Illuminae - Immediate Reactions

In honor of lluminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (which was released on Tuesday!), I thought it would be fun to share some of my reactions while reading the book. I was cleaning out some notes on my phone recently and found some quick notes I took while reading the book, so I thought I'd share. No spoilers though, I promise! Oh and I'm going to add some GIFs too, because why not? :D

Page 50 - so so so so good this is absolutely brilliant I can't even asdfghjkl;

Pages 68-72 - I can't decide whether I should be shaking my head, laughing hysterically at this (like what actually), both of the above, or jumping for joy that it's real. *squeals*

Page 116 - Ezra <3333333333

Page 150 - whoaaaa that just got intimate. Okayyyyyyy then...…

Page 153 - okay that is pretty disturbing...

Page 232 - omgggg they are too cute

Page 249 - aaaahhhhhh nooooooooo... THE FEELS >_<

Page 264 - JEEZ THAT WAS CREEPY >_<

Page 269 - that was pretty cool!!! ...and yet mildly disturbing

Page 275 - YESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

Pages 278-279 - should not be LOLing right now but this is TOO FUNNY!!!!!

Page 300 - *face pales* oh crap….

Page 312 - AAAAAND SH** JUST GOT REAL 

Page 351 - I love how amidst all the SH** that's going down, there's an intelligent conversation about poetry going on

Page 386 - OMG omg omg OMG crying and shaking and OMG right now *wails*

Page 405 - can't decide if this is creepy or sweet

Page 495 - OH SH** OH SH** OHSH**OHSH**OHSH**OHSH**OHSH**

Page 589 - I KNEW IT … OH F***

591 - YESSSSSSSSSS

599 - *CUE FANGIRL SCREAMS* OMG BEST ENDING EVER

Happy book birthday, Illuminae!

~Alexandra

Waiting on Wednesday (19)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that you are eagerly anticipating.

The Rose and the Dagger by Renee Ahdieh
Series: The Wrath and the Dawn #2

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Retelling

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Expected Publication: May 6, 2016

Via Goodreads:

The much anticipated sequel to the breathtaking The Wrath and the Dawn, lauded by Publishers Weekly as "a potent page-turner of intrigue and romance."

I am surrounded on all sides by a desert. A guest, in a prison of sand and sun. My family is here. And I do not know whom I can trust.
In a land on the brink of war, Shahrzad has been torn from the love of her husband Khalid, the Caliph of Khorasan. She once believed him a monster, but his secrets revealed a man tormented by guilt and a powerful curse—one that might keep them apart forever. Reunited with her family, who have taken refuge with enemies of Khalid, and Tariq, her childhood sweetheart, she should be happy. But Tariq now commands forces set on destroying Khalid's empire. Shahrzad is almost a prisoner caught between loyalties to people she loves. But she refuses to be a pawn and devises a plan.

While her father, Jahandar, continues to play with magical forces he doesn't yet understand, Shahrzad tries to uncover powers that may lie dormant within her. With the help of a tattered old carpet and a tempestuous but sage young man, Shahrzad will attempt to break the curse and reunite with her one true love.

~

The Wrath and the Dawn was one of my favorite books of 2015, and definitely in the top two for favorite debuts this year! And if you haven't seen or heard me going off about the perfection that is The Wrath and the Dawn (and my ultimate OTP that is Shazi and Khalid), you know now. THE BOOK WAS PERFECTION. So naturally I am SO EXTREMELY SUPER EXCITED LIKE OH MY GOSH I NEED THIS SEQUEL RIGHT THIS SECOND GIVE IT TO ME (SORRY FOR BEING RUDE).

10 Wishes I'd Ask The Book Genie To Grant Me - Top Ten Tuesday #4

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is "10 Wishes I'd Ask The Book Genie To Grant Me"

1. TO HAVE MY OWN MAGICAL LIBRARY ROOM THAT CAN GROW IN SIZE WHEN I RUN OUT OF SPACE FOR MY BOOKS - I have a few bookshelves, but a bibliophile needs way more than that. My shelves are absolutely CRAMMED right now. And who wouldn't want to have a magically growing library?

2. TO MEET SUSAN DENNARD - she is one of my favorite authors and she seems like such a fantastic, genuinely nice person.

3. TO GO BACK IN TIME AND GO TO NYCC 2015 BECAUSE 1) ALL THE BOOK ENVY AND 2) SO MANY OF MY BOOKISH/BLOGGER FRIENDS WERE THERE AND I WASN'T BUT COULD HAVE BEEN *cries*

4. TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A WORLDWIDE MEETING OF ALL MY BOOKISH/BLOGGY FRIENDS - they are the greatest <33

5. TO BE ABLE TO KNOW RIGHT AWAY WHAT BOOK I NEED TO READ NEXT - because sometimes you're in the mood for something specific, but you just can't figure out what.

6. FOR THERE TO BE A 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE - because sometimes you just need to get a new release at midnight. Or you're having a bad day/night/etc. and need a refuge.

7. TO GO BACK IN TIME TO BOOKCON AND MEET RENEE AHDIEH AND SABAA TAHIR AGAIN - I kind of was spastic and at a loss for words, and I would want to go back and meet them BECAUSE THEIR BOOKS ARE SO AMAZING AND THEY'RE SO AMAZING AND I WISH I  TOLD THEM THAT.

8. TO HAVE SOME OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS (AND SOME OF MY MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS) IN ARC FORM

9. TO HAVE ALL THE SPOILERS DISAPPEAR, or better yet...

10. TO BE ABLE TO RECALL BOOK PLOTS OR FORGET THEM AT WILL - sometimes you just want to reread a book with new eyes/like it was the first time, and other times you need to remember certain points (either since you need to review the book, the sequel is coming out and you completely forgot what happened, etc.)

Making Waves (5)

Making Waves is a weekly question feature created by the Waterwitch Babes (part of Susan Dennard’s Truthwitch Street Team). Every Thursday, we’ll have a fun question that all are welcome to answer on their blog. Anyone can join! The questions will be random and/or relate to the upcoming book Truthwitch by Susan Dennard. A linky is provided so that everyone can link up their post and participate in the fun!

This week's question is...  How is your experience with the Truthwitch Street Team so far?  Or why would you like to be a part of the team?

I am not part of the street team, but it would be an absolute dream come true if I could be a part of it! I have always been a HUGE fan of Susan Dennard's work, and I am so excited for Truthwitch! I have been eagerly anticipating the book since Sooz first announced that it was a thing. I was flailing since day one :) In case you don't believe me, here's what I posted on Goodreads way back in March 2014 (when the original expected release date was some time in 2015):

OMG OMG OMG OMG I need to read this right now!!!!!!!! Aaaaaugh Susan Dennard and "Garth Nix meets Avatar: the Last Airbender"!?!? So I'm not familiar with Garth Nix but THIS WILL BE AMAZING!!!!! One of my favorite authors and one of my all-time favorite tv shows? THIS. WILL. BE. EPIC. 2015 seems so far away now...

Anyway, I am a huge Susan Dennard fan (Daniel Sheridan is my one and only book boyfriend - anyone who tries to take him from me will face my fury) and I have also been interacting with tons of the her street team clans (shout-out especially to the Waterwitch Babes who have been letting me join them in this meme and the many other amazing events you guys have planned!), and all of them seem like absolutely amazing people. It would be so fantastic to be a part of the amazing team, make new friends, and be able to support one of my all-time favorite authors <3

~Alexandra

Illuminae (ARC Review)

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Series: The Illuminae Files #1
Genre: Young Adult/Sci-Fi
Page Length: 608 pages
Format: ARC (advanced reader's copy)
Publication Date: October 20, 2015
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Hardcover ARC received at BookCon 2015

Although I received a free copy of this book, my opinion of it is completely my own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Where do I even begin with the brilliance that is Illuminae? I honestly am breathless after reading it, so please bear with me. I'll try my best to put my feelings into words.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff is everything I could ever want in a book. It's use of IMs, surveillance footage, PA announcements, blueprints and so much more was a unique and exciting way to tell a story. I was wary at first because I wasn't sure how one could convey so much through those methods, but I was blown out of my mind by the artistry in which Kaufman and Kristoff pulled it off. I felt every emotion on the spectrum: sadness, anger, disbelief, joy, amusement, and even fear. I was eagerly anticipating (and sometimes dreading, in the best way possible) what new emotion the next page would evoke.

The story was told in a way that each piece of data collected could be read relatively quickly. Although everything connected fluidly, it was nice that each document was still relatively solitary, so there was always a perfect stopping point. At the same time, however, it was woven so beautifully together that I didn't want to stop. Since each piece was pretty short, I was lured to read into the wee hours of the night. A voice in my head was constantly telling me something along the lines of, "oh this next section is only 5 more pages, surely you have the time for just one more IM conversation"… which thus led me to read 200 more pages in one sitting. Oops.

I loved Kady and Ezra as characters.  Actually, I loved them all. Except for one that made me want to hide under the covers and never come out. But I won't go into detail about that little devil… Also, the pop culture references that many characters made were amazing additions to the story. Even though they did not play major roles in the plot, those snippets truly lightened the mood, even in the direst of situations.

