Jay Kristoff is one of my favorite authors, and I always knew the day was coming when he would write something I didn't like as much as all the rest.

Today is that day.

<i>Lifel1k3</i> is easily Kristoff's weakest books, by my personal standards (which may not match yours, and that's okay. On the plus side, the fact that his other books are incredibly strong means that there's a lot of leeway for this book to be his worst but still decent. Which is about how I'd categorize it.

Set in a dystopian future, the plot unfolds about how you'd expect. Badass girl finds sexy robot boy. Sexy robot boy says girl's name is something different and that he loves her. A bunch of creepy dudes try to kill badass girl. A whole bunch of people (and robots and dogs) die in really gruesome ways. You know, the usual.

I had a few main issues with this book. Most of the book was pretty predictable dystopian/sci fi stuff. Until the very end, nothing happened plot-wise that wasn't expected. Even the deaths were anticipated. The characters don't fill that void particularly well. They lack the delicious banter of The Illuminae Files, and they're not as fascinatingly dark and complex as the people of Nevernight. They lack the depth and verve I expect from Kristoff. The romance especially is gag-inducing, as one might expect from anything pitched as <i>Romeo Meets Juliet</i>. I'm pretty sure Kristoff was making the romance scenes as sappy as possible intentionally, but it was still a lot to take. Kristoff's prose has always delighted me, but that wasn't so much the case with this one. He's going with a futuristic style that I largely find puzzling and sometimes grating.

That said, the last couple of chapters won me over somewhat. I was on the fence about reading the next book, but now I absolutely have to read it, because I want to see if the predictable start was just to lure us into complacency. Knowing Kristoff, it's possible.

It’s a post apocalyptic America where two tech companies rule. Eve must earn money for her cancer stricken grandfather by competing in Battle Bots style competitions and she’s pretty good. During one battle, Eve accidentally displays something detrimental to her life and finds herself, her best friend Lemon Fresh, a life like named Ezekiel, and her grandfather on the run. Can’t say too much because of spoilers. Life likes are robots that look like humans but you probably already inferred that.

I love Kristoff’s adult fiction series Nevernight and book 2 in that series was my favorite read of 2017 but I cannot get into his YA fiction. I tried Illuminae three times and couldn’t do it and I won’t be finishing this series.

I was really enjoying it until about 30% in. The world was gritty and depressing; the characters were interesting, especially Lemon Fresh; and the dialogue was strong and insightful. This new world was easy to follow and there were several unpredictable plot twists and then enter the Kracken. There’s a moment when they fall into a body of water, I’m assuming the Pacific Ocean, and enter a large Kraken-SERIOUSLY?! This damn kraken was several chapters and I didn’t understand the point. It probably came back into the story but I was skipping around so much, I’m not sure if it did.

Then there was this dripping wet love bullshit between Eve and Ezekiel that I couldn’t get over it. I knew Kristoff was a better writer than that and there’s a viable explanation for it but there was so much of it, it bothered me so much that I began to skip over Eve and Ezekiel’s scenes. I personally think Kristoff writes better sex scenes than romance but then again, I didn’t read Illuminae.

There are two stories happening simultaneously and the sub story, the pre robot uprising story, was by far the worst of the two. It’s told in first person which almost always leads to info-dumping. It started off very strong because it contained mystery but once it got into the meat and bones, it was like a different author was writing it. I thought the characters in the sub story were tropey and extremely eye-roll inducing.

Although I skipped through half of it, I feel like I read the important bits because I read the twists which were well done and it ended well. Even though it seemed like I didn’t like it, I’m giving it this rating because the world was great, the writing was in true snarky Kristoff fashion and the themes were strong.

For a while I was comparing it to Replica by Lauren Oliver, but quickly realized it was completely different. It was truly unlike anything I’ve ever read, or could ever imagine. I kept thinking what if this actually happened! That doesn’t happen to me within this genre, which makes me realize how into the story I really was. At first I was a bit confused by the way the story was being told (past & present), but quickly got used to how it would work.

I absolutely loved Eve, she was such a great character, one I would want to be my best friend. Herr fearlessness was enviable, she was willing to do whatever she had to in order to find out the truth. Cricket, Lemon, and Ezekiel were the perfect secondary characters. They all fit into the story perfectly and played their roles amazingly.

