A review by lonaargh
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

5.0

When a friend recced this book to me I was slightly hesitant. Space is not really my favourite setting when it comes to books. Then she copied a quote to me:

"Kady Grant: " [...] I wasn't going to make it anywhere without another truck. So I stole one from a BeiTech crew."
Interviewer: "I'm sorry, you what?"
Kady Grant: "I am frequently underestimated. I think it's because I'm short."
Interviewer: "They didn't want it back?"
Kady Grant: "Probably. They were pretty busy jumping out of the way."

And I was smitten. I bought the book the same day (yesterday) and finished it today. It was one hell of a ride.
I'm doing my best to write a decent review for this book. And I simply can't. There are only so many words to say that this is one of the best stories I've read so far in my life.

The formatting is highly original and fun to read. It's basically one big dossier that you're reading through. The sarcasm and jokes are clever and fast and had me giggling like a schoolgirl. Kady and Ezra had me squealing in romantic delight. The horrific plot and developments had me on the edge of my seat, heart beating in my throat.

It's all just SO GOOD.

I've read a few reviews were people were talking about how they couldn't relate to the characters because of the formatting, a problem I didn't encounter. I fell in love with Kady and Ezra from the first interview.

The only downside (if it can be called a downside) is that the ending was the exact ending I was hoping for. But, on the whole, this doesn't diminish the rest of the story at all. I can't wait to get started on the second book in the series.