Illuminae, Gemina, and Obsidio by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Four years after having first read Illuminae, I can finally say that I have completed The Illuminae Files. I am kicking myself for waiting this long. I decided it was finally time to read Gemina and, after finishing it in less than two days, I was compelled to read Obsidio straight away. These books deserved all of the hype they received when they first came out! I wish I had read them back then when everyone was talking about them.
What makes this series so special is the format. The story is told through a series of transcripts, chat logs, and diary entries. Marie Lu (the YA author) was the illustrator, which were incredible. There is something so immersive about the format, to the point that you almost forget that you are reading. It reminds me of my all time favourite series, The Themis Files, in that way.
You would not think that the format would allow the reader to form attachments to the characters, but that was not the case. I became deeply invested in each of the stories and it was compelling to see how they all came together.
Though all three books in the series are fantastic, Gemina was the standout in my opinion. The characters had great chemistry and witty banter. There were some twists that I did not see coming, though that is true for all three books.
My only gripe is that part of me thinks that there should have been four books. I believe that Asha and Rhys deserved their own book. It was difficult for me to connect with the romance because there was so much going on in Obsidio that overshadowed it.
The Illuminae Files is a great series to pick up if you are looking to branch out into the SciFi genre. I found it to be very accessible and engaging. This is a series that I would have no problem recommending to everyone!
So much hype about these I’ve always been intrigued to take a look. Great review!
They are so worth reading!
Great review! I loved these books and they’re one of my all time favorite series.
I feel the same way!
I absolutely adore this series, I don’t actually think there’s a weak book which is rare!
I completely agree with you!
Congrats on finishing this series! I think it’s been two years since I read (and really enjoyed!) Illuminae, so I’d better get around to the rest now before another two years pass, ha! I am definitely encouraged to hear that Gemina was the standout for you!
You’re going to love Gemina and kick yourself for waiting this long just like I did!
Yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed this series! This is one of my favorite YA sci-fi series! I do agree that I felt there should be a fourth book, but I’m pretty satisfied with how the story ended. Gemina is certainly my favorite too! Love the characters, especially Ezra from the first book! And the format made it all the more fun to read!
It was definitely a satisfying ending! Ezra is such a great character. It was fun to see everyone come together in Obsidio.
Oh man honestly I really want to read this series but everytime I get so intimidated by it 😢
Don’t like the size or format scare you. They are such easy reads!!