The Body Electric by Beth Revis

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): The future world is at peace.
Ella Shepherd has dedicated her life to using her unique gift—the ability to enter people’s dreams and memories using technology developed by her mother—to help others relive their happy memories.
But not all is at it seems.
Ella starts seeing impossible things—images of her dead father, warnings of who she cannot trust. Her government recruits her to spy on a rebel group, using her ability to experience—and influence—the memories of traitors. But the leader of the rebels claims they used to be in love—even though Ella’s never met him before in her life. Which can only mean one thing…
Someone’s altered her memory.
Ella’s gift is enough to overthrow a corrupt government or crush a growing rebel group. She is the key to stopping a war she didn't even know was happening. But if someone else has been inside Ella’s head, she cannot trust her own memories, thoughts, or feelings.
So who can she trust?

Book Review:
Let me start off by saying that I adore Beth Revis. She is one of my favorite author's. Period. I mourned the end of the Across the Universe series and was super psyched when I found out about this stand alone novel. I may have built my expectations up a bit. Overall, I enjoyed the story. Ella made an engaging character that I enjoyed following. Jack was an excellent supporting character. My favorite character of all was Ella's father. However, I felt that it took a little too long for Ella to fit the pieces together. I kept thinking..."this is where things will start to make sense," and then nope. Just biding a little more time. I found it to be a little frustrating. Also, I felt that the ending was a little abrupt. I would definitely find a sequel a bit more satisfying, me thinks. Overall, this was an enjoyable read, but it was lacking a few key components for me.  

Cover Art Commentary:
This cover is very eye-catching. I love the green and white. I also didn't notice the bees flying out of the character's head until after I finished reading the book. Spooky coincidence.  

Rating:

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:

A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis

Book Summery (Via author's website): It’s been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He’s finally free to enact his vision – no more Phydus, no more lies.
But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that’s growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

Book Review:
After reading Across the Universe (my review), I've been dying to read the sequel A Million Suns. First of all, let me just say that I was not disappointed. :D I was happy to see Elder and Amy's relationship deepen. I felt like that was a piece that was missing in the first book. Also, I was happy to discover more about Godspeed's journey through space. I also enjoyed Amy's "scavenger hunt." That's about as detailed as I can get without giving too much away. :P Of course, chaos erupts and adventures ensue. Some of the big plot "twists" were rather predictable. Overall, this is just a fabulous series. I highly encourage readers of all ages to read it. In fact, I bought my nephew a copy of Across the Universe for Christmas! :)

Favorite Quote:

“And here we are, in the middle, surrounded by a sea of stars.
A million suns.
Any of them could hold a planet. Any of them could hold a home.
But all of them are out of reach." (p. 218) 

Cover Art Commentary:
These colors are right up my ally! I am REALLY happy that they kept the cover with in the same theme as the last book. Lately, it seems after the first or second book, the covers of series are changed. I'm really glad they didn't change this series! :)

Rating:

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Book Summery:
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. -goodreads.com
Book Trailer:


Book Review:
Just finished this book last night, and my mind is still reeling from it. I can honestly say that this is one of the best books that I have ever read. I'll admit, I was a bit hesitant at first. I mean, a book about a girl frozen in space? It didn't sound all that interesting. But trust me, this book is so much more than that! I will forewarn you that my review just isn't going to do this book justice. I don't want to hint at, or giveaway too much information! Some of what makes this book so great are the secrets that are revealed throughout the plot! For more information, check out Beth Revis' website (here) and the official book website (here). Even if you've read the book, at least check out the book website. It gives a detailed blueprint of the ship! :)

What I liked:
*The characters. Vivid, flawed, intelligent. This book is definitely character driven! A lot of character growth takes place as well! :)
*The world building. AMAZING. The story begins on earth, in the very believable future. Then you learn about the ship. Revis did an excellent job of acquainting the reader the ship and it's inhabitants.
*The mystery. There is some serious stuff going on, and it's a mystery as to who is doing it. Very suspenseful.
*The dystopian setting. I really don't want to elaborate on this too much. You'll see when you read the book!
*I just found out this book is a trilogy!!! I can not wait to read the other 2 books!!!

Favorite Quote:

"I am silent as death. How can someone without a beating heart, without lungs live like I do? I muse be dead. And this is my greatest fear: After 301 years, when they pull my glass coffin from this morgue, and the let my body thaw like chicken meat on the kitchen counter, I will be just like I am now. I will spend all of eternity trapped in my dead body. There is nothing beyond this. I will be locked within myself forever." (p. 32)

Cover Art Commentary:
Breathtaking! I love the faces opposing each other against a blanket of stars. Also, the cover is reversible. The other side contains blueprints of the ship. All in all, this is one fantastic cover! :)

Overall Rating: