Book Review: Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Title: Shades of Earth
Series: Across the Universe #3
Author: Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill (January 15, 2013)
Genre: YA Science Fiction Romance

Format Read: Ebook
Length: Novel
Source: Purchased

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.

 

Teaser: “This concludes the landing of the shuttle,” the computer says. “Please shift operational command of the mission to the highest-ranking officer in cryogenics once reanimation is complete.” [4% of Kindle Edition. I have to admit this made me laugh a bit. It seems so stereotypical sci-fi story. Loved it!]

Review: Centauri-Earth is within reach, but Amy and Elder have not left the lies and secrets behind in Beth Revis’ Shades of Earth.

Like the previous two books in the trilogy, Shades of Earth has a fast-paced, twisty plot that leaves a reader guessing until the very end. I love the multi-level world building Revis creates throughout the trilogy, but Centauri-Earth is a particularly special and mysterious planet. The action never stops, and the romance between Elder and Amy goes through its own twists and turns.

The novel is told through dual points of view between Amy and Elder, so the reader gets a sense of how the plot affects both characters. I love how Amy and Elder grow as characters and into their positions within this new society. The conflict between the ones from old Earth and the new one come to a head as well in this novel, which adds to the tension. And the ending left me breathless.

I loved Shades of Earth by Beth Revis as much as Across the Universe and A Million Suns. This trilogy is one of my favorite trilogies of all time.

 Five Bookworms = I loved it!

Book Review: Reconnaissance by Aubrie Dionne

Title: Reconnaissance
Series: Paradise Reclaimed #2
Author: Aubrie Dionne
Publisher: InkSpell Publishing (May 1, 2013)
Genre: YA Science Fiction Romance

Format Read: Ebook ARC
Length: Novel
Source: Publisher

Nova Williams has lost her one shot at Lieutenant hood and at love. Lieutenant Crophaven has promoted her rival, Andromeda, all because her lifemate, Sirius, sacrificed their mission to win back Andromeda’s love.

While sneaking out to prove Andromeda is a fake, Nova finds an alien ship hovering over their colony. Lieutenant Crophaven assigns her to a reconnaissance mission, giving her a second chance to redeem herself. Sirius must fly her and a research team to the vessel to decide if they are a threat. Thrown together with the lifemate that betrayed her, she battles with her own jealousy while her team battles for their lives. 

Can she forgive Sirius in order to save her team and warn her colony? 

 

Teasers: “All right, as long as we don’t break any rules.” [11% Ebook ARC. I love this line because it says so much about Nova’s character.]

This mission was a lieutenant-maker, and my one big break. No pressure. [20% Ebook ARC. Once again, these lines say so much about Nova.]

Why did it have to be bugs? [35% Ebook ARC. Yes, exactly! *shudders*]

My life dangled from brittle strands of malleable metal. [43% Ebook ARC. This line is such a lovely description and can mean so much more too.]

I was his lucky star. [70% Ebook ARC. This is definitely an “aww” line.] 

Review: Nova Williams craves a lieutenant-making mission, but this one mission threatens her entire world in Aubrie Dionne’s Reconnaissance.

The second book in the Paradise Reclaimed series, Reconnaissance picks up where Colonization left off, but with the new main character, Nova Williams. A hard-working, no-nonsense young woman, Nova strives to be the perfect expedition leader, but everything that can go wrong will for her. I love how Dionne chose Nova to tell the story and how the reader experiences Nova’s growth. Sirius, Nova’s chosen lifemate, makes the perfect match to Nova’s sarcastic wit. The vicious, intelligent, and creepy alien arachnids are a formidable force against the team members.

The fast-paced plot works perfectly for YA science fiction, and Dionne creates wonderful budding romance between Nova and Sirius. The nightmarish aliens add a delightful touch of horror. Dionne held back no punches as she tormented her characters and created this wonderful science fiction planet of Paradise 21.

Aubrie Dionne’s Paradise Reclaimed series gets better with each book. I highly recommend Reconnaissance!

 

Five Bookworms = I loved it!

Other Books in the Series:

 

Click here to read my review.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

I is for Immortal Essence series by RaShelle Workman

 

For 2013's A to Z Challenge, I am talking about book series, particularly some favorite series as well as series I've been waiting to read for a LONG time.

I is for ... Immortal Essence series by RaShelle Workman

Okay, I have to admit part of me wants to read this series for the beautiful covers alone, but I also love the premise of them. They sound so unique. I've had the first one on my Kindle for way too long, so I need to find a way to bump this series up soon.

Worlds divided them. Chance brought them together. Only love will save them.

An alien princess exiled to Earth.
An arrogant boy.
One week to get back to her planet or she'll die.
And, her only chance for survival? She must help the boy find his soul mate.
Piece of cake!

Stubborn, sixteen-year-old Princess Venus of Kelari wants one thing, to become immortal, that is, until someone exiles her to Earth, kills her irrihunter and takes her family.

Now she wants revenge.

First she’s got to get home. But before she can return to Kelari, the Gods have commanded her to help an arrogant boy named Michael find his soul mate.

Only she doesn't know the first thing about love.

Rather quickly, her inexperience with human emotion is obscured by other matters--alien-controlled psychotic teens that are out to kill her, and a government group that is set on capturing and dissecting her.

