Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff -> Restarting January 20th, 2024

[Felicia]

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.

BRIEFING NOTE: Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

[Jennifer]

Yay! I've had this one forever!!!

[Jennifer]

I got started a little early and finished this up last night. It was just so freaking good that I couldn't stop. I'll come back and read your comments though, don't worry!

Briefing note (approx 25%) - (view spoiler)[ Poor Ezra. I feel a little bad for him. I think Kady is going to get him killed. -- The description of the video of him planting the device is pretty funny though.) (hide spoiler)]
It is a kind of poetry (approx 50%) - (view spoiler)[ Aiden's POV is really interesting. I think he is starting to fall in love with Kady. I just hope that he doesn't try to kill Ezra on purpose because of it. (hide spoiler)]
Down on deck 49 (appox 80%) - (view spoiler)[ I keep wondering why Aiden doesn't just vent the afflicted. It would at least reduce their numbers, right? I think he is starting to realize that he made a mistake by giving them access to the ship, especially since Kady is in real danger. (hide spoiler)]
Finished - AMAZEBALLS! I loved it! Ok, so I'm a sucker for a good space sci-fi, but still. This was so good. (view spoiler)[ I had a suspicion the minute Ezra mentioned his mother being a bad person that she would somehow be involved with either the Lincoln or the company that created the virus, but then she wasn't mentioned again for a while and I couldn't figure out why she would put her son in danger in the first place - turns out it was just a fluke, but that I was right. I love that Kady turned out to be the one providing her with all this info too. I listened to the audio version - which was amazingly done! - and it did a good job of making her voice during the briefing notes all garbled with a voice distorter until the very end. So cool. I love that Aiden survived too and I can't wait to see what havoc the three of them wield toward Ezra's mom. Although, I am still a little concerned that Aiden will get jealous of Ezra. He does seem "emotional" about Kady. All of it, just makes me want to continue the series even more. I'm so jazzed to read the next one!!! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

~25% (view spoiler)[ The beginning of this is crazy. Their planet is invaded and Ezra's dad dies. I love the video transcriptions, that guy is hilarious. (hide spoiler)] I'm listening to the audio this time, the cast is great!
~50% (view spoiler)[ I love this line "Like roses in his hands, death blooms." So cool. I love Aidan, excited to have him loaded up! (hide spoiler)]
~75% (view spoiler)[ So messed up that AIDAN pretended to be Ezra to get Kady over to the Alexander. I'm glad Byron had a moment of clarity so he didn't hurt Kady. And seeing that video by McNulty made me cry for real. :'( (hide spoiler)]
Finished (view spoiler)[ This book always makes me cry. The ending, wow. Stomp on my heart, then piece it back together why don't you?! I'm so glad Kady and AIDAN lived. He's crazy, but you kind of get where he's coming from. Ah, need to read the next book now! (hide spoiler)]

[Cindee]

I am 101 pages into this book it is told differently than I am used to but it is very well written. So far I really like the characters especially Kady and Ezra I like how they are written. I really am enjoying the story with the files and other things being used to tell it so far there has been an invasion and a bunch of other things have happened. So far so good will continue soon.

[Cindee]

I am 201 pages into this book and a few more things have happened the story is progressing well. I still really love the characters especially Kady and Ezra I like how their relationship is being slowly repaired in every chat they have. I really like the plot of the story I like how what has happened is slowly being put to together so that it can be figured out.

[Cindee]

I am 309 pages into this book it is so good but not easy to review since it is written differently. I still really like the characters especially Ezra and Kady they are so well written and they do well even in times of crisis. I am really enjoying how it is written different but still very good.

[Cindee]

I am 401 pages into this book and it is thrilling and I am on the edge of my seat best book I have read in awhile. I still love the characters I really like how bold Kady is (view spoiler)[she would do anything to save Ezra even go on a dangerous ship and practically leap through fire to get where she needs to go (hide spoiler)] I really love these characters so much. I am really loving where the plot is going from the sad and depressing parts to the thrilling ones.

[Cindee]

I am 530 pages into this book I have loved everything about this book the ups the downs and everything in between. I still very much like Kady I even can like the (view spoiler)[crazy AI AIDAN it is almost human like in how it reacts to certain things I find it very interesting (hide spoiler)] I just like the characters so much they have grow and developed so much from how they were at the beginning of the story. So I still love the story it is so well written.

[Cindee]

I have finished this book it was so good it had the perfect ending too. I loved the characters more by the end Kady and Ezra love their relationship by the end. I loved the story so much one of the best books I have read in a while.

