FUCK 2017: Top 5 Best Movies in 2017

(1) DUNKIRK

                      

As a cinematic retelling of the events of Dunkirk, Christopher Nolan delivers and places first in my list. With minimal dialogue, maximum visual experience, and the Nolan flair with time, needless to say, I was speechless as the credits rolled and even after I left the cinema.

(2) WONDER WOMAN

Putting aside bias, Gal Gadot perfectly encapsulates the innocence and strength of Diana Prince, side by side Chris Pine's Steve Trevor, 2017's Wonder Woman got me sold (not that I wasn't before, honestly).

(3) THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE

Even as a kid, I have never been fond of Lego's. They are just painful. But, as Batman fan, I had to check it out and surprisingly, I wasn't disappointed. It had the right wit and knowing humor - the perfect parody to the typical seriousness of the Dark Knight.

HONORABLE MENTIONS
Yes, I know for a fact that this is supposed to be top 5 list but don't blame me. Not all movies I like end up in that special place, but here are two that were almost there.

(4) SPIDER MAN: HOMECOMING

The third reboot to the resident web crawler was a coming-of-age, more than anything, and I found that that's what I liked about it the most. Tom Holland with the new Midtown High ensemble and of course, Robert Downey Jr. was a refreshing take on the not-quite origin story. 

(5) WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES

While the title is a slight misdirection (war, really?), Matt Reeve's trilogy ends with a lot of heart and visually stunning cinematography. 

AND THAT'S HOW I WILL END 2017. What a year. 

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas

“Sarah J. Maas definitely took on a whole different route,” – these were my first words regarding A Court of Wings and Ruin to my friends, about only a hundred pages in. Having finished it and being able to look at it wholly, I am still on the fence about how the story went.

The anticipation for ACOWAR had me reading for hours straight, as expected. By hour six, I was mentally exhausted. Extremely. The supposed-finale for the series felt as if it bit more than it can chew. While I am a sucker for well laid-out arcs, ACOWAR was overflowing with them to properly comprehend and was downright tiring to follow. It was like the multiple screens of the sonar device in Dark Knight, showing multiple secondary scenes, including the primary arc, all at once. And like Lucius Fox, you’re supposed to follow each and everyone of them.

"What we think to be our greatest weakness can sometimes be our biggest strength."

Given how it’s still book 3 out of 6, some arcs were clearly meant to remain unresolved to be eventually followed through. I do appreciate continuity; however, it was either this subplot was already withering from backburner negligence or was so suddenly placed and seemingly unnecessary, given the gravity of everything else occurring simultaneously. Some were obviously set up for further books and these little surprising details, albeit unintentionally, broke the pace of an already drama- and action-heavy book.

With both ACOTAR and ACOMAF, I noticed how action was mostly crammed in the third act. In comparison, the third installment definitely regained some balance in terms of the weight of the circumstances or character(s) development. Given how a lot of details and arcs have already been setup with the predecessors, Maas was quick to the action in ACOWAR. The book began and ended in gripping events that promptly, as aforementioned, emphasized an almost consistent pacing and balance. Almost. Supporting my claim of arc-overload, it was action-packed to the point of often glossing over the actual big, table-turning events. If all are important, then none is important.
I also found Feyre’s perspective very limiting, especially in the latter part of ACOWAR where some milestones were happening literally beyond court borders. While I see the purpose of having a first-person POV, there were quite a lot of moments that needed an omniscient viewpoint. Loose ends were merely tied up with a couple of sentences of explanation and Feyre’s own assumptions. These scenes left unanswered questions and could’ve propelled development of other secondary characters, particularly seeming antagonists.

"My rage had become a living thing inside my chest, an echoing heartbeat that soothed me to sleep and stirred me to waking."

Despite having a few technical issues with ACOWAR, I still would not take back the (many many) savings that paid for this highly anticipated release. Being an avid fan of Maas, I’ve firsthand witnessed how she takes care of her characters and it was one of the main aspects that I really melted for in ACOWAR. There were quite literally world-threatening events happening yet she took time to further develop important relationships between characters, particularly our titular Feyre, both platonically and romantically. It strengthened emotional connections between the reader and the characters, thus created a bigger impact for emotional events. For a fantasy race of supernatural beings, they felt real.

