From the coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Illuminae Files comes the first book in a new series that’s part Romeo and Juliet, part Terminator, and all adrenaline.On an island junkyard beneath a sky that glows with radiation, a deadly secret lies buried in the scrap. Seventeen-year-old Eve isn’t looking for trouble–she’s too busy looking over her shoulder. The robot gladiator she spent … shoulder. The robot gladiator she spent months building has been reduced to a smoking wreck, she’s on the local gangster’s wanted list, and the only thing keeping her grandpa alive is the money she just lost to the bookies. Worst of all, she’s discovered she can somehow destroy machines with the power of her mind, and a bunch of puritanical fanatics are building a coffin her size because of it. If she’s ever had a worse day, Eve can’t remember it. The problem is, Eve has had a worse day–one that lingers in her nightmares and the cybernetic implant where her memories used to be. Her discovery of a handsome android named Ezekiel–called a “Lifelike” because they resemble humans–will bring her world crashing down and make her question whether her entire life is a lie. With her best friend Lemon Fresh and her robotic sidekick Cricket in tow, Eve will trek across deserts of glass, battle unkillable bots, and infiltrate towering megacities to save the ones she loves…and learn the truth about the bloody secrets of her past.
more
Holy twisted crumpled tales of love, hate, and robotics. I LOVED IT. Mr. Kristoff, what was that ending ? Oh you are good, cruel but deliciously good. This is why I read all your books, you challange my expectations.
The beginning of the book was a slow start, the slang slowed me down. It was different enough that I couldn’t flow through it. It was a short struggle, to maybe 15 % and I got it. The story never slows, never goes where you expect, it’s an unknown path ahead in this book.
The story follows Eve, who as a young girl loses her everything in a violent event. She is a being raised by her grandfather, surrounded by her best friend, and robots. Everything is going as well as it can till a reviled being is found in a crash wreckage. This is a world or radiation, gangs, androids, love and hard core everything. It had moments that reminded me of many moves and TV series. It was Thunderdome, Mad Max, and Westworld. Speaking of Westworld, wait till you met The Preacher, and hold on when you do he’s a…well you’ll see.
Romance, it’s there, unexpected in such a story but fits so well and twists the heartstrings in all the bleeding places. Rocky, filled with pain and sweetness, it’s a hard one to walk away from when the book ended. I was so invested in these characters I was left feeling gutted at the ending. Mr. Kristoff, leaves us hanging off the side of a thousand foot cliff lined with broken bones and scrap metal.
Fantasy, as a genre, typically isn’t my favorite, but I’ve been enjoying some of it in the past few years. This novel is an example of a book from this genre that I really enjoy. It has elements of the story of Pinocchio, the Anastasia legend, biblical stories and it really also reminds me of Cinder by Marissa Meyer.
Eve is a scavver girl – think salvage hunter – she builds robots and competes in the arena with robots. She has a best friend Lemon Fresh and another robot friend, built by her grandfather, called Cricket that go with her. On a day when she is competing, she is knocked down and trapped. The robot is about to kill her when she screams out in frustration and fries the robot’s circuits. This was caught on TV. After that incident, numerous groups are after her.
A ship crashes and when the group goes to look for Salvage they meet a Lifelike named Ezekiel who seems to know Eve by another name. None of that makes any sense. When they all return to Eve’s home, Ezekiel also seems to know Eve’s grandpa. The brotherhood shows up to claim the Lifelike and the story jumps off from there.
I really liked the interplay of the characters and there were plenty of surprises along the way to keep me turning pages. This was an interesting mash up of all those other stories told in such a unique way. Kristoff did a professional job of tying the first story together without leaving a gigantic cliffhanger, but leaving the reader with enough interest to move onto book 2. I look forward to continuing the journey with these characters. (less)
A kind of reworking of the story of fallen angels with a futuristic flair — so original and creative. Hilarious too. THIS BOOK NEEDS TO BE A MOVIE.
Read from front to back without stopping. Original concept very well expressed.
The main characters were likable and drew me in.
Absolutely loved this book! The ending was one of the best cliffhangers I’ve read in awhile. Cant wait for the next book.
I think it’s impossible to not like a Kristoff book. He really sucks you in with new worlds and awesome characters. Lemon Fresh is my favorite in this book. And that ending!!!! I really can’t wait for the second book to this series.
Post-apoco-Armageddon-style robot battles in a Fury Road sci-fi Astroboy kick-arse love story adventure? What’s not to love!!
Absolutely genius and one of the most deserving five stars I’ve ever given.
The character development and depth are unparalleled; Cricket and Lemon were sarcastic and hilarious and have shot their way up into my favorite characters, ever. The world building was also immensely tragic and well-explained without ever once becoming boring. Everything was weaved together perfectly.
No joke, I have a note on my phone dedicated to all the reasons why this completely DESTROYED me.
So uh yeah GIVE ME SEQUEL NOW THAT CLIFFHANGER AGH
This book was a crazy, action-packed thrill ride with lots of twists per Jay Kristoff usual. The insta-love in there kind of bothered me a bit but the ending makes up for it. Definitely worth picking up.
“Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven” – The Beautiful Man
Deception, double cross, lies upon lies
This was a fast paced and an action packed read. In Lifel1k3 you follow the story of Eve. She is just an ordinary girl, or so it seems, in a ruined world. Just simply trying to survive and find her place in it. When I reached the final few chapters I literally gasped out loud. I guess I am slow to put pieces together because twists always surprise me and boy was that a twist. With each page and with each introduction of characters I kept wanting to know more about this world. I cannot wait for book two. I highly recommend this read. I seriously have not read anything like it before. Bravo Mr. Kristoff, bravo.
Lifelik3 by Jay Kristoff is a complex and dynamic young adult sci-fi story. Mr. Kristoff throws us in the deep end in the beginning and expects us to swim. In a future world, post additional world wars and serious advances in robotics. People are fighting for survival in the aftermath of corporate wars and radiation exposure threatens many people. In the midst of a robotic gladiator fight Eve uses her mind to destroy tech and save her life. That abnormal ability will doom her to be hunted if the wrong people find out. When she and her friend Lemon discover the wreck of an advanced android robot, a Lifelike 100 life gets even more complicated. When the Lifelike, Ezekiel, wakes up and seemingly recognizes her but with a different name its the first step along a crazy path.
Leaving her home in the wake of threats that are after her and have kidnapped her grandfather, Eve, Lemon and Ezekiel are in for a wild ride across their world. The more Eve learns about herself, hidden memories and Ezekiel, the more she learns how many secrets have been kept from her. The quest that they undertake becomes more complicated with every step they take and nothing is what Eve has been told, as even those closest to her are hiding things. “Stronger Together, Together Forever” the mantra that Eve an Lemon share becomes the thread that holds them together as well as the complexities of love and life.
In Lifelik3, Jay Kristoff created something that I very much enjoyed and he didn’t take the easy way out, he took the story where it needed to go. There are some definite familiar themes from things like Bladerunner that can be seen, but the story itself goes places that are both unexpected and real I very much enjoyed the vast complex settings and world as well as the detailed and fascinating characters. The story is filled with layers and details that will keep you glued to every page along the way.
(I voluntarily reviewed an advance review copy of this book I received for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my open and honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.)
I have read all of jay kristoffs books. This was a fine read, but lots of gaping story hole and big jumps in …… dynamics. I hope Mr k is not just cranking out book as he moves forward as his first series was so good as to be a high benchmark. So to a degree the 3stars are due to the-let down after the Stormdancer series….