The Body Electric by Beth Revis Giveaway

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Ella Shepherd has dedicated her life to using her unique gift—the ability to enter people’s dreams and memories using technology developed by her mother—to help others relive their happy memories.

But not all is at it seems.

Ella starts seeing impossible things—images of her dead father, warnings of who she cannot trust. Her government recruits her to spy on a rebel group, using her ability to experience—and influence—the memories of traitors. But the leader of the rebels claims they used to be in love—even though Ella’s never met him before in her life. Which can only mean one thing…

Someone’s altered her memory.

Ella’s gift is enough to overthrow a corrupt government or crush a growing rebel group. She is the key to stopping a war she didn’t even know was happening. But if someone else has been inside Ella’s head, she cannot trust her own memories, thoughts, or feelings.

So who can she trust?

Summary by Goodreads 

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Book Review: The Body Electric by Beth Revis

Title: The Body Electric
Author: Beth Revis
Publisher: Scripturient Books
Publishing Date: October 6th 2014
Length: 482 pages
Keywords: YA, science fiction, dystopia, romance, friendship, artificial intelligence
Source: Author

The future world is at peace.

Ella Shepherd has dedicated her life to using her unique gift—the ability to enter people’s dreams and memories using technology developed by her mother—to help others relive their happy memories.

But not all is at it seems.

Ella starts seeing impossible things—images of her dead father, warnings of who she cannot trust. Her government recruits her to spy on a rebel group, using her ability to experience—and influence—the memories of traitors. But the leader of the rebels claims they used to be in love—even though Ella’s never met him before in her life. Which can only mean one thing…

Someone’s altered her memory.

Ella’s gift is enough to overthrow a corrupt government or crush a growing rebel group. She is the key to stopping a war she didn’t even know was happening. But if someone else has been inside Ella’s head, she cannot trust her own memories, thoughts, or feelings.

So who can she trust?

Summary by Goodreads 

Everyone who's read my review of SHADES OF EARTH, the last book in the ACROSS THE UNIVERSE trilogy, knows I'm a huge fan of all three books in Beth Revis' debut series. Since the end of SHADES OF EARTH I have been craving a sequel to Amy and Elder's story and wanting to know how life on earth looked like after so many years spent on the Godspeed. In THE BODY ELECTRIC Beth Revis gave us the chance to learn more about what happened to our planet after Amy left it in ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. You can imagine how ecstatic I was when Beth asked me to review her newest book. I admire her for writing this story and for deciding to publish it on her own!

THE BODY ELECTRIC is set some time in the 2300s and comes along as part sci-fi, part dystopia. You'll definitely recognize a few details and elements from the AtU trilogy, the Godspeed and its story is a legend now. I loved that!

As much as I was looking forward to get to know Ella and Jack and the world they are living in, I was beginning to notice that some components of the story weren't quite working for me. If you know how brilliantly Beth Revis' previous books are written you'll notice that this story still could've used some fine-tuning and polishing. This is a problem due to lack of thorough editing. All chapters are pretty short, spanning only a few pages, which I appreciate in a book. 

Beth's narration in THE BODY ELECTRIC often provides very vivid images and gory details. I certainly wouldn't describe these bloody details as YA inappropriate, but definitely not very appealing for a reader like me who had been looking forward to a more romantic story. I had expected the major part of the story to revolve around Ella and Jack and their romance. I didn't need the entire focus to be on it, but I would've wished for more intimacy and emotional attachment between the two. Because the moments they had were great!

Furthermore, I wasn't entirely comfortable with the character cast Beth Revis chose for her THE BODY ELECTRIC because I was convinced it wasn't as rich and varied as it could have been to provide the background for a thrilling and riveting story. In addition, dystopian Malta, only confused me more than it worked toward an exotic choice of a setting. But I can also imagine that many readers will find the dystopian city of New Venice interesting to explore. Bonus points for the map of New Venice on the first pages of the book. 
Also there sure will be many fans of the discourse between humans and robots. The mind and feelings of a living, breathing individual versus those of a machine, technically constructed and programmed.

Whereas the overall picture of THE BODY ELECTRIC didn't ultimately made me see this book as a perfect companion novel to Beth's previous books, I noticed that her eye for detail and technical innovations was as sharp as ever. She has the writing magic to conjure a stunning future world!  

3/5 *** THE BODY ELECTRIC - A slightly flawed harmony between character cast, setting and editing work make for an average YA sci-fi read. Yet, many readers will find it thought-provoking and visionary!

This story is a possible treat for many ACROSS THE UNIVERSE fans. But notice that you don't have to have read Beth's previous trilogy to enjoy Ella and Jack's story. I can honestly say that even if I didn't enjoy THE BODY ELECTRIC quite as much as I had hoped I would,  I would always support Beth Revis' writing and encourage readers (especially those who are new to the genre and are hesitant about picking up a sci-fi story) to read her books!

