Ascension by Victor Dixen

Six girls, six boys. Each in the two separate bays of a single spaceship. They have six minutes each week to seduce and to make their choices, under the unblinking eye of the on-board cameras. They are the contenders in the Genesis programme, the world’s craziest speed-dating show ever, aimed at creating the first human colony on Mars.
Leonor, an 18 year old orphan, is one of the chosen ones.
She has signed up for glory.
She has signed up for love.
She has signed up for a one-way ticket.
Even if the dream turns to a nightmare, it is too late for regrets.

Ascension must have one of the most intriguing and exciting synopsis ever! After reading the synopsis I was immediately won over and desperately wanted to read it. Luckily I was offer the opportunity to read and review this title and I absolutely loved it. Even though it is being described as Love Island in Space, and I have no love for Love Island, I found this book to be an exciting read. So if you are like me and put off a little by the Love Island comparison then please don’t, because if you are anything like me you will love reading this.

Ascension is in essence about six girls and six boys who are on a space ship heading for Mars, and have the journey there to find someone to partner with to create the first human colony on Mars. But to find their perfect partner they can only see each other for six minutes each week, which for me makes this the most exciting and interesting way to date. I was a little worried that with so many characters on board the ship that they would be some characters who are less developed, but I was wrong and I thought that all the characters showed some development throughout the story.

I loved that the plot was a mix of sci-fi and romance, and for me I found it to be an equal balance between them both that made the reading experience even more enjoyable. The space setting was something very interesting and I thought it was well thought out and easy to imagine it all. The romance side of the plot was also handled really well and it was just the right amount to find this story a pleasure to read.

I have not read many books that have been translated from other languages but I have read reviews for other books that have said that the translation was noticeable and sometime off putting but with Ascension I couldn’t tell that it was translated and it definitely didn’t put me off from reading. I was so engrossed in the story that I read pages and pages before coming up for air. I managed to read this in just a couple of sittings and loved every minute of it. For me the pacing didn’t fall flat and kept my attention all the way until the end.

I found Ascension to be an amazing read and a brilliant start to a new series that I will most definitely be continuing with. The writing is wonderfully written and really easy to read, the characters are well thought out and developed, and the story is full of detail and very addictive. I am in love with this first book and I have such high hopes for the next two books in the series. Luckily I have not got long to wait because the next book in the series is released in October.

I rate this book 5/5 stars

***I was sent a copy of this book for review. Everything in this review is my own honest opinions.***