"I would have waited five hundred more years for you. A thousand years. And if this was all the time we were allowed to have... the wait was worth it."

Although ACOWAR ended in a hopeful note with the overarching arc (lol) reaching its conclusion, Sarah J Maas clearly still has a lot in store for her readers in her upcoming books. This book was honestly a conflicting read but continued to capture my heart through its characters. Here’s to another painful year of waiting!

An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

After being engulfed in externally flawless Fae and their internally flaw-filled courts, Sabaa Tahir’s dark and gritty dystopian fantasy was a refreshing read.

Laia and Elias, our titular characters, lived in a totalitarian world focused solely on gaining and keeping power and control, even if it meant taking liberties from other people. Laia was an ordinary Scholar girl from an oppressed and conquered nation of skeptics while Elias was a graduating student of Blackcliff, the unforgiving military school. They were on the opposite sides of the spectrum of social circles but circumstances and choices – theirs or otherwise – had brought them together.

"Life is made of so many moments that mean nothing. Then one day, a single moment comes along to define every second that comes after. Such moments are tests of courage, of strength."

An Ember in the Ashes began with action and intended to keep that pace. It was fitting, to say the least, given the respective situations the two protagonists were in at the beginning and all throughout the novel. The plot itself was intriguing and well-written. Despite being action-packed to its core, there was a balance of moments that provided breathing room for the reader and created dimensions for both titular and supporting characters.

Having dual POVs, Laia and Elias were bound to meet and interact. Oftentimes, this becomes a hindrance to the story as the relationship between the main characters become either forced or dependent. However, with Tahir, she was able to create three-dimensional characters, not just Laia and Elias, who can exist – and who did – without each other. Dire circumstances, not some instant romance or whatnot, eventually brought them together, and because they have their own motives and beliefs, strengths and weaknesses, there blossomed a fruitful relationship that I am excited to be further explored in the sequel.

As aforementioned, every character are their own person. They have their own histories and demons. With that, Tahir formed clear arcs and development throughout the book, which provided a simple yet in-depth context to follow.

"There are two kinds of guilt: the kind that drowns you until you’re useless, and the kind that fires your soul to purpose."

An Ember in the Ashes was set in a dystopian world that you know from the beginning was a hellhole. As we followed characters that were victims of their own form of oppression, we witness the power-driven and sadistic culture that revolved around their world. Political dynasties promoted unforgiving violence to gain titles. There was adamant slavery and no equal justice. It was interesting how Tahir set Laia and Elias – characters in search of their identity, of their moral purpose – against a cruel and flawed world that wished to strip them of exactly that.

This series starter began after a war of nations and states and thus featured other cultures and societies that were grazed but left unexplored. There were moments that included otherworldly beings that simply took me by surprise as we were given only an introductory sentence as premise. However, the way lore was glossed over was quite understandable to maintain the focus of the plot on the characters and their decisions. I can only hope the sequel delves into these deeper to anchor the concepts in such a rusted and skeptic world.

There’s an almost constant dimness when imagining Serra as it stemmed from the grave tone of both protagonists’ perspectives. While other settings were easier to visualize such as barren deserts and damp and dangerous forests, grasping on to physical settings was like holding on to slippery slope. One second you’ve got a tight grip, the next you’re fumbling for support. An Ember in the Ashes had a solid atmosphere but lacked in finite solid structures to build settings. There were still scenes, nonetheless, that proved otherwise.

"All the beauty of the stars means nothing when life here on earth is so ugly."

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed An Ember in the Ashes. Consistent tone and pacing as well as clear and genuine character development carried it through and through. There was an unpredictability to it, having been set in solid dark and grit and experiencing through growing and distinct characters. It kept me at the edge of my seat and equally eager for the sequel.

King's Cage Book Tag (with Vasari Pages)

*answers are deeply affected by my love for King's Cage

Disclaimer: I only marked spoilers for King's Cage, so make sure you've at least read Red Queen and Glass Sword before proceeding. Okay? You have been warned.

