29 June 2012

Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Book: Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill
Pages: 416
Source: Library
Links: Goodreads | Amazon

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.


Guys, I believe with all my heart that science fiction is going to be the next big thing in the YA genre. Across the Universe is my first, real taste of science fiction in YA, and boy was it good! (Is it just me who barely noticed that the cover has two people facing each other? I thought it was just blobs.)

Anyways, ON TO THE REVIEW.

WHAT I LIKED:

  • Intriguing mysteries? UNPREDICTABLE twists? WIN.
    • If y'all know me, you know how much I enjoy those shocking twists that make you go, "OH WHAT THE FUDGE IS THIS?" This book is FILLED TO THE BRIM with these kinds of twists. Good gosh, I can't remember how many times I was surprised from this book.
  • The storytelling in this book is just as entrancing and captivating like the stars in the galaxies.
    • Ohohoho, Gianna has some poetic side to her after all! (Not really.) Point is, this book has super lovely prose and it was a key aspect of why I liked this book. If anything, this is what stuck me through the long, tedious lulls I experienced when I read AtU.
  •  World building scores!
    • Floppies, "frex", high tech gizmos and gadgets, Across the Universe had some fairly good world building, which I really liked. It was really fascinating to learn about the technology that was invented in this book and I could probably see these things happening in the future!

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

  • I... couldn't really connect with the characters.
    • Sure, they were enjoyable to read about but I found it so hard just to connect with Amy, Elder, and everyone else on the ship. 
  • A love out of time? Psh, more like, "A love that needs more time!"
    • Warning, folks: signs of instant love is definitely strong. I like Amy and Elder as a couple. They mesh well together, to put it in one way. 
    • Here's the thing though: they hardly know each other. I wanted to see their relationship develop more in AtU, but unfortunately it didn't happen. In my opinion, I felt that things were moving a bit too fast between them and that is something that just doesn't sit right with me.
  •  If this book was a reptile, it'd be a turtle that has a faulty rocket jet pack.
    • Now, you may be going like, "WHAAA?" but I'm completely serious. You're also probably wondering how is it like that? Sometimes, the turtle's faulty rocket jet pack would work. In this case, that means the book would be fast paced and engaging. When the faulty jet pack wouldn't work, the turtle (the book) was very, very slow. (Am I making sense here?)
      • Point is: book could be fast paced sometimes, book could be so slow sometimes.
    • Slow paced books equals me getting heavy lidded eyes and my entertainment level on low.

 THE VERDICT:

  • For the love of all things cute and adorable, I swear I really liked this book. It sounded like I didn't, but I really did. Sure, the romance and plot pacing fell a bit for me, but in all, it's a really great book. Across the Universe has some definite potential to be the start of one kick butt sci-fi series, a series I will definitely be on the lookout for.
 


    16 lovelies:

    Gianne said...

    I actually didn't feel the insta-love when I was reading Across the Universe. In fact, sometimes I was feeling that there wasn't enough, but that's also why I didn't like it that much either. A Million Suns doesn't have that much romance either, but I hope you like it! :)


    Eileen @ ***Singing and Reading in the Rain***

    Gianne said...

    Lol, loved the review as always. I still need to get started on this series and you got me even more excited to read it! Thanks for the honest review:)

    Gianne said...

    Lol, loved the review as always. I still need to get started on this series and you got me even more excited to read it! Thanks for the honest review:)

    Gianne said...

    I hate Disqus why are you using it! But that's not why I'm commenting. Just wanted to say, Wasn't Across the Universe fantastic? <3

    Gianne said...

    Oh! Well, I'm sorry. :o I personally think Disqus is much easier to use and on the regular Blogger commenting, my template doesn't allow threaded comments unlike Disqus. :P

    Across the Universe was definitely fantastic~

    Gianne said...

    Ah, same person, I wonder? :o

    Gianne said...

    Thank you! :) The first book was pretty good, and I really hope you enjoy it when you get the chance. :) And no problem! Thanks for commenting~

    Gianne said...

