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Dynamic writing duo Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff are back with another thrilling space opera with Aurora Rising, the first book in their new Aurora Cycle trilogy. This futuristic sci-fi tale is a wild journey through the galaxy with a group of lovable misfits, unwittingly thrown into a dangerous mission that reveals a centuries long kept secret with dire implications for humans and aliens alike. Kaufman and Kristoff deliver a solid first installment to the Aurora Cycle.

Tyler Jones is the top graduate of Aurora Academy, an interstellar military institution. He’s ready to form his squad and begin service to the Aurora Legion, a neutral organization intent on keeping peace throughout the galaxy. Everything Tyler has worked so hard for is jeopardized when an off-duty training session the night before the Draft turns into an impromptu rescue mission for a girl in cryo-sleep trapped in a decrepit spaceship. Having missed his chance to recruit the squad of his dreams, Tyler is left to lead a group of misfits, outcasts, and discipline cases. As Tyler and Squad 312 embark on their first mission, they must learn to come together as a team to face the mounting threat facing the galaxy.

• Squad 312 may be the losers of Aurora Academy, but they are most definitely the stars of this book. There is the goldenboy leader (Tyler), sassy diplomat (Scarlett), hotshot pilot (Cat), quirky scientist (Zila), genius tech expert (Finian), and of course a badass alien warrior (Kal). Rounding out the squad is Aurora, the girl two centuries past her time. Each character has a distinct personality and are very likable. Despite their differences, Squad 312 complements one another extremely well and bring out the heroes in each other.
• I live for the banter Kaufman and Kristoff write for their characters. It’s funny, clever, and just plain old entertaining to read about characters going back and forth with each other in life or death situations.
• There is a cool omniscient narrator in between chapters that reminded me of a certain character in The Illumine Files. This narrator was a clever way to add context to world-building for readers.
• The plot moves quickly and there was plenty to hold my interest from the introductions of various alien species, a particularly exciting heist, and a couple of daring escapes on land and in space.

• I was expecting Aurora Rising to be told from two points of view: Tyler and Aurora. So, imagine my surprise when I learn that each of the seven characters gets at least one point of view chapter. These chapters are not evenly distributed, and I would have liked more time in the heads of certain characters.
• I’m disappointed that I’m not a fan of the romantic storyline in this novel. There are two potential couples that emerge from the story, but I didn’t connect with either one of them. I felt like there wasn’t enough build-up for these couples, nor did I see/feel the chemistry between them. I’m hoping I’ll have a change of heart in the sequel.

Final thoughts: Filled with Kaufman and Kristoff’s trademark wit, high-stakes plot, and fast-paced action, Aurora Rising is sure to be another hit with young adult sci-fi readers.

Thank you to Random House Children’s Books for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!