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Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1)

Amie Kaufman,

Jay Kristoff

Start date: June 1, 2020

Finish date: June 30, 2020

Discussion: Book of the Month

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What Members Thought

Jun 23, 2014 Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, all-the-feels, 5-stars, audio, cover-love, romance, own-ebook-read, dual-or-multi-pov, reviewed, i-will-go-down-with-this-ship

11/7/2022: Reread on audiobook!
(view spoiler) ...more

17 likes · Like · see review

May 16, 2014 Tammie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, favorites, series-completed, sci-fi, space-opera, trilogy, owned-hard-cover

4.5 stars. In the year 2575 a colonized planet is invaded. Several thousand people escape on three different ships. One is a battle ship, one a science vessel, and the third is a cargo ship. While being pursued by one of the enemy ships it is discovered that a pathogen was used to subdue the people on the planet and the people on one of the ships are infected with it. You can probably guess where this is going...space zombies, or something like that. There are a few minor differences in the infe 4.5 stars. In the year 2575 a colonized planet is invaded. Several thousand people escape on three different ships. One is a battle ship, one a science vessel, and the third is a cargo ship. While being pursued by one of the enemy ships it is discovered that a pathogen was used to subdue the people on the planet and the people on one of the ships are infected with it. You can probably guess where this is going...space zombies, or something like that. There are a few minor differences in the infected in this story. These are smarter than the average zombie and don't hunger for brains, but are paranoid and violent.

Illuminae really blew me away with how visually beautiful the book actually is. It's probably the best YA space opera I've read so far. This story is told in epistolary form through IMs, emails, journal entries, recorded video feed footage, an AI's recorded "thoughts", schematics, military files, medical reports, and interviews. Because of this I wasn't sure how I would like the book. I wondered if it would seem too impersonal and be too hard to get into the characters. That wasn't the case at all and it ended up being a fun and unique read. The writing style actually kept me turning the pages.

This book evoked quite a few emotions as I read it. There was a twist I didn't see coming that really threw me for a little while. Looking back now, there were clues that I probably should have noticed, but I was so into the happenings in the book that I didn't. I was on the edge of my seat for quite a while as I read this. The protagonist, Kady was likable. The boyfriend Ezra was ok. The AI, AIDAN was altogether creepy, sympathetic, and insane. The book left me wondering what in the world would be the right thing to do if there were thousands of infected people who are turning violent and no known cure. Do you try to help them or put them out of their misery before they infect more people?

The only things I disliked about this book were the blacked out curse words. All the little blacked out words got annoying and distracting because they kind of interrupted the flow of the sentences they were in. It would have been better to just leave the cursing out all together in my opinion. I also wasn't crazy about how a couple of the characters always seemed to add sexual connotations to everything they talked about. This was the main reason Ezra was just an ok character to me.

This looks to be a series so I will be reading the next book. It's one that I will be looking forward to.

Review also posted at Writings of a Reader
...more

12 likes · Like · see review

May 03, 2020 Keri rated it really liked it

Shelves: cover-orange, owned, series-in-progress, 2020-12-from-my-shelves

4.5 stars. This book really hooked me instantly and I didn’t even really know what was going on for the first maybe 30-40 pages but it didn’t matter. I LOVED the format and think that definitely added a lot to the book for me. I listened to the full cast audio while I read along because after hearing such good things about both formats I couldn’t choose. And that was a perfect way to go for me. I’ll be continuing the trilogy the same way. I can already tell I’ll want to reread this down the line ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Sep 30, 2015 Trisha rated it really liked it

"The universe owes you nothing, Kady. It has already given you everything. After all, it was here long before you, and it will go on long after you. The only way it will remember you is if you do something worthy of remembrance."

What a fun story - told through data logs, im's, chat logs and odd pages with wrapped words. It's an odd story at first, hard to grasp and hard to follow. It isn't until many pages in that you start to get the story and the lay of the land.

But part of the story is how i ...more

9 likes · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2018 Lu rated it it was amazing

Shelves: raru

What a book! Such a unique style! I will definitely be reading the next book asap.

2 likes · Like · see review

May 04, 2016 Susan rated it it was amazing

3/21/2023
2nd time reading this book and I think it was better the second time around. Chef's kiss it was just that good!!!

I LOVED this book. I was very skeptical in the beginning and I picked it up 2 other times and then put it down again. I am so glad I finally read it and finished it. I am now awaiting the next book in this series. Wow, was not expecting to love it like I did. I do not give out spoilers but even if you do not like Sci-Fi, like me, this one may change your mind. It was amazing ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 04, 2019 Lizz (Beer, Books and Boos) rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved this book and the audio of this book. The full cast brought the story to life and following along with book just made it real. I cried and laughed throughout the book. I connected with the characters and felt what they felt. I loved Ezra and Kady, how they acted with each other and it didn’t seem rushed or forced. It gave me Star Wars vibes (and I know I will probably get some hate on this next part) I think it would be a better movie than Star Wars. I tell people to pick up a ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Apr 07, 2019 Estela rated it it was amazing

Listened to the audiobook version and WOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!! I NEVER thought I’d get really into a sci-fi book but the audio was absolutely spectacular. It was an EXPERIENCE, y’all! Different actors voicing characters, the sound effects...and a thrilling plot to drive it all home. I quickly moved to Gemina to continue the series, and I’m sure I won’t be disappointed.

1 like · Like · see review

Nov 18, 2015 Teddie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: badass-protagonist, audiobook, sci-fi, favorites, tt-esb

Illuminae is my kind of YA - great characters who are young but also smart and brave, and a story that makes you think, and makes you feel - all served in a fresh way. Told through a unique dossier of hacked documents—emails, transcripts, schematics, and chilling AI logs—this story is as much a visual experience as it is a narrative one. Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff craft a high-octane tale of survival, love, and artificial intelligence, all set against the backdrop of interstellar war.

The plot ...more

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Jun 12, 2019 Margaret rated it it was amazing

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy, space-opera, 2019, 2019-top-10

At first I wasn't sure about this book. I was confused by the different voices, and the censoring of words, until I realized that it was written as reports, and some of it was redacted. After I caught on, I inserted the black-out of words myself :D Once I got the rhythm of it down, I really enjoyed the method, unusual as it is. I like both these authors, I they work very well together. The action was at a good pace, and the character development was well done.
I am looking forward to the next bo ...more

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