Kady and Ezra were both such strong and admirable characters who loved from the bottom of their hearts, and were willing to risk everything (and do incredibly stupid and rash things) for the people and things they cared about most.  It was interesting seeing their interactions and actions solely via message, footage, etc., but it was surprisingly still clear and obvious how much they cared about each other.  I continued to cheer them on throughout the novel, throughout every up and down.  They went through so much, but still tried their best to be optimistic nonetheless.
AIDAN, the fleet's AI (artificial intelligence), was a fascinating character in the book. I don't want to go into too much detail (because I don't want to spoil anything), but it was so difficult to understand him. At the same time, however, I couldn't help but feel a tad bit sympathetic once I learned more about him. I have always been afraid of the idea of artificial intelligence, and for a while I was afraid of what AIDAN was capable of, but he slowly started growing on me.

What surprised me most was definitely how many feels I had while reading the book. Kaufman and Kristoff made me go insane from all the different feels. All the characters were so realistic and I felt like I could relate to all of them in so many ways. The book was devastating and brilliant and glorious and hilarious and everything all at once, and I loved every minute of it, even though the minute something would get better, I'd only be punched in the gut again. Sort of like this:

I am not usually someone who reads science fiction, but I was completely sucked into the world of Illuminae. I was fascinated by the intricacies of the spacecrafts, AIDAN, and all the different documents used to tell the story. The artwork and designs that were in the book were truly superb, and I felt like I could visualize everything that was happening vividly.

Illuminae was an absolute masterpiece. It was such a pleasure to read an advanced copy of it, and it is definitely one of my favorite books of the year. I was a bit worried about reading such a long book, but it captured my attention the whole time and went by so quickly that I ultimately didn't want it to end.

Also, WHY CANT THE SECOND BOOK BE OUT ALREADY?!? Of course I'm saying that while the first book still hasn't even been released to the public, but I don't know if I can wait that long. But I must. I will be patient. I WILL. I. WILL. BE. PATIENT. Asdfghjkl; *takes deep breath* I apologize for my little [glitch], but it was just absolutely amazing and I need the next book so badly… GO READ ILLUMINAE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.

My Rating: ✪✪✪✪✪

About Illuminae (via Goodreads):

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.

Waiting on Wednesday (18)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that you are eagerly anticipating.

Passenger by Alexandra Bracken

Genre: Young Adult/Historical Fiction/Time Travel

Page Length: 464 pages

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Publication Date: January 5, 2016

Via Goodreads:

passage, n.

i. A brief section of music composed of a series of notes and flourishes.
ii. A journey by water; a voyage.
iii. The transition from one place to another, across space and time.

In one devastating night, violin prodigy Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has traveled not just miles but years from home. And she’s inherited a legacy she knows nothing about from a family whose existence she’s never heard of. Until now.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods—a powerful family in the colonies—and the servitude he’s known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can’t escape and the family that won’t let him go so easily. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, Nicholas’ passenger, can find. In order to protect her, he must ensure she brings it back to them— whether she wants to or not.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveler who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods’ grasp. But as they get closer to the truth of their search, and the deadly game the Ironwoods are play­ing, treacherous forces threaten to sep­arate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home . . .

~

I have yet to read Alexandra Bracken's The Darkest Minds trilogy (and I really want to), but Passenger sounds so EPIC!! I haven't read many historical fiction books lately, and rarely read time travel ones, so I am PSYCHED FOR THIS! It looks absolutely amazing and I can't wait!! Also, I started the seventy page free sampler and I AM IN LOVE.

Author Duos That NEED to Exist. Like, Right Now (Please and Thank You) - Top Ten Tuesday #3

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is "Top Ten Author Duos You'd LOVE To See Write A Book Together". I'm sure there are tons more that would be absolutely AMAZING, but I only came up with five.

1. Susan Dennard and Sarah J. Maas - I know that they started the Starkillers Cycle together (which is awesome!) but it would be amazing if they worked together to write a physical book.

2. Renee Ahdieh and Sabaa Tahir - I met both of them at a signing at BookCon this year, adored both their books (and am eagerly anticipating the sequels!), and feel like they would just make a fabulous writing duo. Honestly, I'd read whatever they write automatically. Even though it would probably kill all my feels. (THE FEELS ARE UNREAL, YOU GUYS.)

3. Marie Lu and Leigh Bardugo - They both are known for some amazing antiheroes, and it would just be interesting (and epic) to see the mastermind they'd come up with together.

4. Rainbow Rowell and John Green - I don't know... They're just both phenomenal contemporary writers and I feel like if they collaborated on something, it would pack triple the punch. Although perhaps the world wouldn't be able to handle the gloriousness of both these writers in one single contemporary novel.

5. J.K. Rowling and Rick Riordan - Both these authors wrote series from most of our childhoods. How amazing would it be if they wrote something together!?!?!?!