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melissa_bookworm's review against another edition
5.0
This book was very up my alley, it was sort of a mix of Resident Evil and Battlestar Galactica. The format was really interesting, told in documents, transcribed conversations and video. There were a few things that I found a little cheesy but on the whole I really enjoyed it. It's action packed and thrilling, can't wait to see what happens in the next instalment.
Reread 20/12/20, listened to the audiobook, it was fantastic. One of the best things about the physical book is the graphic nature, its amazing how it is still so vivid in audio form.
Reread 20/12/20, listened to the audiobook, it was fantastic. One of the best things about the physical book is the graphic nature, its amazing how it is still so vivid in audio form.
tbgr_l57l's review against another edition
5.0
5 stars for [b:Illuminae|23395680|Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1)|Amie Kaufman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1443433956s/23395680.jpg|26653661] by [a:Amie Kaufman|5360335|Amie Kaufman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1478659853p2/5360335.jpg]!
“Perhaps bravery is simply the face humanity wraps around its collective madness.”
― Amie Kaufman, Illuminae
This was such a heart wrenching read! (I don't mean it in a bad way.)
This book had such a unique format, holding files, conversations, and more instead of the usual chapter by chapter novels. Illuminae made me cry, scream in horror and pain, laugh, and squeal. Would totally recommend this book to ANYONE. Whether you love sci-fi or fiction or ANYTHING.
“Perhaps bravery is simply the face humanity wraps around its collective madness.”
― Amie Kaufman, Illuminae
This was such a heart wrenching read! (I don't mean it in a bad way.)
This book had such a unique format, holding files, conversations, and more instead of the usual chapter by chapter novels. Illuminae made me cry, scream in horror and pain, laugh, and squeal. Would totally recommend this book to ANYONE. Whether you love sci-fi or fiction or ANYTHING.
dontstopreadin's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. That may be generous, but at the same time, there was a small portion of this book that I was absolutely obsessed with, and that deserves something.
For the first half of this book, I was bored out of my mind and slightly confused by what was happening. I enjoyed the multimedia aspects to the book, but they were not capturing my attention or bringing that much extra to the story (which at the time, wasn't much of a story IMO).
THEN, about 60% through the book, a REVEAL happens (which, to be fair, was kinda obvious the way this was going to be, go that's here nor there). SUDDENLY I WAS SO INVESTED. I sped through the rest of the book, only to be let down by the ending.
The ending was as if the authors wanted to give all the characters a happy ending. They were to win, to persevere, etc. Hard pass. This book could have ended about 15 pages earlier, and that would have been the most impactful story. However, it didn't. It took that reveal away from me, it broke down the things that had made me invested and interested in these people as characters. It's not that our characters don't deserve happy endings, it just took a lot of umph and impact out of the story for me.
I may continue the series. Only time will tell.
For the first half of this book, I was bored out of my mind and slightly confused by what was happening. I enjoyed the multimedia aspects to the book, but they were not capturing my attention or bringing that much extra to the story (which at the time, wasn't much of a story IMO).
THEN, about 60% through the book, a REVEAL happens (which, to be fair, was kinda obvious the way this was going to be, go that's here nor there). SUDDENLY I WAS SO INVESTED. I sped through the rest of the book, only to be let down by the ending.
The ending was as if the authors wanted to give all the characters a happy ending. They were to win, to persevere, etc. Hard pass. This book could have ended about 15 pages earlier, and that would have been the most impactful story. However, it didn't. It took that reveal away from me, it broke down the things that had made me invested and interested in these people as characters. It's not that our characters don't deserve happy endings, it just took a lot of umph and impact out of the story for me.
I may continue the series. Only time will tell.
katiejamesreads's review against another edition
4.0
Fun! And smart and sweet and devastating and lowkey graphic! But fun!
lauraborkpower's review against another edition
3.0
Kaufman and her co-author, Jay Kristoff, have written and designed a book that tells an exciting sci-fi story that, while relying on some corny YA staples (and some corny dialogue), is ultimately successful. I'd have preferred a different ending, but this is the first of a series, so I'm not surprised by how they completed this installment.
I'd recommend the hard-copy because of the layout and design (the story is told through surveillance footage descriptions and transcriptions of conversations and IM chats in an updated version of/call-back to The Anderson Tapes); though members of my book club said that the full-cast audiobook is pretty great.
I'd recommend the hard-copy because of the layout and design (the story is told through surveillance footage descriptions and transcriptions of conversations and IM chats in an updated version of/call-back to The Anderson Tapes); though members of my book club said that the full-cast audiobook is pretty great.
k_kubistova's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Emotional damage, ale ten konec mohl být lepší (proč je mi líto fucking počítače tho T-T)
ernis's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
remilauren's review against another edition
4.0
Illuminae is one of a kind. Anyone willing to try something new should give it a chance! The formatting might put off people from reading it. I admit it was quite distracting. I could not understand what Kerenza was and who the Illuminae group were. The interviews and excerpts looked boring in the beginning but they shaped the story well. Keep reading, it gets interesting around 200!
Surprisingly, there was emotional connect, which I thought was not possible due to the format. The plot is intriguing and at a lot of times unpredictable (what with the insane AI and the virus afflicted). I didn't expect the ending and yet it didn't seem forced.
It might not be the best book I have read but definitely something unique with a strong plot and characters to keep it going. Only advice would be to make note of the dates, times and names as it might get quite confusing (I had to go back and forth to keep track of what happened).
Surprisingly, there was emotional connect, which I thought was not possible due to the format. The plot is intriguing and at a lot of times unpredictable (what with the insane AI and the virus afflicted). I didn't expect the ending and yet it didn't seem forced.
It might not be the best book I have read but definitely something unique with a strong plot and characters to keep it going. Only advice would be to make note of the dates, times and names as it might get quite confusing (I had to go back and forth to keep track of what happened).
bakeddoughnut's review against another edition
4.0
I can't believe it took me so long to finally get around to reading this, I absolutely loved it!!!! I thought I wouldn't enjoy this unusual style but it was perfect for this story. Also anyone that hasn't listened to the audio book should definitely give it a go- it's done very well! Can't wait to pick up Gemina now!!!!
seyahrue's review against another edition
5.0
This was still just as great as the first time I read it, and listening to it on Audiobook was a really fun way of getting back into the story. I loved that they had so many different voice actors, it kind of felt like listening to a podcast in a way.
Excited to get into Gemina now! Hopefully the voice acting there is as good as it is in Illuminae
Excited to get into Gemina now! Hopefully the voice acting there is as good as it is in Illuminae