Drew Shipley and his friends have defied death before—but this time, their luck may run out.
With their best friend captured and the sinister Lord Malgore increasing in strength, the stakes have never been higher. To save Sheela and stop Malgore’s reign, Drew and his companions must embark on a dangerous journey beyond their world, navigating through mind-bending dimensions filled with monstrous gremlins, possessed adults, and traitors lurking in the shadows.
Their to deliver the legendary Polar Starship to the young and scattered Dimension Warriors—the last hope against Malgore’s growing darkness. But uniting the resistance won’t be easy. Drew knows the truth—he was never meant to be a leader. And with enemies closing in from all sides, doubt could be just as deadly as any monster prowling in the void. The battle for the dimensions has begun, and if Drew fails, he will lose the war, his friends and his world.
Get ready for an electrifying sequel packed with pulse-pounding action, cosmic mysteries, and a fight for survival that spans across worlds. The adventure continues—and this time, the weird just got weirder.
A must read for fans of Stranger Things, Ready Player One, and Ender's Game.
Andrew Michael Wiley grew up in a town eerily similar to Warfield (Weird Space)—minus the interdimensional monsters (probably). A self-proclaimed movie buff, rollerblader, and nostalgia junkie, he spends his time digging through the crypts of local used bookstores or reminiscing to his wife and three sons about the “good ol’ days.”
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Everything you loved about book 1, but more expansive, faster-paced, with higher stakes! Again, we're following Drew Shipley and his band of misfit friends to save the galaxy, this time, not on their home turf.....not even in their dimension.
The characters have grown deeper and they've had to grow up a little bit in order to save the galaxy. We are also introduced to a few new characters like Fire Girl and Grole. These characters are unique and relatable, but I can't get over how much I enjoy reading about Steve and how he's trying to figure out what his son and friends are hiding.
The setting DRASTICALLY changes, which is really refreshing and it gives our motley crew a true perspective on how small their little world and lives are in the grand scheme of things. Also, Malgore.....what a menacing and manipulative character.
This book was everything that I hoped it would be. I think book 1 may have eked it out by a hair, but I'm a sucker for small-town USA. Really looking forward to book 3 when it releases.
Characters: 5⭐️ Setting: 5⭐️ Plot: 4⭐️ Themes: 4⭐️ Emotional Impact: 4⭐️ Personal Enjoyment: 5⭐️ Total Average: 4.5⭐️
The Dimension Warriors are back!
Thank you to A. M. Wiley for this ARC of Dawn of the Warriors, the sequel to Weird Space. I read Weird Space not too long ago and loved every bit. So, I was thrilled to receive the sequel a little early.
In this part 2 of the Weird Space world, Drew and the Polars are left uncertain of what their future holds. Not knowing what will happen to Sheela, their recent acquaintance and leader of the Dimension Warriors. Drew and his closest friends venture into space to find the Dimension Warriors and rescue Sheela from the evil Malgore.
I gave this an overall score of 4.5⭐️! A. M. Wiley introduces so many new characters. Some you love to love and some you love to hate. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dawn of the Warriors.
Most of what felt about the first entry stayed the same for its sequel. However, the aspects in how I rate my reads increased for this one. The characters went from a 4 to a 5, as well as the emotional impact. Those two go hand in hand for me most of the time. The addition of new characters and how they were developed ultimately impacted how I felt about the overall story.
A. M. Wiley certainly increased his writing emotion within his characters, making you feel even more connected to them. I also loved the wittiness of a few characters.
I can't stress enough, go pick up Weird Space and pre-order Dawn of the Warriors now! Especially if you love adventure and space exploration stories like Star Wars, Stranger Things, and Stranger Things.
Again, such a fun read and will look forward to what comes next in the world of Weird Space!
This was thrilling! Wiley's world building skills are top notch - every aspect is described in vivid detail. You can read this simply as a fun action adventure sci fi story. Or, as a complex coming of age story about ambivalence to grow up, what guilt does to us, and what sacrifices we're willing to make for the greater good.
An exciting follow-up to Wiley's first installment, Weird Space 2 ditches the "kids on bikes" small-town adventure for a dimension-spanning quest, shifting from an E.T. vibe to a story as exciting and epic as the Star Wars stories of generations past.
As this is the third novel I've read from A.M. Wiley, it makes me happy to see how he's getting more proficient and confident with merging aspects of what C.S. Lewis calls the True Myth into the worlds of his books, especially Weird Space. The reveal of the Polar Starship's "essence" blew me away, and the classic dichotomy of the Polar's light vs. Malgore's darkness was chef's kiss. The plentiful 80's and 90's references are still evident in this work, and fans of James Cameron's ALIENS and Roland Emmerich's INDEPENDENCE DAY are especially going to enjoy themselves.
