Please Note: I received an advance audiobook of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
Synopsis (from Goodreads):
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.
Review:
I am a huge fan of the writing duo of Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Their books are always creative and entertaining. Aurora Burning is a fine addition that brings adventure, humor, and even tender relationships into a space chase romp. My only complaint is the cliff-hanger ending.
What I Liked:
Setting:
We, once again, get to travel with this motley crew through space! I loved all the details of living on a space ship such as what the crew ate, and how the ships were laid out. Small details really brought the setting to life.
Characters:
What can I say, I still love all the characters, particularly Kal and Aurora. Their love story moves beyond physical attraction and show them connecting intellectually.
I also liked that the newer emphasis on Finian and and Scarlett. Finian goes from simply being the annoying know-it-all, to showing Scarlett that he cares about her and the other crew members. Scarlett begins to see Fin as a whole person. Thankfully, this did not automatically mean that Scarlett and Fin will end up as a couple. I just liked that now there is a possibility of that happening.
I can't move on from the topic of characters without highlighting a new, and super fun character: Kal's sister (I think her name is Kallisa?). She is the complete opposite of Kal. While they are both fearless fighters, Kallisa is definitely more of a hunter than Kal. When she meets up with Tyler, the sparks really fly! Their interactions really brought to mind the old show Star Trek. Tyler was so similar to Captain Kirk, with his easy smile, and charming ways. I loved how Kallisa really cut him down to size.
Narration:
I had the privilege of listening to the Audiobook version of this novel. The production is superb with a full cast. As always, Steve West (as Kal) was a highlight for me. He has such a romantic British accent, that I was swooning every time he professed his undying love for Aurie!
Story:
The story is fast-paced and full of adventure. The crew is being chased by two different groups, all in an attempt to get Aurora into their clutches. But, as the story continues, we also find dark secrets from Kal that could change his relationship with Aurie! Add to this the budding friendships (and possible romantic relationships) that are formed, and you will not want to wait very long for the next book.
What I Did Not Like:
Ending:
Of course, I knew going in that there would probably be a cliff-hanger at the end of the book. Given that this is a series, that is to be expected. However, I still would have liked to see some of the plot points created in this book to be resolved. I truly dislike stopping a book in the middle of the action. Sadly, this is what occurs in Aurora Burning, It means an agonizing wait for readers, and a less than satisfying experience right now.
Rating:
Release Date: May 5th, 2020
Genre: Science Fiction
Authors: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Audio Publisher: Listening Library
Audio Length: 15 hrs 17 min.
Narrators: Kim Mai Guest, Johnathan McClain, Lincoln Hoppe, Donnabella Mortel, Johnathan Todd Ross, Erin Spencer, & Steve West
Print Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Book Length: 512 Pages
Source: Listening Library
Format: Audioboook
Recommendation: Another entertaining adventure from Kaufman and Kristoff. Enjoy!
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Please Note: I received an advance audio version of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.
Synopsis (From Goodreads):
The year is
2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned
their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the
squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with
the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger management issues
A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And
Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin
O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space.
Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and
out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war
millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers,
discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire
galaxy.
They're not the heroes we deserve. They're just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.
Review:
I have been a lucky blogger of late. First, I was able to get a hold of the publicist for Jay Kristoff and was granted an E-book ARC of Aurora Rising. Then, just before publication, I was able to get an audio ARC for the same book From Random House! There was simply no way I could listen to the book quick enough to review it by publication day, so I posted my review for the printed book. Here is a link:
Spoiler Alert: I loved it!
So this mini review is only my thoughts on the audio book production.
What I Liked:
Full Cast Production:
As with all of their books, the audio book of Aurora Rising had a full cast. I loved that each point of view chapter was portrayed by different voice actors. And there were plenty of sound effects to create the experience of listening to an old radio show.
Varying Accents:
Cat has the most amazing Australian accent in this book! Given that the authors are Australian, this was awesome. It was also fun to hear each of the different voice actors attempt Cat's sound (with varying degrees of success). As always, Steve West's lovely British accent was swoony!
Rating:
Release Date: May 7th. 2019
Authors: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Audio Publisher: Listening Library
Audio Length: 14 Hours, 5 Minutes
Genre: Science Fiction
Format: Audio Book
Source: Publisher
Recommendation: Even if
you have already read Aurora Rising, check out the audio book. It is so
fun to listen to, and brings an added depth to the story.
