NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • Our heroes are back . . . kind of. From the bestselling co-authors of the Illuminae Files comes the second book in the epic Aurora Cycle series about a squad of misfits, losers, and discipline cases who just might be the galaxy’s best hope for survival. First, the bad news: an ancient evil–you know, your standard consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal–is about … consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal–is about to be unleashed. The good news? Squad 312 is standing by to save the day. They’ve just got to take care of a few small distractions first.
Like the clan of gremps who’d like to rearrange their favorite faces.
And the cadre of illegit GIA agents with creepy flowers where their eyes used to be, who’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on Auri.
Then there’s Kal’s long-lost sister, who’s not exactly happy to see her baby brother, and has a Syldrathi army at her back. With half the known galaxy on their tails, Squad 312 has never felt so wanted.
When they learn the Hadfield has been found, it’s time to come out of hiding. Two centuries ago, the colony ship vanished, leaving Auri as its sole survivor. Now, its black box might be what saves them. But time is short, and if Auri can’t learn to master her powers as a Trigger, the squad and all their admirers are going to be deader than the Great Ultrasaur of Abraaxis IV.
Shocking revelations, bank heists, mysterious gifts, inappropriately tight bodysuits, and an epic firefight will determine the fate of the Aurora Legion’s most unforgettable heroes–and maybe the rest of the galaxy as well.
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Pardon the gasping of air you may hear – I’m still hyperventilating over that ending. I’m pretty sure I’m not emotionally equipped to wait a year for the next book!
An exceptional first novel in a series (which Aurora Rising absolutely is) sets the mark pretty high for the second. Sometimes that goal is achieved, but more often that not it isn’t. In this case, Aurora Burning exceeded both the mark and my expectations. Tyler and his diverse crew of found family are still comical, loveable, and awkward and find themselves in heart-pounding, life-threatening situations. And I do mean that in the pleural sense. These guys attract trouble like a magnet.
Talk about shocking revelations – they run amuck, and those unusual gifts the squad receive left me scratching my head. Some of their purposes come to light, while others remain a mystery. Between the unveiling of secrets and the dangerous situations, I ran through the gamut of emotions. And I feel compelled to mention that ending again – I’m not okay.
If you’re a sci-fi fan, I can’t recommend this series enough. Squad 312 will steal your heart and take you on a rollercoaster of an adventure. And those covers – just gorgeous.
“Ty is a natural leader and a brilliant tactician, but according to his sister, he “wouldn’t know fun if it invaded his planet.”
Bear with me, this is going to be an unusually personal review.
Binge reading isn’t something I do a lot of. Sure, I might push myself through a book in a day, but largely that’s to meet a deadline. I’m good about staying on schedule, fitting personal reads in where I have time.. patiently waiting to get to that title I owe no obligation to, but simply.. even sometimes desperately.. want to read.
Hear me out though. Look at that face. Those eyes. Even the wound. I’ve been seeing it everywhere for months as the buzz for ‘Aurora Burning’ by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff continued to build to a fever pitch. But, I digress.
Initially, I didn’t think I was interested. I read the synopsis, which came across as pretty tongue-in-cheek. I felt like it was a group I didn’t really care to learn about and some kind of space drama I wasn’t really intrigued by at all, which isn’t to say I don’t like sci-fi or fantasy hybrids. I do actually, quite a lot.
Of course, I’m on Twitter and I browse my notifications from various book industry members.. and so, I’ve followed Kristoff for ages. Not because I’d ever read anything he was involved in, but rather.. because I liked the way he spoke to people. To his fans. How he spoke for people. For friends and people he felt deserved more respect. Though again, I really only saw glimpses here and there and regretfully, hadn’t paid as much attention as I now know I should have.
Last week I even caught him on an Instagram Q&A, discovering he’s incredibly charming, pretty brilliant himself, and even funnier on video than in text. I haven’t gotten to know much about Kaufman yet, but they write so seamlessly together, I’m eager to learn.
In my defense, the last several years have been very rough ones for me. I drifted away from doing almost all the things I loved, even reading. I missed the moments where many of my now favorite writers were emerging on the scene. I picked up ‘Nevernight’ as a cover-buy not long after it came out, it just drew me in visually and it sounded amazing. Yet, still to this day I haven’t read it. I will though. As my schedule evens out, I intend to be reading a lot more from both Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman.
“The Pull is more than words.
Love is a drop in the ocean of what I feel for her.
Love is a single sun in a heaven full of stars.”
