Series Review: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Series Review: Is this series worth your time? Does it get better as the novels progress? Or does it get worse? Find out below:

Series: Across the Universe Trilogy
Author: Beth Revis
# of Books: 3 (Across the Universe, A Million Suns, Shades of Earth)

There are a few short stories published about various characters. See the list here.

Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Mystery, Dystopian, Romance
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First Person, Alternating

Thoughts:

I almost didn’t read this series. I had never heard a lick about it and when I saw the title and cover for Across the Universe, I thought it was a book about the 2007 movie of the same name. But, my curiosity got the better of me (thanks to that colourful cover) and I clicked on it, read the synopsis and borrowed the eBook.

And I am so ever thankful that I did!

This series really blew my mind away. Just when I’d think I had an idea of what was going on, something else was thrown into the loop–something that had been carefully hidden all along–and would change everything. In each and every book I got sucked into the story and simply devoured them. They were very unique and unlike anything I have read before and I applaud Beth Revis for crafting such a creative, plot-twisting, fun series.

However, Across the Universe did start a little slow. Part of the reason is trying to navigate exactly what the situation/setting is for these characters. There are a lot new “terms” because the series is set so many years in the future (and language and humans evolve over this time). Another reason is that Amy is a harder character to like at first. She’s a little annoying and vain so that grated on my nerves a bit. But when I let myself think about it, I really came to understand why she acted that way. How would you feel if you woke up on a ship, 100s of years in the future because someone tried to kill you and then found yourself surrounded by 1000s of strangers? Probably a little defensive I would say :p So While Amy isn’t my favourite literary heroine of all time, I did grow to like her as the series continued. Elder, the male protagonist I loved from the get-go so no issue there.

The series, like most recent dystopian Young Adult reads, doesn’t focus on the romance rather on what is really going on inside Godspeed. There was a lot going on and as I said before, the plot twisted constantly so it made for a very exciting read. The romance element is there, but if you are planning on reading this because of a “love out of time” maybe find something else or stay for the mystery of Godspeed because it’s so worth it!

Conclusion:

If you love plot twists and Science Fiction reads–this is a Young Adult Series you should read. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this impressed with a trilogy!

Rating: 4/5
Would I Recommend this Series to a Friend: YES!!!

Similar Reads: Legend by Marie Lu (Legend Trilogy #1) and Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky Trilogy #1)

Synopsis for Across the Universe (from Goodreads):
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.