I thought the story flowed well, and was extremely fast paced. It was one of those books you just don’t want to put down because you are afraid of what will happen when you do. This book was action packed from the start. I can see myself rereading this one during the winter months all cozy under blankets next time.

Ya know that feeling when you read a book that makes ya just wanna die because of too many emotions that are just pummeling down on your heart? ……..Ya me neither

So Lifelike took me a good while to read for no reason other than I was juggling a lot of books and the stress sent me directly into reading slumpville. Whilst staying in Slumpville I did my absolute best to read this book. Lo and Behold: I DID!!! And I’m really glad because this book was amazing.

This next part is my *****SPOILER-FREE REVIEW*****

The entire world that is created is completely incredible. I love all the fun slang and weird technology. It was just a weird fun world to be in. It really did remind me of Blade Runner and Mad Max, which was awesome. There’s also a lot of great action to match. There are some real heart-pounding scenes that really get to you. Of course, I loved these characters and really loved that I finally had some fun weird and cool characters that could crack some awesome jokes to accompany all this crazy plot stuff that was going on. I’ve really wanted some funny characters for a while and I’m glad I could get some. I also grew very attached to each character, which hasn’t happened in a while so that’s definitely a bonus. In short, this book is a hilarious action packed adventure. I wouldn’t be surprised if it became a very popular beloved book by this community. And if anyone is selling some Lifelike merch, hit me up. In any case, if you don’t have any current plans to read this book, you should probably make some. Go!

*****SPOILERS*****

*****SPOILERS*****

*****SPOILERS*****

*****SPOILERS*****

*****SPOILERS*****

OMG!!!!! First of all, I believe little Miss Lemon Fresh has won my heart for best character. Or maybe Cricket, I love that funky little/big robot. Wow this had more twist than my poor heart could handle. I probably should have seen Lemon’s power coming, but what can I say I don’t spend too much time trying to figure out stuff. To be fair though, I did kinda see Eve/Ana’s being a lifelike coming. I thought she would be a lifelike or a a more advanced kind of android.

Speaking of which….WTF! What was the ending? I’m dying for the next one! I need to know! I was in actual tears at the end of this one. I feel so bad for Zeke, my poor baby. And ANA! I was in tears everything about her entire life was just crashing down on her with no stops and now is she evil? I’m confused as to why she would turn to Gabriel? He killed her family? And is going to hunt down Zeke and the others? Doesn’t she still love her friends, is she going to do some double agent business? I just want the best for her so I really need the next book.

In any case, I still loved this book.

I almost have no words for this review other than “OMG THIS IS SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!” But I am going to do my best to give you something more coherent than that! So, this might sound a little nuts, but even though I own every book Jay Kristoff has ever written (no, really, every. single. one.), LIFEL1K3 is the first of his books that I’ve actually read (I know, I know, I KNOW!). Obviously I WANT to read all of his books, otherwise I wouldn’t have bought them, but it’s true, I was a Jay Kristoff virgin reader! I am here to say that I am now 150% on the Kristoff bandwagon (can we call it that?), and I will be remedying this situation post-haste! Luckily, the man is so damn prolific that I will have PLENTY to read before the next in this series is released. Phew!

I don’t want to say much about this book, because it is really worth going in blind, but I’ll give a few general thoughts. I LOVE the girl-buddy-road-trip aspect of this novel. Of course, our lead, Eve, is one tough chick who has lived a damn hard life that is clearly NOT getting any easier anytime soon! Her tenacity and smarts and determination will have you rooting for her from the first pages. And her bestest, Lemon Fresh, is a phenomenal character – she is truly the girl-best-friend I wish I’d had growing up! I mean that with all sincerity. I had mostly guy friends, but I promise you, if I’d had a Lemon in my life, she would’ve been attached to me at the hip. I kept asking myself while reading: How does this man write such amazing teen girl characters?! I don’t know what his secret is, but I sincerely hope he never stops.

