Aurora Rising is the first installment in co-authors Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman's The Aurora Cycle trilogy. Things you should know. If you've read the Illuminae series by this writing duo, you will enjoy this book. The big difference is that the authors have chosen to alternative POV's between 7 characters in order to tell their story. Yes, I did say 7 main characters so you will want to make sure you get your highlighter ready so that you know who is who.

This is an eclectic group of characters lead by Squad Leader First Class Tyler Jones. Tyler is 18 and at the top of his class at Aurora Academy in most categorizes. He is eagerly waiting for the Draft to pick who will become part of his first crew. But, after his heroism in rescuing a girl we soon learn is Aurora Jie-Lin O'Malley from a stranded ship known as Hadfield said to have disappeared 220 years ago, Tyler ends up with a crew that includes not only his own sister, and a girl that he may or may not have feelings for, but a range of characters from humans to aliens that have a whole lot of issues and baggage.

Meet the crew:

Scarlett Jones, Ty’s older-by-several-minutes twin, is the team’s Face (ambassador). She can speak all known languages. She knows her brother, the most decorated Alpha at the Academy, got screwed when he saved Auri's life. For 5 years, the two of them have worked hard to get where they are after losing their father. Scar has a laundry list of ex-boyfriends, but it's her loyalty to her brother and her friendship with Cat, that are her most important features.

Catherine "Cat" Brannock is the teams Ace pilot. She decides to stand alongside Tyler even though they both have a bit of a past together and she doesn't know if there are true feelings for him, or if it was just a one time ride in the hay with no regrets. Things continue to be awkward between the two. Zila Madran is Human (Terran) who is scientist who has a fondness for shooting her bunkmates, and being a sociopath. Zila may be top of her class in the sciences but she has a nasty tendency to use her classmates as lab rats.

Betraskan Finian de Karran de Seelis is in the top tenth percentile of his class and is the master of Tech Division but his black belt in snark can make him a difficult hang. He's 19, he's a smart as a whip, but sometimes carries a chip the size of Jupiter on his shoulder. If he's not careful, someone will knock him down to size. Syldrathi combat specialist Kalis (Kal) Idraban Gilwraeth, aka the squadron’s Tank. His race and the Terrans have recently signed a peace agreement ending years of conflict. But, Kal is on an island all is own as a warrior class who choose to help the Aurora Legion instead of people fighting against each other. Auri considers him to be elf like in nature.

Finally, there is Aurora Jie-Lin O'Malley (Auri) who left Earth with hundreds of other colonists only to find themselves lost in the Fold which allows inter-stellar travel between worlds. Auri is mysterious, beautiful, with a curious gray streak in her hair and an eye that just happens to glow at times. Auri has lots of secrets that I won't spoil because it leads to more questions that the authors will have to unravel in the next two installments.

Let's talk about the book, shall we? After Tyler and his crew are given their first mission after the draft failure, there is a wicked curve ball thrown at them from those Tyler has trusted for the past 5 years. You've got to have faith that I'm not going to spoil anything in this book other than to tell you that once the crew arrives at its mission destination, all hell breaks loose.

The crew is chased by some really dangerous people, including their own. The crew also has to try to solve a serious mystery that may have galactic consequences for all known races. They have to decide whether or not to stick together or abandon all hope and let's the chips fall where they might. There is intense action in this book right from the beginning and doesn't let up.

The last chapters of this book crushed my soul and let me weeping. That's nothing new if you've read anything by this writing duo, especially Kristoff. I will only say one negative about the copy I received. I could not read the graphics that appear before every chapter. If I had a finalized copy of the book, perhaps my review would have been higher. The graphics tell information that I believe is necessary to enjoy what the authors have created and the alien species that have their own identity and conflicts as well.

Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman brings a new spark to the sci-fi genre. And it asks one question: can a group of misfits become heroes and save the entire galaxy?

Jay Kristoff describes this book as The Breakfast Club meets Guardians of the Galaxy, and that is exactly what Aurora Rising is.

Aurora Academy’s “golden boy”, Tyler Jones, is determined to have the best squad in the galaxy after the Draft. But he never expected to be the one to find Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, a girl who has been is cryo-sleep for 220 years. Causing him to miss the Draft, Tyler is now left with a group of losers, discipline cases, and sociopaths. Poor guy has to not only deal with a girl out of time but also a squad he never wanted.

For readers who love space then this book is sure to be a new favorite! There’s a lot of information woven into the story as Kristoff and Amie Kaufman build this world. And it’s amazing. It feels familiar and new at the same time which makes it easy to relate to the characters, too. There is some space lingo that made it hard to follow along concerning the dialogue but once the story begins flowing easily it becomes more natural.

With seven different POVs, Kristoff and Kaufman’s writing is at its best in Aurora Rising. There is no doubt that they make a great team and their strength is always the characters they develop. Squad 312 makes Aurora Rising a fantastic read. The group instantly has such a fun chemistry with one another. All of them are smart and bring different strengths to the team.

