LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff
Series: Lifelike #1
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult
Published by Knopf (5.29.2018)
ARC, 416 pages
Source: From Publisher
On an island junkyard beneath a sky that glows with radiation, a deadly secret lies buried in the scrap.
Seventeen-year-old Eve isn’t looking for trouble–she’s too busy looking over her shoulder. The robot gladiator she spent months building has been reduced to a smoking wreck, she’s on the local gangster’s wanted list, and the only thing keeping her grandpa alive is the money she just lost to the bookies. Worst of all, she’s discovered she can somehow destroy machines with the power of her mind, and a bunch of puritanical fanatics are building a coffin her size because of it.
If she’s ever had a worse day, Eve can’t remember it. The problem is, Eve has had a worse day–one that lingers in her nightmares and the cybernetic implant where her memories used to be. Her discovery of a handsome android named Ezekiel–called a “Lifelike” because they resemble humans–will bring her world crashing down and make her question whether her entire life is a lie.
With her best friend Lemon Fresh and her robotic sidekick Cricket in tow, Eve will trek across deserts of glass, battle unkillable bots, and infiltrate towering megacities to save the ones she loves… and learn the truth about the bloody secrets of her past.
MY REVIEW
It was okay to be afraid.
You just couldn’t let that fear stop you.
Um, WHERE DO I EVEN START?! I don’t know why Jay’s ability to blow my freakin’ mind (and massacre my emotions) always surprises me. It’s been so long since we had a new world from him that I was worried it wouldn’t live up to how hyped up I had made it in my mind. IT DID, OF COURSE. I have loved the shit out of every single thing Jay has published!
This book is INTENSE from start to finish. Action-packed, heart-stopping, and full of adrenaline, it grips you by the balls and doesn’t let go! (Well, metaphorical balls. Since I don’t have any. Whatever, you get the point.) There was never a dull moment. I loved it from the first page to the very last (shocking) page!
“Stronger together.”
“Together forever.”
The characters!!! I loved every single one of them! They each had their own special little personality and felt real! I loved the crap out of Lemon Fresh and Cricket! I loved how snarky they both were, especially the little robot. (“Don’t call me little!”) View Spoiler » And Kaiser!!! I want a Kaiser! Eve was such a badass MC, too! And the friendship between Eve and Lemon is absolutely bestie goals. They are one of my fave fictional friendships, I just loved them together so much!
“You’re my bestest. Your past doesn’t make calls on your future. It doesn’t matter who you were. Only who you are.”
ALL. THE. FEELS. Jay always knows just how to play with my heartstrings! I felt it all – shock, awe, desperation, humor, excitement, HEARTBREAK. PAIN. Oh my lord. It’s honestly really hard to talk about anything without spoiling it, but trust me when I say you are in for one WILD ride with this book! It’s pitched as “part Romeo and Juliet, part Terminator, and all adrenaline” it felt very much like “part I, Robot, part Blade Runner, part Mad Max, and all awesome.” And yes, plenty of adrenaline!! Holy crap! It had a hardcore I, Robot feel to it because of the androids and the three laws, the Glass scene reminded me of Fury Road, and the end reminded me of scenes in Blade Runner 2049. I can see the Terminator but it really felt nothing like Romeo and Juliet except for the fact that Jay is incapable of writing a happy ever after, heh. This is NOT a romance. So don’t go in expecting one.
View Spoiler »That ending!!! I am DYING to know where things go in book 2! I need closure, dammit. And answers. WHY JAY, WHY.
Favorite quotes
…there’s nothing quite the same as sitting with a real book in your hands. Breathing in the ink, and feeling all those wonderful lives beneath your fingertips. In between the pages, I’m an emperor. An adventurer. A warrior and a wanderer. In between the pages I’m not myself – and more myself than any other place on earth.
“Will you shut up?” Ezekiel bellowed.
“Right after you pucker up and kiss my shiny metal man parts!”
[Eve] “You got no man parts, Crick! Shiny or otherwise!”
It’s simple to love someone on the days that are easy. But you find out what your love is made of on the days that are hard.”
