Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis

Pub. Date: January 2011

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated

Format: Hardcover , 416pp

Age Range: Young Adult
Source: Publisher

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Revis's debut is an addiction that will leave readers begging for more!

Across the Universe is a refreshing addition to the YA market which is currently saturated with paranormal creatures. I'm a huge paranormal fan but even I want something different every now and then. Across the Universe shipped me into a whole new world filled with the complexities of mankind and what we would do for survival. This Sci-Fi novel wrapped me up and held on tight. I did not want to put it down!

Revis created some complex and exciting characters. I love the characters in this book! And I mean every last one of them, even the frightening leader. I can't imagine being Amy. She has to deal with a whole new way of life while aboard a ship in space at that. The alternating point of views between Amy and Elder really captured the emotions and struggle of what the characters faced on the ship, Godspeed. Revis did an amazing job. I couldn’t get enough of these characters!

While reading this novel, there were times when I was in awe of the details, world building, and politics that Revis created. She truly amazed me with her creativity of life & the complexities of Godspeed. Not everything is black and white and Revis truly captured the burdens of what leaders must face during crises. All I can say is this is one series you don't want to miss! I'm ready for the next installment (I wish I could fast forward to next year)!

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

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Sensational 7 Q & A with Beth Revis (Author of Across the Universe)!

Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to hang out with your favorite author(s)? In an attempt to get a better understanding of authors, my Sensational Seven Q & A takes a closer or more personal look at these authors to give you a glimpse of the personalities behind the writing of your favorite books.

“Talent alone cannot make a writer. There must be a man behind the book; a personality which, by birth and quality, is pledged to the doctrines there set forth, and which exists to see and state things so, and not otherwise.” By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Beth Revis grew up in western North Carolina reading the classics of CS Lewis and Madeleine L'Engle and devouring YA fantasy and science fiction by Robin McKinley, Patricia Wrede, and Orson Scott Card. Her debut novel, a sci fi novel for teens who don't like sci fi, is coming from Penguin/Razorbill in January 11, 2011 (TODAY!!!).

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, the first of a trilogy, tells the story of a girl born of Earth but cryogenically frozen for a centuries-long trip across the universe and the boy born on the ship who she meets when she's woken up fifty years too early.

If you were given a chance to travel back in time, what year or place would you go / Why?

Hmmm. I'm not sure. I used to want to travel to the Middle Ages just because I thought it was cool, but when I studied history and realized that it was nothing like fairy tales (i.e. less soap and more oppression). Still, I would like to observe that time. Connie Willis's DOOMSDAY BOOK left a great impression on me.

Describe your novel in seven words or less?

A murder mystery...in SPACE!!!

Please share with us about your favorite book and fictional crush to date?

My favorite books are the Chronicles of Narnia, but as for a literary crush...hmmm.....perhaps Luthe from THE HERO AND THE CROWN, which is the height of ironic since that name is the name of a bad guy in my own book...

If you could be any character in fiction, whom would you be / Why?

Aerin from THE HERO AND THE CROWN. She's just so darn noble, and defines bravery to me--fighting even when you're scared stiff, fighting even after you're mortally wounded.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play thelead role as you/ Why?

Drew Barrymore! She's one of my absolute favorite actresses and I think our hair is similar and I wish I could be pretty like her...

If someone wrote a biography about you, what do you think the title should be – please explain?

Oh, I doubt anyone would write a biography of me. My life is extraordinarily boring to everyone except me.

How would you describe yourself/life in seven words?

I only need two words: relentlessly happy. As in, I'm always striving--fighting sometimes--to be happy.

Bonus:

**Is there any additional info you would like to share with your readers about what’s next for you and your books?**

Well, currently I'm working on the second book in the trilogy, so I hope that readers like Amy and Elder enough to keep reading their tale. I also hope everyone knows that the book jacket for the book is reversible (eeee!!!!) and that the website, http://acrosstheuniversebook.com is getting overhauled as I type this (and will probably be done by the time this posts).

Thanks for stopping by Beth!

For more information about Beth Revis and her books, please visit her website here.

Monday Madness (65): Across the Universe by Beth Revis

What is Monday Madness?

It’s the phenomenon affecting all book lovers as we count down the hours in hopes of getting our hands on highly anticipated books on release day. So, come join me throughout the week where I will be featuring Author Interviews, Reviews and Contests for great books.

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis

Pub. Date: January 2011

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated

Format: Hardcover , 416pp

Age Range: Young Adult

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Want More?

Read the First Chapter here!

Order ACROSS THE UNIVERSE @ Amazon, Barnes and Noble, BooksAMillion, Borders & IndieBound

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Check out the book trailer!




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