Tyler Jones is their trusted leader who will do anything to keep them safe. His twin, Scarlett, loyally stays by his side and is definitely the “mom” of the squad, as she ensures their well-being. Cat is a character readers will either love or hate but there’s no questioning how fierce she is. Kal is the brooding warrior. Zila is the smartest person in the galaxy (probably). Finian challenges Scarlett on being the most sarcastic of the squad. He’s also a fighter — despite Kal constantly questioning whether he’s much of a warrior or not.

Rounding off the group is the unplanned squad member, Aurora, who is the character at the center of Aurora Rising. She wakes up in a completely new world and becomes isolated. She’s just lost everything she’s ever known and loved. And now she’s the one who will lead this squad of misfits to their possible doom.

Squad 312 travels throughout the galaxy with faith being the only thing keeping them (somewhat) sane. They don’t know their future or what is at stake as their journey begins, but they’re ready to surrender and see this mission to the end.

Aurora Rising is a great beginning to what is sure to be an epic series. With space as its background, the characters will pull readers into this epic adventure! This is a story about finding a home in a place you least expected to. It’s about finding your people and having faith in the ones you love. I highly recommend this book to fans of sci-fi! Aurora Rising goes on sale on May 7th so make sure to pre-order and get your copies!

I loved ILLUMINAE, also written by this dynamic author duo, as well as LIFEL1K3, which Jay Kristoff wrote on his own, and UNEARTHED, which Amie Kaufman wrote with Meagan Spooner. So when I saw AURORA RISING, I was interested...more so when I read the book description. After reading the book, I'd say AURORA RISING is my favorite of the bunch.

The story starts with Ty running out of oxygen as he endeavors to save a girl suspended for 200 years in a cryogenic chamber on a lost spaceship during a space storm. And the action never lets up.
It has a bit of a Star Trek feel, with 6 characters (both human and alien), who make up Ty's newly-formed squad undertaking intergalactic humanitarian missions. A stowaway lends an unexpected element to their team. The story is told from all 7 of their points of view.

What I loved: the skilled-yet-outcast adventurers struggling to come together as a team, the mystery behind the spaceship lost for 2 centuries, fast pacing, plenty of action, and humor sprinkled throughout the story. The plot has high stakes and enough twists to keep fans of young adult spec fiction on their toes. And if you like heists, you just might find one of those in the pages of AURORA RISINGas well.

This book is a must-have for fans on ILLUMANAE, the rebooted STAR TREK movies, and YA fiction lovers more broadly. Highly recommended.

Find more reviews of recently published books at thewingedpen.com.

This book is everything I want out of a YA Science Fiction novel. There's a rag-tag group of people, who are forced together, being chased across space by a mysterious governmental agency, cryptic messages, a weird interrupting AI, and war to be had. I loved every moment of this book and I'm so excited to see what comes next, we have 22 targets & whole lot of crap to get through! I can't wait for the next book.

Back to space with Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff!
If you loved Illuminae, you’ll love Aurora Rising. If you were partially a fan of Illuminae, you’ll love Aurora Rising. Who am I kidding? Everyone, you’ll love Aurora Rising. It’s told in a traditional format, unlike the Illuminae Files, and it is amazing. Mind-blowingly good writing.
There’s a big debate over whether plot or characters matter most, and I always choose both. After all, you can’t have a good book with just good characters or plot, right? After reading this, I am convinced that you could, in fact, have a bestseller with only amazing characters and no plot. Coming into the novel, I was worried, because there are seven main characters and seven points of view that the story is being told from. Normally, when reading multiple POVs, I just get really involved in one of them, and spend the entire time waiting to go back to that POV. Not this time. I loved all of the perspectives that I read through. Amie and Jay have already introduced the characters on their social media, so I’ll just break them down simply here.
• Tyler: your captain, golden boy, perfection walking. Finds himself grouped with a bunch of losers and has to lead them.
• Scarlett: the diplomat (Face). Tyler’s twin sister. Has a list of ex-boyfriends, and is looking to expand. Speaks multiple languages, but her native tongue is sarcasm.
• Cat: pilot (Ace). Tyler’s best friend that is not in love with him. She’s a badass, and she will kick your ass.
• Fin: techie (Gearhead). Bi as hell. He finds himself surrounded by beautiful and badass people and is 100% here for it, and I am 100% here for him. Also, crazy cynical and an alien. He will grow on you and you will want to protect him at all costs.
• Kal: Fighter (Tank). “Hot space elf who thinks he’s better than you” really says it all.
• Zila: the smart science one (Brain). She might be a psychopath or a sociopath, but honestly, you’ll still love her. Just don’t let her point a gun at you. She has the smallest POV parts in the book, she says a lot in a few words.
• Aurora: the girl out of time. She’s the titular character but is more focused on discovering herself. Also, can destroy stuff with her mind!!
The characters are truly where this book shines because…the plot is kinda weak when you think about it. Think of the plot of Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, and basically you have Aurora Rising. I still love it to bits, but…yeah. There is definitely room for plot improvement in book two, now that (mostly) everything isn’t shrouded in mystery. There are also a lot of things that seem like a big deal in the book but aren’t really focused on.
Another concept seemingly out of another franchise is the idea of the Fold. I don’t think it is explained in the best way, but it really reminded me of tessering from A Wrinkle in Time. It’s a little bit different, but it is explained in the same way. Instead of going from point A to point B (A--------------B), you can enter a folded space where distant is different (A--^--B). The Fold is an in-between space, and traveling inside it lets you cross many leagues in shorter amounts of time. It is also very dangerous, of course.
Back to my Illuminae comparison, did you love AIDAN? The idea of a sentient artificial intelligence has invaded Aurora Rising too. Magellan is cute, smart, and some-what annoying, but honestly, he’s hilarious, and I feel like the characters don’t appreciate him as much as they should.
Do you like fantasy in space? Are you a fan of kicking ass and taking names with a band of misfits? Do you also want to get to the bottom of an age-old conspiracy?! Then read Aurora Rising! Heart-stopping and breath-taking, this book will have you glued to it until you finish the last page. And then you’ll join me as we wait for Amie and Jay to publish book 2!

4.5 Stars - I recommend if you enjoy YA and Sci-fi.

As soon as I started this I knew it would be a LOT of fun! It very much reminded me of The Guardians of the Galaxy, The Breakfast Club, and Stranger Things. I also loved the addition of a heist and a space elf. I most enjoyed that this book starts out action packed, and there are not a lot of moments of downtime. The squad moves from one piece of the puzzle to the next and there isn't time to be bored. I found this book funny, mysterious, sad, relevant to today's issues, and a little bit romantic. I liked that the chapters switched perspective, and the quirky crew that was brought together. Overall I really loved this book and am very excited to see where the series goes.

Feedback
I really don’t even know where to start with this review. So this is actually my first book by either Jay Kristoff or Amie Kaufman and I enjoyed it so much. First, this world is amazing. Such detail and explanation of the future really made me understand. I never felt lost, expect when it comes to the Betraskan family tree, in this world full of space travel and aliens. It was very easily explained which is great in a sci-fi novel because then I can truly enjoy the story, which I did immensely. It started off so strong and never lost that intensity. The story took such a turn that I never expected but it was so refreshing to read. I flew through this book as I did not want to put it down at all. The secret of who Aurora is and how Squad 312 kept trying to unravel this mystery had me hooked. Everything was so smoothly written that you wouldn't even be able to tell that two different authors wrote this book. The ending was just wild. I would have not really guessed that was the way it was going to go but man, did it just skyrocketed the whole story.
Even though this story was absolutely amazing, it truly was the characters that made it. Aurora was the center of it all since being discovered after 200 years in the fold. I really enjoyed her character and how well she took to all the adjustments. I would have been so lost if it was me but Aurora was a strong and smart character who blindly trusts these new people in her life. Tyler was a fantastic alpha. He was so smart and tactical, exactly what you needed for that type of position. The one thing I liked best about his character though was he was never a dictator. He always took the consideration of his other teammates and made the best judgement calls after listening to everything they had to say. Scarlett was just fantastic. As Tyler’s twin their relationship just bled through the pages. She is sexy and sassy and smart all at the same time. Definitely someone who would be the perfect Face of the team to handle diplomatic measures. Cat was an interesting character. She was so headstrong but completely devoted. I’m so glad there were the intense flying scenes to see her fly. Kal, oh my breaking heart. I loved his character so much. The whole time he tries to fit this warrior inside of him and I just want to be in smooth in combat as he is. Then the whole Be’shmai thing - ughhhhhhh!!!! Zila was an interesting character. I am going to be excited to learn more about her in the future novels. And I saved my favorite for last… Kilian. So he may be the biggest asshole on the whole station but I loved his character. He was so sassy the whole time and seriously had me cracking up. He was so smart (just like the rest of the team) and never let his disability take the better of him. I loved how he just pushed through everything and he truly became my favorite character. All of the points of views were perfect and I’m so glad the authors didn’t just focus on one.

Final Thoughts
Overall, Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman was all I wanted and more. With such an interesting story, these two really made it enjoyable. A full cast of sassy and smart characters really drove the plot of this book. It was such a unique adventure and ending that really makes this sci-fi book stand out. The characters really drove this whole thing home and I cannot wait to read more about Squad 312. I highly recommend this book to everyone - it is truly enjoyable.

