Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman, and Jay Kristoff - Restarting February 10th 2023

[Maddie]

6% through (view spoiler)[So it's centered around Kady and Ezra, I think? I like their unique names. I think I understand what's going on. So BeiTech is an evil company that's started attacking their little world? But they're not in the city or anything, they're somewhere else? I'm kind of confused with the setting. Anyway, now they're all evacuated and are on these ships, and one of them's been killed. No one can space jump, which I assume is like teleport, because they've all been too badly damaged. The Lincoln (bad ship) is still chasing the good ship (can't remember it's name) and help's like 6-7 months away. Correct me if I'm wrong? (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

From what I've read so far, that is how I understand it. I'm 11% through.

[Maddie]

Okay awesome. I'm reading a lot more now, assuming people are on to sprint :)

[Maddie]

The one time I can sprint in a while and no one else is on XD

[Maddie]

Still not read any more. The one time I can sprint no one else is on.

[Maddie]

So I've still read nothing today. I planned on reading HEAPS XD Oh well.

[Lee]

On page 139/23% (view spoiler)[I like that Kady and Ezra are bonding together a little bit more.

Also, that rose message as a piece of artwork holy crap. That made me smile it was really adorable.

There are so many secrets that are going on right now that it's frustrating (in a good way). I just want answers! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Good work! I'm still on 6% XD I'll read more tonight.

[Lee]

279/47% (view spoiler)[ Some of these pages are difficult to read because I'm just not sure how to read them??? The effect is wonderful! Super wonderful. I just don't know how to read it. xD

The intensity is really starting to pick up too! (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

290 (view spoiler)[It's The Scream by Edvard Munch. How appropriate. I'm chuckling slightly. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

How many pages does your copy have? Mine's got 599 and I'mon 64 now. I'm doing some sprints so I'm definitely planning on catching up :)

Got nothing much to say just yet. I'll just commend on your spoilers when I get to them :) That cool?

[Lee]

Mine also have 599. c:
And that's perfectly fine!

[Maddie]

Cool :) I'm reading atm.

[Maddie]

Erin wrote: "On page 139/23% I like that Kady and Ezra are bonding together a little bit more.

Also, that rose message as a piece of artwork holy crap. That made me smile it was really adorable.

There are so..."

(view spoiler)[I liked the sheep that Kady drew XD I'm kind of confused. Lincoln didn't even destroy Copernicus, but their own ships did because AIDAN ordered them to with no higher confirmation? Maybe AIDAN was hacked?

What's Kady doing? Is she trying to hack into the system to figure out why AIDAN ordered that? (hide spoiler)]

I'm liking the layout and stuff, but it's pretty complex!

[Maddie]

Pg 155

[Maddie]

169 (view spoiler)[Okay so now there's a virus somehow, and that's apparently the reason they destroyed the Copernicus? To stop it from spreading? If so, how were their survivors? How did it spread. I thought they were quarantined anyway, but for some reason they can't just test them all from that little Hangar? They had to go in? Were they tampering with the air vents or something. Sorry I'm kind of confused with it.

And I can't believe that little girl was so strong! I suppose that the 4 adults weren't infected, they were just trying to stop her from killing them too. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

409 (view spoiler)[Ezra is pretty talented with his image making. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Ah you're reading now too? Awesome! You finishing it today? I'm not sure when I am. Either today or tomorrow.

[Lee]

I'm going to try too. Currently I'm taking a break.

[Maddie]

Ah awesome. I just need to get some reading done XD Once the person I'm sprinting with disappears I'm going to do dishes and then some uni work XD

[Maddie]

Mind answering my questions in my last spoiler?

[Maddie]

Or two? Are you reading my responses to your spoilers?

[Lee]

I believe your questions will be answered later on. c: If not then we can figure them out together.

[Maddie]

But are they the right questions? Coz I don't understand what's going on.

[Lee]

I think they will be?

[Maddie]

XD Alright cool. It's a pretty complex story! Especially all the jumping around between characters and memos and articles and conversations and stuff, and then something changes or something else'll be added in and it's like wut 0.0.

[Lee]

Yesssss. I agree! It can definitely be a little hard to follow at times.

[Maddie]

You finished?

[Maddie]

I stopped reading for a bit, but I'm keen to get back into it now.

[Lee]

I'm not! I'm going to pick it back up after Legion is over.

[Maddie]

Ah alright. Want to sprint?

[Lee]

It'll be about an hour before I'm ready too. Is that okay?

[Maddie]

Yeah that's cool :) I'll just do some homework before then. Post back when you're on?

