Author: Beth Revis
Series or Stand-alone:
Book 2 in the Across the Universe Series
How I got it:
Public library
Pages: 386
Publisher: RazorbillGenre: Young Adult / Science Fiction
First Published: January 10, 2012
Buy it from: Amazon
First Line(s): “This isn't going to be easy, I mutter, staring at the solid metal door that lead to the Engine room on the Shipper Level of Godspeed.”
The GIST (from Goodreads):
Godspeed was once fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. It’s been three months. In that time, Amy has learned to hide who she is. Elder is trying to be the leader he’s always wanted to be. But as the ship gets more and more out of control, only one thing is certain: They have to get off the ship.
OPINION:
Mild Spoilers from Across the Universe
"A Million Suns" leaves off after the death of Orion and Eldest. Elder is struggling with controlling the ship after taking everyone off Phydus. There are riots and revolts; the people are fighting against the Eldest system and the knowledge that they might not ever see Centri-Earth.
Amy is still dealing with her almost rape at the hands of Luthor. The people of Godspeed blame her for their misfortunes and she is constantly in physical danger. She feels alone and is still reeling after learning Elder is the reason is was unfrozen.
There is a bigger problem though. Godspeed isn’t just going slow. It’s not moving at all. There’s a trail of secrets Orion left for Amy about the ship and the fact it’s not stagnant. Maybe if she can find them, she can figure out a way to get to the planet and finally wake up her parents.
What I liked about this sequel is what I complained about the last book. Finally Amy’s and Elder’s relationship got developed and they spent some quality time together. Amy constantly wonders if there can be love without choice. Elder may be the only person around her age she’ll ever see again. So does she feel something for him because of that or because she actually likes him? It was a great moral question that propels a lot of her actions towards him.
I liked the idea of learning the secrets of the ship through Orion. I think it made you question a lot about what's true and what's not. The dynamics and politics of the ship were also interesting. Elder was born/ created/ engineered to lead the ship but he's also the youngest person on it and sometimes you can really see his age in his stubbornness. Like Amy, Elder starts to learn that everything isn't black or white. He begins to see Eldest and Orion in a new light while wondering if he's the best leader for the ship after all.
I thought the plotting was slow at times and although the mystery of the ship was intriguing, it didn’t move fast enough. Some of the scenes could have maybe been cut all together or sped up to bring on the urgency that Elder and Amy feel.
OVERALL:
It’s worth the wait to see what the big mystery is. I was not disappointed at all with the ending and I can’t wait for the next book to see how it all works out.---9.0 out of 10.
