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Exo #2
Cross Fire
Earth's century of peace as a colony of an alien race has been shattered. As the alien-run government navigates peace talks with the human terrorist group Sapience, Donovan tries to put his life back together and return to his duty as a member of the security forces. But a new order comes from the alien home planet: withdraw. Earth has proven too costly and unstable to maintain as a colony, so the aliens, along with a small selection of humans, begin to make plans to leave. As word of the withdrawal spreads through the galaxy, suddenly Earth becomes vulnerable to a takeover from other aliens races. Aliens who do not seek to live in harmony with humans, but will ravage and destroy the planet.As a galactic invasion threatens, Donovan realizes that Sapience holds the key that could stop the pending war. Yet in order to save humankind, all species on Earth will have to work together, and Donovan might just have to make the ultimate sacrifice to convince them.
387 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 29, 2018
67 people are currently reading
1622 people want to read
About the author
Fonda Lee
40 books8,085 followersFonda Lee is the World Fantasy Award-winning author of the epic Green Bone Saga, beginning with Jade City and continuing in Jade War and Jade Legacy. Her most recent work is the fantasy novella, Untethered Sky. She is also the author of the acclaimed science fiction novels Zeroboxer, Exo and Cross Fire.
Fonda is a winner of the Locus Award, a six-time winner of the Aurora Award (Canada’s national science fiction and fantasy award), and a multiple finalist for the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award. Her novels have garnered multiple starred reviews, been included on numerous state reading lists, named Junior Library Guild selections, and appeared on Best of Year lists from NPR, Barnes & Noble, Syfy Wire, and others. Jade City was named among the Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time by Time Magazine and has been optioned for television development.
Fonda is a former corporate strategist and black belt martial artist who loves action movies and Eggs Benedict. Born and raised in Canada, she currently resides in Boston.
Fonda is a winner of the Locus Award, a six-time winner of the Aurora Award (Canada’s national science fiction and fantasy award), and a multiple finalist for the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award. Her novels have garnered multiple starred reviews, been included on numerous state reading lists, named Junior Library Guild selections, and appeared on Best of Year lists from NPR, Barnes & Noble, Syfy Wire, and others. Jade City was named among the Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time by Time Magazine and has been optioned for television development.
Fonda is a former corporate strategist and black belt martial artist who loves action movies and Eggs Benedict. Born and raised in Canada, she currently resides in Boston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
May 29, 2018
4.5 stars
It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Fonda Lee's books. And apparently I'm not the only one - her adult fantasy book, Jade City, was up for a Nebula this year and at the same time, her YA SF book Exo, has been nominated for the Andre Norton Award.
Cross Fire is the direct sequel to Exo, and picks up the story shortly after its predecessor left off. The alien Mur Zhree who colonized Earth over a century ago with mixed reception, but on balance arguably to the benefit of Earth, may now have to withdraw from the planet by order of their homeworld government. While certain vocal human groups are initially overjoyed at this possibility, others fear the loss of technology and general social instability that will inevitably follow. Worse than that however, is threat of another group of alien invaders, the Rii, who intend to strip Earth for its resources and then leave it uninhabitable. Without the support of the Mur, it seems Earth will have little chance of defending itself.
In Exo, the main character Donovan Reyes dealt with a lot of internal conflict stemming from revelations about his parents. In Cross Fire he seems to have come to terms with some of the personal angst and found his place. But what I continue to find so likeable about Donovan is that he is quite genuine. For all his internal conflict it still feels real and justified. He feels angry and helpless, but this time it isn't just about him. He doesn't know if what he is doing is entirely right according to what he has been taught, but he also feels that he must do something, even if he ultimately doesn't succeed. It feels like Donovan has grown up, and it suits him.
Cross Fire has all the elements that I have come to expect and love when I pick up one of Fonda Lee's books: excellent worldbuilding, great pacing and well written action scenes, and multi-faceted characters. Finally, I see her craft building with every book she writes, which is a wonderful thing to watch as a reader following along.
Recommended, but be sure to read Exo first in order to get the most from the story.
It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Fonda Lee's books. And apparently I'm not the only one - her adult fantasy book, Jade City, was up for a Nebula this year and at the same time, her YA SF book Exo, has been nominated for the Andre Norton Award.
Cross Fire is the direct sequel to Exo, and picks up the story shortly after its predecessor left off. The alien Mur Zhree who colonized Earth over a century ago with mixed reception, but on balance arguably to the benefit of Earth, may now have to withdraw from the planet by order of their homeworld government. While certain vocal human groups are initially overjoyed at this possibility, others fear the loss of technology and general social instability that will inevitably follow. Worse than that however, is threat of another group of alien invaders, the Rii, who intend to strip Earth for its resources and then leave it uninhabitable. Without the support of the Mur, it seems Earth will have little chance of defending itself.
In Exo, the main character Donovan Reyes dealt with a lot of internal conflict stemming from revelations about his parents. In Cross Fire he seems to have come to terms with some of the personal angst and found his place. But what I continue to find so likeable about Donovan is that he is quite genuine. For all his internal conflict it still feels real and justified. He feels angry and helpless, but this time it isn't just about him. He doesn't know if what he is doing is entirely right according to what he has been taught, but he also feels that he must do something, even if he ultimately doesn't succeed. It feels like Donovan has grown up, and it suits him.
Cross Fire has all the elements that I have come to expect and love when I pick up one of Fonda Lee's books: excellent worldbuilding, great pacing and well written action scenes, and multi-faceted characters. Finally, I see her craft building with every book she writes, which is a wonderful thing to watch as a reader following along.
Recommended, but be sure to read Exo first in order to get the most from the story.
June 8, 2018
A major step-up from the mostly successful first book sees a much more mature Donovan Reyes dealing with an increasingly precarious alien-occupied Earth.
The Rii are coming, and the Mur Erzen Commonwealth are getting ready to abandon Earth, taking with them only a small population of their most fit and trusted humans. The human resistance organization Sapience and its various splinter groups are growing stronger with the zhree pulling back and there's a lot of pressure on SetPac forces to keep order. Donovan and the other Exos want to stay to defend Earth and the Earth-born zhree don't seem any happier about abandoning their home and humans, but the Rii have an advantage that no-one among the humans expect.
