Unearthed by Meagan Spooner, Amie Kaufman

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…

Reviewed by Kelly on

4 of 5 stars

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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.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 14 December, 2017: Finished reading
  • 14 December, 2017: Reviewed