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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
This book was mediocre. I grew bored of it, not because of the author, but because this is not my type of genre. I have read books by this author in the past and I adore them!! It's just the setting in this book is not my type of thing. So, if you like futuristic, robotic-apocalyptic books, this one is for you!!
WTF that ending...
I love Jay Kristoff's writing, and the characters/atmosphere were so good in this. I would die for Cricket, js.
I love Jay Kristoff's writing, and the characters/atmosphere were so good in this. I would die for Cricket, js.
A little hard to get into, but awesome! I fell in love with this because of the deeper questions it posed: what is humanity / what is being human? The characters are enjoyable, though a bit hard to connect with. I LOVED the ending and I am dying for book 2. Sci-fi is not my jam, but maybe Kristoff is about to change that?
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
LIFEL1K3 was my first book by Kristoff, and I enjoyed it quite a lot. The atmosphere and the settings created were great, and most of the characters as well. The book had its length but at least had an amazing finale.
The story focusses on Eve who has to survive in a post-apocalyptic world through robot fights. After an unusual incident at one of those fights, she has to flee where she meets Ezekiel, a lifelike robot. Together with him and other companions, she goes on a travel to uncover the secrets of her past and find closure in the main building of the Babel cooperation.
What I noticed is that Kristoff’s storytelling is very engaging and exciting, but sometimes a bit try-hard edgy. The way Eve’s quite dramatic backstory was told was great with switching from the past to the present and her realizing that everything she believed in as a lie. Those reveals were great and not predictable besides the fact that Ezekiel was the one who shot Eve . Other things I quite enjoyed where the fighting scenes, the political aspect around the labs, and the romance.
I especially liked the ending: It was such an impactful moment when Eve entered the Babel corporation, knowing that the radioactivity will make her seriously sick. The reveal at the end that Eve is not Ana but only the lifelike for Ana was so clever. Also, Silas’ death was so sad .
A problem I had with the story is that the pacing was not always so great. For example, the sequence where our characters are inside those whale boats was just too long and I didn’t like this setting compared to others as well. Also, some problems could’ve been solved by better communication; I didn’t understand why Lemon didn’t tell Eve that she was the one with the abilities . At other points I furthermore struggled with understanding what was happening.
In contrast, what I especially enjoyed about this book were the atmospheric settings. They had such Fallout vibes for me: It’s a post-apocalypse, there are talking robots, radioactivity, a group called the Brotherhood, and the Priest with his cowboy outfit also fit the picture.
I don’t have much to say about the characters besides that I liked most of them. I especially loved Lemon and Gabriel was an amazing unsettling villain.
I’m a bit sad about the ending since we leave some characters behind that I would love to hear more about. Nevertheless, the world and characters created in LIFEL1K3 are interesting enough for me to keep me invested in the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Car accident, Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Torture, Religious bigotry
Minor: Body horror
3.8 stars
So I didn’t know what to expect going into this, but I ended up liking it. I did think we were going to get more robotic fights, but the action kept up quite well.
I really enjoyed the narrator. I felt she did a great job differentiating between characters, which really helped this story.
Hands down #TeamCricket! I love that logica’s jokes about pants and died at all his jokes.
I’m really excited to see where the sequel goes! I’m trying to go in blind, but did catch a tiny peak of book 2’s synopsis and saw more Lemon Fresh- love her!
Because May is a few months away,
Large Spoiler recap below!!! Typing this on my phone and it’s not working right so...
.
.
.
. NOW GO!
We start out with a robot fight, where we meet Evie, Lemon, and Cricket. After not doing so well in the fight, they head towards home. But before they can get there they discover scrap (Ezekie, sp?). They haul him home, and soon after the grandfather (Cilas) discovers him. Turns out they know each other and the lifelike keeps calling Evie Anna. A double fight starts as raiders and religious zealots try to purge them from the house. But the group manage to evade them (and lifelike Faith) and fly the house off.
After getting in and out of a monster stomach (who like Lemon, Lemon is important they say) they have to outrun the preacher. They spend some time with Hope (another relative and lifelike) who is trying to redeem herself and so fights the preacher to give them time to run.
By the end, Evie/Anna is finally recovering all of her memory and many hidden secrets (no the real Anna, she is actually still Evie and a lifelike!) and there is a big fight with Gabriel, Faith, Mercy, Z, Crik, Len, and Evie. Gabe, Mercy, and Faith eventually go down but Evie thinks she had rad poisoning and wants everyone to leave. Miriam, the computer system, hears this and corrects her about who she is. Pissed, she decides to send everyone away and stay. It is unclear if she intend to join forces with Gabe or torture him at the end, but large Cricket, Lemon, and Z get away.
So I didn’t know what to expect going into this, but I ended up liking it. I did think we were going to get more robotic fights, but the action kept up quite well.
I really enjoyed the narrator. I felt she did a great job differentiating between characters, which really helped this story.
Hands down #TeamCricket! I love that logica’s jokes about pants and died at all his jokes.
