Book Review // Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

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.

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult, Science-Fiction
Publication Date: October 20th, 2015
RATING: ⭐⭐⭐½

You have me. Until every last star in the galaxy dies.
You have me.

Illuminae is less a book, than it is a work of art. How do I even begin to write a review for it? Honestly. I don’t have the words in me.

🛰

I was hesitant about reading Illuminae for the longest time, because I was pretty sure I wouldn’t particularly enjoy the epistolary format—nothing melts my heart like beautiful (and descriptive, if done well) prose—but even so, I ended up enjoying it very much.

My favorite parts were the beginning and the ending; the beginning, because the comedic timing was so on point, and had me smiling throughout Kady and Ezra’s preciousness and snark, and the ending, because my heart stopped several times, and went “?!?”.

🛰

I can safely say that Illuminae is the most unique book I have ever read, and not just because of its format. I’m not the biggest fan of the science-fiction genre, or stories that take place in space, but Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff won me over, nevertheless.

I only wish I hadn’t emotionally disengaged from the story a few times during the middle part—hence the slightly lowered rating.

🛰

Let me just gush over my two favorite characters, though.

Kady is such a badass female heroine; she is smart, she is bold, she’s sassy, and have I mentioned utterly heroic? I want to possess only a fraction of her valour, and hacking skills—and I desperately need more female characters like her in my literary and real life.

James (aka Jimmy). Gosh, only thinking of him makes my heart grow. I just wanted the universe to bestow all the best things upon him. He was pretty much my favorite character in this book, and a tiny part of my heart died, reading about what he had to endure in the course of this book.

Honestly, if nothing else, read Illuminae for James McNulty.

You’re interested in this book?

You can buy the Paperback or Hardback at Book Depository.
(Free delivery worldwide!)

Have you read Illuminae? Did you like it?
Have you read any other books from Amie Kaufmann or Jay Kristoff?
What are your favorite books in the Sci-Fi genre?

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xx, Lily