Follow the Bread Crumbs: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Just the facts:

Overall: 3 ½   Stars

Addiction Level: I read it when I had spare time.

Believe-ability: I daydream about the created world and wonder how I fit in.

Dystopia Factor: The world has been turned upside down and all hope is lost!

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             If you want a recap of previous books in this series check out our reviews for Across the Universe & A Million Suns.

            Shades of Earth continues Amy and Elder’s story as they prepare to leave Godspeed forever and begin a new life on Centauri-Earth. With their arrival on Centauri-Earth come new complications. For one, the time for the frozens to be reanimated officially arrives and all of the warnings and doubts of Orion fester within Elder. Add to that two very different groups of people trying to work together, a hostile environment, and the possibility of alien life forms and things aren’t really working in Elder or Amy’s favor.

            I must say that I have been pleasantly surprised by books lately. It seems as though we need to come up with some sort of quirky name for the third book that redeems the series. And Shades of Earth does just that. Revis craftily creates a new world outside of Godspeed, and having been stuck on Godspeed for two whole books sure makes you long for a new world (imagine being stuck there for centuries)! The new world is exciting, slightly dangerous and makes you start to question the authority and trustworthiness of many of the characters. Of course, Revis sticks to her mystery-style plot, but Centauri-Earth gives it a new feel.

            I mostly liked Shades of Earth, but I felt that the trail of crumbs was a bit too evident. Even from the start, I kept thinking, “There’s something up with _______”. And then it progressed to “__________ is definitely a _________ and __________”.  (Obviously, you get the idea that I’m trying not to spoil it, right?) But, through it all, I enjoyed the read and felt that there was a sufficient ending. I, however, don’t recommend reading it before bed because you might suffer from dinosaur related dreams or, in my case, dreams about too many embryos being created at once. Weird.

A Sad Day in Space: A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Just the facts:

Overall: 3 Stars

Addiction Level: I ignored the hubby and puppies until I finished the book.

Believe-ability: It was believable.

Dystopia Factor: The world has been turned upside down and all hope is lost.

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   At long last, my review for A Million Suns! (Sorry it took so long!).

   A Million Suns picks up right where Across the Universe left off. Elder is in control of Godspeed, phydus is no longer in use, and the ship is losing steam as it’s headed for Centauri-Earth. Unfortunately, because people can finally think for themselves, chaos starts to break out and Elder needs to step up to be their leader. More people are dying and Amy stumbles on a new set of clues, left by none other than Orion (dun, dun, dun!). Revis keeps the tone of the book similar to Across the Universe and the murder-mystery-set-in-space plot is more of the same.

   As far as the dystopian world goes, there isn’t much to go on. A few elements are there – population control, lack of parental guidance, and a controlling government, but the book keeps a neat package without pushing the reader beyond the point of comfort. The characters seem to lack growth and the plot twists fail to impress. Overall, A Million Suns is completely forgettable, which makes me very sad. It seems to be a book that bridges the beginning and end of the story but does little for the middle. I hope that Shades of Earth can redeem the series.

Can’t Wait Books of 2012 Completed: 2/5

Spiderman-Style Kissing in Space - Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Just the facts:

Overall: 3 Stars (Originally 3.5, but I think 3 stars is a better fit.)

Addiction Level: I read it every waking moment.

Believe-ability: It was believable. (It could have been more so, but I was too annoyed at the made up slang and curse words. Really, if you’re going to make words up, can you be a little more original? Frex really doesn’t cut it for me. Just use the real words or, better yet, leave it out all together!)

Dystopia Factor: The world has been turned upside down and all hope is lost! (Or the spaceship has, at least.)

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   As I prepare to read A Million Suns, I thought it would be best if I re-read Across the Universe and give you a short review. That way, you’ll be caught up in no time! And I, of course, can remember more than a general ‘girl frozen on a spaceship who tries to find a murderer’ storyline. So, here it is. A mashing of my initial review and my second-time around thoughts.

   Told from alternating point-of-views, Across the Universe follows Amy, a cryogenically frozen girl, who has been mysteriously awakened before her time, and Elder, the boy who will soon control the spaceship Godspeed, upon which she is frozen. While Amy faces her new title as a recalcitrant freak, she and Elder also struggle to protect the other frozen passengers against a murderer whom no one suspects.

   I really enjoyed Across the Universe. It was an entertaining book that read like a cross between a crime-solving mystery and a true young adult dystopia. An off-balance ruler? Check. A seemingly perfect and controlled society? Check. Someone who is willing to ask the question “are you sure this society is what it appears”? Check. A little shocking during parts, Across the Universe kept me guessing at what life aboard a centuries-old spaceship would really be like.

WARNING: I’m about to step into my teacher shoes.

   There are parts of Across the Universe that I chose to overlook or didn’t really care about the first time I read the book. But, upon my second glance I find that those things are sticking with me and are really irritating or distasteful (I’m not sure how to describe my feelings toward it). Specifically, I’m talking about the use of sex and sexual innuendo that is prevalent throughout the book. All of this was present the first time I read the book and none of the words on the page have changed. So, I know that the difference in my reaction and acceptance of it is my own changing schema. (Take that as proof I earned my degree!) Now, I’m not usually sensitive to these types of things, (evidence of this is the fact that I loved Graceling) but I think that it’s worth pointing out that not all readers are ready to fill their minds with these images. I’m referencing the younger readers who are at the stage where they are trying to decipher right from wrong, acceptable behavior and unacceptable behavior, etc. Yes, I think it is relevant to the story, but reader be warned.

 

   Lastly, I must admit that I feel like I’m not the attentive reader that I thought I was. While re-reading Across the Universe, I could see all the clues to solve the mystery as if they were highlighted on the page. Why didn’t I see these the first time? I feel like such a dunce. Then again, I’m never very good at figuring out ‘who done it’. I’m usually always surprised at the endings to Castle. Go figure.    

   Stay tuned in the next few weeks for my review of A Million Suns!