Amber Reads Her Shelves: December 2018

Amber Reads Her Shelves is my attempt to actually read the books I read. Every month I will choose 3 books that have been on my shelves for at least 6 months. Voting will be open until December 18.

SPAAACCEEEE: An evening with Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

In 2015, I read and fell in love with Illuminae and its world. I knew I had to get Obsidio when it came out, and when I heard that Jay and Amie were doing an event at Andersons, I knew I had to be there as well. I don't think I've laughed so much at an author signing ever. EVER.

Book Review: Unearthed

Title: Unearthed (Unearthed #1)
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Genre: Young Adult | Sci-Fi | Adventure | Romance
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Publication Date: January 9, 2018
Source: Publisher
Format: Audiobook

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.
For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.
In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race...(goodreads) 

Unearthed was a wild ride that reminded me of These Broken Stars. 

Book Review: Gemina

Title: Gemina (the Illuminae Files #2)
Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Genre: Young Adult | Sci-Fi
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 18, 2016
Format: ARC
Source: BEA

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 (goodreads). 

The question after Illuminae was, "what more can these two do?" And the answer is: SO MUCH MORE. 

First Thoughts [#95]

First Thoughts is a feature where I give my initial impression of my current read.

 

Book Review: Their Fractured Light

Title: Their Fractured Light (Starbound #3)
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Genre: Young Adult | Sci-Fi | Romance
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased

A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness for their planet, and protect them from destruction. Some say Flynn’s a madman, others whisper about conspiracies. Nobody knows the truth. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were rescued from a terrible shipwreck—now, they live a public life in front of the cameras, and a secret life away from the world’s gaze.
Now, in the center of the universe on the planet of Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players, who will bring the fight against LaRoux Industries to a head. Gideon Marchant is an eighteen-year-old computer hacker—a whiz kid and an urban warrior. He’ll climb, abseil and worm his way past the best security measures to pull off onsite hacks that others don’t dare touch.
Sofia Quinn has a killer smile, and by the time you’re done noticing it, she’s got you offering up your wallet, your car, and anything else she desires. She holds LaRoux Industries responsible for the mysterious death of her father and is out for revenge at any cost.
When a LaRoux Industries security breach interrupts Gideon and Sofia’s separate attempts to infiltrate their headquarters, they’re forced to work together to escape. Each of them has their own reason for wanting to take down LaRoux Industries, and neither trusts the other. But working together might be the best chance they have to expose the secrets LRI is so desperate to hide (goodreads).

If you thought These Broken Stars destroyed you, then you are not prepared for the heartache known as Their Fractured Light. 

[Meme]Waiting on Wednesday [#80]

 

Hosted by Breaking the Spine

Tite: Their Fractured Light (Starbound #3)
Author: Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Genre: Young Adult | Romance | Sci-Fi
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: December 1, 2015

A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness for their planet, and protect them from destruction. Some say Flynn’s a madman, others whisper about conspiracies. Nobody knows the truth. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were rescued from a terrible shipwreck—now, they live a public life in front of the cameras, and a secret life away from the world’s gaze.
Now, in the center of the universe on the planet of Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players, who will bring the fight against LaRoux Industries to a head. Gideon Marchant is an eighteen-year-old computer hacker—a whiz kid and an urban warrior. He’ll climb, abseil and worm his way past the best security measures to pull off onsite hacks that others don’t dare touch.
Sofia Quinn has a killer smile, and by the time you’re done noticing it, she’s got you offering up your wallet, your car, and anything else she desires. She holds LaRoux Industries responsible for the mysterious death of her father and is out for revenge at any cost.
When a LaRoux Industries security breach interrupts Gideon and Sofia’s separate attempts to infiltrate their headquarters, they’re forced to work together to escape. Each of them has their own reason for wanting to take down LaRoux Industries, and neither trusts the other. But working together might be the best chance they have to expose the secrets LRI is so desperate to hide (goodreads).

I can't believe it's ending! This is another series I have to get all on audible. The audiobook production in this is so on point!

Book Review: Illuminae

Title: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1)
Author: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Genre: Young Adult // Sci-Fi // Romance
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 20, 2015
Format: ARC
Source: C2E2

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 (goodreads).

How do you review a book that tore your soul out and left you to pick up the pieces? 

First Thoughts[#10]

First Thoughts is a feature where I give my initial impression of my current read!

Did you read Illuminae about it? Isn't the format just 100% engaging??

Book Review: This Shattered World + Giveaway

Hey all! I was lucky enough to be apart of this blog tour hosted by The Midnight Garden. Today I'm going to tell you how much I loved This Shattered World as well as give you the opportunity to win some pretty awesome prizes!

[Meme]Teaser Tuesday [#49]

Hosted by Should Be Reading

 "Well?? She's panting. "What's it going to be? You could at least have the decency to aim for my heart and not my head. I'll look prettier at my funeral." 

Page 20

This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Megan Spooner [GoodReads]