Book Review 38. Illuminae

Book: Illuminae
Series: The Illuminae Files (#1)
Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction
Pages: 599
Published: October 20th, 2015

This ebook was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Synopsis: 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.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

“Miracles are statistical improbabilities. And fate is an illusion humanity uses to comfort itself in the dark. There are no absolutes in life, save death.” 

Tag 2. Hamilton Book Tag

I am so happy that this tag exists. I LOVE the musical Hamilton (haven't seen it because getting tickets is impossible, but I can sing the whole thing straight through). I highly recommend that people listen to the soundtrack, especially big book fans. If you love to read, you'll love the detailed narrative and historically accurate emotional turmoil.

But anyway, here are the books that most remind me of each song/prompt. I wrote this really fast, and just went with the first thing I thought of.

1. The Room Where it Happens (What is a book world that you would put yourself into?)

Obviously I have to go with the wizarding world of Harry Potter here, as long as I can be guaranteed that I get a spot in Ravenclaw. I mean, I know so much about the world that I might as well live there already.

Wishlist Wednesday. Me Before You

Hosted by Pen to Paper

Book Review 37. The Inn Between

Book: The Inn Between
Author: Marina Cohen
Genre: Middle Grade Horror
Pages: 208
Published: March 2nd, 2016

This ebook was given to me by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Synopsis: The Shining meets "Hotel California" in this supremely creepy middle grade novel about the bizarre things that happen to two girls stranded at a desert inn.
Eleven-year-old Quinn has had some bad experiences lately. She was caught cheating in school, and then one day, her little sister Emma disappeared while walking home from school. She never returned
When Quinn's best friend Kara has to move away, she goes on one last trip with Kara and her family. They stop over at the first hotel they see, a Victorian inn that instantly gives Quinn the creeps, and she begins to notice strange things happening around them. When Kara's parents and then brother disappear without a trace, the girls are stranded in a hotel full of strange guests, hallways that twist back in on themselves, and a particularly nasty surprise lurking beneath the floorboards. Will the girls be able to solve the mystery of what happened to Kara's family before it's too late?

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

"Welcome to Inn Between. We've been expecting you."

Next Up On Base 2. February TBR

We're one-twelfth of the way through 2016, and I've managed not to already fall behind on my annual reading challenge! Last month I read 4 books, which isn't too shabby, and I hope to do just as well in February.

Anyway, in nor real order, here are the 5 books that are on the top of my TBR for February!

2015 Reading Year in Review

This year was a pretty good reading year. Not a great one, but still pretty good. All in all, I read a grand total of 55 books, not quite reaching my goal of 65 and not counting picture books.

That's All Folks 2. Fae Magic and Nazi Firearms

Inspired by the blog The Daily Prophecy, That's All Folks is a new series of posts where I'll give short reviews on books I want to review but don't have enough content to write a full review for.

Book Review 36. A Doll's House

Book: A Doll's House
Author: Henrik Ibsen
Translator: Michael Meyer
Genre: Historic Fiction Play
Pages: 122
Published: December 21st, 1879

Synopsis: A Doll's House is a masterpiece of theatrical craft which, for the first time portrayed the tragic hypocrisy of Victorian middle class marriage on stage. The play ushered in a new social era and "exploded like a bomb into contemporary life."

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

“You have never loved me. You have only thought it pleasant to be in love with me.” 

Top Ten Tuesday. Top Ten Books I Wouldn't Mind Santa Leaving Under My Tree This Year

Hosted by the Broke and the Bookish

My family always gets me gift cards to Barnes and Nobles for Christmas, and these are the books I want to get/buy with the generous gift cards. Reminder, this list is in no real order.

Top Ten Tuesday. Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Can't Wait to Read More From

Hosted by the Broke and the Bookish

To be honest, I didn't read a lot of truly stunning new-to-me authors this year. A lot of the authors I honest-to-God love I had already discovered them years ago and by now I've devoured most of their books. Still, 2015 proved to supply a few great new pens for me.

I decided to do a bit of a different thing on this week's prompt. Instead of doing the top 10 new-to-me authors that I read in 2015, I'm doing the top 10 new-to-me authors that I want to read more from. These authors aren't necessarily the best new authors I read this year, but they are the ones I'm most excited to see more books by. I also included a possible next read for that author for me.
Reminder, this list is in no real order.