A few weeks ago, with Kal’s face haunting my thoughts as I tried to do other things, I finally gave in. I took the first step. I went to Amazon, clicked that little ‘Look Inside’ option, and read the available pages from Aurora Rising. Immediately, I was hooked. I fell for Kal from the moment he appeared in the hall. I fell for Cat’s smart mouth and aggressively physical nature, both of which were things I could relate to. I fell for pretty boy Tyler with his savior syndrome.. and the aloof intellects of Fin and Zila.. even the sarcastic twin sister. My heart went out to Auri.
Just a few pages of story from these authors and I was utterly lost. It wasn’t the Hadfield that was adrift. It was me. I didn’t get to finish that book, as obligations were in the way, but I will.. and soon. Still.. desperately I bought both of the Aurora Cycle novels.. and tried to be patient. I tried to focus on my tasks at hand, as I always do. To keep my head down and work diligently, to earn the time to read what I genuinely wanted to read.
Yeah.. that lasted exactly three days. It’s a good thing I wasn’t the one being interrogated.. because I am weak. Three days of working my deadlines before I tossed everything to the opposite end of my desk and began to read ‘Aurora Burning.’
Here I am though. Adrift again. I feel raw. All of my insides are on my outside. At least the nerves.. and they’re all screaming.. because they didn’t just want to put us through the proverbial ringer, they wanted to leave us there at the end. Which is, exactly what they did. They left us hanging there.. wounded and hoping for relief.. with no real certainty we’ll get it. Not after what happened in the past.
The book is brilliant. It’s bloody, it’s beautiful, it’s sweet, and it’s brutal. Sometimes, all at once.
“I know my friends, and they are few. But those few I have, I would die for.”
Though I hadn’t finished the first book, it was easy to pick up the second. Kaufman and Kristoff sprinkled in just enough necessary information in from its predecessor that I was able to hit the ground running. The major plot points were reminisced in a cohesive way with the current story, so that it flowed naturally.
I read this one straight through. When I couldn’t keep my eyes open, I took power naps.. but I kept going. Why? Because I couldn’t.. or.. wouldn’t put it down. Squad 312 couldn’t just walk away for awhile. How could I?
An ancient evil has been waiting, biding it’s time. That’s the gist of the theme. No one really knows about it but the 312 and they’re not in the best position to be stopping it with everyone after them, even their own. That doesn’t stop them from trying though. They don’t know the meaning of the word ‘quit.’ And honestly, that’s part of what I love about them so much. The team just has so much heart.
Auri is the only hope they have of defeating the evil that is waiting for its chance to consume everything.. and Squal 312 is her only hope of surviving to get that far. If she can’t learn to master her powers, the galaxy is done. Over.
There are scenes I will never forget. Some tragic, some funny. (Oh.. that mesh top, bondage pants, and glaring Syldrathi. Amirite?)
“The practice fell out of vogue in the twenty-second century, after Terrans discovered in the twentieth that it killed you!”
“It took them two hundred years to stop doing it?”
“Isn’t that insane?” “Honestly, doesn’t that sound like a species that would benefit from some kind of benevolent machine overlord?”
“Silent mode.”
“Aw.”
Kaufman and Kristoff did a beautiful job of managing the pace, letting that crescendo swell as things grew more intense. The dialogue IS a bit tongue-in-cheek, but in a way that makes sense. The banter of a team that has grown so close, they’re really all like siblings. They know each other’s likes and dislikes, their quirks, and sometimes they say or do things just to irritate each other.
Late in the story, there’s a moment for me that was more devastating than the others. A moment I felt everyone was sort of overreacting, and ignoring what they knew deep down, for an ideal. As if, everything that had come before no longer counted. And in the suffering of that moment and those to follow, I was crushed under the weight of this story.
I loved that though. These two authors can break my heart and soul to pieces again any day. And, if this book is any indication.. they probably will. Hopefully sooner, rather than later.. and “thank the Maker”.. there WILL be a book three.
Holy fucking shit! I am so glad that I waited for this entire series to be complete before I started reading it because I would have been in utter agony waiting for book three after reading this book. The best kind of agony, because you love something so deeply and can’t possibly fathom waiting for more, but agony nonetheless. And what a soul-shattering conclusion this book has. If you need me, I’ll be picking up the splintered fragments of my soul for the foreseeable future. Nothing to see here.