This just worked so much better for me than the previous book. Donovan's no longer dealing with his various parental issues and instead faces much clearer questions about where his loyalties should be placed, with his fellow Exos, his zhree masters, to humanity as a whole or to his individual attachments to the people he loves like Jet or Anya.
It's not immediately clear that there will be a third volume, but one would be extremely welcome. The world-building in this is exquisite, like pretty much everything I've read from this author, and the issues around the colonization of Earth and local versus central politics resonate with Earthbound geopolitics in interesting ways. Superb book.
The Rii are coming, and the Mur Erzen Commonwealth are getting ready to abandon Earth, taking with them only a small population of their most fit and trusted humans. The human resistance organization Sapience and its various splinter groups are growing stronger with the zhree pulling back and there's a lot of pressure on SetPac forces to keep order. Donovan and the other Exos want to stay to defend Earth and the Earth-born zhree don't seem any happier about abandoning their home and humans, but the Rii have an advantage that no-one among the humans expect.
This just worked so much better for me than the previous book. Donovan's no longer dealing with his various parental issues and instead faces much clearer questions about where his loyalties should be placed, with his fellow Exos, his zhree masters, to humanity as a whole or to his individual attachments to the people he loves like Jet or Anya.
It's not immediately clear that there will be a third volume, but one would be extremely welcome. The world-building in this is exquisite, like pretty much everything I've read from this author, and the issues around the colonization of Earth and local versus central politics resonate with Earthbound geopolitics in interesting ways. Superb book.
November 29, 2019
Cross Fire is an excellent follow up to Exo. It's close, but I might have actually preferred it actually. I do know one thing for sure though: Fonda Lee is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Her characters, world-building, and action scenes are all very vivid and the pacing is just right. This series deserves all the love it can get.
June 16, 2018
I screamed about Exo last year, I'm gonna scream about Cross Fire today.
Because HOLY HECK THIS BOOK IS AMAZING and has set the bar for YA sci-fi super high for me.
- Cross Fire is the sequel to Exo and extends the post-apocalyptic story of humanity who are now subservient to an alien colonist species.
- This book takes the story to new heights. Humanity is warring with each other, divided by their allegiance to either the colonists or the human species -- and then something happens that changes everything.
- The discourse is SUBLIME. So sociological and political, and so COMPLEX. I loved it.
- Fantastic exploration of colonialism (again), how identity and perspective are shaped by experience and where we are born, loyalty, discrimination, and trying to do right when all hell has broken loose and you have no idea what right is.
- I loved the characters in this - all were a little morally grey, all excellently and gradually developed, and my goodness, I could empathise with ALL of them (except one, screw that guy).
- The action was STUNNING. I was enthralled and couldn't breathe in some passages. It was so intense and exciting.
Fonda Lee has never disappointed me, and Cross Fire is such an excellent addition to her work.
Trigger/content warning:
Because HOLY HECK THIS BOOK IS AMAZING and has set the bar for YA sci-fi super high for me.
- Cross Fire is the sequel to Exo and extends the post-apocalyptic story of humanity who are now subservient to an alien colonist species.
- This book takes the story to new heights. Humanity is warring with each other, divided by their allegiance to either the colonists or the human species -- and then something happens that changes everything.
- The discourse is SUBLIME. So sociological and political, and so COMPLEX. I loved it.
- Fantastic exploration of colonialism (again), how identity and perspective are shaped by experience and where we are born, loyalty, discrimination, and trying to do right when all hell has broken loose and you have no idea what right is.
- I loved the characters in this - all were a little morally grey, all excellently and gradually developed, and my goodness, I could empathise with ALL of them (except one, screw that guy).
- The action was STUNNING. I was enthralled and couldn't breathe in some passages. It was so intense and exciting.
Fonda Lee has never disappointed me, and Cross Fire is such an excellent addition to her work.
Trigger/content warning:
June 30, 2018
I think this sequel to Fonda Lee's Exo is better than her first book, despite a somewhat slow start. The Zhree decide that Earth is too far away and costly to manage, and decide to abandon the planet, seeking to rescue 90,000 inhabitants to preserve the human species, with a focus on the hardened Exo's. Meanwhile, tensions among the core humans are led by rebel groups called Sapience and True Sapience. We continue to watch events develop through Donovan Reyes, the son of the former Prime Liaison. Donovan wants to stem the violence by capturing the leaders, who are both close to his squishie (human) friend, Anya. Everything changes when , forcing Donovan to seek help from Sapience to disable the failsafe mechanism, making Exo's unable to defend themselves against the Zhree. Action packed story of pack loyalty and honor: 4.5 stars.
June 2, 2018
Originally reviewed for YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...
Smart, well-paced, and intensely thought provoking. This series is on track to redefine sci-fi expectations for the YA genre.
Once again, the story is told in third-person past tense—entirely from the viewpoint of young soldier Donovan Reyes. Donovan is still mentally recovering from his time in captivity, and the loss of both parents to opposing ends of the conflict over the alien colonization of Earth. His instilled-since-childhood loyalty to SecPac and the Zhree is evolving—as is his perspective on Sapience, the recently fragmented extremist group his sort-of-girlfriend belongs to.
The human resistance (Sapience) is seemingly getting what they’ve always wanted. Thanks in part to the terror attacks and opposition they’ve been met with in recent years, the Zhree homeworld has decided that Earth isn’t worth developing or protecting any longer. They’ve ordered an evacuation of their entire species. And they’ve decided a small percentage of their human collaborators will evacuate with them, to preserve the human species in some form once the planet inevitably falls to the scavenging Rii.
But many Zhree were hatched on Earth and know no other home. For those carrying eggs, the trip back to their technical homeworld would endanger or doom their brood. And all would look forward to being dismissed and discriminated against as “offworlders.” As for the humans, the consequences are even more bleak. The evacuation of human Exos demands that most leave some or all of their families behind to face certain death—either at the hands of a vengeful Sapience anarchy, or eventually, to the whims of the genocidal Rii.
Oh, the sociological and political nuances!
