Illuminae is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve come across recently. I don’t know what it would be like to read the book, but the audio was marvelous to listen to. The different voices encapsulate the personalities and essences of the different characters, making the story richer and adding depth.
I also appreciated the unique format--the whole story is told in messages, transcripts and recordings. It begins with a memo about the information to follow, then goes right into two interviews with the main characters, Kady Grant and Ezra Mason.
These two teenagers just survived a devastating attack on their planet and ended up on different spaceships. Three ships responded to the attack, trying to save as many of the inhabitants as possible. The ships race away as soon as they can, aiming for a safe place, as they are pursued by those that attacked the planet.
While the relationship between Kady and Ezra--made rocky by being separated by literal space and the fact that Kady broke up with Ezra just before the attack--is a main storyline, Illuminae is much more than a star-crossed lovers’ tale. Politics, military tactics and thought, technology, and economics all play a part in this space opera chronicle.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves science fiction drama mixed with humor and intrigue, and am eagerly looking forward to the next book in the Illuminae Files series.