Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Illuminae

by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

Description:

For fans of Marie Lu and James Dashner comes the first book in an epic new series.

“Brace yourself. You're about to be immersed in a mindscape that you'll never want to leave.”
—Marie Lu, New York Times bestselling author of the Legend trilogy

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 one of the 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.

Review:

Okay. I feel like an absolute idiot waiting for so long to read this book. I was actually approved by netgalley.com and the publisher some time ago to review a E-ARC of this book and had been hearing some buzz about it but wasn't convinced to read it until the hype really got real. I actually ended up purchasing a physical copy once I realized the unique publication.

I think waiting is the biggest mistake all year because I can not imagine a better written or published book that will top my list this year. That is really saying something considering I have read over 150 full length novels this year.

Although I received a copy for review I also purchased a hard copy to better get a grasp of the formatting of the book and all opinions associated with this post are my own.

First, lets talk about the actual formatting of the book. The story is told in several different ways. Some with IM conversations, government documents recounting events, diary entries, and others forms like recalling what is said in a story format over a loud speaker etc. It is also told from an unknown perspective or a perspective that switches often. Part is told by the "government official" reviewing all the events and evidence, part is told by the Artificial Intelligence system in charge of the ship, and all is told in past tense as something that has already occurred. The pages are all presented in a way the agrees with the type of conversation occurring and often looks like computer files and entries but with notes from the reviewer or points of interesting content based on the speakers mood. It is VERY difficult to describe but very intelligently done and adds such a welcome dynamic to the book that made it difficult to put down.

The book might be just short of 600 pages but it really reads more like a 300-400 page story due to the formatting. I can't say enough how brilliant the structure of the book is and how innovative the writers are for choosing to present their content in this way. 

The story, however, could easily stand on it's own no matter the formatting. It was action packed and heart felt and thought out. It is a Sci-Fi story but it also has a romantic element from one obvious love interest and one surprising one. It also contains an element of a pathogen that leads to some negative behaviors in all the people who come down with the illness. 

I don't want to give too much away but the basics include a future where two corporations fighting over resources are each trying to obtain a certain resource from a planet in the far galaxy. One company, Beitech decides to attack the planet and kill all of it's residence to set up their own illegal mining operation.

A government ship hears the distress call from the planet and goes to help which allows for the rescue of several thousand citizens but not long after Beitech has released a deadly pathogen on a section of the city. 

Our main character is a young woman named Kady Grant who has just broken up with her boyfriend Ezra that morning. The story is about the citizens trying to outrun the evil corporation who want to leave no witnesses about the deadly attack they laid on this small planet and it's people. The damage to the governmental ships will not allow a jump into hyperspace until a place 6 months away. These six months are where the story takes place. 

This story is AMAZING. If you like action and adventure, sci-fi, romance, futuristic technology, or books unlike anything you have ever read that I suggest going out and purchasing this ASAP. 

I think I am going to write a post about the most unique books I have read this year sometime soon and this will definitely be going on that list. 

My Star Rating:

5 out of 5

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