Review Detail

The epicness that is Across the Universe left me wanting more, more, MORE! A Million Suns definitely brings more, even if I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as the first. In the very first chapter we’re given new information about the state of Godspeed. We left the first book thinking that the ship is centuries behind schedule because the engines can’t make it go fast enough. Well, that isn’t exactly true. The ship isn’t moving at all! How the heck did that happen?! When did this happen?! That’s what most of the rest of the book is dedicated to. Orion has left a series of clues for Amy to find and discover the truths surrounding Godspeed’s mission.

I loved the mystery in A Million Suns! I desperately wanted to know why the ship was just floating in space and how it got that way. Orion’s clues are quite clever and take Amy on a tour of hidden places within the Godspeed. She’s always on the move trying to figure out one thing or another, so there was never a dull moment. Especially since someone has been tampering with the clues. However, the big secret was a little disappointing. I had two guesses in mind and one of them ended up being correct, unlike with the first book where I never figured anything out. The mystery person who was messing with the clues was also super obvious.

Of course, Amy isn’t doing this all alone. She has Elder at her side. He’s not totally into running around the ship chasing a crazy man’s hidden clues at the beginning though, since he has much bigger problems to deal with. The first being figuring out the engine problem, which he leaves to the Shippers. The second is that the people are in an uproar! Without Phydus to keep them in line, a mutiny is close at hand. I really enjoyed watching Elder grow confidence in himself as a leader. He’s struggling to keep order on the ship and in turn keeping the ship from falling apart, but he does everything in his power to keep things from totally blowing up.

Amid all of the chaos, there’s a budding romance. At the beginning I was so happy that Amy still hadn’t given in and claimed undying love for Elder. She acknowledges that they’re the only teenagers on the ship, and that doesn’t mean that they have to be together. There’s also the fact that she’s still mad at him and can barely stand to be around him. But then there’s random moments where she does just want to be with him, but she doesn’t, but she does. She was conflicted about her feelings, but sometimes it felt like the author forgot that Amy was mad and just wanted to develop the romance faster. Thankfully, the focus is definitely not on the romance.

What brought down my enjoyment of this one compared to the first was a few inconsistencies. I just mentioned Amy’s feelings for Elder as one of them. Another one also involves Amy and her wacky feelings and justifications. There’s a few scenes where someone’s lives are in her hands. In two instances, where she shouldn’t have hesitated at all, she does. Thinking she shouldn’t do this to someone. Then there’s a third instance, where she has no doubt in her mind that this person should die, even though they’ve been very helpful to her. I really did not get it. It just seemed like a way for Amy and Elder to have a disagreement. Then there’s the whole stopped ship scenario. I can’t really say more without giving away spoilers, but there’s a contradiction of information somewhere, or else I must of have missed something.

Anyway, I did love A Million Suns, but it was missing that wow-factor of Across the Universe. It left me puzzled in places, and not because there’s a lack of information, but because of contradictions. I am still very excited for the conclusion though. I’m not sure what else can go wrong on the Godspeed, but if there is still something, I’m sure it’ll happen!