At the heart of my current emotional state lies the simplest of truths: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff can tell one hell of a story together. The amount of emotion that they have elicited from me from reading this series alone is a testament to their superior writing skills. These authors will make you feel so passionately and so completely that their stories become embedded in your bones. Their stories sink down into the very marrow of you and change you. Their combined writing style is one that I absolutely fell in love with. Their stories flow seamlessly and their narration is truly top-notch. They are the masters of brilliant dialogue and interesting situations.
The plot of this book really got kicked up to eleven. There were so many revelations and plot twists that I was getting metaphorical whiplash. And quite frankly, it was damn amazing. Reading this book was a profound experience. And I listened to this on audiobook so it felt like I was embedded into this world. The audiobook production of this book is unparalleled in its awesomeness. It’s truly one of the best that I have listened to. On top of the clever and mind-blowing plot, the world-building in this series is phenomenal. Absolutely atmospheric and totally engrossing.
It feels sort of redundant saying this again since I said something to this effect in my review of the first book in this series but these characters truly imprinted on my soul. I don’t think that there is any other more adequate way to describe the way these characters made me feel. They are seriously everything. These characters are so distinct with original and unique personalities. They have desires, flaws, past traumas, and everything in between. Nothing is left out of their character development. These characters have been crafted with such expert detail. Since this is the case, they are very realistic and so easy to connect with. Each and every one of these characters will spark a fire inside you that will continue to burn long after you have read the last words. These characters are the stuff that fanart and obsession are made of. And I mean that in the best possible way.
I loved the romance in this book. Kal and Auri become ever closer in this book but their bond is something that they may have to fight for. That’s vague as hell but circumstances in the book prevent me from saying more than that. Spoilers and all. And there is a potential pairing in this book that seems to be developing that I am definitely rooting for. I won’t spill the beans but I will say that their chemistry, bantering, and sexual tension had me shipping them hardcore. The enemies-to-lovers vibe that was wafting off of them was divine. And there was another potential pairing that I am hoping for, though it didn’t see as much screen time in this book. I am still optimistic though.
Overall, this is a book that is going to fray your emotions. This is such a gripping story that sinks its claws into you and won’t let you go. If you are a fan of exciting stories with cleverly concocted plots and complex characters that will become your new book babies then this series should be your next read. This series is going to be your next obsession. I guarantee it. Thank the Maker(s) that book three just came out and I don’t have to wait for the conclusion.
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If there’s a series that you HAVE to listen to, it’s this one. AND the Illuminae Files also by Jay and Amie…
The narrators are just so damn good. The personality they bring to each character is just priceless. When I read, I can see the story in my head but having the audio giving a new life to each of the characters really really gets me into the story.
Magellan’s interlude pieces of info?! Hilarious! Tyler’s cockiness?! Yummy! Finian’s sense of humor?! HILARIOUS! Kal’s WTF am I involved in?! Also priceless and hilarious.
Their adventure continues and they’re hunting down more info on Aurora, while at the same time trying to stay low since they’re now wanted fugitives. While they were trying to sell their longbow, they run into problems which lead to more problems. One of them being Saedii, Kal’s sister.
Zila’s big brain is able to decrypt Adams’ secret message from his broadcast making them fugitives. The package Adams leaves for them, sets a lot of things in motion that completely throw the squad.
Aurora is struggling to understand and control this new power that no one knows where it came from. Kal, being the best be’shmai that he is, is always by Auri’s side helping in anyway he can. He even tries to help with the Eshvaren even though they don’t like him.
Book 2 is filled with a lot more action and relationship development than book 1. Book 1 did a fantastic job setting up the stage and book 2 continues to grow on that.
Honestly, just go listen to the whole series. It’s worth your time and Squad 312 will capture your heart.
I will add on to the myriad of reviews that express outrage at that ‘push you out of the plane without a freaking parachute’ of an ending that is this book.
I too, am not feeling nothing.
Literally have no idea what is going on with anyone at this point. It’s all up in the air…It’s all crazy sauce. I’m in full-blown panic mode and I have three weeks to wait for book 3. Thank the sky wizard I waited to read book 2 because I *knew* this would happen.
I can’t say anything specific without it being a spoiler. But I am rooting for so many different things to be going on right now. I literally spent the last half hour of the audiobook in a one-sided text by text rant to my friend who had already read the book giving them a blow-by-blow of what was going on and my reaction / predictions of what was going to happen. It was epic…I loved every moment of it, and if you haven’t listened to the audiobooks you absolutely need to.
