Book Review - Shades of Earth
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by Beth Revis
Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.
But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.
Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.
FUELED BY LIES.
RULED BY CHAOS.
ALMOST HOME.
Why I Picked This Book: I loved book one and two, and I just adore Beth Revis. How could I not preorder book three and wait impatiently for its release?
My Thoughts:
Oh Beth. Beth Beth Beth.
I have been biting at the bit for this last installment of the Across the Universe trilogy. I have been roped in since book one, more than loved book two, and couldnt wait to see where the final book would take me.
I was not disappointed.
(Note: If you havent read the previous two novels in this series, the following might be a slight spoiler!)
While book one and two take place aboard Godspeed, the huge lifer ship that has been lost in the stars on its way to settle a new planet, book three explores (quite literally) new terrain. The people of Godspeed have landed on the planet. Only to find things are far from what they expected.
For one: They wake up the frozens, the people who have been in cryo since leaving Earth. While Amy is finally reunited with her mom and dad, this seems to awaken more problems than good. The military believe it is their job to lead and control. And harbor little respect for the shipborns who outnumber them.
Oh, I loved this. Watching the dynamic of the two groups as they attempted to merge. As they judged, separated, tried again, and failed. It was so... human. I could see and believe everything that happened, and was constantly mad at certain people for their sheer stupidity. This book is more than just Shades of Earth in the sense that they are settling a new planet. The people are shades of mankind, and they harbor everything that makes us tick.
For two: There are monsters on the planet. Beasts that fly and kill. Instantly from the start you can tell there is more to these beasts than their Pterodactyl relations. What could that be? They aren't the only "beasts" on the planet. The ones Amy and Elder discover hide much bigger secrets, and danger, than any flying beast.
Which goes to show once again: The people who sent them into space truly weren't honest. Oh, the twists.
And for three: The relationship between Amy and Elder is about to get shaken up! That's right. Everything is far from sunshine and daisies for these two. While I have loved their love from the beginning (they might be in the stars, but they at least don't have their heads in the clouds), Shades of Earth adds one more wrench in their plans. Watching these two grow, learn, and fight through it all was a great experience.
I was never bored with this read. I never skimmed, and I never wanted it to end. What I would give to live in Beth Revis' head just for one day... Revis' writing is more than believable, and pulls you along with every breath. This series is now securely one of my favorite YA series, and I highly recommend it to everyone looking for an amazing read.
My Rating:
(5 out of 5 stars)
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