Review: Shades of Earth

Shades of Earth       
(Across the Universe #3)
by Beth Revis
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Goodreads summary:
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.


What I thought:
What a nail-biting ending to this series! I would say that this was probably the most sci-fi book of the series. They have landed on the planet that is supposed to be their home and there are so many things they don't know and are faced with. Amy also releases all those frozen from Earth and that brings a whole different dynamic. There were also so many ironies. The people on Godspeed stayed on the ship instead of landing for their safety, but were eventually put on the mind and emotion-altering drug for the leaders to maintain control. Something similar happens on Centauri-Earth. The frozens don't like the people from Godspeed and vice versa just because they are different. There are many others, but I would give too much away if I told you about them.

There were a few things I didn't like. I felt Amy was a little inconsistent. I also got frustrated with her and Elder not just saying what they were thinking or being honest with each other. I wanted Amy to tell her parents that she had been responsible for herself for three months (was it really only that long?) without them and would have also been so if she'd stayed on earth, so they should stop treating her like a child. Some of that was that she didn't think she would ever see them again. Eventually they get through it though, thank goodness. Some things were also never explained, such as why the Phydus patches were taken, how Phydus got into the shuttle, and why the natives chose to do what they did when there were such better or more logical options. I guess I get the why to an extent, but it didn't completely work for me. At least Amy holds them accountable.

I still really loved Amy and Elder's characters! Their relationship is still developing and is strongly challenged by Amy's parents and the things they face on the new planet. I also really liked the rest of the minor characters. Then the whole plot! I just wasn't sure what was going to happen. There were so many surprises and difficulties. I wasn't quite sure if things were going to work out. I could definitely see this one being reenacted on the big screen. I'm sure it would scare me to death in a few spots because things get pretty intense and psychological. Definitely a great ending to the series!

Content: Faux language, one non-descriptive sex scene, violence
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Publication date: January 15th 2013 by Razorbill
Source: Library
Rating:





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