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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
SPOILERS AHEAD. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
Pace 4/10
The first half...why? The pace was very slow compared to the first book. I felt like it was dragging on for forever. It wasn't until halfway that this picked up and then sprinted to the finish. Instead of the puzzle base, it was a mystery base, but with a very slow trickle of information with which to work with. Not a fan. Could have turned this duology into a standalone easily.
Strength of plot 5/10
Ok. Let's accept the time travel. Sure, that can be a thing. Sci-Fi, yep. Cool. But there were too many other convenient plot points thrown in along the way.
Characters 9/10
The characters are the strength of this duology. I adore Mia and Jules. They are such a great pair to follow, with often opposing views and strengths to work with. Neal was a great addition to the dream team and props for having heard about him before this instalment. I loved that we were introduced to characters we had heard in passing in the first book. That was a nice touch.
Character growth 6/10
The growth felt very jolty. It was there, but it didn't flow like I hoped it would. The relationship between Mia and Jules was the main culprit.
Entertainment 5/10
Not as entertaining as the first book, but there's definitely something there! The humour of the main characters was appreciated.
Individuality 8/10
I feel like the time travel was used in a bit of a tropey way. I haven't read much sci-fi, but even the main characters in the book were annoyed that this was the answer. However, the fashion in which this is presented with switching points of view is fun and unique and I found the core ideas weaved throughout to be different to other books I've read.
Writing style 9/10
Although this is more of a middle grade writing style, the way these two authors meld their voices together is unbelievable. It flows excellently and you can't tell who wrote what. Brilliant. Just enough description and detail without overdoing it.
Ending 5/10
I enjoyed the ending overall. I didn't need the Dex follow up. I felt that was a little too much - Would have rather left this to my imagination! Also, have the guts to kill off your characters, guys. I really love it when authors take gutsy steps but they took it too far to bring it back and then did it anyway. I was so let down when I found out that character was still alive. Gosh. I'm such a sucker for sadness.
Thought provoking 8/10
Definitely makes you think about where Earth is headed and how we would react in this circumstance.
Relevance 9/10
Global Warming. Need I say more?
Total 68/100 = 4/5 STARS
I initially rated this 3/5 but after going through my new rating formula I found it was actually higher on the scale. I really do think this would have been a 5/5 star read if it was all put into one book. Oh well.
Pace 4/10
The first half...why? The pace was very slow compared to the first book. I felt like it was dragging on for forever. It wasn't until halfway that this picked up and then sprinted to the finish. Instead of the puzzle base, it was a mystery base, but with a very slow trickle of information with which to work with. Not a fan. Could have turned this duology into a standalone easily.
Strength of plot 5/10
Ok. Let's accept the time travel. Sure, that can be a thing. Sci-Fi, yep. Cool. But there were too many other convenient plot points thrown in along the way.
Characters 9/10
The characters are the strength of this duology. I adore Mia and Jules. They are such a great pair to follow, with often opposing views and strengths to work with. Neal was a great addition to the dream team and props for having heard about him before this instalment. I loved that we were introduced to characters we had heard in passing in the first book. That was a nice touch.
Character growth 6/10
The growth felt very jolty. It was there, but it didn't flow like I hoped it would. The relationship between Mia and Jules was the main culprit.
Entertainment 5/10
Not as entertaining as the first book, but there's definitely something there! The humour of the main characters was appreciated.
Individuality 8/10
I feel like the time travel was used in a bit of a tropey way. I haven't read much sci-fi, but even the main characters in the book were annoyed that this was the answer. However, the fashion in which this is presented with switching points of view is fun and unique and I found the core ideas weaved throughout to be different to other books I've read.
Writing style 9/10
Although this is more of a middle grade writing style, the way these two authors meld their voices together is unbelievable. It flows excellently and you can't tell who wrote what. Brilliant. Just enough description and detail without overdoing it.
Ending 5/10
I enjoyed the ending overall. I didn't need the Dex follow up. I felt that was a little too much - Would have rather left this to my imagination! Also, have the guts to kill off your characters, guys. I really love it when authors take gutsy steps but they took it too far to bring it back and then did it anyway. I was so let down when I found out that character was still alive. Gosh. I'm such a sucker for sadness.
Thought provoking 8/10
Definitely makes you think about where Earth is headed and how we would react in this circumstance.
Relevance 9/10
Global Warming. Need I say more?
