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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
What a rollercoaster.
What an ending.
I actually yelled "you can't do this to me!"
so. good.
What an ending.
I actually yelled "you can't do this to me!"
so. good.
I was trying to hold off on reading this until closer to the sequel ([b:Undying|26839798|Undying (Unearthed, #2)|Amie Kaufman|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1526952654s/26839798.jpg|46874036]) coming out but I received an eARC of the book from the publisher through NetGalley - so I gave it a whirl.
Soo good for the hard-core science fiction nerd in me. And the cute romance that blossomed between our two main characters made me swoon! Really enjoyed this one and CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL AFTER THAT CLIFFHANGER!!!
Soo good for the hard-core science fiction nerd in me. And the cute romance that blossomed between our two main characters made me swoon! Really enjoyed this one and CAN'T WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL AFTER THAT CLIFFHANGER!!!
Had a bit of a love-hate relationship with this one, or perhaps more-so a like-didn't like.
***Potential spoilers ahead, you have been warned***
Likes: Characters were great, kept seeing more aspects of them as the story continued, for the most part they had simple yet understandable motivations and ideas.
Ending -although a cliffhanger (which was a really frustrating one)- I didn't see the intentions until quite close to the end, and it was one of those satisfying 'I think I've worked it out' moments.
Unsure: The action and puzzles: while interesting at times, I feel like the puzzles could have been explored more. The few fairly detailed ones were thought out quite well, but then a lot were just glossed over as here's something that we've taken straight out of Indiana Jones so we won't even explain it really. Maybe I've read too much Matthew Reilly with his ridiculous action sequences and pacing and puzzles so I'm probably biased here.
Dislikes: Repetitive paragraphs or ideas - I don't know how many times I read that the Undying (the aliens of the series) were unknown yet human-like and they couldn't know for sure yet somehow they know they must be extinct.
For me, the love story between the characters was a bit too overplayed. I know some people read these books for the romance, so this could be a good thing for them. But I prefer a bit more happening than characters staring longingly at each other and simultaneously coming to the conclusion that they must like each other. Just because.
Overall, I don't know when the sequel will be out but I will be reading it because it was a decent enough read, quite fun and lighthearted at times but certainly with more serious tones as well. Plus I really just have to know what happens at the other end of that cliffhanger!
***Potential spoilers ahead, you have been warned***
Likes: Characters were great, kept seeing more aspects of them as the story continued, for the most part they had simple yet understandable motivations and ideas.
Ending -although a cliffhanger (which was a really frustrating one)- I didn't see the intentions until quite close to the end, and it was one of those satisfying 'I think I've worked it out' moments.
Unsure: The action and puzzles: while interesting at times, I feel like the puzzles could have been explored more. The few fairly detailed ones were thought out quite well, but then a lot were just glossed over as here's something that we've taken straight out of Indiana Jones so we won't even explain it really. Maybe I've read too much Matthew Reilly with his ridiculous action sequences and pacing and puzzles so I'm probably biased here.
Dislikes: Repetitive paragraphs or ideas - I don't know how many times I read that the Undying (the aliens of the series) were unknown yet human-like and they couldn't know for sure yet somehow they know they must be extinct.
For me, the love story between the characters was a bit too overplayed. I know some people read these books for the romance, so this could be a good thing for them. But I prefer a bit more happening than characters staring longingly at each other and simultaneously coming to the conclusion that they must like each other. Just because.
Overall, I don't know when the sequel will be out but I will be reading it because it was a decent enough read, quite fun and lighthearted at times but certainly with more serious tones as well. Plus I really just have to know what happens at the other end of that cliffhanger!
4.5 stars
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What the heck was that ending??? Must immediately read the next one!
I really like space books, how have I not realized this before? The living-on-a-ship setting is amazing for me
Not a fan of insta love, but it is YA, which is typical, so I can ignore that.
I didn’t see the plot twists coming, the ones at the end at least, so that was fun!
I saw Mink being Charlotte a mile away, but I didn’t see her being IA, so that was a nice twist
_____________________
What the heck was that ending??? Must immediately read the next one!
I really like space books, how have I not realized this before? The living-on-a-ship setting is amazing for me
Not a fan of insta love, but it is YA, which is typical, so I can ignore that.
