Obsidio (The Illuminae Files #3)

Today I finished the 3rd and final concluding book in the Illuminae Series, Obsidio.

Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship, Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, the only option is to return to Kerenza--but who knows what they'll find seven months after the invasion? 

Meanwhile, Kady's cousin, Asha, survived the initial BeiTech assault and has joined Kerenza's ragtag underground resistance. When Rhys--an old flame from Asha's past--reappears on Kerenza, the two find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. With time running out, a final battle will be waged on land and in space, heroes will fall, and hearts will be broken.

The series, created and written by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, may be listed as YA  but is also an exciting story for any fan of science fiction. All three books are partly as a a written story and partly, perhaps mostly in graphic novel style. All are brilliantly done.

In Obsidio, the storylines from the previous two novels, Illuminae and Gimina, come together as the survivors of both novels are racing to free the now enslaved planet, Kerenza, from the conquering company BeiTech. I really enjoyed the depth the characters are given plus the twists, turns and surprises the story takes.

Obsidio is a terrific conclusion to a really enjoyable series.

Gemina (The Illuminae Files #2)

There is a three volume Sci-fi series called, The Illuminae Files. I finished the first volume, Illuminae, back in January. Today, I finished Volume 2, Gemina.

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.own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

I found the first 100 pages of the 658 page book, slow moving and boring, It was necessary as it provides a background to a few of the main characters. After that, the story moves into hyper-drive. Don't let the 658 pages intimidate you. This is a fast reading book with the story laid out in a unique fashion. Many of the pages are texts between the characters, pictures or effects. 

Confused? You'll need to read it to understand what I'm saying. 

Written as Young Adult series, this is a great read for any fans of the Sci-fi genre. I already have and am looking forward to reading the third book of the series, Obsidio.

Illuminae: The Illuminae Files_01 by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

I enjoy a good science fiction novel, so when my friend, Alfred, recommended Illuminae, I read it.

Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the worst thing she'd ever been through. That was before her planet was invaded. Now, with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating craft, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. 

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents--including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more--Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

I cut out much if the description above as I felt it gave away too much of the story, which, by the way, is fabulous.

This is a fast exciting tale which is told in a very different manner., or as the writers say in the 'Acknowledgements" this oh-o strange bookthing. The story is pieced together through reports, transcribed conversations and some excellently done graphics. The only time it feels like there is descriptive action in the plot, is when an analyst transcribes what he sees through surveillance cameras.

Even though it is a thick book, a 599 page read, the font and the way the book is put together, makes this, actually, a fast read. It was also a fast read as it was a hard book to put down, between the action and all the twists, turns and surprises.

This is a three book series by Australian sci-fi writers Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. Yes, I'm hooked and looking forward to getting into the next book, Gemina, real soon.

Thanks Alfred.

Under the Cold Bright Lights by Garry Disher

Rarely do I finish a book in just two days but that's what happened with Under the Cold Bright Lights by Australian writer, Gary Disher.

The young detectives call Alan Auhl a retread, but that doesn’t faze him. He does things his own way—and gets results.

He still lives with his ex-wife, off and on, in a big house full of random boarders and hard-luck stories. And he’s still a cop, even though he retired from Homicide some years ago.

He works cold cases now. Like the death of John Elphick—his daughters still convinced he was murdered, the coroner not so sure. Or the skeleton that’s just been found under a concrete slab. Or the doctor who killed two wives and a girlfriend, and left no evidence at all.

Auhl will stick with these cases until justice is done. One way or another.

The book was entertaining with an older detective, Alan Auhl, working three cases at the same time. Two are cold cases, one happens to be new, plus he is dealing with some tough issues at home.

I will say reading a book written by an Australian writer, caused me to go to the good old "Google machine" to look up some terms. Just so you know, a "ute" is a what utility vehicle in Australia and a "roo bar"is a bar or series of bars attached to the front of a vehicle, usually a ute, to protect it from collisions with kangaroos.

Despite the fact, Auhl works cold cases, the book is fast paced. It was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading others by this author.

Book Review - The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

I have been going through some medical issues and while on a hospital stay, I was talking with a fellow patient who had just finished The Secret. He said it was quite helpful and after I flipped through his copy of the book, I thought it could be helpful.

In 2006, a groundbreaking feature-length film revealed the great mystery of the universe—The Secret—and, later that year, Rhonda Byrne followed with a book that became a worldwide bestseller. 

Fragments of a Great Secret have been found in the oral traditions, in literature, in religions and philosophies throughout the centuries. For the first time, all the pieces of The Secret come together in an incredible revelation that will be life-transforming for all who experience it. 

In this book, you’ll learn how to use The Secret in every aspect of your life—money, health, relationships, happiness, and in every interaction you have in the world. You’ll begin to understand the hidden, untapped power that’s within you, and this revelation can bring joy to every aspect of your life. 

The Secret contains wisdom from modern-day teachers—men and women who have used it to achieve health, wealth, and happiness. By applying the knowledge of The Secret, they bring to light compelling stories of eradicating disease, acquiring massive wealth, overcoming obstacles, and achieving what many would regard as impossible.

I have heard and do believe that people use only a small percentage of their brains and that there is so much yet to discover about it. Also, I am a firm believer in the power of positive thinking and that we can assist our bodies through visualisation. The Secret delves heavily into these aspects.

There are things that I do have issues with, however. The book seems to say 'believe and it will happen.' It suggests that we need to do nothing to bring on wealth or happiness except to just think about it.

Also it speaks of people as a transmission tower.

"The law of attraction says like attracts like, so when you think a thought, you are also attracting like thoughts to you.

Thoughts are magnetic and thoughts have a frequency. As you think thoughts, they are sent out into the universe and they magnetically attract all like things that are on the same frequency. Everything sent out returns to the source - you.

You are like a human transmission tower, transmitting a frequency with your thoughts. If you want to change anything in your life, change the frequency by changing your thoughts."

I can't buy the idea of our thoughts sent out into the universe as a frequency. What I can get behind is that those positive thoughts will keep you positive and moving forward in a positive manner.

The Secret did make me think deeper about a few things. As I said earlier, I use visualisation daily and found the book helpful in this area. I have slightly modified my nightly affirmations and visualisations and believe they are working.

When you read the book, take from it what you can. There are some very useful positive ideas that you can take from it.

“Your power is in your thoughts, so stay awake. In other words, remember to remember.” Rhonda Byrne, The Secret

“Whenever you think you can or think you can’t, either way you are right. (Henry Ford) ” ― Rhonda Byrne, The Secret