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Please Note: I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.
Synopsis (From Goodreads):
The year is 2380, and
the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first
missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his
dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs
nobody else in the Academy would touch…
A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm
A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates
A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder
An alien warrior with anger management issues
A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering
And
Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin
O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space.
Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and
out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war
millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers,
discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire
galaxy.
They're not the heroes we deserve. They're just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.
Review:
Because I buy a lot of books each year, I need to carefully consider each purchase (sadly, I'm not independently wealthy). But when a new novel by authors Amie Kaufman and Kay Kristoff comes out, I will automatically buy it. I really like their humor, and storytelling. Aurora Rising, their newest book, is full of suspense, fun characters, and an intergalactic space heist. I loved it!
What I Liked:
Characters:
This is definitely an ensemble cast with seven characters onboard the spaceship. I love that we get to find out the backstory of each character, which really makes us care about them.
But the main story is about Aurora, a girl woken up from a cryogenic sleep 250 years later than she planned. Aurora is the eyes of the reader as she must navigate this new reality full of various species of life-forms, spaceships, and planets. She also seems to have superpowers!
I liked how purposeful and kind Aurora was. Even though she must be freaking out a bit at all the changes, she is never mean. She also doesn't curse ("Son of a biscuit-eater!"). I liked showing that not everyone drops F-bombs in novels.
Tyler was also a great character. At the top of his graduating class, this cadet was looking forward to a choice first assignment with a crew of his own choosing. Instead, he gets all the cadets no one wants, and a mission he can't understand. I liked that even though he faced adversity, Tyler took on the challenge, and remained in control.
Each member of the spaceship's crew has a specific role. Kal, the warrior, is a fascinating character. He reminded me of Spock on Star Trek, a person fighting to tame his violent nature. He is instantly attracted to Aurora (his society calls it "The Pull"), but is slightly horrified he has feelings at all for a human.
Storytelling:
The authors keep the storytelling interesting by changing the point of view in each chapter. Each chapter starts with a "file" on a different job on the crew, or a different species of person (sort of reminding me of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy). Then the chapter begins with the character that fits that file. Eventually, we get to hear from each character. This was really fun, and made it easy distinguish between personalities.
Suspense:
There's nothing like a book where all the characters have a bounty on their heads! It seems like they get out of one mess only to jump into another. This kept the book at a fast pace. I didn't notice the book was almost 500 pages! I could not put it down.
Representation:
There is such a variety of people in sexuality, skin colors, temperaments, and physical abilities, that it gladdened by heart. I especially liked the portrayals of Fin and Zila. Fin needs an exoskeleton in order to move. But that doesn't stop him from being a smart-ass. I really like his inner dialogue showing how angry he was at his family for sending him away. Plus he is makes hilarious sexual innuendoes about everyone in the book.
Zila appears to have zero social skills, but the crew really values her input. She is almost always correct when she offers a solution on what to do. She is also a character with black skin and kinky hair, something that science-fiction books rarely include.
Romance:
The relationship between Kal and Aurora is complicated. Kal feels "The Pull" towards Aurora. But there is more than attraction at work here. They actually have a lot in common. Both have lost their families and have power they cannot fully understand. I like how Kal tries so hard not to show his true feelings for Aurora, (because he doesn't want her to feel any obligation to return his affections) and Aurora's compassion for Kal. They would make a great couple. But will Kal risk rejection and make his feelings known?
Story:
This is essentially a heist story, as we learn an ancient artifact is the key to
Aurora's mystery. The only problem: The artifact is in the private collection of the galaxy's most notorious gangster. Add that shady galactic government agents are after Aurora and the chase is on!
Each situation seems to provide a reason for one of the characters to showcase their talents. With every ship chasing them, Cat performs feats of piloting that are thrilling to read. Scarlett (the diplomat) can talk her way out of most situations. When that doesn't work, Kal (the warrior) will fight them out. Fin shows off his MacGyver skills as he creates tech on the fly. Zila (the scientist) provides knowledge when it is needed most. Tyler is a natural leader that his team wants to follow, even when it makes them outlaws. And Aurora... You have to read the book to find out what she can do!
via GIPHY
Rating:
Release Date: May 7th, 2019
Authors: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Page Length: 480 Pages
Source: Publisher
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: With high adventure and fun characters, this space heist novel is a winner. Extremely entertaining.
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