I can see why there are so many mixed reviews. Some people loved it, some people even disliked it. I sit right in the middle with this book. I can definitely see where people enjoyed the book and I can see the problems people had.

I would like to start off with this comparison that the book had. Romeo and Juliet, Mad-Max, X-Men and Blade Runner. I personally never saw much of these comparisons at all. There may have been bits and pieces, but it wasn’t big enough to give these comparisons. There were definitely other things that the book could have been compared to is all I’m saying. You might just want to keep an open mind on the comparisons.

Other than the Illuminae series, I never read any of the other books written by Jay Kristoff. I recently got some interest in reading his Nevernight Chronicles series and I wanted to see his own writing style when given the chance. Now that I finally got a chance to see his writing style in Lifel1k3, I have to say that although it was interesting, I certainly hope it was better in the Nevernight Chronicles. He still packed an interesting story nevertheless.

Lemon was a favorite character of mine. She was extremely funny throughout the story and definitely added a layer into the story. Lemon seemed to be an important character, but her development goes at a slow rate but it is definitely worth reading. There is just something about Lemon that tells me if she was not in the story, I would probably not even like the story at all.

I was ready to give up the book and call it a day near the ending. Somehow, it was like Kristoff knew this was happening because the ending was amazing. It suddenly grabbed my attention and told me that I would want to read the next book in the series to see the sudden development I just witnessed.

I am not sure how to explain whether or not this book is for someone. If you are someone who is a big fan of Kristoff and like stories with robots that have powers (and that looks like humans), then this is definitely the story for you. This could be an excellent summer read, but probably keep an open mind and expect some few mixed reactions.

Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of LikeL1K3. I was under no obligation to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

Eve will do whatever it takes to get medicine for her grandpa, including brawling via the robot gladiator that she has spent months rehabilitating. Too bad the bout in the WarDome does not go as Eve expects...

When Eve and her best friend Lemon come upon a crash site, with an android named Ezekiel at the helm, the life that Eve knows gets blown apart.

Reading this novel reminded me of science fiction movies and novels of the past, but not in a good way. Although the book flowed well and had complete characters, the author pushed the idea of an alternative life too far. Perhaps the modern society was taught the past through oral tradition, which would explain the misspellings of many otherwise recognizable names of places, but it was actually a turn off in my opinion. I would have rather the society be in a completely different place entirely, with a more original story line. For readers who are not as familiar with science fiction, I would recommend this novel, but it was not the book for me.

4.5 Stars
The introduction is gripping and starts out with an amazing hook! I loved the action, writing, and characters! There were so many unexpected moments in this book...I needed more science fiction from Kristoff after The Illuminae Files ended.

I'm not a big sci-fi fan but the world and the depth of characters Kristoff creates is amazing in the epic post-apocalyptic adventure. I really like a strong lead like Eve, she was hardcore. And Cricket. OMG. I loved Cricket.

LifeL1k3 is an engaging novel full of incredible writing, violence, action, romance, and strong world-building. Told in third person, and sometimes in alternate views, readers are taken to a new world full of possibilities that perhaps one day may actually come true. With how technology keeps advancing, it isn't far-fetched to think that one days humans will live among robots as this author wrote; made to be better than us but forced to be our servants, until they realize their potential and attempt to take humanity over...

Mixed with the perfect amount of slang and poetic prose, I was easily immersed in the story of humans battling robots for money, a special line of robots breaking the rules and harming humans, a girl who fights in those battles to save her sick grandpa. Almost every chapter, if not all, has a scene with action and violence, a fight that keeps readers on the edge of their seat for the outcome, the winner. The thrill sets your heart thumping and your breath stalling, because the author expertly weaves these scenes to create an image in your mind like a movie; your eyes following every move with bated breath as if you are there in the crowd, roaring for the victor. These scenes were definitely my favorites when reading! Not to say that the rest of the book was bad, because in fact I adore this book and the brilliantly written world the author sets us in, however action/violence has and always will, be my true love in all books.

