Unearthed is the first book in a sci-fi duology by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. Their names sound familiar to you? That's because they're the pair who wrote the New York Times Bestselling series of Starbound (These Broken Stars, This Shattered World and Their Fractured Light). These two are a sci-fi force to be reckoned with. They had a lot to live up to after their Starbound books... And they lived up to, if not surpassed those. Unearthed is an exciting novel with compelling characters and an even more fascinating plot. Though it started off a little slow, you're sure to be sucked in the world before you even know it, and soon enough it'll be three AM and you're still reading... Maybe that was just my experience, though, haha.
Unearthed takes place on a recently discovered planet, which was once occupied by a now extinct race that the humans have named the "Undying" due to their last message left to humanity. Meet Mia Radcliffe, a scavenger who has snuck onto Gaia to steal expensive technology. Now meet Jules Addison, a scholar who's determined to find the meaning behind a second, hidden message behind the first. Through a strange twist of fate, the two have to end up working together... and little do they know just how much they'll need to rely on each other or the perils the will soon face.
I absolutely loved the relationship between Jules and Mia. I enjoyed watching how it progressed throughout the book. And I loved the tension and mistrust built between the two characters due to their differing motives and goals. And I'm not just talking about tension from mistrust heheh.
The beginning isn't exactly a slow start. It actually jumps right into the action, which I loved, but it feels slow in comparison to later in the book, due to actually very speedy pacing as well as a stronger connection to the characters you are reading about. Seriously, this book is absolutely riveting, you're not going to want to tear your eyes away, the plot just keeps getting thicker and thicker. Unearthed is a race, to survive and to find... whatever they're looking for before others do. It's exciting-- I swear my heart was racing during several key moments, and I was reading faster the faster the story went. That's just how engrossing this story really is.
I'll admit, I wasn't actually all that excited to start this book-- it was sitting on my bookshelf for a while due to a busy school time. Then, on my yearly camping trip I brought the book along and picked it up just to pass the time. Little did I know i was about to be swept away in a planet far, far away. Haha. Anyway, I'd give Unearthed 8/10 stars, it was a fantastic and enthralling book. Definitely one to add to the favorites shelf. I highly recommend if you want to go on a heart-pounding adventure with a compelling plot and intriguing characters. It has action, it has adventure, high stakes and a sprig of romance. What else could you possibly want?
Here's the synopsis:
When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.
For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.
In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race...
SPOILERS
OH. MY. GOD. The sexual tension between Mia and Jules was PRIME. I absolutely loved the slow burn of the romance, I hate instalove. I love Mia and Jules' relationship, especially with the distrust and betrayal mixed in. The moment they finally kissed was so rewarding, and then the funny little dialog added after about yeah of course I had to follow you, I didn't know if the kissing was over and I couldn't miss out on that. AHA.
I was a little disappointed at first with the big hidden thing being a spaceship, but with that ending? It was totally okay. Of course, I was suspicious from the beginning that the Undying were actually humans and I WAS RIGHT! I'm thinking they were probably the people from the colony that was briefly mentioned? Like they were in trouble and the people of Earth refused to help but they survived and now want revenge? I don't know.
Anyway, thanks for reading!
-Anj