I completed Illuminae a while back and I finally have some time to tell you why this was so much more than an audiobook. So much more. It's a full cast audio production. Not only is the book presented in a unique way, it's prepared so artfully that it's turned into one amazing audiobook. Read on to find out why this unique story earned a 5 bookmark rating.
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers | Listening Library
Release Date: October 20, 2015
Format: Audio MP3
Pages: Hardcover: 600 pages | Audio Length: Approx 11.75 hours
Narrator: Olivia Taylor Dudley , Lincoln Hoppe , Johnathan McClain
Source: Audible
Genre: YA Science Fiction, YA Fantasy
Review Date: November 16, 2016
Rating: 5 bookmarks
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.
Release Date: October 20, 2015
Format: Audio MP3
Pages: Hardcover: 600 pages | Audio Length: Approx 11.75 hours
Narrator: Olivia Taylor Dudley , Lincoln Hoppe , Johnathan McClain
Source: Audible
Genre: YA Science Fiction, YA Fantasy
Review Date: November 16, 2016
Rating: 5 bookmarks
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.
At first when I found out how this book was written - through dossier of documents, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy the format of the book so I put it off for a while. Several months later, I was still interested in this story and by then I'd heard that the audiobook was just amazing, so I thought, why not? The Audiobook version it is. That was the best choice I made. While I seriously love how the physical book looks and I appreciate how unique this story is told, I was more than happy the full cast audiobook.
The characters were all so interesting. From Kady to Ezra, to Aidan, the ships AI (Artificial Intelligence), to the other officers, they enhanced immensely by the four narrators. I've never heard an audiobook before with so many narrators, but it was perfection. Not only did the narrator rock it, the sound effects and music also added to the intensity of the plot.
I enjoyed that the story has mostly a science fiction feel instead of a YA romance with a splash of scifi. An AI that has gone of the rails, a group that's trying to kill thousands of people, and a plague that could take out an entire spaceship or two full of people. Even with that, there was an underlining romance throughout in the background. It was appropriate and it wasn't overkill. The relationship between Kady and Ezra was believable and fit will within the plot.
It should be noted that some of the audiobook reviews have commented that audio version has been edited and the profanity beeped out. This is not the case. Within the book itself it's is written like a released confidential government report. The swear words are blacked out (aka redacted) in the text which is why they are beeped out in the audio. In my opinion, this doesn't effect the story in a negative way. After listening for a bit you don't even notice it. In my personal option, the cursing is not required to enjoy the audiobook.
Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff started this trilogy off with a very strong book. Not only did the authors rock it, the narrators they chose were spot on. I have absoluely zero complaints about this title and that is a rare occasion. I will definitely be relistening to this one again in the future. Stay tuned for my review of book two in this trilogy, Gemina.
If you enjoy science fiction titles that have a "space opera" feel to them, this is right up your alley. This is a must read and an absolute must listen. If you prefer reading the book, do so, I just also encourage you to at least check out the audiobook as well.
Happy Reading & Listening,
~Tamara
Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff started this trilogy off with a very strong book. Not only did the authors rock it, the narrators they chose were spot on. I have absoluely zero complaints about this title and that is a rare occasion. I will definitely be relistening to this one again in the future. Stay tuned for my review of book two in this trilogy, Gemina.
If you enjoy science fiction titles that have a "space opera" feel to them, this is right up your alley. This is a must read and an absolute must listen. If you prefer reading the book, do so, I just also encourage you to at least check out the audiobook as well.
Happy Reading & Listening,
~Tamara
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