DanaSquare
  • Home
  • About
  • Archive
    • 2013-2014 Book Reviews
    • 2012 Book Reviews
    • Book VS. Movie Reviews
  • Review Policy and Requests
  • Contact

Friday, March 11, 2016

Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

with 2 comments
23395680Title: Illuminae
Series: The Illuminae Files #1
Authors: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Pages: 599
Format: ARC
Received: At BEA
Published: October 20th, 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Book Description:
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.
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
I went into Illuminae completely blind. I didn't know anything about the plot or this book, other than the fact that words were blocked out. This book completely blew my mind. 

The interior formatting was just incredible. Hats off to the authors and publisher for working out all of the amazing AIDAN pages. It was incredibly unique and unlike anything I had ever seen in a book before. It added so much to the world-buliding. I loved that were was never a traditional narrative, but the story was still just as powerful. The most interesting part was the narrative voice of AIDAN and being able to read the thoughts of an artificial intelligence system who became a character that you felt an emotional connection to made this novel even more brilliant. 

The beginning was a bit hard to get into and adjust to the style. I wasn't quite sure where this story was heading, but once the story picked up I was hooked. The use of the interviews, emails, IMs, and other various uses of storytelling made it a fast read. 

Kady was just an incredible character. Kaufman and Kristoff just dragged my heart throughout space. I cried so much. So many tears. It was glorious. There were so many amazing plot twists. My heart dropped into my stomach way too many times. There were plenty of very brutal moments that I didn't expect when I started this book.

This is the best YA in space novel that I have read, and it is one of the best YA novels that I have read in a while. I cannot recommend this book enough. If your not into scifi, you just need to experience this book. Illuminae is a breath of fresh air and I can't wait to see what Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff have in store for Gemina. This author collaboration was my everything. 





Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest
Labels: 5 stars, Amie Kaufman, BEA, Illuminae, Jay Kristoff, science fiction, space, YA
Newer Post Older Post Home

2 comments:

  1. Stephanie KayeMarch 15, 2016 at 11:48 AM

    I started this, but then life got in the way and I never picked it back up. I was only on page 80 or something. I really need to finish this one though, because I have heard GREAT things. And it just needs to happen!

    Great review, Dana! <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
      Reply
  2. Ri TamMarch 18, 2016 at 2:26 PM

    Ooooo. Illuminae has been sitting in my book pile for a while now and it's such a gorgeous book to look at, but I'm glad that the story is just as great as the exterior! I've seen some of the pictures of really interesting text art pages and I'm excited for whenever I decide to pick this one up! Wonderful review! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
      Reply
Add comment
Load more...

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Search This Blog

Grab my button!

Danasquare

Total Pageviews

Join The Book Club

Square In Wonderland Book Club
Square In Wonderland Book Club 22 members
Book Club from the combining forces of Dana from Dana Square (http://www.danasquare.blogspot.com/...

Books we've read



View this group on Goodreads »

Followers

Follow For Updates By E-mail!

My Work In Progress

Current Work In Progress: In His Darkness - First Draft Finished

50000 / 50000 words. 100% done! Finding Autumn - First Draft

12000 / 50000 words. 24% done!

Blog Archive

  • ►  2018 (22)
    • ►  August (2)
    • ►  July (5)
    • ►  June (5)
    • ►  May (10)
  • ►  2017 (12)
    • ►  June (3)
    • ►  May (4)
    • ►  February (2)
    • ►  January (3)
  • ▼  2016 (93)
    • ►  December (3)
    • ►  November (3)
    • ►  October (1)
    • ►  September (5)
    • ►  August (4)
    • ►  July (16)
    • ►  June (20)
    • ►  May (11)
    • ►  April (10)
    • ▼  March (13)
      • 10 Of My Most Recent 5 Star Reads
      • Waiting on Wednesday: The Glittering Court by Rich...
      • Ten Books I Really Love But Feel Like I Haven't Ta...
      • Dumplin' by Julie Murphy | Review
      • Waiting On Wednesday: The Beauty of Darkness by Ma...
      • Ten Books on My Spring TBR
      • Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff...
      • We the Animals by Justin Torres | "What Did I Just...
      • Becoming Jinn by Lori Goldstein | E-Book Sale
      • Square After Dark: Brooding Billionaires
      • Review: Titans by Victoria Scott
      • Waiting on Wednesday: Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E...
      • Top Ten Books if You are in the Mood for a Steamy ...
    • ►  February (4)
    • ►  January (3)
  • ►  2015 (253)
    • ►  December (16)
    • ►  November (7)
    • ►  October (22)
    • ►  September (29)
    • ►  August (9)
    • ►  July (16)
    • ►  June (25)
    • ►  May (34)
    • ►  April (24)
    • ►  March (32)
    • ►  February (21)
    • ►  January (18)
  • ►  2014 (190)
    • ►  December (17)
    • ►  November (11)
    • ►  October (25)
    • ►  September (34)
    • ►  August (33)
    • ►  July (14)
    • ►  June (13)
    • ►  May (6)
    • ►  April (17)
    • ►  March (5)
    • ►  February (5)
    • ►  January (10)
  • ►  2013 (275)
    • ►  December (10)
    • ►  November (12)
    • ►  October (16)
    • ►  September (39)
    • ►  August (38)
    • ►  July (34)
    • ►  June (22)
    • ►  May (21)
    • ►  April (12)
    • ►  March (10)
    • ►  February (20)
    • ►  January (41)
  • ►  2012 (229)
    • ►  December (31)
    • ►  November (27)
    • ►  October (23)
    • ►  September (18)
    • ►  August (35)
    • ►  July (25)
    • ►  June (14)
    • ►  May (21)
    • ►  April (16)
    • ►  March (19)
  • ►  2011 (3)
    • ►  October (3)

Popular Posts

  • Discussion: Writing and My WIPs
    May was a crazy month for me. From Meet The Newbies, to finals, and BEA; there was just so much going on but in all of that I got back in...
  • Outlander: Book and TV Show Discussion
    Book Description: The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on ...
  • Guest Review + Discussion by Carmel + Kyla: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin Benway
    The series that we are going to talk about today is The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May, & June by Robin Benway (Note: Ma...
  • 99 Days by Katie Cotugno | Blogtour: Review, Guest Post, + Giveaway
    99 Days by  Katie Cotugno 384 pages Publisher: Balzer + Bray Release Date: April 21st 2015 Read an excerpt Rate:  4/5 stars S...
  • Discussion: I'm Blogging For Me
    This week's discussion topic is something that I have decided I need to do more of.  Blogging For Me I had this epiphany a fe...
  • #MeetTheNewbs - Melinda Salisbury Author of The Sin Eater's Daughter (Guest Post + Giveaway)
    Welcome to Meet The Newbies, a co-hosted event from Rachel @ A Perfection Called Books and I, in which we introduce you to all of the ...

Follow Me!

Powered by Blogger.
    Copyright © 2012 DanaSquare | Powered by Blogger
    Layout by Web2feel | Blogger Template by NewBloggerThemes.com
    Subscribe to Posts | Subscribe to Comments
    Subtle Patterns (Subtle Patterns) / CC BY-SA 3.0
    square brushes by runswithvamps