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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I’d definitely say this was my favorite out of the trilogy and not just because I finally got to know how it all ended. It was far more gritty and detailed with a ferocious ending that left me slightly cross eyed from trying to read so fast! I’m so glad I waited til these were all out so I could binge them. And it was good to read something slightly out of my comfort zone that entertained me so well.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A solid 3.5 stars
This was a nice end to the series, but I feel like I liked it less than the first two books. Book one blew my mind because of the original formatting and the way the story was told, I loved book two because Hanna and Nik are easily my fave characters of the series. In this one, even if we sort of got an epic ending to that big adventure, the new characters felt less fleshed-out and I felt like plot and plot twists and battles took over character development.
Since the book focuses on all MCs at the same time, Rhys and Asha didn't get as much page time and development than the others did in the previous books. I liked Asha, but nothing more, and I didn't like Rhys one bit (I do have a thing against soldiers and military so then again maybe it's just me, but if it takes you the murder of a starved child to feel like you're in the bad camp, I'm gonna have a hard time sympathizing with you). I wanted their past together explored more, Asha's relationship with Katya, *everything* about them needed more development. I'm 100% a character-over-plot reader and this read did disappoint.
Even the characters from the previous books kinda disappointed me. It felt like Ezra was almost absent, and Nik and Hanna relationship went from 100 to 0 to 100 again with barely any explanation and it frustrated me immensly because they're my favorite couple of the series.
Same as always, the cast is really diverse but my queer heart always wanted the queer characters to be more important (there was Oshiro but since I didn't like her because military I was still a bit disappointed).
I still loved the plot and story, the formatting, and this was a good conclusion to the series. Still the same violence and brutality but it's something I loved since the beginning because it really fits the story and I stand by it. One of the things I still loved immensly in this book was AIDAN!! Still a dangerous AI doing his best to keep Kady -- wait, I mean his crew -- alive. AIDAN was definitely one of the best parts of the book.
Obsidio was a really good end to the trilogy but I did felt like it was a little bit under the previous books, especially regarding the characters: I definitely wasn't as emotionally invested as before.
This was a nice end to the series, but I feel like I liked it less than the first two books. Book one blew my mind because of the original formatting and the way the story was told, I loved book two because Hanna and Nik are easily my fave characters of the series. In this one, even if we sort of got an epic ending to that big adventure, the new characters felt less fleshed-out and I felt like plot and plot twists and battles took over character development.
Since the book focuses on all MCs at the same time, Rhys and Asha didn't get as much page time and development than the others did in the previous books. I liked Asha, but nothing more, and I didn't like Rhys one bit (I do have a thing against soldiers and military so then again maybe it's just me, but if it takes you the murder of a starved child to feel like you're in the bad camp, I'm gonna have a hard time sympathizing with you). I wanted their past together explored more, Asha's relationship with Katya, *everything* about them needed more development. I'm 100% a character-over-plot reader and this read did disappoint.
Even the characters from the previous books kinda disappointed me. It felt like Ezra was almost absent, and Nik and Hanna relationship went from 100 to 0 to 100 again with barely any explanation and it frustrated me immensly because they're my favorite couple of the series.
Same as always, the cast is really diverse but my queer heart always wanted the queer characters to be more important (there was Oshiro but since I didn't like her because military I was still a bit disappointed).
I still loved the plot and story, the formatting, and this was a good conclusion to the series. Still the same violence and brutality but it's something I loved since the beginning because it really fits the story and I stand by it. One of the things I still loved immensly in this book was AIDAN!! Still a dangerous AI doing his best to keep Kady -- wait, I mean his crew -- alive. AIDAN was definitely one of the best parts of the book.
Obsidio was a really good end to the trilogy but I did felt like it was a little bit under the previous books, especially regarding the characters: I definitely wasn't as emotionally invested as before.
fffffffff THAT WAS SO GOOD
These characters are so precious to me. I love them so much! This was an amazing ending to a huge adventure that never fails to drain my energy when I read it. I always become so immersed in these books, more than most other books I read. The atmosphere and the action is perfect, my emotions swing all over the place and they are SO intense. It's funny, I was grinning stupidly for a lot of it, I cried, and I got really confused about which characters I was rooting for by the end of it (because they did such a good job at bringing life to every character). I'm so sad the trilogy is at an end, but I couldn't have asked for a better ending!
