Showing posts with label The Illuminae Files. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Illuminae Files. Show all posts

Friday, August 12, 2016

OwlCrate Monthly Haul: July Box 2016


   Hi y'all! So today I wanted to show everyone my sister's July box from OwlCrate! In order to not spoil anything for anyone, I decided to wait and post it a good while after most people have received theirs already.

   My sister and I share my monthly subscription for OwlCrate, so every other month I'll be showing off what my sister received instead of me!

   OwlCrate is a monthly bookish YA subscription box, which every month features a new theme. Each box features a recently released YA book, along with a few bookish goodies created specially for the box.

   

This months theme is: Good Vs. Evil!

We received the Good box!



This months box includes:


-Harry Potter: Dobby Funko Pop Vinyl
-Millennium Falcon necklace from VectorEngraving
-Alice magnetic bookmark from Jane's Tiny Things
- Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff sticker by Drop And Give Me Nerdy
- YA Colouring Book
- This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab, and a letter + signed book plate from Victoria Schwab


Next months theme is: Fast Times at YA High!

Stay tuned to see what is in-store for that box!



Saturday, October 17, 2015

Book Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Release Date:  October 20th, 2015
Read: July 29th- August 18th, 2015
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Series: The Illuminae Files, #1
Format: ARC, 608 pages
Source: McNally Robinson/ Two Thumbs Up Program



Description from 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.


Review:


   Am I not merciful?
   After BEA 2014, Illuminae was all the rage. Everyone needed their hands on the ARC, the same went with the hardcover ARC that was released a few months later. It was the latest book craze, so when I found a copy while picking up my latest book to review from McNally Robinson, I died a little bit inside. I could not wait to read it.
  When I first started reading Illuminae I was mesmerized by the beautiful pages and the uniqueness of the way it was written. I couldn't stop staring at the pages and continuously flipping through them. It was definitely a new experience, reading Illuminae.
   Unfortunately the beauty of the pages were not enough to keep me entertained throughout the book. I found the story itself to be bland and not have anything special about it, and at times I found the characters to be a bit ridiculous. While the story could be interesting at times, the only thing I found special about Illuminae was the way it was printed.
   Illuminae may not have been for me, but like I said above it was a unique experience and so I hope everyone will give Illuminae a try. 

Rating:



Favourite Quote:


"If I breathed, I would sigh. I would scream. I would cry."


Recommend to People Who Enjoy:


Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Space, Space Travel, Robots



Monday, August 3, 2015

ARC August


   So ARC August was created by the fabulous Octavia and Shelly from Read. Sleep. Repeat! It was created to get a handle on all the ARCs bloggers and readers are behind on! Alongside friends, its supposed to be a fun experience! 


Rules:


-It may be a physical ARC or eARC but it MUST be an ARC

-Yes it can be an ARC that has already released; as long as it’s an ARC I’m not going to nit pick really.

-HAVE FUN WITH THIS! Feeling like you are being “forced” to read is the best way turn a fun event into a yucky obligation.

-Update post! I personally will do a post for each Saturday in August but that’s just me. You can update once a week, every other week or once for the whole darn event. This update can be in the form of a blog/tumblr post, vlog, link to your “ARC August 2015″ shelf or even an instagram pic! I want to make this as easy and low pressure as possible for you.



   I don't have a lot of ARCs I haven't actually read yet, but I thought I'd still participate with the ones that I have! 


My ARCs:


The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow


Release Date: September 22nd, 2015
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Series: The Scorpion Rules, #1


Description from GoodReads:


   A world battered by climate shift and war turns to an ancient method of keeping peace: the exchange of hostages. The Children of Peace - sons and daughters of kings and presidents and generals - are raised together in small, isolated schools called Preceptures. There, they learn history and political theory, and are taught to gracefully accept what may well be their fate: to die if their countries declare war.

   Greta Gustafsen Stuart, Duchess of Halifax and Crown Princess of the Pan-Polar Confederation, is the pride of the North American Prefecture. Learned and disciplined, Greta is proud of her role in keeping the global peace, even though, with her country controlling two-thirds of the world’s most war-worthy resource — water — she has little chance of reaching adulthood alive. 

   Enter Elián Palnik, the Prefecture’s newest hostage and biggest problem. Greta’s world begins to tilt the moment she sees Elián dragged into the school in chains. The Prefecture’s insidious surveillance, its small punishments and rewards, can make no dent in Elián, who is not interested in dignity and tradition, and doesn’t even accept the right of the UN to keep hostages. 

   What will happen to Elián and Greta as their two nations inch closer to war?


Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff


Release Date: October 20th, 2015
Publisher: Knof Books for Young Readers
Series: The Illuminae Files, #1


Description from 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.


Ghost House by Alexandra Adornetto


Release Date: August 26th, 2014
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Series: The Ghost House Saga, #1


Description from GoodReads:


   After the loss of her mother, Chloe Kennedy starts seeing the ghosts that haunted her as a young girl again. Spending time at her grandmother's country estate in the south of England is her chance to get away from her grief and the spirits that haunt her. Until she meets a mysterious stranger…

   Alexander Reade is 157 years dead, with secrets darker than the lake surrounding Grange Hall and a lifelike presence that draws Chloe more strongly than any ghost before. But the bond between them awakens the vengeful spirit of Alexander's past love, Isobel. And she will stop at nothing to destroy anyone who threatens to take him from her.

   To stop Isobel, Chloe must push her developing abilities to their most dangerous limits, even if it means losing Alex forever… and giving the hungry dead a chance to claim her for their own.


- Any other ARCs I receive this month for review


   It's not a bad list if I do say so myself. At the end of the month I'll update you with a post about my process and thoughts on these ARCs!


   How about you? Are you participating in ARC August? What ARCs do you plan on reading?