Unearthed
Ratings15
Average rating3.9
DNF - PG 60
Why?
Short answer: insta-obsession/infatuation/love.
Long answer:
Sigh And it had so much potential.
I love treasure hunting stories. I love aliens and their civilizations. Combine the two and I should have been in heaven. Instead I get this insta-love mess where as soon as anything halfway interesting happens, Amelia or Jules has to notice something about the other - how pretty his smile is, or how she's...a girl. Because, really, I think Jules is shallow enough that that's his only requirement for liking Amelia. A girl. Because that's the only ‘good' quality he seems to focus on. Which, truly, I can understand, because Amelia doesn't actually have any good qualities. I mean...you remember K&S's previous trilogy together? Remember the second book and Lee? I couldn't stand her. Amelia reminds me so strongly of her that it's not even funny.
And...honestly, I'm used to the YA trend of super great/smart/talented teen doing what adults can't. But in this book, we are constantly told how Amelia beat out a bunch of adults that were more experienced salvagers than she because...because...because...uhm... we wouldn't have a story otherwise? (Which, if the characters weren't so easily swayed by a pretty face, I might have been able to forgive this, but it was just piled on. And before page 40, Jules has already given Amelia a nickname. Seems soon? Amelia gives him one on first meeting. How sweet. You can tell they are hardcore YA destined for each other. Blech.)
I decided to just power through and read the last half of this book in one sitting. And I'm glad I did. I got to incorrectly guess where everything was headed and how Jules and Mia were going to either get into trouble or get out of it. I'm now anxiously awaiting December and Undying to see how this story is resolved and what that cliffhanger was.
I love that one of the main characters has the same name as me.
I love that this is space archaeology – two of my favourite things.
I love Jules Addison.
I loved the fast pace of this story.
I love that there's a sequel coming.
“Unearthed” is the first in a duology co-written by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. “Unearthed” follows two main characters named, Jules Addison and Amelia Radcliffe. These two meet on the planet Gaia, after Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race called ‘The Undying' who had advanced technology that has the potential to undo the environmental damage to the Earth. Both characters have different reason's for being on Gaia, Jules Addison is there to study “The Undying's” culture while Amelia Radcliffe is there to scavenge for treasures.
I enjoyed the novel, which had elements of Indiana Jones and Lara Croft, which I enjoy, but unlike Indiana Jones and Lara Croft, “Unearthed” was not as entertaining and as exciting as these adventurous movies. I gave the novel a 3/5 Stars.