As for the characters, they were good. I love how natural their slang comes off in the writing, their style and choice of words. It was easy to follow and honestly, it kept me entertained with every new word or sentence that is so different but also similar to how we speak now. I will admit however, that I found Lemon and Eve to be similar. At times, I would question which one was speaking. Maybe it's because they are best friends and obviously think alike, maybe it's just that one of them was imitating the other to fit in? I'm not really sure; it was easy enough to overlook however, since it didn't happen constantly.

Eve is our MC and the one who fight in robot battles to earn money. She fixed up her own bot with the skills she learned from her grandpa, and she is very passionate about her work. I loved how much pride she took in her creations, and how tough she seemed. She didn't sit and cry about life. She stood up and found herself some options, and then did her best to do one of them. She was constantly thrown for a loop and stomped on, but she always got back up and fought harder the next time. After the ending we got, I definitely need to know what the heck happens to her in the next book!

Lemon is Eve's best friend, the one who is always by her side when trouble finds her, and when she falls and gets back up. Lemon is tough, but soft. She grew up in Dregs and has been on her own for most of her life, having to fend for herself; until she met Eve. Even though her life has been incredibly tough, she still trusts and loves and supports those she is attached to. She shows us multiple times in the novel just how far she is willing to go for her best friend, and just how hard she will fight for those she loves. She is honestly one of my all time favorite characters.

I just want to quickly mention Kaiser and Cricket, the two robots that were made to protect Eve. They will forever be in my heart and I adore them. Though they were programmed to protect and serve, they both were so loyal and were like best friends throughout the book. I hope to see them again in the next book!

As far as romance goes, it wasn't bad. The flashbacks from their past help readers get a feel for their emotions so that we know them better as a couple, but also how much they struggle currently to regain that closeness. I admire the female counterpart, because even though she remembered loving him, and part of her still does, she fought those feelings until she got to know him better. Years change people, and she didn't gain her strength or lose any because of him. I adore how strong she is. As for him, it was easy to see how much he cared, but at the same time I feel like he just wanted to rush things. Which makes sense when you read the book, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So all in all, it was good but not necessarily long lasting in my mind, especially after the end of the novel.

In the end, I question why something so scarily possible intrigues me so much, and why I adore this book as it shows readers just how much damage and death could come from our own creations. In truth, though we could create robots that look like us, talk and think and act like us, but with stronger abilities and intelligence, it is still fantasy at this time, so I enjoyed it as a work of fiction and not a warning. I assume that was the author's intent.

Overall, this is an amazing book that I will love forever despite a few issues I had. Filled to the brim with incredible world-building and characters I won't forget, this is a book I definitely recommend!

LIFELiK3 is a clever mashup of Pinocchio and the Anastasia legend with kiss-ass girls in mechs and robots!

Sigh... I tried to read this multiple times and it just didn't grab me. Which is a pity because I think Jay is one of the coolest people alive. I liked the premise but I just couldn't get into it.

This story was great! Kept me guessing till the end. I really enjoyed it except for the made-up slang, it was to much and at times for me at least took away from the story.

Reviewing on Amazon and Goodreads

Hey, book dragons!! So I just finished Lifel1k3 by Jay Kristoff and oh my goodness. I fell in love with Jays writing when I read Illuminea files and I am so glad I picked up this book. It was a book full of world-building, character development and a plot that was fantastic. But before I get too far ahead of myself. Let me give you the summary for this amazing book. 

This book with it passing and characters were amazing. However, I find that the true strength of this novel is in the characters relationships. Eve, Lemon and Cricket and even the boy who isn't a boy Ezekiel. I fell in love with these characters and their stories. How each grows into someone I can't wait to meet again in the next book. The love and loyalty of the friendships in this story. I feel that this friendship between Lemon and Eve were the building blocks of this story. 

I will say that you should go into this story blind than anything. The world will take you a bit to get used to, the language they use but once you get there it's hard to put this story down. 

The ending was perfection. And like I've said I can't wait for the next book. Jay Kristoff is an amazing writer who can take 26 letters and make them into words that will blow your mind. 

But all in all, LifeL1k3 was a fun read that was original, excellent plot and characters. It had me holding my breath several times. 


I could go about this book but I'll save you the time and get right down to it. 
Buy the book, you won't regret it. 

Till next time here in the nook!

