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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
SO GOOD. I'm not a huge reader of sci-fi, so I was not sure how I would like this, but wow I quickly became quite engrossed by this story. I was able to predict the big plot-twist, but no matter, because I still enjoyed it immensely. This book is not without its flaws, and there were some aspects to the plot I found slightly disappointing but overall I definitely recommend this book!
Series Spoiler-Free Review: https://youtu.be/0cqiSLIMk-M
Series **Spoiler** Review: https://youtu.be/LvOQC5pfSyI
Series **Spoiler** Review: https://youtu.be/LvOQC5pfSyI
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
Ah. This was really good! I was worried the romance would overshadow the story but it didn't. The relationship between Kady and Ezra actually felt so natural. However, the 2005 text-speech between them may have been my least favorite component of the story. There were some really good twists and this whole ride was full of suspense and madness. I still can't get the horrific image out of my head of a little girl dragging a human heart across the floor.
I loved AIDAN. Mostly I liked the way 'it' was written. AIDAN terrified me yet fascinated me. The perfect villain (or is it an anti-hero?). Either way, the best morally grey AI ever.
Kady = chaotic good
Ezra = neutral good
AIDAN = lawful evil
___
Okay, I'm currently reading this book and I have QUESTIONS.
This is a book written in 2015 and set in the year 2575 but the main characters still communicate in 2005 text speech? That is all.
I loved AIDAN. Mostly I liked the way 'it' was written. AIDAN terrified me yet fascinated me. The perfect villain (or is it an anti-hero?). Either way, the best morally grey AI ever.
Kady = chaotic good
Ezra = neutral good
AIDAN = lawful evil
___
Okay, I'm currently reading this book and I have QUESTIONS.
This is a book written in 2015 and set in the year 2575 but the main characters still communicate in 2005 text speech? That is all.
Ok, I'm going to start with what I liked in this book : the format, it's innotvative, more engaging that I would have and mainly enjoyed it. I enjoyed the sassiness of the teenager at first, it was entertaining and funny. But as the story progressed. I realized that this cockiness in every narrative and that the character had no real depth. The love story between the two teenager had me rolling my eyes soooooo hard and so many times. By the end of the story I couldn't understand the logic of the character or the AI, it didn't make any sense... Maybe I'm too used to the three laws of robotic.
To sum up, great premise, very innovative format, boring story and irrational execution...
To sum up, great premise, very innovative format, boring story and irrational execution...
3.5...just couldn’t bump it up to a 4, sadly. A few people recommended this book to me but said I should listen to the audiobook. I really did enjoy the unique format of this book. The way it’s told is really interesting and something I haven’t really read before. Unfortunately, a lot of the dialogue was a little cringeworthy to me. They say “chum” a lot which annoyed me for some reason. I didn’t really get into the book until a little more than halfway through when it finally got a bit more interesting. I don’t know if I’ll continue with this series.
This book was so cool! And I am so surprised by how much I loved this book, and now I'm kinda choked that I don't have my own copy. I just wasn't sure with the format of it and the genre if I was going to like it at all, but it ended up being an amazing reading experience! I am also glad that I read the hard copy version rather than the ebook version - I'm not sure how the illustrations and special effects (!) would have turned out on my iPhone. Super stoked to read Gemina now!!!
Quite The Novel Idea ~ Words from the Clouds
EDIT AFTER RE-READ: Bumping it up to 5 stars. Because obviously. Also you should read this while listening to the audiobook. It's THE. ACTUAL. BEST. Oh and AIDAN is just the most precious, sassy, mass-murdering, psychopathic AI ever.
-----------------
What can I say about this book that hasn't been said already? Nothing. That's right. This review will be just me repeating what everybody else has already said. That this book is amazing and brilliant and you should read it.
I cannot possibly summarize this book anymore than the blurb so just read that and you'll know what it's about. Yeah, I'm taking the easy way out on this one.
Let me take a deep breath and think for a minute. Okay. Why isn't this 5 stars? Well, I'm not sure exactly. It doesn't really feel like a 5 star book to me because it did take a bit to get into it. Though I did enjoy it from the start. There's a lot of great humor in this book, which I just LOVED. Well, most of the time because I was reading this on the bus a lot and laughing out loud while reading gives me unpleasant stares from people that just don't understand. SIGH. Also the writing is brilliant. Does that surprise anyone, really? No? Good. Also, yes the formatting and storytelling is insanely unique and gives you a lot of gorgeous pages to gawk at.
Of course none of that would matter if the characters sucked. Which they don't obviously. I loved Ezra and Kady and I rooted for them! I loved their friendship/romance and I loved their friends! All of the characters were developed brilliantly, which isn't easy in this type of storytelling. And yes, AIDAN the AI is fantastic. I love him, obviously. I do have one concern here though. With this entire book I mean. This is supposed to be a trilogy I think? And seeing as how amazing this book is, it sets a certain standard. I'm worried and scared that the sequels won't be as great as this one. It'll be very hard to top this, just saying.
Overall, Illuminae is a must-read if you love Science Fiction. Though you might lower your expectations if you're not used to this type of storytelling because not everyone can get into it. Still, must read. If only to gawk at those beautiful pages.
EDIT AFTER RE-READ: Bumping it up to 5 stars. Because obviously. Also you should read this while listening to the audiobook. It's THE. ACTUAL. BEST. Oh and AIDAN is just the most precious, sassy, mass-murdering, psychopathic AI ever.
-----------------
What can I say about this book that hasn't been said already? Nothing. That's right. This review will be just me repeating what everybody else has already said. That this book is amazing and brilliant and you should read it.
I cannot possibly summarize this book anymore than the blurb so just read that and you'll know what it's about. Yeah, I'm taking the easy way out on this one.
Let me take a deep breath and think for a minute. Okay. Why isn't this 5 stars? Well, I'm not sure exactly. It doesn't really feel like a 5 star book to me because it did take a bit to get into it. Though I did enjoy it from the start. There's a lot of great humor in this book, which I just LOVED. Well, most of the time because I was reading this on the bus a lot and laughing out loud while reading gives me unpleasant stares from people that just don't understand. SIGH. Also the writing is brilliant. Does that surprise anyone, really? No? Good. Also, yes the formatting and storytelling is insanely unique and gives you a lot of gorgeous pages to gawk at.
Of course none of that would matter if the characters sucked. Which they don't obviously. I loved Ezra and Kady and I rooted for them! I loved their friendship/romance and I loved their friends! All of the characters were developed brilliantly, which isn't easy in this type of storytelling. And yes, AIDAN the AI is fantastic. I love him, obviously. I do have one concern here though. With this entire book I mean. This is supposed to be a trilogy I think? And seeing as how amazing this book is, it sets a certain standard. I'm worried and scared that the sequels won't be as great as this one. It'll be very hard to top this, just saying.
Overall, Illuminae is a must-read if you love Science Fiction. Though you might lower your expectations if you're not used to this type of storytelling because not everyone can get into it. Still, must read. If only to gawk at those beautiful pages.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes