…teenage Legion Squad 312 of the Aurora Academy have just escaped a planet called Octavia III. They are still reeling after losing their ace pilot, best friend and girlfriend – Cat. She was taken over by an alien force called the Ra’haam, who is hell-bent on assimilating the entire galaxy into one being. The squad has learnt there is many ‘nursery’ planets just like Octavia III, where the Ra’haam is growing, just waiting to be released across every planet and every species.

Ty and his squad have a new plan. Buy a ship and get of the space port they are now stuck on. But as usual, the plan is determined to dump them on their butts. Ty doesn’t believe he has terrible plans, but his squad beg to differ. Just as they are bargaining on the purchase of a ship, a news bulletin reports their faces and names, blaming them for a massacre of thousands.

Their combined skills aid a mad escape among the confusion of the news report. It was none other than their own Academy Commander accusing them of the terrible crime. Why? They still don’t know why Auri (Aurora) was the only one to survive on a ship lost in space for 200 years, but the power she has been left with has shown itself – with sometimes good but sometimes disastrous consequences.

They figure if they find her ship and the black box within, maybe it will give them the answers they need. Why is everyone after Aurora? The most dangerous foe turns out to be a Syldrathi templar named Saedii who also just happens to be Kal’s sister. They are both warbreed Syldrathi – ruthless and cold, but Kal has chosen to walk away from that life and joined the Academy to fight for peace in the galaxy. Saedii isn’t listening though, and wants her brother back.

Squad 312 chase the information they need through one fight after another, the final battle being so huge, the galaxy is on the brink of war. They have finally learnt what Aurora must do and how. There is a weapon. It is the only thing strong enough to stop the Ra’haam and Aurora is the trigger ….

This ‘middle’ of the trilogy is even better than the first. There is still the sass I loved so much between the squad members, but their relationships are becoming stronger, both platonic and romantic. The action is non-stop, the plot gripping and the OMG! moments are epic! Not to mention a mysterious time-twist element lurking in the background.

It’s not all action though. Aurora has some mind-bending work to do and heart breaking choices to make. She’s not the frightened girl Ty found all alone any longer. Warning – the ending is abrupt! Cliffhanger is an understatement.

Together, Amie Kaufman and Jay Asher have made me a Sci-Fi fan. This trilogy is Fantastic reading!

Authors – Amie Kaufman and Jay Asher

Age – 13+

(Future, Sci Fi, Space, Colonising Planets, Power, Aliens, Secrets, Teamwork, Betrayal, Intrigue, Twins, Squad, Battles, Romance, Assimilation, Choices, Trilogy, Series)