Unearthed (Unearthed, #1)

by Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution humanity has been waiting for. The Undying’s advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and their message leads to the planet Gaia, a treasure trove waiting to be explored.

For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an ancient alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study… as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don’t loot everything first. Despite their opposing reasons for smuggling themselves onto the alien planet’s surface, they’re both desperate to uncover the riches hidden in the Undying temples. Beset by rival scavenger gangs, Jules and Mia form a fragile alliance… but both are keeping secrets that make trust nearly impossible.

As they race to decode the ancient messages, Jules and Mia must navigate the traps and trials within the Undying temples and stay one step ahead of the scavvers on their heels. They came to Gaia certain that they had far more to fear from their fellow humans than the ancient beings whose mysteries they’re trying to unravel. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more Jules and Mia start to feel like their presence in the temple is part of a grand design–one that could spell the end of the human race…

• ASIN: B01MTLCX2V
• Publish Date: 2018 (first published 9 January 2018)
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Format: eBook (Kindle)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English

Reviews

[ladygrey]

This is a decent enough book, which I expect from Amie Kaufman and Meg Spooner because they're good writers. The mystery and puzzle aspect of it wasn't quite as strong as I expected because the reader watched them solve puzzles rather than being asked to participate in solving the puzzles. Also puzzle have been done in tv shows and movies that it's really (REALLY) hard to come up with something unexpected.

The musical bridge reminded me of The Snow Queen by Joan Vinge. The ceiling falling and floor crumbling room were straight out of Indiana Jones (which in all fairness I think they were designed to be). There were also parts that felt like Stargate, though I couldn't tell you which episode. Probably Crystal Skull but there were several episodes with puzzles like the ones with Merlin. The language obelisk was new but not surprising that it was a portal since the message in the beginning referenced going through the aether.

I think the story was also meant to be surprising in other ways. The fact that I was not surprised is not a detriment to the authors. It's because they're good storytellers that I know they didn't put a loaded gun in the room for no reason. So I was not surprised that Mink and Charolette were the same person. Or that Mia and Jules were being followed. Or that the Undying were humans. I think they're the people sent off to Alpha Centauri but we'll see in the sequel. What Kaufman and Spooner do so well is legitimize the seemingly unexpected. It twists tropes in unexpected ways and yet still follows a logical path so that the “surprise” is actually the only reasonable conclusion.

The characters were good but not quite great. Interesting enough to follow into the sequel but not dramatically fantastic. Or perhaps that was simply my mood while reading. Maybe I was trying too hard to follow the puzzle so didn't get drawn into the characters. Or maybe I saw where the story was going too well to get caught up in it.

I wanted to like this so badly. A teenage Indiana Jones? Hell yeah!

Unfortunately for me, I found the story rather dull. The story focused too heavily on the budding romance between the two characters, and it appears it is actually quite hard to portray the urgency and danger when solving puzzles, through words... It didn’t help that I felt no connection to the characters, and therefore was not interested in their safety.

The first 25-30% has more info dumping than action, I nearly DNFed it but pushed through because everyone said the ending was worth it. There was a lot of repetition of information which bored me, I could tell they were trying to hit home how each character had important things on the line and the stakes were high. But it slowed the story right down.

After that ending though, I feel like the whole point of the story was contradictory. The high stakes also feels like they were unnecessary.

I really wish I liked this! I love both of the authors and their other works, but this story was not that exciting...

I probably won’t read the sequel.

[emruth13]

THIS BOOK! First, it felt like coming home reading a book by these two authors. I love their first series together so much and this book gave me all those feels. But then, it had its own kind of feels! And that ending was INSANE!!! I can't wait for the next book and wish we didn't have to wait so long for sequels!

[alisoninbookland]

Archaeology! In space! What’s not to love about that?

[reveriesociety_]

So... I couldn't finish it :(

[littleread1]

See this and more reviews at Little Read Riding Hood.

Having loved the series these two authors previously wrote together, These Broken Stars (Starbound Series #1), I knew I have to check this out as soon as I heard about it. I had very few doubts that I would like it, so not only did I jump all over the chance to get an audio CD of Unearthed from the publisher, I pre-ordered the hardcover too. Even though I had both versions, I exclusively listened to this on the CD.

General thoughts:

I really enjoyed the dystopian world built but Kaufman and Spooner. It is certainly something I could see happening to us in the not so distant future. I also really liked how we (the readers) are just thrown into the story and the details are all brought to light in such a way that there is no big info dump like sometimes happens in sci-fi stories. There is very little I didn't like, but the one thing that really bothered me was the ending. I don't mind cliffhangers, but this one made the story just seem ... unfinished?

More detailed thoughts :

I love dual narration. I also love when the narrators make an effort to get the same accent when they are reading the same characters, just from a different POV. I also really like how seamlessly Kaufman's and Spooner's writing styles come together without a hitch. I think each author took a different POV, but I would be lying if I said I knew that for a fact just by reading/listening. I also really love how they make these younger characters believable in the situations they find themselves in. Some YA stories you just can't ever figure out HOW this character got into the position they find themselves in, but that isn't an issue here. At first, maybe, but you come to see how Jules and Mia find themselves on another planet, and the circumstances just make sense. 

