LIFEL1K3 is a young adult book, ages 12 and up (but I think a lot of adults would like this book). It is also the first book in the Lifelike series. This book has some of the usual sci fi tropes: Robots with a modern twist (robots that are indistinguishable from humans), Super Powers (mutant super powers that come out of no where) and a post-apocalyptic world (war between corporations, radiation, garage heaps, desert wastelands). The book starts off running and there is no hand holding. It is fast-paced. There is a lot, and I mean a lot of action. Sassy characters, sassy robots, doomed romance, betrayals, and an ending I didn’t see coming. Usually I don’t like when a book has comparisons to other books but Jay Kristoff in own review of LIFEL1K3 says “My elevator pitch was “Romeo and Juliet meets Bladerunner, while Fury Road plays a guitar solo in the background.”” For once, a comparison that is pretty accurate. So if you like fun characters and a lot of action and a post-apocalyptic world, then read this book.

I have to be honest, I went into this book not really excited because I've read a couple sci-fi books every now and then, but it's not my FAVORITE genre. It is also very steampunk, which I've never really delved into. DESPITE ALL OF THIS, I knew I had to give it a try because Nevernight is one of my absolute favorite books and I couldn't be more grateful I picked this up because it was one crazy adventure!

Each great book has a reason why it's so loved, and for this novel, for me, it was the characters. Here's why:

Evie: What a spunky, brave, and loyal girl. She was really what got me to get rid of this hesitancy of entering this steampunk world.
Lemon Fresh: First of all, I mean, what a name! Lemon is hilarious, loyal, and fierce. She's definitely a stereotypical best friend in the sense that she's always there for you! However, she's uniquely amazing in every other way!
Ezekiel: I MEAN, what a guy (if I can even say that). Can't say too much, but he was sort of made to be perfect?!

I actually have to admit about 3/4th of the way through I felt a little disappointed: I loved the characters, but everything felt so stereotypical, but no worries the last quarter really picked everything up and I was completely surprised by all the twists!

Overall, I have to say that this book really surprised me, in a good way. Even if you're not sure you'll like it, try it out, you might just change your mind!

This book was so god damn fantastic. Imagine if Mad Max and Westworld collided!!! You’d have Lifel1ke. It was jam packed with action, twists, turns, and so much violence. It scratched all the major itches for me that I love in a Sci-fi —- and I’m excited to see where the series goes from here. Also, Mr. Kristoff - i'm going to need the plans for a Blizthund immediately.

five stars all the way up. absolutely LOVED this book to bits.

Thank you to Netgalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.


Eve has been a robot gladiator for a few years. Helping her Grandpa survive until one day she figures out she can destroy machines with the power of her mind. Now she is on the run with her band of misfits. Lemon, Ezekiel and Cricket.


However, she is having memories of another time and another girl with a different name, and she can't figure out what that means. As they try to stay one step ahead of the Preacher and figure out her past can she face the truth?


I know this is a bit brief on the summary. However, this is full of twist including a massive one at the end that I am still reeling from to be honest. So I am vague because those even the minor ones will take away from the story.


To be honest I wasn't sure I was going to like this, I was a few chapters in and considered setting it aside, but everyone was raving about it so I kept going. It is interesting premise. Lifel1k3 robots were built and then revolted and the world has been torn apart by war.


I am honestly not sure how I feel about Eve and you have to read the book in order to understand why I am saying that. I feel a bit heartbroken by the ending. I am actually not sure if I liked it at all. I did really enjoy the story once I got sucked into it. Another great story by Jay! I am sort of afraid to see where he will take it from here.

LIFEL1K3 is one of those truly original books that I just know will make an epic movie someday #FirstInLine LIFEL1K3 is a dystopian futuristic novel taking place in a new era of pollution, civil unrest, technological advances, and conflict. We are given a world of cyborgs, machinas, automatas, and logikas. Each of these artificial intelligent bots have a different range of power, intellect, and sovereignty in this new world—living among the human race. The main character, Eve, battles robots in challenges, but is supported by her friends Lemon and robot Cricket. The trio are attached at the hip—doing everything together and protecting each other in a world that is more unsafe than ever before. After a victorious battle, Eve and team stumble across the ruins of an android boy. Quick on her feet, Eve decides to rescue this android in hopes of salvaging his life. When she brings this android back home to her grandpa's house, all hell breaks loose. Eve has just opened the pandora's box of secrets, and they aren't ready for what's to come.