[Aly]

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RESTARTING MAY 1ST 2020
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[Isabella]

Started reading today, enjoying so far.

[Keri]

I’m starting either tonight or tomorrow I’m super excited!

[Aly]

25% (view spoiler)[ I love this audio. Full cast, sound effects, so great. It's really terrible about Ezra's dad dying and now he's forced into the military where he sees Aidan kill an entire ship of innocent people. Kady is so smart and I love her sarcasm. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

50% (view spoiler)[ When Jimmy gets stabbed and has to stay behind in the air lock, I cry every time. And then Chow gets shot, like why? So sad!
I get they want Aidan up to save them from Lincoln, but it's so dangerous.... (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

80% (view spoiler)[ those infected people are so creepy! "Don't look at me!" gives me nightmares I swear. And how sad, Aidan told Kady Ezra is dead after she's been talking to him all this time :'( (hide spoiler)]

[Isabella]

Read 400 pages - this book is certainly gripping and I am loving the creative layouts. Illuminae, so far, is really well written, full of tension and that is quite impressive given the format of the novel. Excited to get to the ending.

[Aly]

Yes, I loved the format!

Also, you need to make 4 comments to count the buddy read, just so you know :)

[Keri]

I just started and haven’t gotten too far, but just wanted to comment that I couldn’t decide between my hard copy and the full cast audio because I’ve heard great things about both, so I’m doing both lol. I started and am listening while I read along! I’m loving doing it this way.

[Isabella]

500 pages - at this point the format is starting to get on my nerves because I just want to know what happens and I don’t like AIDEN’s voice which now seems to be the majority of the text.

[Isabella]

Downloaded the audiobook and started listening from the beginning this afternoon - I would recommend it. The cast and extra details make it very entertaining.

[Isabella]

Finished reading! Overall I would give this book 3.5 stars. The format is unique and certain pages were beautifully done. I loved the way battle scenes were laid out. Some of the writing is emotive but in some cases limited by the chosen format. It was starting to drag unnecessarily for me towards the end.
I found the characters 1 dimensional and I didn't get much from the AIDEN elements of the book. I have read much better sci-fi surrounding AI, robotics, "evil-super-computers" and humanity in crisis. However, it kept me gripped and entertained for the majority and I did enjoy the experience of reading this book.
I am not in a rush to read the next book but perhaps I will pick it up if I want something easy to read and fun.

[Keri]

48%
(view spoiler)[This book is unlike anything else I’ve ever read. I felt invested long before I could really tell what was going on and I can’t even tell you why. The format and just something about the urgency just compels me to keep going and need to know what happens.

It really just throws in sad deaths in very matter of fact ways because of the format of the documents where we find out people died. So then it’s like you almost do a double take like wait they just killed that character?!?! (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

54%
(view spoiler)[Holy crap AIDAN opened Bay 4 :/
I can’t tell if AIDAN is good with glitches making it bad sometimes, or bad with glitches making it good sometimes... (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

77%
(view spoiler)[What?!?! Ezra is dead? AIDAN is super shady posing as Ezra, not cool. AIDAN keeps saying it’s saving them but so far all it’s done is make sure everyone gets killed...
I’m not loving how anything is going in this book. Everyone we care about keeps dying. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Keri wrote: "48%
(view spoiler)[This book is unlike anything else I’ve ever read. I felt invested long before I could really tell what was going on and I can’t even tell you why. The format and just something about the urgenc... (hide spoiler)]"

I totally agree! (view spoiler)[ I was invested from the get go, people are dying left and right. I mean, Ezra's dad died in the initial attack so we never even met him. It's crazy (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Keri wrote: "54%
(view spoiler)[Holy crap AIDAN opened Bay 4 :/
I can’t tell if AIDAN is good with glitches making it bad sometimes, or bad with glitches making it good sometimes... (hide spoiler)]"

(view spoiler)[ Yeah, I was like you've got to be kidding me! It is hard to tell about Aidan, as he glitches and becomes more self aware, he has this weird sense of what's right (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Keri wrote: "77%
(view spoiler)[What?!?! Ezra is dead? AIDAN is super shady posing as Ezra, not cool. AIDAN keeps saying it’s saving them but so far all it’s done is make sure everyone gets killed...
I’m not loving how anythi..." (hide spoiler)]

Oh you just wait!!!!

[Aly]

Isabella wrote: "Finished reading! Overall I would give this book 3.5 stars. The format is unique and certain pages were beautifully done. I loved the way battle scenes were laid out. Some of the writing is emotive..."