If you’ve been missing the TV series Firefly or are waiting with bated breath for Guardians of the Galaxy 3, I have some good news. Aurora Rising, the latest collaboration from authors Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, is the answer to your prayers.Tyler (Ty) Jones, Squad Leader, First Class, 98th percentile of all cadets in Aurora academy, possessor of a lethal set of dimples and startling good looks, is about to have his ‘golden boy’ record ruined. It’s the night before the draft, that special day when the Alphas (captains) get to choose their squads. As the academy’s star Alpha, Tyler will have first pick of all the cadets. His squad will be made up of the best of the best of that year. Or will it?Ty, suffering from the worst case of insomnia in his life, takes a spaceship on a one man cruise into the Fold. It’s a space between space that, like an accordion, can push in and condense the galaxy, making travel across the long distances between stars possible. While there, Ty stumbles upon the impossible: a 220-year-old missing colony ship containing a single life, the cryogenically frozen Aurora (Auri) Jie-Lin O'Malley. She’ll be reawakened if Ty can manage to get her off the ship and away from the storm barrelling towards them.He does manage it, but the rescue costs him. By the time they make it out of the Fold and he completes a rigorous med-bay scan, the draft is over. Ty’s dream squad is now the “losers, discipline cases, and misfits” who were left over when all the other Alphas had taken their pick. He’s stuck with: Syldrathi combat specialist Kaliis (Kal) Idraban Gilwraeth, aka the squadron’s Tank. An elf like creature with the strength of ten men, Kal’s fighting a losing battle with his dark side. Zila Madran may be top of her class in the sciences but she has a nasty tendency to use her classmates as lab rats. Cat Brannok, their Ace (pilot) is good at her job but things have been a little bit awkward between her and Ty since That One Night. Betraskan Finian de Karran de Seelis is in the  top tenth percentile of his class and is the master of Tech Division but his black belt in snark can make him a difficult hang. Scarlett Jones, Ty’s older-by-several-minutes twin, the team’s Face (ambassador), can talk the birds down from the trees but can use that same tongue to strip a man of his pride, hope and reason to live.As if all that wasn’t bad enough, Ty finds himself with another difficulty. Auri is in desperate need of a second rescue, as the GIA, the scariest government agency around, is after her. They’re convinced she’s the trigger that could “start a war millions of years in the making.” And Ty - and his little band of underdogs - are her only friends in the universe.This is a light,fun YA novel brimming with humour and inclusivity. Teens who prefer their sci-fi cheery, amusing and with an upbeat tone regarding the future will find a lot to love here. Our band of eccentrics are, of course,  actually a group of loyal, moral, misunderstood geniuses who have what it takes to deal with whatever life throws at them. They are all wonderful, except for Ty, who is perfect - a great leader, good friend and savvy captain. In fact, his only imperfection is that he can be so perfect he forgets to be human. Auri is as solid yet mysterious, beautiful yet strange as any girl out of time can be; her frozen state has left her with universe-changing information and  it’s her job to convince Ty’s squad that her galaxy-saving intel is worth risking their lives and careers for. There are tragic backstories to add some depth to everyone but really, that just serves as an excuse for the occasional pout, snark or brood. The overall tone here is sunny, with intermittent moments of tear-jerking or sorrow-inducing stress. There is some romance here but it’s mostly at the handholding, briefest of kisses stage.  YA fiction has a range right now of books that are for teens but are meant for all ages, and books that appeal strictly to a teen/new adult audience. This is definitely in that latter category.In terms of the plot, most science fiction novels are amalgamations of and riffs on tales that have gone before. The author’s skill (or lack thereof) shows in how well they are able to spin these old tropes and standards into something wholly new. Aurora Rising is a good work but you can’t help but hear echoes of what inspired it as you turn the pages. The plucky characters à la Guardians of the Galaxy, the mysterious, pivotal gal à la Firefly; and since I don’t want to spoil the plot, I won’t name the 1970s movie the book’s villain seems to come from. This novel is definitely a unique tale but the edges haven’t been smoothed off its influencers enough to make the pieces unrecognizable. Even mixed all together, the popularity of the general narrative - band of lovable oddballs rescues humanity - gives the tale a very familiar feel.That is both a good and bad thing. Fans of that trope will love finding it so well done here. Unfortunately, though, not doing more than delivering the expected premise means that the book doesn’t quite reach DIK status. In sci-fi/fantasy, delivering a completely fresh take on the old ideas is the gold standard. Simply delivering a well done variation of them is only silver status.Which Aurora Rising totally is. It’s a solid B of a tale; good, fun, easy to read and a nice way to spend an afternoon. Devotees of the authors will be delighted and those looking for snarky teen sci-fi fun will find a lot to enjoy here.Buy it at: Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes & Noble/KoboVisit our Amazon Storefront

Occasionally, I'll pick up a book and know within the first several pages that I'm in for a five star read.  Aurora Rising is one of those books.

These characters.  I fell for them hard, and the banter between them is hilarious.  All are so fully-developed and relatable, and with seven different POVs, that's a tremendous feat to accomplish.  That many POVs may throw off some readers, but each voice is distinctive, and I knew exactly who was speaking.  And such fantastic character diversity (and I don't mean humans and aliens).

Talk about no-win situations - these authors throw their characters into several, and you're just sure there's no way they'll survive - and then things happen that I won't give away, but trust me, you'll be surprised at the originality and creativity.  The last 15% of this book really put me through the wringer - hidden secrets, big emotions, high-stakes danger.  Make sure to carve out a good hour or so when you won't be disturbed.

Even with all the action, death-defying moments, and a tension-filled heist, Aurora Rising leans heavily on themes of family, friendship, faith, and finding your crew.  It's an unusual, but charismatic mix of Guardians of the Galaxy, The Breakfast Club, and Six of Crows, and a novel you won't want to miss.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Mothercustard!! This book is A-MA-ZING! Amie and jay have crafted another gorgeous world that feels so believable that coming back to reality is a massive culture shock! This is another instant classic of the YA genre and I can't wait for everyone to be talking about the depth of these characters and the range of emotions that this book will make you feel. You'll laugh and cry and smile and never want to leave. I think that this book is arriving at a perfect time for us to see that your friend groups are going to evolve and some people have stigmas around them like our Tank, Kal, the Gearhead, Finian, and the Brain, Zila.

Our main girl, Auri, is by far the best character I have seen in a YA novel she is vulnerable but comes into her own and is a COMPLETE badass. She is brave and ready to support her new friends even when things go REALLY haywire.

Honestly, I was a mess when I finished this and I can't wait to get my hands on every single version of this book that I can.

P.S. PLEASE GIVE ME THE NEX ONE I NEED!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for giving me the opportunity to early read and review Aurora Rising. My opinions are my own and have not been influenced by this opportunity.

WOW. That’s it, that’s my whole review.

Mostly kidding, but also, how am I to be expected to review this masterpiece? Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff are the greatest duo to ever duo and I hope we are blessed with 50 more books from the two of them. They did such a fabulous job with The Illuminae Files I never imagined they could top those books, but Aurora Rising just might take the cake in Sci-Fi for me and I have no regrets that I’ve purchased roughly 5 copies of this beautiful book, including the coveted Goldsboro edition 😜

“But to reject my darker side only strengthens it. To lock it in a cage, to deny it is part of me … I cannot stop being what I am.”

Let’s jump right into the characters of Aurora Rising because I felt this was a very character driven book and they are so impressive to me I don’t know how not to just flail around about all these babies and what they have to go through. First up is Tyler, the Alpha of Squad 312 who sports a killer set of dimples. Tyler is so brazenly heroic I almost couldn’t help but laugh, he wants nothing more than to be the top Alpha to ever grace Aurora Academy but then he manages to get himself stuck leading this rag tag group of misfits and all hell breaks loose.

Aurora is the mystery girl that could potentially be the trigger for a war that’s been brewing for a million years, you know, just an average day no big thing 🤷‍♀️ she is so lost and confused and I just want her to find all the answers she needs. Fin is the SASSIEST member of the team, holy cats did he have me cackling while I was reading. Every word that comes out of his mouth is so clearly a defense mechanism and honestly I lived for it. I think I loved reading his chapters most of all, I enjoyed seeing him develop as a character and seeing the struggles he goes through.

There are so many more characters of this rag tag group: Kal, Scarlett, Cat, Zila.. I could talk about them for days but my review would be incredibly long at that point, and if that’s the case you might as well just read the book! As a group they all go through such a huge character arc, they learn so much about themselves and it was wonderful being able to see them change and grow throughout the story. Characters learning from their mistakes, and applying that new knowledge to future choices is such an important thing to see in a book that is so strongly based on its characters.

The last third of the book or so took a turn I was NOT expecting and damn, was it crazy. I expected something wild to happen though because that was how The Illuminae Files were, and honestly I was hoping for something like this. I don’t want to spoil what happens so I’m going to leave out any details but like, it gets a little creepy actually. The way I felt reading Illuminae and being absolutely terrified at what was happening/what could happen some day, that’s exactly the feeling I had reading Aurora Rising. Amie and Jay are so good at their craft, they truly know how to bring out the right emotions in you to force you to keep reading, to find out what happens.

“But I believe of all the places I have not fit, I fit here a little better.”

Whether you like Science Fiction books or not I think Aurora Rising is worth giving a chance to. It is so much more than just about space and Sci-Fi, it’s about friendship and the bonds it takes to make or break it. It’s about family and what you will and won’t do for them. It’s about finding yourself and finding your place in this world.

All quotes used in this review are subject to change and will be reviewed against the final copy when published.