LIFEL1K3 is so rich in it's atmospheric content that it's nearly impossible for anyone not to feel immersed into the story. This world is truly remarkable to read about! As everybody who follows me knows, I am viciously strict on my reviews for science-fiction/fantasy novels— LIFEL1K3 is a strong story, with a childlike banter. I understand that this novel was written for young readers in mind, but after getting immersed in the setting and time period, I wanted more. I wish the story was darker, with a sharper, deeper dialogue. The story felt a little campy to me, and I had definitely rolled my eyes several times throughout the story. However, this does not take away from the fact that Jay Kristoff has created a world in which people will love to read about, watch about (I'm telling you, this movie deal is coming folks!), and learn more about. I'm definitely going to continue on with this dystopian futuristic world, and I hope you will come along for the ride with me.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for the e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

There were a few too many plots going on in this for me to keep up, or so I thought at first. I liked the protagonist, but she had a world of woes to start out, and then it got worse. But I did read it in one sitting, and was sad when it ended, so I have to say it was overall pretty great.

Normally I love anything by Jay Kristoff, as you can see from my past reviews where I’ve rated all his stuff highly, but there was just something about LIFEL1K3 that fell short for me. Perhaps it was the genre or the particular subject matter of artificial intelligence, but trying to stay focused on the story was a struggle every step of the way. I also couldn’t feel connected at all to the people in this book, which is a shame because Kristoff’s characters are usually one of his greatest strengths.

LIFEL1K3 tells the story of Eve, who lives in a post-apocalyptic future where the radiation is so high that even spending a little too much time in the sun can kill you. Two years ago, her parents were murdered, and she still bears the scars of that attack in the form of cybernetic implants to see and remember. Now she lives with her grandfather, who is dying. With her talent for tinkering and building machines, Eve has been earning whatever money she can to support them by piloting robots in the popular gladiatorial arenas.

But then one day, a fight goes horribly wrong, and, in her desperation, Eve suddenly manifests a power that allows her to destroy another robot with nothing but her mind. Seen as an abomination, Eve immediately finds herself the target of bounty hunters, gangs, and mercenaries alike, who would all like to see her eliminated. Together with her best friend Lemon Fresh, their robot guardian Cricket, and a robo-dog named Kaiser, Eve has no choice but to leave her life behind and go on the run, rescuing a lifelike android boy named Ezekiel along the way.

First let me just say, while this was not by any means a bad book, there were just so many things about it that personally rubbed me the wrong way. Mainly, all the characters got on my nerves. LIFEL1K3 is technically considered a Young Adult novel, and indeed, some of the darker and heavier themes in the story seem to support this categorization. However, both Eve and Lemon both come across as much younger than their supposed ages due to some of their immature behaviors, questionable actions, and overuse of annoying slang. Not even the robot characters were innocent of this childishness. Cricket was most irritating of all with his constant disparaging of Ezekiel, calling him all sorts of names. After a while, I found myself gritting my teeth through so much of this elementary schoolyard bullshit that my jaws actually started to ache.

The author is also known to play on popular tropes in his books, but he usually puts an interesting or unique spin on them. Just take a look at his Nevernight Chronicle series to see what I mean, with the first volume based around a “Magic School” for assassins while the second one is all about the “Gladiatorial Games” action. Both books were nonetheless fantastically fun, though unfortunately I cannot bring myself to say the same for LIFEL1K3. This time, Kristoff seemed inspired to write his own “Bladerunner” type book, but then failed to really bring anything new or different to the table. His attempt at shocking revelations and twists also kind of fizzled, with many of the plot developments coming across as forced or uninspired. Worst of all, the “big reveal” was something I saw coming a mile away. This to me was the biggest disappointment, because it just seemed so uncharacteristic for Kristoff, who up until now has always managed to surprise me.