I’m really excited to see where the sequel goes! I’m trying to go in blind, but did catch a tiny peak of book 2’s synopsis and saw more Lemon Fresh- love her!
Because May is a few months away,
Large Spoiler recap below!!! Typing this on my phone and it’s not working right so...
.
.
.
. NOW GO!
After getting in and out of a monster stomach (who like Lemon, Lemon is important they say) they have to outrun the preacher. They spend some time with Hope (another relative and lifelike) who is trying to redeem herself and so fights the preacher to give them time to run.
By the end, Evie/Anna is finally recovering all of her memory and many hidden secrets (no the real Anna, she is actually still Evie and a lifelike!) and there is a big fight with Gabriel, Faith, Mercy, Z, Crik, Len, and Evie. Gabe, Mercy, and Faith eventually go down but Evie thinks she had rad poisoning and wants everyone to leave. Miriam, the computer system, hears this and corrects her about who she is. Pissed, she decides to send everyone away and stay. It is unclear if she intend to join forces with Gabe or torture him at the end, but large Cricket, Lemon, and Z get away.
He did it again ladies and gentlemen! He did it again! Jay Kristoff’s story telling is magical. You think you have it all figured out and he turns your world upside down. Take a bow Mr. Kristoff.
Okay so it may be a little boring and Eve kinda annoys me Lemon Fresh for lifeeeee
But the cliff hangers at the end at the book make it so worth it!!!!!!
But the cliff hangers at the end at the book make it so worth it!!!!!!
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
“She refused to flinch. To turn away. She’d met death before, after all. Spat right in its face.”
In a future world, bleak from environmental destruction, Evie Carpenter just wants to find her place.
Fighting malfunctioning robots in the Wardome may not be the most glamorous way to get credits, but Evie doesn’t have a lot of options and grandpa needs his meds. When she risks everything in an impossible match, the unexpected happens. Not the good kind of unexpected. In a moment of fear, she just discovered she can destroy electronics with her mind, setting the puritanical Brotherhood after her.
But it isn’t until she discovers an android boy, nearly wrecked and beyond salvage, that her life comes crashing down in spectacular form. Enemies she never knew she had start coming after her, forcing her to run with the android, her bestest Lemon Fresh, and her robot conscious Cricket, in tow. They’ll push themselves searching for answers to secrets long ago buried while desperately trying to rescue the ones Evie loves.
The thing about secrets though, is they’re usually buried for a reason.
“Eve stood mute. Anger fighting confusion. There was truth in Hope’s words. Bloodstained. Twisted. But still truth.”
Once again, I am blown away by Jay Kristoff and his writing! He’s built a world that is detailed and captivating, filled with characters you can’t help but fall in love with. In true Kristoff fashion, he has wooed me, completely, entirely. I’m not even a little bit surprised that he then ripped my bleeding heart out of my chest. Or that he probably laughed maniacally all the while.
While this does have a similar feel to Illuminae, readers should know that this book is tragic. It says in the description. “Romeo and Juliet meets Mad Max meets X-Men with a little bit of Blade Runner cheering from the sidelines.” If you’re expecting sunshine and daisies, you’re not paying attention. This book is tragic. Tragic topped with tragic, with a heavy side of tragic just for good measure. And me? I’m a SUCKER for tragic. I live for it!
“She closed her eyes. took a deep, shuddering breath. And she grasped her sorrow by the throat and set it aflame with her rage.”
Kristoff has a way of writing that is both lyrical and brutal. He repeats key phrases and descriptions, which makes the novel feel poetic. The repetition emphasizes the emotions of the characters and lets the readers relive the beauty of the prose. Even beyond the repetitions, Kristoff has a way of writing even the most brutal scenes, making them bold and beautiful.
“Spent shell casings spewed like falling stars from her guns, smoke rising from the barrels.”
I will always love a dystopian that creates it’s own slang or language, and Lifel1k3 is no disappointment in that arena. However, rather than leaving the slang in the dialogue, Kristoff uses it throughout the narration. The effect is that the reader is fully immersed in this world, entirely throughout every page. Between the consistency of language, to the repetition, to the lyrical way he writes, it’s impossible not to be hypnotized while reading. True cert’, you’ll be picking up the language and feeling fizzy before you even realize, that’s how fast his writing sucks you in.
And these characters! Lemon Fresh is the bestest of the bestest! I love her so much it’s ridiculous. And Cricket!!! That feisty robot is the best conscious a girl can have. They are both loyal to Eve in ways that makes your heart burst. Even black ones like mine. I adore when side characters are just as important and lovable as main characters, and both Lemon and Cricket are for sure the heart of this story.
“Cricket always wanted to be a WarDome bot,” she explained to Ezekiel. “The thought of lighting things on fire does unhealthy things to him.”
But we can’t have a Romeo and Juliet reference without some romance. And is there romance. Forbidden, passionate, soul consuming romance. For someone who can write such brutal scenes filled with endless bounds of death and destruction, Kristoff can sure write some steamy romance. Since this is YA, there aren’t the Nevernight-esque boudoir scenes, but the emotion packed into this love story will pierce straight to your inner romantic.