Favorite Book

King's Cage, definitely. It's more rounded and alive. You can read my review of King's Cage for further explanation.) 

Red Queen is a very close second. After all, it introduced me to Mare's world and everything in it. Looking back at when things were still so innocent and pure - compared to King's Cage - is also fun.

Favorite Character

The Calore brothers. Yes, even Maven. (Keep reading to know why.)

Not my favorite but Evangeline Samos - yes, her - made it to my liked list by the end of King's Cage. Despite being quite literally born and bred for the throne, she is still her own person who has a soft spot for her brother and an even softer spot for somebody else. 

Least Favorite Character

In all honesty, still reeling from Glass Sword, it was between Kilorn and Julian, as they're often just idle characters. And then King's Cage came along and the arrow turned to Cameron. Believe me, I liked her in the first sequel more than I did Mare. She was blunt, confident, and independent. And then in King's Cage, I just ended up neither loving nor hating her exactly. 

Favorite Power

Regardless of their lust for the crown and prickly attitudes, I'd go for being a magnetron like a Samos. Mostly because, unlike elemental powers, there's no corresponding weakness to metal. And it can be both for offense and defense. And you can make sleek-ass clothes with it.

Favorite Silver Family

Calore. Need I say more?  

Favorite Ship

MARECAL HANDS DOWN. Yes, they have their personal issues and demons but what true relationship doesn't. It took some time but when they finally professed their feelings, I died of happiness. Multiple times. *cough* ACT THREE OF KING'S CAGE *cough*

Favorite Scene(s)
*real spoilery*

Pre-King's Cage, it was basically any scene with the Calore siblings using their abilities. (It actually still surprises me up to this point whenever Maven brings out fire.) Then there's Cal teaching Mare to dance. And of course, the favorites of [fictional] sadists like myself, ex-King Tiberias VI's and Elara's deaths, or rather, murders. 

Post-King's Cage, and there's so much that can I just throw in the whole book? If I were to narrow it down, it'd be the whole of Act Three which essentially equates to everything MareCal from their Samson-controlled fight (fucking heartwrenching!) to their training fight (fucking badass that fulfilled all my ship dreams) and let's not forget, every adorable relationship moments in between. 

Least Favorite Scene

I would honestly say, Mare in Glass Sword but she isn't a scene. So none in particular, that I can remember. (Which is a good thing!)

Maven or Cal?

Ah yes. Both. The Calore brothers are each their own person and I love them differently for those particular reasons but love them all the same. 

If you've read enough of my reviews, you'll know that I have a soft spot for well-rounded antagonists and Maven is part of that list, especially highlighted in the events in King's Cage. I have loved him from the beginning when he was still the boy of our dreams and was actually Team Maven before he broke my heart. One of the aspects I enjoyed about King's Cage was getting to know Maven beyond the idea of being a "jealous baby brother". I can attest that he is definitely more damaged than being just that, thanks to mother-of-the-century Elara. There were reasons behind his actions that I had understood and grown pity for, no matter how brutal and savage and evil. 

Then there's Cal. I don't know how to explain except for the fact that he's the other half of MareCal (so it's basically a given to love him unconditionally). And that he's innately a kind and caring person, especially to the people he loves. And that I completely stand by his decision, that was made with hope for a better nation, at the end of King's Cage. What would you have expected from the crown prince, after all?

Favorite Quote

Ever since I read this in Glass Sword, I have never forgotten: 

“He leans forward slightly, lips pulling back against his even, white teeth. It’s so aggressive and animalistic I expect to see fangs. “I am your rightful king, Silver-born for centuries,” he replies, seething. “The only reason you’re still breathing is because I can’t burn the oxygen from this room.”

