Aurora Rising Review

They’re not the heroes we deserve. They’re just the ones we could find. Nobody panic.

9781760295738This was amazing!

Tyler is the best cadet at the Aurora Academy and he is about to recruit the best squad the academy has ever seen. That is until an incident occurs that forces him to miss the draft and he ends up with the dregs that nobody wanted.

I liked that the story was told in multiple perspectives; it really gave me the chance to get to know each of these highly distinctive characters individually. Granted at times I was a little confused as to whose perspective I was reading from but as I got a feel for each of the characters that went away pretty quickly.

I really enjoyed the whole premise and concept of the story, it felt really unique and original. I had qualms before reading this that it would remind me a lot of the Illuminae Files but I really didn’t get that at all. This is a completely fresh and creative plot that had me highly engaged throughout.

Aurora felt a little soft spoken and passive at the start of the book, but granted she had just woken out of being in cryo for 200 years in the fold so I wasn’t expecting her to come out guns blazing. I could really feel how lost and lonely she was, and how she was trying to come to terms with the fact that everyone she has ever known is dead basically. I like how she almost subtly evolves over the course of the story and she starts to get a feel for who she truly is.

Also the fact that even though Tyler is the one that saves Aurora they aren’t going to end up together. I thought for sure that these two are going to fall in love as they are the main male and female protagonists, but I don’t think that is going to happen, which was a nice twist I didn’t see coming. I like that the history between Tyler and Cat is valued and isn’t immediately dismissed because Aurora came into the picture.

I liked learning about the different species of Aliens and how they each have their own look and customs. I really took a shine to Kal; his broodiness and angst really captured my attention.  I am a sucker for a bad boy! Finding out about his history and the different clans of the Syldrathi and how their whole species was nearly eradicated and how he bonded with Aurora was touching!

I for some reason didn’t think I was going to like this book. I thought maybe since Illuminae was so good they wouldn’t be able to top it, but I love me a ragtag group of misfits who somehow fit together and have to save the world. The whole dynamic between Tyler and Scarlett and how everyone else seems to fit in so well despite being so different really pulls me in and has me wanting to see them succeed!

⭐️5/5 stars blew me away!!!

Spotify Book Tag 🏷

I’ve just recently started getting into Spotify and when I saw this tag I knew I had to give it a go! Please see the original tag created by Book Hooked Nook HERE!

Hit Rewind: a book you go back to again and again?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – I’ve lost count how many times I’ve read it now!

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Romantic Ballads: a book that gives you all those fluttery feels?

The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary – LOVED!

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Release Radar: a new release book you are excited for?

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo – can’t wait to read it!

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Discover Weekly: a book you haven’t read yet but want to discover?

Middlegame by Seanan McGuire – it looks very intriguing!

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Alone Again: your fave book genre to read on your own?

FANTASY!!!

Alternative: an indie book or author everyone should read!

Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young – Definitely deserves more hype!

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Cheesy Hits: a book full of cheese that you just love?

Prince Charming by Rachel Hawkins – super cute!

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Summer Hits: a book you re-read every summer?

I actually don’t really have one in particular… 🤷🏾‍♀️

Power Hour: an empowering feminist book or character you adore?

Evelyn Hugo!!

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All Out 10’s: list ten banging books!

Here’s ten 5 star reads from the last 10 months

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WWW Wednesday

It’s time for another WWW Wednesday!

1 copyI am currently about 30 pages into Aurora Rising by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman. I marathoned their Illuminae Files last year and absolutely loved them. So when I seen they teamed up again for another sci-fi series I was definitely intrigued. I’m not far enough in yet to have formed any opinions but I am excited to see what they have come up with!

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2 copyI just recently finished Highball Rush by Claire Kingsley & Lucy Score. This was the 6th book in the Bootleg Springs series, which is a smutty/romance series centered around a small town in West Virginia. I thought it was highly entertaining and the mystery aspect woven throughout the series was very engaging.

