The Disasters by M.K. England

The Breakfast Club meets Guardians of the Galaxy in this YA sci-fi adventure by debut author M. K. England. Hotshot pilot Nax Hall has a history of making poor life choices. So it's not exactly a surprise when he's kicked out of the elite Ellis Station Academy in less than twenty-four hours. But Nax's one-way trip back to Earth is cut short when a terrorist group attacks the Academy. Nax and three other washouts escape--barely--but they're also the sole witnesses to the biggest crime in the history of space colonization. And the perfect scapegoats. On the run, Nax and his fellow failures plan to pull off a dangerous heist to spread the truth. Because they may not be "Academy material," and they may not even get along, but they're the only ones left to step up and fight. Full of high-stakes action, subversive humor, and underdogs becoming heroes, this YA sci-fi adventure is perfect for fans of Illuminae, Heart of Iron, or the cult classic TV show Firefly and is also a page-turning thrill ride that anyone--not just space nerds--can enjoy.

I liked this, and if you think the idea of 5 rejects (including a snarky MC) trying to save themselves and some planets in space sounds cool, I think you will too!

You can read the full, spoiler-free review on my blog!

RTC

(I recieved an eARC from Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review.)

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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We sit in silence while al-Rihla, the jewel of the colonies, gradually takes over more and more of the viewport. It looks exactly like it did on the pages of my textbooks, only so much more. I let my eyes linger for a moment, taking in green continents outlined in rich red sand and huge, intensely blue oceans that glitter below. I know we're in a life-or-death situation, but it's hard not to be overwhelmed by the view. I can see why all the antiexploration crap went away once a few humans actually got out here. Who could look at all this and not want it? It's bizarre–I've only seen Earth from space once, and I was busy trying not to die at the time. Now I'm looking down on a completely different planet, in person, in space, while flying a ship I stole.

I'm actually here. This is all I've ever wanted, though I didn't get it in the way I wanted.

And in a few painfully long minutes, I'll find out whether I get to live to see the other seven colony worlds one day, or if I get to die in a dramatic crash and kill all my new friends instead.

Fantastic.

The Disasters

*3.25/.5 stars?

i feel like i should preface this review by saying i think my life circumstances while reading this kind of soured my experience with it, and i can't help but wonder if things had been a bit different, if i would've rated it higher.

i remember finding this almost a year before it's release date and being so incredibly excited for it and hyping it up over the year leading up to it's release. i'm ALWAYS thirsty for more books with bi mcs, i love space operas, and this just sounded like a perfect book for me.

i actually started this right before the christmas hols, it literally dropped the day i was getting on a plane to go overseas (so it was my plane read lol) and had planned to read it all while on vacation, but family uhhh was more disruptive than i'd expected :') instead i got to about 60%, stalled entirely, and then work/real life bit me in the ass and i didn't get around to finishing the last 40% until months later.

this book was exhilarating to read and super lush in it's world building and descriptions, definitely made me laugh, and was wonderful with it's characters' diversity and cultural representation. that all being said, it felt a little cliche at a few points, i had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, and by the last 80% i was sort of ready to be done with it. i don't think i'd end up reading it again, but i WOULD rec it, so i'm leaving it at 3 stars.

i'll definitely be checking out the next book by this author!