King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard

King’s Cage, without a doubt, exceeded my expectations. Julienne and I have been waiting for weeks following its “release” date, building up theories and headcanons. Most of which didn’t happen but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Compared to its predecessor, King’s Cage was a giant upgrade. Glass Sword had a generic plot, a nonexistent villain, and a suffocating protagonist. With this recent installment, the characters, the world, and the mythos felt polished to the bone. The titular perspective was still Mare but given her circumstance as Maven’s prisoner, we got to see other points-of-view as well. This provided a more wholly look on the Scarlet Guard and the Kingdom of Norta and just proved how Mare isn’t the “great, chosen center of it all”, which was refreshing, to say the least.

As readers, we were given only snippets of the big picture. We couldn’t always see what pieces are being moved in the grand chess board of it all and that brought about a sense of welcomed unpredictability (this was where my theories were gleefully pushed aside). Every turning point was read at the edge of my seat. At the same time, there were also instances where we purposefully knew more than the characters do and the impending moments were built-up with anticipation, generating a heavier impact when the hammer finally fell.

"Those who know what it's like in the dark will do anything to stay in the light."

Mare in Glass Sword was condescending, shameless, and self-centered. And although I see how circumstance had brought her to that state, it was still quite unnerving to read. Fortunately, circumstance once again intervened and I actually do have Maven to thank for that. Mare learns to appreciate the little things in life, be a team player, and not adjust the spotlight to herself. She’s definitely way more fun to read. And that folks, is called character development.

Ever since Mare first knelt to Maven, it’s become obvious how the third book will cater more to my beloved boy-king. (Yes, I don’t hate him.) As I stated in my Glass Sword review, Maven was mostly limited to desperate love letters, trails of violence, and propaganda banners. He was represented as a ghost – the unseen boogey man – and that catered to Mare’s and by extension, the readers’ perception of him as the powerful yet psychopathic, inhumane momma’s boy. In King’s Cage, we finally get to see his side of the story. The best part was that in her incarceration, Mare has a preexisting relationship – a stick – her only weapon amidst all the silence. She knows him well enough to confidently poke the monster. With the great lack of MareCal, their interactions were highly anticipated, only to just peek through the crumbling bricks around Maven, especially now without Elara’s guiding hand. I’ve always had a soft spot for well-rounded antagonists and the current Nortan King fits the bill. His vulnerabilities and honesty around Mare were my drug.

"...monsters are most dangerous when they are afraid."

What I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed with King’s Cage was how the whole plot revolved around its characters and their motives. Victoria Aveyard introduced a lot of new players in this book but they didn’t feel out-of-place or awkward. In The Amazing Spiderman 2, the variety of villains felt crowded and aimless. While with Aveyard, each individual, may it be a protagonist or an antagonist, had a role to play. The plot served the characters and the characters served the plot. Meaningfully. She brought out this balance through weaving emotional and driven interactions and there is the whole of Act Three that can attest to that. She was able to create solid arcs from distinct personalities, as I saw through Maven, Mare, and Cal, and even present in the side characters.

(And because this is a non-spoiler review, all I can say is, Act Three – around 75% in – was the epitome of my existence. And then the ending just crushed that very existence.)
Victoria Aveyard toyed with my emotions like never before. She gave me something in King’s Cage I didn’t even know I wanted so very bad until I was smiling and laughing all giddy by reading about it until I wasn’t. The ending was the inevitable answer to the underlying question of MareCal’s relationship from the beginning. I was expecting it. I know, no matter how much denial, that it was bound to happen and yet, the touchdown was still heartbreaking. A painful experience that warrants an applause. Victoria literally left me hyperventilating (I have snaps to prove it!) and dying for the continuation.

"To stand in front of a person who is your whole world and be told you are not enough. You are not the choice. You are a shadow to the person who is your sun.” 

I cannot deny the amount of fun I had reading King’s Cage after a year of waiting. But, of course, there’s just a minor kink that was Cameron. She was one of the perspectives side-by-side Mare and because they had around a 5:1 ratio in chapters, I always end up looking forward to Cameron’s POV for more Scarlet Guard (yes, Farley) and more (more) Cal. However, oftentimes, she was downgraded to a mere third-person narrator, only there to explain whatever’s happening with the Scarlet Guard. I enjoyed her bluntness regarding Mare’s high-and-mighty attitude and Cal’s dilemmas but they quickly grew over worn. Her motive was clear from the beginning: to save her twin brother from the Red army and even that seemed like an excuse for Cameron to be a three-dimensional character. A good portion of her arc was messy and rushed compared to the rest of the book. Worst of all, there were way too many conveniences along the way. Cameron left me a good impression in Glass Sword for shamelessly pointing out Mare’s flaws. It disappointed me how she was the least handled of all in King’s Cage, despite earning some first-person chapters.

Even then, King’s Cage is definitely my favorite among the three released with Red Queen as a close second. It was well-paced and thoroughly built from its politics to its morals to its characters. I enjoyed every little scene that built up all the arcs. experiencing from different perspectives was even better. The overall plot was literally bloody and also clean in a sense that it felt as if it had gone through as much revisions as it could. It definitely served the book well. By the end, King’s Cage was a plethora of emotions. It got me contented and devastated at the same time. And now, desperate to know the fates of my beloved characters.

And because Julienne had mentioned its usefulness, I rate King's Cage:

5 out of 5 stars

Diabolic by E.J. Kincaid

I wanted and waited for Diabolic since the day I heard of its premise. Well, I’m just thankful it wasn’t my money that paid for it. (HAHA thank you forever Yen!)

Diabolic wasn’t necessarily bad but was also not the best. I’ve had issues from the beginning and as I continued, there seemed to be a consistent ride of good and bad.

I am a sucker for royalty, whatever fantasy or galaxy it may be set. I’ve always been interested in the dynamics of power in a monarchy and set hierarchy and how individuals either revel or begrudge in it.

At this, Diabolic did not hold back. Set in a future Empire where your wealth is in your reputation and currency is in information, things were bound to get bloody. And they were. The sword was sharp and brutal. There was a live skinning, attempted rape, actual committed rape, and of course, murder. The sadist in me loved every moment of it. How else does a world feel real without witnessing its flaws?

However, the world building did lack on many areas and it was left to the acts of the characters themselves – no matter how trivial or grand – that created this reality. The concept, although familiar, was interesting and I do wish it was given more of a fleshing out to truly immerse the readers.

"But then, I’ve always believed love is the most volatile substance in the universe. It erupts, it incinerates, and then it simply flames out..."

If you’ve been a veteran of this blog, you’d know my greatest enemy in literature is insta-love. I simply cannot stand it in any way or form and Diabolic was crazy enough to be founded on that notion.

Diabolics are creatures – androids? – created and designed to protect a single person as long as possible. Apparently, that is through a “bonding” process with the master, which we act-iii-later learned was chemically involved. With Nemesis’ own words, I quote, “I wondered at the feeling inside me, which glowed like warm embers in my chest. This marvelous glow came from looking at her…This was love.” And in a world where love can’t even be scientifically explained, it just sounded ridiculous to me.

Looking back now post-reading, I am slowly understanding Nemesis’ loyalty and devotion to Sidonia. But love? Nemesis was a Diabolic bred not to feel emotion and pain, only to serve and protect. So why bother labeling it as love? Couldn’t it be just simple commitment? Love entails more than just looking after someone’s safety and reading from Nemesis’ point of view, that’s definitely not how she perceives whatever was going on.

From what we were given, it can be seen as insta-love but not really. Nemesis is Sidonia’s best friend and the heir treats her as such, with kindness, acceptance, and love. But where did this come from? There were no experiences or flashbacks of any sort that could create the history of their close and already established relationship. Yes, it was in Nemesis’ focused and stiff point-of-view but Sidonia was also a vital character to the plot and to Nemesis herself. Leaving out their childhood, their memories together and just assume their undying love for one another was a bad move. Since Diabolic was instituted from that relationship, it was critical that we know and understand these characters’ history with one another before anything else. In the end, I couldn’t care less about the naïve Sidonia because there was nothing to care about.