I also love the variety of augmented, cybernetic, machine, and AI characters that Jay has given us. Kaiser the dog, Cricket (my favorite) the logika, and of course the lifelikes themselves are absolutely fascinating characters in their own right. You could read this book on a surface, all about the fun level, but there are also some serious ethical questions that are presented int his novel that will have you pondering things you’ve (possibly) never considered before. Typically, perhaps especially in YA novels, I can appreciate the villain character(s) yet not really feel for them or like them, but here, Jay had me doing the “well, both sides really do have good points” dance that I typically shun IRL (for better or worse!). I truly felt for the “bad guys” at times, and I think most people probably will. It’s one of those few times where I find myself saying, you can despise their methods yet still sympathize with their reasons. I’m sure I’m not the only one (I *hope* I’m not the only one!). You could seriously use this book in a college-level course discussing the implications of human use and creation of technology, especially artificial intelligence, with a focus on the ethics of “playing gods”. If you’re looking for an adrenaline rush that’s also quite deep, this is the book for you!

Overall, this book is just phenomenal, and now I am DYING to see what’s coming next. I loved this reading experience, and I just want to go back and re-read it immediately to see what I missed the first time around. I have been so enamored of it, and discussing questions that have come to mind during reading, that both my husband and my son want to read it. They’re fighting over who has dibs on the finished copy that arrived yesterday! Long story short, if you want your next adrenaline fix, this is your book. If you’re looking for stellar, believable worldbuilding, this is your book. If you want a romance that isn’t super sappy but will still bring tears to your eyes, this is your book. If you want amazing writing, this is you book. If you love post-apocalyptic epic action, this is your book. Do you see where I’m going?! THIS IS YOUR BOOK! Do not walk, but RUN to your bookstore to grab this, if you haven’t already done so. I was always a fan of Jay Kristoff the person, as well as a fan of owning all of his books, but I can now officially (finally) say I am also a fan of his writing! Love, love, LOVE LIFEL1K3. I am so ready for more.

Rating: 5 gritty, adrenaline-fueled supernovas!

**Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book for purposes of this blog tour (but also pre-ordered a finished copy). This is my honest rating and review.

Jay Kristoff has done it again.

While I did struggle through some of the futuristic lingo and dialogue, that is literally the only think I can complain about.

I absolutely love the character arc of Eve. The end had me dying and angry and OH MY GOD WHAT
I also adored the female friendship in this novel! Eve and Lemon were so great and this is also partially all the EMOTION UGH

I need the next book immediately.

I was very put off by the overuse of slang at first that I nearly just stopped reading. However, I'm glad I didn't because I did quite enjoy the book. The story was fast paced and interesting. I did not enjoy the romance part (it seemed a bit forced) but overall I enjoyed the world building and am looking forward to more from the series.

With Lifel1k3, Jay Kristoff cements his place on my hallowed list of must-buys/reads. This list contains less than five authors because I am that picky, but he definitely makes the list.

He makes the list for a variety of reasons. One of which is his ability to write in various genres. He crosses between science fiction and fantasy with no problems, and every one of his novels is unique. Then there are his characters. I LOVE his characters. His female characters kick some major ass. They make Katniss look rather weak in both their determination and willingness to do whatever it takes to get the job done. Case in point, even though Lifel1k3 has a teenage heroine, there is a serious lack of angst. What mental torture Eve puts herself through is completely understandable given what secrets she uncovers. There is none of the hand-wringing or morality debates that tend to fill out many a young adult novel these days.

The other reason Mr. Kristoff has made it to my must-buy/read list is because his novels are so damn interesting. His stories are dark and twisted and full of surprises. I mean, a world that still glows with radiation is not for the faint of heart. It is especially impressive when you consider how few post-apocalyptic novels exist wherein the radiation has not yet decayed or where they actually live near the irradiated zone. Mr. Kristoff is not afraid to go where no one has gone before, and his novels are better for it.

Moreover, his world-building is among the best. He deftly weaves his world-building into dialogue and action rather than spending paragraph after paragraph describing it. In that regard, Mr. Kristoff operates under the "show them" mentality rather than the "tell them" one, and his stories are stronger for that. The tension builds faster, as does your empathy with his characters. In fact, you become immersed into his stories better than you would with pages of exposition.

The last thing I love about Mr. Kristoff's novels, something Lifel1k3 confirms for me, is how genuine his characters sound. He might be writing about a young woman, but everything about Eve - from the way she dresses to the way she talks to her worries and emotions - feels real. Teenage girls are complicated creatures, with more emotional turmoil than is good for a human, so to capture their voices properly is quite the feat. It is almost like he was a teenage girl because he gets it.