There are still no easy answers to any of the moral conundrums we encountered in Exo, and I love it for that alone. But in Crossfire we do see that the prioritizing of survival demands a mighty shift in the power dynamic. The interpersonal aspects are truly honed in this installment. The closer relationships between the SecPac soldiers and some of their Zhree comrades illustrates the interrelational conundrums in their uneven governing structure. The tensions between homeworld Zhree and Earth colonist Zhree highlights a vast cultural and political complexity within the alien species itself. And the empathy-building connection between Donovan and Anya is used expertly to show both “sides” (or more accurately, the grey-area gradations) to the underlying issue of colonialism.
The ethical quandaries abound. Is propaganda a means justified by its ends? Is access to tech advancement a privilege or a right? If you could guarantee your children a better life and doubled lifespan with the 1% chance of mortality up-front, is it worth the risk? Can there ever be true equality between fundamentally different species? What, exactly, constitutes “freedom?”
One thing is certain—this series isn’t done asking hard questions that may never have clear-cut answers. Which should leave many a reader pondering the story long after they’ve reached “the end.”
Again, we see the romantic angle is more of a side-note amid the much bigger picture. But in this book, said angle felt more natural and enhancing than it did in Exo. There is now the sense that these star-crossed almost-lovers could actually be a catalyst to some desperately needed unity. If they can restrain their biases long enough to find some common ground to stand on…
Final Analysis:
Superb worldbuilding, solid character development, lucid descriptions, and high action balanced by compelling introspection. It’s rare to find a series in which the second book actually surpasses the first… but here, Fonda Lee has done just that.
Smart, well-paced, and intensely thought provoking. This series is on track to redefine sci-fi expectations for the YA genre.
Once again, the story is told in third-person past tense—entirely from the viewpoint of young soldier Donovan Reyes. Donovan is still mentally recovering from his time in captivity, and the loss of both parents to opposing ends of the conflict over the alien colonization of Earth. His instilled-since-childhood loyalty to SecPac and the Zhree is evolving—as is his perspective on Sapience, the recently fragmented extremist group his sort-of-girlfriend belongs to.
The human resistance (Sapience) is seemingly getting what they’ve always wanted. Thanks in part to the terror attacks and opposition they’ve been met with in recent years, the Zhree homeworld has decided that Earth isn’t worth developing or protecting any longer. They’ve ordered an evacuation of their entire species. And they’ve decided a small percentage of their human collaborators will evacuate with them, to preserve the human species in some form once the planet inevitably falls to the scavenging Rii.
But many Zhree were hatched on Earth and know no other home. For those carrying eggs, the trip back to their technical homeworld would endanger or doom their brood. And all would look forward to being dismissed and discriminated against as “offworlders.” As for the humans, the consequences are even more bleak. The evacuation of human Exos demands that most leave some or all of their families behind to face certain death—either at the hands of a vengeful Sapience anarchy, or eventually, to the whims of the genocidal Rii.
Oh, the sociological and political nuances!
There are still no easy answers to any of the moral conundrums we encountered in Exo, and I love it for that alone. But in Crossfire we do see that the prioritizing of survival demands a mighty shift in the power dynamic. The interpersonal aspects are truly honed in this installment. The closer relationships between the SecPac soldiers and some of their Zhree comrades illustrates the interrelational conundrums in their uneven governing structure. The tensions between homeworld Zhree and Earth colonist Zhree highlights a vast cultural and political complexity within the alien species itself. And the empathy-building connection between Donovan and Anya is used expertly to show both “sides” (or more accurately, the grey-area gradations) to the underlying issue of colonialism.
The ethical quandaries abound. Is propaganda a means justified by its ends? Is access to tech advancement a privilege or a right? If you could guarantee your children a better life and doubled lifespan with the 1% chance of mortality up-front, is it worth the risk? Can there ever be true equality between fundamentally different species? What, exactly, constitutes “freedom?”
One thing is certain—this series isn’t done asking hard questions that may never have clear-cut answers. Which should leave many a reader pondering the story long after they’ve reached “the end.”
Again, we see the romantic angle is more of a side-note amid the much bigger picture. But in this book, said angle felt more natural and enhancing than it did in Exo. There is now the sense that these star-crossed almost-lovers could actually be a catalyst to some desperately needed unity. If they can restrain their biases long enough to find some common ground to stand on…
Final Analysis:
Superb worldbuilding, solid character development, lucid descriptions, and high action balanced by compelling introspection. It’s rare to find a series in which the second book actually surpasses the first… but here, Fonda Lee has done just that.
March 18, 2020
(A) 97% | AGES 14+ | Okay, I know that this doesn’t follow my review rules, because technically I rate 5* books 100%, but I don’t think I’ll ever find a SUPER PERFECT favorite book. But this book absolutely comes close and it still deserves a 5* rating. Plus, I am a little biased. :P
This book is so good it could be a movie. It’s so original! Also, this was my first YA book I’d had ever written, and so it holds a piece of my heart with it. I cannot get enough of this writing. It’s the best in the duology, and I wish that there were more. These characters have been through so much crap, it’s so unfair. I love them because of how strong they are.
When I re-read this, I don’t usually re-read the first book. Just this one because it is so precious to me. The world building, the characters. I can’t get enough.
How can I not love this book? This book is one that absolutely transports me to a different world and blocks everything out.
I HIGHLY recommend this. And I’m upset that not many people have read this.
Off an emotional level? It’s never failed to emotionally compromise me. It’s a breath of fresh air. I can’t wait to re-read it again.
Love you guys,
luna <3
This book is so good it could be a movie. It’s so original! Also, this was my first YA book I’d had ever written, and so it holds a piece of my heart with it. I cannot get enough of this writing. It’s the best in the duology, and I wish that there were more. These characters have been through so much crap, it’s so unfair. I love them because of how strong they are.
When I re-read this, I don’t usually re-read the first book. Just this one because it is so precious to me. The world building, the characters. I can’t get enough.
How can I not love this book? This book is one that absolutely transports me to a different world and blocks everything out.
I HIGHLY recommend this. And I’m upset that not many people have read this.
Off an emotional level? It’s never failed to emotionally compromise me. It’s a breath of fresh air. I can’t wait to re-read it again.
