Riftwake

In Riftwake, the Cytoverse opens into a new era, one defined not by alien armadas but by uncertainty. Created by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson, this developing trilogy builds on the legacy of the Skyward novels while charting a more unsettled course. The battles that once united humanity are over. What remains is the harder task of deciding who humanity will become.

The first book, Blightfall, sends Skyward Flight on what should be a diplomatic escort mission, a sign that the Defiant Defense Force is finally stepping into a galaxy of alliances rather than firefights. Instead, they arrive at a world half swallowed by invasive forests and surrounded by drifting wreckage, a planet that feels less like a new beginning and more like a warning. The isolated human settlement they hope to greet does not fit the narrative of easy reunion. Suspicion replaces celebration. Survival instincts resurface.

What sets this series apart within young adult science fiction and military space opera is its focus on aftermath. The starfighters still streak across hostile skies, and the tension of tactical maneuvering remains sharp, but the deeper conflict lies in leadership and trust. Arturo Mendez, now carrying the weight of command, must navigate more than enemy fire. He faces fractured loyalties, hidden histories, and the uncomfortable truth that freedom does not erase the scars of occupation.