I didn’t see the plot twists coming, the ones at the end at least, so that was fun!
When you're waiting to read Obsidio so you decide to read anything else by Amie Kaufman you can get your hands on...
This is not ordinarily a book I would pick up by reading the blurb but, holy moly, I'm glad I did. Fast-paced, action-packed, and FUN!!
I will be reading the rest of this series - which is pretty much the highest praise I can give a book.
This is not ordinarily a book I would pick up by reading the blurb but, holy moly, I'm glad I did. Fast-paced, action-packed, and FUN!!
I will be reading the rest of this series - which is pretty much the highest praise I can give a book.
A good premise - Tomb Raider, but on an alien world! - let down by unnecessary first person alternating POV and a breathless emphasis on teenage instalove. I'll read the second book because I'd like to know what happens, and they're quick reads, but I wouldn't recommend this unless someone was specifically looking for fluffy adventure-lite YA.
This book was just okay, to be honest. I have read a few books from these authors before, and I feel as though Unearthed just doesn't compare to These Broken Stars or Illuminae. I was intrigued at first, because the story felt like Tomb Raider in space, but things got a little repetitive and I wasn't a big fan of the stationary setting. I'm sure plenty of other people will love this story, but I might have to pass on the next installment.
ADULT READER REVIEW:
YA VERDICT: 3+ stars?
ADULT VERDICT: 2.2 stars. Good concept (teen tomb raiders on alien planet, with fate of Earth possibly at stake), but frustrating focus and ending. Perhaps best enjoyed by the younger end of the YA readership (under age 17?).
Younger readers will mostly dig this more than I did, so ignore my thoughts below if society has deemed you too young to buy alcohol legally.
3.3 star concept,
- minus 0.5 stars for scene-split ending
- minus 0.5 stars for romance over reality
- minus 0.25 stars because boys do NOT think like this
- minus 0.1 star for eye-rolling kisses/heart flutters
+ PLUS 0.25 stars for a criminal (of sorts) protagonist
========
= 2.2 stars
I should deduct another 0.25 stars for excessive info-dumps, but I don't want to be too negative here, because this could easily have been a 3.5+ star book with more focus, realism and terror -- and far less tween-level swooning.
It couldn't decide if it was an insta-love swoon fest, or an actual story. But there was action, and temple exploration, and some intrigue along the way.
There's a Book 2, if you aren't too mad to buy it after the #!@*% mid-scene ending* of UNEARTHED.
* Authors who revert to such shenanigans should be forced to sell their books with a warning on the front: THIS BOOK IS INCOMPLETE. IT ENDS ARTIFICIALLY IN MID-SCENE. HA HA HA!
PARENTS & PRUDES: Strangely hormone-free, considering age of the 2 main characters.
YA VERDICT: 3+ stars?
ADULT VERDICT: 2.2 stars. Good concept (teen tomb raiders on alien planet, with fate of Earth possibly at stake), but frustrating focus and ending. Perhaps best enjoyed by the younger end of the YA readership (under age 17?).
Younger readers will mostly dig this more than I did, so ignore my thoughts below if society has deemed you too young to buy alcohol legally.
3.3 star concept,
- minus 0.5 stars for scene-split ending
- minus 0.5 stars for romance over reality
- minus 0.25 stars because boys do NOT think like this
- minus 0.1 star for eye-rolling kisses/heart flutters
+ PLUS 0.25 stars for a criminal (of sorts) protagonist
========
= 2.2 stars
I should deduct another 0.25 stars for excessive info-dumps, but I don't want to be too negative here, because this could easily have been a 3.5+ star book with more focus, realism and terror -- and far less tween-level swooning.
It couldn't decide if it was an insta-love swoon fest, or an actual story. But there was action, and temple exploration, and some intrigue along the way.
There's a Book 2, if you aren't too mad to buy it after the #!@*% mid-scene ending* of UNEARTHED.
* Authors who revert to such shenanigans should be forced to sell their books with a warning on the front: THIS BOOK IS INCOMPLETE. IT ENDS ARTIFICIALLY IN MID-SCENE. HA HA HA!
PARENTS & PRUDES: Strangely hormone-free, considering age of the 2 main characters.