"I push the button.

The reverie chair hums with life. I have a moment to see the sparkle of the nanobots mixed with the green puff of reverie drug, and then I blink, and then ―

― My body explodes with pain." ― p. 29

THE BODY ELECTRIC by Beth Revis you will enjoy her ACROSS THE UNIVERSE trilogy, too. I loved it so much and have recommended it to many friends and readers already.

* Read LOVE IS A CHOICE and dive into Beth's dystopian writing.

* Click here to read an excerpt of THE BODY ELECTRIC!

* Read Beth Revis' short story THE TURNING TEST for free.

* For more information about Beth and her books visit www.bethrevis.com.

* A big thank you to Beth Revis for sending me a copy of THE BODY ELECTRIC for review!

Mini Review #24

Today I'm sharing three mini reviews of two sequels I should have reviewed a long time ago and an omnibus edition. A MILLION SUNS by Beth Revis, WINGS OF THE WICKED by C.A. Moulton and SOUL SCREAMERS VOLUME ONE by Rachel Vincent.

A Million Suns by Beth Revis

Three months have passed since the events of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. Elder rules Godspeed and Amy is still adapting to life on the spaceship. When a revolution starts building and mysterious clues about the ship's history appear, the chance for a happy landing is dropping rapidly. A MILLION SUNS is practically a big hunt for clues as to what happened on Godspeed many years ago, what the future holds and how the past might still have the power to influence the present. 

The story was fast when I needed it to be fast and reveal many details at once. And when it came to my favourite moments and I wanted them to last longer, my wish was granted. Beth's writing is in an unique sync with her reader. The chapters alternate between Amy and Elder's point of view, both fabulously written! Amy and Elder's romance is even better than it was in the first book (and that was one book I loved to pieces!). So I'd say A MILLION SUNS has everything you expect from a great sci-fi space adventure.

5/5 ***** A MILLION SUNS - Beth Revis's Godspeed appears like a whole new YA world of its own.

A MILLION SUNS is one of the best sequels I have ever read. I'm considering myself very lucky to have been introduced to the sci-fi genre by Beth Revis' excellent trilogy. I have already read all three books in the series. Wish I could get a do-over and read this trilogy for the first time again.

Publisher: Razorbill

Publishing Date: January 10^th 2012
Length: 386 pages
Keywords: YA, sci-fi, thriller, romance, spaceship adventure

Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary 

A Million Suns Excerpt  

Author's Homepage

Wings of the Wicked by C.A. Moulton

ANGELFIRE was one of the first great book loves in my early blogging life. The reason I loved it so much was the sharp contrast between Will and Ellie's love story and the dangerous and harsh demon hunting life. Demons we encounter plenty in WINGS OF THE WICKED, too. And the action and fights fit the story. It was the romance between Ellie and Will that confronted me with too many silly back and forth situations between wanting each other and knowing they couldn't be together.

Almost a year passed after ANGELFIRE until I read WINGS OF THE WICKED and I could hardly remember anything about the story. And now it's been a while since I read WINGS OF THE WICKED. I might have to re-read both books before SHADOWS IN THE SILENCE so that I can really enjoy the end to Will and Ellie's story with all the background knowledge and details of their history needed. I'm still curious how it's all going to end!

3,5/5 ***/* WINGS OF THE WICKED -  A tough second round in the battle against evil!

Ellie and Will's fights against demons are as furious and dramatic as in the first book in the ANGELFIRE trilogy. There's just too much teenage drama going on in WINGS OF THE WICKED for my taste. Hoping for a more mature love story in the third book!

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Publishing Date: January 31^st 2012
Length: 516 pages
Keywords: YA, action, angels, demons, romance

Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary 

Wings of the Wicked Excerpt  

Author's Homepage

Soul Screamers Volume One by Rachel Vincent

Kaylee is a bean sidhe and hers is a very old power. Whenever someone dies she screams. Together with the two brothers Nash and Tod she's trying to come behind all the secrets about her beansidhe existence and special talent.
So the story is told from Kaylee's perspective who is your average YA narrator with a love story that was good in some scenes, but nothing breathtaking either. A relationship conflict between Kaylee and the two brothers is insinuated. I really don't want to deal with the whole impact of that and think it best to stop right here before I start the next five books and am disappointed again. The background info on bean sidhes, female and male, about them singing to the dead souls was something new, something I hadn't read about before.
SOUL SCREAMERS VOLUME ONE includes the first two books in the series and a prequel to Kaylee's story that's about 60 pages. MY SOUL TO LOSE, the novella, was actually my favourite part of the entire story. MY SOUL TO TAKE and MY SOUL TO SAVE both had promising beginnings, too, but fast became tiring and too tedious to hold my attention for more than a few pages every time I tried to get back into the story.

2,5/5 **/* SOUL SCREAMERS VOLUME ONE – Despite the very cool bean sidhe story construct, the soul screamers couldn't enchant me.

While I was reading this very lengthy SOUL SCREAMS VOLUME ONE I was wondering when I would be finally done with the book. And that clearly is a warning signal to keep my hands off the other books in this series. For everyone who can get into the story, I bet the seven books in this series plus various novellas will be much fun.

Publisher: Harlequin

Publishing Date: November 22^nd 2011
Length: 570 pages
Keywords: YA, bean sidhe, romance, paranormal, brothers

Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary 

My Soul To Take Excerpt  

Author's Homepage

Book Review: Shades of Earth (Across the Universe #3) by Beth Revis

Title: Shades of Earth (Across the Universe #3)
Author: Beth Revis
Publisher: Razorbill
Publishing Date: 369 pages
Length: January 15th 2013
Keywords: YA, science fiction, romance, adventures, new planet, death
Source: Bought

Amy and Elder have finally left the oppressive walls of the spaceship Godspeed behind. They're ready to start life afresh--to build a home--on Centauri-Earth, the planet that Amy has traveled 25 trillion miles across the universe to experience.

But this new Earth isn't the paradise Amy had been hoping for. There are giant pterodactyl-like birds, purple flowers with mind-numbing toxins, and mysterious, unexplained ruins that hold more secrets than their stone walls first let on. The biggest secret of all? Godspeed's former passengers aren't alone on this planet. And if they're going to stay, they'll have to fight.

Amy and Elder must race to discover who--or what--else is out there if they are to have any hope of saving their struggling colony and building a future together. They will have to look inward to the very core of what makes them human on this, their most harrowing journey yet. Because if the colony collapses? Then everything they have sacrificed--friends, family, life on Earth--will have been for nothing.

FUELED BY LIES.
RULED BY CHAOS.
ALMOST HOME.

Summary by Goodreads 

please note that this review contains spoilers for people who haven't read A MILLION SUNS!

You haven't yet recovered from the adrenaline rush named A MILLION SUNS and you need a break? That's something the thrilling last book in the ACROSS THE UNIVERSE series can't serve with. SHADES OF EARTH continues the strong and action-packed storyline you've surely come to love in the previous books. 

Here's a short reminder how the second book ended: 

'"It's worth it." I move to touch him, but he grabs my hand first, squeezes my fingers, then let's me go.
"What was it you said to Doc?" Elder asks. "About faith?"
"I don't remember," I say with a dry laugh. "I was too busy trying not to get killed."
"Well, whatever it was - you were right." His hands rests over the auto-pilot launch button.

"Ready?" he asks.
"Ready."'

And I was SO ready for the next book then! Fine, you know that Amy and Elder are alive, but what about the fact that the new planet has been there all along? I wante to scream! And then they didn't push that launch button in the end of book two? That was just mean, because anything would be possible after that. So, you can imagine my outburst of joy when I finally held my copy of SHADES OF EARTH in my hands.

With the new planet within reach, Beth Revis' possibilities to continue the story seemed endless. Isn't the idea of a new world scary and exciting all at once? Amy, Elder and their group could build an entire new world or be attacked any time. Beth made sure that this planet wouldn't be a snooze.

After the landing, our group is surrounded by unknown land and after only a few hours on their new planet, they know that they are not alone. Always knowing about the dangers out there, but  never being entirely sure about their origins or how to protect yourself from them. There are hostile animal-like creatures, unpredictable plants, abandoned ruins looking like houses built for humans. It is not 100 % alien-free either. The tension was tangible! There are scary things happening in SHADES OF EARTH and you should definitly be prepared for DEATH (yes, capital letters. Beth Revis is THAT evil).

And the mystery behind the beings responsible for all that misery and harm, is an entirely different category. It is as brilliant as it is disgusting and contemptible. Beth Revis never reveals too much at a time, she keeps the reader constantly charged up, always athirst for answers, to learn more about the intrigues and complots sourrounding Godspeed.

With all the new-found land, animals and dangers one could think that there wouldn't be time for love. But Beth was kind enough to guarantee us some quality time with our lovely Godspeed couple Amy and Elder. I was so relieved the new planet didn't have a no-kiss policy. These scenes of affection and care gave hope and lightened up the dark mood the consequent uncertainty caused.  

Amy and Elder continue to be awesome and well-rounded characters. Amy grows stronger every day and I've always seen the leader potential in her that she's showing in SHADES OF EARTH. I'm glad they both are critical in nature, and ask questions first before they follow any commands. And that is even more important in this very difficult situation caused by the differences between ship-born and earth-born people in the colony. The clash of beliefs and attitudes between sol-earth military and Godspeed inhabitants is a very prominant issue in this part of the story.

