To Read or Not to Read: The Illuminae Files

When I first heard about Illuminae in 2015, I immediately put it on my TBR list. A YA sci-fi, space adventure story told in an epistolary style? Count me in! I was intrigued by the premise and there was positive buzz surrounding this book. It wasn’t until recently that I was FINALLY able to read this amazing novel.

The Illuminae Files is a planned trilogy with two books currently available, Illuminae and Gemina respectively. Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff have created an epic sci-fi story full of mystery, intrigue, action, humor, and suspense. If you haven’t already checked out this series, I’ll give you six reasons why you need to binge read The Illuminae Files before the thrilling conclusion hits shelves in October.

1. The One of a Kind Content

The Illuminae Files is comprised entirely of classified documents, emails, IM chats, video surveillance transcripts, maps, schematics, computer coding, and journal entries. This was a bold way to tell a story, and the risk pays off. It was so incredibly fun to read something unique and different from anything else in YA. It does take a bit of time to get used to this unconventional format, but once you do it enriches the reading experience.

2. The Audiobook

In the many reviews I read for Illuminae and Gemina it was highly recommended to listen to the audiobook. Now, I’m a traditional book girl and I like to physically do my own reading. However, after the insistence of my cousin/book buddy, I decided to try it out. All I have to say is…IT.WAS.WORTH.IT. The creative team behind the Illuminae audiobook put together a masterpiece production that brought the story to life. From the distinct (and diverse) character voices to the special effects, each element just further immersed you in the story. The creepy background music heightened the suspense and tension of the plot. Listening to Illuminae and Gemina is quite literally a revelatory experience.

3. The Visuals and World Building

I am impressed with the stunning, detailed images and varied documents in Illuminae and Gemina. Whether it is a map of the galaxy or the schematics of the ships, each piece is important and serves a purpose in the story. Kaufman and Kristoff have done a wonderful job of giving readers everything to picture the Illuminae world. There are cool airships, wormhole travel, fun technology, and the requisite good guy/bad guy government systems. Plus, there are zombies and aliens that are scary as hell.

4. The Characters

Between the two books there are four main protagonists: Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik. They are funny, smart, brave, and resilient in the face of adversity. Illuminae follows the story of Kady and Ezra, whereas Gemina follows Hanna and Nik. I won’t tell you if the paths of these four ever cross. You’ll just have to read to find out.

5. The Plot

This series is a nonstop thrill ride with its unexpected twists, heart stopping reveals, and the incredible action sequences. Just when you think you know what is going on, Kaufman and Kristoff brilliantly psych you out and take you down a new path. They have effectively written a coherent, well-developed story with distinct character arcs for the main protagonists. The fact that they have achieved this through an epistolary format is even more impressive. The multiple points of view also help to flesh out the world building and characters.

6. The Immersive Experience

So, should you audiobook The Illuminae Files or read the book itself? You should do both together. I listened to the audiobook as I followed along in the physical copy. This made for an incredibly immersive reading experience that I have never had before. If you only listen to The Illuminae Files or only read the book itself, you miss out on little details that help you understand the plot and characters better. Just follow this simple formula: Book + Audiobook = EPIC and you can’t go wrong. (Note: The Illuminae Files is the first audiobook I’ve listened to.)

Have I convinced you to read The Illuminae Files? Do you have any sci-fi recommendations for me? Leave me a comment below!

Look out for the third book in the series, Obsidio, coming out in March 2018!