Review: A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis

Publisher: Penguin

Published: January 10, 2012

Pages: 386

Source: Bought

Rating: 4 Stars

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos. 
It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies. 
But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart. 

In short: I literally gasped out loud several times at the exciting plot and surprise reveals in A Million Suns by Beth Revis.

Across the Universe, the first in Beth Revis' series, was such an exciting and fun read. It seemed like with every chapter, there would be some sort of surprise or reveal about the deep, dark secrets of the ship, Godspeed, or the people on it. So I was a little apprehensive going into A Million Suns. I mean, with every secret seemingly revealed in Across the Universe, what's left for the characters to uncover?

Well, as it turns out, a whole heck of a lot. I literally gasped out loud a few times while reading. It occurs to me how very, very much planning Beth Revis would have had to put into creating the Across the Universe Trilogy. Every reveal and clue always seem carefully and assuredly put into place for the maximum entertainment of the reader. And I have no doubt Beth Revis will continue to bring the big surprises in the final book, Shades of Earth, even though there doesn't seem like anything more to be revealed.

I didn't quite like A Million Suns as much as Across the Universe, though. There were a few plot holes that bothered me. In A Million Suns, Amy is sent on a scavenger hunt by a certain character - who I will not name to avoid spoilers - to find an important message left to her through a series of many, many tailor-made clues. It was completely unnecessary for said character to have left so many clues for Amy, when they were already tailor-made for her. As it is, Amy spends the entire book hunting down these clues for this critical message when a few clues and less time would have sufficed, so that was pretty silly.

Still, even a few plot holes couldn't stop me from loving A Million Suns. An amazing thriller with fascinating and exciting world-building, A Million Suns is an excellent sequel and a must-read. I can't believe we have to wait so long until Shades of Earth (to be released January 2013)!

Previously, my review for Across the Universe.

Other Reviews:
The Bookworm is Here!
Cozy Up With A Good Read
YA Book Queen

Author Links:
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Waiting On Wednesday (18): Hachette Spring 2012 Catalog

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking The Spine in which an upcoming, eagerly anticipated release is highlighted on the blog.

Is anyone else tired of winter and excited for spring to finally get here? I know I am - not just for the weather to change, but also for the great books that will be released in the springtime. This week, I've chosen a few picks from the Hachette Spring 2012 Catalogue:

172 Hours on the Moon by Johan Harstad
Date: April 17, 2012

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Three teenagers are going on the trip of a lifetime. Only one is coming back. It's been more than forty years since NASA sent the first men to the moon, and to grab some much-needed funding and attention, they decide to launch an historic international lottery in which three lucky teenagers can win a week-long trip to moon base DARLAH 2 - a place that no one but top government officials even knew existed until now. The three winners, Antoine, Midori, and Mia, come from all over the world. But just before the scheduled launch, the teenagers each experience strange, inexplicable events. Little do they know that there was a reason NASA never sent anyone back there until now - a sinister reason. But the countdown has already begun...

What is going on with this freaky cover? It's almost as awesome as the premise of 172 Hours on the Moon. What on earth could this "sinister reason" be for sending three teenagers to the moon on vacation?

Revived by Cat Patrick
Date: May 8, 2012

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As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.
A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency’s true goals, she realizes she’s at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

I have not gotten around to reading Forgotten by Cat Patrick, though I've heard very good things about it and its interesting premise. Revived also has quite the intriguing premise. I'd be interested in knowing how Cat Patrick explains the science behind bringing people back from the dead.

A Midsummer's Nightmare by Kody Keplinger
Date: June 5, 2012

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Whitley Johnsons dream summer with her divorce dad has turned into a nightmare. She’s just met his new fiancee and her kids. The fiancee’s son? Whitley’s one-night stand from graduation night. Just freakin’ great.
Worse, she totally doesn’t fit in with her dad’s perfect new country-club family. So Whitley acts out. She parties. Hard. So hard she doesn’t even notice the good things right under her nose: a sweet little future stepsister who is just about the only person she’s ever liked, a best friend (even though Whitley swears she doesn’t “do” friends), and a smoking-hot guy who isn’t her stepbrother... at least, not yet. It will take all three of them to help Whitley get through her anger and begin to put the pieces of her family together.

Kody Keplinger is another author that I have yet to read, despite hearing amazing things. Contemporaries are definitely outside my comfort zone, but I would like to break out of the box for A Midsummer's Nightmare because it sounds authentic and raw.

The Watcher in the Shadows by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
Date: June 7, 2012

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A mysterious toymaker who lives as a recluse in an old mansion, surrounded by the mechanical beings he has created ...an enigma surrounding strange lights that shine through the mists that envelop the small island on which the old lighthouse stands...a shadowy creature that hides deep in the woods...these are the elements of a mystery that bind will bind 14-year-old Irene to Ismael during one magical summer spent in the Blue Bay. Her mother has taken a job as a housekeeper for the toymaker, Lazarus, but his house contains more secrets than Irene and Ishmael have bargained for.

