For fans of Marie Lu comes the first book in an epic series that bends the sci-fi genre into a new dimension.
“A truly beautiful novel that redefines the form." —Victoria Aveyard, bestselling author of Red Queen
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 a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it’s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.
Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, maps, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes. “Prepare yourselves for Illuminae.” —EW.com
“[Y]ou’re not in for an ordinary novel experience. . . .”—Bustle.com
“A truly interactive experience. . . . A fantastically fun ride.” —MTV.com
“Brace yourself. You're about to be immersed in a mindscape that you'll never want to leave.” —Marie Lu, bestselling author of the Legend trilogy
"Genre: Undefinable. Novel: Unforgettable." —Kami Garcia, bestselling coauthor of Beautiful Creatures & author of Unbreakable
“An exuberant mix of space opera, romance, zombies, hackers, and political thrills.” —Scott Westerfeld, bestselling author of Zeroes and Uglies
“Stunningly creative. Smart, funny, and romantic.” —Veronica Rossi, bestselling author of Under the Never Sky
“This is one of those rare books that will truly keep your heart pounding.” —Beth Revis, bestselling author of Across the Universe
“This book is xxxxing awesome.”
—Laini Taylor, bestselling author of Daughter of Smoke and Bone
It's been a hot minute since I've read a sci-fi novel and I was so excited to read Illuminae. I had high expectations and I was not disappointed.
The format is unique. Illuminae is told through media such as transcripts, interviews, chat logs, official documents, camera surveillance footages and emails and the format makes this book a work of art. There are some format elements that I enjoyed reading more than others and the format tends to make the plot progression a little choppy at times, but overall a unique reading experience.
Unfortunately, because of the format, it took me a while to become immersed in the story and I didn't get attached to the characters. The main characters, Kady and Ezra, are likable, but because of the limitations of the format, they seem underdeveloped. All I know about Kady is that she's a badass hacking genius and Ezra just faded into the background.
There is one unexpectedly interesting character: AIDAN, who is robotic and logical at times, but most of the time seems almost human, which is super creepy. AIDAN's data, thoughts and justifications are intriguing.
The plot and worldbuilding is the best part. There's a war between a megacorporation and a planet, refugees living in compact spaces, spaceship battles, a deadly virus (which made me question all my life decisions, because pandemic) and a loose cannon of an AI machine. The plot is fast-paced, so much happens and the plot twists are unexpected. I especially enjoyed the last half of Illuminae.
Illuminae has a weird tone, almost like it doesn't take itself too seriously. There's lots of violence, blood, gore, destruction and death, but those moments tend to seem more over-the-top and ridiculous. I also couldn't take the emotional moments seriously because of it. Illuminae is laced with humour and sarcasm and there are some places where it works, but there are others where it's a bit too much.
Overall, Illuminae is a unique, fun and entertaining sci-fi read and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
"The universe owes you nothing, Kady. It has already given you everything, after all. It was here long before you, and it will go on long after you. The only way it will remember you is if you do something worthy of remembrance."
