Title: Aurora Burning

Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Pub. Date: May 5, 2021

Pages: 495

Pub: Knopf Books For Young Readers

Genre: YA SF

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

This will be a spoiler free review. I listened to the audiobook via Audible, and I highly recommend it. The full cast, the legit acting and just incredibly storytelling. You’re instantly sucked in and transported. You can check out my review for Aurora Rising if you’re interested.

Well, I need book 3 – anyone know when that’s coming out?

I legit got to the end of this book and just sat there, because there is no way it ends like that.

Ugh, just thinking about it again is making me angry. I need to know what happens next.

I’m sitting here trying to think about what to write for this review, and I keep slinking back to finishing this book and being left not knowing what is going to happen next. And then I just want to scream and then scream at y’all to read this book/series if you haven’t yet.

I loved this book. It made me happy, it made me angry, it made me feel all of the things. I will say that I figured out early on who and what Starkiller is/was. The moment Auri started piecing stuff together, I kind of figured out what was going to happen. That doesn’t mean that I wasn’t left shocked and raging at the turn of events.

I also think that Squad 312 overreacted to a certain bit of information that comes to light about Kal. Like, I think their extreme reaction was highly uncalled for – I was rolling my eyes and groaning. Because you know this is only going to play out one way, and it’s not going to be good. But poor Kal.

I still love Auri, but part of her journey made me seriously question her. I didn’t like where she seemed to be headed – but it looks like by the end of the book, she realized her mistakes.

I honestly still don’t care much for a certain character who kept making a reappearance. I would’ve been happy for them to just go away and be a memory, but no.

Tyler’s journey in this book is so rough and omfg there were times that my heart just ached for him. Though, I really loved the scenes between him and Zadie…they’d be a perfect example of “enemies to lovers” and I lowkey hope, even though I know I’ll be disappointed LOL.

Finn is still my absolute favorite character and I would die for him. I just love him so much, but Zila stepped up and had a much bigger role in this book. I found myself really looking forward to her POV moments.  Scarlet is a freaking character and so much fun. I honestly don’t understand but want to know how she’s had so many boyfriends. Her insight and quips are almost more entertaining and comedic than Finn’s.

This book just keeps on going and never stops and then leaves you breathlessly hanging, desperate for more. Aurora Burning is everything I love in a space sci-fi and once again I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to read it. But now I have, and I’m miserably waiting for the next one like everyone else. I can’t wait for my physical copy to arrive so I can put it on my shelf next to Aurora Rising and see how pretty they are next to one another.

If you haven’t read this book yet, then what are you waiting for?