ARC Review: Earth Star by Janet Edwards

Title: Earth Star (Earth Girl #2)
Author: Janet Edwards
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Release Date: 1st September, 2013 (Aus)
Source: HarperCollins Australia. Thank you!!
Goodreads | The Reading Room

18-year-old Jarra has a lot to prove. After being awarded one of the military’s highest honours for her role in a daring rescue attempt, Jarra finds herself – and her Ape status – in the spotlight. Jarra is one of the unlucky few born with an immune system that cannot survive on other planets. Derided as an ‘ape’ – a ‘throwback’ – by the rest of the universe, Jarra is on a mission to prove that Earth Girls are just as good as anyone else.

Except now the planet she loves is under threat by what could be humanity’s first ever alien contact. Jarra’s bravery – and specialist knowledge – will once again be at the centre of the maelstrom, but will the rest of the universe consider Earth worth fighting for?

Review by Nara

Spoiler free for both Earth Girl and Earth Star

I do have to start by saying that this series is not for everyone. It's a tad on the heavy side of science fiction (well, young adult sci-fi anyway, it's not really that heavily focused on sci-fi), and there's a particular style to the writing which may not suit everyone. BUT basically what I'd like is for everyone to give the book a try. Because I do think it's one of those books you're either going to hate or absolutely love, and how are you going to know which category you fit under unless you give it a try?

I personally think that the Earth Girl series is a series that deserves a lot more hype. It's incredibly original and unique and I don't think I've read any young adult books even remotely similar. The world building is. Absolutely. Zan. Totally, totally zan. Just the amount of detail that is put into building up every aspect of the setting is incredible. And the ideas are so interesting! Impact suits and tagging and vid bees and portals! On another note, I am very curious as to what cheese fluffle tastes like.

I know a lot of people seem to hate it when authors make up words, but personally, I think it's actually a really nice way of adding another layer of richness to the story. Earth Girl is set waaaay into the future, so I think it's rather reasonable to have a few new words here and there, because of course the English language isn't going to be exactly the same! So that being said, if there is a word in this review that you don't understand, or that you thought was a typo or something, it's because I'm attempting (and probably failing) to be clever and using the language in the book.

Minor criticism- the conversation style can get a bit heavy at times- but it wasn't so much so that the pace of the book was slowed, or that I got bored or anything like that, it was just that the characters' speech seemed to be a bit too...descriptive? I don't really know, but there was something about it that made it slightly heavy.

Back to talking about awesomeness: FIAN. Don't even get me started on Fian! HE'S FREAKING AMAZING! ASDFKJALSDF! (In case you haven't realised, he's the love interest in the series). I just love how he's so supportive and understanding and nice, but still tough when he needs to be, and quirky and just amaz. I'm going to stop now before I sound like a gushing mess. Probs too late. By the way, if you've already read Earth Girl, Janet wrote a small excerpt from it in Fian's point of view and AHHHHHHHHHHH! Check it out here! (There's also one from Issette's point of view.)

Gahhhhhhhhhh that cliffhanger! How could you do this to me Janet! 2014 come at me! (Note: the cliffhanger wasn't that massive, but I'm a really curious person and the ending was such that I wanted more.)

Also, if you're a fan of Janet Edwards, look out for an interview I've set up with her as a part of Sci-Fi Month in November. Yes I realise that's a really long way away. WHAT OF IT? I'm just really excited okay haha #shamelessplug

Favourite

Panacea Candidate

Ratings
Overall: 10/10
Plot: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Cover: 4/5