Four and a half stars: A heck of ride! Fantastic world building, unique and interesting characters, plenty of actions and stuff that makes you think!

The last couple of years have been tough for Eve, yet she continues to fight on. Two years ago, Eve lived a very different life, one of wealth and privilege, but then her family was murdered and Eve nearly died herself. Now she lives with her grandfather, and she spends her time building robots to compete in the gladiator ring so she can pay the bills. Luckily, Eve has her best friend, Lemon Fresh, her trusty robot companion Cricket, who also serves as her robotic conscience, and her robot dog, Kaiser, to help her along the way. Then a fight in the ring goes terrible wrong and Eve finds herself hunted. As she flees, Eve discovers a wrecked ship with a beautiful android boy inside named Ezekiel who claims she is Anna. What can’t Eve remember?

What I Liked:
*Jay Kristoff always manages to impress me. His latest offering: Lifelike is not to be missed. This one has kick butt characters, outstanding world building and contemplative parts. Something for everyone. For me, this book was kind of a mash up of Mad Max and West World. If you like robots, futuristic dystopian worlds and lots of action, this is one to read.
*The best part of the book for me was the friendships. Who needs romance when you have friends like Lemon Fresh, Cricket and Kaiser the cyber dog? I loved the way the characters had each other’s back through thick and thin. Lemon Fresh and Eve’s bond was amazing. Loved it!
There is sort of a romance, it’s hard to explain, but I enjoyed it. Don’t expect a swoon worthy romance full of butterflies and kisses, the romance in this one is so much more complex and interesting.
*I loved that I spent a great deal of time contemplating the android condition especially when it came to robots and life and their rights. It is a complicated issue for sure.
*The world building was freaking amazing. I loved being transported into this freaky apocalyptic world with robots, ruin and mayhem. Mr. Kristoff has one hell of an imagination, and the whole thing with the creatures in the ocean was mind blowing. Read this for the creative world building.
*If you want action, this one has it. There are plenty of battle scenes, some chase scenes and plenty of stuff gets blown up.
*Talk about some major twists and turns. There are some mind blowing things at the end that left *me completely scratching my head, especially that final scene. What the hell!!??? I need more stat!
I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Erin Spencer. Ms. Spencer was amazing. Her robot voices were wonderful. Highly recommend the audiobook!
And The Not So Much:
*The end was such a brutal slap in the face. I was shocked. I want to know more.
*There was a lot of slang and such that may be off putting to adult readers, but don’t let it stop you.
*There was a point in the story where Anna needed to be slapped because she was totally irritating me with her rage over being betrayed. She needed to grow up.
*Even though I liked the sort of romance, I was never invested in it. Hard to explain.

Lifelike was an edge of your seat type read that kept me riveted. I loved the characters,
the action, the outstanding world building and the twisty plot. Mr. Kristoff has proven over and over that he is a force to be reckoned with, and if you have not tried one of his books yet, you need to reevaluate your choices. Read this!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

High-octane sci fi with two besties and a robot dog.

Eve and LemonFresh are “bestests” in a high-tech post-apocalyptic world. They live with Eve’s grandpa in a trash wasteland, surrounded by the discarded dregs of what was once civilization, getting by on grandpa’s mad tech skills and Eve’s bot fights in the War Dome. Until those bot fights almost get her killed. When a giant robot corners her, she throws out one terrified hand and screams.

And the bot falls down dead, its circuits fried from the inside.

It’s called “manifesting”—when a latent mutation emerges—and it’s the mark of death. The crazed Brotherhood is determined to wipe all human mutation off the planet. And Eve’s just manifested on live video feed, broadcast throughout the corp territories.

So begins a nonstop chase across a dystopian landscape that evokes Mad-Maxian imagery, with a besties friendship worthy of Betty and Veronica. (Yeah, Mad Max meets Riverdale. We went there.) But there’s a lot more to it than just high-octane adventure. The inclusion of sentient robots leads into a much deeper story, raising profound questions about compassion and diversity and what it really means to be human.

That’s what we loved most about Lifelike. It’s an interesting story. In the midst of all the action and fighting and running, it still makes you think.

About how we treat technology, and, ultimately, how we treat each other.

It's been a while since I've fallen for a book. Normally when I find something that hooks me it's a fluffy YA or romance, so this was a great surprise. I haven't read any of Jay's other books, but I'm definitely in for this series, I know that!

LIFEL1K3 starts with Eve, our main character, gambling all her money away on bot fighting.Only she's the one who has built the bot and is fighting in it. Her friends, Cricket and Lemon try to help her, but Eve still loses. Just as she's about to get crushed, something miraculous happens. The bot crumples with just a scream and an outstretched hand from Eve.

Now, she's on everyone's hit list. As she and Lemon scavenger a helicopter wreck and find the pilot with it's arm ripped off that also happens to be a "lifelike", the danger just gets thicker. When the lifelike turns out to be a friend, that knows Eve's grandfather (who has just been kidnapped by another lifelike), and the home that she knew is destroyed everything starts to unravel.

As you learn more about Eve's past and her family, you start to understand a little of the life that she knows and of the life she can't remember. Eve's past is a big, sticky, bloody mess and Ezekiel holds many of the pieces.

But he doesn't hold them all.

Guys. This story is full of twists and turns. I feel like I can't even put a synopsis into words myself. With every chapter I learned something knew about Eve, Ezekiel, and literally every other character. This story is like an onion, peeling away each layer to get down deep.

The ending left me shocked, a little upset, and absolutely wanting more. I can't wait to see how Eve's story plays out.

This was the first Jay Kristoff novel I've ever read and let me tell you... it will not be the last! LifeL1k3 was full of action and excitement from the very first page and it didn't let up until the last sentence. The characters were intriguing, the world building was fantastic, and the pace of the novel was spot on. As I was reading the novel, I kept getting Mad Max vibes, which I later found out was how other readers perceived the novel as well. It was full of grit and action and gave me flashbacks to crazy car chases across a desert.

Now don't let the Mad Max description make you too close minded... there were also robots, androids, puppy robots (internal squealing) and a few romance scenes that will leave you wondering where Kristoff will take your heart next. There were even a few times where I just wanted to hug my best friend and tell her I love her. Kristoff had a way of running your heart through the ringer during some intense fight scenes, and then doing it all over again with more serious portions of the novel.

If you're looking for an action packed YA novel, look no further. Kristoff truly delivers with LifeL1k3 and I couldn't be more impressed with his ability to mix a world of action and complex characters so beautifully. I would highly recommend this novel to readers of all genres! You will not be disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Books for Young Readers for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4/5

This. Book.

The action starts on page one and never stops. Shiz hits the fan, and then the fan blows up, and then a bomb drops on the decimated remains of the fan, and then the earth opens up and sends everything STRAIGHT TO HELL.

And that's just the first quarter of the book!

Absolutely thrilling, fast-paced, gut-wrenching book. Once again, a phenomenal story from Kristoff.

The setting was so imaginative and unique. I love how he throws in the slang of the era but also makes it easy to understand. His characters are always so real and deep. Lemon Fresh and Kaiser are faves. Kristoff has quickly become an auto-buy author for me and Lifel1k3 did NOT disappoint. Highly recommend!

Lifel1k3 is one of those rare books that I wanted to reread as soon as I turned the last page. As usual, Kristoff’s world-building and plotting are fantastic. However, the true strength of this novel lies in the characters.

From Eve to Lemon Fresh to Cricket, the characters were absolutely brilliant. I fell in love with Eve and Lemon Fresh’s courage, strength, and loyalty at the beginning. Their character development was so much fun to watch. I loved how much of the story was grounded in the friendship between those two girls.

I’d recommend going into this one as blind as possible. Just prepare for a wild ride. And yes, there is romance. The language and terms took me a bit to get used to but once I did, I couldn’t put Lifel1k3 down. That ending was absolute flawless, Kristoff hit every note perfectly.

Lifel1k3 was a fun, refreshing, and original read with excellent characters, pulse-pounding action, and a tightly-woven plot full of twists and turns. Jay Kristoff has created something truly remarkable with this book and I cannot wait to see what’s in store next from one of my favorite authors.

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*****

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*****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.