SCIFIMONTH 2022 | AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle #1) by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

SCIFIMONTH BANNER ARTWORK by Simon Fetscher

Title: Aurora Rising

Series: The Aurora Cycle #1
Author: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published: May 7, 2019
Pages: 473
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Source: Audiobook
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From the internationally bestselling authors of THE ILLUMINAE FILES comes an epic new science fiction adventure.

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.

 

I am not sure that I can adequately put into words the love I have for this book. My little sci-fi fangirl heart is exploding right now. This book truly has it all. A ragtag group of misfits, found family, a creepy space anomaly, mystery and suspense, government conspiracies, and just a whole lot of awesome. 

This book really throws you into the thick of things straight off the bat and I couldn't have been happier. The opening scene really brings the reader into the story effortlessly. It is both entertaining and immensely intriguing. The reader just seriously wants to know more. That's one of the things I loved best about this book. That it just grips you and keeps you engaged and wanting more. 

The plot of this story is excitingly clever and very well planned out. I loved connecting all the dots and seeing all the pieces fit together. There is still enough mystery and interest at the end to make the reader crave the next book desperately. The entire premise of this series has my fangirl heart on the verge of overload. I connect so hardcore with it. The world-building is legit amazing. It is atmospheric and realistic. I've never been in space but the authors had me totally immersed in it with their depiction of it. The writing voice of these two authors is one that truly speaks to me. I am so comfortable in their narration. Kaufman and Kristoff truly complement each other with their writing styles. They have created something unique and unparalleled with their combined storytelling that I can't help but praise. 

These characters captured the very essence of my soul. I can't express how much I love them. Each of the main characters had their own voice in the story and I am so thankful for that. I adore stories with multiple POVs and this book is so much better for it. Each character had a distinct personality that really made them stand out. Each character was unique and had a magnetism that made them jump right off the page and come alive. While there is still a lot to learn about some of the characters, they all had an astounding amount of character development. I loved the friendship and found family that the main characters had with each other. This group of characters is definitely #squadgoals and I can't wait for their connection to deepen in the next books. 

There are a few budding romances in this book that I regretfully can't talk about because that would probably be too spoilery. One will make you fangirl, one will warm your heart, and another will probably make you throw your book across the room by the end. But you will definitely feel and that's what matters. I can't wait for more in the romance department with these characters. 

Overall, Kaufman and Kristoff are masterful storytellers that bring you into a breathtaking world that will delight you and incite a riot in your soul. If you want a book that will fascinate you, keep your heart on lockdown, keep you perched on the edge of your seat, and will completely consume your soul then this is the right book for you. This series is the mark of excellent storytelling with an original and interesting premise and characters that feel like family. You don't want to pass this one up!

This book really exceeded my expectations and completely blew me away! What was the last book that did the same to you? Bonus points if it's a SciFi book!