Love you guys,
luna <3
April 12, 2018
That was an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. Aside from the incredible action and pacing, I think this book contains excellent character development and is thematically rich and worth talking about.
I had a lot of mixed feelings about book 1 and its handling of the topic of colonization; some of those issues were addressed in this book, others not so much. Key turning point: Donovan's character finally realizes that most zhree don't value humans except when assimilated and harmless/loyal to them, which was something noticeably absent in the first book. I might write a full review later about the choice of POV and the resulting engagement with the nature of colonization.
CWs: ableism, violence, death, war, PTSD
I had a lot of mixed feelings about book 1 and its handling of the topic of colonization; some of those issues were addressed in this book, others not so much. Key turning point: Donovan's character finally realizes that most zhree don't value humans except when assimilated and harmless/loyal to them, which was something noticeably absent in the first book. I might write a full review later about the choice of POV and the resulting engagement with the nature of colonization.
CWs: ableism, violence, death, war, PTSD
September 1, 2023
This was an excellent sequel to the first book. Same great characters to root for. Donovan Reyes fights against all odds for what he believes to be right. This one is more intense than the first with far more at stake this time. It's a fast paced roller coaster ride and not everyone survives. I am definitely becoming a fan of Lee's writing!
August 1, 2025
Copied and Pasted from Book 1 review, because they're hard to separate.
Book 1 was a 3 star book. I kind of liked it, but.. the problem is that I didn't feel super invested in any of the characters. Fonda Lee's Jade City series was a 5 star series for me, and I also like YA, but this one.. the characterization just felt flimsy and rushed. Sure, I like Donovan. But I don't really get Anya. And I didn't know anything about his team. A lot of similar YA series that do this well do it well because you really get invested into the team as a whole. Thinking of Ender's Game, or even Sanderson's Skyward (mostly did not like after the first book, but the first book was great). Here, sure, Leon likes to draw half naked humanoids. Jet is a rule follower. Vic is hot. All of this was tell, not show. So by the time in Book 2, when .
But you know what the series did astonishingly well? It painted the picture of a plausible sci fi future world in which humanity is dominated by a superior alien species that treats it as subservient. Where there are "terrorist" rebels and "collaborator" humans. And seeing the story from a collaborator teen's perspective was fascinating. It was so hard to say "this side is right and this side is wrong." My judgment on that kept going back and forth.
And what was also so interesting was thinking about parallel historical events. Japanese imperial rule of China/Korea, etc. Collaborators were so despised, I didn't second think it. But here, the collaborators are very sympathetic. Does it make a difference that it's another species? Shouldn't collaborating be worse? But what if it truly was the only way for humanity to survive? But what about all the inequality? What about being subservient to aliens, and then being superior to ordinary humans? Of course the aliens with superior technology and strength couldn't see humans as equal. We cannot even see people of another race as equal in xenophobic societies on Earth. Not just in the past, even now. I can hardly blame the zhree. But do we give the exo humans a pass?
So, although I felt this series was weak in terms of characters, the setting.. the setting was worth the price of admission. And the second book did wrap up in a way that WARNING SPOILERS FOR THE WHOLE SERIES . A lot to think about.
Book 1 was a 3 star book. I kind of liked it, but.. the problem is that I didn't feel super invested in any of the characters. Fonda Lee's Jade City series was a 5 star series for me, and I also like YA, but this one.. the characterization just felt flimsy and rushed. Sure, I like Donovan. But I don't really get Anya. And I didn't know anything about his team. A lot of similar YA series that do this well do it well because you really get invested into the team as a whole. Thinking of Ender's Game, or even Sanderson's Skyward (mostly did not like after the first book, but the first book was great). Here, sure, Leon likes to draw half naked humanoids. Jet is a rule follower. Vic is hot. All of this was tell, not show. So by the time in Book 2, when .
But you know what the series did astonishingly well? It painted the picture of a plausible sci fi future world in which humanity is dominated by a superior alien species that treats it as subservient. Where there are "terrorist" rebels and "collaborator" humans. And seeing the story from a collaborator teen's perspective was fascinating. It was so hard to say "this side is right and this side is wrong." My judgment on that kept going back and forth.
And what was also so interesting was thinking about parallel historical events. Japanese imperial rule of China/Korea, etc. Collaborators were so despised, I didn't second think it. But here, the collaborators are very sympathetic. Does it make a difference that it's another species? Shouldn't collaborating be worse? But what if it truly was the only way for humanity to survive? But what about all the inequality? What about being subservient to aliens, and then being superior to ordinary humans? Of course the aliens with superior technology and strength couldn't see humans as equal. We cannot even see people of another race as equal in xenophobic societies on Earth. Not just in the past, even now. I can hardly blame the zhree. But do we give the exo humans a pass?
So, although I felt this series was weak in terms of characters, the setting.. the setting was worth the price of admission. And the second book did wrap up in a way that WARNING SPOILERS FOR THE WHOLE SERIES . A lot to think about.
April 13, 2023
So, like, "Cross Fire" by Fonda Lee is this super cool sequel to "Exo" (I didn’t read exo and like I missed out on that one but whateves) that takes you on a wild ride through a futuristic world that's all, like, full of alien political intrigue and stuff. And, let me tell you, the characters in this book are mid. BUT the plot has so many twists and turns that you'll be on the edge of your seat! Fonda Lee's writing style is, like, totally immersive and her world building was expertly done. And the action scenes? Holy moly, they're totally expertly crafted and just the right amount of intense! Like, you won't be overwhelmed, but you'll still be SUPER DUPER into it. Overall, "Cross Fire" is, like, a totally made for us alien enthusiasts. The only downside is that it can be a bit slow in parts, but, like, dont sweat it — It's still totally worth reading if you're into sci-fi adventures and stuff. So, like, go check it out, dude!
July 6, 2018
So if I really enjoyed Exo despite having some issues with it, I liked Crossfire even better and didn't have anything like the same critiques of the world and character development that I did with the first installment. The addition of a larger political context to the relevant setting, the greater wealth of information we learn about the zhree, and a particular development about 2/3 of the way into the book that knits together puzzle piece hints dropped earlier in the plot (in a way where the timing and Donovan's existing characterisation combine very well to have it make sense that it happens when it does, instead of making you go "why didn't he figure this out 100 pages ago???"), only to swerve again from what I at least assumed would be the straightforward direction of the plot - these were a few features that definitely head my list of things that made Crossfire an excellent story.
