Illuminae by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff Series: The Illuminae Files #1
Published by Knopf (10.20.2015)
Genres: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Format: ARC, 608 pages
Source: Gifted
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.
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.
My thoughts
WOW. Just wow. This book was my #1 MOST anticipated book of 2015, and let me just say that it did not disappoint! I was absolutely blown away! I don’t know how my review can ever do this book justice. Seriously.
This is the kind of book that is the first of its kind. Every other sci-fi is going to wish it were this book. I know many other writers are going to try to re-create the style of this book in the future. I have never read anything like it! I was super impressed with the setup of this novel. I thought the fact that it’s told in a series of documents, emails, and reports rather than a linear story was epic! It took me much longer to read it, though, because there was SO much to look at. There were so many amazing little details!
The surveillance footage summaries were kinda hilarious! I really enjoyed the sarcastic, unprofessional nature of the voice and the fact that he kept trying to maintain professionalism by censoring and failing!
I know the name of every afflicted person aboard this vessel, Kady. Every person who has died in this fleet. Their histories. Their hopes. Their children’s names. Facts strung about my neck like stones. I know the secrets they whispered as they dreamed. The words they sighed as they died. I know them as no one else did. Perhaps not even themselves. So do not say I do not care.
OMG AIDAN. By the end of the book I was kind of in love with him (it?). Everything he did seemed terrible, but it’s creepy how justified things are when he explains them. I think he did the best he could, given the circumstances. I also found his regard of Kady to be very endearing!
Am I not merciful?
I can’t exactly put the feel of this book into words, but it got to me. When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. This story will consume you. Everything is so convincing, it feels like it actually happened. It sounds silly, but I felt this book to my core.
View Spoiler »I don’t know what more I can say without giving things away, so I will just say this: Read it. You won’t be sorry.
Favorite quotes
You deserve every star in the galaxy laid out at your feet and a thousand diamonds in your hair. You deserve someone who’ll run with you as far and as fast as you want to. Holding your hand, not holding you back.
And like roses in his hands
Death blooms
DUDE, that quote totally gave me goosebumps!
Overall assessment
Plot: 5/5
Premise: 5+/5
Writing style: 5+/5
Originality: 5++/5
Characters: 4.5/5
World-building: 5+/5
Pace: 5+/5
Feels: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall rating: 5+/5
Giveaway
SO MUCH YES TO THIS. And your spoiler part – Agree. We can hold each other. Jeez. I can’t wait to hold this hard cover in my hands. With gloves b/c I don’t want to ruin it with fingerprints or stains or ANYTHING. *builds glass case*
I cannot wait to read this book. Thanks for adding to the hype. I am so glad you loved it.
This book was absolute perfection. It was suspenseful and heartbreaking and hopeful all at the same time.