Book 1 of 3 in The Illuminae Files
Illuminae
by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
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.
- Spice
- 1/5
- Burn
- Slow
- Pages
- ~608
- Ending
- HFN
HFN means happy for now: together at the end, with their future left open.
How spicy is Illuminae?
Illuminae is a 1 out of 5 on our spice scale: sweet (kisses only). Kissing, longing looks, maybe a fade-to-black. Nothing on the page.
- Steam: Glimpses and kisses
- Burn: Slow burn
- Pairing: One man, one woman
- POV: Multiple POVs
- Ending: Happy for now
Content warnings
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Show 4 content warnings
- Murder
- Death of a loved one
- Graphic violence
- Child abuse (past or present)
Our editorial notes, which may be incomplete. If something is a hard limit for you, check the author's own content notes too.
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Illuminae: quick answers
How spicy is Illuminae?
Illuminae is a 1 out of 5 on our spice scale: sweet (kisses only). Kissing, longing looks, maybe a fade-to-black. Nothing on the page.
Is Illuminae a standalone?
No. Illuminae is book 1 of 3 in The Illuminae Files. It is the place to start. The series is complete.
What tropes are in Illuminae?
Illuminae features second chance, space / other planets. It is a slow burn M/F romance that ends with a happy for now.
Does Illuminae have content warnings?
Our notes for Illuminae include: murder, death of a loved one, graphic violence, child abuse (past or present). This list may not be complete; check the author's own content notes if anything is a hard limit for you.
What should I read after Illuminae?
If you loved Illuminae, try These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner, The Problem with Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson. They share its second chance and space / other planets energy at a similar spice level.