I'm sorry you didn't love it. I like the audiobook because the different narrators and accents help bring it to life. The trilogy is my favorite, maybe someday you'll try the sequel. It's my favorite of the series.

[Aly]

finished (view spoiler)[ Man, the first time I read this I was dying at the end. Thinking Ezra was dead and now Kady was going to die too. So insane that she took out the Lincoln and destroyed the Alexander so the virus hopefully won't spread any more. And the LeeAnn is Ezra's abusive mom, what?! (hide spoiler)]

[Keri]

Finished
Wow Aly you were right, there was so much more to come and it blew me away!
(view spoiler)[Wow. That book was intense. The more I read the more I couldn’t stop reading. I had just gotten past the fact that Ezra had died and was going to have to accept Kady dying too but at least she was going to be getting the truth out there. So imagine my surprise when my mind was completely blown because the Hypatia turns around and saves Kady AND she makes it. AND Ezra is alive. AND Ezra’s evil mom is behind all this business. AND AIDAN is able to regenerate since that little piece of it was on Kady’s console. Oh I can’t wait to read Gemina! (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

I know!! I'm so glad you liked it, these books are some of my favorites

[Keri]

I wish I hadn’t crammed this month with books planned for BR already ot I’d see if anyone wanted to make this a series thread lol.
I’m hoping I can get through lots of my books this month as fast as this one and find some extra time. If not, Gemina is for sure added to my June TBR!

[Aly]

If you read it May 20th or later, I can join you! I just need to wait the 8 months so it will count since it's a reread for me

[Keri]

Okay cool, ill definitely wait until at least then with all the other books I have planned. I don’t think I’d get to to it until the last week of May at the soonest.

[Aly]

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RESTARTING FEBRUARY 15TH 2022

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[Aly]

I'm going to start this tomorrow

[Aly]

A bit later than I meant to be, but I started!

[Aly]

20% ish (I'm on audio and if you are too, it's audible track 50)(view spoiler)[ This really just hits the ground running and I love it. So much is happening, there's a lot of characters but I think it's easy enough to follow Kady and Ezra.
What is up with AIDAN that he blew up one of the ships?? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

34% ish (track 81) (view spoiler)[ Poor Jimmy, he got left in there with the infected! I really like him and this is horrible.
And now a person is dead because General Torrence (ugh) decided to pull people over to his ship. Everything is pretty horrible at this point (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

55% ish (view spoiler)[ AIDAN has lost it. Letting the infected out into the ship to kill the general and a bunch of other people?!
Byron's goodbye to Kady was so sad :( (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

63% (view spoiler)[ The hits just keep coming. Jimmy!! I always cry at his video, it's just so horrible. (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

82% (view spoiler)[ The people infected with Phobos are so creepy! "We can see you." "Don't look at me!" It gives me chills!

Also, AIDAN pretended to be Ezra. Is he really dead??? (hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

100% (view spoiler)[ Ooh what an ending! Kady and Ezra are alive, Ezra's mom is the lady who ordered Kerenza attacked, and AIDAN is still okay. I love that Kady is now threatening Lee-Anne with exposure. (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

I've been wanting to reread this one, so this BR is the perfect opportunity.

Thru page 120
(view spoiler)[
God I love Kady. She's so sarcastic, it's great. I like that she just doesn't accept the party line and digs for the truth herself.

AIDAN blowing up the Copernicus was crazy. How damaged must it be that it decided killing all of those people was a better option?
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Thru page 210
(view spoiler)[
Jimmy getting left in bay 4 is terrible. I feel bad for Ezra that he basically lost his closest friend.

Oof, the UTA marines killing the Hypatia's captain is not great. Torrence has gone off the deep end.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Thru page 354
(view spoiler)[
AIDAN is crazy letting the infected out to kill anyone who could hurt him.

And wow, the captain of the Hypatia isn't taking any chances with the virus. Spacing all of the pilots because one had symptoms.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Thru page 416
(view spoiler)[
Go Kady, stealing a shuttle!

Jimmy's video gets me every time. But at least he was himself in the end.

Oh no, Zhang! I feel so bad for him and Kady.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Finished
(view spoiler)[
I love the bit where Kady manages to save nearly 700 people from the Alexander with AIDAN's help.

The fact Ezra's mom is the one behind everything is crazy. And I love how Kady is threatening her.
(hide spoiler)]

[Aly]

Melanie wrote: "Thru page 210

(view spoiler)[Jimmy getting left in bay 4 is terrible. I feel bad for Ezra that he basically lost his closest friend.

Oof, the UTA marines killing the Hypatia's captain is not great. Torrence has..." (hide spoiler)]

Yeah, so sad :(