Book Review: GEMINA, the sequel to ILLUMINAE, by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, reviewed by teen reviewer Lexi

In October, the greatly anticipated sequel to Illuminae, Gemina, will be released. Our TAB reviewer, who just left for her Freshman year of college, was very excited to get an advanced reading copy of this book to review for you today.

Publisher’s Book Description

The highly anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller that critics are calling “out-of-this-world awesome.”
 
Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

Once again told through a compelling dossier of emails, IMs, classified files, transcripts, and schematics, Gemina raises the stakes of the Illuminae Files, hurling readers into an enthralling new story that will leave them breathless. (October 18th 2016 by Knopf Books for Young Readers)

Lexi’s Thoughts

“When you fight a monster, be careful you don’t become the monster.”

It took me three days to process what the hell i had just read. Not only does this book have such a peculiar format but it also has such a crazy plot that the events of the book gave me whiplash.

For starters, i’m gonna touch up on some things i really loved about this book. I say somethings even though i literally loved the whole darn thing.

The strong female characters

Because not a lot of authors think they have a successful book where there are independent, kick-ass female characters that save the day.

The endless sarcasm displayed by the characters

I feel like the authors legit wrote me in this book with how much sarcasm was dripping off those pages.

Flawless character descriptions

These character descriptions of the House of Knives gang members and the descriptions of the soldiers on ship got me all hot and bothered over some fictional booty. What has this world come toooooo!!!

Finally, i must say that this book was the best emotional rollercoaster i have ever been on. When i think it goes one way the authors pop out of nowhere with a “but wait folks, there’s more!!!”

I recommend this book to everybody because this is one of the best science fiction books i have ever read and it’s even better than the first book. I have high expectations for the next book.

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