Aurora Rising is a space adventure story of a crew of misfits who are forced to work together and find themselves in the middle of a galaxy wide conspiracy and must now fight for their lives. I will admit that this book was full of tropes and I did feel like some of the relationships and character interactions seemed too rushed or forced but at the end of the day, this was just a lot of fun to read and what more can you really ask for. There were times in the middle where I felt a little annoyed at the way the story was going and some minor eye rolling but there is just something about the way these two authors write together that I have a great time with. It wasn't quite at the same level of Illuminae for me personally but it still had that same fast paced, action packed good times that I fell in love with in that story and that's all I really wanted out of this book. I can't wait to see where the story goes next.

This was such a fun read, another group of misfit teens out to save the galaxy! I was expecting a fast and humorous read and that is exactly what I got. Plus isn’t that such a stellar cover! I love it.

The story is told from all seven of the character’s points of view, which might seem like a lot, but they are all so different from each other that it was easy to tell them apart. I was sort of expecting the story to be formatted like The Illuminae Files, but it isn’t. It is straight up narrative, although there are some inserts from an AI at the end of the chapters, giving some historical info and other background information that pertains to the plot.

All of the characters are nicely fleshed out and very different from each other, although they do fall into the typical YA types of characters, (and of course they are all described as being beautiful).

Ty is very much a leader and everyone looks to him for the answers and the plans. But he struggles with self-doubt.
His twin sister, Scarlet, is the diplomat with a snarky attitude. Although she is very charming when she needs to be.
Zila, the science officer, is the one character we don’t get as much background or chapters from, but what we do get, makes her very interesting.
Cat is the pilot, and grew up with Ty and Scarlett. She was very intense and spent a lot of time just being angry about everything.
Kal is Syldrathi, ie warrior alien, and has a lot of anger issues because of this. He is of the hit first ask questions later type of character.
Finian is also an alien, Betraskan, but he also has some physical disabilities. This isn’t discussed as much as I would have liked. He is a tech wiz but still has an attitude when it comes to interpersonal relationships.
And finally we have Aurora. The girl two hundred years out of her comfort zone. She is pretty lost and lonely most of the time, but as her story unfolds she becomes the most important person in the story.
Then there is the plot. It is very fast moving, hard to put down and has some good twists that kind of blow your mind. The crew starts off not trusting each other very much, except for Ty, Scarlett and Cat, they are considered to be the dregs of the academy. But as the plot progresses and things start to go seriously wrong, they start to work together and come together as a team. The snark and repartee between them keeps things amusing and a little bit light, even when things are going to hell around them. The concept of the Fold, which is how they travel around the universe so quickly is well explained, and I liked the fact that they have to use kids because if you travel too much in the Fold as an adult you go crazy apparently.

If you enjoy fast paced space adventures you will definitely love this one. I just love it when there is a group of kids who have to learn to work together to save the galaxy.

The characters in this were SO amazing. They had depth and dynamics, and were easily distinguishable from one another. The pace was also great with a lot happening throughout. It leaves you desperate for book 2!

Out-Freakin'-Standing addition to the sci-fi genre for the YA set! As an adult, I LOVED this fast paced, plot-thick, well-balanced character-driven story. And when I say "well-balanced", I mean that the authors balanced character development with the action scenes flawlessly; one was used for the other. I cannot recommend this book more highly for reluctant readers or for those grownups that want to disappear for a day or two in a fun (and heartbreaking), fast read. Exploding bodies aside, I can't wait to see what happens next. I hate flowers...

Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff have done it again. While Aurora Rising is no Illuminae Files trilogy (but let’s face it, we all knew that filling those shoes would have been an extremely tough thing to do anyway), it does bring its own brand of excitement and entertainment to the table, offering a solid YA adventure that should satisfy any sci-fi fan looking for a thrilling space romp.

The year is 2380, and at the prestigious Aurora Academy it is the eve of the Draft, which has been on cadet Tyler Jones’ mind for as long as he has been looking forward to graduation. As the school’s star student, he would have the pick of the best recruits for his squad. However, an unwavering sense of duty leads him to answer a distress call that night, causing a huge kerfuffle resulting in Tyler missing the most important day of his life. In the aftermath, he is left with a crew of misfits, the leftover dregs of the academy that no other squad leaders want.