Did I mention there’s a cliffhanger? No? Well, there is. And, if you’ve read Godsgrave, you know how brutal those can be. Get ready for the gut punch of an ending. It’s worth it. It’s worth every tear, every intense moment, every heartbreaking page. I need the next book, in my hands, like, last night.
I went into this expecting to love it, as I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Kristoff so far. And Lifel1k3 did not disappoint me at all. It isn’t quite as brutal as Nevernight, but Lifel1k3 is not your fluffy YA romance either. It’s gritty. It’s tough. It’s tender as first love, and just as volatile.
Thank you AA Knopf for Young Readers and Netgalley for approving my request to review!
In a future world, bleak from environmental destruction, Evie Carpenter just wants to find her place.
Fighting malfunctioning robots in the Wardome may not be the most glamorous way to get credits, but Evie doesn’t have a lot of options and grandpa needs his meds. When she risks everything in an impossible match, the unexpected happens. Not the good kind of unexpected. In a moment of fear, she just discovered she can destroy electronics with her mind, setting the puritanical Brotherhood after her.
But it isn’t until she discovers an android boy, nearly wrecked and beyond salvage, that her life comes crashing down in spectacular form. Enemies she never knew she had start coming after her, forcing her to run with the android, her bestest Lemon Fresh, and her robot conscious Cricket, in tow. They’ll push themselves searching for answers to secrets long ago buried while desperately trying to rescue the ones Evie loves.
The thing about secrets though, is they’re usually buried for a reason.
“Eve stood mute. Anger fighting confusion. There was truth in Hope’s words. Bloodstained. Twisted. But still truth.”
Once again, I am blown away by Jay Kristoff and his writing! He’s built a world that is detailed and captivating, filled with characters you can’t help but fall in love with. In true Kristoff fashion, he has wooed me, completely, entirely. I’m not even a little bit surprised that he then ripped my bleeding heart out of my chest. Or that he probably laughed maniacally all the while.
While this does have a similar feel to Illuminae, readers should know that this book is tragic. It says in the description. “Romeo and Juliet meets Mad Max meets X-Men with a little bit of Blade Runner cheering from the sidelines.” If you’re expecting sunshine and daisies, you’re not paying attention. This book is tragic. Tragic topped with tragic, with a heavy side of tragic just for good measure. And me? I’m a SUCKER for tragic. I live for it!
“She closed her eyes. took a deep, shuddering breath. And she grasped her sorrow by the throat and set it aflame with her rage.”
Kristoff has a way of writing that is both lyrical and brutal. He repeats key phrases and descriptions, which makes the novel feel poetic. The repetition emphasizes the emotions of the characters and lets the readers relive the beauty of the prose. Even beyond the repetitions, Kristoff has a way of writing even the most brutal scenes, making them bold and beautiful.
“Spent shell casings spewed like falling stars from her guns, smoke rising from the barrels.”
I will always love a dystopian that creates it’s own slang or language, and Lifel1k3 is no disappointment in that arena. However, rather than leaving the slang in the dialogue, Kristoff uses it throughout the narration. The effect is that the reader is fully immersed in this world, entirely throughout every page. Between the consistency of language, to the repetition, to the lyrical way he writes, it’s impossible not to be hypnotized while reading. True cert’, you’ll be picking up the language and feeling fizzy before you even realize, that’s how fast his writing sucks you in.
And these characters! Lemon Fresh is the bestest of the bestest! I love her so much it’s ridiculous. And Cricket!!! That feisty robot is the best conscious a girl can have. They are both loyal to Eve in ways that makes your heart burst. Even black ones like mine. I adore when side characters are just as important and lovable as main characters, and both Lemon and Cricket are for sure the heart of this story.
“Cricket always wanted to be a WarDome bot,” she explained to Ezekiel. “The thought of lighting things on fire does unhealthy things to him.”
But we can’t have a Romeo and Juliet reference without some romance. And is there romance. Forbidden, passionate, soul consuming romance. For someone who can write such brutal scenes filled with endless bounds of death and destruction, Kristoff can sure write some steamy romance. Since this is YA, there aren’t the Nevernight-esque boudoir scenes, but the emotion packed into this love story will pierce straight to your inner romantic.
Did I mention there’s a cliffhanger? No? Well, there is. And, if you’ve read Godsgrave, you know how brutal those can be. Get ready for the gut punch of an ending. It’s worth it. It’s worth every tear, every intense moment, every heartbreaking page. I need the next book, in my hands, like, last night.
I went into this expecting to love it, as I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Kristoff so far. And Lifel1k3 did not disappoint me at all. It isn’t quite as brutal as Nevernight, but Lifel1k3 is not your fluffy YA romance either. It’s gritty. It’s tough. It’s tender as first love, and just as volatile.
Thank you AA Knopf for Young Readers and Netgalley for approving my request to review!