March 1, 2022
Somehow I rarely like the second book in a series more than the first even though it would not seem so from my favourite shelf.
This book is much better than the first. I also kinda got used to the odd parts of the world. The aliens and their technology.
This book had good character development and moral questions of life.
I loved this book's rebel vs Oppressor setting that portrays a dystopia that is not quite a dystopia and colonist that are not exactly black and white.
I found it hard to side with anyone and I found that to be interesting and fresh 😍
This book is much better than the first. I also kinda got used to the odd parts of the world. The aliens and their technology.
This book had good character development and moral questions of life.
I loved this book's rebel vs Oppressor setting that portrays a dystopia that is not quite a dystopia and colonist that are not exactly black and white.
I found it hard to side with anyone and I found that to be interesting and fresh 😍
June 22, 2021
For a sequel this one doesn't disappoint. Still packed with plenty of action to keep the reader engrossed, but moves the storyline along perfectly. What did disappoint me was the increase of grammar mistakes toward the end.
For my clean readers: violence, with some descriptive gore mixed in; language, no f-bombs though; and mild romance, with kissing and not much else.
For my clean readers: violence, with some descriptive gore mixed in; language, no f-bombs though; and mild romance, with kissing and not much else.
April 9, 2019
Very great continuation from the previous story.
July 9, 2019
This felt quite rushed. It was good for what it was though.
March 20, 2022
Quite satisfying - a nice nuanced discussion of "us vs then." Also wondering if there will be a third installment?
September 9, 2018
The first half is more character driven, while the second half is more action packed and plot-driven. I really liked the complexity throughout.
November 2, 2023
While I liked the nuanced story of the first book in the Exo duology, it’s characters failed to capture me, making me put off reading the sequel for several years. I very nearly didn’t pick it up at all; now I am very glad I decided to give it a go, as I enjoyed it a lot, characters included. I'm not sure if the book is actually better than the first or if the duology just took a while to really grow on me; either way, as far as YA dystopias go, this is top notch.
I'm a big nuance enjoyer, and Fonda Lee sets up a conflict and characters that perfectly lets her explore the complexities of oppression and colonialism, such as the line between compromise and subservience, resistance and terrorism, victim and perpetrator, true freedom and striving for a past that no longer exists. It takes an approach to the subject of oppression that clearly illustrates that some acts are truly heinous even if done in the name of freedom and resitance, and that extremism will get us nowhere fast, but also that it is utimately the fault of the oppressors for putting people in this position to begin with. Very much a monster of their own making, so to speak, and one that can only be stopped by true freedom and equality.
Like the first book, I also quite enjoy the setup of the romance. Despite featuring two characters on different sides of a conflict, it isn't really what I'd call an enemies to lovers type story. It’s two people who, through each other, are reminded that their enemies are people, that they are both victims stuck under the same system, and that only by coming together can they truly reach their shared goal, which is the survival and equality of the human race. Neither of them ever compromises their beliefs or prioritizes their romantic feelings or attraction over other loyalties, but they still grow and learn from each other.
I'm a big nuance enjoyer, and Fonda Lee sets up a conflict and characters that perfectly lets her explore the complexities of oppression and colonialism, such as the line between compromise and subservience, resistance and terrorism, victim and perpetrator, true freedom and striving for a past that no longer exists. It takes an approach to the subject of oppression that clearly illustrates that some acts are truly heinous even if done in the name of freedom and resitance, and that extremism will get us nowhere fast, but also that it is utimately the fault of the oppressors for putting people in this position to begin with. Very much a monster of their own making, so to speak, and one that can only be stopped by true freedom and equality.
Like the first book, I also quite enjoy the setup of the romance. Despite featuring two characters on different sides of a conflict, it isn't really what I'd call an enemies to lovers type story. It’s two people who, through each other, are reminded that their enemies are people, that they are both victims stuck under the same system, and that only by coming together can they truly reach their shared goal, which is the survival and equality of the human race. Neither of them ever compromises their beliefs or prioritizes their romantic feelings or attraction over other loyalties, but they still grow and learn from each other.
June 12, 2019
I loved Fonda Lee’s phenomenal YA dystopia novel Exo, in which aliens have conquered Earth and humans are a colonized species. This follow-up, Cross Fire, does not disappoint. That said, I suggest you go and read Exo before you keep reading my review of Cross Fire — this review will contain some spoilers for the first book.
The home planet is considering withdrawing from Earth, which may be too costly to defend. Only, if the Zhree withdraw Earth and all humans will inevitably die — humanity isn’t powerful enough to stand on its own… at least without the Exos. But Exos can’t use their exocels against Zhree, and their potential new invaders are an offshoot of the Zhree. Meanwhile, our protagonist is an ordinary Exo solider. How can Donovan possibly impact the fate of the planet?
I love the ways this series pulls the colonial subtext inherent in alien invasion stories to the forefront. Donovan still struggles with internal conflict, no longer entirely believing in the goodwill of the Zhree and beginning to recognize the oppression of humanity. But at the same time, he’s not an isolationist or fanatic like Sapience — he knows that Earth can’t magically go back to what it was before the Zhree. A different future is needed.
In my review of the previous book, I wondered if there was a political fraction of Sapience, and that was actually addressed here! This series is soooooo nuanced, and I should throw it at anyone who devalues young adult literature.
Essentially, if you listened to me and read Exo (and if you didn’t, go read Exo right now!), then you will not find Cross Fire disappointing.
Review from The Illustrated Page.
The home planet is considering withdrawing from Earth, which may be too costly to defend. Only, if the Zhree withdraw Earth and all humans will inevitably die — humanity isn’t powerful enough to stand on its own… at least without the Exos. But Exos can’t use their exocels against Zhree, and their potential new invaders are an offshoot of the Zhree. Meanwhile, our protagonist is an ordinary Exo solider. How can Donovan possibly impact the fate of the planet?
