Second Wave, the second installment in the Amargosa Trilogy, continues the story of teenage survivors JT Austin, Davra Andraste, and Eric Yuwono as they resist the Gelt occupation of the colony world Amargosa.
Following the failed initial invasion and retreat of Kray’s militia, the resistance hides in the Founders Mine. Hope is rekindled when a Compact Navy ship, the Ban Ki-moon, crash-lands in the ocean. Commander Cui Yun, known as “Suicide,” organizes a mission to reach the surviving crew by traveling overland across occupied territory.
JT, Eric, and Davra—despite being deemed too young or unqualified—defy orders and sneak off to join Suicide’s team. Along the way, they evade Gelt patrols, survive encounters with unnervingly intelligent lycanths (wolf-like natives), and come under the questionable protection of Tyler Wat, a controversial figure from the Polygamy Wars now working against Kray.
As the resistance team traverses the continent, they face both physical and moral challenges: mounting tensions with Kray’s regrouped forces, revelations of dark pasts (like Wat’s involvement in forced polygamy), and the growing realization that not all their enemies are alien. JT, driven by a promise to his late wife Lizzy, must grow into a reluctant leader. Davra’s technical prowess and Eric’s military discipline are tested as the group nears their objective.
Meanwhile, hints emerge that the lycanths may not be mere beasts—they may be sentient, adding complexity to the war and raising questions about alliances and colonial justice.
The novel blends survival, coming-of-age, and military sci-fi elements with political intrigue, ethical dilemmas, and the seeds of future alliances and conflicts—laying groundwork for the final book in the trilogy.
Preceded by: The Children of Amargosa
Followed by: Storming Amargosa