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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
if i’m totally honest, i did NOT expect to like this book. i actually dnf’ed it on my first read about a year ago, though i don’t think i even made it past 100 pages.
the way this book was set up left a lot to be desired for the characterization of ezra and kady (though i did really enjoy them both). the unique format was super entertaining, if a little annoying at times, and it’s genuinely suspenseful. i never knew what was going to happen next, and i got surprised more than once, which doesn’t usually happen.
i think the thing i enjoyed most about this book is the way it portrayed the other, ‘unimportant’ characters in the book. the book made you care about characters that would otherwise be forgotten. the way AIDAN describes them, their families and loved ones, and everything they’re working towards, actually really hurt me. near the start of the book, there’s a couple pages showing faces of the victims of the initial attack, and i actually had to stop and just stare at it for a second. it made it feel so much more real, and really made me think about the unnamed, unimportant victims. they all had families and friends and aspirations and then they were just gone, and no one really cared except their loved ones. kinda reminds me of this year and dealing with covid,,
whoops this review ended up being dark. anyway i enjoyed this book and i hope kady and ezra get better characterization in the next book
the way this book was set up left a lot to be desired for the characterization of ezra and kady (though i did really enjoy them both). the unique format was super entertaining, if a little annoying at times, and it’s genuinely suspenseful. i never knew what was going to happen next, and i got surprised more than once, which doesn’t usually happen.
i think the thing i enjoyed most about this book is the way it portrayed the other, ‘unimportant’ characters in the book. the book made you care about characters that would otherwise be forgotten. the way AIDAN describes them, their families and loved ones, and everything they’re working towards, actually really hurt me. near the start of the book, there’s a couple pages showing faces of the victims of the initial attack, and i actually had to stop and just stare at it for a second. it made it feel so much more real, and really made me think about the unnamed, unimportant victims. they all had families and friends and aspirations and then they were just gone, and no one really cared except their loved ones. kinda reminds me of this year and dealing with covid,,
whoops this review ended up being dark. anyway i enjoyed this book and i hope kady and ezra get better characterization in the next book
Great book, different from others that I have read. The way the story is told in a different way than basically every other story, a series of documents strung together to tell a fantastic Sci-Fi mystery.
4.25 stars rounded up!
I really enjoyed this book! It was a great sci-fi that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved the narrative style with everything being revealed to you as part of the investigation after the disaster. You read emails, dossiers, investigative reports, etc. Now, if you read other reviews, you will see that this style really put off other people. You'll find that a large number of low star reviews are due to this and less the story itself.
You certainly get taken for a ride. This is a disaster, a world ending event for this group of people, and the authors don't take it easy on you. We have a crazy AI, a plague that's driving people crazy and an enemy warship on our tail. It appears book 2 switches its viewpoint to another group located at what is the end destination for this book. I'll definitely be checking it out but I hope there is more of these characters in book 2.
I really enjoyed this book! It was a great sci-fi that had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved the narrative style with everything being revealed to you as part of the investigation after the disaster. You read emails, dossiers, investigative reports, etc. Now, if you read other reviews, you will see that this style really put off other people. You'll find that a large number of low star reviews are due to this and less the story itself.
You certainly get taken for a ride. This is a disaster, a world ending event for this group of people, and the authors don't take it easy on you. We have a crazy AI, a plague that's driving people crazy and an enemy warship on our tail. It appears book 2 switches its viewpoint to another group located at what is the end destination for this book. I'll definitely be checking it out but I hope there is more of these characters in book 2.
My spoiler-free thoughts on the series as a whole can be found here.
The Illuminae Files are the literary equivalent of found footage movies. All three books are supposed to be dossiers compiled to recount what lead to and occurred during a specific incident. This means that we’re told our tale through a series of emails, chat-logs, video-footage-transcripts, and computer logs instead of traditional dialogue and scenes.
If that sounds interesting to you and you like sci-fi, then I recommend the entire series. While my personal favorite was the series second book - Gemina - Illuminae was an worthy first entry. The reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is that I found it more interesting than engrossing.
The compiled documents style allows you to follow the tale, but it doesn't allow for much connection with the characters. I felt more of a connection with AIDEN - the AI character - than I did with any of the humans. Probably because AIDEN's logs are one of the primary sources for the novel's "chapters".
