Aurora Burning

The Aurora Cycle, Book 2

By: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

Narrated by: Kim Mai Guest, Johnathan McClain, Lincoln Hoppe, Donnabella Mortel, Jonathan Todd Ross, Erin Spencer, Steve West

Length: 15 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES • Our heroes are back . . . kind of. From the bestselling co-authors of the Illuminae Files comes the second book in the epic Aurora Cycle 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.

©2020 Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff (P)2020 Listening Library

Critic reviews

“Nonstop action, romance, and a few satisfying surprises…. A thrilling space epic that will fly off the shelves.”–Kirkus Reviews

“A positively explosive cliff-hanger end will have readers on the hook for book three.”–Booklist

Best story I’ve heard in a very long time!

I’ll start with why this is not just great but a stellar book, besides entertaining. It has meaning. Many meanings. Each character has their own personal journey full of depth and we are as mystified as they are what their destiny is. Each is different from the others and somehow the author keeps each evolving and moving in a nice weave with the action of the main story. What’s really intriguing is that each journey is meaningful to not only the character, but in a universal way that resonated with me too. So impressed. This is categorized as a YA book but I’m middle aged and enjoying it very much. (I think there’s a whole cadre of readers like me who have gone to YA because of both the raunchiness of adult stories and lack of a good story because of it as a double whammy. However, some YA is really truly too “young” for me. Lovely series but bleh, too much teen drama. So this is like finding a pearl in the ocean.)
I loved the first book as well, Aurora Rising. It’s the set-up book though and it’s in this second installment where all of the characters become more familiar.
The writing is smooth, action fast, and the dialogue is good and, what many sometimes don’t notice, written in each character’s personal style. Often dialogue is written and could belong to any of the characters. (Why I like Ilona Andrews-a man and wife team- the men talk like men and it’s a hoot.)
It does end with the mother of all cliffhangers- in fact we get to visit each character in quick shots of them dangling from their own private cliffs, lol. But for once I don’t feel too upset despite how long I have to wait for the finale. It kinda made sense.

An entertaining story

It's not as deep or as crunchy as I like my fantasy/scifi stuff, but the narrators are all quite good, and overall the story is entertaining.

This book in particular ends on a supermassive cliffhanger, but it's still a decently long book and I enjoy the characters.

amazing

two amazing authors and a team of very talented readers! would definitely recommend to anyone.

Welp...gotta wait now

awesome writing, deep characters, another AMAZING performance by the cast. My only complaint is now I have to wait for the next installment.

Agh!

Great story, and left on the edge of chaos!! I didn't want it to end!

Loved it! Thank you for the distraction!

I also will hate to wait for the next book but am grateful for the happiness it brought me!

cliffhangers are the worst

I loved the twists and turns, but hated the cliffhanger. also, my least favorite trope of lovers separating because one held a secret sucked.

Holy cake

What a wild ride. I don't even know what to say other than that book had so many twists and turns I got whiplash. I NEED THE NEXT ONE. RIGHT. NOW.

freaking awesome

I loved every moment of it! super fun must read and listen to! I cant wait for the third installment!

So engrossing

I am all in with these characters and this story. I can't wait to get back out there