Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Gemina by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Released: October 18, 2016
Pages: 659
Publisher: Library Binding
Overall: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting & World-building: 5/5
Emotional Investment: 5/5
"Patience and Silence had one beautiful daughter. And her name was Vengeance."
And this is how I die. This book single-handedly ended my life. That's how amazing it was. I'm pretty sure I will never recover.
Quick Summary: Hanna Donnelly, daughter of station Heimdall's captain social life literally died when she moved to the most boring station ever. Nik Malikov wants nothing more than to be left alone by his crime-infested family. Despite their belief that they live aboard the most boring place possible, the invasion of Biotech industries rapidly changes their minds. Soon both Hanna and Nik must work together to save the people of their station and maybe even the universe itself.
This book takes place 5 minutes after the events of Illuminae, so we pick up right where we left off. This book continues in being told through secretive messages, emails, security footage. etc. I honestly never read a book series written in this way and despite any concerns, I had that the story wouldn't be able to come through, Amie and Jay 100% delivered.
We start with Hanna communicating with Nik, her amazing drug dealer, to fetch her some goodies for an upcoming celebration. Right away you can tell the chemistry is off the charts. Their banter and levels of familiarity with each other were so fun to read like I literally swooned. They were both so fiercely loyal to the people they loved and despite having less than ideal lives they always tried to make the best of it. For all of these reasons and more, Nik is my new book boyfriend. The only thing I was slightly worried about was that Hanna's "falling in love with Nik" process, happened really fast. But I mean she could have been in love with him before when she was still with her boyfriend. ALSO, she's a teenager and we teenagers fall in love really quickly.
Not only was the romance of the charts, but the plots too. The plot twists of this book were so freaking good. One of them I saw coming, but the very last one made me so impressed. Like, I don't know if it's because the person in this part was impressing me or the concept was impressing me. A couple of the parts with BioTech people talking to themselves wasn't the most important thing in the world, but it definitely helped paint a picture of how they interacted. Also, the dude who invaded Heimdall has the weirdest sense of humor. There's an actual scene where he tells another character that she's his mommy because he's impressed. It was hilarious don't get me wrong, but so strange to see from a cold murderous angry man. I guess that's kind of a theme with this series.
I literally haven't reviewed in forever and my skills are seriously lacking. That is why this review is lacking substance but I assure you this was such a good book. Like the sarcasm of the characters and their entire vibe was just amazing. Big shoutout to Ella. Literally, the best 15-year-old hacker to ever exist. She is actually so funny and her relationship with her cousin, Nikolas, is so pure. Anywho I am hyped to start the final book really soon and all I can say is that everyone has to go read this book like yesterday.
Quotes
"Donnelly, H: For a guy who asks me out a lot, you're pretty good at standing me up.
Guest389: For a girl who turns me down a lot, you're awfully good at pretending like we're married ."
"Nik M: I'm just gonna move on. With no additional commentary on your state of undress whatsoever. Because that's just the kind of classy motherfucker I am."
"Whom do you serve? Your ego, or your mission?"
"I try to assimilate, but your kind's obsession with procreative humor is beyond me."
"Fuck me. I gotta ... quit smoking"
"Chances of me making out with you again will probably improve if you do."
"You might only get one shot. So shoot. You know who said that?"
"Hannah fucking Donnelly. That's who."
"Why not believe, Syra? If in faith you risk nothing, but through faithlessness, risk everything?"
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