Total 68/100 = 4/5 STARS
I initially rated this 3/5 but after going through my new rating formula I found it was actually higher on the scale. I really do think this would have been a 5/5 star read if it was all put into one book. Oh well.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well I am so excited that this turned out to be a duology, instead of a trilogy! It ended up being just the thing to get me out of a book slump.
It took me a while to get through the first book... I started it about 10 days ago, but stalled out in the middle. (I felt like it dragged some.) Today I made myself sit down and read it though, and it had a SUPER cliffhangerishly awesome ending, so I jumped straight into book 2, and enjoyed that one immensely.
They’re basically like Indiana Jones... in space. Two (human) teenagers meet while exploring alien ruins on the planet Gaia for reasons that are too complicated to explain...
If you like sci fi, ya romance, archaeology, or a little bit of all of the above, you will like them!
It took me a while to get through the first book... I started it about 10 days ago, but stalled out in the middle. (I felt like it dragged some.) Today I made myself sit down and read it though, and it had a SUPER cliffhangerishly awesome ending, so I jumped straight into book 2, and enjoyed that one immensely.
They’re basically like Indiana Jones... in space. Two (human) teenagers meet while exploring alien ruins on the planet Gaia for reasons that are too complicated to explain...
If you like sci fi, ya romance, archaeology, or a little bit of all of the above, you will like them!
This took me forever to finish, and I wasn’t entirely invested until the about 100 pages. I just could not get into it, even though I was enjoying the plot. Maybe the writing just wasn’t as good as Starbound. I sometimes got confused between points of views because they weren’t separate enough. I really did enjoy the way that it ended. It all wrapped up nicely. 3.5
This book starts out with a “Previously, on Unearhed…” It’s almost like a satirical way to recap what happened in book one but it’s brilliant! I think all books in a series should start off this way.
I liked how book one ended and this one does pick up where it left off. However, after a while, I may have gotten a little tired in the book. But I enjoyed it and liked this duology (just learning now that it’s a duology). The ending kind of fizzled a bit but it’s over.
Audiobook narrator [a:Alex McKenna|6566470|Alex McKenna|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] rating: 4 stars
Audiobook narrator [a:Steve West|737890|Steve West|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] rating: 3.25 stars
The narrators seemed to improve a bit from the last book. They had interesting accents for various people. I still would like a little more variability between the different characters (some were great some were too similar). There was a third narrator listed [a:Vikas Adam|6925432|Vikas Adam|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1446478529p2/6925432.jpg] that had too small of a role to give an honest rating.
I liked how book one ended and this one does pick up where it left off. However, after a while, I may have gotten a little tired in the book. But I enjoyed it and liked this duology (just learning now that it’s a duology). The ending kind of fizzled a bit but it’s over.
Audiobook narrator [a:Alex McKenna|6566470|Alex McKenna|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] rating: 4 stars
Audiobook narrator [a:Steve West|737890|Steve West|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] rating: 3.25 stars
The narrators seemed to improve a bit from the last book. They had interesting accents for various people. I still would like a little more variability between the different characters (some were great some were too similar). There was a third narrator listed [a:Vikas Adam|6925432|Vikas Adam|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1446478529p2/6925432.jpg] that had too small of a role to give an honest rating.
Talented.
Brilliant.
Incredible.
Amazing.
Show stopping.
Spectacular.
Never the same.
Totally unique.
When I tell you I am SHOOK in the BEST way, I mean it! I could not have wished for a better ending. My only sadness is that this duology is finished; I would read so much more about this world, even if everything was just all happy and good :)
World building was incredible, loved the execution, and it made my lil sci-fi loving heart incredibly happy. Probably one of my favourite books!
Thanks to the authors for writing it <3
Brilliant.
Incredible.
Amazing.
Show stopping.
Spectacular.
Never the same.
Totally unique.
When I tell you I am SHOOK in the BEST way, I mean it! I could not have wished for a better ending. My only sadness is that this duology is finished; I would read so much more about this world, even if everything was just all happy and good :)
World building was incredible, loved the execution, and it made my lil sci-fi loving heart incredibly happy. Probably one of my favourite books!
Thanks to the authors for writing it <3
While I didn’t necessarily enjoy this one as much as I did the first, I still think it’s a solid conclusion to Mia and Jules’ story. I feel very strongly that it could have worked even better as one very long book instead of being split in two, and even more strongly that this is definitely built for being a sci-fi film.
I do highly recommend the audio route, by the way. Alex McKenna and Steve West really brought this story to life and made it a more engaging read.
I do highly recommend the audio route, by the way. Alex McKenna and Steve West really brought this story to life and made it a more engaging read.
