Illuminae

Illuminae

By Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Published: Alfred A. Knopf, 2015
Pages: 602
Genre: Sci-fi, Young Adult
Amazon, Goodreads

No up. No down. No sky. No ground. Just endless dark shot through with tiny spears of sunlight older than you and your entire species stacked end to end. You want to feel small? Spend sixty seconds in a Cyclone's cockpit, chum. Look out at nothing and feel it looking back. Then you know exactly how much you add up to.

About the book

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she'd have to do today. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival mega-corporations are at war over a planet that's little more than an ice-covered speak at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, exes Kady and Ezra - who are barely even talking to each other - are forced to fight their way onto the evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But the warship is the least of their problems. A deadly (censored) 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 save what the (censored) is 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.

Review

Illuminae packs one hell of a punch. Where do I even start?

Set in 2575, teenagers Kady and Ezra are in the midst of a breakup when their planet is attacked by a major corporation. They flee to the temporary safety of spaceships, but can't shake off the enemy. Kady and Ezra must come together if they want to survive.

OH and, the story is told through a compilation of journal entries, computer logs, and military documents.

Reading the description, I thought this book would be some lame star-crossed lovers sci-fi bore feast but there's so much more to Illuminae. There's military action, corporate politics, family drama, etc.
So in the story we have two basic characters:

•Kady Grant - An intelligent, snarky, strong-willed young woman skilled in computer lingo. She has a tough outer layer but is caring and passionate.

•Ezra Mason - A large, jocky type guy who is the romantic one in the relationship.

And a list of other minorish characters. Due to the execution of the book, there isn't a chance for in-depth character development, meaning it's mostly an action read.

On that note, Illuminae is an action-packed novel that will leave you breathless. Every turn left me gasping for more.

The book is 600 pages but I finished it in 24 hours because I could barely pull myself away from it.
I was definitely blown away, surprised, and impressed.

AND BEFORE I FORGET, the cover and illustrations inside the book are AMAZING!

Illuminae was obviously, well-thought out and planned.

I'll be looking forward to continuing with the series!

RATING

Top Ten Tuesday (4/23/19)

Top Ten Tuesday is a book blog meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's prompt is the First Ten Books I Reviewed. For this post, I looked at my earliest Goodreads reviews and made my choices based on which books I remember feeling strongly about. I'm not sure what order to put my reviews in, so I'm doing it alphabetically. Note: I started my Goodreads account in 2014, so many of these may be 2014 releases.

What does your Top Ten Tuesday look like?

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Cath is an introverted young woman and the author of popular Simon Snow fan fiction. She also really close with her twin sister, Wren. However, when Cath and Wren embark on the next chapter of their lives - college - Cath must come to terms with adulthood and get outside her comfort zone.

I remember really enjoying this book, because it's really cute and I relate to Cath so much - I'm also super introverted, sometimes to the point of not doing thinks I love. Growing up, my friends and I were obsessed with Harry Potter, and I can remember what it's like to let go of childhood fantasies to face reality.
My rating: ★★★★

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

In this fantasy world, trouble is brewing and the deep cold is coming. Sinister and supernatural forces are massing behind the kingdom's protective wall while the stories of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, come together to tell a tale of the game of thrones.

Though there are some parts of the novel that are shocking - rape, murder, incest - I remember being glued to the book and subsequent books. I think around the second to last one that's currently out, I got bored and didn't bother reading the last one. It's still a good series, though!
My rating: ★★★★

The Glass Castle By Jeannette Walls

The Glass Castle is a memoir by former journalist Jeannette Walls. She grew up with stubborn, poor parents - her mother would rather draw or write than take care of her family and her father was an alcoholic. Walls and her siblings had to fend for themselves most times before finally leaving home.

Walls is a great storyteller. I've read many non-fiction/memoirs since this book, and The Glass Castle is still the best one I've read to date.
My rating: ★★★★

Handling the Undead by John Ajvide Lindqvist

Often called the Swedish Stephen King, John Ajvide Lindqvist writes a haunting tale about the dead rising during a hot day in Stockholm.

First of all, the cover is striking. I mean, I just can't look away from it. The story itself is morbid yet also beautiful. I remember feeling like the book was ultimately about grief and letting go. I ended up reading all of the author's other books within the same year because of how much I loved this one.
My rating: ★★★★★

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Thomas wakes up in a lift, only being able to remember his name. He's surrounded by strangers, all boys whose memories are also gone. They live surrounded by towering stone walls that form an ever-changing maze. It's the only way out, and no one's ever made it out alive. But then, one day a girl arrives and they find out the clock is ticking on their lives.