I could continue to gush about Jay Kristoff and Lifel1k3 but I think it is obvious that there is nothing I did not like about his latest novel. I tore through it in a few hours and finished the novel shocked to my core with the direction he is taking the series. It is going to be a very long wait for the next novel, which means I have plenty of time to read his other novels and luxuriate in his stellar writing.

This book sucked me in with the writing and a world so detailed I felt like was in it instead of just reading about it. This is actually my first book by Kristoff and I can say I am surely a fan now and I have moved Illuminae to the top of my TBR! Kristoff’s writing was lyrical and beautiful despite the brutal words. The cast of characters Kristoff created are ones you can’t help but connect with and I loved them all. This book is full of so many twists it will keep you jumping all the way through the book. The book is fast paced and will keep you reading long into the night. I highly recommend this book! Although it ends on a cliffhanger and you will want book two immediately so waiting might also be a good option!

***4.5 STARS***

Content Warning: Violence, suicidal thoughts, war themes, terminal illness, loss of a loved one

*HUGE thanks to Random House & Jay Kristoff for the early review copy in exchange for my honest opinion


PLOT

A high octane YA dystopian described best by the author as "Romeo And Juliet meets Mad Max meets Xmen meets Blade Runner.” LIFEL1K3 is set in a post apocalyptic/post nuclear war North America...specifically a fictional island called "Dregs" in "Kalifornya"where Cancer is the biggest threat to life. The story opens up in a brutal heart wrenching scene that sets the stage for what's to come. Our MC Eve is a teen who is just living to survive the day to day struggle of surviving the nuclear war. Eve makes her living in the War Dome fighting rogue robots that have broken the First Law...

"1. A ROBOT MAY NOT INJURE A HUMAN BEING OR, THROUGH INACTION, ALLOW A HUMAN BEING TO COME TO HARM

2. A ROBOT MUST OBEY THE ORDERS GIVEN TO IT BY HUMAN BEINGS EXCEPT WHERE SUCH ORDERS WOULD CONFLICT WITH THE FIRST LAW

3. A ROBOT MUST PROTECT ITS OWN EXISTENCE AS LONG AS SUCH PROTECTION DOES NOT CONFLICT WITH THE FIRST OR SECOND LAWS"


Either by malfunction or willfull rebellion, these robots have turned against humans. Eve is a tinkerer like her grandfather and has built herself a Machina to battle these rogue robots for money in order to buy him his Cancer medication. All is seemingly well until the day everything goes wrong in the dome leaving her exposed and marking her as a target. From this day forward, Eve and her companions will be on the run for their lives. Pulse pounding action that will leave you at the edge of your seat bracing for the next attack, LIFEL1K3 was one wild ride! With plenty of plot twists along the way, I honestly had a couple of "Ohhhhh Wow" moments haha! I wasn't expecting a YA sci-fi to have as much depth and layering as LIFEL1K3 did but it went above and beyond. Paired with such unique world building are characters you can't help but get attached to and root for. Perhaps what makes LIFEL1K3 stand out most is that by the very end it's not at all what you thought it would be ;)

CHARACTERS

Eve- a kick a** fighter, loyal to those she loves, a character who is definitely dealing with PTSD. I really felt for Eve and admired her resilience through it all

Lemon Fresh - Quick witted, amazing ride or die friend to Eve, willing to go to the ends of the earth for those she cares about. Lemon has so much gratitude in her heart & this made her my fave character in this book

Cricket - a robot created by Eve's grandfather to protect her with his robotic life. I wasn't too fond of this little guy (he hated being called little haha) because of the hurtful names he used to refer to Ezekiel specifically regarding his missing limb

Kaiser (Cyborg dog) - a robotic dog also created by Eve's grandfather who you easily come to see as a real dog. Kaiser is very much a part of this crew

Ezekiel (LIFEL1K3) - The LIFEL1K3 aka Human-like, Zeke has this undying love for Eve & I'm not quite sure how I feel about him tbh. Zeke isn't human but he sure has developed as one, has independent thoughts, and acts of his own accord. Personality wise I can't say much though cause he came across dull to me & I'm not sure if that was purposefully done or not