I could go on, but I think you get the idea. I didn’t like this book and had to force myself to finish, but I’m sure I’ll be in the minority with my opinions and that’s okay. LIFEL1K3 will no doubt find its audience, but it simply didn’t offer enough enjoyment for me personally. It was a shock for me too, that the author who brought me such favorites like The Lotus War trilogy, the Nevernight books, and The Illuminae Files (co-written with Amie Kaufman) could have written something that fell so spectacularly flat for me, but I guess it happens sometimes. For now, I’ll just set my sights on Darkdawn, the conclusion to the Nevernight Chronicle trilogy, which is much closer to the caliber of work I’ve come to expect from Kristoff. I’ll still enthusiastically keep an eye on his future projects after that, but I probably won’t be continuing with the LIFEL1K3 series.

OMG what a wild ride this book was. J. Kristoff is fatly becoming on of my favorite author for never know what to expect and shock value.
This book was a non-stop read of action, twist and turns and surprises and some romance in some semi unexpected way that works awesomely good.
I loved the rich and colorful worldbuilding and characters we get.
Though I must say I was a bit confused in the beginning of the book with the new world and the new slang that came with it, but I got into it pretty fast and loved it.
The ending OMG …….. Yes we get a hell of a cliffhanger, that leaves us crying for more.
I’m not sure how much more to say without spoiling it, so I will leave it at this,
If you’re a fan of SiFi and J. Kristoff this book is a must read . You will not be disappointed.
I rate it a full 5★

It’s no secret that Jay Kristoff is one of my most favorite authors of all time, and just like everything else he writes, this book blew me away with its world building, creative and loveable characters, and its intricate, gut wrenching plot twists.

Eve is a great main character, fiery and stubborn and willing to do pretty much anything for the ones she loves. Together with a ragtag crew of misfits, she travels across a war torn wasteland, on the run from a formidable foe while in search of her kidnapped grandfather. Along the way she uncovers truths from her past and pieces together memories that had once been fragments of the day her family was murdered.

The world building in this novel is absolutely incredible. I was easily able to form images in my head of the characters and their surroundings and the different forms of mechanical beings. I also caught on to the language really quickly. That’s probably one of my favorite things about all of Jay’s novels. There’s a unique language and terminology that accompanies each of his fantasy worlds that is so fitting to that story and those surroundings, that it’s hard not to get sucked completely in.

The ending was absolutely one of the biggest gut punches to the feels I’ve ever experienced, and my heart is now in tattered ribbons on the floor. Jay is such a brilliant writer, balancing fast paced action adventure, a romance worthy of swooning everywhere, and characters that make you root for them, no matter how morally corrupt they turn out to be.

Lifel1k3 is an easy addition to my favorite reads of 2018 list, and I cannot wait to see where this story goes next. Knowing Jay, it can only get more painful, but in the best possible way.

*Thank you to Knopf Books for Young Readers and Netgalley for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review*

Jay Kristoff has the amazing ability to always create incredibly relatable and human characters. I think this is probably the main reason I am always left impressed and in awe after finishing one of his books. Everyone is interesting, has realistic flaws, and perhaps most enjoyable, lingers on that fine line between good and evil. It is easy to understand pretty much everyone's motivations for what they are doing (or have done). His characters are so real, it is difficult to not fall for them, to not cheer them on. There is one thing I have learned though, no one is EVER safe and things are never what they seem in a Jay Kristoff book. Knowing this did not prevent me from (stupidly) falling for the majority of the characters in Lifel1k3 though. Several moments in this book left me screaming internally "NOOOOO DON'T YOU DARE!!!" and "OMG HOLY CRAP...WTF!?!" which to me is a definite sign of an amazing story. While it ultimately is not my favorite book Kristoff has released, I still thoroughly enjoyed it and still think it deserves a five-star rating. It did give me a new character to add to my favorites list in Lemon Fresh though and I absolutely adored Cricket and Kaiser.

*A big thank you goes to Netgalley & Knopf Books for Young Readers for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book.

I’m pretty much down for anything Jay writes, so even though this wasn’t necessary something I would have read by another author, I was all in.

I liked Eve and her merry band of friends. Eve is stubborn and scrappy and I’m 1000000% here for an entire book of her BFF Lemon Fresh. And somehow I was empathizing with some robots...so there’s that.

