Skip to main content

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff- 5+/5 stars


This book was fascinating! I was enthralled by it from the very first page. The unique format in which it is written makes it a very fast read, which is something I thoroughly enjoy! It is told through a series of emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, etc. 
It starts off as a very light read. Funny and effortless- in a fun way. But before you get to the half way point your heart will be beating faster... it was an emotional roller-coaster! It is a very very intense book. I was on the edge of my seat for at least 2/3 of the book, and at one point I swore to two good friends (bookstagram: @pikamikareads and @giota_the_reader) I would burn the book when it was done if a certain issue wasn't resolved. I was THAT involved. It was THAT intense. --no worries peeps, book still intact, issue was somewhat resolved-- 😄

The book blurb:
This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she'd have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that's a little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra -who are barely speaking to each other- are forced to flight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what's really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to  find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.


Things I loved:

  • It has a beautiful, epic romance story. And yet, the romance is very low key. It was so well written and well put together. It is a sci-fi book.... but it is a romance book too! Superb writing!
  • It is emotionally intense. There is no way you are not going to get heavily involved in the book.
  • The plot twists are unexpected and some heartbreaking. It is not often an author can write a plot twist you did not see coming. It most certainly happens here. I SCREAMED at the book at one point. You will know exactly which point if you read/have read the book.
  • The AI made me soooo angry. But not because I didn't like the character, but because he was so well written that I felt genuine anger towards him, towards someone who does not freaking exist. I mean...any author that can stir feelings like that in a reader deserves praise... Eventually Aidan -the AI- becomes a character easy to feel for (and I think he is most readers favorite. Not mine though -as per usual! when don't I go against the crowd?! hehe-). His is evil without the intention of being evil. He simply does not understand humans. He can predict their actions, but cannot understand them when they do the unpredictable. It is fascinating! He is not a villain. An anti-hero would be a more accurate description for Aidan. 
  • So many people die.... the authors don't shy away from making the story believable, even if it means killing a different character every few pages.
  • Ezra is hilarious and full of swagger. I really loved his character. I found sad not many reviews mentioned him and focused so much on Aidan. I don't thing Kady would have been half as likable without him, his character made hers a little more human, a little more relatable. 
  • Kady is a genius teenage hacker! super clever and super brave. She is sarcastic and blunt. Now, I am a little tired of all strong female characters out there sharing this very same trades, but it can easily be forgiven here. It is too well done to be off-putting in any way. 
  • And have you seen the book aesthetics? the cover and every page in it... stunning!



And guys.... this is all from someone who is not usually a sci-fi fan! 
Go Read



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Romance Catch Up!

 It has been a crazy month and I fell behind badly on my reviews! But here are some highlights for you. Barbarian Lover (Ice Planet Barbarians #3) Ruby Dixon  2.75/5 Although I liked this one it is my least favorite in the series so far. The book was going well until a little over the halfway point when it just doesn't read right. She accepts leaving someone behind too easily and although up to this point the book does a good job at dealing with infertility it all of sudden throws it all out of the window. So good, I will carry on with the series, but not great. A Precious Jewel (Stapleton-Downes #2) Mary Balogh  3/5 This was different, unique. And I like that about it. I have not read any other book quite like it. She is a prostitute;  he starts of as just any other client. The story was sweet and interesting . The MC comes across  rather clueless at times,  but it is somewhat endearing. The romance is believable  and they make a very charming couple! The Gunslinger's Guide to

Radiant Sin (Dark olympus) by Katee Robert [arc review]

This is sadly, not going to be a very popular review. I adore Katee Robert. But this one just wasn't for me. It wasn't a terrible book or anything like that, it just left me wanting more and very puzzled. Every one of the books in this series follows a certain trope and/or subplot genre. Neon Gods is very much a Greek Mythology retelling;  Electric Idol  has the plus size influencer and the sweet bad boy, it is a very modern contemporary romance;  Wicked Beauty , and my favorite so far has that hunger games/dystopian vibe. Radiant Sin  is a murder mystery. The 'one house'/'one train' style that has always been so popular. Here lies problem number one for me, because I don't like murder mysteries at all. Even on my teen years when I read a lot of mystery it was never those. Problem two- there were way too many characters in that house, and they all got their time on the page making it one very confusing mess. It was very hard to follow at times. I think this

The Book Hater's Book Club by Gretchen Anthony

The Book Hater's Book Club  at first appears to be about a struggling bookstore and its imminent sale. Elliot, the co-owner of Over the Rainbow Bookstore, started  The Book Hater's Book Club , a newsletter of reading recommendations for the self-proclaimed non-readers of the world, because he believed there was a book out there for everyone. Something I wholeheartedly agree with! For years he and Irma have kept the store going and always had a recommendation in hand. When you finish this book, you will have yet another list of books to read.  However, this book is about more than just books and a struggling bookstore. It is also about grief, the price of secrets, and a little more grief.  You see, Elliot is gone, and his grief-ridden business partner has agreed to sell the store to developers. Problem is, she didn't tell that to anyone until the deal was almost done. Which is making her daughters ask questions. Why is she selling? Is it grief alone? Is there something else