Welcome, crawlies! Just a warning: this is a spoiler-infested review, so if you haven't read the full book yet, feel free to read my non-spoiler review here. If you already did, we can share our sentiments about the book. Read 'til the end and comment down below.
Enjoy!
FULL REVIEW
Son of a biscuit.
(I feel the need to say Auri’s favorite cuss which feels relevant now.)
It’s been a roller coaster ride of mixed emotions since the beginning ‘til the end. Playing with my feelings— contrasting shades of jitter, fighting tension, romance, shocking revelation, and then sorrow. Hype aside and in all honesty, though, the first half of the book was outshined by the ending half. Even though it’s not as good as Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff’s previous works, it’s still worth reading. Here are my opinionated answers to why, along with my traditional star-throwing ritual.
⭐️ “Squad 312, forever.”
Tyler should be relieved that he missed the Draft because he ended up working with an exalted squad. Some of their capabilities have been overshadowed by their bad reputations, but they’re far from being incompetent. Squad 312 might’ve had a rough start, but their chemistry as a team is undeniable. It's funny how everything falling apart is what binds them together.
It’s not my first time encountering a girl who was rescued in a cryogenic pod and waking out of time. It's not my first time encountering a girl who gets nosebleeds whenever she uses telekinesis either. Sounds familiar?
Auri didn't strike me that much as a strong female lead, her powers aside. She didn't jibe with me to a personal level, the point to which I'd cry when she dies. She's also got a dull personality and can be fickle-minded at times. However, I can't wait 'til she can harness her new powers to its full extent and find out how she will wield it to defeat the Ra’haam. I don't want to get crushed into pulps like those GIA, so I’m cutting it here.
Tyler got it all. The looks, the leadership, the wits. It's admirable how he puts the squad first before anything else and how he listens to his squadmates for their opinions before making a decision. His twin Scarlette got this big-sister-you-wish-you’ve-had vibes. I had misjudged her as a possible antagonist because of her personality and manipulation expertise as a Face. Finian was the story’s mood saver. He manages to keep everything light in dire times, adding a comical flavor to the story with his snarky comebacks. The Ace, Cat, is my spirit animal. I had to admit I used to be annoyed with how she treated Auri when she got jealous of her getting too close to Tyler but I soon understood her side. She turned out as a substantial woman in the story, even though she wasn't given that much of a spotlight in the beginning. She doesn't deserve that horrible demise but if it wasn't for Cat, the rest wouldn't know who the real enemy is. The Brain, Zila, obtains the least exposure, just a character in the background but still important. Lastly, Kal, the hot alien elf who turns his aggressive switch on whenever Auri is in danger. Kal being overly protective traverses the borderline between charming and disturbing.
Talking about character relationships, at first, I thought that Auri would fall in love with Tyler. Thankfully, that didn't happen because that would be so predictable. Given the circumstances that Captain Hotness rescued the Damsel in Distress who pretty much describes him with every positive adjective that you can find in the dictionary. My initial thoughts were, ”If the girl out of time falls in love with Golden Boy, I'm going to be the girl out of here.” I stayed ’til the end and I'm glad I did.
I'm curious about how Kal and Auri’s relationship will kindle since they are still practically strangers to each other; they just got a couple of proper conversations without awkwardness. What baffled me the most was how Auri acted so intimidated by Kal throughout the book but when he confides his feelings for her, she suddenly likes him back? One moment you seemed scared of his aggressiveness, the next moment you're willing to take a shot at romance? Insta-love that doesn't make any sense. That's the cringe-worthy part of this book.
What happened to Cat and Tyler’s relationship was tragic, though. They hadn't even had the chance to say what they mean to each other before she got consumed by the Ra’haam.
The second cycle of Aurora Rising will be released sometime in 2020, but now that Tyler lost his love interest, I'm speculating a love triangle in the sequel. Better, there’d be new characters that will surface throughout their journey that will join their tangled web of friendship and romantic relationships.
