Title: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1)Series: Illuminae #1
Author: Jay Kristoff, Amie Kaufman
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genres: Sci-Fi
Publication Date: October 20, 2015
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 received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. ❃
Kindle Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff is a fast-paced space survival/adventure story with so much potential to be a five star book. However, the e-ARC edition of this book is really lacking and I don’t think that I can properly review it. The graphics included are blurry and illegible and I feel like I missed out on a lot of the story. Since the edition I read seems incomplete, this review is only based on what I read.
Difficult to Read on a Kindle
Illuminae was really disappointing for me. I have heard so many good things about this book and I was so excited to start it! Unfortunately, on the Kindle, Illuminae is extremely difficult to read. There are beautiful graphics included in the book with bits of text that are important to the plot. The ebook version makes the graphics so blurry that you have to squint to read it, and even then, you can’t see that much. Considering a big part of this book is images, I feel like I missed out on a lot. What is a 608 page book according to Goodreads was only 215 pages as an ebook. Because of this, I don’t think I can give Illuminae a proper rating and review.
An Original Story With 5 Star Potential
What is upsetting about the fact that Illuminae seemed to be missing so much of the story is that this book honestly has so much potential to be a five star book. It is so original, since it is told through various files and is so well developed. I was able to read this book in just one sitting because it is so fast-paced! This sci-fi space adventure could actually be one of my favourites of the year. I just wish the book was fully legible so that I could review it properly and fairly.
I definitely recommend that everyone pre-order this book, however, because what I was able to read is truly amazing and not to be missed. Fans of books like The Fifth Wave will really enjoy Illuminae because they have the same intense and awesome sci-fi elements. Just be sure to read the physical copy. 🙂
About Amie Kaufman
Amie Kaufman is the New York Times bestselling co-author of Illuminae (with Jay Kristoff) and These Broken Stars, This Shattered World, and Their Fractured Light (with Meagan Spooner.) She writes science fiction and fantasy for teens, and her favourite procrastination techniques involve chocolate, baking, sailing, excellent books and TV, plotting and executing overseas travel, and napping.
She lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, their rescue dog, and her considerable library. She is represented by Tracey Adams of Adams Literary.
About Jay Kristoff
Jay Kristoff is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of THE NEVERNIGHT CHRONICLE, THE ILLUMINAE FILES and THE LOTUS WAR. He is the winner of four Aurealis Awards, an ABIA, nominee for the David Gemmell Morningstar and Legend awards, named multiple times in the Kirkus and Amazon Best Teen Books list and published in over thirty countries, most of which he has never visited. He is as surprised about all of this as you are. He is 6’7 and has approximately 13030 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the world’s laziest Jack Russell.
He does not believe in happy endings.
I’m usually an ebook reader but I ordered the hardcover for this one after hearing about the problems with the ebook. There’s an audiobook version too so I wonder how that will work!
I agree! I think that there might be issues with such a visual book if it is going to be offered as an audiobook!
I already commented on your GR review of this, but man that sucks. I feel bad that you didn’t get the full experience. I have found this to be the case with some things though — the physical book doesn’t transfer very well to ebook. One example I can think of is ICONS by Margaret Stohl.
I think I’m going to pick up a copy from the library first before I purchase this one though!
I am hoping that I can read a proper copy as well! Maybe the library is a good place to start! 🙂
OK this is definitely a book that I would love to read,this sounds amazing and thank you for your review.
Oooh now I have all this mystery behind it!! I’ll have to check it out for myself!! Thanks for sharing!
Oh, that is unfortunate that the electronic version didn’t work out. I’m also really looking forward to reading Illuminae. Thank you for the warning. I will make sure to get a hardcopy.
I hope that the hard copy is enjoyable for you!
I’ll have to check it out from the library–it’s a shame it didn’t do so well electronically. Thanks for the heads up!
Oh no!!! I really do think you need the proper images to really enjoy it. They really heightened my connection to the book. I’m so sorry the version you were reading ended up damaging that for you 🙁 🙁
I am trying to keep an open mind. Hopefully the hard version will bring me the pleasure that everyone else seems to get from this book!
Enjoyed your review!
Great review. I like both of those authors. I need to read this one. 😉
I’m sorry you didn’t like it so much._.
It’s one of the books I was looking forward to the most this month.
I’ll still give it a try though 🙂
I’ve heard everyone loving this book, which makes me want to read it. But I am so sad to hear that the kindle version hasn’t been given enough attention and things with it just didn’t work out which kind of made it disappointing overall. Such a shame :/
From people’s reviews I really want to read this book, but I’m sure you’re right and the physical format is the one that offers the full experience… I hope you like it as well 🙂
Just wait until you have the chance to read the physical book! I tried reading the Kindle ARC version, but it was incredibly hard to read, and you missed a ton of info. But when you have the chance to read the physical book, and get the full story, it really is amazing!
I got the Kindle version, but I didn’t start reading it yet because I think it’s better to buy the physical book! All the reviews that I have read about this amazing book, are positive!! Kisses from Italy!
I really enjoyed this series. I had no idea about the ebook version having so much trouble but that makes sense in a way. I always think about picture books on ereaders and I feel that sometimes you really miss out reading a book that way. Sometimes there are textures and other methods that cannot be captured on ereaders.