Worst of all, Venus will suffer a painful death-by-poisoning, thanks to Earth’s atmosphere, if she remains on the planet longer than one week.

Still, Venus is a Princess and she's got a plan. Surely, with her help, Michael will fall in love with a human.

But time is running out and Michael is falling for the wrong girl--her.

Worlds divided them. Chance brought them together. Only love will save them.

In book 2 of the Immortal Essence series, Venus must enter her planet's Hell, and complete three trials in order to free her parents, and save her soulmate.

SUMMARY:

Venus has become immortal, just as she always wanted. In the process she hurt Zaren, lost Michael, and destroyed her family.

At least that's what she believed.

Turns out Ramien, the god of her planets' underworld, has her parents, and Michael.

To save them, Venus makes a deal. She must complete three trials. They seem impossible. They certainly won't be easy. Worst of all, someone she loves won't make it out alive.

Worlds divided them. Chance brought them together. Only love will save them.

In book3 of the Immortal Essence series, Venus's planet, known as Kelari, is at war. Venus must decide the fate of her world, and do so without losing her heart.

Teaser Tuesdays: COLONIZATION by Aubrie Dionne

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title and author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

Colonization by Aubrie Dionne

43% of eARC

“Ray’s still sick. He’s fallen into a deep coma, and the doctors can’t bring him out of it.”

 

Do you have a teaser? Feel free to leave one or a link to one in the comments.

Book Review: COLONIZATION by Aubrie Dionne

Title: Colonization: Paradise 21

Series: Paradise Reclaimed

Author: Aubrie Dionne

Publisher: Inkspell Publishing

Format: eARC Novel

Source: Publisher

Genre: YA Science Fiction Romance

Goodreads  

Finding a new home has never been so dangerous.

Andromeda has spent all seventeen years of her life aboard a deep space transport vessel destined for a paradise planet. Her safe cocoon is about to break open as Paradise 21 looms only one month away, and she must take the aptitude tests to determine her role on the new world and her computer assigned lifemate. As a great-granddaughter of the Commander of the ship, she wants to live up to her family name. But, her forbidden love for her childhood friend, Sirius, distracts her and she fails the tests. The results place her in a menial role in the new colony and pair her with Corvus, “the oaf”.

But when Andromeda steps foot on Paradise 21, her predestined future is the least of her worries. Alien ghosts from a failed colonization warn her of a deadly threat to her colony. And when Sirius's ship crashes on the far ridge in an attempt to investigate, she journeys to rescue him with Corvus.

Andromeda now must convince the authorities of the imminent danger to keep her protect her new home. What she didn't expect was a battle of her own feelings for Sirius and Corvus.

Can she save the colony and discover her true love?

Review: Forbidden love on a paradise planet that’s anything but paradise, Aubrie Dionne’s Colonization will keep you guessing.

Andromeda’s life is pre-planned. She’ll take her tests, and her job and lifemate will be chosen for her. But everything is about the change on the New Dawn. After many generations, they are landing on Paradise 21, their new home. She has to face a life outside the confines of deep space and a new job. Worse, the boy she loves is chosen for her enemy. Andromeda doesn’t know how she’ll survive these changes, but the worst is yet to come. For the planet isn’t as much of a paradise as they once thought.

Colonization hooks the reader from the first chapter. Andromeda is an unlikely heroine. She doesn’t work hard at school, and she’s known to be a slacker. But she could be the colonization’s only hope for survival. Sirius is the forbidden hunk, and Corvus is simply loveable and strong. I love how Dionne sprinkles in phrases like “black-as-deep-space hair” to show the futuristic expressions ideal for their lives. The plot is fast-paced and intense. The budding romances are sweet and passionate. I love how the colonists still find their choices in their pre-planned existence. This novel is such a great read!

Aubrie Dionne conquered space in her New Dawn series, but now she’s taking over the planet in Colonization. You won’t want to miss out on this new series!

Five Bookworms = I loved it!

Waiting on Wednesday: COLONIZATION by Aubrie Dionne

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Colonization
Paradise Reclaimed #1
By Aubrie Dionne
Publication Date: November 7, 2012

From Goodreads:

Andromeda has spent all seventeen years of her life aboard a deep space transport vessel destined for a paradise planet. Her safe cocoon is about to break open as Paradise 21 looms only one month away, and she must take the aptitude tests to determine her role on the new world and her computer assigned lifemate. As a great-granddaughter of the Commander of the ship, she wants to live up to her family name. But, her forbidden love for her childhood friend, Sirius, distracts her and she fails the tests. The results place her in a menial role in the new colony and pair her with Corvus, “the oaf”.

But when Andromeda steps foot on Paradise 21, her predestined future is the least of her worries. Alien ghosts from a failed colonization warn her of a deadly threat to her colony. And when Sirius’s ship crashes on the far ridge in an attempt to investigate, she journeys to rescue him with Corvus.

Andromeda now must convince the authorities of the imminent danger to keep her protect her new home. What she didn’t expect was a battle of her own feelings for Sirius and Corvus.

Can she save the colony and discover her true love?

I read a really early draft of this as Aubrie's critique partner and loved it! I can't wait to read the final copy. And isn't that cover gorgeous?!

What's your "waiting on" pick?