…all of this is unfolding as it was supposed to. The only way out is through.
I was so ready for this! Since I jumped into this series late it took me a month to finally get my hands on the physical copy.
Unlike with Book 1, I was able to keep a track of the events and the characters better. I also didn’t have a hard time keeping up with the multiple points of view, this time around.
Also unlike Aurora Rising, I enjoyed Aurora Burning form the start. I was invested on things were going to turn out for Squad 312 and I was not disappointed.
The two things that I loved the most 1 Kal going full Warbreed Syldrath and my boy Finian De Karran De Steel. *heart eyes for days on end!* These two were my absolute favourite in this book and with Finian on the cover of the third book (which is *chef’s kiss*) I am super pumped.
I knew that this one was going to end on a cliffhanger as well, but I was not prepared for how it would kill me. I legit threw my hardback and had a good scream. (Thankfully, the hardback is saved and without any dents. Can’t say the same for myself.)
I have to wait until November for Book 3 and all I can say is PAAAAAAAIIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!
4 Stars!
Futuristic space and alien sci-fi setting, political intrigue, a mysterious girl and her situation, a squad of misfits up against insurmountable odds to save the galaxy? Count me in. Oh, a fab narration ensemble cast? Be still my book-loving heart!
Aurora Burning is the second of the Aurora Cycle trilogy. This is all one ongoing story so it needs to be taken in order.
Aurora Rising left things off in a stunning, dire place. Squad 312 must pick themselves up and get on with their mission that is all the harder because the known galaxy thinks they are traitors and criminals and are out to get them. Their enemies are powerful. And, their own raw weaknesses are enough to submarine their chances. In spite of all this, this unlikely crew has come together and are managing to inch forward and stay out of captivity or worse. They know what Aurora was brought forward into the future for and now they must track down the method she is to use to accomplish her task while staying one step ahead of their pursuit. Meanwhile a few big-time secrets get revealed, dire went to worse, and, no way… that was where this exciting second leg left things?
I will try to be really careful with this one. I was as vague as can be with that summary on purpose. Aurora Burning had the job of joining the opening act to the grand finale while coloring in some of the mysteries. It also inevitably ramped up the suspense and drama while developing more of the characters like Kal and Zila and introducing a new exciting character. It did it’s job for the most part.
Aurora Burning surprised me for two reasons and they were not good surprises. I felt that there were sluggish portions and the transitions that needed to be there and get things from point A to point B were not as smooth as they could have been. Then there was the fact that I spotted what should have been some exciting twists and reveals, but I saw all with the exception of one coming from a long way out- that one I still worked out ahead. If it weren’t for the escape and fight scenes followed by that crazy cliffhanger, this was a predictable book. That is not always a bad thing and it didn’t make me hate the book, but I can’t say I was as riveted as I was to the first book.
When it came to Kal’s secret, I was really hoping I was wrong about how the rest of the Squad would handle it. Hello? He kept a secret because he feared that exact reaction. The guy gave them his very all so many times and hinted at the truth for so long that I knew it from the first book and yet to the last one, they all flipped their wigs and treated him like their worst enemy. In truth, at the point when this went down, I felt it was a serious overreaction. It felt like a clunky way to set up for what came next.
Okay, I’m done dissing a really good book with what niggled. Now, to what I adored. I loved the mysterious-ness of everything about how Aurora ended up waking 200 years into the future, the reason, and now the journey to gather the clues so she can do her stuff. Interesting reveal in that last scene with Aurora and a certain menacing powerful Warbreed leader. I like that feeling that there may be more than one way to take those who set her on her mission and her friends are sacrificing right along with her.
Tied with that is how it was so amazing to see the squad firing on all cylinders with each of their strengths keeping them in the game. They were so in sync and a great camaraderie going on even against their situation. I think that’s why I was disappointed over the Kal thing.
Another part that really made me happy was getting more of Kal and Zila’s backgrounds. This shored up one of my niggles from the first book. That book got us up to speed on Aurora, Tyler and Scarlett, and Finian’s backgrounds, but was lacking for these last two. The reason becomes obvious when their pasts play a huge role in the present situation.
Oh, and the new kid on the block with the lethal tendencies? I loved that. Tyler has met his match. Whew!
Now, I can’t say I was exactly pleased with that stupendous cliffhanger, but it didn’t ruin things for me. So long as the final book does a stellar job of making that cliffhanger worth it.
