Book Review | Illuminae

 

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

Hardcover, First Edition, 608 pages

Published October 20th 2015

5 stars

< LoAding >
< eRror >
Emotions swirling, whirling like a universe being devoured by a black hole. I FeeL …
< ErroR >
anxiety and pain and laughter and fear and happiness…
and pain!
< ErroR >
And I LoVed every minute of it

< AM I NOT MERCIFUL? >

I DON’T EVEN KNOW HOW TO LIFE RIGHT NOW!!!
All these emotions
These ████ing emotions!
Someone save me because I am dead

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The Story

(Goodreads synopsis):

“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 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 even talking to each other—are forced to fight 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.

BRIEFING NOTE: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.“

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What I Liked

this book will crush your soul with anxiety and pain and watch you die a hundred times. It will murder you with images and words and watch you burn like a sun. It will take you on a journey you have never experienced, so fresh and unique and beautiful.

If you have ever taken the time to flip through this book you may have thought to yourself….
“ok, this ████ looks craaaaazy.”
Well … you’re right … crazy awesome!

Tbh, I have not had great luck with “file type” stories in the past. I was very concerned that the format of this book would remove me from the story, from the characters, and from this world. Well chum, no need to fret! The depth of these characters and this world had no problem transcending the format of this book. In fact, the incredible design of this book somehow managed to greatly intensify my experience and my connection and MY ANXIETY! I felt so incredibly connected to these characters and to this amazing story.

As far as characters go, there are no shrinking violets here. Our female MC Kady is totally kickass in a “use your brain ladies” sort of way and I LOVE it! Plus … SHE HAS PINK HAIR! (I have pink hair!)

“She is catalyst.
She is chaos.
I can see why he loves her.”

The whole cast of characters in this story really drew me into their struggles, emotions, and relationships!

Plus Ezra is basically the love of my life. So much snark!

the writing. Again, another fear I had about the “file like” format of this book has been completely laid to rest! No worries here chum! The writing is absolutely beautiful and poetic and so well constructed. I am in awe!

The emotional roller coaster this book provided was so intense, it was out of this ████ing universe!

We have love …

“You have me. Until the last star in the galaxy dies, you have me.”

and action …

“He presses the triggers. And like roses in his hands, death blooms.”

and fear …

“Are you afraid?”
“Yes.”
“Energy never stops, remember. It just changes forms.”
“I am still afraid.”

and pain …

“I should have told you I loved you every day. I should have given you the stars.”

and humor …

“Ezra: You’re taping this, right?
Interviewer: Audio only. Camera is faulty.
Ezra: Okay, well for the benefit of the sight-impaired, I am now raising my… oh, dear… yes, it’s my MIDDLE finger at Mr. Postgrad here.
Interviewer: Mr. Mason…
Ezra: Now I’m wiggling it.”

and dangers of all sorts …

“There is something in humanity more suited to the mechanics of murder than any machine yet devised.”

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In Conclusion

This book is unlike anything I have ever experienced before chum. It’s a ████ing piece of art and should be in a museum. I ████ you not, this book absolutely slayed every expectation I had.

READ THE ████ING BOOK ALREADY!!!

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