SCIFIMONTH 2022 | AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Aurora Burning (The Aurora Cycle #2) by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

SCIFIMONTH BANNER ARTWORK by Simon Fetscher

Title: Aurora Burning

Series: The Aurora Cycle #2
Author: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published: May 5, 2020
Pages: 495
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance
Source: Audiobook
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Our heroes are back… kind of. From the bestselling co-authors of the Illuminae Files comes the second book in the epic 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 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.

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 fan art 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.