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

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): 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.

Book Review:
Well, I can honestly say I didn't know what I was getting into when I originally picked up the first book in the series, Across the Universe. I thought it couldn't get any better, then came along A Million Suns, and I was proved wrong. Needless to say, I was chomping at the bit for Shades of Earth to be released. I will admit, It's been quite a while since I was as eager to read the next book in a series, as I was to read Shades of Earth. Revis has created an original tale, unlike any other I have read. I crave more of her writing! She has a voice that is much needed in YA!

Now that I have read the entire series, I can look back and see the maturity and evolution of Amy and Elder's characters. I really enjoyed this aspect. Amy and Elder were practically adults by the time I read Shades of Earth! I was looking forward to 2 things upon starting this book. 1. Meeting the frozens. I was anxious to see the difference between the frozens and the shipborns. 2. Catching a gimps of Centauri-Earth and its inhabitants. I don't want to give too much away, but it was well-worth the wait on both accounts.

Overall, I am really sad to see this series come to an end. I would love just one more book! Maybe Revis has something of the like up her sleeve? I can only hope. It's been a wonderful journey, from my first step on board of Godspeed, to my first peek of Centauri-Earth. I couldn't have asked for a better ending to this intriguing series.

Favorite Quote:
“What is in our hearts is real whether we name it or let it exist only in darkness or silence.” 

Cover Art Commentary:
It's not that I don't like this cover, rather I'm a fan on consistency. I like the new covers (pictured below), but would have liked them better if they had first released the covers like this.

I have the first editions (first 2 pictured below), and would have liked to keep them all the same. I found the third image on goodreads, and imagine that might have been the original cover for the third book. I, for one, like this cover and like that it is consistent with the other 2 originally released.

Rating: