A bit slower moving of a sequel, but still as intriguing overall as the first. The shift in Eve feels a little forced but I am glad that we got to follow a new character, it adds a new feel to the series.

So, with the way the first book left off, I was wondering hardcore where that would leave us and what would happen next. The character turnarounds in this one were astounding!

I’m sad that Eve is basically a villain now, but it makes for a really interesting story! I’m hoping there’s still some redemption for her in the future. It’s kind of scary how far off the deep end she went after the revelations in the first book O__O

Also, Preacher. My first thought upon seeing him again was, HOW is this asshole still alive?! He’s like a freaking cockroach! Then, he and Ezekiel are thrown together as unwilling allies, and halfway through the book, I realized – I was actually starting to…like him. WHAT THE HELL, JAY?! How can I like such a jackass?! But I found myself laughing out loud at things he was saying, and cackling at the banter between he and Zeke, and somewhere along the way, I realized that I was attached. That I would actually be upset if anything happened to him. (spoilers removed)

I’m kind of thrilled for Lemon to basically get her own book. She was more of the sidekick in the first book, but she was my fave character! I love her so much! I think it’s kind of perfect that she’s now looked upon as the heroine but she even makes comments about just being the sidekick. (The “brilliful” sidekick, to quote her haha)

Something I love about Jay is that he can bring the action and keep it going. There was never a dull moment! What a rollercoaster of a ride!

THAT ENDING?! JAY WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN *cries* The wait for book 3 is going to kill me!

I felt like this book was a lot better pacing wise than Lifelike. I loved Lemon Fresh and her character in the first book, and I enjoyed following her story in Deviate and watching her grow and mature. That ending though was crazy! Cannot wait to read the next book!

During this book we get to see more of the book from Lemon Fresh’s point of view. In the first book we found out that she is a deviate and she’s been the one with the powers all along.

Just like the first book I didn’t really feel anything for the characters. I don’t really like any of them. Cricket is probably the most entertaining to read about. The characters are on occasion funny but I feel like Jay Kristoff always has sarcastic characters of some sort in his books. I just never found my self routing for them. I was just along for the ride.

The plot for this book went right along with the first one. To me the plot wasn’t interesting either. I just kept reading because I wanted to like it but in the end it was meh. We never got the back story info on the world like I wished we would have either. But we do get some info on the brother hood. I’m not for sure how I felt about that. It changes things.

Overall I wasn’t a fan of the book and I don’t think I’ll be reading the third one.

This book had a unique premise, it was a tad bit slow at the beginning but swept me up soon enough and kept me in it's grip well until the end. I would recommend it to other fellow fantasy fans in a heartbeat. Thank you for allowing me to read and hand sell this title.

Jay Kristoff is a very prolific writer, and the LifeLike series is only one of his current hits. Lifelike and Deviate read a little like The Hunger Games, but with more tech, drama, and more robots.

Dev1at3 picks up right were Lifel1k3 ended, but this time the main focus is on Lemon Fresh. Lemon came across as a quirky, fun, comic relief character in the first book, which continues on into Dev1at3. We also get more information on her back story, which lets us see the vulnerable orphan for who she really is, with all the layers peeled away. In other words, we get to delve into the heart of her character while learning more about the world in which she lives, and how it has become the way it is.

The journey that Lemon, Ezekiel, and Cricket take comes across as the gritty underside of the different areas and factions that live in the cities they pass though. You do get a little about Eve and Anna and where they are along the way, but they impact the story to a more minor degree allowing other stars to shine and new characters to emerge.

Although there were a few perspectives, it never felt like too many. The book flows in a fairly fast paced way, keeping you invested and interested in what’s going on in each location and with each character. I can’t wait for book three, with all the background and set up on all the characters it is sure to come together in a completely unexpected and amazing finale.

After the mind-blowing ending in LIFEL1K3, I was highly anticipating this book... and it was good. I liked following Lemon Fresh, but finding out Ezekial and Cricket? As well as Eve? I won't lie and say I wasn't anticipating some POV's more than others. But other than that, the new characters were great, the plot and pacing and emotions were fast paced and hard hitting... I'm definitely anticipating the finale.

Welp. I loved it (duh) and now that I'm finished I'm kinda salty (duh). What else can you expect from a Jay Kristoff book?

A big bonus was that it was a good chunk about Lemon Fresh and Cricket. I loved all of the characters but I didn't know how much I loved Lemon and Cricket before this.

I'm dying for more.

This is a satisfying and exciting story with a solid, surprising finish. I think Eve's story was the weakest, and paled sharply in comparison to Cricket and Lemon's storylines.

I'm pretty much in love with everything Jay Kristoff writes, and this second installment in the Lifelike trilogy didn't disappoint. It has everything you could want in an AI driven apocalyptic thriller. Highly recommended!

I love Jay Kristoff's writing and immediately want to read anything he publishes. This is the second in his LifeLike series and it was a hilarious adventure sequel. I do think it fell victim to a typical middle book blunder of losing some spark because our beloved cast of characters were split up on their own personal plot lines. However, I really enjoyed seeing each character grow and do something different from what we came to expect from them in the first book. If you like futuristic steam punk meets wild west vibes meets rogue AI meets witty banter, then you'll find all of that and more in this book. True to the multi-meaning title, each character deviated from expectations and their adventures raised even more questions as they found a few answers about their world and backgrounds. The cliff hanger ending leaves me eagerly wanting to read the next book.

I can't say much more than I love me everything to do with Jays amazing apocalyptic dystopian robot romp. Lemon Fresh is my soul mate.

I received this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

I LOVED IT!!! I am a slut for anything Jay Kristoff writes!!

I live for sequels. Sure, book number one is always fun, meeting new characters, exploring new worlds, all that jazz. But I firmly believe that sequels are where it’s at. Last year when I read Jay Kristoff’s LIFEL1K3, it fell pretty solidly in the, “This is pretty good, not mind blowing, but where’s the sequel?” category for me. I liked it well enough, but I was ready to move past all the introductions and see more. DEV1AT3 did just that.

Was this book perfect? Nope, not really. But that’s okay because I really enjoyed it and thought it to be a step above the first one. The plot meandered a little, at times feeling like it was spinning out and going nowhere. I also found it to be a little predictable, which held me back the slightest bit from absolutely loving it. I said it in my review of book one, and I’ll say it again, but this series is very derivative. Which is not always a bad thing! This one is just so Mad Max/BladeRunner/Anastasia that it does show a little of where things are going.

OKAY. Bad stuff out of the way. Now we can focus on why I liked DEV1AT3 better than LIFEL1K3. Two words:

Lemon Fresh.

So a big part of my issue with LIFEL1K3 was that I didn’t care much for Ana as the lead. But Lemon. LEMON. I knew she was meant for great things. And having her as the main character(which was something I totally missed going into this book!) was brilliant. It was clear in the way he wrote the character that Kristoff just gets Lemon. She’s so much more fun to read, and I love the way her story is playing out. (I also have a new ship for her that I think is never, ever going to happen but it’s TOO LATE because I already ship it, so thanks a lot, Jay.) I did want to see a little more progression in Lemon’s storyline, but honestly, that is probably just me being greedy. Trust me when I say that her story is really cool and I think it’s going to get even better in the next book.

The characters, Lemon being the most obvious, are really what made this sequel. Cricket was a delight to read. I have a soft spot for robots and sentient AIs anyway, and Cricket is just fun to read. Ezekiel showed a little more depth in this book, which I think was sorely needed for his character. There are a plethora of new side characters in this one as well, most of which were very interesting and really added to the story for me. I think Kristoff did a great job of using his characters to flesh out this world he’s created, which is something I don’t see super often, characters used for world building. It was really neat to read.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed DEV1AT3. Was it one of my favorite books? No. But I did have a good time reading it. It’s fairly fast-paced, despite dragging in a few spots, so it was a quick read. Lemon is an excellent lead, really taking this book to the next level for the series. The story is interesting and fun, leaving plenty open to be explored in future books, which I will definitely pick up.

I'm not sure how I feel, or if I loved it as much as Book One. Kristoff has some insane writing style, and it's harder for me to adjust to it. But one thing is for sure. This dude has a creative madness to him. And can write the most intense, intriguing prose, and characters!!

Deviate follows our band of misfits after the events of Lifelike and they're all split up, spanning the Yousay. We see from Lemon and Cricket the most which is a refreshing change from the first book, which focused heavily on Zeke and Evei. It did have a bit of that second novel drag but not nearly what I've felt from other novels.

We get to see from inside the Brotherhood and their leader along with inside the Likelikes quest to eradicate humanity. There are far more twists than my brain could handle and I'm still shellshocked from the events that transpired. We see more Deviates, more Logika, and even more craziness. Nothing is as it seems and nothing will be the same after this. And I'm not sure if anyone is going to make it out of this alive.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Knopf Books for Young Readers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well, Jay Kristoff did it again. I got to say that he is becoming one of my favorite authors. I just love everything he writes. The Illuminae series was such an amazing series and aurora rising did not disappoint either. Once I got this arc, which I couldn’t believe that I did, I starting reading lifelike. I got the book from the library almost a year ago but never got a chance to read it. So when I saw it on Scribd as audio I was so excited. I loved Lifel1k3! As I’m sure you saw in my review of it. But I have to say, I think I liked Dev1at3 better. I loved Eve, but I always loved Lemon Fresh! I was so happy that our favorite side character got to be the main character. 

It was awesome seeing Lemon, Ezekiel, Cricket, Eve and some of the old crew in this book, but I loved all of our new characters! We get to meet more friends for Lemon, and Cricket, but Ezekiel gets an unlikely partner. I didn’t like at first but ended up being okay with it.  

We pick up right where we left off from the ending of Lifel1k3. Lemon, Ezekiel, and Cricket get out before anyone else dying, but run into complications that end up separating the trio. I was so sad and scared for all of them because each one of them goes on a seriously crazy adventure. And it seems as if they were always passing each other up somehow. There were so many twists and turns that I seriously did not see coming. That’s one reason I love all of Jay Kristoff's writing!  

I feel like I can’t talk much more about the book because I don’t want to spoil anything about it. But I really really did love this book. It was nice to get back into this crazy world with these oh so lovable characters. I laughed so much, and I cried a few times as well. I will say... that ending is something else! The next book can't come fast enough!!!! It’s going to be amazing! I’m so sure!!!  Go out and get this book right now, and when you're done reading it come and let's talk!

5 Stars


Just a small warning, you probably shouldn’t read this review if you haven’t read LIFEL1K3. 


Damn it, is there ever going to be a Jay Kristoff book that doesn’t partially destroy me in some way? Because let me tell you guys, this book was W I L D!  It's been months (I am a bit slow with the reviews, don’t judge me) and I still find myself thinking about this book. The entire concept is one of my favorites. I mean Fury Road/X-Men/Romeo & Juliet/Bladerunner doesn’t that just scream badass to you?


Dev1AT3 kicks off with Lemon Fresh separated from Ezekiel and Cricket after one epic battle. Officially marked as a deviate and running for her life, Lemon teams up with a new mysterious group who have their own special abilities. Meanwhile, Cricket has found himself in possession of a religious cult, The Brotherhood and Ezekiel teams up with an old enemy. With the trio separated, Eve plans to end the world.


Dun Dun Duuuun…


Okay, I am super crappy at recapping a synopsis. It's hard. I don’t want to spoil the book for you guys. So enjoy this bare-bones review with no spoilers.


Picking up where we left off, we are now focused on Lemon Fresh, Cricket, and Ezekiel as they run from Eve and the battle of Babel. The trio gets separated and each plays a part in the overall story. I have said it a million times, the way Jay Kristoff tells a story and weaves it together is breathtaking. I am always so damn impressed with his ability to link it all together. So the plot is off the charts, it's full of action and a lot of laughs. (Hello Cricket and Lemon)


The best parts of this story are the characters. I found myself head over heels in love with Lemon Fresh in LIFEL1K3. So I am super happy this series went into the direction where it did. Lemon deserves to be the star of the show as she is full of sass and fiercely loyal and that is truly inspiring. But Cricket, my sweet robotic boy, I love him so damn much. His side story was by far the most intriguing for me as I found it full of the best information. So excited to see where it all goes.


Now, if you like sci-fi, read this book. If you like strong independent female leads who are full of sass, then read this book. If you like robots who will melt your heart, then READ THIS BOOK. Well, read the first one first then read this one.

Four stars: Another thrilling bang up adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

After the shocking events in Babel, the ragtag group of misfits grudgingly set out, leaving a confused and angry Eve behind. In the wastelands disaster strikes. Cricket’s battery unexpectedly dies, forcing Ezekiel to head back to Babel to retrieve another one. In the meantime, Lemon is stay put, until she doesn’t. The band soon finds itself separated. Lemon after a series of events, finds herself with a group of deviate teenagers like herself. Has she finally found a place to belong? Cricket finds himself in the possession of the maniacal Brotherhood. Can he return to his friends or will he die in the arena? Meanwhile, Ezekiel takes on the most unlikely of allies in hopes of recovering both Cricket and Lemon. Along the way, Ezekiel encounters his lifelike brothers and sisters who are hellbent on their own deadly mission. Will the gang reunite and live to see another week?
What I Liked:
*Ahh.... Mr. Kristoff you continue to impress me with your astounding, action packed works. I have been a fan of Mr. Kristoff since he debuted back in 2012. His books always deliver amazing worlds, fantastic characters and lots of action as well as a few gut punches. One is never bored with a Kristoff book, and this latest book is no exception. I raced through Deviate. Now when does the next one release? Have you read anything by Jay Kristoff yet?
*I adore the characters in this series. I especially liked that the main focus of Deviate was on Lemon Fresh, the snarky, adorable and spunky sidekick from book one. In this book, Lemon ends up on her own. She exercises her powers, makes new friends and she grows. Lemon is fantastic. Cricket also grows and evolves, I enjoyed watching him learn to work around the robotic laws. Ezekiel continues to impress me as well. His loyalties have changed, even if that puts him at odds with his lifelike siblings. I love that he follows his heart. This is one heck of a cast of characters!
*Even though I didn’t love that the group got separated, I enjoyed seeing each character go out on their own and have their own adventure. The book follows each character as they try and find their way back to each other, encountering new people, enduring harrowing experiences and lots of adventure. I enjoyed each view point.
*As I mentioned, a Jay Kristoff book is never boring. This one is action packed from the get go. Prepare for terrifying scrapes, lots of battles and non stop action. There is rarely a moment to catch your breath in this one with all that is going on and the cliffhanger chapter endings. You will stay up well past your bedtime reading this one.
*The world building is outstanding. Kristoff dumps the reader into a post apocalyptic United States. The landscape is harsh and unforgiving. The world is populated by religious fantastic and robots. It is a tough world, which provides the perfect backdrop for this thrilling series.
*I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Erin Spencer. She does a phenomenal job with the voices. I especially love that she nails the sass and spunk of Lemon Fresh. Definitely grab the audio if you can.
And The Not So Much:
*Argh!! A big fat cliffhanger that leaves the reader hanging on the precipice, wondering the fate of the characters. I hated it! I need the next book stat!
*I was disappointed that Eve was a background player in this one. She makes a few appearances, but the story is more about the other three. Not to mention, I am not thrilled with the path she has chosen. I really loved Eve in the first book, this one, I could have done without her. I hope she returns to her former self in the third book.
*I have read enough of Kristoff’s books to know that he isn’t afraid to throw in a few gut punches. This one is no exception. Prepare for some shocking betrayals and a loss or two.

Deviate was a promising sophomore novel in a widely imaginative series. I enjoyed seeing my favorite group of ragtag characters grow and evolve as they each navigated the world on their own. This one packs in plenty of action and danger so you are never bored. Watch out for the nasty cliffhanger, the next book can’t release quick enough. If you haven’t read anything by Mr. Kristoff, you are in for a treat.

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.