Book Review: Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Obsidio Series: Illuminae Files # 3 Written by: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Published: March 13, 2018 by Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship, Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, the only option is to return to Kerenza—but who knows what they'll find seven months after the invasion? Meanwhile, Kady's cousin, Asha, survived the initial BeiTech assault and has joined Kerenza's ragtag underground resistance. When Rhys—an old flame from Asha's past—reappears on Kerenza, the two find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. With time running out, a final battle will be waged on land and in space, heroes will fall, and hearts will be broken.

This series conclusion was everything I was hoping it would be. Amazing, thrilling, and emotional. I loved the two previous books in the Illuminae files and I was nervously awaiting it’s finale. It did not disappoint.

For one thing, the characters in this series are amazing. I’ve always been super impressed on how these books are able to balance the character development and the plot but it does that so well. The characters are complex and likable. They’re sweet, funny, and romantic. In two and three books you get really connected to them and their struggles. There’s a lot of characters in this book and they are all really fantastic. Of course I loved Ezra and Kady, they were amazing in the first book. Hannah and Nik won me over in the second book. It was great to see all of them again and have them working together. And then there is AIDAN who is a great anti-hero and what up to his old tricks in this book. But there were also some great new characters. Asha and Rhys didn’t get as much screen time but they still made a big impression. And that’s just the main characters.

The real heart of the story is with the characters. A lot of this book was about exploring the idea of right and wrong, good an evil. It’s about doing whatever it takes to make sure that people survive. It makes for really odious characters and that’s one of the reasons I love them. But it goes deeper than that. It’s a book about family and found family. It’s about survival and people who will do whatever they can to make sure they and everyone’s else survives. The characters in this book are underdogs. They are people who no one expects much from but when push comes to shove they do amazing things and save the day. It makes them easy to root for because of that. I’ve always wanted them to succeed and in this book that was all heightened because it’s the last book in the series.

Of course the plot was heightened here too. The stakes here are incredibly high. Every book in the series has been about saving the world and saving people and that was the case here as well. I mean it’s a pretty epic space opera which I am always here for. And just like the other books in the series there was a lot to this book. Tons of perspectives and differing opinions which made for a complex and interesting story. There were lots of surprises and twists throughout the book which had me either crying or wanting to throttle the book and throw it across the room. And of course a thrilling conclusion that had me on the edge of my seat totally reeling. This is one of the most unique books I have read in a long time and that’s not just because it is written in an epistolary format.

And like the other books in the series, I listened to the audiobook for Obsidio. If you haven’t heard me raving about the audios for this series they are some of my all-time favorites. You wouldn’t think that this format would work in audio but they have been able to do that by having a full cast, sound effects, and plenty of other tricks to make it one of the most immersive audiobooks I have read in a long time. I do like to still flip through to book to see the images but there actually weren’t that many here so it worked incredibly well in the audio format.

Obsidio was one of my most anticipated books of the year and it did not disappoint. It was an amazing conclusion to a brilliant series with great characters, a thrilling plot, and a truly unique read.

I give Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 10 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! If you are a fan of science fiction and have not read this book you are missing out. But even if you don’t like Sci-Fi still read it. It’s unique and interesting and you will seriously love it. It’s brilliant!

There you have it, my thoughts on Obsidio. Have you read it? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: Obsidio by Amie Kauffman and Jay Kristoff

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: Obsidio Series: Illuminae Files #3 Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Published: March 13, 2018 by Knopf Books for Young Readers (RandomHouse) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship, Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, the only option is to return to Kerenza—but who knows what they'll find seven months after the invasion? Meanwhile, Kady's cousin, Asha, survived the initial BeiTech assault and has joined Kerenza's ragtag underground resistance. When Rhys—an old flame from Asha's past—reappears on Kerenza, the two find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. With time running out, a final battle will be waged on land and in space, heros will fall, and hearts will be broken.

Why I'm Waiting:

I am obsessed, OBSESSED, with this series. I am so excited for it to all end. Excited and terrified. This is one of the most unique series that I read in a long long time. Not only because it is told in an epistolary forma but also just because of the overall content and plotting. I've read some of Jay's books on his own and some of Amie's with Meagan Spooner and they were all great and dark and super twisty. I expecting that exactly for this book.