This story professionally covered plot points for the characters that needed to be addressed for proper growth. While I enjoyed reading this development, I did miss the character interactions and situations that were more common in the first installment. Most of the characters from Weird Space, especially the main protagonist Drew, spent their time split from their tried-and-true core group in Dawn of the Warriors. While I understand that needs to happen in stories like this (it certainly happened to Luke Skywalker in ESB, for example), I definitely needed more scenes with the core group together. That being said, Wiley's new characters he introduces are unquestionably memorable. Bash and "Fire Girl" were two of my favs, but the standout character this time around was Grole. In our overly cynical and nihilistic modern culture, I cherish rare writers like Wiley who can craft meaningful redemptive character arcs.
The plot was also quite different from the first book, as the scope became so much larger over such a short amount of time. Wiley did a good job dealing with this change with his narration of Drew's thoughts. While the first third of the book moved a little slow, it gradually picks up pace until all hell literally breaks loose in the final act, which eventually makes the book impossible to put down. I appreciated that Wiley was brave enough to make the tough decisions with some characters as well. I crave meaningful sacrifices in my stories, and Wiley delivers on multiple occasions.
While the first book is my preferred story so far of this working trilogy, that's not to say that Dawn of the Warriors is lacking. At this point in my life, I gravitate more towards the "kids on bikes" stories that take place on earth. However, the inner child in me that consumed any Star Wars stories I could find growing up was feasting on the pages of Dawn of the Warriors, and it made me nostalgic for reading those novels. Maybe I'll go revisit some of my favorites of the Expanded Universe while I wait for Wiley to give the Warriors the ending they deserve. I can't have my youth sucked away from me entirely, right?
Thanks to A.M. Wiley for providing an ARC for this review, but mostly for my own enjoyment. I couldn't wait to see what happened next to the Warriors, and the wait for Weird Space 3 is going to be quite painful.
Thankyou so much to A.M. Wiley for this ARC of the sequel to Weird Space in return for an honest review, the adventure continues!
The follow up to Weird Space was as fun as I thought it would be, it’s a gripping fantasy adventure that immerses readers in a richly crafted world filled with danger, destiny, and daring heroes.. Wiley masterfully blends adventure and emotion, creating a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. The series so far is clearly written for a YA audience but this should not put off older readers either, there’s so much to enjoy - the gripping plot and strong character arcs make it a must-read for fantasy lovers in general. Whilst the first book had a more “Stranger Things” feel to it, this one leans more into “Star Wars” themed territory, which I absolutely loved. A fantastic midway point in what promises to be an epic trilogy! Be sure to check out the first Weird Space book, and I believe this sequel will be released on the 17th April!
A. M. Wiley has done it again! I was so pumped to get my hands on the second book in this series, and I was not disappointed! It totally transported me back to my childhood, filled me with nostalgia, loved the inspiration taken from some of my favorite movies and shows from my youth. Even though this book just came out, I can’t wait for the next one!
As a fan of A.M. Wiley’s first book, I was nervous heading in to the sequel. Reading the initial adventures of protagonist Drew Shipley, and the rest of his band of buddies (and fellow Dimension Warriors) was a breath of fresh air; I found myself dropped right back into the real-life fun of warm summer nights playing with friends, of adolescent angst and yearning, and of all of the pop culture touchstones that anchor us Gen-Xers and Elderly Millennials to the worlds of wonder shaped by Spielberg, King, and John Williams.
Having now finished Weird Space 2: Dawn of the Warriors? My fears were totally unfounded. This is the middle section of a trilogy: a notoriously difficult feat to pull off effectively. Wiley has threaded a very tight needle, here - managing to balance deepening the stories of the kids from the first book, while also effectively introducing a host of new characters (friend and foe) who we meet upon the Warriors’ arrival in a place that is wholly unlike the hometown they left behind. He’s done this while also managing to continue the absolutely dead-on tone of both nostalgia and wonder that he cultivated in the first book, even as he slowly increases the tension, and makes clear that the stakes are deadly-high; be warned…not all of your companions in this story emerge unscathed, and the lives of the Dimension Warriors will never be the same. They face a universe that is both more breathtakingly beautiful and shockingly cruel than anything they could have anticipated.
If you’re a fan of Explorers, of The Last Starfighter, or of the Goonies, or Stand By Me? This one’s for you. If you (as you should) prefer the tension, wit, and plot twists of The Empire Strikes Back to the Ewoks of ROTJ? You’ll dig this. If Gandalf’s gentle rebuke to Frodo upon the hobbit’s musing that Gollum deserves death stirs something in you? A.M. Wiley has written a gift for you in this fantastic follow-up to a fantastic first chapter in the saga. I can’t wait for book 3!
