Book Review: Illuminae

Title - Illuminae 

Authors - Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff 

Series - The Illuminae Files #1

Genre - YA Sci Fi Dystopian

Published - October 20th 2015

Publisher - Knopf Books for Young Readers

Format - Hardcover 

(Goodreads)(Amazon)

Synopsis

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.

Review

Illuminae is the story of what happened at Kerenza and what transpired aboard the Alexander after that encounter. Kady went to school just like any other day driving her mom’s truck if not for the truck when the mining colony was invaded she and Ezra wouldn’t have made it out alive. While their home was attacked and destroyed the people of Kerenza were rescued by the Alexander a dreadnought as well as the Hypatia and the Copernicus a research vessel. While Era and Kady end up on different ships after leaving their home they are still able to interact via message. However the ships aren’t able to flee the Lincoln due to damage done to the Alexander when it took on the four attacking ships.

Over the next six months the three ships head for Heimdall waypoint hoping to be ahead enough to outrun the Lincoln who’s in hot pursuit. However before reaching the waypoint things go horribly wrong Aiden the Artificial Intelligence of the Alexander fires on the Copernicus causing the captain to question it’s motive and shut it down. Putting everyone at risk as they try to restart the system without Aiden in control but it may be too late. Forced to stay on the Hypatia it’s from that side that Kady will draw Aiden’s attention and change everything.

I loved Kady and Ezra they have issues after all they are in high school when their world suddenly changes forever. I like that even though they are far apart risking their lives they still continue to have a strong bond together. I admit I found Aiden fascinating he felt more real than just an AI system after all he wished he had hands at one point to hold Kady. I felt so connected to Kady that she made me feel what she was feeling even though we are only seeing her journal thoughts and reading what happened.

I wasn’t sure what to expect and admit that I hadn’t read the synopsis all the way through when I purchased the book. I just knew that everyone was talking about it and hand to read it so it was shocking to find that it’s written in a document/emails/interviews/IM’s and other files format. It flows surprising well considering the way it’s written, and I almost didn’t even notice that it’s written different because I was so drawn into the story. I loved every moment of the book it sucked me into the emotional stress that Kady was dealing with and I admit it made me cry sad and happy tears. I felt that Illuminae is beautifully done it’s a captivating novel that captures the heart as well as the imagination. I honestly felt at first with Aiden it was going to be a 2001 Space Odyssey but it evolved into an incredible intricate story of so much more. I loved every moment of it, an amazing novel, and top 5 of 2015 without a doubt. I can’t wait for the next one even though this one just came out I want more now.