Advanced technologies and highly interesting scientific research make SHADES OF EARTH a diversified and intelligent read, presenting us with numerous inventive ideas that could affect our future at some point, too.

SHADES OF EARTH is a science-fiction book through and through. Spaceships, new plants, aliens and the task to master life in an entirely foreign and new environment. It is the conclusion to a thourougly well-written trilogy.

1) of its dual narrative
2) of an unforgettable character cast
3) of its extremely adventurous nature
4) of all the countless mysteries surrounding Godspeed
5) of a perfect ending

5/5 ***** SHADES OF EARTH - The beauty lies in the stars. Beth Revis caught them and spun them into a powerfully written and adventurous space mission tale.

When I started with this series I was very reluctant to give a story with a space adventure a chance to sweep me off my feet. Right now I can't imagine not reading more science-fiction and set in space YA books! I'm counting on many more books by talented author Beth Revis! SHADES OF EARTH is the last book in the ACROSS THE UNIVERSE trilogy, that's how it's advertised, but I really do hope that there is still room for more books in the series. And so I'm having my fingers crossed for a spin-off series, who doesn't?!

* Want to read more about the AtU books? Beth Revis wrote a novella, titled AS THEY SLIP AWAY which offers background information about some characters. You can read it here.

* Read an excerpt of SHADES OF EARTH here.

* Watch the ACROSS THE UNIVERSE book trailer!

* Explore Godspeed on the official ACROSS THE UNIVERSE book page.

* For further information about Beth Revis and her books, visit www.bethrevis.com

Book Review: Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1) by Beth Revis

Title: Across the Universe (Across the Universe #1)

Author: Beth Revis

Publisher: Razorbill

Publishing Date: January 11^th 2011

Length: 416 pages

Keywords: YA, sci-fi, fantasy, spaceship 

Source: Gift

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Summary by Goodreads 

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE was my first book out of the sci-fi genre. I’ve never been very into stories about space ships or space wars. The universe with its wide expanse, planets and stars have always fascinated me in some way though. So ACROSS THE UNIVERSE was a perfect pick for me to approach this foreign genre.

The story begins with a decision that has to be made by our female protagonist Amy. She has to decide whether she wants to go on a mission with her parents and be cryogenically frozen for about 300 years or stay on earth all by herself. Doesn’t that sound like the hardest choice? The process of being frozen is described so vividly and detailed it’s pretty scary and I don't know if I would have been able to make such an important and life-changing decision. 

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE embraces about eighty chapters, alternating between the perspectives of Amy and Elder. They are rather short and allow small reading breaks.

The romance between those two is subtle. They need their time to approach each other, both grown up with very different views on the world and relationships.

Amy and Elder are great protagonists and two witty and sharp-minded investigators. The main focus of the story lies on the investigation of the murders of various innocent and helpless…frozen people. I was glued to every step Amy and Elder traced the murderers footprints. I was so eager to figure it out!

The entire ACROSS THE UNIVERSE cast is pretty crazy and everyone on that ship seems to have their own issues that start to influence not only the relationship between Amy, Elder and his best friend Harley and the leader of the ship Eldest, but all the other people, too.

It’s an interesting chase for the evil mind in the limited space on Godspeed. The closed space and number of possible antagonists makes ACROSS THE UNIVERSE a really mysterious and exciting story.

The actual story of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE is set in future and has many opportunities and inventions to offer, medical-wise for example. It involves a few very cool elements like frozen people, a total agricultural system inside a space ship of a gigantic size and of course all kinds of other advanced technologies.

The US hardcover copy comes with a very helpful print on the inside of the book jacket with a blue print of the entire space ship of Godspeed. There are several levels on that space ship and many rooms and different parts of it that need to be remembered. Although the story is limited to the setting of Godspeed, a spaceship caught in space, the possibility of settings is very complex. It’s a gigantic project!

1) of a really fascinating setting

2) of finding the courage to stand up against your own believes

3) of a promise in weightlessness

4) of the boy who loves the stars

5) of an exciting murder investigation

5/5 ***** ACROSS THE UNIVERSE- A space ship setting of epic expansion, a murder mystery with goose bump potential and a subtle but sweet romance make Beth Revis’ debut novel shine as bright as the stars.

Beth Revis has a really engaging writing that gives every single character of her Godspeed inhabitants a unique and very authentic voice, especially Amy and Elder as the two protagonists. The conspiracy plot of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE is very well-constructed by Beth Revis. If I would have to name a captain of my space mission it would definitely be her!

I can’t wait to start A MILLION SUNS and dive deeper into the romance of Amy and Elder and future of the space ship Godspeed. 

* Loved ACROSS THE UNIVERSE? Then don’t miss its sequel A MILLION SUNS!

* Read an excerpt of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE here. 

* Watch the UK book trailer here. 

* Want to explore Godspeed? Click here. 

* Visit www.bethrevis.com for further information about Beth Revis and her books.