Plot wise, there were definitely some parts that lagged. I struggled with the slang that was used and it took me a long time to settle into that aspect. But the parts that were good, JFC, they were amazing and captivating. I loved the double crossing and the reveals and the ending that left me gutted.

Overall, it was quite an interesting idea and certainly something that only Jay could have come up with. I’m ready for book 2 now.

**Huge thanks to AA Knopf BFYR for providing the arc free of charge**

LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff is the first book in the wickedly cool science fiction fantasy series, Lifelike. This post-apocalyptic young adult tale is filled with danger, robotic gladiators, kick-ass characters, a touch of romance and a mystery that must be solved. I read along with an ARC as I listened to the narrations of Erin Spencer. Buckle up cadets because Kristoff delivers a fantastic tale before throwing us off a cliff. I need book two STAT!

“YOUR MIND IS NOT YOUR OWN.
YOUR BODY IS NOT YOUR OWN.
YOUR LIFE IS NOT YOUR OWN.”

Y’all, I am shook. LIFEL1K3 was everything I needed in a YA Sci Fi book: nonstop action, excellent world building, romance, twist after twist after twist, likeable characters, and overall pure enjoyment. Never once was I bored. I cannot recommend this book enough!

LIFEL1K3 takes place in a post-apocalyptic United States. We follow Eve, a girl who pilots robot gladiators (think: battle bots on steroids.) After a robot battle goes wrong, Eve, her friend Lemon Fresh, and her tiny robot Cricket stumble upon a humanoid-looking robot named Ezekiel. Known as lifelikes, these robots look, talk, and feel (both physically and emotionally) just like a real human. But they’re strong and fast. And what Eve doesn’t know is that these robots hold a dark secret. Oh, and the trio decides to take this lifelike back home with them.

Eve, Lemon Fresh, and Cricket live with Eve’s grandpa, Silas. Silas is a mechanical genius, so he immediately freaks out when he sees the lifelike. In fact, things take a major, action-packed turn; the lifelike represents something much greater to humanity, Eve discovers she might have a special power, and now some very horrible people are coming after her.

Seriously, the action is non-stop.

Now, please allow me to share my favorite quote with you:

“God’s potatoes!” Grandpa roared, banging again. “I’ll not stand for it! This is my roof, young lady! Open this door right now before I get the rocket launcher!”

I mean, how amazing is Grandpa Silas? I loved him so much after this. He definitely gave me some Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty) vibes, which I am all about.

So, as per usual with most of my blog posts, I will now discuss the things I liked and disliked!

The Good:

• The cast. Did I mentioned that I found all the characters likeable? Not once did I want to punch a main character, which says a lot. Lemon Fresh had the best one-liners and she is quite possibly by favorite character in all of YA. Ezekiel is kind and sweet, Cricket is loyal and fierce, and Eve is such a strong and determined main character. I even loved Preacher, the mysterious man constantly hot on their tails.
• The world building. From the get-go we are thrown into the WarDome, the arena where the gladiator bots fight to the death. Not only did the post-apocalyptic USA feel so real and believable, I was also totally immersed in the scientific world of creating these robots. In addition, I got some major Disney movie vibes (one you’ll quickly pick up), which is always a bonus. I love all the breadcrumbs Kristoff leaves for us in this book.
• The pacing gets an A+! If you’re into fast-paced, action-packed stories, then this book is definitely for you! No slow burns here, folks.
• Aside from the scientific plot lines, the other major themes are slavery and oppression among the different types of robots vs. humans. There are also several biblical references you can’t miss.

“Better to rule in hell than serve in heaven.”

The Bad:

• There were some phrases that made me uncomfortable. Ezekiel is often referred to as “Stumpy” and “Braintrauma” after he gets hurt. It became redundant and just felt awkward while reading. Also there is a brief scene where Lemon gets curious and wants to take a peek under a lifelike’s pants to see if, you know, a robot looks like a human. While I totally get the thought process behind it (I mean, I’m sure we’ve all wanted to see what a Ken doll looks like, but in this scenario a lifelike is basically a real person), I did not find it okay, and it was awkward to read.

“When the ash rose up to choke me, it was thoughts of you that helped me breathe. When the night seemed never ending, it was dreams of you that helped me sleep.”

