LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff Series: Lifelike #1
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on May 29, 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Pages: 416
Source: Blog Tour, NetGalley
My content rating: YA (Violence, Sex is implied but not shown)
My rating:
On a floating junkyard beneath a radiation sky, a deadly secret lies buried in the scrap.
Eve isn’t looking for secrets—she’s too busy looking over her shoulder. The robot gladiator she’s just spent six months building has been reduced to a smoking wreck, and the only thing keeping her Grandpa from the grave was the fistful of credits she just lost to the bookies. To top it off, she’s discovered she can destroy electronics with the power of her mind, and the puritanical Brotherhood are building a coffin her size. If she’s ever had a worse day, Eve can’t remember it.
But when Eve discovers the ruins of an android boy named Ezekiel in the scrap pile she calls home, her entire world comes crashing down. With her best friend Lemon Fresh and her robotic conscience, Cricket, in tow, she and Ezekiel will trek across deserts of irradiated glass, infiltrate towering megacities and scour the graveyard of humanity’s greatest folly to save the ones Eve loves, and learn the dark secrets of her past.
Even if those secrets were better off staying buried.
Jay Kristoff once again does what he does best: totally messes with your head. And, yep, I love him for it.
What Fed My Addiction:
- The mystery of Eve’s life (and death?). Right from the start of the book, we know that something violent happened to Eve’s family, but we soon learn that she doesn’t quite remember all the details. The story of Eve’s past unfolds as the book progresses—as she remembers more and more of what happens. I personally love books like this because the suspense is so high. I wanted to know everything that happened to Eve and how she ended up with lifelikes and more chasing her.
- Lots of twists. Every time I’d think I’d have the twists in the story figured out, Kristoff would throw in a new one that I didn’t see coming—and the ones I thought I knew didn’t work out quite the way I assumed. Basically, I was kept guessing the whole book.
- The characters. I loved Eve right away—she’s tough (she needs to be, considering the world she lives in), but she has soft spots for all the “people” in her life—Grandpa, her best friend Lemon, her robot Cricket, and her robot-dog Kaiser. I was surprised how much I fell in love with all of the characters, especially Ezekial, who I wasn’t sure about at first—I ended up shipping him and Eve hard!
- Who knows who’ll live? This is Kristoff, and he likes his books full of death and danger, and he pulls no punches. I had no idea who would survive. This book isn’t quite as graphic as Nevernight, if that’s what you’re expecting, but Kristoff delivers on the brutality you’d expect from him. No one is safe. None of it is wrapped up in a pretty bow at the end.
- THAT ENDING! I absolutely loved the ending. And hated it. And loved it. (And also hated it?) I definitely won’t stop thinking about it.
What Left Me Hungry for More:
- Multiple POVs. I’m not always a fan of when random POVs are suddenly thrown in, and this book does that occasionally.
- What’s our goal? I occasionally caught myself forgetting what the main goal in the book was and why exactly everything was happening. I was never bored, but there were points where I’d literally forget what the actual conflict was and aspects of who they were up against. Maybe this was just me being a not-careful reader? I don’t know, but it seemed like a flaw.
Well, I will certainly be holding my breath for the next book. I haven’t decided if I hate Kristoff for that ending yet. I might not know until the series is over. (Though when I read his bio, I’m reminded that I should probably just expect to hate him, let’s face it.)
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Rockstar Book Tours (and a copy via NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
About The Author
Jay Kristoff is a #1 international, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of science fiction and fantasy. He grew up in the second most isolated capital city on earth and fled at his earliest convenience, although he’s been known to trek back for weddings of the particularly nice and funerals of the particularly wealthy. Being the holder of an Arts degree, he has no education to speak of.
His LOTUS WAR trilogy was critically acclaimed in Kirkus and Publishers Weekly, nominated for the David Gemmell Morningstar and Legend awards and won the 2014 Aurealis Award. Jay’s new series, the SciFi thriller THE ILLUMINAE FILES, was co-authored with Amie Kaufman. Book 1, ILLUMINAE, became a New York Times and international bestseller, was named among the Kirkus, Amazon and YALSA Best Books of 2015, became a finalist for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award and won the 2016 Aurealis Award and an ABIA Book of the Year award. ILLUMINAE is currently slated to be published in thirty five countries, and film rights have been acquired by Brad Pitt and Plan B Entertainment.
Jay’s new fantasy series, THE NEVERNIGHT CHRONICLE, commenced in 2016. The novel was an international bestseller, won the Aurealis award and earned Kristoff his second Gemmell nomination. Part 2, GODSGRAVE, was published in 2017, and won the series its second Aurealis award. A new YA series, LIFEL1K3 has also been acquired by Knopf/Random House Kids, and commences publication in early 2018. A new series with Amie Kaufman, THE ANDROMEDA CYCLE, begins in 2019 with Knopf/Random House Kids. Jay is as surprised about all this as you are. He is represented by Josh Adams at Adams Literary.
