Aurora Cycle Series

AUTHOR: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff 

BOOKS IN SERIES:

Aurora Rising      Nominee for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2019)

Aurora Burning     Nominee for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2020)

Aurora’s End        Aurealis Award Nominee for Best Science Fiction Novel and Best Young Adult Novel (2021)

GENRE: YA Fantasy & Sci-fi

RATING: 2.75/5

CONVINCING YOU TO READ THIS IN 6 WORDS: Found Family, Heist, Time Jumps, Chosen One, Space, Finding powers

MY THOUGHTS:

I binged read the Aurora Cycle series by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff and buckle up because I have thoughts. Reading because Aurora Cycle series was a very popular series and I wanted to see what the hype was all about.

Over the years, I think my reading style has changed tremendously. Maybe it’s because I grew as a person, as a reader, a writer and possibly a thousand other reasons. And while I believe age is a no barrier for books in anyway, I think this series was not for me. At least not at this stage. Maybe, younger me would’ve appreciated it (but I honestly doubt it). Why did I read it then? And what I think overall?

I think the period when this book was first released had a good trend of heist books, a group of outlaws and friends who slowly turn family. This series follows the similar pattern. Only in space. So, it includes all the famous tropes. Only, I think I grew out of those things pretty quickly.

I seriously believe this series is a hit or miss. While I understand and appreciate the writing, the story, the plot. I found it a little bland for my taste. Some mediocre writing and story. Maybe, because I am reading some amazing and fresh stories that I couldn’t enjoy this series.

I’ve read some pretty amazing fighting scenes and I didn’t find them hard to imagine. In fact, very well written. But to be honest, I was lost here. I don’t know why. I admit, I was lost and started reading it way quick but still I found some gaps in my understanding. Maybe, it’s because I didn’t gasp what was happening. Maybe because, it wasn’t written clearly.

Talking about the characters is a little difficult because while they seemed interesting, at the end, I didn’t find caring for them. I didn’t want anything bad happening to either of them but if something would’ve happened, I don’t think I cared enough. And with a plot that wasn’t strong for me and characters about whom I didn’t care, this series was a let down.

I also found it very disturbing with the way female characters are written. Because apparently, even in life-death situation, all females care about is the dimples to swoon and how my breasts and assets are highlighted in the dress I wear. It was something I observed in the beginning of the chapters and I admit, in my mind, it was a big turn-off.

(One more point but it can be a major spoiler, so skip if you want)

I have a love-hate relation with Time Travel. As I said before, because they are messy. If written properly, they can give a new outlook and a wonderful push to the ongoing story. Sadly, it didn’t work for me. I cannot pin point exactly what didn’t work but some were going in past, some in future, a character in both present and future. Quite ambitious but not workable for me)

(End of spoilers)

That being said, it doesn’t mean nothing in this series is good or just because it didn’t work for me, it won’t work for you. Despite my hesitations, this series wasn’t a total vain because I wanted to know this thing ends. I wanted to go through. And if you prefer reading more YA, you may enjoy it too.

This popular book was a miss for me.

What are your thoughts about this popular series?

You can support me by buying me a Ko-fi.

You can read the review for By the Gods’s Ears here.

You can read the review of Into the Dragon’s Maw here.