(Mini) Reviews: Illuminae & Solitaire

I have read so many books during my vacation that I wanted to review some, so this will be the first two books I’ll review. I normally barely ever review books that have already come out or were not sent to me for review, so this is a bit different for me. Enjoy!

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

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.

Illuminae is just like everyone has ever told me it would be: a wild epic ride, space ships, a little romance and a hell of a lot of danger. What made Illuminae so special to me was the fact that you only get to know the characters via other people’s observations, diary entries, chat conversations and objective descriptions. And yet, even though you don’t really know the characters, you love them. Kady and Ezra are smart, determined and above all very funny. Seriously, I have laughed so many times while reading this book.

“Perhaps bravery is simply the face humanity wraps around its collective madness.”

The format is definitely unique but it does take a little getting used to. In the beginning, I also listened to the audiobook, but it started bothering me because it took so long! I switched to the physical edition and loved it much more! Still, some parts of the formatting I didn’t enjoy much compared to other parts, but it does look stunning! The art and the design are amazing.

“The universe owes you nothing, Kady. It has already given you everything, after all. It was here long before you, and it will go on long after you. The only way it will remember you is to do something worth remembrance.”

Overall, despite some minor things I didn’t like, I LOVED IT. Especially the last 100-ish pages. I flew through them! It was terrifyingly real, heartbreakingly sad, hysterically funny, amazingly creative. I would recommend 100%. Read it!

Solitaire by Alice Oseman

In case you’re wondering, this is not a love story.

My name is Tori Spring. I like to sleep and I like to blog. Last year – before all that stuff with Charlie and before I had to face the harsh realities of A-Levels and university applications and the fact that one day I really will have to start talking to people – I had friends. Things were very different, I guess, but that’s all over now.

Now there’s Solitaire. And Michael Holden.

I don’t know what Solitaire are trying to do, and I don’t care about Michael Holden.

I really don’t.

I had such high expectations for Solitaire. I read Radio Silence a few months ago and loved it so much! It became an instant favourite. So when I started Solitaire, I expected to love it, or at least like it. Sadly, I couldn’t stand the main character much. She was so negative about everything. I get that some people just are like that but sometimes I really couldn’t. I just couldn’t. She was a) offensive, b) rude and c) insensitive. This might be a minor spoiler but her brother has gone through self-harm and suicidal episodes and so she knows very well what it’s like, but still, she goes around (she never said it out loud) saying that she’d like to shoot people and that they just can die and stuff like that. THAT’S SO NOT OKAY. I do not condone this, okay. It’s never okay to shoot people or hurt them.

“I think you should know that I make up a lot of stuff up in my head and then get sad about it. I like to sleep and I like to blog. I am going to die someday.”

Beside this, the story was quite enjoyable. I really liked all the side characters, I loved Charlie and Michael and the others. I thought the Solitaire idea was fun, though I guessed the reveal at the ending wayy before it happened. I really liked the fandom and media references. I am giving this book 3 stars because I just can’t give it more with the main character being so horrible.

(ps. for a book that isn’t a love story, it surprisingly has romance in it  )

Advertisement