⭐️ A Dance with Jargons ⭐️
Two of the best Sci-fi authors collaborating on this book made everything feel ironically surreal yet so real. How they came up with this world, these creatures, and the universe's fake history since it was set in the future. The authors never seem to run out of buzz words and jargon that oozes with creativity and craftsmanship which fits perfectly into the story’s world. It’s amazing how Terrans, Betraskans, Syldrathi, Rigellians, Lierans and other aliens were conceptualized. The idea of Aurora Academy is also brilliant, although we haven’t fully grasped the deets and tidbits of the challenge when you study in this space school. I hope we get a *coughs* prequel set in the academy. That would be a compelling storyline.
Two stars will be dropped for the writing and the world-making for this book served as an inter-dimensional Fold which made me resurface in an astounding world.
⭐️The More Answers We Get,
The More The Questions We Ask
I’ll give the last star for the revelations which blew me away. I had absolutely no idea about what Auri and the squad are up against because the clues (the words that the Eshvaren speak through Auri whenever it takes over her body) doesn’t make any sense because it is spoken in a different language. That’s why the revelations about the real enemy, the entity and its intention to the universe, caught me off-guard. Add up Princeps, the GIA who has been hunting them, turning out to be Auri's dad who was corrupted by the Ra'haam.
My favorite plot twist in this book of constrictor knots was when they’d thought there were actual human settlements on Octavia but then they just ended up serving the platter to the enemy for bringing Auri— the only person who can stop it from spreading and corrupting the galaxy. If not for Cat’s sacrifice, they would’ve all become the enemy’s puppets and everything’s going to be a lost cause.
CHEW A LEAF AT THE WISDOM TREE
Lesson #1: TEAMWORK
Tyler’s squad taught us the importance of casting nickel-and-dime feuds aside for a greater cause. They might have individual flaws, but they surpass the challenges that automatically come up with that baggage whenever they work as a team. We may sometimes find ourselves thrust into a bunch of people who seem so different from us, but soon we will find that weird enough, those differences will find a way to stick us together.
“A warrior might be all you were raised to be, Kal,” I say. “But it’s not all you are.”
Lesson #2: SELF-ACCEPTANCE
Aurora’s dialogue with Kal is my favorite quote from this book. It's a hundred percent relatable.
It emphasizes how you should embrace a non-dominant side of yours, no matter how much you refuse to, from time to time. Showing it might break down a facade you've long built but if it's really what's inside you, why not show it to the world? Love who you are and be loved for it.
Sometimes you might envy other people's capabilities you wish you've had, but in the end, people also want something that you have which they don't. I used to be covetous of a friend's analytical prowess but then I realized I got musicality and a creative side which that person doesn't have, so I’ve focused on that strength because it's what makes me who I am. Let that voice inside you speak and resonate with your true self.
Kal is a hardened pure-bred warrior who used to suppress his soft and sentimental side. How about you?
THE VERDICT
If you've read this far, thank you. It means so much to me. Everything comes down to a verdict and as for this one, I LARVA IT!
Which means four out of five stars.
Got a different notion about the book? Feel free to comment down below.
BOOK INFO:
Title: Aurora Rising (The Aurora Cycle #1)
Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Publish date: May 7, 2019
Page count: 480
Genre: Sci-fi, fantasy, Young Adult
Characters: Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, Tyler Jones, Scarlett Jones, Kaliis “Kal” Gilwraeth, Zila Madran, Catherine “Cat” Brannock, Finian de Seel
Publishers:
USA – Random House/Knopf
Turkey – Pegasus
Spain – PRH Spain
Russia – AST ANZ – Allen & Unwin
France – Casterman
Israel – Modan
Brazil – Rocco
UK – Oneworld
Czech Republic – Albatros
ISBN: 1524720968 (ISBN13: 9781524720964)
コメント