I know there's a following behind this series, but I hated this book. I disliked the made-up curse words - I've never understood the purpose of that. Like, just say fuck for Christ's sake. There was also no creativity behind the writing style. Instead of finding a way to articulate Thomas's feelings through his actions, the author would say "Thomas is mad" or Thomas is confused."
My rating: ★★

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

Calliope Stephanides is the guilty family secret - he is an intersex person who was born female. Calliope - who goes by Cal by adulthood - details his family history which leads to his being born intersex.

Middlesex is a thrilling novel full of rich, complex family drama set in the twentieth century. It's well-written and enthralling.
My rating: ★★★★★

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Random Riggs

A mix of photography and fiction, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children follows Jacob, a 16 year old who, after a family tragedy, travels to a small island off the coast of Wales where he discovers the ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As he explores, Jacob discovers that the children who once roamed the halls might have been dangerous - and even still alive.

I had a lot of mixed feelings about this book. I really liked the concept of forming a story around a series of photographs. However, I was really confused as to who was supposed to be the targeted audience. It was written like a juvenile book, but there were themes that would be inappropriate for that age group. Nonetheless, I read the rest of the books in the series but still have mixed feelings about it. 
My rating: ★★★

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Kathy grows up in an idyllic English boarding school called Hailsham where she and her fellow classmates classmates are allowed little contact of the outside world and are taught nothing about it. As they grow up and leave the safe grounds of the school, they realize the full, horrifying truth of what Hailsham is.

This book will tear you pieces and leave you a sobbing, hot mess. It's an emotional story that's essentially about what it means to be human.
My rating: ★★★★

The Shining by Stephen King

Jack Torrance's new job at the Overlook Hotel seems like a fresh start. As a caretaker, he'll have plenty of time to spend working on writing and reconnecting with his family. But, as a harsh winter sets in, the hotel feels sinister, and the only one who notices is Jack's son, a gifted five year old.

The Shining is terrifying. If you were to read only one horror novel in your life, I would recommend this. It's just fantastic! Don't expect to be able to sleep after you finish reading it.
My rating: ★★★★★

Under the Dome by Stephen King

On an entirely normal day, a town in Maine is suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. A short-order cook, newspaper owner, physician's assistant, selectwoman and three kids team up against a politician who will stop at nothing to hold the reins of power. But their main adversary is the Dome itself because time isn't short - it's running out.

I remember really liking Under the Dome. It had the right amount of politics, mystery and horror.
My rating: ★★★★

WWW Wednesday (4/24/19)

In this weekly meme, I will answer three questions: 
What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish?
What do you think you'll read next? 

This meme is held by http://samannelizabeth.wordpress.com. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading.

What are you currently reading?

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means she's a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha - one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will ahve to overcome her obstacles... and make a powerful choice.

Check out the Bone Witch on Goodreads. 

What did you recently finish?

One Second After by William R. Forstchen - A man in North Carolina struggles to protect his family and small town when electromagnetic pulse (EMP) strikes the United States. It had a really interesting premise and storyline, but ultimately the writing was dull and boring. One Second After on Goodreads. My rating: ★★

Camp So-And-So by Mary McCoy - Twenty-five girls receive letters inviting them to a lakeside retreat in the Starveling Mountains. Little do they know, things are not what they seem and they will have to fight for their life. OK, I can't mention much of this book without giving away parts of the plot. Suffice to say Camp So-And-So gives off major The Cabin in the Woods vibes. I loved it! Camp So-And-So on Goodreads.  
My rating: ★★★★★

Vox by Christina Dalcher - Set in an America where half the population - women - have been silenced, Vox follows the story of Dr. Jean McClellan who is only allowed to speak 100 words a day and cannot hold jobs or read or write. Jean must test the limits of how far she will go to save herself and her family. Vox isn't good but isn't really bad either. The narrator is annoying and the writing could be improved. I don't recommend it. Vox on Goodreads. My rating: ★★
 

What do you think you'll read next?

I need to finish A Walk in the Woods, which is Bill Bryson's adventure of walking on the Appalachian Trail. I have Nine Coaches Waiting on my Kindle; it's a romantic suspense first published in the 1950s following an English governess who uncovers a plot to murder her charge. I've also been wanting to pick up Illuminae, the first in a sci-fi trilogy following a young couple who break up but then must unite when a war hits their planet. Normally, I'd be wary of books like Illuminae, but it's told through a combination of emails, IMs, medical records, interviews, military files, etc., and it has many good reviews so I'm willing to give it a try.

WWW Wednesday (4/17/19)

In this weekly meme, I will answer three questions: What are you currently reading?, What did you recently finish?, and What do you think you'll read next?