LIFEL1KE was such a pleasure to read, and I cannot stop gushing about it. Not only was it a fun ride, but there were so many things to cherish such as strong friendships, loyalty, and compassion. I can’t wait for you all to pick up this book. LIFEL1KE drops on May 29, 2018 in the US. Thank you so much to Random House Children’s Books/Knopf for sending me a digital copy for review!

All quotes were taken from an ARC provided by the publisher and is subject to change upon publication.

It was such an amazing story and much more different than I expected. I really enjoyed the journey the characters went through, and their development. Something I noticed right at the end of the book was that it was slightly inspired in Anastasia (mostly because of the names of Ana's family), and that was very surprising!

Though the romance was a bit too insta love-y and rushed for my ideal liking, I still enjoyed the interactions between Eve and Ezekiel. They were both very strong characters, with a well done development.

I also very much enjoyed getting to know that world, because in the first few chapters it made me quite interested in it. I couldn't help but compare it to the "I, Robot" movie. There were some elements of this novel that were pretty similar to the movie, and that made it very action packed and easy to read.

One of the main issues I had was with the use of the slang language throughout the story. at first it was a bit confusing to me and I didn't get it, and though it added something unique and different to the story, I came to the conclusion that I wasn't the biggest fan of it or the humor.

It was a very fast paced story, and I was pleasantly surprised to see that I had no problem focusing on the plot or getting into the story at the beginning. It had a lot of action scenes, and they were pretty well done and kept me at the edge of my sear while reading them. The plot twists weren't as surprising as I thought they would be, and though one of the revelations was done very well and actually shocked me because I wasn't expecting it, most of them were quite predictable to me.

Nonetheless, I'm still very excited about the sequel, because even though Lifel1k3 ended up being much more different than I thought, it was still a pretty solid read and I had such a great time reading it.

There are parts of this book that I flat out adored, but then parts that really fell kind of flat for me. So, we shall break them down, as you do.

What I Liked:

The characters, basically all of them really. They're quite well done and fleshed out. I might have even liked the side characters more than the main characters, but it still worked really well. The relationships that Eve had were fabulous too. Loved the loyalty that her friends and well, robots, but they were friends too, had for her. And it was obvious that the love was reciprocated.

Romanov history for the win! I was kind of giddy excited when I realized what it was. I know there are other references (Cait @ Paper Fury described them more in depth) but... this was the only one I know-know, okay? Plus, the U.S. cover doesn't tell us about any of them, so I went in surprised, happily so, because the Romanov story is pretty compelling, right? Yes, and even though I kind of knew how that part would end up (actually we all learn really early on so it's not spoilery even), it was still really emotionally charged.

Snark and banter and delightfulness. This probably ties into the character piece, but the dialogue was just perfect for me. I enjoyed it so much- maybe that is why the battles bugged me, I just wanted everyone to chat for several hundred pages!

What I Didn't:

Pacing was hit or miss. I actually had a really hard time getting into the book. And then for awhile, I was pretty invested! But then, I felt more lulls, and it went on like this for most of the book for me.

So. Many. Battles. This may be more of a personal qualm, but I just get bored with too many battle scenes. Like okay, I get it, things are rough out there. My eyes just start to glaze over after awhile.

Quite predictable. Now, I will say that there was one pretty big twist I didn't see coming, and that was fun! But most of it... yeah, I kind of predicted. So when you add that in with me getting kind of bored of the fighting... well, it's a recipe for mild apathy.

Will I Read the Next Book? Possibly. I liked the characters and the ending a lot, so yeah.

Bottom Line: While sometimes slow and predictable, the characters and writing were ultimately enough to keep me reading.

If you've ever wondered what a wild mash-up of ANASTASIA and MAD MAX: FURY ROAD would look like in novel form, look no further than LIFEL1K3. It's not difficult to get sucked into this dystopian world and immediately fall in with its characters, but despite the captivating premise, I found myself a little bored as the story unfolded, The romance felt bland and the twists a bit played out. However, the ending provokes interesting questions as to where the rest of the series will go and the world-building is enthralling enough to want to stick around. While LIFEL1K3 is far from Kristoff's best, it's still a fast-paced, fairly entertaining ride full of his trademark humor and action that permeate throughout his work.

