Shades of Earth by Beth Revis (Across the Universe #3)

Title: Shades of Earth
Author: Beth Revis
Pages: 369
Book #3 in the Across the Universe series

Summary:
Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceshipGodspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.

My Rating:
✰✰✰✰✰

 NOTE: I AM DOING THIS REVIEW IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER STARTING WITH THE WRITING, THE CHARACTERS AND THEN THE PLOT FOR THE PURPOSE OF NOT WANTING TO SPOILING ANYONE WHO HASN'T READ THIS SERIES.


My overall thought: A wonderful conclusion to an amazing series. 


The Writing: Beth Revis's writing was amazing as always. It was very fun to read and the dual perspectives were done great of course. I would love to read more books from her.


The Characters: All of the deaths in this book really struck me. I grew fond of all of the characters in this book: Amy and Elder of course (whom I've loved since the start of this series), Kit, Bartie, Amy's mom and eventually, Amy's dad who annoyed me a bit at first.

I never really liked Chris and there was definitely some reason behind it.


The Plot (non-spoiler): 

The book picks up right after the ending of A Million Suns (Book #2), when Amy and Elder are preparing for landing for Centauri-Earth. This book mainly takes place on the new planet and many new discoveries are made.

I will have to say that at some parts in the beginning, the book was rather slow. Knowing Beth Revis's writing style, I was ready for something big and dramatic to happen, which didn't until the last hundred pages.

With that said, the ending of this book was PHENOMENAL. There was a lot of action and wild things happening towards the end. My heart was just thudding, because I knew something big was going to happen. The ending was perfect and I couldn't have wanted it to end in another way.

The Plot (containing spoilers, for those who do not wish to read this portion, please go to In the End and shied your eyes!) :

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My heart broke when Amy's dad and mother died. It was like my own parents died.

The biggest plot twist for me was when the truth of Chris unveiled. It was jaw-dropping and quite frighting.  The whole scheme of the aliens and the FRX made so much sense and everything was connecting to each other.

I have never shed so many tears for a book. I cried. Happy tears and sad ones when I finished. When the blank pages of Elder's perspective popped up I couldn't control myself. I did not see this coming. After his "death" I didn't want to continue the book. I'll be honest, I did not pay attention that much and I had my blurry vision to blame.

But the BIGGER plot twist was when the escape rocket was found. I literally jumped out of my seat and knew where this was going.

When they reunited, I sobbed. It felt so good, and their reunion just gave me a mix of the feels.

After reading this book, I could not think straight. I was teary-eyed and speechless. My heart was pounding and it felt flooded with feelings and I loved the ending so much.

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In the End:
I would recommend this book for those who are a fan of adventure, fantasy and mystery. Part of my tears were from the sadness of this series ending. I absolutely loved this whole series. Each and every book in it was amazing! Shades of Earth wrapped things up nicely, but still allowed readers to think about what would happen after that?

If you have not read this series, I highly recommend you do so. It is fast paced and thrilling and a perfect Sci-Fi novel.