In the third book in the Across the Universe trilogy, more than half of the inhabitants of Godspeed finally reach their destination that has taken five centuries to get to: Centauri-Earth. There, Amy and Elder hope to succeed with two things: Amy hopes to finally wake the other Sol-Earth beings--including her parents--from their frozen slumber and prove to everyone that they are not there to harm them, while Elder is hoping his people will settle the new world, and find it to be better than living on the doomed Godspeed. But from the moment they land, danger and trouble plague the young leader and his girlfriend. Carnivorous monsters lurk in the woods, waiting to make a meal out of the humans, and the newly awakened military and scientists are only focused on their mission, and not the frightened civilians around them. Secrets abound between these two sides that further complicates the settling, and when Amy and Elder suspect they're not alone on the planet, they have to uncover what is being hidden in order to ever have the chance of calling this foreign world home.
As her first sci-fi series, Beth Revis does a fantastic job of creating an entire new world filled with plants and creatures that can be easily imagined by her descriptions. She also makes the scientific side of this book comprehensible and enjoyable, adding to the advancement that has taken place in this futuristic story.
One thing that Revis has never been shy about using is shock factors; in each of her books, she is not hesitant to add something that will blind-side the reader and make them flabbergasted. She continues this tradition in Shades of Earth, adding cringe-worthy moments and revelations causing the characters and readers much pain and discomfort. Concerning her characters, Revis is unafraid to have them meet an unfortunate end, and also have them act certain ways that does not put them in the best light. Though some might see these negative characteristics as a turn off, it adds to Amy, Elder, and the rest showing that even in the future they face challenges like we do today.
Shades of Earth was a wonderful read, and a great way to end the series. Perhaps the only problem about it is the ending: it doesn't go into enough detail about the colonists and what ever happens with them, or about the future of Amy and Elder's relationship. It almost feels like a cliff hanger, however it definitely isn't, though it does beg the question, "What happens next?" Although a fourth book is unnecessary, what Revis might consider doing is writing a novella about Amy and Elder a few years after this book. However, Revis has set the end of the book in such a way that if she decided to do a fourth book or a spin-off series, it would work out very well and hopefully squelch our curiosity.
Beth Revis has certainly created a fan base for her work, and Shades of Earth is a terrific way to finish her debut series.
Sincerely,
The Night Owl
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