As to narration, the same full cast is back and I settled right into their storytelling much easier since I’m used to their voices and the style of the book slipping between so many narrators. Some did better sounding the age of the characters and some did better with opposite genders and other races, but overall, they were sensational and I saw the story clearly in my mind as a result. There are times when the narration moves from point of view quickly that I think I’d have done better with the print version in those spots, but I loved this book on audio.
And so, I must wait it out until the third book’s release. I wasn’t as dazzled, but was by no means disliking this second installment. Those who want exciting sci-fi action, a superb cast of misfit characters, and some good intrigue should give this series a go.
CLIFFHANGER but highly recommended for some snarky space opera
While I didn’t believe anything could top AURORA RISING–the first book in the Aurora Cycle–AURORA BURNING (the Aurora Cycle _02) did just that. Sadly, I can’t give above a five star rating…. A collaboration between authors Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, this second book in a projected trilogy begins shortly after book one leaves off.
“. . . sometimes it feels like the only reason we’re still moving is that none of us realizes we’ve already been mortally wounded . . .”
The crew of Squad 312, along with Auri, have discovered the “trigger”, and now it’s up to them to find the weapon.
The sarcasm, relationship development, and characters’ individual beliefs all feel like they are evolving at a natural pace here. I was hooked on each one of these members as if they were real-life people.
There were many times where I had to control the urge to hurl my book across the room in emotional distress.
“I am not feeling nothing.”
We learn much more about the private lives of these characters, and that only serves to make us even more attached to them and the drama going on.
“I know my friends, and they are few. But those few I have I would die for.”
The pacing never lets up. I read through this monster of a novel in a single day, simply because I couldn’t bear to put it down.
Kristoff and Kaufman are a truly fantastic writing team, and know exactly how to keep their readers’ attention . . . and rip out their hearts and emotions in a single blow.
“Sometimes the only way to win is to break the game.”
The addition of Saedii, a fierce warrior (with a necklace of severed thumbs), was another great touch.
This was a fantastically brilliant novel that positively shredded my emotions and left me with a massive book hangover. If it were possible to give ten stars, AURORA BURNING deserves them all.
My only concern is how long must we wait for the next booking the series?
Highly recommended.
This book was near perfection, with the gross overuse of breath as a dialogue tag my only complaint (and something I can overlook because of all the other awesomeness). The authors have a unique ability to create a whole cast of characters that you root for and truly care for. Their intricate backstories are woven perfectly into a twisting, turning plot full of amazing actions and shocking reveals. I was a little underwhelmed by the ending of book 1, but I’m sure glad I picked up this one to continue on. Its rare sequel is so much better than the original. I cannot wait to see how this series ends!
No!!! I don’t want to be done with this book because I have to wait for book 3. This is fantastic. Send help. I’m curled into a little ball suffering from withdrawals while I wait.
I had to check to see if my heart was still inside my body… it is, but it’s forever damaged by this beautifully tragic series!! I really just want to sit and have a good ten minute cry, but instead I’m being productive and writing this review. I’m not huge on space fantasy, but this is so much more!! This is an experience that you just have to go upon! The never ending twists absolutely keep you riveted and leave you clutching your chest! There is betrayal, heartbreak, loss, faith, forgiveness, acceptance and just about every other human emotion packed into these unputdownable pages!! Just when you think you know which direction the squad will next embark upon, here comes another event and we’re back to just shutting down and being a silent participant. The gifts left for the squad will both blow your mind and steal your breath away while they’re in the midst of utter chaos. The ending is gutting and I just have to hold up hope that in the end all will be well. I cannot believe how much I loved this!! I’m one hundred percent invested in these characters and how this will conclude. I really don’t have a favorite character and for me that is a rare thing! I love the squad and each member has so many likable and relatable qualities. Somethings will never change, no matter how far humanity reaches into the future, like love, loss and the value of forgiveness. This is undoubtedly going to leave many readers with a book hangover. Because… that ending… how do you recover!? And when in the worlds is the next book due!?
It ends on a cliff, so I’m mad about that. But you know I’m coming back for the next book so it works.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
I juuuuuuust… Uggggggggh…
A few days ago I finished this book and I’ve been trying to figure out how the heck to review it ever since. Until this week I had no idea you could love something so much and be so angry about it at the same time. Was this book better than the first? Definitely. Do I recommend you read it?? Absolutely.
Will I light this book on fire and dance on the ashes??? Probably.