I love the ways this series pulls the colonial subtext inherent in alien invasion stories to the forefront. Donovan still struggles with internal conflict, no longer entirely believing in the goodwill of the Zhree and beginning to recognize the oppression of humanity. But at the same time, he’s not an isolationist or fanatic like Sapience — he knows that Earth can’t magically go back to what it was before the Zhree. A different future is needed.
In my review of the previous book, I wondered if there was a political fraction of Sapience, and that was actually addressed here! This series is soooooo nuanced, and I should throw it at anyone who devalues young adult literature.
Essentially, if you listened to me and read Exo (and if you didn’t, go read Exo right now!), then you will not find Cross Fire disappointing.
Review from The Illustrated Page.
August 13, 2018
Crossfire, by Fonda Lee, is the science fiction sequel to the popular book Exo. Donovan Reyes, the protagonist, is certainly no ordinary man. He is an exo, or a human possessing an exocell. Implanted using a special procedure, exocells allow for heightened strength and intelligence compared to “squishies”, or ordinary humans. Having an exocell has never been more important, for Donovan resides on a vulnerable Earth, where humans are ruled by a superior alien species, known as the Zhree. They protect desperate humans from intergalactic threats like Sapience and are vital for humanity’s survival. Working as a member of the security forces and as an adviser to the Zhree “Zun” (leader), Donovan’s life is full of chaos and turns. But, everything changes when the Zhree choose to leave Earth, leaving humanity defenseless. Donovan and his friends know the situation is dire and must do whatever it takes to save the only home they have ever known. What will become of Earth, Donovan, and the galaxy? Read Crossfire to find out.
I found out the hard way that this book is near impossible to understand without having read Exo first. I dove into Crossfire with zero background knowledge and struggled immensely. There is a whole plethora of vocabulary, like Prime Liaison, Hardening, Exocell, Zhree, and Erze that is necessary to process the events of the story. I finally gave up and skimmed Exo before coming back to Crossfire, and all my problems were solved. So, in closing, I’ll put it simply: read Exo first.
Crossfire was action-packed once I was able to comprehend it. The entire last half of the book was one humongous climax, and was very entertaining. There was essentially no exposition, because it is assumed that the reader has already seen the characters in Exo, and is aware of what is going on. This contributed to the seemingly lightning-quick pace of the story.
Additionally, I enjoyed puzzling through the numerous ethical questions in the story. For example, towards the beginning the "Zhree Zun" wanted all humans to become exos, despite the procedure having a 3 percent mortality rate.
I rate this book 4 stars, since it was gripping and appealing to me as a lover of science fiction. However, I felt Crossfire could have done with a slight exposition to refresh the reader’s memory on the characters and terms. This is the only factor that lowered my rating from a 5 to a 4. Regarding age recommendation, I believe that children 10 and up would enjoy this book most. Because of the fast pace, even impatient readers can get through it without dealing with boring monologues. This makes Crossfire highly attractive to younger readers.
Review by Anya A, 13, Metropolitan Washington Mensa
I found out the hard way that this book is near impossible to understand without having read Exo first. I dove into Crossfire with zero background knowledge and struggled immensely. There is a whole plethora of vocabulary, like Prime Liaison, Hardening, Exocell, Zhree, and Erze that is necessary to process the events of the story. I finally gave up and skimmed Exo before coming back to Crossfire, and all my problems were solved. So, in closing, I’ll put it simply: read Exo first.
Crossfire was action-packed once I was able to comprehend it. The entire last half of the book was one humongous climax, and was very entertaining. There was essentially no exposition, because it is assumed that the reader has already seen the characters in Exo, and is aware of what is going on. This contributed to the seemingly lightning-quick pace of the story.
Additionally, I enjoyed puzzling through the numerous ethical questions in the story. For example, towards the beginning the "Zhree Zun" wanted all humans to become exos, despite the procedure having a 3 percent mortality rate.
I rate this book 4 stars, since it was gripping and appealing to me as a lover of science fiction. However, I felt Crossfire could have done with a slight exposition to refresh the reader’s memory on the characters and terms. This is the only factor that lowered my rating from a 5 to a 4. Regarding age recommendation, I believe that children 10 and up would enjoy this book most. Because of the fast pace, even impatient readers can get through it without dealing with boring monologues. This makes Crossfire highly attractive to younger readers.
Review by Anya A, 13, Metropolitan Washington Mensa
August 19, 2018
"Cross Fire" was a great sequel to Exo that wraps up all the major plotlines and possibilities. The zhree, an alien race, are divided between Mur and Rii. The Mur have colonized Earth over a hundred years ago and work side-by-side with many humans in groups they call erze (kind of like a family group, organized by skill). Some of these humans are hardened (called Exos), which means they were given an exocel when they were young, which gives them protection, strength, and other finer skills. The hardening process isn't perfect and several young children die during it.
Of course, not all humans are happy to have the zhree on their planet, and the main resistance is Sapience, which has now splintered into the Human Action Party, a political group working to promote humans, and True Sapience, a more violent/extreme extension of terrorists. Most of Sapience's former activities were terrorist in nature with bombing buildings, assassinating leaders, and killing Exos they find. Exos are seen as the enemies and "pets" of the zhree (also called shrooms). However, they are independent people who work in harmony for the most part.
Donovan is a soldier-in-erze, who lost both of his parents in the first book. He has been called upon by the zhree to participate in their discussions to decide who will follow his father as the Prime Liaison, and this has given him unwanted political capital. Add to that, the girl he loves is in Sapience, and Donovan is carrying a lot of weight. Everything is about to change when the Mur decide to evacuate Earth and take some of the healthy, young, hardened Exos with them. Lines are drawn and violence and tension on Earth escalate.
Donovan has some tough decisions to make as the sides are blurred and what is best for humans and Earth becomes even murkier. This sequel is even more action-packed than the first and gives more insight into the aliens and world created here. I really liked the additional background and world building in this book, but it does get pretty slow in the middle. However, I liked how well everything was wrapped up and how things are changing on Earth.
This series has some interesting insights into colonization and immigration that I think are really worth talking about- there's no clear right and wrong here, and how it's handled is really fascinating. This is something you don't often see in a YA series. I really enjoyed this conclusion to the duology and highly recommend it for YA readers of all ages!