NOTE: This meme is held by http://samannelizabeth.wordpress.com. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading.

1. What are you currently reading?

One Second After is the story of a man's struggle to save his family and his small North Carolina town after American loses a war that sends our nation back to the Dark Ages. A war lost because of a terrifying weapon, an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) . . . that may already be in the hands of our enemies. 

Months before publication, One Second After was cited on the floor of Congress as a book all Americans should read. It has been discussed in the corridors of the Pentagon as a realistic look at EMPs and their awesome ability to send catastrophic shockwaves throughout the United States, literally within seconds. EMPs are a weapon that The Wall Street Journal warned could shatter our nation. Check it out on Goodreads here.

2. What did you recently finish?

Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth - Bitter Greens is a well-written historical fiction that follows the life of french writer Charlotte-Rose after she gets sent to a convent following a series of scandals. While at the convent, she learns the story of Margherita which inspires her to write the tale of Rapunzel. Charlotte-Rose was a real woman who published her version of Rapunzel in 1698. Although this book is obviously fictionalized, it's a great blend of history and magic. I highly enjoyed it and would recommend it. Bitter Greens on Goodreads. My rating: ★★★★

Daughters of the Lake by Wendy Webb - Daughters of the Lake is a Gothic mystery surrounding Kate, a young woman going through a rough divorce. She's at her parents' home when the body of a woman washes up on shore; the thing is, Kate has been dreaming of this woman for several weeks. Kate realizes the woman has been dead for 90 years, and, as the mystery unravels, she has a personal connection to the case. I generally enjoyed the book, though there is a scene at the end of the story that I felt was unnecessary and made the novel longer than it needed to be. Daughters of the Lake on Goodreads. My rating: ★★★

What the Eyes Don't See by Mona Hanna-Attisha - Pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha discovered at a barbecue that tap water of Flint, Michigan, contained high levels of lead, which is extremely dangerous for children. Since that day, Hanna-Attisha fights passionately to fix the corrosion problem in Flint's water, even though it means facing off against the government. This is really great read. It's a fantastic blend of scientific facts, Hanna-Attisha's experience in the water crisis and her personal background which shows her true passion for fighting for children's future. What the Eyes Don't See on Goodreads. My rating: ★★★★★

3. What do you think you'll read next?

There are several books in my sights to read. Three of them are from the library - The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco is a YA fantasy about a young woman named Tea who is descended from a family of witches but is different because she can raise the dead; Vox by Christina Dalcher, an adult fiction set in a world in which women cannot speak more than 100 words per day or hold jobs or learn to read or write; and A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson, a non-fiction in which the author shares his experiences on the Appalachian Trail in an insightful and entertaining manner.

I've also recently purchased Nine Coaches Waiting by Mary Stewart, a mid-century Savoy story about murder and deception, and The Willows by Algernon Blackwood, a classic supernatural novella first published in 1907, on Kindle. They both look interesting, so I'm looking forward to reading them!

What does your WWW Wednesday look like?

WWW Wednesday (4/10/19)

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This is my first time participating so let's dive right in!

NOTE: This meme is held by http://samannelizabeth.wordpress.com. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading.

1. What are you currently reading?

Bitter Greens by Kate Forsyth - In the time of Louis XIU, novelist Charlotte-Rose de la Force has been banished from court of Versailles as a result of scandalous affairs. She must spend the rest of her days at a dreary, miserable convent, but she is comforted by an old nun who tells her the tale of a girl who is sold by her parents for a handful of greens. Flashing back to a hundred years earlier, Margherita's father steals a handful of bitter greens from a rumored witch who threatens to cut off his hands unless he relinquishes his little girl. Margherita is locked in a tower and sings in the hope that someone will hear. One day, a young man does.

 

2. What did you recently finish?

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng - Celeste Ng is an expert at crafting slow-burning, character-driven novels. Little Fires Everywhere is set in a progressive suburb in Ohio in which perfection is the name of the game - everything is planned right down to the color of the homes. Elena Richardson is the face of this life: her entire existence has been meritoriously planned out... that is, of course, until Mia Warren rents her duplex. Mia, along with her daughter, have never stayed in one place too long and she lives an uncertain life as an artist. However, Mia also has a dark secret that threatens to shatter the picture perfect image Elena has worked so hard for. My rating: ★★★★

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon - An ancient enemy is awakening and the lives of three people - Ead, a young woman posing a chambermaid tasked with guarding Queen Sabran; Tane, who has trained her entire life to be a dragonrider; and Niclays, an exiled alchemist unravel then come together in this stand-alone, epic fantasy. Click here for my full review. My rating: ★★★★★

