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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
Full disclosure: I struggle with sci-fi novels. I’m not sure why, but even the best science fictions novels are hard for me to get through. So, keep that in mind when I talk about the pacing of this novel.
This feels very much like a setup book. There is a ton of world building and explanation in the beginning, exploration in the middle, and then an explosive ending. However, getting to that ending, for someone who has a hard time with sci-fi, was tough.
I also feel like not a whole lot really happened, and the plot was driven by an extremely tentative “save the world” goal, but I say tentative because the situation didn’t seem all that grave and it wasn’t strong enough to pull me through two hundred and fifty pages of temple exploration.
UNEARTHED has plenty of good twists and turns, but they come up towards the end of the book. It almost feels like the authors knew where they wanted the story to lead but weren’t totally sure how to get there.
The main characters, while interesting and unique, were overshadowed by their almost immediate infatuation with each other.
Other than that, I was really impressed with the descriptive writing and action scenes. Kaufman and Spooner paint a vivid setting that reminds me why I loved their original Starbound trilogy.
If you like exploration novels, such as Indiana Jones (which UNEARTHED is marketed as similar to) and YA sci-fi, I would definitely recommend this.
This feels very much like a setup book. There is a ton of world building and explanation in the beginning, exploration in the middle, and then an explosive ending. However, getting to that ending, for someone who has a hard time with sci-fi, was tough.
I also feel like not a whole lot really happened, and the plot was driven by an extremely tentative “save the world” goal, but I say tentative because the situation didn’t seem all that grave and it wasn’t strong enough to pull me through two hundred and fifty pages of temple exploration.
UNEARTHED has plenty of good twists and turns, but they come up towards the end of the book. It almost feels like the authors knew where they wanted the story to lead but weren’t totally sure how to get there.
The main characters, while interesting and unique, were overshadowed by their almost immediate infatuation with each other.
Other than that, I was really impressed with the descriptive writing and action scenes. Kaufman and Spooner paint a vivid setting that reminds me why I loved their original Starbound trilogy.
If you like exploration novels, such as Indiana Jones (which UNEARTHED is marketed as similar to) and YA sci-fi, I would definitely recommend this.
GUYS THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD YOU ALL NEED TO DROP EVERYTHING AND GO READ IT!
It's really cool. There was no way that any book could live up to the description of Indiana Jones in outer space, BUT IT DID! This book was absolutely incredible.
Characters were great. Nothing atypical, but I honestly didn't care. Jules and Mia were fabulous. I really liked how they were intelligent, excelling in linguistics and maths respectively. They were not especially unique, but I loved this detail and the pair of them nonetheless.
The plot was awesome. I won't describe the events because you've either read it and already know, or haven't in which case spoilers, but it was incredible. I absolutely loved the puzzles! I wish there were pictures of them though. I wish that you as the reader got a chance to try and solve them yourself, or at least see what the undead language looked like. But overall, it was so great!
What in the world was that ending though? They apologized in the acknowledgements but I do not accept. That was not okay. The book was so good that I would read the sequel anyway. But you can't just leave the book on an ending like that without giving me any more information. Not cool.
But basically: I loved it, it was awesome, go read it!
It's really cool. There was no way that any book could live up to the description of Indiana Jones in outer space, BUT IT DID! This book was absolutely incredible.
Characters were great. Nothing atypical, but I honestly didn't care. Jules and Mia were fabulous. I really liked how they were intelligent, excelling in linguistics and maths respectively. They were not especially unique, but I loved this detail and the pair of them nonetheless.
The plot was awesome. I won't describe the events because you've either read it and already know, or haven't in which case spoilers, but it was incredible. I absolutely loved the puzzles! I wish there were pictures of them though. I wish that you as the reader got a chance to try and solve them yourself, or at least see what the undead language looked like. But overall, it was so great!
What in the world was that ending though? They apologized in the acknowledgements but I do not accept. That was not okay. The book was so good that I would read the sequel anyway. But you can't just leave the book on an ending like that without giving me any more information. Not cool.
But basically: I loved it, it was awesome, go read it!
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Teens in space! I saw this book described as such, “… with Indiana Jones and Lara Croft.” An appealing claim, but one that overestimates our heroes, Jules Addison and Mia Radcliffe. An homage, certainly, but our intergalactic adolescents are likable enough on their own credibility.
Jules is a whiz-teen Oxford student whose father Elliott is famous for two things: deciphering a hidden message in an alien broadcast that sent humans into space seeking a replacement for Earth, and later, decoding a second message hidden in the first one that no, we definitely should NOT do that. The second act gets Elliott imprisoned by the International Alliance (the CIA meets NASA).
Mia is a high school dropout orphan who scrapes by scavenging semi-post-apocalyptic Chicago. (Think Divergent + The Force Awakens.) She’s got an illegal sister and a big debt to pay.
Jules and Mia end up together on Gaia, the alien planet of the Undying, who sent the hidden message. Together they must solve a series of (here’s where I’ll give it the) Indiana Jones-style archaeological puzzles and find whatever the Undying left behind. Jules wants it to be educational, Mia needs it to be lucrative.
