Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff – Book Review

If you know me at all, you know there are two book series that I’m obsessed with like nothing else: An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir, and Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff.

Seriously, I never shut up about them.

I’m a huge sci fi nerd. I love all things involving space – I find it to be the most fascinating subject to read about. It’s my passion.

When I saw one of the criteria for Book Battle this month was to read the last book in a series, I knew it was the perfect time to sit down and reread one of my favorite series of all time.

“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.”

I’m super into any book that is told in a unique way, and Illuminae is like the epitome of unique storytelling. Told through all different kinds of documents, Illuminae immerses you in its story from the beginning, pulling you in and making you want to scan each and every document for every little detail.

Kady Grant is one of the absolute coolest female protagonists I have ever read. I loved reading about her proficiency in coding, her snark and sarcasm when talking to others, her bravery in the face of incredible danger.

Ezra Mason is another favorite. He’ll have you laughing the whole way through, but knows how to be serious when the time comes. His love for Kady is the sweetest, and you’ll be rooting for the both of them to make it through and be together.

AIDAN. Oh, AIDAN. My absolute favorite character. I love a complex “bad guy”, and AIDAN is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever read. As the “rogue AI” on the ship, who may or may not have the fleet’s best interest in mind, he steals the show as he takes over and, personally, quickly became my favorite.

The plot is action-packed. There is never a dull moment in this book. If you’ve never read sci fi, and you’re unsure about it, Illuminae is a great place to start. It’s so exciting, you’ll be pulled in immediately and completely forget about whatever apprehension you had about reading sci fi for the first time. Illuminae is incredible like that – it’s so accessible to all audiences, whether you’re new to sci fi, or it’s your favorite genre.

I’m obsessed with this book. That’s pretty obvious. I could talk about it all day long, but instead I’ll just leave you with this: READ IT! If you’ve never read Illuminae, read it right now! Trust me, you won’t regret it.

My Rating: ★★★★★