    Ahhhh, the romance isn't really what keeps me going in AtU, but those damn good twists and mysteries. :P So, good for me, I suppose? XD And I agree, the romance did seem to be less than I expected but in my opinion, it still had those "feels" of insta-love. :P

    Gianne said...

    Ooooh, if you think Amy and Elder were moing too fast in AtU, I think you'll appreciate AMS. Amy REALLY examines it, and it's a key part of the story. ANYWAY. GIANNA. YOUR REVIEW. AMAZING.


    I read this book last year and it blew me away, and, like you, the writing was a HUGE part of it. It's gorgeous, and Revis' prose is just... wow. Words. They fail me... and I loved the tense, claustrobic feel of Godspeed, also? ANYWAY. ME LOVED. I AM GLAD YOU DID TOO :D


    You know, if you liked this, and you want more sci-fi, you might want to give Maria V. Snyder's Inside Out a try... sorry... I can never miss an opportunity to pimp her books... but it's vaguely similar... kind of... well... not really at all. BUT SCI-FI... and possibly-maybe a spaceship.


    OH GOODNESS STOP ME THIS COMMENT IS OUT OF CONTROL. SO. THE END.
    ALSO: I LOVE YOU AND YOUR REVIEWS &HEARTS;

    Gianne said...

    I recently won a giveaway for A Million Suns so I think I should read Across the Universe first and from what you've mentioned in your review, it sounds really promising! I love unpredictable reads and if you say it's just as entrancing as the stars, I believe you! It's a shame you couldn't really connect to the characters though :( Thanks for writing such a fun review, I'm now following and look forward to reading more fab posts from you!


    I just read your About Me page (cos I'm nosy like that) and I'm an Asian teen AND my birthday's in September too, us Virgo girls rock! <3

    Gianne said...

    Another book I have yet to read... Honestly, I started reading the first sample chapters. It was about how they froze them. Needless to say, I was so creeped out I didn't continue reading. Now, reading your review, I'm starting to consider my decision.


    Insta-love and slow paced plot are really let-downs, but I like the kind of mystery and intrigue you made reference to. And I love technology, so... I kind of want to try reading it again LOL Thanks for your insight, Gianna! <3

    Gianne said...

    Oh yay! :D That's so nice to hear!! :D I am now UBER pumped up for AMS. *---* And OMFG, thank you, hun! <3 <3 <3

    Super lovely prose indeed, yo! O-O I mean, duuude, it made my reading experience SO much better. :3 And I want MOAR sci-fi, and I heard that Maria V. Snyder writes kickass books, so I SHALL try that (and her other fantasy series...someday hopefully...)

    XD NO WORRIES. I do comments like those ALL the time. XD And I LOVE YOU TOO. <3 (And...I *might* love your reviews more than you. Just a tiny bit! Don't kill me. ;----;)

    Gianne said...

    :3 It is PROBABLY a good idea to read the prequel, AtU, before A Million Suns, unless you totally love spoiling books for yourself. XD It's TOTALLY a promising start, I really think you should try this one ASAP. It was an addicting read, (well the writing made it addicting) so if you like sci-fi, you'll probably enjoy this just as much (or more than!) as I did :)

    And awww thanks! <3 Much love for you! And by all means, go be nosy about my About Me page. :P And YEEEEE. Us Asian Virgo chicks need to stick together!! ;D

    Gianne said...

    The first chapters were REALLY creepy and packed with an emotional punch. *---* Needless to say, for me, it was a GOOD start. It *might* just be me about the insta-love though, Sophie, but YES. You should definitely give this book a try. I'd be a puddle of sad sauce if you didn't. ;-----; And no problem! Thank you for reading! <3

    Gianne said...

    Wonderful review, Gianna :) I always enjoy your positive and negative points. They make me smile. I agree that the world building was amazing, beautiful, and surreal. The characters did need some work and hopefully in the sequel, there is more development in Amy and Elder.

    Gianne said...

    I ended up really liking this in the end, but I had difficulty connecting to it as well. I've been a bit hesitant to read book two as a result. The first half was rough, and then, suddenly, I found the good much outweighing the bad.

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