Review: Pacifica by Kristen Simmons

Title: Pacifica

Author:  Kristen Simmons
Publisher: Tor Teen 

Publishing Date: March 6th, 2018

Pages:  384
Genre: YA Dystopian

Series:  Stand Alone
Source:  Audio

 

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.

I was very excited for this book. I mean pirates, dystopian, that cover. It sounded so intriguing. The book started out with a bang, had a few slow parts in between, then ended with a bang.All in all I had fun with the book and I was quite satisfied in the end. 

The country is in trouble. Resources are dwindleing, city is overcrowded, and there is quite a division between the rich and the poor. Marin lives among the poor where food is scarce and so is work. She does her best to take care of those she cares about.

Ross is privlaged, he is the Presidents son. He lives with the elite and is pretty spoiled. He doesn't know what really exists outside of his world. He and his best friend take a tour one night to the city of the poor and find an entirley new world. Riots break out. His friend is arrested. 

The Presisdent is about to ship 500 poor people for the poor part of the city to an island, Pacifica,  that is supposed to be better in resources and in living. But before this happens the city breaks out into riots, riots where his son and the vice presidents son is visiting. Ross makes it back and pleas for help, but it seems the only way to get his best friend back lies within him. he goes back to city finds Marin and together they take on the mission. 

They each have their lies, thier secrets, the personal movtives... but so does the president. Together they uncvoer the truth about Pacifica and the world they live in... and about each other. 

There is a lot in the book. I mean a lot. So many things are going on at once. The search for Ross' best friend. Marin and her past, the truth behind pacifica, pirates, and so much more. It was chalked full of information and action. I liked this. There were some slow parts in between, but they didn't last long enough to really bother me from continuing the read. I think the story was great and it was unique. I loved the idea of Pacifca. I loved all the politcal stuff and all the secrets and betrayls. There were quite a few oh goodness... didn't see that coming moments. 

The characters were good. I liked Marin she was tough and detrermined. Smart and resourceful. She was a bit cold at times but that was her facade. She had to keep a wall up in order to take care of those that needed taken care of. She had a rough life and had to make choices that a child should have never had to make. 

Ross was spoiled and naive. He didn;'t want to be that rich kid that had everything handed to him but that was the life he was given. Once he saw how the other half of the city lived he wanted something to be done about it and really thought something was being done about it. He had no idea what really existed out there. Once the veil was opened and he could see the truth, he was determined to do something about it. 

The romance I liked. It took a while to get there. It wasn't until the very end and once it happened it seemed genuine. It was one of those moments when the characters mind started to see something different in each other and well I just loved it. 

Like I said there were many whoa moments and I love books that do that to me. The book broke my heart at times and warmed it at others. I loved the relationshisp and the characters and all the action. Lots of surprises and lots of betrayals. I really enjoyed it all the way to the end. 

 A good action packed little bit of romance make me gnaw at my fingernails at times but kept me smiling in the end kind of reads. 

Kristen Simmons is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series, THE GLASS ARROW, METALTOWN, PACIFICA, and the upcoming PRICE OF DECEIT (Tor Teen). She loves her family, Jazzercise, and chocolate cupcakes. She currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.
For more updates on Kristen and her writing, visit http://www.kristensimmonsbooks.com or http://www.facebook.com/author.kriste....