Title: Illuminae
Series: The Illuminae Files - book 1
Authors: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Number of Pages: 602
Publication Date: November 2015
Publisher: Allen and Unwin
Summary: One moment Kady Grant and Ezra Mason have nothing bigger to worry about than each other. Specifically, avoiding each other in the wake of their messy break up. In the next second. their entire world falls apart.
The year is 2375 and one of the mega-corporations that control much of deep space has just fired the opening salvo in an intergalactic war, destroying Kady and Ezra's planet. Forced to flee on a small fleet of enemy warships chasing them down is at first all-consuming but soon becomes the least of their worries. A deadly plague is ravaging the refugees on the ships; the fleets AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be an enemy; and High Command is refusing to acknowledge that there may be serious problems. As Kady plunges into a tangled web of data in search of the truth, she realises that Ezra is possibly the only person who can help her save the refugees before it's too late.
This book is perhaps the most amazing and unique thing I have ever read. Even two days after I have finished this book I am still marveling at how well this book was done. When I first heard about this book I wasn't interested in reading it. I am not the biggest science fiction fan and the idea of reading a book written almost entirely in transcripts of interviews, IM's, emails and official documents sounded like it would be missing the fundamentals behind a good book.
I can safely say I am really glad I was wrong. The way this book is told isn't strange and weird, it's creative, unique and brings a whole new perspective to characters and plot. Despite the fact that you never have the story told from the characters perspectives, I never felt like I couldn't understand the emotion behind the characters or why they were doing what they were doing. Kaufman and Kristoff created such emotion and depth in the speech and actions alone.
My only complaint in the entire book was the twenty or so pages leading up the middle of the book. I felt that this part dragged a bit and lacked something. But in saying that, can anyone name a book that was entirely perfect?...
The thing I loved the most about this book was the commentary that was given by the Illuminae Group, especially when they describe what is happening on the surveillance videos; these moments bring a lot of humor and emotion in to the book.
This book is also filled with twists and turns that you don't see coming. Just as you are starting to work everything out, it all changes and you are thrown for a loop. This book gets a strong 5 stars and I can't wait for the second book to come out, because after the ending of the first book...well I need to know more.
I can safely say I am really glad I was wrong. The way this book is told isn't strange and weird, it's creative, unique and brings a whole new perspective to characters and plot. Despite the fact that you never have the story told from the characters perspectives, I never felt like I couldn't understand the emotion behind the characters or why they were doing what they were doing. Kaufman and Kristoff created such emotion and depth in the speech and actions alone.
My only complaint in the entire book was the twenty or so pages leading up the middle of the book. I felt that this part dragged a bit and lacked something. But in saying that, can anyone name a book that was entirely perfect?...
The thing I loved the most about this book was the commentary that was given by the Illuminae Group, especially when they describe what is happening on the surveillance videos; these moments bring a lot of humor and emotion in to the book.
This book is also filled with twists and turns that you don't see coming. Just as you are starting to work everything out, it all changes and you are thrown for a loop. This book gets a strong 5 stars and I can't wait for the second book to come out, because after the ending of the first book...well I need to know more.
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