LIFEL1K3 by Jay Kristoff is a story filled with action, a little bit of romance and a very well written friendship.
It’s just another day on the Scrap: lose the last of your credits at the WarDome, dodge the gangs and religious fanatics, discover you can destroy electronics with your mind, stumble upon the deadliest robot ever built.
When Eve finds 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 and her robotic sidekick in tow, she and Ezekiel will trek across deserts of irradiated glass, battle cyborg assassins, and scour abandoned megacities to save the ones she loves and learn the dark secrets of her past.
LIFEL1K3 Review
“This is not my life. This is not my home. I am not me.”
Eve is only trying to get money to buy his grandfather’s meds. After struggling for more than two years, Eve’s grandfather, Silas, is losing the fight to Cancer.
Eve would do anything to buy the medicine his grandfather needs.
After a spectacular battle inside the WarDome, Eve destroys the robot with just a shake of her hand. Meaning she’s something else, not entirely human.
Because of this, the Brotherhood is looking for her.
At the same time, Eve and Lemon found an android in the Scrap, a lifelike. Androids that look just like a human, who also feel and think like a human would.
But after trouble comes knocking on her door, Eve learns her life isn’t exactly what she thought it was.
Characters
Eve Carpenter is a 17 year old girl who’s been living with her grandfather after her mom, dad, brother and sisters died in a militia raid. She’s a dome fighter and a top-tier botdoc living on the island of Dregs.
Lemon Fresh, Eve’s best friend. After pickpocketing money from Eve’s grandfather, Kaiser and Silas found her and offered her food and shelter. Since then, she has lived with Eve, her grandfather Silas, Cricket and Kaiser.
Ezequiel is a lifelike that was found in the Scrap by Eve and Lemon.
Cricket is a little robot but don’t call him “little” in front of him. He was made by her grandfather to protect Eve.
Kaiser is a blitzhund, a very loyal cyborg dog with a bomb inside who can rip your arm with his teeth.
Thoughts
Jay Kristoff’s writing is so unique. It’s a good thing and a bad thing, at least for me. In the beginning, I wasn’t understanding what was happening… I was 10% through LIFEL1K3 and I couldn’t say what the book was about.
But thank goodness I persevered! LIFEL1K3 is awesome! I really can’t think of any book that is similar to this one. Maybe only video games such as Detroit: Become Human.
Eve and Lemon’s friendship is the best. It’s an excellent example of friendship goals.
“You’re my bestest. Rule Number One in the Scrap, remember?
“Stronger together.”
“Together forever”
LIFEL1K3 is not only a sci-fi series full of action, it also makes us question our humanity. Robots are basically created to be slaves, to protect and do whatever their creator wants.
It makes you wonder who the villain really is, either the robots who are fighting for their free will or the humans creating and destroying life, even if that life is a robot.
Let’s talk about world-building. Jay did a really good job here. LIFEL1K3 is set in a post-apocalyptic America destroyed by natural disasters, where two major corporations are fighting for control. Robots, androids and lifelikes live among humans.
Overall, I really liked how Eve discovered who she was and who she wants to be. It does end in a huge cliffhanger but thankfully the full trilogy has come out already.
If you’re looking for an action packed book, a little bit of romance and a very well written friendship, LIKEL1K3 is for you.
Looking for more great reviews?
Check out my review of There Will Come a Darkness here.