Nevertheless, Tyler is determined to be a good leader, resolving to live up to his reputation of “golden boy” and to do the best with what he’s got. First, we have Scarlett, Tyler’s twin who joined the academy in solidarity with her brother, and likewise she has decided to stick with him now out of a sense of loyalty, serving as his squad’s diplomat. Next, we have Cat, an ace pilot who has been friends with the twins since they were all children. It’s also something of an open secret that she’s always carried a torch for Tyler, though all of them tiptoe around the fact. And then we have Kal, a member of Syldrathi race, an alien species affectionately referred to as space-elves. Kal, however, is no willowy sprite; he’s got a fiery temper and serious anger management problems, which is why no one else at the academy would touch him with a ten-foot pole despite his legendary fighting prowess. Also, we have Zila, the squad’s brilliant science officer, except she’s so volatile and prone to get trigger-happy that not even the promise of her genius can overcome others’ fears of working with her. And finally, there’s Finian, the team’s second alien member, of the Betraskan species. Frequently underestimated by others because of his impaired mobility which requires him to wear an exoskeleton suit for support and movement, Fin is a tech expert who is the best at what he does despite the massive chip on his shoulder. Together, the six of them make up Squad 312, our novel’s heroes.

But wait! There’s one final surprise member of team, a wild card no one anticipated until she made her presence known on the crew’s first official mission after stowing away on board their ship. This is Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, a girl who finds herself in an unfamiliar world after waking up from being cryogenically frozen for the last two hundred years. And as if this strange future wasn’t scary enough, for some reason there are hostile forces hunting Auri, and she’s also developing superhuman abilities that both terrify and fascinate her. As Squad 312 struggles to decide what to do with their newest crewmate, they also must worry about their own safety as Auri’s powers grow more dangerous and her pursuers close in.

First thing I noticed about Aurora Rising is that there’s something very Star Trek-y about its setup, which immediately biased me towards its story and characters. For one thing, I’m a real sucker for ensemble casts in my space operas and sci-fi adventures, and the motley crew of this book promised great and interesting things. I also liked how the authors actually gave our characters genuine personalities and background histories. I’ve come across way too many YA novels these days that promise diverse characters, but in reality, what we end up getting is a parade of diversity labels and shallow characters who are empty husks defined only by their race/gender/sexual orientation/disability, etc. Honestly, this gets tiresome after a while, not to mention it’s a bit insulting. Which is why I can’t tell you how refreshing it is to read about Squad 312 and have them actually feel like well-rounded and authentic people who have experienced real emotions and lived real lives. And quite frankly, I would have expected nothing less from Kaufman and Kristoff, who have already shown us they can write amazingly well-developed characters with their Illuminae Files series.

But while I would have no hesitation whatsoever recommending Illuminae Files to anyone, regardless of their age, I do have to mention that Aurora Rising feels more skewed towards a younger audience, with a stronger “teen read” vibe. The characters’ attitudes, dialogue, and sense of humor seem to reflect this. Like for example, the ridiculous number of times Tyler’s attractiveness was mentioned or how he was constantly referred to as “Captain Hotness” (I swear, if I had to read about his damn dimples one more time…) Then there was Auri’s annoying way of calling Kal “Elrond” and making endless stupid Lord of the Rings references. So if this is the kind of stuff that grates on your nerves, your eyes are probably in for some epic rolling.

The premise of Aurora Rising is also not as complex as any of the books in the Illuminae Files trilogy, nor is it anywhere near as unique. It’s pretty much your standard heist plot, but in space, and I’ve read better. Still, to its credit, this book is exciting, if a bit drawn out at times—though often when we get lulls, it’s because of character development, which is why I give some of the wonky pacing a pass.

All told though, Aurora Rising was a satisfying read with fantastically developed characters (in spite of all the snark) and a decent plot with well-written action. I truly did not think it would reach the heights of Illuminae, so I’m glad I kept my expectations realistic, but still, overall I am very happy with how this book turned out.

AURORA RISING was a great start to an epic science fiction series. It begins at Aurora Academy and deals with a squad of graduates.

The Alpha of the squad is Tyler Jones. He was very near the top of his class and should have had his pick of other squad members. Except he was off rescuing Aurora Jie-Lin O'Malley who was the sole survivor of the colony ship that was taking her to Octavia where she was going to be a cartographer. Her ship was lost in the Fold and she is 200 years out of her time.

Tyler's new squad has a lot of the dregs of the Academy. He does have his sister Scarlett for his diplomat. She wasn't going to let her brother attend the Academy without her but she wasn't really interested in doing well there either. And he has Cat for his pilot. She is the best in the Academy is fiercely loyal to Tyler. She also might have more than a small crush on him.

But his science and medical specialist Zila Madran might be a sociopath. She's brilliant but not a people person and tends to use her disruptor to solve a lot of her problems. And his new Tech is Finian de Karran de Seel, a Betraskan, who is isolated from his family, wears an exoskeleton because of weak muscles, and has a well-honed sense of sarcasm. Finally, his combat specialist is Kaliis Idraban Gilwraeth, a Syldrathi member of the Warbreed Cabal, and one of the few Syldrathi at the Academy since the war with them ended just a short while ago.

