Book Review: Gemina

About the novel

Title: Gemina

Series: The Illuminae Files #2

Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Space, Action

Published: October 18th 2016

Read: January 2017

My Copy

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Cover: Paperback

Purchase Location: Gift from my Mom

My Rating:

Goodreads Summary

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed. The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault. Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy's most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion. When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station's wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands. But relax. They've totally got this. They hope. Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless.

My Review

I can’t believe I waited this long to actually read Gemina. Okay, I just got the book after Christmas, but I could have ordered it online or got it from a bookstore… Anyways, I’m so glad that I finally managed to read it. After enjoying Illuminae so much, I was scared that I’d be disappointed by the second book in the series. But it was just as good!

I love the style Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff use to tell the stories. It’s so different to what I’m used to (there’s not really a narrator, but rather a collection of different chats, video commentary and other high-tech stuff). Also, this time around we get to see sketches from the protagonist’s diary which really lighten the story up a bit.

If you haven’t read Illuminae yet: Pick it up as soon as possible and I hope you’ll enjoy it! It’s definitely worth a try, and hang in there at the beginning. It might feel weird with this new writing style at first, but you’ll learn to appreciate and love it!

If you’ve read Illuminae already, but haven’t started Gemina yet: What are you waiting for? Go to the nearest bookstore and start reading! Don’t even wait until you’re home. Just sit down in front of the bookshelf in the store and start disappearing in the galaxy with Hanna and Nik!

Spoiler Alert! Proceed with caution.

I really liked the characters Hanna and Nik! At first I was a little disappointed not to be reading mostly about Kady anymore because I adored her personality, but these two new protagonists were just as exciting to learn about. (I might admit that I missed the strong presence of AIDAN a little too, although he/it still creeps me out.)

There are so many plot twists and turns, that I never saw coming, and one that I just anticipated throughout the whole story. It was so clear that those Lanima would come back to get in the way of our heroes. I even expected that there would be some kind of parallel universe that got mixed up and would save Nik’s live, although at the same time I had barely any hope left for him to actually survive the story (read on for my conspiracy theory against the authors…).

The last few pages of the book, though. PHEEEWWW. I’m still not over those! The authors played with my emotions: Ripped out my heart, broke it apart and then tried to miraculously stitch it back together (which worked pretty well, but I wasn’t over that shock for a few days straight). I really thought that all those people actually died and that Rapier / Jackson survived… (I already had all my conspiracy theories against Amie and Jay lined up because I thought they had some kind of guilty conscience because they let both of the heroes live in the first book and they wanted to shake things up a bit. I’m really glad that it was all just a secret plot against Biotech!

Other Reviews in the Illuminae Series:

Illuminae #1

I'd like to know

Have you read Illuminae or Gemina? What are your thoughts on the series and do you share my opinions on the story? Let me know in the comments! :)

Book Review: Illuminae

About the novel

Title: Illuminae

Series: The Illuminae Files #1

Author: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

Genres: Young Adult, Science-Fiction, Action, Space

Published: Release Date

Read: October 22nd 2015

My Rating: ★★★★

My Copy

Publisher: One World Publications

Cover: Paperback

Purchase Location: Kinokunyia, Singapore

Goodreads Summary

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.

Trilogy Tuesday #1: The 100

  

I'd like to introduce you guys to a new monthly event (I guess a blogger would call this a meme?). Well, there are so many riveting trilogies out there and because I'm an absolute continuing stories lover I decided to create this label. Every last Tuesday of the month - like today - I'll be posting about a book trilogy. Careful: This segment is about the books only. If a book has been adapted into a TV series or a movie I might post something about that elsewhere, but here I will specifically only write about the book version. You guys are very welcome to join this meme. You can either pick the same trilogy as I did (I will always be posting the next post schedule at the bottom of the last post) or choose your own favourites. It would be great if you linked back to my blog. And now, without any further ado I present to you 

The Hundred Trilogy

Published March 18, 2014 ★★★★★

Goodreads Summary: No one has set foot on Earth in centuries until now. Ever since a devastating nuclear war, humanity has lived on spaceships far above Earth's radioactive surface. Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents, considered expendable by society, are being sent on a dangerous mission: to recolonize the planet. It could be their second chance at life... or it could be a suicide mission. Clarke was arrested for treason, though she's haunted by the memory of what she really did. Wells, the chancellor's son, came to Earth for the girl he loves, but will she ever forgive him? Reckless Bellamy fought his way onto the transport pod to protect his sister, the other half of the only pair of siblings in the universe. And Glass managed to escape back onto the ship, only to find that life there is just as dangerous as she feared it would be on Earth. Confronted with a savage land and haunted by secrets from their pasts, the hundred must fight to survive. [...] They may be mankind's last hope.

Published September 16, 2014 ★★★

Goodreads Summary: It's been 21 days since the hundred landed on Earth. They're the only humans to set foot on the planet in centuries... or so they thought. Facing an unknown enemy, Wells attempts to keep the group together. Clarke strikes out for Mount Weather, in search of other Colonists, while Bellamy is determined to rescue his sister, no matter the cost. And back on the ship, Glass faces an unthinkable choice between the love of her life and life itself. In this pulse-pounding sequel to Kass Morgan's The 100, secrets are revealed, beliefs are challenged, and relationships are tested. And the hundred will struggle to survive the only way they can -- together.

Published February 26, 2015 ★★★★

Goodreads Summary: Weeks after crash-landing onto a rugged, nearly unpopulated planet Earth, the Hundred have managed to create a sense of order amidst their wild, chaotic surroundings. They work together to feed, shelter, and protect one another from countless dangers, including attacks by violent Earthborns. But their delicate balance comes crashing down with the arrival of new dropships from home--dropships carrying Glass and Luke, as well as the Vice Chancellor and his armed guards. Suddenly, Bellamy must flee transgressions he thought he had left behind in space, as Wells struggles to maintain his authority on Earth. And while Clark searches for clues about her parent's whereabouts, she finds herself torn between finding them and helping the injured new arrivals in camp. Lives hang in the balance, as the Colonists find themselves fighting not just attackers from the outside, but also enemies from within.

Being a huge fan of the TV series, I discovered these books after having watched the entire first season. Therefore, I had a total different view on what the books should contain. 

At first I was very suprised by the differences, but as I was reading chapter after chapter of The 100 I reallly started to enjoy the easy and fast paced storyline. The books are easy to be drawn in and not too dramatic, but still brought me to tears in different chapters.

The books have 4 different narratives focusing on the characters Clarke, Bellamy, Wells and Glass. While the first three of them go down to earth, Glass's story is still set up in spacec. The story follows their first few weeks on earth and a lot happens. They are taken by surprise by the earthborns because they didn't expect someone to have survived the cataclysm.

In my opinion the books don't explore enough the depth of these potential story lines as they could have. 

If you're a fan of the TV series be aware that the books are totally different, although most of the characters are the same. The setting and the pace have been changed and I believe Kass Morgan has done a lovely job telling the story of Clarke, Bellamy, Wells, Glass and the other characters in this trilogy. If you're a Bellarke (Bellamy/Clarke) fan as I am you should definitely read the books!

I'm a little disappointed that the covers have the pictures of the TV series' actors on them. I've never been a fan of books who bring out editions from the TV series or movies and specifically here they put a character on the cover who doesn't show up in any of the books (sorry Finn fans). 

Now it's your turn. I would be happy to read your comments about this book series. What are your thoughts? Have you read all of them or are they still on your TBR pile? Who's your favourite actor? And so on... 

Next scheduled post: Tuesday February 23, 2016 (The Infernal Devices)