Crossing Over: Science Fiction Survival Stories

It's time for this month's edition of Crossing Over. If you're not familiar with Crossing Over it's a feature where I recommend an adult book with crossover appeal based on a YA book that is similar. It's basically an if you liked, then try but for crossover books. I'm trying to make this a more regular thing where I pick the books based on that month's theme but I skipped last month because I used that theme in the previous month. Although it's only been about an extra two weeks since my last one so we'll go with it. So because this is Science Fiction month I decided to go with two books that are pretty hot right now but they are both fantastic!

Illunimae by Aime Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 
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Illuminae is a book that will serious mess with your head and give you feels that you were not expecting. After an attack on a planet deep in the solar system, the survivors need to figure out a way to survive despite all kinds of crazy circumstances working against them. The main characters use their understanding of technology and military training to get them through things. There are laughs, there are tears, there is tons of action and by the end of the book you will be on the edge of your seat so terrified about how it will all end for the hero you have come to know and love. But the best part is that it's told in an interesting format with a lot of different perspectives really making for a complex and engaging story.

The Martian by Andy Weir
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The Martian is a book that will give you feels that you were not expecting and have you so much more entertained than you thought a hard sci-fi novel would. After an accident on a planet deep in the solar system a man is left behind and needs to figure out a way to survive despite all kinds of crazy circumstances working against them. The main character uses his understanding of science and military training to get him through things. There are laughs, there are tears, there is tons of action and by the end of the book you will be on the edge of your seat so terrified about how it will all end for the hero you have come to know and love. But the best part is that it's told in an interesting format with a lot of different perspectives really making for a complex and engaging story.

These are both amazing examples of why I love Science Fiction and books about survival. There is a huge focus on science and technology but at the heart of the story it is really about the characters. And both of these books have highly intelligent and snarky, sarcastic characters. If you didn't know, those are the characters that I absolutely love. They are also books that just absolutely build to a conclusion that will have you so engrossed and attached that if you aren't worried or in tears, you must be an AI. They are without a doubt two of my top ten books of the year and must reads for anyone who likes Science Fiction.

Have you read Illuminae and/or The Martian? What did you think? What science fiction crossovers do you like? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Illuminae by Aime Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Illuminae Series: Illuminae Files #1 Author: Aime Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Published: October 20, 2015 by Knopf (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: 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.

**** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ****

I am very rarely at a loss for words. I am full of opinions usually. Good, bad, indifferent. If you ask me what I think about something, especially books, I will tell you. But I really can't even begin to find the words to explain how brilliant Illumine was. I have read Aime Kaufman's work and I know that can write an absolutely amazing science fiction novel. I've also heard good things about Jay Kristoff and after reading this book I think I may need to read his fantasy. Together these two authors created something brilliant and creative that I loved reading.

One of the things that made this book so brilliant is the format. It is one of the most creative an interesting books I have ever read. Until recently I don't think I have really read a book written in the epistolary format but I've read two in as many months now and I have to say, I love that style. Illuminae is written from hacked records. Journal entries, emails, IMs, video footage. It all works together to create the story of a space adventure gone horribly wrong (more on that later).  From the blacked out works to the white writing on a black background, to the word art, to the commentary, to the vocabulary it was like nothing I had ever read. It took a little while to get accustomed to the style but once I did, I was absolutely hooked. I realize this style is not for everyone but I loved it. It's not that I would call it realistic but it was definitely immersive. And because it is so immersive when things go horribly wrong it gives you an extra punch to the feels. Maybe because it was almost like being part of the narrative.

