Review: Gemina (The Illuminae Files #2) by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff

Title: Gemina

Series: The Illumine Files #2
Author: Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published: October 18, 2016
Pages: 659
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Source/Format: Audiobook
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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.

I didn't write a review the first time that I read this so this review was written after reading it a second time. The first time I read the hardcover and this time I opted for the audiobook. (And honestly, the audiobook brings a whole new experience to this book! It was amazing!)

Yowza! The genius of this series is astounding!

I am salivating over the complexity of the plot and the arrangement of the overall story arc. The plot is so clever and all the pieces are expertly woven together to create something totally unique and monumental. I am a huge fan of this author duo and I love how seamlessly they collaborate. They have something special going on and I can only hope that they continue to collaborate and bestow the world with more marvelous stories. I loved the atmospheric world-building and the scientific components of the story. The storytelling was so immersive.

The way that the characters in this book capture your heart cannot be understated. To be honest, when I first started this series I was unsure if the character development would be enough to make me care about the characters because of the epistolary format of the story. I was wrong. The story may be told through a dossier of text messages, surveillance footage, and the like but these authors really bring their A-game because these characters were incredible. The reader really comes to care about them and their plight. I initially imagined that they would feel abstract because of the epistolary format of the story but they feel significant and the reader really grows to love them and root for them.

The story had a small romantic aspect, though it wasn't the main focus. It was a slow-burn romance that was really endearing. The two main characters are from different sides of the tracks and they grow to care about each other and trust each other throughout the events in the story. The romance is a tad more involved than that but it would get into spoiler territory so I'll keep it brief. I will say that Hanna and Nik had excellent and believable chemistry and their banter kept me perpetually amused. They were just so in sync.

Overall, this is a mind-blowing story that is expertly crafted by an author duo that pretty much has the Midas touch when it comes to creative writing. If there is a way to fangirl harder then please tell me now because this book series is really something special and it is so hard to put into words the magnitude of my love for it. If you love science fiction with a unique flair, unorthodox story formats, and sensational plots then you need to start this series! 

Do you read books in an epistolary format?  If so, what do you like about them? If not, what is stopping you?