Of course, not all humans are happy to have the zhree on their planet, and the main resistance is Sapience, which has now splintered into the Human Action Party, a political group working to promote humans, and True Sapience, a more violent/extreme extension of terrorists. Most of Sapience's former activities were terrorist in nature with bombing buildings, assassinating leaders, and killing Exos they find. Exos are seen as the enemies and "pets" of the zhree (also called shrooms). However, they are independent people who work in harmony for the most part.
Donovan is a soldier-in-erze, who lost both of his parents in the first book. He has been called upon by the zhree to participate in their discussions to decide who will follow his father as the Prime Liaison, and this has given him unwanted political capital. Add to that, the girl he loves is in Sapience, and Donovan is carrying a lot of weight. Everything is about to change when the Mur decide to evacuate Earth and take some of the healthy, young, hardened Exos with them. Lines are drawn and violence and tension on Earth escalate.
Donovan has some tough decisions to make as the sides are blurred and what is best for humans and Earth becomes even murkier. This sequel is even more action-packed than the first and gives more insight into the aliens and world created here. I really liked the additional background and world building in this book, but it does get pretty slow in the middle. However, I liked how well everything was wrapped up and how things are changing on Earth.
This series has some interesting insights into colonization and immigration that I think are really worth talking about- there's no clear right and wrong here, and how it's handled is really fascinating. This is something you don't often see in a YA series. I really enjoyed this conclusion to the duology and highly recommend it for YA readers of all ages!
April 5, 2022
Donovan is back with his squad of Exos, soldiers enhanced by the alien rulers of Earth with bioarmor, his abduction by and confused relationship with human separatists of the past not forgotten, as it cost him both his parents, but seemingly behind him, ready to do his part to fight against the terrorists who think he's an abomination. Until an inspection from the alien homeworld reveals that the alien rule--and protection that went along with it--might be withdrawn, which sends everything into chaos, as the existing government and the newly emboldened separatists try to prepare for the world that might come after... if there even is a world left.
This is the sequel to *Exo*, and I remembered enjoying that book and feeling that, for a YA book, it provided a remarkably nuanced take on a post-alien-colonialism Earth, where two sides were still completely at odds, but good people could belong to both groups and you could see valid points. That type of nuance continues here, although there's an outside threat (and people who are from the colonizer's home planet) that doesn't really get much beyond 'obviously bad guys.' It does still feel like a YA novel in certain undefinable ways, the way the romance and friendship beats feel, how fast some of the story beats move for the importance of the events... I don't say that to denigrate YA novels, there are a lot of great ones, but it does feel like, even aside from the younger-or-newly adult characters, they strive to be a bit more of a lighter, breezy read (even when dealing with extremely weighty subjects) which is exactly what I need sometimes but not what I'm looking for as my main book-reading diet and I assume others are probably the same way (and still others exactly the opposite), so I point it out only to say it still feels on the YA end of that spectrum, albeit a bit closer to in-between.
I think I liked it to about the same degree as the first book, although not exactly the same. It feels a bit more rushed to get through all the points to where society ends up, but there were other things it did better (the 'relationship-across-the-lines' in particular felt a bit better portrayed than I remember from the first time around). It might not have impressed me as much, just because I'd already expected the nuance from the first book, but at least it didn't violate that expectation. So three stars again seems fair.
This is the sequel to *Exo*, and I remembered enjoying that book and feeling that, for a YA book, it provided a remarkably nuanced take on a post-alien-colonialism Earth, where two sides were still completely at odds, but good people could belong to both groups and you could see valid points. That type of nuance continues here, although there's an outside threat (and people who are from the colonizer's home planet) that doesn't really get much beyond 'obviously bad guys.' It does still feel like a YA novel in certain undefinable ways, the way the romance and friendship beats feel, how fast some of the story beats move for the importance of the events... I don't say that to denigrate YA novels, there are a lot of great ones, but it does feel like, even aside from the younger-or-newly adult characters, they strive to be a bit more of a lighter, breezy read (even when dealing with extremely weighty subjects) which is exactly what I need sometimes but not what I'm looking for as my main book-reading diet and I assume others are probably the same way (and still others exactly the opposite), so I point it out only to say it still feels on the YA end of that spectrum, albeit a bit closer to in-between.
I think I liked it to about the same degree as the first book, although not exactly the same. It feels a bit more rushed to get through all the points to where society ends up, but there were other things it did better (the 'relationship-across-the-lines' in particular felt a bit better portrayed than I remember from the first time around). It might not have impressed me as much, just because I'd already expected the nuance from the first book, but at least it didn't violate that expectation. So three stars again seems fair.
August 21, 2024
Hmm, complicated feelings about this one.
Despite my disagreements with some of the book’s moralistic aspects, I really enjoyed its action scenes. The plotting and pacing were excellent, which means I still basically binged this.
Despite my disagreements with some of the book’s moralistic aspects, I really enjoyed its action scenes. The plotting and pacing were excellent, which means I still basically binged this.
July 8, 2022
I enjoyed this book, it was a good YA book. I think the ending wrapped things up enough - I don't really believe things will just be smooth sailing or anything but I think it ended on a positive note. I think it was a solid sequel to the first book.
I liked that not all the zhee are the same, they have their own personalities and beliefs despite the fact that their society isn't individualistic. Many of them were hatched on Earth and have never been to their homeworld and understand humans a lot better.
This book series does explore colonialism (as did the previous) and how different individuals have different perspectives based on their own lives, descendants of the colonizers aren't necessarily more loyal to where their roots were, they know where they've grown up & lived themselves.
I find Kevin & Jarvin to be insufferable. I think their personalities are probably in line with some people who are far-right and in terrorist organizations, but they're very unlikable. I felt frustrated by them for not being able to understand the bigger picture or not having any sort of real plan beyond killing as many exos & zhee as they could.
I do think I may have liked Donovan a bit more in this book, both his parents are dead so he wasn't having all the conflict with regards to trying to save the life of a mother who abandoned him and whatnot, he was more looking at the practical side of what is in the best interest for humans overall and what do about the Rii.
