Shades of Earth

December 1, 2012
Though not "frexing brilly" like Across the Universe (2011) and A Million Suns (2012), this conclusion nonetheless supplies plenty of suspense and twists to satisfy readers already on the ride. Desperate to live on a planet, even one with unidentified monsters, Elder and Amy gather 1,456 terrified people onto a shuttle and break away from their life-supporting spaceship to land on Centauri-Earth, a planet with two suns. There's no turning back: shuttle operation is dubious, and only the prematurely awakened Amy's ever lived on a planet--Elder's people were born on Godspeed, a generation ship. Also aboard the shuttle are "frozens," earthborn scientists and military personnel--including Amy's parents--who've been cryogenically frozen for five centuries, waiting for arrival. On Centauri-Earth, pterodactyllike creatures, toxic flora, sentient beings who won't reveal themselves, and hostility between earthborns and shipborns ("They're not our people") all bring danger. Death tolls soar as Elder and Amy--alternating first-person narration in virtually indistinguishable voices--race to unravel history and mysteries. Romantic focus and purple prose exceed that found in the previous volumes ("I die at the end of each kiss and am brought gasping back to life at the beginning of the next"), which is a pity. Interpersonal relationships and motivations aren't Revis' strong point, but action and revelations are. Strong on setup and plot, weak on human complexities and characterization, this still brings it home on a planet far from home. (Science fiction. 14 & up)

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December 1, 2012
Grades 9-12 The sf trilogy begun with Across the Universe (2011) and A Million Suns (2012) comes to a fittingly explosive conclusion in this satisfying series ender. From the first page, Revis fulfills the promise of the first volume: 1,456 passengers of the spaceship Godspeed finally land on Centauri-Earth, the military personnel are unfrozen from suspended animation, and everyone gets an up-close look at their brave new world. And it's not good. Right away, Revis' trademark claustrophobic suspense gives way to creature-feature thrills as pterodactyl-like monsters assault the pioneers. Amid the growing body count, the terror of the ship-born people, and the threat of unseen aliens, young lovers Amy and Elder have only each other to cling tobut that's before the introduction of Amy's new blue-eyed bodyguard. Plot holes pop up occasionally, and explanations are sometimes glossed over, but that doesn't take away from Revis' gifts as a propulsive storyteller with a knack for jarring surprises and raising the stakes. Pair with Dom Testa's Galahad series for a one-two punch of impressive modern YA sci-fi. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Revis' trilogy has rightfully lit up best-seller lists, and a major promotional campaign, including two Comic-Cons, should keep attention amped.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)