The battle to save humankind and the planet from the Gorgons, as the alien invaders spread around the globe, continues, but it is now complicated by a conspiracy involving human subversives across a broad spectrum of surviving humans, up to and including the top political leaders. Sergeant Cameron Shipley, aka Jet, has nothing left to lose when promoted to Lieutenant and charged with a special mission. However, mission success is complicated by issues separating his duties, the urge to avenge his brother’s death, and the growing attraction for fellow survivor Allison; the tension is palpable, and the outcome is in doubt.

Author Aaron Ryan is an expert in establishing true-to-life, action-packed suspense, and adventure that creates, within well-defined realities, a story with ever-changing highs and lows in a future world where extraordinary alien creatures have conquered much of the planet and the extinction of humankind is a distinct possibility. Ryan is adept at building a believable story where human sensibilities, emotions, and actions are superimposed over a world gone mad, a world where the impossible, the horrible, and the existential realities are beyond imagination. His human characters are realistic and relatable, while the Gorgons are beyond imagination but equally authentic as a foreign life form, and the storylines are exceptionally persuasive. Dissonance Volume II – Reckoning is addictive, and it’s good to know that there is no waiting time for the series to continue as the subsequent two novels are also published. Highly recommended. I’m eager to tackle Volume III through the end of the series.

Dissonance Volume II: Reckoning by Aaron Ryan is a young adult sci-fi novel set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by an alien invasion. Sergeant Cameron ‘Jet’ Shipley, driven by vengeance for his brother's death, finds himself torn between duty and doubt as he rises to the rank of Lieutenant. Tasked with training recruits and planning a strike against the alien gorgons, Cameron also navigates a budding romance with Allison Trudy. As the final battle looms, he must determine who to trust in a world fraught with betrayal and danger.

Author Aaron Ryan excels in creating a high-stakes narrative filled with tension, where every decision feels pivotal and every major plot moment is a heart-in-your-mouth experience. His ability to weave complex emotions into a gritty, action-packed storyline keeps readers on the edge of their seats, and the high tension and fast pace of the novel are ideal to grip the attention span of the YA readership. That’s not to say that the novel is without depth of thought, because Ryan’s portrayal of Cameron’s internal conflict in the harsh realities of a dystopian world is packed with emotional turmoil and interesting moral conflicts as he battles for survival and searches for identity. The blend of military strategy, personal vendettas, and unexpected romance creates a compelling mix that is sure to entertain and excite readers as they travel through different twists and meet new characters who bring both brilliant highs and dangerous lows to the story. Overall, Reckoning is a gripping continuation of the Dissonance series that I’d certainly recommend to fans of gritty science fiction everywhere.