I could still get Nemesis’ rigid narration. She was a creature only for protective services, after all. What I couldn’t understand, however, was the need for blatant dictionary definition.
Diabolic was set in the far future where most of the rich population live in space. I admired the dynamics of it all: the throwaway and lax culture that was created, their Helionic religion, and the sheer brutality of their daily living. But apparently that also involved a definition of terms (and I’ve had enough of those from research papers). While I usually don’t mind being introduced to new or altered concepts to convey a different reality, Nemesis presented them in such a boring bomb in the face in about a paragraph or less.

“Sidonia is the Impyrean heiress. Her father is a Senator. A Senator is rich and has a position in the Senate. The Senate and the galaxy is ruled by the Domitrians.” Ugh, no. It took the fun right out of discovering their world for myself and unnecessarily dragged the plot just to explain this ritual or this tradition or this family. Memorizing the complicated surnames and positions were tedious enough then you would have to take note of the procedures for Senate voting along with it before you can continue with the story.

There are definitely better and more creative ways to present a world to the reader. I won’t take the excuse that it’s from Nemesis’ Diabolic point-of-view when these customs aren’t even foreign to her despite how she retold it as such. Kincaid have got to trust the reader to piece together events from context clues.

On the other hand, there were also ideas that were left too untouched. Such as the concept of Diabolic killing machines themselves. Are they androids capable of emotions? Are they enhanced humans? Do they even bleed? (And Neveni’s history with the Domitrians!) There wasn’t a balance between the basic information and adding depth to the world.

"Perhaps scorpions were the only ones who could save each other. Whatever lay ahead, it would always be the two of us above the rest of the universe, and woe to any who dared step in out path."

If there’s one thing I truly loved about Diabolic, it was Tyrus Domitrian. In a power hungry futuristic society, Tyrus was a piece curiously placed in the board. He was titled as Successor Primo, to lead the elitists and everybody else upon his uncle, the Emperor’s death. The catch was Tyrus was the resident madman – bringing shame and going against their religion, hearing voices in his head, and basking in vanity. So who would want him as Emperor?

The moment Tyrus and Nemesis met, I basically saw a glimpse of how it’ll end. But, the journey was still enjoyable. Tyrus was probably the only character I was able to fully relish and even relate to. He was built-up well with a known reputation, a distinct personality, and a clear motive – the telltale signs of a good character. In a world of false-youths, drug addiction, Diabolics, and stiff storytelling, he felt human. He was a good anchor in the vast, new world and an intriguing read.

On the other side of the scale, Nemesis was a Diabolic who repeatedly claimed her superiority. Upon this, I immediately thought of Khan in Star Trek: Into Darkness. Benedict Cumberbatch played this truly intelligent and strong antihero, who without a doubt dominates over an ordinary man even in presence alone. He can be seen as the antagonist – a murderer, to be exact – but his personal motives place him as a hero of his own story, determined to protect his family and exact revenge on the power that hurt them. Sounds familiar?

Then we meet Nemesis. She was a vigilant hawk, always looking out for Sidonia. And yes, she may be physically dominant with a constant lust for blood but she can really be stupid sometimes. She walked into situations that screamed bad (and ended up worse) to anyone with reason, all the while convincing herself that it is part of a strategic gameplay. Equally frustrating were the instances she let herself tricked by something so common sense and by someone named untrustworthy. Don’t even try to argue that she’s blinded by love or grief or whatnot. It was so completely out of character and against what Kincaid consistently tried to convince the readers of.

Nemesis was a different point-of-view, altogether, comprising of characteristics and thoughts an android would have. I personally think that there should’ve been another perspective side-by-side our Diabolic titular character. This would differentiate Nemesis from normal humans and further build up the description of a Diabolic. It would also create a more holistic storytelling. The focus was with Nemesis the entire time even if something more important was happening elsewhere. (Yes, I am talking about a certain useless prison, self-wallowing scene here.) Lastly, it would stop the info dumping.

"It’s terrifying to realize your own decisions are shaping your destiny."

