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Mikee (ReadWithMikee)'s Reviews > Illuminae
Illuminae (The Illuminae Files, #1)
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CAUTION: Illuminae will piss you off, make you laugh, break your heart, and last but not least: RUIN YOU AND DESTROY YOUR WHOLE BEING.
"'Run. Tell your story when you get there.' [...] 'I'll tell your story, too,' she whispered. And then she's running up the gangway, Corron slamming the door behind her. Her face is visible until the moment it seals. Every death she's witnessed written on it, clear as the day. Something tells me she won't forget what she's seen for a long time. Something tells me I won't either."
I don't normally read sci-fi, or at all actually, but I decided to read this book because of its cover and writing format. I've never read or seen anything like it so it instantly caught my attention. I knew that this story was told through interviews, IMs, stolen files, etc. and I was a little worried because obviously this meant that the plot would be a little broken up and scattered. And eventually, we would have to piece everything together from beginning to end.
I'll be honest with you. I WAS COMPLETELY LOST IN THE BEGINNING. I had no idea what the heck was going on. I pretty much only understood the basic concepts of the plot and it wasn't until about the 30% mark I began to understand what was really happening, but even then it was still a little questionable. But I think by the 60% mark is when I fully understood the plot and read it straight through without being confused as to what just happened. I'm pretty slow when it comes to these things so hopefully you'll have better luck at fitting the pieces of the puzzle at a faster rate.
Some people might not even make it to that point because you give up trying to put in the effort to understand, but I'm telling you, it's worth it to stick around until the end. Once you put it all together, I promise you, it will feel like such an accomplishment. It will take a lot of patience because even I considered putting this book down but I'm glad I didn't. I loved this book, and it definitely became one of my new favorite series. And I'm not even a sci-fi reader!
I was at the edge of my seat as soon as the book started picking up, up until the very end because HOLY CRAP. No one, and I mean NO ONE , in this book is safe. Just when you think you got everything and everyone figured out, this book does a whole 180 degrees and knocks you on your ass so you can try again.
The last thing I wanted to talk about are the characters. Some of these characters will piss you off and some of them will just straight up break your heart. I both loved and hated ALL the characters at one point in the story that were introduced in this book and because of that, I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing when everything unfolds. Because... (view spoiler)
THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY ABOUT THIS BOOK.
Just go pick it and give it a try! I'm a full-time fantasy reader (as most of you probably are too) but this book blew me away. This was my first sci-fi novel and it did not disappoint!
"'Run. Tell your story when you get there.' [...] 'I'll tell your story, too,' she whispered. And then she's running up the gangway, Corron slamming the door behind her. Her face is visible until the moment it seals. Every death she's witnessed written on it, clear as the day. Something tells me she won't forget what she's seen for a long time. Something tells me I won't either."
I don't normally read sci-fi, or at all actually, but I decided to read this book because of its cover and writing format. I've never read or seen anything like it so it instantly caught my attention. I knew that this story was told through interviews, IMs, stolen files, etc. and I was a little worried because obviously this meant that the plot would be a little broken up and scattered. And eventually, we would have to piece everything together from beginning to end.
I'll be honest with you. I WAS COMPLETELY LOST IN THE BEGINNING. I had no idea what the heck was going on. I pretty much only understood the basic concepts of the plot and it wasn't until about the 30% mark I began to understand what was really happening, but even then it was still a little questionable. But I think by the 60% mark is when I fully understood the plot and read it straight through without being confused as to what just happened. I'm pretty slow when it comes to these things so hopefully you'll have better luck at fitting the pieces of the puzzle at a faster rate.
Some people might not even make it to that point because you give up trying to put in the effort to understand, but I'm telling you, it's worth it to stick around until the end. Once you put it all together, I promise you, it will feel like such an accomplishment. It will take a lot of patience because even I considered putting this book down but I'm glad I didn't. I loved this book, and it definitely became one of my new favorite series. And I'm not even a sci-fi reader!
I was at the edge of my seat as soon as the book started picking up, up until the very end because HOLY CRAP. No one, and I mean NO ONE , in this book is safe. Just when you think you got everything and everyone figured out, this book does a whole 180 degrees and knocks you on your ass so you can try again.
The last thing I wanted to talk about are the characters. Some of these characters will piss you off and some of them will just straight up break your heart. I both loved and hated ALL the characters at one point in the story that were introduced in this book and because of that, I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing when everything unfolds. Because... (view spoiler)
THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY ABOUT THIS BOOK.
Just go pick it and give it a try! I'm a full-time fantasy reader (as most of you probably are too) but this book blew me away. This was my first sci-fi novel and it did not disappoint!
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Reading Progress
September 4, 2015
– Shelved
September 4, 2015
– Shelved as:
to-read
October 20, 2015
–
Started Reading
October 20, 2015
–
0.0%
"Hopefully this book is as beautiful as its cover and format because it's absolutely stunning and unique! My first sci-fi book, don't let me down!"
page
0
October 20, 2015
–
4.28%
"I'm trying REALLY hard to understand WTF is happening right now lol. I love the unique format but it's a little tedious trying to follow what's going on."
page
26
October 20, 2015
–
8.72%
"Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff, and Meagan Spooner are on the Copernicus Casualty List OMG HAHA. Ehrmmm, I mean R.I.P. :'))))"
page
53
October 21, 2015
–
20.89%
"Am I the only one who thinks that these characters sound like immature 15 years olds? It's pretty comical every once in awhile but still immature nonetheless."
page
127
October 22, 2015
–
34.54%
""I'll keep your secrets. Shut my mouth. But I can't shut my eyes. I am hereby formally resigning my commission as a lieutenant of the United Terran Authority, effective immediately." Everyone is this book is such a mess right now! I have so much respect for Winifred McCall."
page
210
October 22, 2015
–
45.23%
""He presses his triggers, and like roses in his hands, death blooms." EPIC."
page
275
October 22, 2015
–
69.41%
"WHAT THE FLYING FUCK???? NOOOOOO!!!! TELL ME ITS NOT TRUE. OMG PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. OMG NO PLEASE."
page
422
October 23, 2015
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-5 of 5 (5 new)
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message 1:
by
Katerina
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
Oct 24, 2015 12:07AM
your review (and spoiler) makes me think that maybe I should give the book one more chance. and I'll try it later)
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Sounds like my perfect book
Katerina wrote: "your review (and spoiler) makes me think that maybe I should give the book one more chance. and I'll try it later)"Haha I might've exaggerated a little on that spoiler but it's pretty darn close! :P You really should! I understood how you felt in the beginning because I felt the same way. But I try to avoid DNF-ing books especially if I buy an actual copy since I would hate to waste the money, so I decided to stick around to see how it ends and it's definitely worth it. The authors put so much effort in putting this book together so it better be good lol!
Melanie wrote: "Sounds like my perfect book"Give it a go! It's slow in the beginning, but once everything comes together, ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! Everything and everyone is all over the place. Everything is chaos! And I mean these things in the best way possible! :D
Mikee wrote: "Katerina wrote: "your review (and spoiler) makes me think that maybe I should give the book one more chance. and I'll try it later)"Haha I might've exaggerated a little on that spoiler but it's p..."
I have ebook, maybe hardback would be better, but delivery in Russia is a long way to have a book. So I try to continue with what I already have)
