TRUEL1F3 (Truelife) by Jay Kristoff is a wild ride that mixes sci-fi, gaming, and a whole lot of action. The story is set in a futuristic world where virtual reality is everything, and the main character, Flee, is caught up in this intense game that feels way too real. But it’s not just about playing to win, there’s a ton of mystery behind the game, and Flee is trying to figure out what’s really going on.

What I loved about this book is how immersive the world is. Kristoff really knows how to create a tech-heavy world that feels alive and full of possibilities. The story is fast-paced with twists that keep you guessing, and Flee is a relatable character. She’s smart, tough, and trying to make her way through a system that’s stacked against her. The dialogue is witty, and there’s a ton of banter, which makes it even more fun.

The pacing is quick, so you’re never bored, and it’s got all the things you’d want in a thriller—action, suspense, and a plot that keeps you on your toes. Plus, the ending? Definitely leaves you wanting more.

Kristoff is and always will be one of my favorite authors. He's one of the few that I will read a sci-fi story from because he makes the story and characters appealing. And the books always end up with fantastic audiobook editions too!

"Truel1f3" by Jay Kristoff is a heart-pounding and mind-bending conclusion to the Lifelike trilogy, delivering a thrilling rollercoaster ride of action, emotion, and unexpected twists. Kristoff's masterful storytelling and intricate world-building combine to create a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page.

The story picks up where the previous installment left off, plunging readers back into the dystopian world of a post-apocalyptic America ravaged by war, AI rebellion, and political intrigue. As the conflict between humans and lifelikes reaches its boiling point, the fate of the world hangs in the balance, and the lines between friend and foe blur in the chaos of battle.

Kristoff's characters are complex and multi-dimensional, each grappling with their own demons and motivations as they navigate the dangerous landscape of betrayal and survival. The protagonist, Eve, is a formidable and relatable heroine whose journey of self-discovery and empowerment resonates with readers on a deeply emotional level.

The pacing is relentless, with non-stop action and heart-stopping twists that keep readers guessing until the very end. Kristoff's writing is sharp and immersive, with vivid descriptions and electrifying prose that bring the world of "Truel1f3" to life in vivid detail.

At its core, "Truel1f3" is a story about the nature of humanity, the power of love and friendship, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. As the characters grapple with questions of identity and morality, they are forced to confront their own prejudices and preconceptions, leading to profound moments of growth and self-discovery.

Overall, "Truel1f3" is a thrilling and satisfying conclusion to the Lifelike trilogy, delivering an explosive finale that will leave readers breathless and eager for more. Jay Kristoff has crafted a masterpiece of dystopian fiction that pushes the boundaries of the genre and leaves a lasting impact on readers long after they've turned the final page.

I am a huge fan of anything by this author and I loved continuing on with this series. This is probably one of my favorites in the series.

This book is a roller coaster finale to an action-packed trilogy. You do need to read the entire trilogy in order to really understand the backstory of what is happening in this 3rd installment of the Lifel1k3 series. But it’s definitely worth the read.

This book is fast-paced, probably the fastest paced of the trilogy and a lot happens from start to finish. I want to avoid spoilers, so I won’t get into super detail, but there were definitely some surprises and plot twists. There are betrayals and heartbreak and devastating losses, as well as some meaningful reunions in this final installment of the trilogy.

Over the course of the trilogy, there are 4 main characters that switch POV throughout, that continues in this book as well. Each of the characters bring additional side characters to the story along the way, until everything converges in the big climax at the end.

Lemon Fresh goes through the most transformation, more so in this book than the rest of the trilogy. She started as a scared kid and grows into a strong, independent leader. But she stays true to what’s important throughout it all, even after some pretty intense trauma.

Cricket is unfailing through it all, though even he grows and evolves. And he is Lemon’s biggest fan (ok, maybe 2nd biggest fan in the end).

Ezekiel has a lot to work through and a lot of decisions to make. While he has a good heart, he opens himself to being hurt and betrayed time and again.

Evie has opportunity after opportunity to make better choices throughout this book. After allowing the secrets and betrayals she learned of in the first book to turn her world (and behavior) on it’s ear, can she find her way back to the person she used to be? Or will anger and hurt cause her to destroy everything she once held dear?

If you haven’t read this trilogy, please do. If you started it, but haven’t finished it yet… I recommend you pick it back up!

Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book through Net Galley on behalf of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a great conclusion to a great trilogy. It reminds me of a futuristic dark tower and I’m here for it

This trilogy is no Aurora Rising but it was still extremely enjoyable. I loved all the grungy mechanical aspects. I loved the characters. This wasn't the strongest final book but it was still very readable.