That's not a bad thing, though, because the focus of this story is largely on the concept of AI. I won't go further than that, but do know that this is NOT a "AI gone evil" book. The questions it raises are far more complex than "will man make evil robots".
As long as you find the book even somewhat enjoyable, I strongly encourage you to read through to the end. While I think that the series is consistent in terms of its quality, there is a single big difference between this book and the others: characters. After book one, the cast expands quite a bit. Some of the later additions are more "fun" than the initial group and so, if you're debating continuing simply due to lack of connection with the cast, read on. If you don't like the plot or narrative style? Then go ahead and stop at this one. Neither of those elements change.
The Illuminae Files are the literary equivalent of found footage movies. All three books are supposed to be dossiers compiled to recount what lead to and occurred during a specific incident. This means that we’re told our tale through a series of emails, chat-logs, video-footage-transcripts, and computer logs instead of traditional dialogue and scenes.
If that sounds interesting to you and you like sci-fi, then I recommend the entire series. While my personal favorite was the series second book - Gemina - Illuminae was an worthy first entry. The reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is that I found it more interesting than engrossing.
The compiled documents style allows you to follow the tale, but it doesn't allow for much connection with the characters. I felt more of a connection with AIDEN - the AI character - than I did with any of the humans. Probably because AIDEN's logs are one of the primary sources for the novel's "chapters".
That's not a bad thing, though, because the focus of this story is largely on the concept of AI. I won't go further than that, but do know that this is NOT a "AI gone evil" book. The questions it raises are far more complex than "will man make evil robots".
As long as you find the book even somewhat enjoyable, I strongly encourage you to read through to the end. While I think that the series is consistent in terms of its quality, there is a single big difference between this book and the others: characters. After book one, the cast expands quite a bit. Some of the later additions are more "fun" than the initial group and so, if you're debating continuing simply due to lack of connection with the cast, read on. If you don't like the plot or narrative style? Then go ahead and stop at this one. Neither of those elements change.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I get the hype around this book now. IT’S AMAZING.
Not only the format of it all is unique, but the story is very unique too. It felt like I’m floating on zero-gravity watching all of the space showdown happen right before my very eyes.
ALSO THAT ENDING WTF I AM... IN LOVE?!?!
This book is worth the read. I love everyone in it and the humor too. If you haven’t picked this up yet, go.
READING GEMINA RIGHT AWAY EHEKKK
Not only the format of it all is unique, but the story is very unique too. It felt like I’m floating on zero-gravity watching all of the space showdown happen right before my very eyes.
ALSO THAT ENDING WTF I AM... IN LOVE?!?!
This book is worth the read. I love everyone in it and the humor too. If you haven’t picked this up yet, go.
READING GEMINA RIGHT AWAY EHEKKK
WOW. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I had so much fun reading this. I love a good science fiction story, and Illuminae ticked many of the boxes I look for in that regard, but in a different way.
It's unique and innovative, and I appreciated the new take on a YA novel. Plus, given the fact the story is told through classified documents, emails, instant messages, and transcripts, I wasn't expecting to connect with the characters and the action as much as I did.
There are a few minor complaints I could nitpick over, but the success of such a unique approach to storytelling makes up for them - earning this 5 stars.
It's unique and innovative, and I appreciated the new take on a YA novel. Plus, given the fact the story is told through classified documents, emails, instant messages, and transcripts, I wasn't expecting to connect with the characters and the action as much as I did.
There are a few minor complaints I could nitpick over, but the success of such a unique approach to storytelling makes up for them - earning this 5 stars.
adventurous
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:
Complicated
Despite the almost month long pause in the middle of starting and finishing this book, I think this is the fastest or second fastest I've ever finished a book. I think I read this in about 12 hours? 15?
The last time I read a book this fast was - god idek.
But oh my god this book was so good. It grabbed my attention from the start and did not let go. Even now im still hung up on it. The style this book is printed in makes it even more interesting, I think. The ending was not what I was expecting BUT it was the ending I wanted.
I'm more upset about myself for having waited this long to read this.
The last time I read a book this fast was - god idek.
But oh my god this book was so good. It grabbed my attention from the start and did not let go. Even now im still hung up on it. The style this book is printed in makes it even more interesting, I think. The ending was not what I was expecting BUT it was the ending I wanted.
I'm more upset about myself for having waited this long to read this.