It wasn't as good as the first book, but I still enjoyed it :)
Full review: http://evelynreads.com/undying-audiobook-review/
Full review: http://evelynreads.com/undying-audiobook-review/
4.25*
My theory was right!! I rarely guess the crazy twists but I was super proud of myself for picking up on the clues Amie and Megan left behind in Unearthed.
Overall this book was an enjoyable read but it felt very different from the first book (Indiana Jones in space vs. typical save the world story) and I think that was why I couldn't give it a higher rating. I also found the thing in Lyon to be kind of eyeroll (it could have been something at least slightly original, it just felt like Illuminae all over again). Another thing I enjoyed about Unearthed was that it felt like the second half of the book had great twist after great twist. I never felt surprised by anything happening in this book, especially since I'd already guessed where the Undying at come from.
I still enjoyed watching Mia and Jules solve problems and question their motivations and each other. And I enjoyed the new characters we met and the little bit of info we received about the Undying. I'd love a prequel, or a sequel, book about them!
My theory was right!! I rarely guess the crazy twists but I was super proud of myself for picking up on the clues Amie and Megan left behind in Unearthed.
Overall this book was an enjoyable read but it felt very different from the first book (Indiana Jones in space vs. typical save the world story) and I think that was why I couldn't give it a higher rating. I also found the thing in Lyon to be kind of eyeroll (it could have been something at least slightly original, it just felt like Illuminae all over again). Another thing I enjoyed about Unearthed was that it felt like the second half of the book had great twist after great twist. I never felt surprised by anything happening in this book, especially since I'd already guessed where the Undying at come from.
I still enjoyed watching Mia and Jules solve problems and question their motivations and each other. And I enjoyed the new characters we met and the little bit of info we received about the Undying. I'd love a prequel, or a sequel, book about them!
2.5 stars
I am struggling on my rating for this book. I enjoyed the first book quite a bit. I originally read it in 2018 and gave it 4 stars. I re-read it via audiobook before jumping into this second book, and I still enjoyed it, though perhaps not to the same level as when I first read it a year ago. Still, I was looking forward to this second installment, as the first book leaves off on quite the cliffhanger.
I should say, there may be spoilers for book one in this review, so if you haven't read that book yet and don't want any spoilers, it's probably best to click away now.
What I liked:
1. There is a recap of book one. I know that there are books that do this, but I think this is the first book I've read that has actually had a recap. It wasn't long, just a couple pages to jog the memory. Of course, I'd just re-read the first book in order to do that, and I think I still would've re-read even if I'd known, but I really appreciate that it was there. I wish more series would do this.
2. The new characters had a lot of potential. The first book was almost entirely Jules and Mia. There were other characters, but much of the time was just spent with the two of them on their own. This book introduced a handful of new characters. Dex and Atlanta were very interesting. I loved their dynamic and when they were thrown together with our protagonists I was really excited. Neal also had a lot of promise as a character.
What I didn't like:
1. I was bored. Sorry, not sorry. For about 250 pages of this 308 page book, very little happens. And what does happen is very repetitive. Mia and Jules are hiding from someone who wants to hurt/imprison/interrogate them; Mia and Jules have a revelation that they should've had several pages earlier; Mia and Jules find a way to escape; Repeat. I honestly feel like this and the first book could've been streamlined and put together as one book, because there is A LOT of filler here.
2. Wasted potential re: the world and the characters. There was so much potential for this story. I was really intrigued by the world and how everything worked (or didn't) in the future. The glimpses we get of how society works in this futuristic Earth is really fascinating. Unfortunately, it takes backseat to an underwhelming love story. And while I do think the new characters (specifically Dex and Atlanta) showed a lot of promise, they were woefully underutilized. I wanted to know more about them, and I hated that we had to wait until the last 40ish pages to get more than cursory information about them.
3. It was predictable. Mia and Jules are supposed to be intelligent characters. Jules in a bookish way, and Mia in more of a 'street smarts' kind of way. They each had their strengths that complemented each other really well in the first book. It felt like that was all thrown out the window in this second book. It took them forever to realize what was going on. And these were painfully obvious to anyone paying attention. There were actually times when they would learn something that I was positive they'd already learned. Like, they should've been able to put two and two together and get four. But then it would be treated as this huge game-changing reveal and I'm like, "How did they not already know that?" The ultimate explanation of everything that was going on was so obvious that I was bummed it was the actual answer. And when it was revealed it was done in a very info-dumpy manner.
