The Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
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 a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit.
But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it’s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.
Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, maps, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.
Review:
Kady has a problem with authority, but is a genius with computers. Ezra regrets his breakup with Kady, but after they have to evacuate their home planet the two are separated. And after a tragic attack, Kady and Ezra begin communicating again and look for answers to a strange sabotage from within.
The Illuminae is a uniquely written novel. Told from various interviews, emails, logs, chats, and more – the story follows both Kady and Ezra as their paths diverge and intersect. And a complex web of intrigue unfolds throughout this suspenseful science fiction story. The size of the book looks impressive, but reading is quick and easy with the stylized writing and often illustrated pages. It was visually fun to read, which added to the already intriguing story.