[Maddie]

Page 240 (view spoiler)[Okay so Doherty killed Chau over the anxiety and jitteriness he was feeling about something? Can't remember what. Seems silly.

And oh my gosh Kady's mum was on Copernicus! Don't you think they would've checked before just abandoning it? Actually, didn't they check, but all of them had the virus and that's what they were doing in Hangar 4? Please answer these. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Erin wrote: "279/47% Some of these pages are difficult to read because I'm just not sure how to read them??? The effect is wonderful! Super wonderful. I just don't know how to read it. xD

The intensity is re..."

(view spoiler)[Totally agree! Pretty confusing! I skipped some of them XD (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Erin wrote: "290 [spoilers removed]"

What's The Scream? My page 290 was a conversation with Zhang and Torrence and Boll.

[Lee]

(view spoiler)[Yeah they checked and all of those people either had the virus or were exposed to it. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

Maddison wrote: "Erin wrote: "290 [spoilers removed]"

What's The Scream? My page 290 was a conversation with Zhang and Torrence and Boll."

It's the page right before that.

[Maddie]

Oh right XD Is that spoiler for me, or is it where you're up to?

[Lee]

470 (view spoiler)[I feel like I'm supposed to lean towards liking AIDAN now??? (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

That spoiler is for you! Sorry I should have specified. xD

[Maddie]

Erin wrote: "[spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[So even if her mum is there, it's like she said, she'd rather her be dead. (hide spoiler)]

294 (view spoiler)[So now basically the Lincoln launched missiles at Alexander and the Alexander pilots defended them. AIDAN was launched and helped Zhang and Kady to bring down Lincoln's systems somehow... Still fuzzy on how.. (hide spoiler)]

Wonder what else can happen!?

[Maddie]

Sprint?

[Maddie]

Oh yeah crap (view spoiler)[AIDAN OPENED THE DOORS TO HANGAR 4!! (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

438 (view spoiler)[Holy moly it wasn't even Ezra!! That was a good plot twist! And having that picture of Kady with her name was super real! I didn't look at it too hard though because I didn't want my imagination ruined. (hide spoiler)]

[Maddie]

Finished. Holy moly. I don't even know...

[Maddie]

Review: I really have no idea how to rate this book. Somewhere between 4-5 stars. I've never read anything like it. And even though I basically read it all today, I'm not sure I properly understood it. It is so complex, and there's so much happening. This is a book I could re-read forever and every time I read it I'll uncover something new. I'm definitely not done with this book. It'll be a re-read for sure. Pleased I read it, as it's been something I've been looking forward to for a while.

Things I liked:
The layout, like the different patterns/formations for the words
The changes in POV
The variance in the forms of telling the story, like the articles, conversations, thoughts and stuff
I liked the character development, the way the characters evolve, the way that (view spoiler)[many of them die as it would happen in real life, no miracles really here, apart from the ending, but really what did you expect. (hide spoiler)]
It was actually really gory and horrific.
The relationship (view spoiler)[between Ezra and Kady. How they broke up over something silly but then got together in the end. I thought they were actually over, but then we uncover some things. I mean, the whole thing with AIDAN impersonating Ezra just to get to Kady was cruel, and such a plot twist, but I'm so pleased that they both lived. (hide spoiler)]
I loved the pictures they made with the words. The one word repeated over and over on the same page in different shades to create a picture was just astounding. I looked at them for a while.
The humour in the book between all of the characters
The seriousness
The suspense
The bluntness
The breath-holding
I just felt really immersed

Things I disliked:
Sometimes the way the words were displayed on the page, eg curving around the pages, upside down, vertical, spirals. It was a little confusing.
The way that I had soooo many questions going into the book, I felt like I couldn't properly grasp what was happening because I was so confused. My buddy reading this book with me (Erin) will know all about my questions :p

As of writing this review, I've actually upped my rating to 5 stars XD I liked writing this review, made me think more about the book. So yeahp, 5 stars for this one. Got no clue what's in the second one, but so keen to read it. Probably about (view spoiler)[Leanne, Heimdall and the rest of what she was talking to Leanne about in the final conversation. (hide spoiler)]

[Lee]

That ending though. /thumbs up/

[Maddie]

Yeah Ikr! I want the next one! XD Hopefully going to read it as soon as I get it, well depending on challenges and on you and stuff :p

[Carolina]

Hello, I'm sorry to intrude but I am in need of some help. I need to sort Kady and Ezra into Hogwarts houses, how would you do it?

Thanks in advance