Across the Universe (Across the Universe, #1)

by Beth Revis

[rakesandrogues]

Reviewed at Muggle-Born.net

This was supposed to be my most anticipated book of 2011. I could not wait to read this one so I actually contacted the publisher for a review copy. It was the first time I had ever done that and my effort paid off. I got a chance to review this book in advance.

I’d like to say that I’ve read a handful of reviews praising ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. It sounded exactly my kind of book so I could not wait to get my hands on it. However, when I started reading, I just found that the book did not live up to my expectations and fell very far from it. Unfortunately, as much as I would love to, I just cannot write a fantastic review raving about ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.

To sum up what ACROSS THE UNIVERSE is really like, it is 400 pages of pure development. Nothing really happens. There is a lot of talk about “secrets” aboard Godspeed, but you don’t really get to that until page 300. Which made me think: did the book really have to be that long? Was everything positively necessary to the plot?

I do have to give the author Beth Revis some credit. There were some secrets that were positively shocking. I never would have seen them coming. One of the most eye-opening scenes was the beginning of the Season. It was actually immensely disturbing that I had to stop reading and tell my friend about it.

However, the most essential secret to the plot was quite painfully obvious – which killed me. I love suspense. I love it when an author keeps me guessing to the end, which is why I was almost livid when I found out that I figured out the big shocker one hundred (or less) pages into the book. I would love to point out that that is not supposed to happen.

And now for the romance… One of the selling points of the book was the romance. Science fiction and romance? It was too good to be true! I honestly did not feel any chemistry between Elder and Amy. It was so disappointing. Elder failed to attract me one bit because there was no air of mystery around him. I was presented with everything about him and there was no guessing about his feelings.

I couldn’t get myself to like Amy either. I couldn’t relate. I guess it’s the fact that when I moved out of my house for college, I transitioned quickly. Amy came across as extremely dependent and needy. I felt like every time she pulled herself together, she would just collapse once more from the fact that she was without her parents. I love a solid, independent female lead and Amy is nothing close to that mold.

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE has a fantastic premise. I absolutely loved reading about how views of Earth history has been altered and the similarities between Eldest and Hitler. It made me think. However, the premise does not make up for the actual execution of the book. I figured out the ending when the book just got started, and the ending was too drawn out to the point of being corny.

Would I still recommend others to read this book? Yes, but don’t set your expectations too high.

A huge thank you to Razorbill and Penguin for letting me review this book!