Illuminae by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff | Immersive and unconventionally written Sci-fi you MUST read!

Never have I ever… read a sci-fi book THAT good!

Never have I ever… heard about anything similar!

Never have I ever… seen such an unconventional story-telling!

The list can go on! If you read «Illuminae» before, why don’t you join the game in the comments down below?

I knew I would love this novel, however I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did and I was slightly worried about the way the story is told, a little bit apprehensive that I won’t be able to connect with the characters. But fear not! It was truly a unique reading experience that I intend to repeat as soon as possible – «Gemina» will be just as great!

5/5 Stars

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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The first page of the book will tell you that you are about to read a compilation of files about the Kerenza tragedy sent to the Executive Director Frobisher by the Illuminae Group. It is time for everyone to know the truth!

We only get a glimpse of the epic war between the mega-corporations, fighting for resources, control and power, with no regard for human lives.

The story follows Kady Grant and Ezra Mason through interviews, e-mail, IMs, military reports, surveillance cameras and journal entries, as they were stationed on different ships – Kady on Hipatia and Ezra on Alexander.

Kady’s character was one of the most enjoyable perspectives to read from. Her intelligence combined with healthy doses of sarcasm and wittiness, made the story incredibly gripping. She wanted to know the truth and she was getting it through any means, even if it involved breaking the law.

Some of the IMs between Ezra and Kady made me laugh out loud. That combination of survival, intense settings, terrifying events and humor was what made me fall in love with this book.

And when I say intense, I mean INTENSE! It was incredibly vivid and emotional. The events were pushing all of the characters to their absolute limits and beyond, mentally and physically. I was there with them through all of it!  And that is what I want from books – transporting me into their settings, make me feel everything the characters feel!

You might wonder, like I did:

 what if the unconventional storytelling will not be gripping enough?

And my answer is: “It is BEYOND gripping!” I was on that ship with the characters the entire time! Reading this compilations of various files made it very interactive, all I wanted was to keep turning pages.

There was one thing that I found a little bit weird, AIDAN – Artificial Intelligence Defence Analytics Network, seemed a little bit too emotional for an AI. I understand the premises and the context, but still it is something that stood out for me while reading the book.

My rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5

It is my new favourite and my “favourites 2017” shelf on Goodreads keeps growing! «Gemina» will be my next read and have you seen the Obsidio cover? It’s beautiful! 

With love,

Alex

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