{Review} You Have SERIOUSLY Never Read a Book Like ILLUMINAE Before...Ever

Title: Illuminae
Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Series: The Illuminae Files, book #1
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 20, 2015
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

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.

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.

You have to practically be living under a rock these days not to have heard of Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff's collaboration in The Illuminae Files. The hype for this book is real and it is so deserved. I couldn't even contain my excitement when I read it back in June and had to go all fangirl-y over it. (I really hate made-up curse words, FYI, and that post is basically about how I love how they handled swearing in the book.) I think I swore more reading this book than any other because it was just so insane and fast-paced, and I was in a constant state of what the hell is even happening right now?!?

This novel is told through a series of reports, emails, IM chats, data logs, etc. I am a huge fan of epistolary novels, and I think the use of so much other media to tell this story was clever, unique to the type of story this is, as well as just plain genius. It adds to the sense of foreboding while also keeping the reader connected to the characters.

"I am frequently underestimated. I think it's because I'm short."

THOSE CHARACTERS THO. Kady is fierce, determined, loyal, devious, sneaky and just plain awesome. I want to be her when I grow up. She just doesn't know the meaning of the word quit, even when things are at their most dire. And then there's sweet, lovable Ezra. Their banter and email exchanges are funny and adorable, but he can't help but be second fiddle to Kady's amazing presence. Which should also clue you into the fact that the romance is secondary to the main plot. More on that in a minute. And, of course, I can't forget AIDAN, the Artificial Intelligence system on Kady's ship who becomes a character in his (its?) own right. When computers and machines start thinking for themselves, we're all in trouble. After this, I will never be able to look at AI the same way again. Ever.

"Am I not merciful?"

Amid the break-up, banter, and questions of will they get back together? -- assuming they survive! -- there's also an intergalactic war-type thing going on, the implications of which are far-reaching and further proof of the genius of this novel. I was so immersed in this novel, in the here and now and the survival of Kady and Ezra that I forgot to look at the bigger picture while I was reading. And it was a crazy big picture that totally blew my mind.

Simply put: you need this book in your life. Stat. I don't think I know I've never read a book like this, that kept me so glued to the pages, while telling me so many different stories -- or aspects of one big story -- and in such a manner. What the authors did here is simply incredible and I'll never be able to do it justice in a review.

It would be an amazing feat if this book isn't already on your radar, but if it isn't, make this the moment that you add it to your TBR. Hell, it's only a smidge over $10 to pre-order it over on Amazon, so why don't you go ahead and do yourself a favor. Oh, and stop back by later this month for a guest post from the authors as part of the Illuminae Blog Tour!!!

GIF it to me straight:

Me to Illuminae...okay, and Kady:

About the Author:

Amie Kaufman is the New York Times bestselling co-author of the Starbound series. Jay Kristoff is the award-winning author of the Lotus War series. Collectively, they are 12’5” tall and live in Melbourne, Australia, with two long-suffering spouses, two rescue dogs, and a plentiful supply of caffeine. They met, thanks to international taxation law, and stuck together due to a shared love of blowing things up and breaking hearts.

Find Amie:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

Find Jay:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | Instagram

Labels: amie kaufman, beautiful covers, censorship, cursing and swearing, discussion, favorite authors, favorites, jay kristoff, random house, reviews, sci-fi, the illuminae files