Review: Obsidio (Illuminae Files #3)

 

 

Guys… GUYS. HOW DO I REVIEW THIS BOOK?!

“It was amazing, epic (I never use that word), brilliant, marvelous, and it destroyed my feels beyond the point where they can be saved!” Nah. Too generic for me.

Who doesn’t already feel that way about this series or about the last book in the series that changed the game in YA sci-fi??  I know I was over the moon to find a store that was selling finished copies almost two weeks before release date, yet at the same time I was hella nervous to finish this series. It is such a perfectly flawed series that I felt like I may never be the same again.

You already know the back story. It started with Kady and Ezra fighting for their lives against a corrupt AI (AIDAN). Then it was Hanna and Nik trying to survive against damning odds. Now you are going to read about Asha and Rhys. Ex-lovers who thought they lost each other forever (though never stopped caring) and now have to learn to trust each other again in order to make it off of the planet Kerenza before all hell breaks loose. Can Asha trust her ex, who happens to work for BeiTech? Can Rhys prove to Asha he is the same person who is just trying to do what is right?

I’m going to tell you right now, whatever you think you know about this story, whatever you think might happen, you are not prepared. Kaufman and Kristoff will not hold anything back and they will not shy away. These two badass mfers will make you scream, cause you to cry, give you goose flesh, you will slam the book shut and walk away because you just “literally cannot even”, and they will do with while sipping on the tears of their readers grinning like the cat that ate the canary. They know exactly how to drive that knife in a little deeper to make you feel more. These two are a force to be reckoned with and there is a reason for that. This series is printed proof how masterful they are at their craft.

I’m not sure how much I can say about this book without giving anything away. I read the printed version so that is what I will try to review. I feel to get the true grasp of the story, the printed is the way to read it the first time through simply for the artwork and boatload of extras thrown in. The second time through (because of course you read this series multiple times) you listen to the audio because the full cast will blow your mind. The characters were perfectly flawed and beautifully complex. I loved Asha and Rhys, but my heart always stays with Kady, Ezra, and of course, AIDAN. They way every character tied into this story showed just how much Kaufman and Kristoff worked to create the total package. Every single thing had its place and every single person played a role. Yes, even AIDAN. I have to admit, AIDAN is the one character (is he considered a “character”?) that took my breath away. I read his voice with so much more depth than I have before and he now has a special place in my heart.

There is no world building here.. there is universe building and it was done right. I often felt as if I was on Kerenza with Asha and Rhys. I could have sworn I could smell the building debris in the air and wipe the dust off of my jacket. The pacing was top notch stuff, never a dull moment. Even when there was no fighting going on, there was something going on. Someone was revealing their cards, or a subtle event took place that would change the course of everyone’s outcome. Brilliant. Personally I thought it was over too soon, but that is because of how much I loved this book/series/universe.

I have zero doubts you already have this book or it is on your wish list/TBR or that you borrowed it from someone. I wish I could buy everyone a copy to have because 1) it is a stunning cover and 2) everyone needs this story in their life. They need these characters, this world, this struggle of good vs evil. This felt like a story to remind everyone that the good guys will always fight no matter what. If you have read this story, let me know your thoughts. I’d love someone to gush with.