Anyone who’s been following my blog for a while probably already knows this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, so it’s no surprise that I loved every second of it, but just saying “I knew it!” wouldn’t make a very good review, so strap yourselves in and let me tell you why I loved LIFEL1K3 so much—and why you need a copy or three of it in your life.

“Look outside that door, and you will see a world built on metal backs. Held together by metal hands. And one day, those hands will close. And they will become fists.”

First, the world-building in this book is exquisite. There is so much history to what has brought the world to the point it’s at, whether it’s the tidbits about the world wars, the natural disasters that led to California’s splitting from the rest of the country, or the havoc that mega-corporations have wreaked upon the world. There are a healthy variety of robots to choose from, too; you’ve got your lifelikes, your logika, your little bots like Cricket, your blitzhunds like Kaiser—list goes on. I loved the fact that we got to learn so much about the array of mecha floating around, as it furthered the sense of immersion to the point where it began to feel like these wastelands could’ve just been a crystal ball into our own futures.

Rule Number Three in the Scrap: Carry the biggest stick.

Not only is everything wonderfully fleshed out, but the aesthetic of this book was flawless. I’m a total sucker for these sorts of futuristic desert wasteland vibes. LIFEL1K3 feels like someone created the perfect blend of Mad Max: Fury Road, Borderlands, and the Fallout franchise, resulting in a wondrous balance of desolation, ingenuity, and badassery. I don’t remember the last time I wanted a book to be adapted into a film this badly, just to watch everyone run around being grungy and cynical and delightfully violent.

“The thought of lighting things on fire does unhealthy things to him.”

On top of the setting itself, the characters are so lovable it’s downright ridiculous. If you’ve read any of Jay’s work before, you may be familiar already with his sense of humor, and it truly shines in this novel. I laughed out loud so many times, and my e-ARC is highlighted to hell and back just for the bits that made me snort. Eve, our main character, is a bit serious and angry, but her closest loved ones—Lemon Fresh, Grandpa, and Cricket—are all a riot and a half, and Kaiser (the blitzhund!) is absolutely adorable.

She didn’t want to die here. She hadn’t liked it much the first time.

I only have one complaint about LIFEL1K3, and while it was not enough to change the star rating, I do think it’s worth mentioning here: there is a running joke in which one of the lifelikes (robot-esque humanoids) is taunted for having lost an arm early in the book, with a couple of crude nicknames being interchanged throughout the dialogue. It wasn’t a dealbreaker for me but did make me slightly uncomfortable, and I always try to give full disclosure in my reviews when it comes to this sort of thing—so, here’s your content warning for ableist remarks! Trigger warnings also apply for child violence/death (in flashbacks), gratuitous violence, and animal death.

“Stronger together.”
“Together forever.”

With that said, this book genuinely just has so much to offer. Underneath the raging violence, snarky quips, running from bounty hunters, fighting off terrifying pieces of machinery, and trying not to die from radiation poisoning (true cert’, can we get these guys some Rad-X?), there’s this really wonderful found family and a common theme that our past doesn’t have to define us. Almost every single starring character in this book is running from their past in some way or another, and I loved watching them each face down their own brand of demons.

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

All in all, I could gush for days, but truly, this book is so fun, so suspenseful, so twisty, and so damn rock ‘n roll that you really can’t help but love it—and it’s so hard to put down. I’m already fiending for the next installment in the series, and can’t wait to see where Jay takes us next!

All quotes come from an advance copy and may not match the final release. Thank you so much to Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Um, WHERE DO I EVEN START?! I don’t know why Jay’s ability to blow my freakin’ mind (and massacre my emotions) always surprises me. It’s been so long since we had a new world from him that I was worried it wouldn’t live up to how hyped up I had made it in my mind. IT DID, OF COURSE. I have loved the shit out of every single thing Jay has published!

This book is INTENSE from start to finish. Action-packed, heart-stopping, and full of adrenaline, it grips you by the balls and doesn’t let go! (Well, metaphorical balls. Since I don’t have any. Whatever, you get the point.) There was never a dull moment. I loved it from the first page to the very last (shocking) page!

