I would like to say I was hooked from the outset, this book is a real page-turner. I give it five stars.I honestly could not fault it the cover of the entire book was great. Thank you to David Koepp for writing this book and to Netgalley for allowing me to review it.

MY REVIEW

I watched an HQ online event a few months ago where I listened to David Koepp discussing this, his new book, and I just had to read it.

Mr Koepp is a celebrated American screenwriter and already has an amazing list of well known films he has worked on including Jurassic Park, Spider-Man, Panic Room, War of the Worlds and Mission: Impossible. I was expecting something extraordinary and I was not disappointed!

Although this is a story centred around a (scarily plausible) scenario of a solar event taking out the electricity for most of the planet, Koepp manages to keep the panic to a minimum and centres the story around a strong and level headed mum, Aubrey, and her 15 year old son. She just happens to live down the street from 88 year old Norman, a craggy but loveable ex university lecturer who dedicated his life to the study of the sun and who was one of the first people to know the event was imminent. He is also, it turns out, a pretty good goat herd. Norman is amazing I loved his sense of humour and outlook on life. He was definitely my favourite character.

Aubrey’s brother, Thom, just happens to be a billionaire with a very controlling personality who runs a company based in Silicon Valley. He has been planning for an event like this and whisks his family off to a bunker he has had specially fitted out for such a scenario.

As the story unfolds we follow just a handful of people and how they deal with the blackout. We see neighbours come together, as well as the darker side of people turning to crime.

This was absolutely the definition of a page turner and I really found it hard to put down and go to sleep! I was particularly surprised to be in floods of tears at the end.

A must read!

When a massive solar flare wipes out almost all of Earth's electricity, no one knows how long the blackout will last - it could be years.

Some, like tech billionaire Thom, have been preparing for disaster, creating a haven out in the desert where he, his family, and a carefully selected assortment of staff can ride out the storm in luxury. Others, like his estranged sister Aubrey and her stepson, in the suburbs of Aurora, Illinois, are completely taken by surprise and left to figure out exactly how they will survive while society falls apart around them.

But sometimes all the money and preparation in the world are not what matters when the chips are down. Thom has not factored in the vagaries of human nature - something Aubrey knows about all too well.

Aurora is a cracking high concept thriller that has everything you could possibly want in terms of an apocalypse tale, but at the same time shakes up the the genre to offer something really refreshing and new.

The premise is a horrifyingly simple one: that a massive solar flare knocks out everything electrical on the surface of the planet - except for a limited band around the Equator. Without electricity, society starts to crumble, and it's suddenly down to individuals to work out how they will survive the dark months, or even years, ahead before supplies can be restored.

Koepp does not shy away from addressing the terror, despair, and violence that would almost certainly follow as resources become scarce, building pace and seriously exciting suspense as events spiral out of control, but it is actually the way he explores the human side of the equation that is most interesting. Through the stories of the siblings Thom and Aubrey, Koepp examines many aspects of how small communities function, especially when the chips are down, layering a mass of themes around the kindness of strangers, connection, responsibility, guilt, greed, emotional distance, and isolation.

Thom and Aubrey, and their difficult childhood, with secrets that only become known well into the story, are at the centre of everything, and around them there is a network of both endearing and thoroughly rotten characters to take you through an unexpectedly wide emotional range. Aubrey was my absolute favourite, and I loved how she finds her inner strength, showing that being prepared for tough times is so much more about strength of character, and the desire to look after others, than material wealth. Koepp also plays nicely with how the balance of power can flip on a personal, local, and even global scale, which was fascinating to ponder.

This really is my favourite sort of story, with oodles of gripping action, fabulous characters, and a mighty dollop of heart. I found it surprisingly emotional, which I think has a lot to say about Koepp's accomplished skills as a screen writer, and the way he has written this with an eye on the difficult times we have all been through in the last couple of years. If there is such a thing as a heart-warming, page turner of an apocalyptic tale, infused with hope, then this is it, however contradictory that sounds - and it was a joy to consume.

David Koepp has some impressive screen writing crednetials including the first two Jurassic Park films.

This story involves a vast expulsion of plasma with magnetic field lines, a CME (coronal mass ejection) that hits Earth and centres on America.

There is a leaness that Koepp deals with the story and the catastrohic impact the CME has on the. planet. The main story is between siblings Aubrey (struggling financailly prior to the CME) and her billionnaire brother Thom. If death is a leveller then the CME certainly beings many people down and creates other problems (irrespecitive of wealth or level of being prepared).

There are some nasty characters in this tale that moves at a decent pace, it also is one of the very few stories that are set after the covid pandemic.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an impartial review.

I would give this 4/5, not quite a dystopian future but one that certainly makes you think and an event that could easily take place in the not too distant future!

Aurora by David Koepp GoodReads review

I got Aurora by David Koepp for free from NetGalley for a fair and honest review

Aurora tells the story of how people react to the loss of electrical power due to a large magnetic pulse from the son. Telling the story through a number of individuals it examines how individuals react in times of change.

