Britt Nunes' The Air Formulas revolves around a dystopian Earth, where air is a scarce and invaluable commodity. Sparrow is a young hybrid girl residing in an O2 Corps facility on planet Aegror. She longingly stares out into the skies, looking at New Urbanite, the last remaining city on the neighboring planet called Earth. Sparrow is a bio-engineered human-plant vessel designed to produce oxygen. This oxygen is then funneled back to Earth—a shadow of the lush planet it once was. Unfortunately, Earth is surrounded by pollution, depleted vegetation, and social deprivation. After Sparrow's sudden daring escape from her O2 Corps facility, she ultimately makes contact with Fulcrum, an impoverished rocketeer from New Urbanite. Fulcrum's primary focus is to provide his family with a better life. Will he aid Sparrow on her quest for freedom or seize the opportunity to benefit from her precarious situation?

The Air Formulas is a beautiful blend of YA science fiction, steampunk, dystopian, and romance. Sparrow and Fulcrum's tale is an engrossing and inspiring journey that will enthrall readers who enjoy sci-fi adventures with an emphasis on character-driven storylines. This story is uplifting, well-written, and overflowing with creativity and intrigue. Sparrow and Fulcrum's journey involves survival, inner strength, courage, self-identity, solidarity, and sacrifice. Britt Nunes is a master of world-building and character development. The setting on Aegror, a planet brimming with beauty, splendor, and life, perfectly contrasts life on Earth's dismal surface. Thus, the merging of Sparrow and Fulcrum's worlds symbolizes hope, the restoration of life, and freedom for both their home planets. I enjoyed this novel! It is an absolute must-read for sci-fi lovers.

Everything changes for Fulcrum, a teenage rocketeer who lives in New Urbanite, Earth’s last surviving city, when he receives a seemingly innocent contract to dispose of a suspicious-looking crate. His curiosity gets the better of him, and, despite strict instructions not to open the crate, Fulcrum takes a peek inside. Instead of treasure, he finds Sparrow, a vessel with a unique purpose whose determination to reunite with her family has led her down a dangerous path. Fulcrum joins forces with Sparrow and promises to help her in her task. He gradually realizes that in a dying world where air is a precious commodity, Sparrow presents a rare opportunity for which some are willing to kill. Only time will tell if he can help her in Britt Nunes’s The Air Formulas.

Britt Nunes’s The Air Formulas kicks off a distinctive science fiction series. The extensive detail and well-developed origin stories highlight the impressive world-building, allowing readers to easily follow the narrative, grasp the connection between Earth and its inhabitants, and appreciate a realistic depiction of a future where naturally occurring gifts have become crucial to our survival due to present-day resource mismanagement. The banter between Fulcrum and Sparrow reveals their evolving relationship as the narrative unfolds. A unique element of Nunes’s storytelling is the subtle introduction of new factions into what initially seems like a simple adventure, enriching the story with intriguing political maneuvering that gradually hints that there is far more at stake. The skillful blend of action, drama, and politics in a romantic framework results in a one-of-a-kind novel appealing to readers beyond traditional science fiction fans. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and eagerly anticipate the next installment of this captivating series.