"Cytonic" is the third in the series of four YA science fiction books about Spensa, a young starship fighter pilot by Brandon Sanderson. Like the first two, I listened to the Audible version read by Sophie Aldred (Ace in Doctor Who). She is very convincing as the teenage protagonist and a wide range of other characters. My only minor criticism was that M-Bot's accent wandered a little, which was strange as he has been a constant character in all three books.

The plot was fun, and the battles and other set scenes exciting, but the changes in Spensa's character failed to convince. Sanderson built the earlier books around the way her confidence grew and the mistakes she made along the way. In this book, the transition to self-confidence and ordering everyone else about, including the ex-monarch of an alien race, seemed too abrupt.

Finally, the epilogue felt tacked on by the publisher in readiness for the final book in the series and just a bit clichéd. I enjoyed this book, but I'm in two minds about whether I will want to buy "Defiant" when it comes out later in 2023.