Review: The Aurora Cycle
The Aurora Cycle is a trilogy written by New York Times bestselling authors Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. The trilogy follows the adventure of Squad 312, comprising of a group of misfits in the Aurora Legion, fighting against Ra'haam, a parasitic virus threatening to take over the whole of the galaxy. The trilogy consists of Aurora Rising, Aurora Burning and Aurora's End.
1. Book One: Aurora Rising
The first book in the trilogy, Aurora Rising follows the story of Auri [Aurora Jie-Lin O' Malley] , a girl trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries. Rescued by Tyler, alpha of legion squad 312, she's the main source of all the different events that happen and the possible "trigger" of the weapon of the enemy, the Ra'haam.
QUICK THOUGHTS AND REVIEW: 4.5/5
PROS:
1. Engaging plot: The plot, right from the beginning is amazing. It's rare that science fiction plots stray away from the normal trope and yet are able to be amazing in their own way. The narration of the various characters, their styles and their views has kept this plot amazing and fresh and it's breathtaking.
2. Characters: AMAZING. AMAZING. AMAZING. Each one of the single person in squad 312 is more than what they seem to be actually more than they would actually let on. Tyler is more than just a "Golden Boy" and Cat is more than just a "cold pilot". And personally, I found myself really attached to the gearhead, Finian Karran De Seel- his snark and mirth keeps during life or death situations is what makes it amazing for me to keep reading.
3. Suspense: Edge of the seat suspense. That's it. I don't think there's anything else I would be able to describe it with.
4. Romance: Who doesn't love romance in between tight-as-stretched-rubber situations. Kal's confession for Aurora's love adds a new colour to his character. This proves that Kal is not one dimensional: he can be more than a cold blooded warrior who doesn't like to be touched. Love is a drop in the ocean for what I feel for you. EPIC.
CONS:
With Pros come the cons so here we go
1. Multiple POV's: the presence of multiple POV's kept the book refreshing, it was also very confusing, and if I'm not rude, a bit agitating . I mean, I'm not used to reading multiple POV's. Two POV's, three POV's its fine. But I got attacked with a barrage of seven POV's, which even though there wasn't any time gap, was sort of mind boggling, which did in fact, make my interest waver for a bit.
2. Pacing: It was a bit too fast paced for my liking. I mean, I get it, a life or death urgency, but even though I was going through it slower than I'm used to, it felt like that I was trying to catch a running train. Through the middle of the plot, it was sort of difficult to keep track.
OVERALL, A GOOD READ.
2. Book Two: Aurora Burning
After Cat's submission to the Ra'haam and the incredible discovery of the true identity of the Princeps of the GIA, Aurora Burning follows the story of the seven-turned-six squad legion 312 comprising Tyler, Scarlett, Zila, Finian. Aurora and Kal.
QUICK THOUGHTS AND REVIEWS: 5/5. Banger. Banger. ABSOLUTE BANGER.
PROS:
1. Good flow of the plot: You know, you actually can't complain about it. Most series often tend to have a break in the plot which often makes it difficult for reader to catch up on the next book; especially if the old one finishes on an open ending. I have no complaints regarding this one.
2. Character Development: Just like the book. Effing Banger. I mean, the previous book was more or less focused on the developments of Kal and Auri only. But this book? Man, just- it renders me speechless every time I think of it. Adding more dimensions to these already beautiful characters, I didn't think it was humanly possible and yet somehow, the authors pulled it off. I mean, Tyler and Fin were fighting inside my head, trying to win the trophy of the "favourite comfort character".
3. Plot Twists: I DID NOT SEE THEM COMING. Many books I've read throughout the years, especially science fiction just have a lot of predictable plot twists. At least, I myself, have been able to predict some. BUT, SAEDII BEING KAL'S SISTER. I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING. LIKE I JUST DID NOT. How in the world do you expect me to cope with that? ON TOP OF THAT I THOUGHT TYLER WAS DEAD AND TURNS OUT HE WAS ONLY CAPTURED WTF. KAL'S FATHER BEING THE SECOND TRIGGER LIKE DAYUM. Also the fact that their gifts in the vaults were there almost a decade ago, Sheeeeeeeeeeeeish. I mean, there's a reason I called it a banger.
CONS:
None, effing none. There's nothing I didn't love about it.
OVERALL, AN EXCELLENT READ.
3. Book Three: Aurora's End.
The final book in the trilogy, Aurora's end, for the last time, follows the adventure of Legion 312 as they are now split up in the universe, separated by time, to fight against the Ra'haam, with the help of the two triggers, to finally try to win the war.
QUICK THOUGHTS AND REVIEW: 4.5/5, I mean it all comes together like GAH DAYUM, wha-.
PROS:
1. Romance: Even though the romance is quite at the poles of the book- Finian and Scarlett at the beginning while Zila and Nari right at the end, my heart could not help but just cry for these four people who'd never actually end up together, had there been the normal circumstances.
2. The Ending: the fact that Zila stays back in time, makes so much freaking sense. I mean, she's the reason Aurora Academy is effing built up you know. I mean, I had to bite down on my hand to make sure I wasn't screaming and making everybody around me deaf. I'd waited for so long for this book to come out and when it finally has, I could binge read everything and it made so much sense AAAAAAAAAAAAH I'm gonna geek out if not stopped.
3.The fact that NO ONE DIES AT THE END OF THE BOOK!
CONS:
For me, it has only one con. The time travel thingy. I mean, travelling two centuries into the past, then back to the present and then again thirty years into the future. I mean, I get it, it's relevant to the story, but gah dayum, slow down. I love how Tyler is still the same even after thirty years and how Zila finds her love two hundred years into the past. Different time spans in the same book is not my thing, maybe that's the only reason I wouldn't give it a five star.
OVERALL, A REALLY GOOD READ.
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