And there definitely was a narrative here. Sometimes these kinds of books can get a little muddled and complex in a bad way. And yes, it did take me a little while to get used to the format and really get involved with the plot of the book. I mostly think that when you're creating exposition and context in an epistolary format it's hard to make the story interesting and not confusing. But this was still a very compelling story Fans of hard sci-fi will love this space adventure. There is a lot of computers and technology here but the most interesting plot point for me and the real story was about survival. And I mean this in more ways than one. There are so many other concepts and plot points at play here that threaten the safety of our characters like the threat of another spaceship arriving and destroying the fleet as we know it. But there are also threats from within the fleet including a really nasty virus that adds a lot of action and conflict plus one of the ship's artificial intelligence that thinks he is helping but he's really kind of making things worse. It was a complex and intricate plot but it was well-planned and executed in a way that build to a thrilling conclusion. 

But what really had me invested in this book was the characters. There was a lot of different people and "voices" throughout the book but they all felt distinct and interesting. Our main characters of course are Kady and Ezra who I both liked. Kady is this computer prodigy who uses her powers for her own personal gain until her survival is at risk but then again that could also be personal. Kady is not the easiest character to like but she is still really sympathetic and has a great character arc. Ezra on the other hand is easy to like. He's got a great sense of humor and just as interesting a backstory and development. But I also really loved them together. They had great banter and when they interacted I was waiting for the moment I could smooch their faces together. 

But the book was also full of complex and compelling secondary characters including Ezra and Kady's compatriots, military leaders, and members of the fleet. The best secondary character however was AIDAN, the ship's artificial intelligence who after suffering some damage in an attack become an antagonist for the book. And boy is he a great one. I've been loving AI villains lately because their cold nature makes them creepy in a way that is so entertaining. Plus AIDAN's logic and actions make him so sinister and yet somehow he's not a caricature because throughout the book his explanations about why he's doing this sometimes even makes sense. He's the kind of villain who is doing the wrong thing for the right reasons, a concept I always enjoy in my antagonists. With AIDAN, sometimes he's diabolical and sometimes he's downright sympathetic. That to me is the mark of a great villain. You are rooting for our heroes while also not rooting against the antagonist. And that to me is also the mark of great characterizations, something I think was abundantly clear here. 

But that's just one more example of why Illuminae is so unique and compelling. It's unlike anything I have read and it was so thrilling and compex. It may seem like an intimidating read. Seriously, this thing is a beast coming in at over 600 pages (something not often seen in YA novels) but it's also the kind of book that you will fly through both because the format makes it it quicker to read then a lot of descriptions and dialogue but also because you will not want to put it down. Then when you finally do finish it, it will probably wreck you. I mean it did me.

I give Illuminae by Aime Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! If you are a fan of science fiction then you must read this book. Even if you aren't a fan, if you are looking for a unique book that has complex characters and tons of action then pick this up. It really is a phenomenal and beautiful peice of literature.

Have you read Illumine? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday - This Shattered World

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: This Shattered World Series: Starbound #2 Author: Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner Published: December 23, 2014 by Disney-Hyperion Amazon Goodreads Synopsis: Jubilee Chase and Flynn Cormac should never have met.  Lee is captain of the forces sent to Avon to crush the terraformed planet's rebellious colonists, but she has her own reasons for hating the insurgents.  Rebellion is in Flynn's blood. His sister died in the original uprising against the powerful corporate conglomerate that rules Avon with an iron fist. These corporations make their fortune by terraforming uninhabitable planets across the universe and recruiting colonists to make the planets livable, with the promise of a better life for their children. But they never fulfilled their promise on Avon, and decades later, Flynn is leading the rebellion.  Desperate for any advantage against the military occupying his home, Flynn does the only thing that makes sense when he and Lee cross paths: he returns to base with her as prisoner. But as his fellow rebels prepare to execute this tough-talking girl with nerves of steel, Flynn makes another choice that will change him forever. He and Lee escape base together, caught between two sides in a senseless war.

Why I'm Waiting 

I read These Broken Stars in January and it blew my mind into a million pieces! It completely lived up to the hype with an amazing star-crossed lovers kind of romance, complex characters, and a unique and enthralling Science Fiction plot with a lot mystery! So so much mystery!