There’s a lot of fun here: Kaufman and Spooner had a good time writing the temple, riddles and puzzles. As in their excellent Starbound series, they draw a clear picture of space-faring life. The bones of the alien civilization make for solid world-building: advanced beyond our comprehension, they drove themselves out of existence. It’s pure sci-fi, with technology, linguistics, tricks and traps. Jules works well as the brains; just hapless enough to need Mia, but not so painfully inept that she’d never consider him an equal. Mia’s good as the bravery of the operation. She’s headstrong, practical, and trying to rein in her recklessness. They’re good opposites who, of course, attract.
It’s a fairly sparse story, with just an A plot centered completely on Jules and Mia. They get a little navel-gazey in the middle, when they begin simultaneously falling for each other. It’s so obvious the story is headed there that the requisite chapters of teen angst are unnecessary and trying. But at least they happen in an alien obstacle course half a galaxy away!
The world at large comes into play late, setting up for Book 2. Politics, greed, economy, and the desperate human rush to own and exploit any available resource are succinctly present when needed. But they don’t overshadow the fun bits, and Mia and Jules (and Kaufman and Spooner) pay solid homage to the Canyon of the Crescent Moon and Indy’s race through the Grail Temple.
Jules is a whiz-teen Oxford student whose father Elliott is famous for two things: deciphering a hidden message in an alien broadcast that sent humans into space seeking a replacement for Earth, and later, decoding a second message hidden in the first one that no, we definitely should NOT do that. The second act gets Elliott imprisoned by the International Alliance (the CIA meets NASA).
Mia is a high school dropout orphan who scrapes by scavenging semi-post-apocalyptic Chicago. (Think Divergent + The Force Awakens.) She’s got an illegal sister and a big debt to pay.
Jules and Mia end up together on Gaia, the alien planet of the Undying, who sent the hidden message. Together they must solve a series of (here’s where I’ll give it the) Indiana Jones-style archaeological puzzles and find whatever the Undying left behind. Jules wants it to be educational, Mia needs it to be lucrative.
There’s a lot of fun here: Kaufman and Spooner had a good time writing the temple, riddles and puzzles. As in their excellent Starbound series, they draw a clear picture of space-faring life. The bones of the alien civilization make for solid world-building: advanced beyond our comprehension, they drove themselves out of existence. It’s pure sci-fi, with technology, linguistics, tricks and traps. Jules works well as the brains; just hapless enough to need Mia, but not so painfully inept that she’d never consider him an equal. Mia’s good as the bravery of the operation. She’s headstrong, practical, and trying to rein in her recklessness. They’re good opposites who, of course, attract.
It’s a fairly sparse story, with just an A plot centered completely on Jules and Mia. They get a little navel-gazey in the middle, when they begin simultaneously falling for each other. It’s so obvious the story is headed there that the requisite chapters of teen angst are unnecessary and trying. But at least they happen in an alien obstacle course half a galaxy away!
The world at large comes into play late, setting up for Book 2. Politics, greed, economy, and the desperate human rush to own and exploit any available resource are succinctly present when needed. But they don’t overshadow the fun bits, and Mia and Jules (and Kaufman and Spooner) pay solid homage to the Canyon of the Crescent Moon and Indy’s race through the Grail Temple.
Nothing is happening, except of course teenage hormones 🙄. No sci-fi, no adventure, no fun or interesting goings on. BORING
Actual rating is 2.5/5 stars
Really enjoyed the first half (gave it 3.5/5 stars) but then did not enjoy the last 100+ pages...
Really enjoyed the first half (gave it 3.5/5 stars) but then did not enjoy the last 100+ pages...
I have really enjoyed Amie Kaufman's collaborative series in the past so I was super excited to try her next series Unearthed and I was not disappointed.
Set sometime in the future where earth is dying, this dual point of view book has the Mia a scavenger looking to collect enough relics and technology from Gaia to save her sister and Jules who wants to save and study all the archaeological finds.
Reminiscent of Indian Jones this is a great introduction to the archaeological thriller that of course takes place on another planet. The romance is predictable but still enjoyable as both Mia and Jules start out lying to each other and then work to figure out who is actually telling the truth.
Then there is the mystery that the aliens left them to find - the undying. And the twist at the end is certainly well worth the read. I am looking forward to the next installment in this series.
Set sometime in the future where earth is dying, this dual point of view book has the Mia a scavenger looking to collect enough relics and technology from Gaia to save her sister and Jules who wants to save and study all the archaeological finds.
Reminiscent of Indian Jones this is a great introduction to the archaeological thriller that of course takes place on another planet. The romance is predictable but still enjoyable as both Mia and Jules start out lying to each other and then work to figure out who is actually telling the truth.
Then there is the mystery that the aliens left them to find - the undying. And the twist at the end is certainly well worth the read. I am looking forward to the next installment in this series.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated