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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
AMAZING!!!! I love this series! Now to wait for the third installment!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Patience and Silence had one beautiful daughter. And her name was Vengeance.
prior to picking this book up, i didn't think i was going to be its biggest fan, simply because i loved its predecessor, [b: illuminae|23395680|Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1)|Amie Kaufman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443433956s/23395680.jpg|26653661], a little too much. i honestly could not fathom the possibility that this sequel, a companion novel, at that, not even following the same characters, could make me fall as in love with its story as the first one did.
i've never been more wrong. and it's the first time in my life that i've actually felt happy that i was wrong about something.
[b: gemina|29236299|Gemina (The Illuminae Files, #2)|Amie Kaufman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1480097137s/29236299.jpg|44560442] does follow the same formula as illuminae, but it's so good and strong on its own. one thing that i felt this one lacked was AIDAN's presence, simply because he was, quite possibly, my favorite character in the first book and i wanted to see more from him. i also didn't like hannah as much as i liked kady - nothing particularly wrong with her, we just didn't really click together - but NIK. GOD. i do realize that he's a little bit archetypal. the "bad boy" who's secretly all mushy inside and has a heart of gold, but goddammit, that's my all-time favorite character trope! all of my favorite male characters fall into that category, so i knew, the moment i started reading, i'd end up head over heels and with a new favorite character.
(and i did. I LOVE YOU, PRECIOUS BABY NIKLAS!!!!!)
but honestly, fangirling aside, the thing that really got to me about this one was its plot. i love how these books always start as something relatively simple, and over their 600 or so pages they evolve into something with much more depth. illuminae did it, throwing that crazy ending right at our faces, and gemina certainly doesn't fall behind; it actually takes it up a notch, giving us some pretty hardcore science fiction stuff
Spoiler
MULTIVERSE THEORY, I ADORE YOUbooks are expensive, especially for me, because i don't live in a first-world, english-speaking country and i don't like to read works translated into my language. if i want the physical copy of a book, i have to buy it internationally, and that costs a shitton of money, which is why i read 98% of my books digitally, and then, if they turn out to be a favorite, i get a physical version.
these books are the first in a loooong time that i've instantly bought physical copies of (and hardcovers, because they're too beautiful for me to resist), because they are reads that are fully immersive, and you just need to have the books in your hands for it to work out the way it's supposed to; and i have not regretted this for a single moment.
these books are worth it - every dime, every laughter, and every tear they've made me shed.
if you're looking for a crazy ride -
look no further.
***********
so I was browsing a bookstore today, not planning on buying anything because I'm #broke, when I saw THIS BABY just lying around in all of its hardcover glory and I literally SCREAMED because I never thought I'd find it off the internet, let alone tonight. needless to say I bought it on the spot and now I owe my mom 50 bucks but hey it's worth it!
Space die hard wasn’t as fun as space zombies, and unlike the first one, this book really didn’t use the epistolary form well.
MIND=BLOWN! Although it was a little slow to get into for me, I was more than amazed by the end. I love the inventive style of this series and the SUSPENSE! I was literally gasping every time I turned the page at the end. Brilliant!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Every bit as good as “Illuminae.” I was obsessed with the astro Russian mafia, the psychedelic space eels, and the looming countdown that created breathless, razor sharp tension. I especially loved Nik and Hanna — his good heart beneath a rough exterior, and her strength and substance despite appearances of shallow, rich girl vanity. What an unlikely pair, and what a compelling one, too.
Also, that twist ending??? My mind is still blown. Theoretical physics is WEIRD, man. But I love, love, love how Jay Kristoff and Aime Kaufman played with those ideas. And I loved seeing Ezra and Kady again, and I loved the big picture info teasers at the beginning and end, and I just really, really need to know what happens next, okay??? This series has me in such a chokehold and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Also, that twist ending??? My mind is still blown. Theoretical physics is WEIRD, man. But I love, love, love how Jay Kristoff and Aime Kaufman played with those ideas. And I loved seeing Ezra and Kady again, and I loved the big picture info teasers at the beginning and end, and I just really, really need to know what happens next, okay??? This series has me in such a chokehold and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Much like Illuminae, Gemina took a while to get into. I think it is due to the different format this book takes, and while I was invested in the story a lot sooner, getting used to the format took much longer than Illuminae.
I loved the characters in this story. Hanna and Nik and Ella are all incredible and I would literally die for each and every one of them. The plot was good, and I love a good hostage situation where everyone is confined to one space.
What I didn’t like was that the group that all had codenames were randomly referred to by their real names as well. It was very confusing and I often had to go back to try and figure out who was who and who was alive etc. Just stick to one name, especially when you have such a large group of brand new characters.
The wormhole, alternate universe thing was awesome and I would love to find out more about that. When Hanna talks to Kady for the first time I died. I can’t wait to see them properly interact. They are going to be badass. They are going to be unstoppable.
I loved the characters in this story. Hanna and Nik and Ella are all incredible and I would literally die for each and every one of them. The plot was good, and I love a good hostage situation where everyone is confined to one space.
What I didn’t like was that the group that all had codenames were randomly referred to by their real names as well. It was very confusing and I often had to go back to try and figure out who was who and who was alive etc. Just stick to one name, especially when you have such a large group of brand new characters.
The wormhole, alternate universe thing was awesome and I would love to find out more about that. When Hanna talks to Kady for the first time I died. I can’t wait to see them properly interact. They are going to be badass. They are going to be unstoppable.