Illuminae

 More than a  Welcome.... kinda

Its been several years since I first read this book, and yet this is the first time I've thought to write a proper review for a book that means so much to me. The real question here is where to start.

The story has such a strong beginning that the worst thing that can happen is for it to fall flat halfway through, and even though Kady and Ezra's story doesn't formally begin until things get really bad, it is important to have a very clear idea of where each of the characters is, as well as what is at stake. The story in general suffers at times, especially when the character of AIDAN is introduced, who is undoubtedly the most prominent character, at least in this first installment.

But what exactly is Illuminae about? Well, a good way to describe this book would be as a kind of hybrid between romance and sci-fi with a dash of horror and suspense, but that would be an understatement. This book attempts to create a conversation, a preliminary discussion, if you will, about the dangerous risks of having a flawed AI, as well as the problems that people with untreated PTSD can face. This book talks about how trauma can be represented in teenagers who have to grow up in an unimaginable situation. On one hand, we have Kady, a genius in the world of technology. she is the kind of girl you leave alone because it is very likely that when you are not looking, she will mess with you. Although she is emotionally distant, she is the one the book focuses on the most because it is she, along with her mentor, who can solve the problem they find themselves in. On the other hand, we have Ezra, a boy born for sports and forced by circumstances to join the army, and this is where we have a problem. because even though Ezra is technically the co-protagonist, he is the one we know the least about. By this, I don't mean that he doesn't talk as much as Kady, but rather that there comes a point where you simply have to believe what you read because there is no way to confirm it, especially when AIDAN appears and ends up taking the role that Ezra had at the beginning.

On the other hand, AIDAN, the artificial intelligence who technically starts out like Ezra and Kady, ends up taking control of the narrative, as well as several scenes in the book. In general, all the characters are given balanced attention, but it's still clear who ended up being the authors' favorites.

Overall, I think it's an enjoyable read, as I said, it has its good and bad points, and unfortunately, the peaks of intensity are noticeable, but for me, it achieves a good balance that captures the reader's imagination from the moment they choose to read it. If you are new to sci-fi, I think this is a good place to start, especially if you have the audiobook, which creates such a good atmosphere that you are likely to let the hours pass without realizing it.