Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner | Book Review

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered. For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance. In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race...

Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner launches a new series from the dynamic duo set in outer space. I went into this expecting a few similarities to the These Broken Stars series but ended up pretty surprised. However, I’ll also put in the caveat that it’s been a long time since I last read a book from that series. Actually, I should probably get around to finishing the last book. Anyways, Unearthed is a thrilling read featuring dual narrators and the adventure of a lifetime.

So, this book follows Amelia and Jules as they are dropped on this planet called Gaia. Amelia is a scavenger. Jules is an academic. Despite these different aims, the two team up. Together, they will solve different puzzles to unlock the secrets left behind by an extinct race called the Undying. The hope is that the technology of the Undying is what will save Earth which is struggling due to climate change and lack of fresh water (hmmm if that’s not the most familiar thing!). Anyways, the comparisons to Indiana Jones are pretty merited in this case.

Amelia has lived a rougher life than Jules. She’s small but streetwise. Initially, Jules kind of underestimates her. However, Amelia proves her intelligence and that she’s actually really smart in spite of her circumstances. She believes she was picked to go to Gaia as a scavenger because she passed all these tests. Amelia cannot come back empty handed. She needs the technology and the money resulting from it in order to save her sister, Evie. Amelia is the sort of character who will do whatever it takes to save her sister, who is priority number one. She’s consistently helping herself and Jules get out of scrapes. I am hoping that as the series continues the phrase fortune favors the bold will eventually hold true for Amelia.

In contrast to Amelia is Jules. He was raised in Oxford in England. Jules is posh and polished. He also has a special connection with Gaia. His father decoded the transmission sent to the Undying which helped lead mankind to Gaia. Unfortunately, his father also realizes later on that the transmission contains a warning of danger and apocalypse. Jules makes it his mission to vindicate his father while on Gaia and prove that this planet will only lead to the downfall of mankind. At first, it is like he has no street smarts and is pretty dependent on Amelia to help him. By the end though, we see how their strengths really complement each other. I just enjoyed how Jules’ understandings of linguistics actually had practical application in this book.

Honestly, I think that Unearthed is much faster paced than These Broken Stars. As Gaia is new to both the main characters, the exploration feels natural. I like that everything was undiscovered for both those characters in the book and those of us reading the book. There’s also a reference to La Roux which is neat. That’s the only reference though and you do not need to read the other series to know what is going on in this book. I also liked that there was a lot of attraction between Jules and Amelia, but ultimately it is a slow feeling build between them. It is exactly how I like to read romances developing. My time with this book was enjoyable, especially this giant twist that happens. I am ready for book two!

Other reviews of Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner:

• Nose Graze – “only so-so for me“
• Readers In Wonderland – “has plenty of good twists and turns, but they come up towards the end of the book“
• Tea In The Treetops – “an exciting temple-run adventure“

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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