A Book Blog
The Aurora Burning audiobook became available at my library last week.
… and, apparently, I’m a sucker for punishment.
My thoughts on the book haven’t changed all that much since I posted my original review last week. But I will say this: the audiobook — which features a full cast recording AND sound effects — was amazing. Would 10/10 recommend.
To quote my girl Zila: I am not feeling nothing.
Recap. In Aurora Rising, we met Squad 312: an unruly band of misfits, tasked with saving a mysterious girl-out-of-time from the clutches of a malignant alien force bent on enslaving the galaxy.
Aurora Burning picks up days later. The squad is mourning the loss of their pilot; reeling with the realization that they have to save the galaxy; and on the run from bounty hunters, the not-government, and planetary security forces.
Things are not going well. And, they’re about to get a whole lot worse.
The squad’s already-tenuous plans start to break apart with the arrival of Saedii — Kal’s (space elf) older sister, and member of a hostile world-destroying fleet. The squad comes under fire and is separated. War is looming. Some timey-wimey stuff (???) happens.
And they still have a galaxy to save …
This ain’t no second-in-a-trilogy story. Well, technically it is. But, this book is far from being a typical second-book-place-holder … we get tons of world and character development alongside super impactful action. It feels very Empire Strikes Back. (I just hope Book #3 doesn’t sellout like Return of the Jedi …)
Kal and Auri. I said it once, I’ll say it again: squeee!!!
The character development. And, by that I mean Zila and Finn. These two shine. I can’t wait to see where Book #3 brings them.
The ending. I mean, THAT ENDING! Gorgeous twist. So much stuff coming together. Action. Excitement. anD OH My mAKeR dO WE seRiOusLY hAVE tO waIT to NExT maY?!
The first half. If Aurora Burning had ended at the half-way point, I would have rated it as a 3/5 book. It’s fun and action-packed, but follows a relatively predictable pattern of:
… not that I mind the idea of fainting into dreamy space elf’s arms. But, it starts to get a bit repetitive. I was so thankful when the second act started.
That ending. ☹️
Auri starts snorting when she giggles too hard. I learn that Kal has a deep, booming laugh you can feel in your chest. I learn that Scarlett cannot be bluffed, no matter how hard you try.
Yup. I now 100% understand why this series has such a devoted fanbase. Count me in as a member of the cult.
Ladies and gentlemen! I am pleased to report that — after months of saying “I’m definitely reading Aurora Rising next — ” I have finally read Aurora Rising.
It went a little like this:
Me opening the book: OK. Let’s see what this fuss is all about.
Page 1: Hmm … I thought Aurora was the name of the girl?
End of chapter 1: Food? Water? Potty breaks? Ha! I have transcended. All I need is this book.
Chapter 2: Wait. So the girl’s name is also Aurora?!
Several hundred years in the future, mankind has mastered space travel, established settlements across the galaxy, and brokered alliances with multiple alien species. Helping to keep the peace is the Aurora Legion.
Tyler — a cadet enrolled in the Aurora leadership stream — is expecting a long and successful career as an Aurora Legionnaire. Top-ranked, rule-abiding, and handsome to boot. But, the night before graduation, he discovers a girl in cyrogentic stasis. Thanks to his heroics, Tyler misses squad assignment … and is matched with a rag-tag group of misfits. All brilliant, but all socially incompetent.
Imagine Guardians of the Galaxy — except everyone comes from the same school rather than the same prison.
The next day, Tyler and his squad are assigned a routine supply-delivery mission: delivering medical equipment to a group of refugees. But, it soon becomes apparent that the mission is just a front. The cyrogentic girl — Aurora — has been smuggled aboard the ship for safekeeping. And, a large number of people aren’t very happy about it.
The story. So much fun! Aura Rising is one part space adventure, one part scavenger hunt, and a whole lot of sarcasm and sass. And, also a great tale of different people coming together in the pursuit of common goals. I really enjoyed it!
The writing. Each chapter is written from the perspective of a different character, and the writing — for the most part — uniquely captures each personalty. The prose reads very first-person, almost as though each character is dictating their experiences in an incident report … not exactly stream-of-conscious, but with spoken-language-like flare. It’s very much an example of written storytelling.
Kal and Aurora. squeee! Oh, so cute.
The pacing? Probably more a function of things happening in my life than the book itself. When I was able to sit down and read, I read — and I didn’t want to stop. But, once it was down, I struggled to pick up the book again.
Do moons choose the planets they orbit? Do planets choose their stars? Who am I to deny gravity, Aurora? When you shine brighter than an constellation in the sky?
I just cracked open Aurora Burning, and couldn’t be happier. Aurora Rising was a fun, fast-paced, and easy read — and, exactly the sort of escapism I needed.
The Geeky Jock 