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jenhurst's review against another edition
2.0
sarah787's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
thenameless13th's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
lmskikun's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
reader305's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
mxunsmiley's review against another edition
4.0
I am predictable so yes, I loved the AI character, with its often clumsy way of mixing metaphors and waxing poetic. I'm not sure if it's intentional, either, but I think its name is very clever on its own, as it believed itself an aid to the very end... get it, "AIDAN"? Most likely, it was, because the book as a whole was a well thought-out and tight narrative, and the acknowledgments affirm this as well.
The book offers a lot of material to think about the value of human life, consciousness, deference to authority, ontology... Aside from that, there's so many horrifying scenes that they're genuinely difficult to stomach, some gruesome and others psychological. A few of the latter didn't quite hit the mark, though; I rolled my eyes at those.
But I definitely want to continue this trilogy. I do enjoy books written in different formats, even if reading them can be a physical effort on its own--having to maneuver holding this book in my hands was no joke!
aceinit's review against another edition
5.0
Those who know me know that I am extremely critical of the genre, particularly when it comes to YA books that seem to be everywhere and that are Constantly Being Hailed as SOOOOOOO GOOOOOOD. I tend to get about 50 pages in and want to hit my head against something as I come up against cliche after cliche.
So, after seeing Illuminae EVERYWHERE, and seeing it consistently raved about, I ended up buying it as part of an Audible sale. I got about 30 minutes in and realized I was doing something very, very wrong. Though the full cast recording was top-notch, I still felt like I was only getting part of the story. I looked up a preview of the actual book an Amazon and holy wow. I immediately went out to the local bookstore to pick up a hardcover so that I could enjoy the audio and the print version simultaneously.
Which leads to the first bit of praise: This book is magnificently put together. It is an absolute visual delight and almost every page offers something unique that is just a joy to look at.
I mean, check this stuff out:
Wikipedia-style infodumps.
Battle sequences!
More battle sequences!
Dramatic tension!
Needless to say, Illuminae is not your standard novel.
It begins following a devastating attack on an illegal mining operation in a remote part of the universe, on a planet called Kerenza. Megacorporation BeiTech decided to seize the mine by eradicating the colony's population so that it could claim both the rare natural resources and existing infrastructure. Since the mining op is illegal and therefore off the books, it's not like the site's owners can go to the authorities and complain about the mass destruction and slaughter.
BeiTech's op does not go as planned. Distress calls are sent out and answered by the Alexander, an Intergalactic-UN-type warship doing maneuvers nearby. Those colonists who survived the assault on Kerenza are evacuated onto the Alexander and two other ships: science vessel Hypatia and cargo freighter Copernicus.
This was not how our two teenaged leads, Kady Grant and Ezra Mason, thought the day after their big break-up was going to go. See, Kady and Ezra live on Kerenza, and end up fighting and fleeing for their lives when BeiTech's fleet arrives. After their evacuation, and still reeling from the destruction of their home, and the uncertainty of knowing how many of their friends and family are dead, Kady and Ezra begin to tell their stories.
As the Alexander and its small fleet flee towards the nearest wormhole to safety, they are all too aware of how alone in the universe they are, and how much peril they're really in. Months away from the nearest refuge, the crippled fleet is limping for their lives and relentlessly pursued by a BeiTech dreadnought intent on eliminating all witnesses to the Kerenza incursion. To make matters worse, the Alexander, the only ship with offensive capabilities, was badly damaged during its battle with BeiTech. AIDAN, the Alexander's central AI, is not only severely wounded, but beginning to question orders from its human crew. And, over on the Copernicus, a rapidly-spreading plague has broken out among the Kerenza refugees.
Told through a combination of interviews, surveillance footage, chat logs, journal entries, and from AIDAN's central core, Kady, Ezra, and AIDAN (who is, by the way, the true star of this book, IMO, and one of the most fascinating parts about the story) must find a way to confront and combat a growing number of threats to their survival.
The documents and the visuals come together to form a truly unique narrative that will keep you turning the pages straight through to the end. Combining the novel (and you really do have to have a print copy of this one, the e-books do not do it justice IMO) with a full-cast recording of the audiobook made for a remarkably immersive experience that was incredibly hard to put down.
And though Illuminae does fall victim to several of the YA tropes that make me cringe (incompetent/overly-authoritative adults who Know Better Than Everyone, and a strange aversion to profanity...more on that in a sec), it was written and designed in such a way that I was fare more interested in continuing the story than picking it apart.
The only genuine complaint I have about it is the strange decision to censor all profanities. I don't know if this is a YA publishing standard or a conscious decision by the authors, but it struck me as a very strange thing to do. I never quite got used to the censoring, particularly in the audio. As the novel's opening proclaims, "sure, they story kicks off with the deaths of thousands of people, but God forbid there be cussing in it, right?"
Still, Illuminae is definitely worth your time, and is one of my favorite reads in years.
moonwitch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Violence and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Gun violence
sam_hartwig's review against another edition
4.0
As I was reading I could see every detail so clearly, and could imagine this would make an amazing movie! I felt truly terrified of the people infected with the virus, and at times was right there with Kady in the end. SCARY!!
There were a few things I didn't see coming, but with the pace of the book you were swept off again and weren't given time to pause and let it sink in.
There are lots of questions that need answers, so I can't wait to see what the next books have in store for us!!