 All in all I LOVED these characters as a whole and Lemon is a new fave I can't wait to read more from. Through the grapevine I've heard we may also get Lemon's POV in the next installment *fingers crossed*

WRITING & FINAL THOUGHTS

LIFEL1K3 is the first book I read outside of the Illuminae world from Kristoff and I walked away pretty much sealing the deal...I have found a new TOP favorite author. I rated this book 4.5 stars simply for one reason & that's the fact that I struggled just a smidge with the slang created for this world. Everything feels so authentic in this world that it renewed my interest in the post apocalyptic reads but the language is quick & raw. Kristoff does an excellent job at teaching you the slang along the way but it wasn't without some effort on my behalf. Besides this small thing, I absolutely enjoyed this fun action packed read & already miss the hell out of these characters. I love the reads where you don't walk away unscathed & there's plenty of room for theorizing for the next book. LIFEL1K3 has definitely left me with plenty to sit on until the next chapter which can either be viewed as cruel or ingenious & I'm going with the latter of the two ;)

*Review goes live on lair of books on 6/25/18 at 12pm EST. Links for blog post & Goodreads review will be added once review goes live*

I received an advance reader copy of this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this, even the semi-cliffhanger end setting us up for a whole new story in book 2. the characters were great and fun, the plotting and world were well established and thought out, there was some great action, the romance was only slightly not great (I had a lot of longevity questions as I always do when one of the romantic partners is a robot). I seriously need to read more of Jay's books as I've managed Illuminae files and this now. Nevernight is a thing I need to get to - especially since I own it. Big fan of this larger than life Australian!

Jay Kristoff did it again with an excellent book in the new Lifelike series. Set in a dystopian, this book follows Eve who life's "on a floating junkyard beneath a radiation sky." She has an apt for robotics, and when she discovers a huge secret power she wields after destroying one of her creations, she's pretty frustrated. Struggling to get by with taking care of her Grandpa, She finds something quite shocking that was supposed to be outlawed years before. So she sets out with her best friend Lemon to get to figure out just what is going on in their world. Overall, I loved this book and enjoyed that it was a totally different take on dystopian fiction. Thank you Neg Galley and the publisher for giving me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 Stars

Unpopular opinion here, but I just couldn’t get into this one. I can’t pinpoint why exactly I found it boring, there was plenty of action, romance, and science-fiction goodness, but every time I’m put it down I struggled to pick it back up.

I’ve loved Kristoff’s co-authored series, The Illuminae Files, so I’m disappointed I didn’t enjoy this one more. He definitely has a distinct and unique writing style and I think if you’ve read any of his other books you’ll love this one.

Gripping, tantalizing, Lifel1k3 was full of funny dialogues, camaraderie, betrayal, lies and action. It was somewhat terminator like!

At first, I had a bit difficulty with the language but then I tried and ignore and get used to it.

Cricket was such a funny cast member. Ha! I dunno what the next book will entail. But the tables have turned. And it is going to be super hard to see these characters again.

I wasn't swayed with the romance even though I dig human robot romance. And I quite liked the ending in that regard but it was sorta disappointing how quickly one of the parties backed out but it kinda makes sense. Circumstantially. And because this is partially Romeo and Juliet as described by Jay.

Sad at times, life as we know it is over in this book. The world Jay Kristoff has created, whoa. Kudos!

Special thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for this review copy.

LIFEL1K3 is set in a futuristic world at a time when robots are norman and scientists have achieved the perfect android, a Lifelike. The story follows Eve as she attempts to find out who she really is in between being pursued by a band of killer Lifelikes and a bounty hunter. There is constant action, a lot of blood and engine oil and some very sad moments. There is also romance but it fits in nicely and never takes over the book.

By all means, I should have loved this. It has everything I could want in a book, and then some. The action was none stop, from the opening lines to the last sentence of the novel, it was a complete roller coaster.

The charcters were fun and compelling and there is a brilliant example of female friendship in this one between Lemon and Eve (and yes, her name is Lemon and I love her). Also with Cricket who was such an entertaining addition to the gang. And let's not forget about Zeke, who only got better as the book progressed because let's be real, for the first few chapters he had the personality of a toaster. 

The writing was super fun and fluid. The plot was engaging and fun and interesting. There were many many twists, some of which took me entirely by surprise and left me speechless, some of which didn't surprise me at all, but that's to be expected.

Sadly, my life has been quite hectic lately, and to make matters worse, I'm currently in a serious slump so I wasn't able to enjoy this as I would have liked. I can't blame the book for that

Another thing for which I can't really blame the book is that I could kind of predict when and how things were going to happen. This though is mostly an effect of reading so many books and knowing how stories tend to work, especially when you've read several of that author's books.

Although the slump and the busy life and all the inconveniences that have been plaguing me lately all influenced my low rating, there were some problems I would have had with the book regardless. 

The main issue being the romance aspect. I felt a little...flat? A little weird, maybe?

Also,  the pitch is “Romeo & Juliet meets Mad Max meets X-Men, with a little bit of Blade Runner cheering from the sidelines”.  I guess it does have elements of all these things, and in fact does have a scene that looked taken right out of Mad Max, but I feel like a more accurate description would be Pinocchio meets I, Robot meets Anastasia, with a little bit of Paradise Lost the side, but I guess that didn't sound cool enough.

LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff

First in the Lifelike series

4.25 stars

“This is not the end of me. This is just one more enemy.”

Eve spends her time destroying murderbots in the Dome in hopes to get enough money to buy medicine for her sickly grandpa. Eve isn’t completely human. Her grandpa enhanced her brain after a horrible crash that killed her family. Along with her ragtag team—Lemon, Cricket, and Kaiser—they find themselves in a predicament when a bot in the Dome destroyed when Eve lets out a deadly scream before the Goliath destroys her. Suddenly, they are on the run from the Brotherhood (a group hellbent on destroying abnormal humans by crucifixion), a hired hit man, and a group of lifelikes (genetically modified robots with extreme human emotions who have broken the three laws that robots live by. This is a very different sci-fi novel and I must say that I really enjoyed it. I’m not a sci-fi reader. It’s not really my favorite genre and I’ve read some duds in the genre that have put a dissatisfying taste in my mouth, but I really enjoyed Illuminae, which is co-authored by Kristoff. I’ve been meaning to read his single work for a while now but have just never got around to it. I do really enjoy his work and I can tell which parts of Illuminae were written by him now because he tends to focus on more universal themes of today and plugs them in a slightly satirical setting to a slightly possible, but still impossible world. I’m not going to say that this novel is perfect because it’s not. There were a lot of times where I was reading and I was wondering what the purpose of this was in the grand scheme of things (I’m looking at you, Kraken chapters), but Kristoff is really great at diction choice and weaving together things from the first sentence to the middle of the novel to a showstopper ending that left my mouth hanging open and wanting more than what was offered. I feel like I have to be so secretive about this novel because it’s primary focus is on uncovering the secrets of Eve’s life and just when you think you know who she is—BAM! — there is another secret. I really like that about Kristoff’s writing. He keeps the reader on their toes and it’s a brilliant way to paint this story.


Whimsical Writing Scale:4

The main female character is Eve. This is a multifaceted character and it is kind of overwhelming. By the end of the novel, I’m more confused about who this character is and the actions she chooses to make. Y’all, this book is wild! Eve is wild and I really liked her struggle and constant inward battle. She was brash, feisty, and headstrong. Sometimes she would rush into things and it wasn’t always the best idea, but it was realistic to her thought process. I was rooting for her. I liked Eve, but now I’m not so sure. I’m always looking for a good antihero to root for though.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 4.25

The main male character is Ezekiel. We run into Ezekiel early on in the story after the Dome bot incident that causes Eve and her friends to be on the run. Ezekiel is a lifelike. A robot that is created to look exactly like humans and is based off the personalities of by the Gnosis founder’s children as well as employees. Ezekiel is the keeper of secret after secret. I like Ezekiel, but I don’t feel like I really know who he is. I’m showed who he is through flashbacks, but I don’t know who Ezekiel is as something outside of being lifelike. I don’t think he knows who he is either and so I’m hoping that as the series progresses we can begin to see his personality and convictions take shape outside of being connected to one woman.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 3.5

“No matter how perfect they make us, they can’t make us human. It’s your flaws that make you beautiful, (name redacted due to spoilers). It’s the imperfections that make you perfect.”

The Villain- I really want to talk about this section, because I really enjoyed the multiple villains after Eve and her crew. There was the preacher who was unsettling but upped the ante with having a tangible pursuer. However, the lifelikes in the tower of Babel (Gnosis headquarters) were my favorite thing about this novel. I want to say so much more, but if I say a little I could give the whole plot away and this is just a fun novel to watch unfold gradually and be sucked in, so I want the reader to have the full experience. (So, I won’t be talking about spoilers in this review, but if you would like to message me or comment to discuss, I would love to continue this conversation.)


Villain Scale: 5

“Your past doesn’t make calls on your future. It doesn’t matter who you were. Only who you are.”

Okay, one of the best things about this novel is the ragtag group of friends alongside Eve. There’s Lemon who has a lot of secrets and is fiercely protective of Eve. I loved their friendship so much and it was one of my favorite things about the group dynamic, but also the story. Lemon also has a great storyline and stands on her own as a character. I suspect that the next novel will heavily focus on her because she is the true hero of this story. Cricket is the most adorable little bot. He curses and has the best lines. He’s fiercely loyal to protecting humans because of the laws that robots must follow, but it’s obvious that he may feel some love towards these two girls outside of programming. He also had the scenes that made me laugh the most. Then there is Kaiser who is Eve’s blitzhound. He’s a robotic dog with the brain of a real dog and he was so cute. He went through some stuff and if you are not of violence towards animals there is a scene in here that is really graphic (even if it is a robot, it’s still graphic).


Character Scale: 5

This novel has a lot going on. It feels very much like a movie and I think this would make an excellent film. I’m really excited to see where the story goes because it was obvious that this novel was an explanation as to how a character became a villain and another became a hero despite being best friends. I can’t wait to continue with the series because I was completely surprised by how the events unfolded. I definitely recommend this to fans of Kristoff and readers who are looking for something a little bit more on the serious side of sci-fi.


Plotastic Scale: 4.5

Cover Thoughts: I don’t like this cover at all. It is so simple and just looks so mediocre.

Thank you, Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers, for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

*Quotes are taken from an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) and are subject to change upon final publication.

As a fan of Kristoff's work in the Illuminae Files, I was excited to come across this e-ARC on NetGalley. I follow Kristoff on social media and felt like having an opportunity to read this book early and share it with my followers would be amazing! I was absolutely not ready for this action-packed whirlwind of a book! I found the characters (Eve and Ezekiel especially) to be developed in a very original way. They had real emotions that weren't always predictable, and as the plot twisted, I felt like I was wrung along in such a way that I couldn't look ahead to predict what would come next. I never knew how much I needed a book about sentient robots and androids, and now that I've read Lifel1k3, I need more!

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A completely crazy-wonderful ride packed with action, robots, and heartwarming moments.

Seriously…is there anything Jay Kristoff can’t write? LIFELIK3 is the first book in a new series by the author and all I have to say is holy crap! The author never ceases to amaze at his ability to weave together a story with heart, a bit of humor, action, and a massive twist at the end.

There are two things about this book that made it so addictive for me. The first is the characters and how they develop thought the narrative. Not one of the people we meet is the same in the beginning as they are in the end. Their experiences and journey shape how the reader sees them. It is brilliant how the author melds their growth with the progression of the book. The second thing is just how everything unfolds. The storytelling is both unique and refreshing. Without giving anything away, the author teases the reader with glimpses of the truth. I know there were many points in the book where I didn’t realize what he was giving me until I read the last page. It was as if it all clicked.

I know whatever I write will not do the book justice. It is truly awesome in every sense of the word. If you are a fan of science fiction novels with a lot of tech in them or loved the Lunar Chronicles, this should be your next read.

Absolutely loved the story and definitely want more. Wish the next book would be available right away because that ending was so incredibly good that I honestly cannot believe it. Also there is a twist, a super good one and you think that is a big deal but then, BANG, another twist, an even bigger one that not only did I not see coming at all but it was just so awesome.
I do have to say that something made me sad in the story, which I will not spoil but the story is not just good and super entertaining, it also makes you feel all kinds of emotions.
Loved the characters, all of them. Definitely was happy about what happened to the villain.
Need more and will definitely recommend to all my friends.