A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2)

A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis
Paperback, 286 pages

Expected Publication: April 5th 2012 by Puffin

(First Published January 10th 2012)

My shelves: arc-or-review, awful-cover, books-i-own, currently-reading, dystopian, read-in-2012, really-good, sci-fi, series-or-companions, young-adult

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Description via Goodreads:

Trapped on board the spaceship Godspeed, Amy trusts no-one.

The ship's ruler is dead and a rebellion threatens. Amy wants to help Elder as he tries to take charge, but she's torn between her feelings for him and the chaos that's pulling everything apart. As more harrowing discoveries are made about Godspeed, Amy is caught in a desperate race to unravel its secrets. Only one thing is certain.

They have to get off this ship.

The heart-stopping sequel to Across the Universe: a story of love, murder and madness - set in space.

My thanks go to Puffin for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

If you liked Across the Universe, you will love the second instalment, A Million Suns! Revis has managed to keep the good quality of her writing consistent and the story interesting. I surprised myself with how much I loved Across the Universe, and now I can see this being one of my favourite series. Like the description says, it's a story of love, murder and madness, all aboard a space ship - how could that not be compelling?

It's been quite a while since I read the first book, but Revis did an excellent job of easing me back into the story and reminding me of what had previously happened. A lot of characters mentioned in the previous book also play roles in this one, and it's like we never left them. As for the setting, it was like returning to an old home even though there had been many changes - Godspeed is still described in a way that makes you really feel it and see it easily in your imagination. It's a fictional spaceship but as a reader, it felt incredibly real and despite the vast size of it, it was all clear in my mind.

Eldest and Amy, the two main characters, are still very much the same as they were before. They're still (slightly awkwardly) falling for each other, despite their differences and the trouble that this brings them. The romance did take a backseat for the most part though, which allowed more time for the main plot which revolved around Amy trying to decipher clues left by Orion whilst Elder tries to prevent mutiny on the ship. 

Amy is a slightly stronger character in this book and Elder is still battling with himself and what is right for those who live on the ship. There's more mention of Harley and his girlfriend in this book and it I found it really interesting to learn more about them and their deaths. In fact, we learnt a heck of a lot more about most of the characters and your opinion on some of them will undoubtedly change as you read on. Although it may not feel seem like it (it's not confusing), both the story and characters are quite complex.

Revis has an amazing way of heightening tension and anticipation. This is definitely what you'd call a page turner as you try to work out who to trust and what's coming next. The whole book is full of mystery, twists and turns. By the end, I was completely hooked and found it very difficult to put down! 

There were a few flaws and a few things that bugged me - some things that weren't completely logical, but they were easily forgivable. This is a book that had me engrossed from start to finish and it certainly didn't disappoint me. The final instalment, Shades of Earth, can not come quick enough! If you loved Across the Universe, pick this up now. If you've not yet started the trilogy, what're you waiting for?