Their first mission seems in keeping with a squad made up from the leftovers. They are sent to bring medical supplies to an almost abandoned space station currently housing a small number of Syldrathi refugees. The first problem is that they won't let Kal come aboard because many members of his caste are still fighting against the Terrans. But a bigger problem is that they have a stowaway. Aurora was told by the Academy leaders to stow away on their ship. And now the Terran Defense Forces and the Global Intelligence Agency want Auri and are willing to kill anyone who gets in their way.

Auri has come out of the Fold with psychic powers and visions. Worst of all, her past seems to have been erased. She's told the planet she was going to never existed and never had a colony. Untangling all the lies and figuring out her new powers and her purpose keeps all the kids busy for the rest of the book.

I liked the characters who were all unique individuals. I liked the worldbuilding. I liked the action and pace of the story. The only thing I didn't like was that this is book one of a series and now I have to wait to find out what happens next.

This was my most anticipated book of 2019 and it did not disappoint! It gets 10 stars from me, 5 for each of these amazing authors!

I often think books with large casts of characters and multiple POVs are ambitious and fall short, but this one is an example of not only doing that well but having it enhance the reader's understanding and enjoyment of the book. I think the repeated descriptions and use of names helped me quickly pick up who each of the wonderful members of Squad 312 are and gave me many reasons to root for each of them. I think their individual personalities shone through and I would have loved the story for its quirky and witty characters alone. But the plot is just as well done! This book kept me guessing and reading on the edge of my seat through each twist on this adventure ride of a story. I could not put this book down. I've read a lot of YA books set in space at this point (chasing the high I found while reading the Illuminae Files) and Aurora Rising blows them away. I could visualize the world and each location. It was enhanced with cultural and political dynamics that made it feel real. I am in awe of how rich the world felt and each alien species had layers of backstory. The plot was full of mystery and suspense and constantly surprised me.

Amie and Jay have done it again and I can't recommend this book enough. They brought their trademark witty writing with fast paced plot in vivid settings together but created an entirely new world. I thought I would have Illuminae flashbacks since I've read it so much, but they truly made something new that I love just as much if not more. Fans will be overjoyed and new readers will flock to this engaging and exciting new space adventure series.

OHHHH BOY.

Holy cow. This was one heck of a wild ride and I loved every single moment of it. I’m going to try really hard to review and not give anything away. HA. I should end my review now then, right? Let’s see what I can come up with…

I firmly believe that these two authors cannot write a bad book. They have mastered the sci-fi setting but spinning in it such a way that it feels fresh. This really did feel like The Breakfast Club but set in space and I was absolutely here for it. The characters were deeply flawed and beautifully complex. They all had a voice in the story as they all had POV chapters so I was able to hear directly from them why they did what they did or know why they felt the way they did. That gave an extra layer of depth that made this story that much better. While there were a lot of characters (all necessary), my favorite character was Aurora. I loved her backstory and the journey she had ahead of her. I do have a soft spot for all of them, but she was the one I connected with the most.

The concept and plot of the story was utterly brilliant. A girl lost in space but in cryo-sleep awakened to discover she has a bigger role to play in the fate of the universe? And her fate is in the hands of a group of space cadets that never wanted to team up in the first place? Sign. Me. Up. It worked and it worked so bloody well. Once I started this story I could not stop. I simply had to know what happened. This was one of those books that I was thinking about when I wasn’t reading it because I had to know what happened. I had to know what was going on with Aurora and why things happened the way they did. (Hint: I was not disappointed!)

What more can I say about this book without giving anything away? I know! The humor is ON POINT. I mean, if you don’t laugh at all of the Middle-Earth jokes then there must be something wrong with you. The amount of references to hot elves felt like an added bonus for this already stunning start to a new sci-fi series. Not to mention the sexual tension and innuendos. They were not rude or crude but just enough. Whatever magical spell Kristoff and Kaufman cast years ago to be able to work so well together, I embrace it. They knocked it out of the park and I believe everyone will be in for one heck of a treat. I cannot wait for this to be out in the world and everyone read it.

Tyler Jones is in the top of the class and is looking forward to draft day. That is when he will be able to pick his dream squad and start a great career. Unfortunately, his inner heroism gets in his way and because he takes the time to save a girl who has been in cryo-sleep for over two hundred years, he is now stuck with the leftovers from the academy. Having a crappy team isn’t his only issue, though. It turns out that the girl he saved, Aurora, could be the very person to start a war that has been in process before humans were even started. Is this group of misfits the team that will save the galaxy? Is there a connection between Tyler and Aurora that runs deeper than usual?

Aurora Rising is the first book in the Aurora Cycle and is a wonderful science fiction adventure with a dash of comedy. Overall the story is serious and great, yet the characters have a comedic side that will have readers chuckling throughout the book. Kristoff has created a variety of characters that I truly enjoyed spending time with and the ending of this book left many future books available for publication. I highly recommend Aurora Rising and will personally be looking for the next book when it is released.