A.M. Wiley delivers an absolute knockout with Weird Space 2, a sequel that doesn’t just continue the adventure—it explodes it into new dimensions. Bigger, bolder, and infinitely weirder, this book cements Weird Space as one of the most thrilling sci-fi sagas in recent memory. If Weird Space 1 was the spark, Weird Space 2 is the full-blown supernova. Drew Shipley and his crew are back, and this time, failure isn’t an option. With their best friend Sheela captured and the disturbing Lord Malgore growing in strength, the battle for survival takes them beyond their world—into mind-bending dimensions crawling with monstrous gremlins, possessed adults, and traitors hiding in plain sight. At the heart of it all is the legendary Polar Starship, the key to uniting the fractured Dimension Warriors before Malgore’s darkness consumes everything. This is world-building at its finest—a dazzling expansion of the Weird Space universe that feels limitless in scope yet deeply personal. Wiley’s storytelling is cinematic, relentless, and utterly immersive, pulling you into a high-stakes interdimensional war where every page crackles with tension. The action is pulse-pounding, the twists jaw-dropping, and the emotional depth surprisingly profound. Drew’s journey is more than just a battle for survival—it’s a test of leadership, loyalty, and the power of belief. Wiley mixes heart and adrenaline into a story that grips you from the first sentence and doesn’t let go. Weird Space 2 is sci-fi perfection. A book that demands to be read, devoured, and obsessed over. If you thought the first book was fun, you haven’t seen anything yet. I cannot wait for the third book into this trilogy. The weird just got weirder—and it’s absolutely unmissable.
Picking up where Weird Space left off, Dawn of the Warriors takes us away from earth and into the depths of space for an intergalactic adventure. This second installment in the Deep Space trilogy expands on the original in every aspect. Our characters all grow and develop, we meet a ton of new characters, and we get a whole new host of alien creatures to fight.
The first third or so dragged just a bit as it set up the rest of the story. We got introduced to the politics of the Dimension Warriors, and the gang learns about people from all different ends of the universe. The second third picks up steam, and the final act is nonstop action. From about 170 pages on, I couldn't put it down. There is some tragedy, some redemption, some surprises along the way, and of course tons of nostalgia. There are some alien creature moments reminiscent of The Thing or Aliens, which I loved. For a book about kids thrust into a wild situation, there is a surprising amount of emotional depth, and some tough losses. We're left on a cliffhanger that sets us up for book three, and leaves you wondering where the rest of the story will go.
Overall this was a ton of fun, and fans of the original Weird Space will love it as well. I'd highly recommend you check them both out, and I can't wait for the conclusion to the trilogy.
Dawn of the Warriors is an excellent sequel in the Weird Space trilogy. A.M. Wiley's second book starts out fast and does not let up with nonstop action and twists. The world Wiley has expanded on was very creative and detailed. I was pleased to dive deeper into the other dimensions and be able to see these new worlds in my mind. In addition to the expanded universe, the expanded creatures in this second book were also very detailed and intriguing, from inside the Necrobeast to Grole himself. Speaking of Grole, every time I found myself questioning character's moves or motives all I had to do was wait. Wiley wonderfully crafted it all into a nice ribbon at the end. Everything comes together and all my questions get answered along the way. Loved the ending and am expecting a great conclusion to this trilogy!
Ok…so…this is flat out fantastic!! I really enjoyed Weird Space , with its Stranger Things/Goonies/Super 8 vibes…but this time, everything is cranked to 11 and I could not get enough! Drew and the Polars are now at Toren 4 and ready to attack Malgore and rescue Sheela. Obviously it’s not that easy…and Dawn of the Warriors never lets up with the action, the politics, and the stress of a war essentially being run by kids. Wiley really matured into his second book, and always remembered these ARE kids…which is critically important to explain their fears, their stubbornness, and their black & white approach to life. Finally…there are STAKES here, and I couldn’t believe what I was reading. I am FURIOUS book 3 is yet to be released. Absolutely loved!
Wiley's follow-up to Weird Space takes us along on an epic space adventure filled with teenage angst, betrayal, loyalty, friendships, and a lot of alien goo. "Dawn of the Warriors" proves that teens across many galaxies make the same heroic decisions and questionable choices that earthbound teens always have. At times funny and heart-wrenching, this was a great sequel and I'm looking forward to book three.
Space just got weirder... but in a great way!
(Note, this review is based on an an advanced copy from the author)
What can I say this book was utterly amazing start to finish. The storyline, the plot twists the world building & further character development were absolutely amazing! I don’t say this often but this sequel was fantastic & quite frankly better than the first book which says a lot because Weird Space was incredible. If you wanna have a fun journey full of twists & turns with great characters and world building. YOU NEED TO READ WEIRD SPACE & DAWN OF THE WARRIORS by A.M. Wiley YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED I recommend this 1000x over!!
What do you get when a young alien rebel trains a group of pre-teens from earth to fly an inter-dimensional spaceship that has the power to save the universe from a vile and manipulative alien parasite? You get the pulse-pounding, adrenaline-fueled, cosmic thriller known as Weird Space 2 -Dawn of the Warriors.
Drew and his friends are back in action in the electrifying sequel to Weird Space by A.M. Wiley.
If you like dimension-hopping spaceships, laser guns, and high-tech gadgets, Dawn of the Warriors has it.
If you like hovercraft races, pet alien pit fights, and an army of kids partying like there’s no tomorrow, yep, it’s got that too.
If you like vicious, slime-covered, foul-smelling, alien baddies that are as deadly as they are disgusting, well, there’s enough of them to make you want to hurl your lunch and scream for your mama at the same time.
So grab your copy of Weird Space 2 - Dawn of the Warriors and be blown away by this phenomenal Sci-Fi tale filled with action, adventure, courage, friendship, love, and even some harsh lessons of life.