Jay is 6’7 and has approximately 12,000 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the world’s laziest Jack Russell.
He does not believe in happy endings.
I have the tour giveaway in the Rafflecopter below, but here are a couple of other opportunities as well:
Pre-Order Giveaway:
The LIFEL1K# pre-order is now live for folks in the US! To get your sticky booky hands on a full color map of the Yousay by the amazing Virginia Allyn and four brill LIFEL1K3 bookmarks with illustrations by the incredibly talented Mona May, all you need to is:
- Pre order LIFEL1K3 (Amazon/Barnes&Noble/Indiebound/Powells/Book Depository/ it doesn’t matter from where, just get a receipt)
- Head to getunderlined.com and search for “Lifel1k3”. Or better yet, just click HERE.
- Enter your details and upload your receipt.
- Profit.
AUSSIE & NEW ZEALAND GIVEAWAY!
HOW TO ENTER
Take a SELFIE with a copy of LIFEL1K3 and SHARE IT using #LIFEL1K3comp for your chance to win tickets for you and a friend to go to any concert of your choice!
Entry is open to Australian and New Zealand residents only. Terms and Conditions apply. Ends 09/05/2018.
3 winners will receive a finished copy of LIFEL1K3, US Only.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
5/14/2018- Mary Had a Little Book Blog– Review
5/15/2018- Fiction Fare– Review
5/16/2018- Birdie Bookworm– Review
5/17/2018- Novel Heartbeat– Review
5/18/2018- Bookish In Bed– Review
Week Two:
5/21/2018- Portrait of a Book– Review
5/22/2018- Confessions of a YA Reader– Review
5/23/2018- Emily Reads Everything– Review
5/24/2018- Zach’s YA Reviews– Review
5/25/2018- The Bookish Libra– Review
Week Three:
5/28/2018- Feed Your Fiction Addiction– Review
5/29/2018- Diary of an Avid Reader– Review
5/30/2018- Here’s to Happy Endings– Review
5/31/2018- Book-Keeping– Review
6/1/2018- Nerdophiles– Review
Week Four:
6/4/2018- Smada’s Book Smack– Review
6/5/2018- Novel Novice– Review
6/6/2018- The Book Nut– Review
6/7/2018- Book Briefs– Review
6/8/2018- A Gingerly Review– Review
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24 responses to “LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff: Review & Giveaway”
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I was curious about this book, but I somehow managed to read exactly 0 reviews, so I didn’t know if people liked it. I’m glad you mostly liked it. I might have to pick up a copy.
Glad I could be your first review of this one!
Oh nice! I’m curious about this one too! Glad to hear you enjoyed it for the most part! Nice review!
Thanks!
Can’t wait to read this one, even though some reviewers have said it’s not as good as his other books.
I think I actually enjoyed this one MORE than Nevernight, but I know I’m definitely the minority in that.
I really adored the characters in this book too, especially Lemon Fresh, Cricket and Kaiser. I agree with you about the ending too. I need the next book ASAP!
How can you not love a character named Lemon Fresh? 🙂
Looking forward to reading Jay’s books. Thank you
Good luck!
I am so excited to read this one even though I’ve only seen mixed reviews so far. It’s still Jay Kristoff and I love his books so yes, I need to read this one.
I actually think I enjoyed this more than Nevernight (but I’m definitely in the minority with that).
Aw darn. I really can’t stand random POV’s. Great review and thanks for the heads up there!
There are just a few thrown in, but I’m not a huge fan of them.
Glad this was good! To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to make of this one- the synopsis sounds kinda crazy!- so I’m checking reviews to decide if I want to try it or not. 🙂 Glad to hear that you enjoyed it.
I think Shannon and I actually disagreed on this one, which is … that almost never happens! So, yeah, read some more reviews and see what you think. (Though, since you’re into sci fi more than she is, you might like it better than her.)
I was curious about this one and probably should have gone for it. He is so creative and I love that he tries to keep us guessing! I was surprised by the ending in Stormdancer too so I think this is a go for me. ❤️
You should definitely pick it up. I agree that Kristoff is incredibly creative!
I have this ARC and just waiting patiently for my springeddon reading slump to pass so I can read again. It will be my first Jay Kristoff book and I cannot wait especially now after your review! 🙂
Hope you enjoy it! It’s not nearly as dark as his other series, but I was fine with that.
I saw this one and wondered what it was going to be like. I’m also not a fan of random POVs and that was one thing (of a few things) that I didn’t like about his other series. I’m going to grab the sample of this one and see how it goes!
Let me know what you think of the sample!
I haven’t read one of his books yet. And while this one actually sounds amazing, I just finished a book where the ending had me screaming for the next book HA. And of course I have to wait a year, sigh. I may start with another one instead lol!
Hate it when you’re left hanging like that! LOL!