Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Illuminae
Author: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Series: The Illuminae Files #1
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: October 20, 2015
Source: ARC obtained at ALA & super fancy ARC obtained at BEA

Summary from Goodreads:

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.

Review

How does one begin to review the most epic book of all time? Illuminae absolutely BLEW MY MIND. It was unlike anything I have ever read and there are just no words.

Where should my feeble attempts even begin? With the utter racing of my heart or with its  complete destruction? The survivors of the attack on Karenza were fighting against the clock as the Lincoln closed the distance and threatened to finish what it started. Tension was at an all time high. Command was in disarray. Civilians were forced to become soldiers. Death was inevitable. As if those odds weren't bleak enough, a virus starts contaminating the remaining population, turning everyone into psychotic killers. Brutality is everywhere. Impossible decisions need to be made. AND AS IF THAT WEREN'T ENOUGH, the ship's Artificial Intelligence goes batshit crazy too making "calculated decisions for the greater good"! MY HEART. AND THEN EVERYBODY DIES. 

Ok, not everybody. I was being dramatic. But while I was reading, it sure as hell felt as if everyone was dead or doomed. 

How about I fast forward to the end with my breath of relief and tears of joy. When I discover that not all hope is lost. Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman gave us just enough so that they can destroy us all over again in the sequel. AGAIN, MY HEART. It was epic and beautiful and I both hate and love them for it. 

This book was brilliant. It was evil. It was glorious. It was exhausting. And it was told in the most unique way I have ever seen. I LOVED the concept behind the entire book - the interview logs, video surveillance recordings, hacked messages, internal memos, article intelligence scripts, schematics, illustrations etc. It was a work of art. And all of the computer mumbo jumbo and hacking JUST FED MY SOUL. My heart was threatening to burst out of my chest for 599 pages. How does one begin to recover from reading such a book? (hold me).

My god, just read the damn book. *curls into fetal position*

Endsinger by Jay Kristoff

Title: Endsinger
Author: Jay Kristoff
Series: The Lotus War #3
Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books
Release Date: November 22, 2014

Summary from Goodreads:
A TREMBLING EARTH
The flames of civil war sweep across the Shima Imperium. With their plans to renew the Kazumitsu dynasty foiled, the Lotus Guild unleash their deadliest creation—a mechanical goliath known as the Earthcrusher, intended to unite the shattered Empire under a yoke of fear. With the Tiger Clan and their puppet Daimyo Hiro in tow, the Guild marches toward a battle for absolute dominion over the Isles.

A BROKEN REBELLION
Yukiko and Buruu are forced to take leadership of the Kagé rebellion, gathering new allies and old friends in an effort to unite the country against the chi-mongers. But the ghosts of Buruu’s past stand between them and the army they need, and Kin’s betrayal has destroyed all trust among their allies. When a new foe joins the war tearing the Imperium apart, it will be all the pair can do to muster the strength to fight, let alone win.

A FINAL BATTLE
The traitor Kin walks the halls of Guild power, his destiny only a bloody knife-stroke away. Hana and Yoshi struggle to find their place in a world now looking to them as heroes. Secret cabals within the Lotus Guild claw and struggle; one toward darkness, the other toward light. And as the earth splits asunder, as armies destroy each other for rule over an empire of lifeless ash and the final secret about blood lotus is revealed, the people of Shima will learn one last, horrifying truth.

There is nothing a mother won't do to keep her children by her side.

Nothing.

Review

THERE ARE NO WORDS.

Well, maybe there is one.
My first thought upon finishing this book was "Gods..."
Followed by, "This might be the best series I have ever read"

Kristoff continues to outdo himself.
I am in awe, fear, tears over this book.
I didn't think my heart could be broken so many times
but leave it to Kristoff to prove me wrong.

In fact, I think he and George R. R. Martin are playing a game
of who can kill the most characters and still have a book left.
And I think Kristoff won.
You know what they say, all is fair in love and war...

Secondary characters? What are they?
This book has like 20 main characters.
And I freaking love them all.
EVEN THOUGH IT KILLS ME.

Gods, this book is perfect.
It is non-stop action. It is brilliant plotting.
It does have some happy moments, I promise.
YOU WILL FEEL EVERYTHING.

I don't even know where I am going with this review.
I am a blubbering mess.
JUST READ IT OK.
You will not regret it.

But be warned
YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

Bonus Feature

This brilliant series is on Audible, my friends. So if you are an audiobook fan, like us, be sure to check out this clip below!

ARC REVIEW: Kinslayer (The Lotus War #2) by Jay Kristoff

Title: Kinslayer
Series: The Lotus War #2

Author: Jay Kristoff

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Release Date: September 17, 2013

Pages: 432, Hardcover

Source: ARC obtained through trading

Summary from Goodreads:

A SHATTERED EMPIRE
The mad Shōgun Yoritomo has been assassinated by the Stormdancer Yukiko, and the threat of civil war looms over the Shima Imperium. The Lotus Guild conspires to renew the nation’s broken dynasty and crush the growing rebellion simultaneously – by endorsing a new Shōgun who desires nothing more than to see Yukiko dead.

A DARK LEGACY
Yukiko and the mighty thunder tiger Buruu have been cast in the role of heroes by the Kagé rebellion. But Yukiko herself is blinded by rage over her father’s death, and her ability to hear the thoughts of beasts is swelling beyond her power to control. Along with Buruu, Yukiko’s anchor is Kin, the rebel Guildsman who helped her escape from Yoritomo’s clutches. But Kin has his own secrets, and is haunted by visions of a future he’d rather die than see realized.

A GATHERING STORM
Kagé assassins lurk within the Shōgun’s palace, plotting to end the new dynasty before it begins. A waif from Kigen’s gutters begins a friendship that could undo the entire empire. A new enemy gathers its strength, readying to push the fracturing Shima imperium into a war it cannot hope to survive. And across raging oceans, amongst islands of black glass, Yukiko and Buruu will face foes no katana or talon can defeat.

The ghosts of a blood-stained past.

 

Nicole of The Quiet Concert, 24, passed away on the evening of Friday, September 27, 2013 from excessive feels. Nicole was a relatively healthy young adult, but after reading Jay Kristoff's latest novel, Kinslayer, her heart succumbed to frequent and overwhelming bursts of emotion until it ceased to feel anything at all. Nicole will long be remembered for her love of YA and easy laugh, until Jay Kristoff came along ripped apart the very fabric of her being.

Was that morbid of me? Oh well. The roller coaster ride of feels that I went on while reading this book.... GOSH I don't think anything compares. Jay Kristoff - you are merciless and cruel! (Don't punish me Goodreads, I'm just kidding!).

But in all seriousness, this was a fantastic sequel. Kinslayer builds well upon Stormdancer in many ways. There is an obvious expansion in POVs, with an in depth glimpse into the lives of several key players. My heart broke over Kin and Ayane. I rooted for Hannah and Michi. I sympathized for Hiro.I prayed for Yukiko. So many strong characters in this series. Each with a different role to play. And I was invested in each and every story.

The plot progressed well from the first book's ending. The Kage are still fighting for their cause and The Guild are still trying to defeat them. There are some new players as well. While the ending of Kinslayer doesn't have the same impact as the ending of Stormdancer, there are still many events that are pretty significant game-changers. This book wasn't a stalemate like many middle books often are. (Then again, did anyone expect it to be?)

I just have one criticism with regards to Yukiko's role in this book. Her story was exciting, no doubt, but I didn't really see how it added anything to the overall plot. I think it was a diversion tactic because if she was more involved, things would have progressed farther than they did given Kristoff's style of writing.

But really. This book is all about the feels. Kristoff is not afraid to break your heart, piece it back together and then break it again. I cannot even begin to explain the anxiety, frustration, joy, sadness, adrenaline, fear, etc that I felt while reading this book. It was not uncommon for me to be totally loving a character and then totally hating that same character two pages later. It was just.. overwhelming.

Oh, and the world building was great too. The end.

REVIEW #157: Stormdancer (The Lotus War #1) by Jay Kristoff

Title: Stormdancer

Series: The Lotus War #1
Author: Jay Kristoff

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books

Release Date: September 18, 2012

Pages: 313, Hardcover
Source: Library

Summary from Goodreads:

A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A HIDDEN GIFT
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

There are several popular 2012 releases that I have been meaning to read for quite some time but have yet to for no good reason at all. Finally making good on my promises of “I will read that one soon”, I decided to start incorporating these books into my reading schedule, for real this time. I started with Tiger Lily, and not-surprisingly LOVED it. Stormdancer was the next one up on my list. And, well honestly, I wish I would have started this little personal challenge sooner because this too, WAS AWESOME.

In full disclosure, Stormdancer and I did have a bit of a rough start. I have no affinity for Japanese culture and for the first couple of chapters I felt like I was reading in another language. It took some time for me to get used to, but eventually, I did catch up. (Did this happen to anyone else? Just Me? Ok, moving on). I also felt the slow start that other readers have commented on before me. But I’d say this is over once you hit page 75. From then on, Stormdancer is a splendid, awe-inspiring adventure and I didn’t want to ever put this book down (but I did for necessities, like sleep and food).

This book is really without flaws (aside from the aforementioned, which I wouldn’t really call flaws). Yukiko, the main character, is fierce and head-strong. No overbearing romance fills the gaps between events. In fact, there really are no gaps. This entire story is one big adventure with no boring parts. There is a strong focus on friendship and family that complements the action. There is full character and story development. There is both happiness and heartbreak (no story should be all sunshine and rainbows). The surprises are plentiful. The writing is superb, almost poetic. The ending was satisfying yet open-ended enough for more awesomeness to come. I honestly can’t say enough positive things. Did I convince you to read this one yet?

Stormdancer is incredibly well-rounded. There are elements of fantasy, steampunk, dystopian, and more. I think it has a little of something to appeal to a wide variety of readers. It really does deserve all of the hype it has gotten. And anytime I finish a book that I really enjoyed I give it to my mother to read. And she loved this one too. So there you have it, two glowing opinions for the (non-existent) price of one ;).