Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff – A Book Review

Synosis: 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. – Goodreads

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Deep breath.

That is all I found myself doing through this whole book, taking one deep breath after another. Who would have known a book consisting of data files, strangely laid out pages, and a psychopath would leave me feeling so many different ways.

Am I not merciful?

Ok, so hype; lived up to. Every good thing everyone has said about this book is 110% accurate. Phenomenal. I picked up Illuminae out of pure curiosity, which I think was the point to begin with. Not only did that curiosity keep me going through the book but the actual story within the files and crazy pages just keeps you constantly going as well. Holy cow.

Honestly, I felt so connected to this book. It made me feel like I was reading Red Rising all over again from within the spaceship this time instead.

Illuminae is just one of those once in a lifetime books and I feel like there are going to be a lot of imitations to come.

No spoilers, I just want you to read the book.

5/5 🌟