I adore MG, but don't read nearly enough of it. The Watcher in the Shadows reminds me very much of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, with the "mysterious toymaker" who creates mechanical beings, so I am hoping it will be just as good!


How about you? Are you waiting on any of these Hachette Spring 2012 reads? Are there any upcoming books from the Hachette Spring 2012 Catalogue that I didn't include here that you feel I should add to my list?

Muggle Monday (19): The New Book

It's time for Muggle Monday, in which I post a quote, a video, or a significant piece of news from the Harry Potter franchise. This is somewhat inspired by the Mundane Monday posts by The Mundie Moms.

But let's be real as to why I made up this meme: I just want the opportunity to post something about Harry Potter.


I haven't been keeping up with this meme because honestly, there hasn't been a whole lot going on that I want to talk about in the HP Universe. Pottermore, a site that I had initially been very excited about, ended up being a disappointment and I never visited it again beyond the first time. Thankfully, the announcement of The New Book has brought me out of this funk, at least briefly:

J.K. Rowling is finally leaving Hogwarts behind — and for decidedly more adult fare, too. Little, Brown Book Group and Little, Brown and Company announced Thursday that Rowling, author of the mega-successful Harry Potter series, is set to publish her first novel for adults.

“Although I’ve enjoyed writing it every bit as much, my next book will be very different to the Harry Potter series, which has been published so brilliantly by Bloomsbury and my other publishers around the world,” Rowling said in a statement. “The freedom to explore new territory is a gift that Harry’s success has brought me, and with that new territory it seemed a logical progression to have a new publisher. I am delighted to have a second publishing home in Little, Brown, and a publishing team that will be a great partner in this new phase of my writing life.”

The title, date and details of the new novel are set to be announced later this year.

“For me, quite simply, it is a personal and professional dream come true to be working with J.K. Rowling,” said David Shelley, publisher of Little, Brown Book Group, in a statement. “She is one of the best storytellers in the world, and I am looking forward enormously to helping bring her new novel for adults to her fans and admirers, and to introducing her writing to new readers the world over.”

A new adult book by Jo that will very different from Harry Potter and will be released later this year? Oh yes, I'm obivously excited! And though I cannot deny that I would DIE to read something else set in the Potter universe, or even something that's still related to the MG/YA fantasy genre like Harry Potter, I do mean it when I say that I would read absolutely anything written by J.K. Rowling.

And though no details about The New Book have been released as of yet, there have been some possible clues as to the genre of The New Book. Jo will be leaving her Potter UK and US publishers, Bloomsbury and Scholastic respectively, for Little, Brown and Company. Her new editor, David Shelley, specializes in crime thrillers, so that is possibly the genre of The New Book.

How about you? Do you have any interest in reading an adult book by J.K. Rowling that is likely going to be a crime thriller, or do you think you will skip it because it's not your genre? Are you like me and would read absolutely anything by J.K. Rowling, even if it was about the history of taxes, or are you a little bit more sane?

If you would like to be kept informed about any new information regarding The New Book, you can sign up for an email subscription at JKRowling.com.

Giveaway: The Girl Who Was On Fire and Hunger Games Merchandise

20 days left until The Hunger Games movie release... Are you feeling the excitement yet? I know I am. The Hunger Games promo machine is in high gear, with interviews, photos, and merchandise up the wazoo, and the resulting effect is that I am absolutely DYING to see the movie! From what I've seen so far of trailers and pictures, I'm pretty impressed, though withholding judgement until I see the movie in full.

I figured now would be as good a time as any to have a Hunger Games themed giveaway! In this giveaway, one winner will win:

Apologies for the bad picture

An ARC of The Girl Who Was On Fire

A Hunger Games themed Charm Bracelet

A "Girl Who Was On Fire" Slap Bracelet

3 sets of Hunger Games themed Earrings

Rules
1. To enter, leave a comment below with your email address
2. Following is not required, but always appreciated!
3. Open Internationally
4. Ends March 31, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST
5. Entrants must be at least 13 years old
6. The winner will be sent an email and has 48 hours to respond with their address to accept their prize. Failing this, another winner will be chosen.

Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favour!

Winner!

It's time to announce the winner of the The Knife of Never Letting Go (or anything else by Patrick Ness)!

Congrats, Jeanne!

I hope you'll come to fall in love with the Chaos Walking Trilogy as much as I did! Please email me with your full name and address and which Patrick Ness book you would like to receive within the next 48 hours at ayleejaine(at)gmail(dot)com.

Update: Unfortunately, the winner failed to send me an email within the given timeframe. Stay tuned for more giveaways instead!