I am definitely going to get myself a copy of this book. I have typically read ARCs for this series but I think with this one I would want a finished copy so I can get all the amazing artwork. Plus I doubt they are doing ARCs and even if they are I will not be getting one. My actual plan for this book is to buy a copy and then also listen to the audio. This series is great on audio because it has a full cast and sound effects. That on top of flipping through to see the art is the most immersive experience and that is exactly what I will be doing.

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on Obsidio along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Gemina Series: Illuminae Files #2 Written by: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Published: October 20, 2016 by Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis:Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.  The saga that began with Illuminae continues on board the space station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of BeiTech’s assault. Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter, Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.  When an elite BeiTech team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum may be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival. The fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.   But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

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

This book was so good! So good! Illuminae was one of the most creative and compelling books I read last year and I couldn't wait for it's follow up. And seriously, Gemina was just as amazing. It's such a unique, interesting, and engrossing read with a fantastic Sci-Fi setting and great characters,

For one thing, the format of these books are so amazing. Gemina is once again told in an epistolary format with hacked documents, IMs, diary entries, pictures, etc. That was one of my favorite things about Illuminae and it once again made for an amazing book here. It makes for such an interesting reading experience, too. I absolutely love this format and for a story like Gemina and the Illuminae files it works so well. It's a very complex book with a lot of moving parts and different things happening and this way you get the whole feel and understand it all better.

But I didn't just read this book. I also listened to the audio. You want a holistic and immersive way to experience this book, listen to the audio while flipping through the book. The audio is seriously brilliant. It has a full cast, sound effects, and two of my all-time favorite narrators. It was amazing and added so much feel and flavor to this already unique book.

But the plot of this book is just as unique and interesting. There is seriously so much to the plot of this book, it's intense. Every time I thought things couldn't possible get more complicated, they got more complicated. There are so many amazing science fiction elements all working together here and they all come together in a totally gripping ending that had me on the edge of my seat, surprised, confused, and totally really. It was amazing. I'm such a plot driven reader and this one was absolutely fantastic from the plot side of things.

The characters too were fantastic. There are a lot of characters and they were all great. The epistolary format means that we get in the head of each of them and see the book from the perspective. It really helps with characterization and makes for a well-rounded book. I really liked both of the main characters of Hanna and Nik. They both very easily could have been cliches, her a kickass female protagonist and him a bad boy with a heart of gold, and neither of them were. They were complex and easy to root for. Plus their banter was top notch.

There were also all kinds of fantastic secondary characters. My personal favorite was Nik's cousin Ella who was hilarious and an amazing hacker. I loved her sass so much. I also really liked Hanna's boyfriend Jax who was narrated by Steve West and was surprisingly complex. And if you are wondering if the characters from Illuminae make a cameo, they do. But all the characters here were amazing and interesting, even the villains.

On the whole, Gemina is as fantastic as I was hoping it would be. It's a unique and interesting book in every way, from the format, to the plot, to the world, to the characters. I really loved the way that this series is developing and I cannot wait to see how it all ends. It's going to be fantastic, I can already tell.

I give Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! Without a doubt you need to buy this book. If you loved Illuminae you will not be disappointed by Gemina. Whether you are a fan of hard SciFi or are just looking for a different kind of read with an interesting format I would definitely recommend this book. And if you are an audiobook fan, seriously listen while you flip through the pages. It sounds weird and clunky but trust me it's the best way to experience this book.

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

Waiting on Wednesday: Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: Gemina Series: Illuminae Files #2 Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff Published: October 18, 2016 by Knopf Books for Young Reader. (Random House) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The highly anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller that critics are calling “out-of-this-world awesome.” Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed. The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.  Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy's most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion. When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands. But relax. They've totally got this. They hope. Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless.

Why I'm Waiting 

I loved Illuminae. Oh man, what a fantastic and creative book. It was one of my favorite books of last year despite the fact that it barely missed my top ten of the year. But it was such an amazing science fiction novel full or surprises and action. And while I wish we were getting more books about Kady and Ezra I am really interested to see what else is happening in this world. Plus if it's anything like Amie's other books there will be some mention of those two and hopefully AIDAN too.

This is a book I was desperate to get my hands on at BEA and I am so glad that I did. It was worth the two hour wait to get a copy of this book. I'm so excited to read it and see what crazy formatting and surprises are in store for this one. The few blogger friends I know who have read this one have loved it and I expect that I will love it as well.

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on Gemina along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

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 
Read My Review / Add to Goodreads

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
Read My Review / Add to Goodreads

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!