Gemina (The Illuminae Files, #2) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Publication Date: October 18th, 2016 by Knopf Books for Young Readers
Rating: 5 Stars
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Find: Goodreads | Amazon
Goodreads Summary
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.

What a ride! Much like the first installment in the series, Illuminae, Gemina is a roller-coaster of a ride. With plenty of highs and lows, our characters are pushed to their very limits.

Nik and Hanna are the most unlikely allies. When you first meet Hanna, she comes across as a spoiled, privileged princess. She’s the captain’s daughter, the center of his world and with his position, Hanna is fortunate enough to get access to anything she wants. However, the further we go into the story, the more we get to see the layers of depth to her character. Beyond this socialite facade, Hanna is incredibly skilled and resourceful. Being the captain’s daughter, Hanna has been raised to understand military techniques and strategies. Yes, she embraces her femininity, but she can also handle her own when she needs to.

Nik is a bad boy with a heart of gold. A typical cliché, but again it’s very well executed. Hailing from the most notorious Mafia family, he’s been dealt a very tough hand by life. However, he doesn’t let the doom and gloom of his upbringing define him. He’s snarky, flirty, and the way he cares for his cousin, Ella, shows that beyond this bad boy exterior he is actually a softie.

Together, Nik and Hanna have an incredible dynamic. The chemistry is evident between them, and their interactions are full of witty-remarks and hilarious banter. The dynamic between them is awesome, and when Nik’s feisty and snarky cousin, Ella is added to the mix, you are treated to some golden moments.

Now, you might wonder how this book ties to the previous one, but rest assured the events of this book align with the happenings of the first one. Kady and Ezra’s tale is nowhere near over, and Nik and Hanna’s path eventually collides with theirs.

Admittedly, some of the events and revelations in the book were predictable, but that doesn’t take away from the overall enjoyment of the book. Like Illuminae, the unconventional narrative method is at the heart of the creativity of this book. From the surveillance footage to emails, posters, and even diary entries, the narrative heightens the tension and anticipation in the book, but also allows us to unravel the inner depths of our characters.

If you enjoyed the first book, you are guaranteed to love Gemina. It might take some time to make the connection between both books, but Gemina does a fantastic job at piecing them together and sets us up for Obsidio, which is guaranteed to be an incredible and tense finale.

Did you enjoy this book?
Who is your favourite character in the series so far?
What are your predictions for Obsidio?