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Plot: 5/5
Premise: 5/5
Writing style: 5/5
Originality: 3.5/5
Characters: 5/5
World-building: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Feels: 5/5
Cover: 4/5
Overall rating: 5/5
Purchase the book
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About the author
Jay Kristoff is a #1 international, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of science fiction and fantasy. He grew up in the second most isolated capital city on earth and fled at his earliest convenience, although he’s been known to trek back for weddings of the particularly nice and funerals of the particularly wealthy. Being the holder of an Arts degree, he has no education to speak of.
His LOTUS WAR trilogy was critically acclaimed in Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, nominated for the David Gemmell Morningstar and Legend awards and won the 2014 Aurealis Award. Jay’s new series, the SciFi thriller THE ILLUMINAE FILES, was co-authored with Amie Kaufman. Book 1, ILLUMINAE, became a New York Times and international bestseller, was named among the Kirkus, Amazon and YALSA Best Books of 2015, became a finalist for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award and won the 2016 Aurealis Award and an ABIA Book of the Year award. ILLUMINAE is currently slated to be published in thirty five countries, and film rights have been acquired by Brad Pitt and Plan B Entertainment.
Jay’s new fantasy series, THE NEVERNIGHT CHRONICLE, commenced in 2016. The novel was an international bestseller, won the Aurealis award and earned Kristoff his second Gemmell nomination. Part 2, GODSGRAVE, was published in 2017, and won the series its second Aurealis award. A new YA series, LIFEL1K3 has also been acquired by Knopf/Random House Kids, and commences publication in early 2018. A new series with Amie Kaufman, THE ANDROMEDA CYCLE, begins in 2019 with Knopf/Random House Kids. Jay is as surprised about all this as you are. He is represented by Josh Adams at Adams Literary.
Jay is 6’7 and has approximately 12,000 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the world’s laziest Jack Russell.
He does not believe in happy endings.
Website | Twitter | Facebook |Instagram | Goodreads
Promotional offers
US PRE-ORDER GIVEAWAY
The LIFEL1K# pre-order is now live for folks in the US! To get your sticky booky hands on a full color map of the Yousay by the amazing Virginia Allyn and four brill LIFEL1K3 bookmarks with illustrations by the incredibly talented Mona May, all you need to is:
- Pre order LIFEL1K3 (Amazon/Barnes&Noble/Indiebound/Powells/Book Depository/ it doesn’t matter from where, just get a receipt)
- Head to getunderlined.com and search for “Lifel1k3”. Or better yet, just click HERE.
- Enter your details and upload your receipt.
- Profit.
AUSSIE & NEW ZEALAND GIVEAWAY
How to enter: Take a SELFIE with a copy of LIFEL1K3 and SHARE IT using #LIFEL1K3comp for your chance to win tickets for you and a friend to go to any concert of your choice!
Entry is open to Australian and New Zealand residents only. Terms and Conditions apply. Ends 09/05/2018.
More details: https://a.pgtb.me/mlvSGS
Giveaway
And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for! 3 winners will receive a finished copy of LIFEL1K3 (US Only)!
Tour schedule
Week One:
5/14/2018- Mary Had a Little Book Blog– Review
5/15/2018- Fiction Fare– Review
5/16/2018- Birdie Bookworm– Review
5/17/2018- Novel Heartbeat– Review
5/18/2018- Bookish In Bed– Review
Week Two:
5/21/2018- Portrait of a Book– Review
5/22/2018- Confessions of a YA Reader– Review
5/23/2018- Emily Reads Everything– Review
5/24/2018- Zach’s YA Reviews– Review
5/25/2018- The Bookish Libra– Review
Week Three:
5/28/2018- Feed Your Fiction Addiction– Review
5/29/2018- Diary of an Avid Reader– Review
5/30/2018- Here’s to Happy Endings– Review
5/31/2018- Book-Keeping– Review
6/1/2018- Nerdophiles– Review
Week Four:
6/4/2018- Smada’s Book Smack– Review
6/5/2018- Novel Novice– Review
6/6/2018- The Book Nut– Review
6/7/2018- Book Briefs– Review
6/8/2018- A Gingerly Review– Review
I cannot wait for this book! It’s one of my most anticipated books of 2018! :)
I am really looking forward to reading it!
This book looks great! I love that the author was able to bring in all of those emotions. Great review!!