These characters are so precious to me. I love them so much! This was an amazing ending to a huge adventure that never fails to drain my energy when I read it. I always become so immersed in these books, more than most other books I read. The atmosphere and the action is perfect, my emotions swing all over the place and they are SO intense. It's funny, I was grinning stupidly for a lot of it, I cried, and I got really confused about which characters I was rooting for by the end of it (because they did such a good job at bringing life to every character). I'm so sad the trilogy is at an end, but I couldn't have asked for a better ending!
I'm going to round my rating out to a 4 (rather than a 3/3.5) just to be fair because here's the thing: I had a great time reading/listening to this book. If this were a review just for the quality of the full-scale production that was that audiobook, I would EASILY smash that 5-star button, no questions asked. If this were a review solely of the book's ability to make me yell out loud whilst folding my laundry or gasp and stop in the sidewalk on my way to class in the morning, it would handily earn that rating.
...However, I don't know if it was the fact that I was hearing this book read aloud to me or if I'm just getting pickier with what I read, but there were a lot of parts in this book that also made me cringe with my whole body. Now, I didn't go into the finale in the Illuminae Files looking for literary genius. I really love these books for what they are. Conceptually, I think this is one of the most creative ways I've seen a story told in the YA community in a long time. But, I can't ignore the cliches that made me have to pause the audiobook or put down my physical copy and pinch the bridge of my nose. I can't fully forgive the book for its plot holes that made me rewind the chapter just to see if I'd missed something.
But, again, I also appreciate this book for what it was to me: an entertaining conclusion to a really creative series. Still, it's worth noting that while it certainly tugged on my heartstrings throughout, I'm not walking away feeling particularly struck, as I did with the previous two books. And in a finale, it's hard not to be disappointed.
(SPOILERS -->) I love a happy ending, but this one was a bit too cheery for all that came before. Part of me, as a reader who's looking for a good time, is thankful for that. I guess I just wish there was something more to it. Where are the stakes if everyone walks away not only scot-free, but hand-in-hand?
...However, I don't know if it was the fact that I was hearing this book read aloud to me or if I'm just getting pickier with what I read, but there were a lot of parts in this book that also made me cringe with my whole body. Now, I didn't go into the finale in the Illuminae Files looking for literary genius. I really love these books for what they are. Conceptually, I think this is one of the most creative ways I've seen a story told in the YA community in a long time. But, I can't ignore the cliches that made me have to pause the audiobook or put down my physical copy and pinch the bridge of my nose. I can't fully forgive the book for its plot holes that made me rewind the chapter just to see if I'd missed something.
But, again, I also appreciate this book for what it was to me: an entertaining conclusion to a really creative series. Still, it's worth noting that while it certainly tugged on my heartstrings throughout, I'm not walking away feeling particularly struck, as I did with the previous two books. And in a finale, it's hard not to be disappointed.
(SPOILERS -->) I love a happy ending, but this one was a bit too cheery for all that came before. Part of me, as a reader who's looking for a good time, is thankful for that. I guess I just wish there was something more to it. Where are the stakes if everyone walks away not only scot-free, but hand-in-hand?
Maybe a bit too optimistic an ending compared to what the whole story leads you to believe, but I think that's kind of the entire point: sometime you get the best of humanity when you believe it's capable of it.
Great ending to a massive saga.
Great ending to a massive saga.
yes, it was not exactly what i was looking for. slow at some parts, but absolutely what i needed to finish the story. the CHARACTERS i cannot believe how much i loved them. AIDAN WILL FOREVER BE ONE OF THE BEST DEVELOPED SENTIENT BEINGS I HAVE EVER READ.
Re-read 30/6/2019;
Wow! I still live this book!
Original read: Such a great ending to an amazing trilogy.
I was on edge and just wanted to get finished to see how it ended. Action packed from the start.
This is definetly the best series I have read this year.
Wow! I still live this book!
Original read: Such a great ending to an amazing trilogy.
I was on edge and just wanted to get finished to see how it ended. Action packed from the start.
This is definetly the best series I have read this year.