Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication: January 15th, 2013
Page Count: 369
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Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed 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.

FUELED BY LIES.
RULED BY CHAOS.
ALMOST HOME.

When Across the Universe first came out, I was hesitant to start it.  I wasn't much for futuristic, sci-fi kind of books, but the cover (the original one!) drew me in like a moth to a flame.  So when I finally got around to reading it and gobbling it up like it was Thanksgiving dinner, I knew that I was in for one heck of a ride.  Revis's writing is ingenious and all of the plot twists really know how to keep me at the edge of my seat.

Amy, I think, will always be one of my favorite heroines in the YA genre.  She didn't annoy me or make these extremely stupid mistakes that made you ponder the common sense of the majority of society.  She was a fierce and determined girl that didn't care what others thought of her.  Her character development grew gradually throughout the entire series, but her overall personality stayed consistent and believable.  I know that if I were to be involved in some type of rebellion/revolution kind of setting, I'd want this girl on my side.

Things got crazy in this book!  This was the moment all of us--including the characters--have been waiting for!  Centauri-Earth!  We were finally going to see what this planet was all about!  Danger lurks around every corner for them and even forces within threaten the fragile unity of Sol-Earth and shipborn passengers.  I mean, this is a Beth Revis book, so there isn't going to be some fairytale ending kind of thing going on.   Obviously, people are going to die and things are going to get blown up and things are just going to be so frexing awesome.  Never once was there a dull moment, the plot was twisty-turny as always, and the pace was quick and full of action and discovery.

I don't think I've ever loved Elder as much as I did in Shades of Earth.  He really found his voice and his place in the colony.  He took charge and showed everyone that he was still to his people and to others.  I loved being inside his head as he began to fall harder and harder for Amy and how stronger he became.

Shades of Earth was the perfect ending to an amazing series.  It was a thrilling and intoxicating read that kept me on my toes.  Emotions were high (including mine!), plots were twisted at their abdomens, and tears were in abundance.  Fans of this series will love this book for obvious reasons, and if you haven't read it yet, frexing read it before I frexing throw the book at your frexing face.