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3 copyI think my next read will be China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan. Its about time for me to continue on in this series and see where it will go next. I loved Crazy Rich Asians and I think I’m in need for a little crazy, fun, entertaining, colorful read which is exactly the vibes I get from these books.

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Books I’ve Been Avoiding

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt aligns perfectly with my TBR for September. I am using this month to catch up on all of the books I physically own that have been sitting on my shelves for quite a while now. I guess I am about to out myself on why I have been procrastinating on these books, but I will be trying to push myself to get through at least 50% by the end of the month!

So this is 10 books on my TBR I have been avoiding and why:

The 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

This one is just purely the size of the book and the fact that the whole mystery/thriller genre is still relatively new to me. I am really highly anticipating this book but I know it’s going to be a bit of a commitment to finish so I have been putting it off!

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The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden

I have heard so much about this series over the last year and it’s been nothing but good reviews, though a lot of people have said it’s a little slower paced. I much prefer fast paced, high action fantasies so that has really deterred me from picking this series up!

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The Astonishing Colour of After by Emily X.R. Pan

I think every single person who has read this book has loved it from what I gather. Again I’ve heard that it’s a bit of a slower paced book and that it’s quite sad as well, which really makes me pause. I can handle sad stories but I really need to be in the right mind frame to be able to cope and I just haven’t been there yet…

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The Lightbringer Series by Brent Weeks

Again the only reason I haven’t picked these books up yet is because of the size. Now I really don’t mind long books especially in fantasy series, I mean I marathoned The Stormlight Archives late last year and they are all over 1000 pages each, so usually length doesn’t cow me away from books. However it’s more so the premise/concept that isn’t really pulling me in and that along with the size has put me off a little!

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The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi

This book at one stage this year was super hyped and I impulse bought it when I saw it at a bookstore and now it’s just been sitting on my shelves ever since. When I bought it I didn’t really know much about it and then after reading the blurb and seeing some not very good reviews it made me put it on the back-burner. I still do want to read it and see whether or not the hype was justified, I just haven’t felt the need to yet.

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The Flatshare Review

41436031._SY475_Tiffany has just recently been dumped by her boyfriend and is in dire need for a place to stay. Funds are short and in a moment of desperation she decided to accept a flatshare with a man she has never met before. From the times of 9am – 6pm Leon has the flat and the rest of the time it’s all hers.

I thought this was such a unique concept! Sharing your life and bed with someone you have never met at different times of the day. I enjoyed all the rules that Tiffany had to comply with and the fact that Leon’s girlfriend was adamant that he was not to meet Tiffany. Gradually coexisting quite well together and getting to know each other through the notes was incredibly cute and highly engaging for me.

I originally thought it was going to this fluffy little contemporary romance that would be a nice palate cleanser for me but the book actually went in an explored some deeper tones that I was not expecting. Case in point was the whole evolution of Tiffy realizing that her ex-boyfriend wasn’t who she thought he was and the way he was manipulating and gas-lighting her throughout the course of their relationship. There was times when I would get so frustrated with how much she would be swayed by him but then just thinking of how for two years she has been second guessing herself and being manipulated by this sociopath who wants to own her basically. I thought she clawed her way out of his clutches so well and I was so glad that she decided to get help and figure out what was happening.

I like the way Leon’s perspective was formatted throughout the book. It really went a ways in demonstrating how little he actually talks and the weight of his thoughts and how he expressed himself. We really see him come out of his shell in the book and get a look into his mind and how he manages to process everything that is changing around him. Leaving his girlfriend after realizing he wasn’t in love with her and developing feelings for Tiffy before he even really met her and dealing with all of the drama with his brother and understanding how much it means to him that people think he’s innocent.

I love that Tiffy and Leon are such contrasting characters that somehow mesh so well together. It was a little insta-lovey I will admit but there was so much back and forth between them that it seemed inevitable really.

It was never easy for Tiffy and Leon at any stage of the book which made me appreciate the ending so much more. It did tie together a little conveniently but at that point I was beyond caring and just was so invested in these characters and the story that I loved every minute of it!

⭐️4.5/5 stars almost perfect!