Aurora is one of the first novels about a world changing event that I have read since Covid 19, affected the world.
Which in my opinion did have an effect on this novel, for example apart from the references, made throughout the book, it did seem to draw on to the fact that howe people react to events is based on whet the do normally.
Which you see in Aurora, see through both positive and negative actions.
What I Liked about this novel was the way that it focused on the individual actions of individuals rather than government and major organisations. Which meant that the novel allowed the reader to see the world wide event on the personal level.
Having said that it would have been nice to see some sort of overview of world events in say a paragraph at the start of each chapter which I fell would have given the novel better context for individual actions.
Having said that with Auroa by David Koepp having a well structured story about a realistic world event and how really focusing on the individual makes this a novel enjoyable for people who enjoy dystopian novel.

For those who enjoy science fiction writing, this book will delight. Whether the film will be as good as this book we will have to wait and see.
Difficult as it is to imagine, the premise of this book is based upon a storm that hits the earth which cuts all the electricity. It's unknown how long this will last, but it might be for many months or even years.
You can guess the inevitable, a shortage of food, riots and the law being ignored. Being able to retire to your own private bunker is potentially a great idea, for the very rich, but not most people. After all of this though, everything must begin again, but where do you start?
Clearly, this writer knows how to craft a story and build the power and the tension as the most awful events occur, but then things get worse. This very interesting read forms a film in your mind as you battle your choices between the ordinary citizen Aubrey and her long distance brother, Thom. The first has some money, but the latter has more than necessary and it's an interesting read to see how this is spread and shared and how families survive. long term.
Having been pleased to receive a free copy of this book, my review is based upon how I enjoyed this read and I also look forward to seeing how this will compare with the film on my television.
My main thoughts involved the 'what if' scenario in virtually every chapter and I wonder how prepared we would be if this became a reality? I have never read this writer before, but I will seek out further books that he has written because surely, I must be missing out.

A slow start but kept me interested. Good characterisation not a fast read but story excellent on what could happen with no electricity.
I received this book from HQ and Netgalley for a review

Fast paced and gripping,

The premise is excellent and well thought out and I love that it centres around the people involved and how they handle the situation instead of getting bogged down with dry details of what happened.

Well written book I thoroughly enjoyed.

The author creates an atmospheric ethos, excellent characterisation and vivid sensory imagery in this dystopian styled adventure with a scientific edge. There is intricate world-building, setting the scene for the catastrophic event and the subsequent fallout. The characters are complex and believably flawed, and the story unfolds through their experiences and motivations. The scientific details create a believably menacing world that demands a lot from the characters, and the engaging quality is in finding out whether they will excel or fail in the new dark world.

Aurora is an exciting and thought-provoking read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

3.5 upped to 4*
It's an entertaining and action packed book, a mix of catastrophic and sci-fi.
A solar storm that destroy the power system, the different story of people involved and what could happend.
It's a bit slow at the beginning and you have to patient. After 30% it speed up and it a very gripping and action packed story.
I appreciated the world building and the storytelling, it was an entertaining read.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Plot

In Aurora, Illinois, Aubrey Wheeler is just trying to get by after her semi-criminal ex-husband split, leaving behind his unruly teenage son.

Then the lights go out--not just in Aurora but across the globe. A solar storm has knocked out power almost everywhere. Suddenly, all problems are local, very local, and Aubrey must assume the mantle of fierce protector of her suburban neighborhood.

Across the country lives Aubrey's estranged brother, Thom. A fantastically wealthy, neurotically over-prepared Silicon Valley CEO, he plans to ride out the crisis in a gilded desert bunker he built for maximum comfort and security.

But the complicated history between the siblings is far from over, and what feels like the end of the world is just the beginning of several long-overdue reckonings--which not everyone will survive . . .

Review

I liked the idea of this book from the blurb. A story of how a world would survive with no power etc. I liked the idea of intertwining stories and characters but I couldn’t really engage with it.

There is a lot of science to try and read through and I feel that maybe this could have been simplified a little. The book starts slow and then in the last two chapters rushes to round everything up but still gives you an extremely blunt ending, one that made me wonder if I had missed a few pages.

The atmospheric idea of the book is well executed and it definitely has a thriller edge. Fans of science fiction and thrillers would love this book.

But while I liked it and praise the writing, I sadly didn’t love it.

Rating

3.5/5

Recommend

To the sci-if lovers yes.

Thank you to HQ Stories for the advance proof copy in exchange for an honest review as part of the blog tour.

Kept me engaged from the first to the last page and mostly believing what was going on. Felt that it read a bit like a script and you can imagine my semi-surprise to find that it was indeed written by a screenwriter!

"Aurora" was a fun and action-packed read, with great writing, interesting characters (especially the changes in them), and a decent plot well-suited to the big screen. I was a little bit disappointed the book didn't more involved with the global effects of the solar storm, but I guess that's part of the plot too: when the power goes out, who knows what's happening elsewhere?