The characters!!! I loved every single one of them! They each had their own special little personality and felt real! I loved the crap out of Lemon Fresh and Cricket! I loved how snarky they both were, especially the little robot. (“Don’t call me little!”) View Spoiler » And Kaiser!!! I want a Kaiser! Eve was such a badass MC, too! And the friendship between Eve and Lemon is absolutely bestie goals. They are one of my fave fictional friendships, I just loved them together so much!

ALL. THE. FEELS. Jay always knows just how to play with my heartstrings! I felt it all – shock, awe, desperation, humor, excitement, HEARTBREAK. PAIN. Oh my lord. It’s honestly really hard to talk about anything without spoiling it, but trust me when I say you are in for one WILD ride with this book! It’s pitched as “part Romeo and Juliet, part Terminator, and all adrenaline” it felt very much like “part I, Robot, part Blade Runner, part Mad Max, and all awesome.” And yes, plenty of adrenaline!! Holy crap! It had a hardcore I, Robot feel to it because of the androids and the three laws, the Glass scene reminded me of Fury Road, and the end reminded me of scenes in Blade Runner 2049. I can see the Terminator but it really felt nothing like Romeo and Juliet except for the fact that Jay is incapable of writing a happy ever after, heh. This is NOT a romance. So don’t go in expecting one.

This book earned my Hail to the King award! For full review please visit novelheartbeat.com

So I’m beginning to fear that I will never be a Jay Kristoff fan like the rest of the book world. *hides* It began with Illuminae (which, while I loved the way the story was told, the rest of it kind of felt meh to me) and I have yet to finish that series. Now, it continues with LIFEL1K3.

I cannot fully express to you how excited all three of us were for this book—and if you’ve been following us for a while now, you know how rare that is. Kyleigh was sold at “on an island junkyard beneath a sky that glows with radiation,” Lauren thought the concept sounded amazing, and me? I was there for the love story. After all, I was promised it was “part Romeo and Juliet.”

Reality? I’m still looking for the Romeo and Juliet.

Let’s start with the good: This book has an incredible opening. At the first sentence—“They kill my father first”—I was ready. This was the magical writing I had been waiting for. I dare you to read the Prologue and not get chills. Go on. I’ll wait.

And then I read the first chapter—and reread it three times. I don’t want to say it felt like an entirely different book…but it definitely wasn’t the same. I was thrown immediately into a world full of slang that didn’t mean a darn thing to me—and it’s never explained. Did I know what a “juve” or “juvette” is? Nope. I still don’t. The word “fug” is used frequently, but isn’t explained until many references later. Until that point, I had no idea it was a slur for a “logika”; you can use your imagination for what I thought it meant...

As for the characters, they felt…bland to me. I can’t say that I had an emotional connection to a single one. Plot twists happened and I shrugged. SHRUGGED. And as the hopeless romantic member of the blog, I will root for anything that even hints at a love interest and a relationship—until this book. I felt nothing. All I want is a character—just one—to root for. Is that too much to ask?

Finally, the plot itself. There was a lot going on in here. Eve’s grandfather is dying, she’s on the run, she can destroy machinery, she watched her family get murdered when she was a child, she gambled away their money, she found a lifelike—and this is within four chapters. The parts I found the most interesting were the (entirely too brief) flashbacks. Aside from that, plot points got lost within other plot points, and I found at least one part of the story that seemingly dug a hole into it’s own plot.

I wanted to like this story so much. I almost didn’t finish around sixty percent of the way through, but I stuck with it, hoping for a breathtaking ending. Instead, I’m very disappointed. Maybe it’s the story; maybe it’s the writing style. Maybe it’s a combination of both. Regardless, can someone let me know if I’ll enjoy Jay Kristoff’s Nevernight? Because it’s been sitting on my shelf and after striking out twice on this author’s works, I have concerns.

The world was quite vivid, which is something I usually have a problem with since my mind refused to focus on it. I saw the dust and grit and felt the heat and it was very atmospheric. The characters were cool (especially Lemon Fresh and Cricket) but I did have a huge issue with how... perfect Ezekiel was. There wasn't really any character development for him and I dreaded scene with him in them. I did guess the plot twist 80 pages in, but I was NOT guessing that end.Here’s the thing with me and Kristoff’s books: they always catch me in the end. SO I am extremely excited for book two.