I had such a high regard for Tyrus Domitrian that the ending simply took me aback. In a raised-eyebrow way. Diabolic revolved a lot around revenge and personal vendettas. The last act definitely dealt with the final pursuit of it all although in a sudden, uncharacteristic way. It still would’ve been good and acceptable if it weren’t so rushed and of course, suddenly tied up in a pretty neat bow. It read like a grand finale, tying up all loose ends. There wasn’t anything left – no cliffhanger or suspenseful epilogue – to have our hands itching for a sequel.

Diabolic as a whole feels like it’s still in need a fourth draft. There were inconsistencies with the characters, a limiting and dragging perspective, and a great lack in the world building department. Nonetheless, I still did enjoy Diabolic despite discovering a lot of concerns with it. I can’t promise that I would be picking up the sequel, though.

If you like an R-rated sci-fi with light romance and heavy drama, then I wouldn’t take away Diabolic from you. I simply belong to the minority.

Illuminae by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

This is the second book I just randomly grabbed off a shelf and I. LOVED. IT. (First was Six of Crows and look how that turned out.) Conclusion: do that more often. Even before, especially around its release, I’ve heard a lot of affirmation around Illuminae but given that the hardbound costs around P900 and I am usually poor, I’ve never included it in my to-buy list. But then Christmas came and so did cash and after around an hour of contemplation around Fully Booked, I just finally did a grab-and-go. No regrets.

Illuminae was aesthetically beautiful outside and inside. The narrative was presented through a dossier of confidential files, IMs among subjects, transcripts and the like. It was creative, to say the least, and presented a different perspective to the whole story. Set in the future, we mainly follow Kady Grant and Ezra Miller aboard the spaceships (think Star Trek’s Enterprise and Across the Universe by Beth Revis) Hypatia and Alexander respectively as refugees from a massive terrorist attack on the planet they were residing in. While they take great sums of the narrative, we still get a look at important characters aboard the UTA (United Terran Authority) spaceships such as the commanders and even, their AI named AIDAN and their positions on whatever’s happening. I had told Julienne that Illuminae reminded me of a Nolan movie and the different POVs was one of the many factors.

Illuminae was fast-paced and action-packed, decked with mystery, from the beginning. You think you know what’s happening then it twists and turns in a direction you didn’t even know was possible. There were many times I caught myself in a movie gasp (legit) or rereading a certain page, or even just a line, to convince myself that actually happened. There was consistency with the hype of the story as it went, making you eager to flip to the next page and never stop. (I finished this 800+ pages wonder in less than 24 hours, folks. I was sick a good part of that, too.)

The layout of the book clearly had a big part in the storytelling. Since what we get were transcripts of conversations, unanswered emails, casualty lists, there’s the opportunity to piece the story and the world through context clues, even side by side with the people living it. Through this, I was also able to connect with the characters even if they are from the future with different lives and personalities. We got to know Kady, Ezra, even Byron and McNulty with their cards laid out there in the open; how else will you know someone as real as that, even without a direct physical description or a paragraph of adjectives. Personally, I enjoyed Ezra and McNulty’s friendship a lot. There was a lot of real-life humor to it, presenting a needed comic relief. It made you love these characters and feel so much pain as they went through difficulties.

I got to be honest here, though. Fair warning: the names were a headache at first. Since the book immediately throws you into action – and as I said, context clues, you basically have to bookmark every name and add it into your own encyclopedia in your head. Fortunately, you get used to it of course.

Overall, I loved Illuminae. It got my heart from the start, played with it all throughout, and it still has it until the acknowledgements. I gave it 5/5, people…FIVE-OVER-FIVE. (Julienne is judging me for rating it higher than SOC. So am I.) The presentation of the story was different and creative and enjoyable. It was refreshing to read and also had the right balance of humor from the characters and gravity from the plot.

I am itching for Gemina. However, I’ve read the synopsis and this time, we’re getting new characters. This honestly made me double-think because I have fallen for Kady and Ezra and they’re dynamic that it feels wrong to want more of them but end up with another set. I don’t want to say goodbye to these characters, albeit temporarily. I guess we’ll have to see.

P.S. Through the influence of Christine Riccio in my life, I am currently listening to the audiobook. I have never tolerated audiobooks until I met Illuminae. Thoughts? Plenty. Must you wait? Probably.