Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

This morning, Kady thought the hardest thing she was going to have to do was break up with her boyfriend. Until that afternoon when her planet was blown up, forcing her and her (very recently ex) boyfriend Ezra to evacuate with a hostile warship in pursuit. 

But that’s just the start. As the fleet works to evade a corporation determined to leave no survivors, they face a mutating plague, a rogue AI, and leadership that’s determined to keep civilians in the dark regarding the dangers they’re facing. As Kady hacks her way to finding the truth, it becomes pretty clear to her that she’s going to need help–and the only person who’s capable is the ex-boyfriend she swore to never speak to again. 

Illuminae is an epic space opera with strong elements of horror, romance, mystery, and dystopia with some well-timed humor that would appeal to readers who may feel intimidated by sci-fi. Not only is the plot itself intriguing and captivating from the get-go, this novel offers so much more than that: it’s single-handedly the most unique reading experience you’ll ever encounter. Told through a collection of military documents, transcripts, emails, and instant messages collected after the events, this doesn’t simply read like a novel–it completely immerses readers into the narrative. It’s visually compelling, with many elements that would appeal to graphic readers, and high stakes plot twists and fantastic character development that will appeal to novel lovers. 

The award-winning audiobook is just as much a work of art. With a full cast and audio accessorizing (such as background noise, artful static, and even music), this sounds more like a movie than an audiobook. Even better: listening and reading at the same time to get the full effect. 

But wait! There’s more! Because it doesn’t end with Illuminae–there’s an entire trilogy. While still following the overarching plot, the stories span the galaxy as readers are introduced to new characters and settings in each one with cameos from previous faves as the war comes to its explosive end. Its fast-paced and constant whiplash of a plot are balanced with the truly fantastic characters, friendships, and romances you get to follow along the way. The only thing that can be complained about is the lack of chapters to declare a good stopping point–though the twists and turns wouldn’t allow that anyway.

A heart-stopping trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage it takes to be an every day hero.