Jules and Mia ... I was able to relate to them both on some level, even though they are basically opposites. And even though from start to finish they only know each other a matter of days, they go through a lot together, which lends the blossoming romance an air of credibility. The whole trauma bringing people together thing is in full force in Unearthed. There were several instances where I was just nodding along, thinking, "Yeah, I'd probably do/say/think the same thing in their shoes." 

But the ending ... Not that it was bad per se, it just seemed like it could have ended either a few pages earlier or another couple of pages could have wrapped it up. I am NOT going to even hint about what happens, just that I think we were told a bit too much right there at the end. It would have made more sense to me to leave us questioning a few more things. I mean, if you had paid attention at all, there were enough clues dropped that had things not been confirmed you probably would have guessed anyway, however the wondering 'what if' in the interim would have been fun. The theories and discussions we could have been having during the wait for book 2 are basically gone. And then it just ENDS. 

Did I love this as much as I thought I would? Almost. Was I disappointed in the story? Not at all, just where they chose to end it. Will I snatch up book 2 whenever the time comes? You bet!

[Amber]

Unearthed was sooooooo good! I went into it knowing next to nothing, only that I was in a sci-fi mood and I needed something action packed. This book delivered so hard. It’s set on another planet, and the two main characters basically have to go into an temple and try to find the secrets within. It sounds cliché, but it’s brilliant. The Uncharted/Tomb Raider vibes were real.

I really liked both of the main characters, which hardly ever happens. Mia was a badass, and Jules was an adorable nerd. I loved that they were both on this planet to help their families. When it comes to books with dual points of view, I tend to gravitate towards the female but in this book I loved both of them and I really enjoyed reading from both of their perspectives. Occasionally, the points of view sounded and felt very similar, but I rarely got confused about whose POV I was reading from.

As for the romance, I didn’t actually mind it! Either this means I’m growing as a person (yeah, right), or that it was written quite well. I don’t think there needed to be any kissing this early on in the series (it’s a duology) and I would have preferred a longer build up because I think that leads to the best tension, but it didn’t put me off the book or disgust me like it often does.

Unearthed ends on the BEST cliffhanger I’ve read in ages. Like, I can’t remember the last time I read a cliffhanger this good. The ending was incredibly well done and I’m dying to read the second (and last) book in the series. I need to get my hands on it NOW. Somehow. With a time machine. I was left with so many theories that I need it right now to see if I’m right!

I’d highly recommend Unearthed, even if you didn’t like the authors’ previous work. It’s much stronger than These Broken Stars and the sequels, both in terms of writing and in pacing. Plus, there’s no instalove. Woo!

[Beth C.]

Definitely YA, though thankfully the romance isn't of the annoyingly unnecessary or overeager variety. The story is fun and fast-paced, and quite intriguing. The plot twist was a major twist (to me) - totally didn't see it coming. Huge downside? Cliffhanger. Not even a "half-off but scrambling up" cliffhanger with some sort of resolution, but a "barely hanging on by a single fingernail and one big toe" kind of ending.

Having said that - I did enjoy the story, and this will make it on to my shortlist of sequels to read ASAP.

[Kelly]

The Earth is no longer environmentally sustainable, humanity has depleted nonrenewable resources, communities abandoned and surviving through impoverished environments. The Undying are a former ancient archaic civilisation of Gaia, a technologically advanced species in distress. Gaia is now an abandoned and desolate planet, archaeologists believing the survival of Earth depends upon Gaia and the Undying technology.

Amelia Radcliffe is an illegal scavenger upon the surface of Gaia, an unauthorised visitor exploring the ancient temples of the Undying for artefacts to be illicitly traded by her benefactor. Amelia is an intelligent and perceptive young woman who appears invincible, her vulnerability and compassion compelled by the freedom of her enslaved sister.

The expedition on Gaia is an opportunity for Jules Addison to explore the temples of the Undying, journeying to the sacred ruins. His father once a world renowned xenoarchaeologist now imprisoned and accused of sabotage. Seventeen year old Jules will continue his father's vocation from the temples of Gaia, determined to decipher the concealed message within the distress signal. Jules is overwhelmed by the magnitude of Gaia and proposes an alliance. Amelia will assist Jules in reaching the temple and consequently, Jules will appraise ancient Undying artefacts despite his disdain. Neither anticipated company.

On their delightfully adventurous escapade, Amelia and Jules collaborate to decipher the mysteries of the Undying, each temple chamber challenging the young explorers while avoiding capture. Although Gaia was ambiguous, the Undying temples and hieroglyphic language were elaborately illustrated. Characteristically, the romantic elements are incredibly charming, still allowing both Amelia and Jules to flourish as individuals and I also enjoyed the subtle reference to the Starbound Trilogy and the Gaia hypothesis.

Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[shannonmiz]

This was good! Also a solid reminder why you should not read book one when book two won't be out til 2019. I need to know all the things! I sob.