And while I would love to follow up with Lilac and Tarver, I'm also really excited to be introduced to new characters and new stories. I already love the prospect of Jubilee, she sounds a little bit like Starbuck in the Battlestar Gallactica reboot, who I love. I also love the idea of a kickass female character who can go toe to toe with a kickass male character. I am predicting quite a lot of wonderful banter.

And did you all know that there is a Starbound short story coming out in a few weeks called This Night So Dark. It has some Tarver flashbacks like how he became so famous and also connects the two stories, so if you need a Starbound and/or Tarver fix check it out, it's free for kindle!

I am just really excited to spend some more time in this world and to see where things develop. I'm intrigued that this is a companion to These Broken Stars. I'm interested to see how things develop in the world, especially the way that the last book ended, and I'm interested to see if they answer or resolve any of the mind-blowing questions the first book brought up.

Really I just want this book in my face immediately!

What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you as excited for This Shattered World as I am? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: These Broken Stars by Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Title: These Broken Stars Series: Starbound #1  Author: Aime Kaufman and Meagan Spooner Published: December 2013 by Disney Hyperion Amazon Goodreads Synopsis:  It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they're worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help

I was very nervous about reading These Broken Stars. For one thing there was a lot of hype. When this book came out last December I saw practically every blog I follow raving about how fantastic it is. I'm pretty sure it made a lot of people's best of the year lists. That was my first fear, that it wouldn't live up to the hype. Based on the synopsis it sounds like there is a lot of traveling around a deserted planet and trying to survive, which if you follow my blog you know I hate. My second fear was that it would be full of boring travel montages. Boy was I wrong. This book lives up to the hype and is so much more than a book about survival. 

Now don't mistake me, it is a book about survival. Lilac and Tarver get (space)shipwrecked on a strange planet after their postmodern Titanic is ripped out of hyperspace and they must complete usual stranded passenger tasks like finding food, shelter, and a way of communicating to get rescued. But this book is so much more than that. There is much more mystery than I expected. I thought that the main reveal was going to be what planet this was and I was convinced I had figured that out. Wrong again. The mystery was much deeper than that and about halfway through the book I began doubting my theory and completely shocked by the twists and turns that the authors were throwing my way. As the book winded down and the secrets began to be revealed I had my mind blown by one event and revelation after another. This book was one big mindfuck (sorry I swore, but I had to do it, that's the only way to describe the feeling). This book was a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, inside in an enigma! 

What also surprised me about this book was how much I enjoyed the romance. At first I expected a clichéd rich girl falls for bad boy from "the wrong side of the tracks" kind of story but again this book proved me wrong again. It was so much more than that even though, yes, that was the gist of their relationship. At the beginning I was annoyed at their inability to act on their attraction but as they spent more time together and got to know one another better my feelings for them as characters grew and my longing for them to get together as a couple grew. I appreciated the subtle moments of romance where their relationship wasn't shoved down my throat. Even though there was insta-attraction their actual relationship was more of the slowburning kind of romance which I love. 

Gaius and Number Six get it! Do you?

The only clichés here is an underlying theme of the book which completely sums up my feelings about it, "there is more than meets the eye" and "don't judge a book by its cover." This book was full of surprises and thrills. Just when I thought I had everything all figured out it would throw me for a loop with another shocking surprise. The plot was full of surprises but so were the characters. What was so interesting is that because the chapters alternated perspectives between Lilac and Tarver we got to see the characters through each other's eyes but we also got to know them on a deeper more personal level. It helped to connect with them and root for their survival. 

When the book was finished and my book hangover set in that I realized how fantastic and mindblowing this book really was. It is a great piece of young adult Science Fiction and I loved having my brain exploded in the process of reading. Never before have I been so glad that I was wrong about a book.

I give These Broken Stars a 10 out of 10

I recommend this book to anyone who likes Science Fiction, someone looking for a slowburning romance, or anyone who likes stories full of mystery and suspense. Definitely for people who are fans of Lost and Battlestar Gallactica.