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

Aurora is the story of a community in the aftermath of a so!ar flare, causes the world to lose power. Though not quite in the league of other dystopian thrillers, it was an enjoyable read and it's filmic qualities will translate easily to the big screen. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Far to drawn out for me, the story never seemed to get going and I was halfway through the book before we got to the crux of the plot of this book. Plausible maybe but not particulary riveting I seemed to take forever to finish the book definitely not for me.

Hello Readers,

Thank you, NetGalley for giving me access me to an eBook copy of Aurora by David Koepp for free in exchange for an honest review. I'm not going to try not divulging any spoilers

I might be slightly bias, but I really do think this is my favourite genre, like one of my dirty little secrets reads I really enjoy books that are based in our world and follow a world changing event. I also binge tv series and films that have a similar premise I just can’t help myself.

This is the first book I have read that mentions Covid and I would be lying if I said I hadn’t been wondering what else could possibly happen. You know like that scene round the fountain in Disney’s Hercules. Well in this book we have a solar flare that knocks out most of the world’s electricity fresh off the heels of the COVID pandemic.

Given how some places including the UK mishandled the start of the pandemic and from recently watching Don’t Look Up. I can see the events in this book being completely plausible because despite their efforts the actual scientists are being ignored. Despite the scientists warnings and pleas for governments to go off-grid before the storm arrives they are completely ignored and the world goes dark.

One thing I would like to say is please don’t be put off thinking this book is too scientific. Aurora is a book filled with fear, action, thriller, history, science, technology and a sense of community with a slightly scary plot. The scariest part while reading is that little voice that makes you research plot points like solar flares, and you discover that we are apparently overdue a huge solar flare and you have the not today Satan moment.

What makes this book so unique in my opinion and it’s an aspect I love. David has made the decision to have all the action concentrated into a cul-de-sac. It adds to the realism to this type of event as something of this nature would very much play out locally for most people. Let’s be honest as people we can be rather selfish in incidents like this this yes, I am calling you out loo roll panic buyers. The bigger picture so to speak and what else is happening in the world or even the next town over really wouldn't matter as much to you, when compared to how you and your neighbours are able to cope and, hopefully, work together if you don’t like your neighbours you’re a little bit screwed. This may seem like such an odd thing to pick up from the book but for me adds a whole other level of realism and I really enjoyed it.

I know that this my dirty little secret genre and I might be bias, but I was invested from the very first couple of pages. This book is told from various perspectives and while you will like some characters and dislike others, all of them are fully developed and every single one pushes the plot effortlessly and is a real credit to Davids writing and character development. This book also manages to have a soft gooey core that’s all about family dynamics and the struggles of not only brother and sister relationships, but of stepparents, teens and divorce.

My advice is to start stockpiling books and canned goods to wait this all out or go to the Winchester.

After a bit of a slow start where I struggled to get used to the very brusque writing style, I became very engrossed in the book and couldn’t stop reading it. It’s a very visual book and seems ripe for the screenplay it’s going to be.

A solar storm cuts out most of the earth’s power in one hit, and we are left to view the consequences on two very different communities. Is it better to be very prepared or to look for solutions along the way - and which approach will bring you out happier on the other side?

There are some intriguing characters and a whole load if issues raised as a brother and sister work through the consequences of their very different approaches to catastrophe.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this thought provoking book

after going through covid and seeing the best and worst in people, thinking toilet rolls and food to then read this book and finding out that this is a possible event makes me think we are in for a rough ride

a solar storm hits the earth and knocks out electricity, leaving behind an event that will make or break you....aubrey and thom brother and sister, one prepares for everything and the other lets nature takes its course

have to admit i was dragged into this storyline and could see the best and worst in people and loved it...true to type most of the people in this book were, some characters you loved and some you didnt....

but it all made for compulsive reading

This a scarily believable read that kept me gripped throughout. I loved the idea behind the book whilst equally dreaded it because it was so realistic! A tense and unique book that has certainly made me think twice.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW!!
I have really been struggling to relax to read recently but when I have been able to I have really enjoyed reading Aurora by David Koepp. I’m very grateful for the eARC in exchange for an honest review and I will be purchasing a copy when this book is released very soon on June 9th, 2022.
I think this is really my favourite genre, based in our world following a world changing event. In this case a solar flare that knocks out most of the world’s electricity. The fact that this could happen really interests me and scares me in equal measures. Is it bad that I wish more had been said about toilets though? My head is less interested in the science and much more in the practical day to day things. Lots is talked about and I think was done very well, but what did the main characters do about going to the toilet? I think I’m embarrassing myself here so I’ll move on.
I really loved the characters, good and bad came across really well. I really enjoyed the focusing on Cayuga Lane residents, just my mind again wants to see what the rest of the world is doing while this street pulls together.
This story was fast paced and really keeps you hooked. Very much worth reading, I definitely recommend!