Even though I am no longer supporting the author of the series this readathon is based on I (being the pedantic completionist I am) felt the need to finish off and complete the NEWTS this month! I decided to stick with my original career as a Spell Maker and I managed to complete and pass all of my NEWT exams which I am actually super stoked about! I needed an O in Ancient Runes, E in Arithmancy, E in Astronomy, E in Charms, O in History of Magic and an A in Transfiguration which is a total of 13 books.
A: Bathsheda Babbling – Author Name that stars with B (first or last)
Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron
E: Read a Classic
Anna K by Jenny Lee -best I could do lol
O: Love Rune – read a Romance
The Honey-Don’t List by Christina Lauren
A: Precision is key – read a non fiction
Growing up Aboriginal in Australia edited by Anita Heiss
E: Book that ends on an uneven number
Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
A: Star Chart – star on the cover/in title
The Weight of the Stars by K. Ancrum
E: Read a Sci-Fi
Aurora Burning by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
A: Cheering Charm – read a humorous book
Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai
E: Glacius Freezing Charm – read a book set in winter
Overall I had a pretty solid reading month, I ended up completing 14 books! I pretty much loved all of the books I read, there were a couple that were just ok but I’m really happy with what I ended up picking up!
I love this readathon, simply because it gives me a reason to pick up the longer books on my TBR I have been neglecting! I was able to read 3 tomes over the course of the two weeks, plus a couple other shorter reads but I’ll leave those for my monthly wrap up. I didn’t quite end up with a bingo for this round but I am still stoked with what I was able to accomplish!
Aurora Burning continues pretty much straight after Aurora Rising finishes off. Tyler and the rest of Squad 312 are trying to figure out their next move, find out what the weapon is that the Eshvaren left and save the universe.
For me it’s not so much about their main goal, which is to inevitably save the universe but the little adventures they find themselves in on the way. I love seeing our rag tag crew come together and become more comfortable around each other. Figuring out how they each fit in the squad and seeing the bonds they create with each other is wonderful to read.
Grief is definitely explored a lot more in this book, especially as Tyler and Scarlett come to terms with what happened to Cat. Having her reappear later in the plot to torment Tyler and for him to let her go was a touching moment.
I am so happy we get more of an in depth history about Ziva in this book. What happened to her parents and how she was able to save herself. Her perspective was so completely different from the others it was like a breath of fresh air in the plot. She really opened up a lot more in this book and we see her form more of a connection with her squad mates.
Kal is still one of my favourites. I am so glad we also got to find out more about his family and what he has had to endure during his life. Especially with the introduction of his sister and the integral way she is thrust into the storyline. It was a little obvious to me who his father was going to be, kind of predictable and the ensuing argument was frustrating. But his relationship with Aurora is so pure and precious and I can’t help but be enraptured by him.
Aurora, though I am glad she is able to control her power and is able to understand how it works, I think the change in her is too drastic and it kind of pulled me out of the story. Walking straight up to the Starslayer completely sure she was going to succeed was a tad arrogant to me and I wish she wouldn’t have been so quick to write Kal off, they might have been able to come up with a better plan.
Overall there so many shocking twists and turns and moments that broke my heart. Some of the choices the characters make didn’t really sit right with me and I wish they would of went about things differently but it definitely raised the stakes and kept me engaged in the storyline. I am left with soooo many questions still and honestly I can’t wait to find out what is going to happen next!
⭐️4.5/5 stars I am still trying to process my feelings after that ending….