4 stars

TRUEL1F3 was an amazing conclusion to the LIFEL1K3 trilogy! I hold these three books so close to my heart because Jay Kristoff was kind enough to mail me an ARC of the first book so I won't ever get over how much I love these books! It was everything I wanted and then some.

This was such a ride. Super action packed, I wasn't sure how much I would love it since I tend to hold off/get anxiety about the end of series I love but it was really really well done!

I loved this book just like I love all of Jay’s other stuff. But for some reason, it didn’t stick with me like the first two books did. I even listened to it via audio as a re-read and STILL barely remember anything *hides*

Not to say I didn’t enjoy the crap out of it – I definitely did! As always, Jay grabs you by the balls and doesn’t let go. I was on the edge of my seat the whole book! You never know what’s going to happen next. And as always, I love that Jay doesn’t spare his characters. Bad stuff happens to them, it’s very realistic! This was a great end to an amazing trilogy and I highly recommend it! (Also Erin Spencer narrates the series and she is AMAZING, if you can go for audio DO IT!)

Thank you for sending me a copy of this book!

There is just something about the story and the writing style that doesn't seem to click with me as much as I'd like, I enjoyed the first novel of the series, kinda meh with the second one, and the third book is just not fitting in with the puzzle. I've read and enjoyed plenty of Kristoff's work but this just don't work out for me.

Many thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for an early copy. I may have just read it almost a year late (oops...). All opinions are my own!

I really enjoyed this book. I rarely give out 5 stars on books because they have to completely wow me. I think the reason this one gets 5 stars is that Jay Kristoff is not cruel to his characters in this book like all of his other books. I didn't think I would like Lemon Fresh as a character when I started the first book; I was 100% behind Eve. Lemon grew on me though, and I loved all of the growth you see in her character. She's not a young girl from the Dregs by the end of the novel; she's a woman who can literally kick some butt. This series was a quite wholesome sci-fi series. Okay, wholesome by the end. We all know Jay Kristoff's writing. But in all seriousness, this series is one you don't want to miss.

I've read other books by Jay Kristoff before, so I'm definitely going to be reading more by him.

While I didn't enjoy this book in the series as much as I enjoyed the rest of the series, it was still a nice conclusion to the story. Kristoff handles the themes very well; but added too many characters to the final book and made it a bit more chaotic and I was less able to connect to them.

It’s no secret that I love anything that Jay Kristoff writes! You definitely can’t go wrong picking up one of his books!

This free Netgalley copy will be added yo my Kristoff collection. I read Lifelike and really enjoyed the journey and the characters. Lemon fresh is awesome. I can't wait to continue this series.

I love me a happy ending from Jay Kristoff. I am extremely grateful to have read the ending, which I thought wrapped up more nicely than most of his other stories.

I felt that this whole series was very appropriate for its demographic and told exceptionally well. I love scifi. 10/10

I've purchased for friends

Thank you so much for allowing me to read and review your titles.
I do appreciate it and continue to review books that I get the chance to read.
Thanks again!

TRUEL1F3, what can I possibly say about this book. I have been putting it off for a year because I was not ready for it to end. But this one was fantastic. Jay Kristoff just really does a great job writing a wonderful story. He knows how to keep you invested.

From the start, Lemon was my girl. She stole the show from the moment we met her and I am really glad Kristoff made her the more focal character of the series. Because she deserves the limelight. Her sass and humor were * chef's kisses* and I loved her relationship with Cricket. I loved all of these characters but those two were the stars of the show for me.

Now with the plot, I am happy with the way most things turned out. For obvious reasons, I won't spoil anything so there isn't a lot I can say. But just know that I am happy with it. Except for one thing but I'll leave that for you to figure out. TRUEL1F3 is still a wonderful conclusion to a great series!

I am so sad to say goodbye to Cricket, Lemonfresh, Eve, and Ezekiel. But if you are looking for a wonderful sci-fi trilogy, then this is the one to pick up.

This book fell flat for me. I felt like for the longest time nothing happened in this book. I feel like this could've been resolved in two books rather than three.

This series was a ride! I’m going to rate this one a 4.5 stars. The way that the AI characters are do not seem far fetched at all if you were to give something the capability of thought. This is also a series that is going to stick out to me because you spend the whole first book thinking that Eve is the protagonist when really she isn’t. Sure she has a big story to tell in this series but Lemon is the main character here and you don’t realize that until book 2. I think this installment wrapped everything up in a nice bow and I was happy with how it ended. I think Eve might have been a lost cause. I don’t see how they can really trust her in the end but I like that once her relationship with Lemon was validated that she remembered who she was. I would recommend this book and if I was still going to be a teacher I would figure out a way to use this book in my class. I think it would spark a lot of conversations and debates about the dangers of artificial intelligence and if something like the technology in this series is our ultimate evolution in technology.