and one of them...Alex, to pose as her current love interest. Catarina is intently drawn to this broody Alex who is full of secrets but is protective yet supportive of her plan. But what begins as a undercover operation turns into an adventure where Catarina will risk all to save her family and house against a corrupt regime....
I desperately had a blast with this book and I didn't want it to ever end. I have to say that this author never ceases to impress me in all the best of ways here. I was so drawn into this story and Catarina and Alex's journey. I truly adored Catarina and Alex together, they were a powerhouse together. I loved that Alex was just like Catarina and he understood her in ways that her family never could. She needed someone that would always stand by her. I really respected her growth and what she became within the pages of this story. This book turned out to be a story I vastly underestimated in numerous of ways. I never thought it would be such a action packed book that would keep me on my toes. But it did and I adored every single thrilling moment this author portrays.
I couldn't help but fall for both of the characters. Alex is such a bold character but somewhat in the background at times in the story. I would have loved to see so much more of him but the focus was Catarina and her growth. I really felt a kinship to Catarina, and for some reason I connected to her character much more cemently than I did with the other two sisters. I found her connection to Alex to be sensual in some moments but also much deeper on an almost psychic level. There is a level of understanding and respect that these two hold for each other. I adored that even though Alex didn't always agree with Catarina's decisions, he held such support towards her. He was honest with her but respected her choices and I adored that.
Overall I found Chaos Reigning to be a stunning conclusion to a delightful series that held me focus from beginning to end....its a story of laughter, adventure, secrets and embracing the best parts of yourself in the moments when you least expect it to happen......THRILLING AND PASSIONATE!
Chaos Reining is the finale of the Consortium Rebellion trilogy and part of me is sad because I don't want to say goodbye to these characters at ALL and this family just rocks in so many ways. But I believe she has a companion series that is connected to this one, so its not completely goodbye so I am looking forward to seeing what this author does to build this world even further. But still.....I wanted two other books involving the brothers, that would have been awesome because I fell in love with their sibling bond with their sisters. I know that this is NOT everyone's favorite of the trilogy but I actually LOVED it so much. I am not sure if it was because of the narration (which is fabulous) or just the story just drew me in, but I couldn't put this one down. Its why I listened to it in two days.
Chaos Reigning is focused upon the younger sister, the under appreciated one in many ways....Catarina. She is the public face of the family, the one who wears all the dresses and acts the socialite while being so far different. Catarina has felt so undervalued in the family, and the "black sheep" as it were. She knows that one day she will have to do her duty and marry for the family, but she wants more than marriage to a man older than her father....she wants deep rich love in her life. After the attempt on her eldest brother's life (which still cost him his voice) she is determined to find out who is after her family. She goes undercover at a house party that is full of vipers, but her sister forces her to take two bodyguards and one of them...Alex, to pose as her current love interest. Catarina is intently drawn to this broody Alex who is full of secrets but is protective yet supportive of her plan. But what begins as a undercover operation turns into an adventure where Catarina will risk all to save her family and house against a corrupt regime....
I desperately had a blast with this book and I didn't want it to ever end. I have to say that this author never ceases to impress me in all the best of ways here. I was so drawn into this story and Catarina and Alex's journey. I truly adored Catarina and Alex together, they were a powerhouse together. I loved that Alex was just like Catarina and he understood her in ways that her family never could. She needed someone that would always stand by her. I really respected her growth and what she became within the pages of this story. This book turned out to be a story I vastly underestimated in numerous of ways. I never thought it would be such a action packed book that would keep me on my toes. But it did and I adored every single thrilling moment this author portrays.
I couldn't help but fall for both of the characters. Alex is such a bold character but somewhat in the background at times in the story. I would have loved to see so much more of him but the focus was Catarina and her growth. I really felt a kinship to Catarina, and for some reason I connected to her character much more cemently than I did with the other two sisters. I found her connection to Alex to be sensual in some moments but also much deeper on an almost psychic level. There is a level of understanding and respect that these two hold for each other. I adored that even though Alex didn't always agree with Catarina's decisions, he held such support towards her. He was honest with her but respected her choices and I adored that.
Overall I found Chaos Reigning to be a stunning conclusion to a delightful series that held me focus from beginning to end....its a story of laughter, adventure, secrets and embracing the best parts of yourself in the moments when you least expect it to happen......THRILLING AND PASSIONATE!
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