I liked that not all the zhee are the same, they have their own personalities and beliefs despite the fact that their society isn't individualistic. Many of them were hatched on Earth and have never been to their homeworld and understand humans a lot better.
This book series does explore colonialism (as did the previous) and how different individuals have different perspectives based on their own lives, descendants of the colonizers aren't necessarily more loyal to where their roots were, they know where they've grown up & lived themselves.
I find Kevin & Jarvin to be insufferable. I think their personalities are probably in line with some people who are far-right and in terrorist organizations, but they're very unlikable. I felt frustrated by them for not being able to understand the bigger picture or not having any sort of real plan beyond killing as many exos & zhee as they could.
I do think I may have liked Donovan a bit more in this book, both his parents are dead so he wasn't having all the conflict with regards to trying to save the life of a mother who abandoned him and whatnot, he was more looking at the practical side of what is in the best interest for humans overall and what do about the Rii.
December 9, 2019
This book was super interesting, and had me on the edge of my seat while I was reading it. Cross Fire by Fonda Lee is a science fiction novel about an exo soldier named Donovan after the third world war when aliens ended up conquering earth and converting humans into hardened exos. In the middle of the book, Earth is attacked andd conquered by more aliens, which is bad news for every thing on the planet. One meaningful passage is found on page 247-248. It is spoken by Donovan after he goes and tries to find help for his friends. It says "'There'll be lots of exos left on Earth,' Donovan said at the end. 'Including an awful lot of soldiers-in-erze with weapons and training, but who can't use their armor against zhree. I told you before that I'm not special, and it's true. There are hundreds of thousands of stripes like me who would fight the Rii if we could, with Sapience if we had to.'" This passage stood out to me because it really showed the true character of Donovan, and his selflessness. He goes and speaks to the exos former enemy just to try and help millions of people, not just exos survive. Later in the chapter, he even willingly lets someone perform brain surgery on him so that more people can survive the war, even if he doesn't.
December 11, 2021
I really like this book but did not find it as gripping as the first one.
I found the relationships more strenuous and was not as endeared by Donovan as in the first book. The fast pace and action definitely held me on the edge of my seat but I felt less connected to Donovan and surprised by his choices, albeit dumb and reckless, but that was what was part of the charm in the first book.. Where his character fluctuated in the first book, I found his potential had been dulled in this second instalment. I would have also preferred more Donovan and Jet time..
But I think the reason why I felt quite detached from the text was the gut-wrenching depictions of trauma in this text. I think in a reflex of preservation or something I made myself become numb or uninterested with the plot or characters because, holy crap, it was A LOT to take in! I felt very overwhelmed a couple of times that I had to put the book down for days to get back into a better morale. Ultimately this is the reason why it took me so long to finish this book... It was VERY painful and the depression essentially permeated the book which made it very difficult to shake off the sadness when the action was going on.
I found the relationships more strenuous and was not as endeared by Donovan as in the first book. The fast pace and action definitely held me on the edge of my seat but I felt less connected to Donovan and surprised by his choices, albeit dumb and reckless, but that was what was part of the charm in the first book.. Where his character fluctuated in the first book, I found his potential had been dulled in this second instalment. I would have also preferred more Donovan and Jet time..
But I think the reason why I felt quite detached from the text was the gut-wrenching depictions of trauma in this text. I think in a reflex of preservation or something I made myself become numb or uninterested with the plot or characters because, holy crap, it was A LOT to take in! I felt very overwhelmed a couple of times that I had to put the book down for days to get back into a better morale. Ultimately this is the reason why it took me so long to finish this book... It was VERY painful and the depression essentially permeated the book which made it very difficult to shake off the sadness when the action was going on.
January 12, 2024
A strong sequel where book 2 effectively built on the foundation of Exo, ran with it and never looked back. The pacing and storytelling was a lot more tight, higher stakes and really immersive sci-fi building - probably one of the best series I've read in this genre.
The Green Bone Saga/Exo series are so incredibly different, it's like comparing apples and oranges.
The characterisation slightly let me down, Donovan is just about interesting enough as a protagonist ti follow, I loved the idea and concept behind his best friend relationship with Jet but I feel Jet became more of a plot device to show somebody who's loyal to the Empire. It got repetitive and slightly stale towards the end. I'm still not sold on the romance but it wasn't a huge part of the story, plus it was nice to see recognition on both sides that there was a level of insta-love (not a fan of) rather than a relationship of substance.
The ending was happier than expected and after reading it, felt less important to the story overall. The journey of the story in exploring themes of survival, unpicking a symbiotic relationship with colonisers, loyalty, freedom to choose, morality were all well done.
The Green Bone Saga/Exo series are so incredibly different, it's like comparing apples and oranges.
The characterisation slightly let me down, Donovan is just about interesting enough as a protagonist ti follow, I loved the idea and concept behind his best friend relationship with Jet but I feel Jet became more of a plot device to show somebody who's loyal to the Empire. It got repetitive and slightly stale towards the end. I'm still not sold on the romance but it wasn't a huge part of the story, plus it was nice to see recognition on both sides that there was a level of insta-love (not a fan of) rather than a relationship of substance.
The ending was happier than expected and after reading it, felt less important to the story overall. The journey of the story in exploring themes of survival, unpicking a symbiotic relationship with colonisers, loyalty, freedom to choose, morality were all well done.
July 19, 2018
The second is just as good as the first. Same extremely nuanced morality, same incredibly difficult situations, same complex moral choices without resorting to the grimdark or people just being generally awful. I cannot recommend this book series highly enough, especially for intelligent young children. Most books for young children are fairly morally straightforward. There is simply good guys and bad guys and while people make mistakes it's still pretty easy to tell. The next step up adds the sex, drugs and rock and roll that I love, but isn't really something that my 10 year old is ready for. This book series though has all the difficult moral decisions but in ways that even young children can understand, and adults can find compelling. Without any sort of troubling things that may not be age appropriate.
Seriously, great series especially to read with your kids, but even for adults I recommend it. This the second book, first book is called Exo.
Seriously, great series especially to read with your kids, but even for adults I recommend it. This the second book, first book is called Exo.
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