Illuminae
By: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Published: October 20th, 2015
Pages: 608
Rating: 4 out of 5
Summary:
"This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.
The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again."-Goodreads
I was super excited to start reading this novel. I ordered it off amazon and when it came in the mail, honestly I jumped up and down! It seemed like everyone had already read it, or received it as an ARC. Every single person I knew that had a copy already raved about how beautiful the cover was, and i'll admit I am a sucker for a gorgeous cover. The cover is unlike any other book I own, its see through, and when it comes off, underneath are words.
When I settled in and starting to read the novel I was a little bit of a skeptic, because the format is different to say the least. However the more I read the more I liked it. The format gave the book an edge, and really helped make the story relatable. Like you were actually there, reading the messages. I know that some people didn't enjoy the way it was written, but I feel it adds character. It's not everyday you come across a book like this. I personally like something unexpected, and rare. I found this book to be a breath of fresh air that I really needed.
I did have some problems with the characters, I wasn't very attached to them as I thought I would be. I felt they lacked some passion, something that made me really connect with them. I'm not saying they acted like robots, but maybe just a little flat. With that being said, the action makes up for the semi-dull characters. Man I love it when there is some action, gets my adrenaline pumping, and my eyes start reading faster and faster. It drew me in, and I found myself not wanting to put the book down.
Overall I really enjoyed the book, I flew through the pages, and wanted more. Thats the problem when you read a book that just comes out. You have to wait a whole year or so for the next one.