4. I couldn't tell the difference between Jules' and Mia's perspectives in this book. I didn't have this problem at all when I read the first book. I'm not sure what happened, but in this book I felt like I kept getting confused about whose perspective I was in. They sounded identical to one another.
5. The romance was lackluster. I would've been okay with a romance between these characters if there hadn't been so many weak, contrived obstacles to keep them from being together. Especially when they were physically together for so much of the story. Also, this is bordering on insta-love to a degree that I just found eye-roll inducing. I would've been fine with them as a couple in the beginning stages of liking each other, but when Jules says things like, "Wherever she goes is where I belong," after they've only known each other for about five minutes, I just find it a little silly. Especially when you consider the stakes they're dealing with.
I'm really bummed that I didn't enjoy this as much as Unearthed. I felt like there was so much potential wasted and it's really too bad. I still really love both of these authors, and this doesn't change that, but I'm still disappointed.
I am struggling on my rating for this book. I enjoyed the first book quite a bit. I originally read it in 2018 and gave it 4 stars. I re-read it via audiobook before jumping into this second book, and I still enjoyed it, though perhaps not to the same level as when I first read it a year ago. Still, I was looking forward to this second installment, as the first book leaves off on quite the cliffhanger.
I should say, there may be spoilers for book one in this review, so if you haven't read that book yet and don't want any spoilers, it's probably best to click away now.
What I liked:
1. There is a recap of book one. I know that there are books that do this, but I think this is the first book I've read that has actually had a recap. It wasn't long, just a couple pages to jog the memory. Of course, I'd just re-read the first book in order to do that, and I think I still would've re-read even if I'd known, but I really appreciate that it was there. I wish more series would do this.
2. The new characters had a lot of potential. The first book was almost entirely Jules and Mia. There were other characters, but much of the time was just spent with the two of them on their own. This book introduced a handful of new characters. Dex and Atlanta were very interesting. I loved their dynamic and when they were thrown together with our protagonists I was really excited. Neal also had a lot of promise as a character.
What I didn't like:
1. I was bored. Sorry, not sorry. For about 250 pages of this 308 page book, very little happens. And what does happen is very repetitive. Mia and Jules are hiding from someone who wants to hurt/imprison/interrogate them; Mia and Jules have a revelation that they should've had several pages earlier; Mia and Jules find a way to escape; Repeat. I honestly feel like this and the first book could've been streamlined and put together as one book, because there is A LOT of filler here.
2. Wasted potential re: the world and the characters. There was so much potential for this story. I was really intrigued by the world and how everything worked (or didn't) in the future. The glimpses we get of how society works in this futuristic Earth is really fascinating. Unfortunately, it takes backseat to an underwhelming love story. And while I do think the new characters (specifically Dex and Atlanta) showed a lot of promise, they were woefully underutilized. I wanted to know more about them, and I hated that we had to wait until the last 40ish pages to get more than cursory information about them.
3. It was predictable. Mia and Jules are supposed to be intelligent characters. Jules in a bookish way, and Mia in more of a 'street smarts' kind of way. They each had their strengths that complemented each other really well in the first book. It felt like that was all thrown out the window in this second book. It took them forever to realize what was going on. And these were painfully obvious to anyone paying attention. There were actually times when they would learn something that I was positive they'd already learned. Like, they should've been able to put two and two together and get four. But then it would be treated as this huge game-changing reveal and I'm like, "How did they not already know that?" The ultimate explanation of everything that was going on was so obvious that I was bummed it was the actual answer. And when it was revealed it was done in a very info-dumpy manner.
4. I couldn't tell the difference between Jules' and Mia's perspectives in this book. I didn't have this problem at all when I read the first book. I'm not sure what happened, but in this book I felt like I kept getting confused about whose perspective I was in. They sounded identical to one another.
5. The romance was lackluster. I would've been okay with a romance between these characters if there hadn't been so many weak, contrived obstacles to keep them from being together. Especially when they were physically together for so much of the story. Also, this is bordering on insta-love to a degree that I just found eye-roll inducing. I would've been fine with them as a couple in the beginning stages of liking each other, but when Jules says things like, "Wherever she goes is where I belong," after they've only known each other for about five minutes, I just find it a little silly. Especially when you consider the stakes they're dealing with.
I'm really bummed that I didn't enjoy this as much as Unearthed. I felt like there was so much potential wasted and it's really too bad. I still really love both of these authors, and this doesn't change that, but I'm still disappointed.