TRUEL1F3 by Jay Kristoff
Lifelike book 3. Allen & Unwin Australia, 2020. ISBN:
9781760295707.
(Age: 15+) Recommended. Right from the start I was wondering just
how Kristoff was going to bring all the threads of this brilliant
trilogy together. Would the characters Evie and Lemon from the
adrenaline pumping LIFEL1K3
and DEV1AT3
resolve their differences and once again become besties? Would the
Yousay be devastated by nuclear war in a fight between the tech
corporation Daedelus or the hive-like BioMass? Would Ezekiel be
reunited with his brothers and sisters, or would Gabriel bring
everyone down in his attempt to rid the world of humans? And could
the fast-paced action of the first two books be maintained? I did
not need to worry, Kristoff has done an outstanding job of resolving
dilemmas and bringing characters back together, with adroitness,
skill and wonderful imagination.
It is essential to read the three books in the trilogy in order as
each book builds on the actions and character growth in the one
before. TRUEL1F3 starts immediately after DEV1AT3,
with Lemon Fresh captured with devastating consequences by BioMass.
Meanwhile Gabriel's grip on sanity deteriorates as he accesses the
means to replicate his beloved Grace and the struggle to take over
the world by Daedelus and BioMass continues.
Fast paced action pushes the story on with some almost unbelievable
alliances being made to save humanity. However, the moral dilemmas
will make the reader pause and think. Kristoff questions what
constitutes true life - can it be humans, genetic mutations with
super powers like Lemon Fresh and Abe, super intelligent clones like
Evie and Gabriel, or the many wonderful robots like Cricket, who
have to obey the Three Laws of Robots? There are many heart-breaking
choices to be made and grief to be faced as this trilogy comes to
its ultimately hopeful conclusion.
Science fiction fans and readers who enjoy the thrill of a fast ride
will be sure to want to read this series, and then may go on to the
award-winning Illuminae
Files, co-authored by Kristoff and Amie Kaufman.
Pat Pledger