I tuned into a virtual tour stop last week and heard Jay describe this installment as “the one where everything goes wrong,” which is absolutely true. It was so FRUSTRATING. The Squad couldn’t go two steps without something going wrong and throwing them off course. Some questionable decisions were made by the crew that really annoyed the heck out of me. And I have a lot of feelings surrounding Kal and Auri’s relationship that I can’t talk about without getting spoilery.
But if I set aside all my frustrations, there’s so many awesome things to talk about. This story starts at 100 and never slows down the entire time. Non-stop action on almost every page and I couldn’t have stopped reading even if I wanted too. I also absolutely LOVED the subtle shift in character focus this time around. Both Zila and Kal finally get their time to shine and it was AWESOME. Zila is officially my favorite of the whole crew now next to Fin. Plus, there were SO MANY REVELATIONS AND PLOT TWISTS. Just when my head would stop spinning, Amie and Jay would throw something else at me. It’s insane.
Not to freak anyone out, but YA’LL ARE NOT READY FOR THIS BOOK.
And if it wasn’t already abundantly clear from all the other screaming reviewers, there is a HARDCORE CLIFFY at the end of this book. If anything happens to my person before I can read the last installment, my ghost is gonna be PISSED.
—FINAL WORD—
So in summary, I loved every second of this hellish book and I’m NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. I’ll let you decide what that means because I don’t even know anymore.
Ughhhhhhhhhh. I am broken. I loved this book with every fiber of my being but it hurt me deep inside. I love all of these disaster children so much. This rag tag group wormed their way into my heart and I love each and every one of them, but of course our resident space elf Kal has stolen the biggest piece. The action is non stop and the banter is amazing and even though they are always in danger it is so much FUN. The wait for the next book is going to be killer, but I know it’ll be worth it.
Squad 312 is back and better than ever!
I actually enjoyed Aurora Burning even more than Aurora Rising. It felt like the stakes were higher and we really got to delve into the characters more. I felt far more connection to each squad member than I did before (Scarlett is still my favourite).
This book had a lot of unexpected twists and turns that I know everyone is going to enjoy. But beware the dreaded cliffhanger! I mean come on, it’s Amie and Jay… it’s not that surprising that they would torture their readers in every conceivable way. If you’re not a fan of cliffhangers, then I recommend waiting until book 3 is released.
Our heroes are back… and they’re not giving up without a fight… we hope.
Aurora burning is the second book in the Aurora Cycle.
First, the bad news: an ancient evil—you know, your standard consume-all-life-in-the-galaxy deal—is about to be unleashed. The good news? Squad 312 is standing by to save the day. They’ve just got to take care of a few small distractions first.
Like the clan of gremps who’d like to rearrange their favorite faces.
And the cadre of illegit GIA agents with creepy flowers where their eyes used to be, who’ll stop at nothing to get their hands on Auri.
Then there’s Kal’s long-lost sister, who’s not exactly happy to see her baby brother, and has a Syldrathi army at her back. With half the known galaxy on their tails, Squad 312 has never felt so wanted.
When they learn the Hadfield has been found, it’s time to come out of hiding. Two centuries ago, the colony ship vanished, leaving Auri as its sole survivor. Now, its black box might be what saves them. But time is short, and if Auri can’t learn to master her powers as a Trigger, the squad and all their admirers are going to be deader than the Great Ultrasaur of Abraaxis IV.
Shocking revelations, bank heists, mysterious gifts, inappropriately tight bodysuits, and an epic firefight will determine the fate of the Aurora Legion’s most unforgettable heroes—and maybe the rest of the galaxy as well.
It was enjoyable to go back to Amie and Jay’s writing styles. I was thrilled we got more character devilment from Amie and Jay. For characters such as Zila, Finian and the rest of squad 13, along with some background characters. I was excited that Zila got longer chapters, and Finian gained more chapters. I appreciated how each of the main characters had distinctive personalities. I started the book with exceedingly high expectations and came out disappointed. Near the end of the book, character reactions started to get dumb or didn’t match their arc at all. The ending felt rushed, and most of the book felt like filler. Like it’s purpose was to explain back-stories, such as Zila and Kal’s. This is the reason why I HATE sequels. Only a hand full of authors I’ve read can pull off sequels. Such as Rick Riordan, Shannon Hale, and Halie Fewkes among others. (You should read some of their books if you haven’t already)
Do I recommend it? Yes defiantly, it does have important plot points. Does it exceed Aurora Rising? No, unfortunately not, but it’s still an ok book. I would give the book 3.5 stars.