Parkland: Birth of a Movement by Dave Cullen - On Valentine's Day in 2018, 17 people were killed and several others injured during a shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School. Faced with a terrible tragedy, surviving students at the school stand up to gun violence and beg our leaders, and fellow voters, to take action. This book is a fantastic. My rating: ★★★★★

3. What do you think you'll read next?

I've had quite a few books on my TBR list that I plan on tackling next. I've been wanting to read Daughters of the Lake since I saw it on Amazon a while ago. I got an email that the price dropped to $1.99 so I just had to get it. One Second After has been on my TBR practically since I started my Goodreads account. I picked it up at Barnes and Noble last week so I'll definitely be reading it soon!

Let me know what your WWW Wednesday looks like!

The Priory of the Orange Tree

The Priory of the Orange Tree

By Samantha Shannon
Published: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2019
Pages: 848
Genre: Fantasy
Amazon, Goodreads

I do not sleep because I am not only afraid of the monsters at my door, but also of the monsters my own mind can conjure. The ones that live within.

About the book

The House of Berethnet has ruled Inys for a thousand years. Still unwed, Queen Sabran the Ninth must conceive a daughter to protect her realm from destruction--but assassins are getting closer to her door. 

Ead Duryan is an outsider at court. Though she has risen to the position of lady-in-waiting, she is loyal to a hidden society of mages. Ead keeps a watchful eye on Sabran, secretly protecting her with forbidden magic.

Across the dark sea, Tané has trained all her life to be a dragonrider, but is forced to make a choice that could see her life unravel.

Meanwhile, the divided East and West refuse to parley, and forces of chaos are rising from their sleep.

Review

The Priory of the Orange Tree is a fast-paced, epic fantasy following the lives of three individuals: Ead, a slayer masquerading as a maiden to protect Queen Sabran of Inyas; Tane, a young woman who has been training almost her whole life to become dragon rider; and Niclays, an anatomist/alchemist who has been exiled for a secret crime.

One thousand years after being bound to the sea, an evil creature referred to as The Nameless One awakens. The stories of Ead, Tane and Niclays unfold and alliances between estranged nations must be formed if there is any chance in defeating this ancient enemy.

First impressions: I loved how 90% of the characters are strong, independent women. Ead, Sabran, Margaret, Tane - though they all have vastly different backgrounds, religious views, occupations, etc., each of them shows strength of character and morals. They never stray from who they are or what they believe in. Queendom is very much alive in the novel; even the priory is run by women.

Religion is a major storyline of the book. The four main nations, in spite of their conflicting viewpoints, must learn to set aside their quarrels and pool their resources if they want to live. Though the religious beliefs are fiction (obviously), we as humans can learn something from The Priory of the Orange Tree - accepting others for who they are and what they believe, including his or her religion. That's easier said than done (also obviously). I feel like the author is attempting to get this point across in her work and succeeds in doing so.

The writing is fantastic. The author weaves imagery that comes alive before your eyes, such as:

Ead knew the scent of a secret. She wore it like a perfume.

Snow had fallen overnight in the north, and it lay across the fields like cream smoothed with a knife.

"In the Empire of the Twelve Lakes, there lives a bird with purple feathers." The drink had stolen into his voice. "If you saw it in flight, you would think it was a jewel with wings. Many have hunted it... but seize it, and your hands will burn. Those feathers, previous as they are, are poison." His eyes closed. "Thank your knights, Lord Arteloth, that you were not born to sit a throne."

Throughout the tense, action-packed scenes, the author also sprinkles in some humor, such as this gem which made me literally LOL:

"No but he has got balls," Melaugo said.
"I've no time for this pious talk," Harlowe cut in, "but I do concur with Estina on the subject of your balls, Lord Arteloth."

As for the dislikes: I felt there were too many characters in the novel - for the record, there is a cast of characters which I did not realize existed until I got to the end of the book because I was reading the ebook. There were quite a few instances in which I kept forgetting who so and so was and/or how that individual ties into the scene.

Similarly, I felt like Tane and Niclays were the only characters to show any real development throughout the story. The others, well, fell a little flat to me.

The language turned me off at points - heretics/heresy is used far too often. There is also jargon that kept irritating me, such as cony for rabbit, baluster for banister, etc. I'm also not a huge fantasy reader so I may not be familiar to that language.

The Priory of the Orange Tree is a definite recommendation to fellow fantasy readers. Despite the issues I had with the novel, the plot and great writing drew me into the story and kept me reading late into the night.

RATING (out of five puppies)