Blog Tour + Excerpt: Terra by Gretchen Powell

Reading Level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 286 Pages
Release Date: December 12, 2012
Publisher: Hopewell Media
Narration: First Person: Terra
Genre: Dystopian / Sci Fi
Source: CBL Book Tours

Terrestrials Series
Book One: Terra

Order On Amazon: Paperback
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Order On Barnes and Noble:
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Author's
( Goodreads ! Website ! Twitter )

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the distant wake of a plague that has decimated the Earth's population, humanity is split in two. The rich and powerful live in skycities that float overhead, while those who remain on the ground have gathered in settlements strewn across a dying planet. Eighteen-year-old Terra Rhodon makes her living as a scav, scouting the earth for discarded scraps and metals to recycle for profit. While on a routine scavenging run, she discovers something that shocks her home settlement of Genesis X-16.

Terra suddenly finds herself asking questions no one will answer. Fueled by curiosity, her search for the truth ultimately leads her to Adam--a beguiling boy with a secret that has the power to change humanity's existence forever.

My Review:

When I first read the synopsis, I didn't think that Terra would be anything special. Let's face it. After The Hunger Games went viral, the majority of YA authors followed in Suzanne's footsteps in hopes of becoming the next big thing. And sooner rather than later, a whole plethora of Dystopian novels, with admittedly slight variations, were born. After reading so many copycats of the original dystopian novel that kickstarted it all, I wasn't expecting anything unique or innovative. I was so wrong! Although there were a couple of similarities between Terra and The Hunger Games in the beginning, Terra soon took a completely different path altogether! I immediately fell in love with the dangerous and desperate world Gretchen created, as well as all the characters surrounding it. 

As soon as we crack open the novel, we meet Terra Rhodon, a eighteen year old girl who scavenges for things such as recyclable plastic and metal parts for a living, in order to make enough credit to buy food, if you can even call what they eat food, for herself and her younger fourteen year old brother Mica. I have to say, the whole scavenging concept was the main reason why I enjoyed this novel. Although there are many people who think that this idea was stolen from The Hunger Games, I really don't see the connection whatsoever. Maybe I need to reread it, but from what I remember of The Hunger Games, the only part that was even remotely close to scavenging was when Katniss was searching for items in the arena. Anyways, so yeah, the whole idea was fascinating to me! After reading the first page, I knew that my butt was going to stay glued to my chair until I finished it. 

Although there were a few points in the novel when I got upset with Terra's actions or thought process, these moments were scarce, and the majority of the time I found Terra to be a very likable character. She was a strong, independent young girl, forced to grow up at a young age due to her mother's death and her father's incompetence to take care of his children. After she met Adam, the blue eyed love interest, she did some....questionable things. I understood why she took those certain actions, but at the same time I wanted to reprimand her for it. In the end, I finally concluded that although I wouldn't do what she did in the exact same way, her heart was in the right place, because she was thinking about the wellbeing of her brother rather than her own needs.

Adam was absolutely adorable. Even though Terra was snappy and feisty when they first met, he was nothing but polite and understanding. The romance they both kindled veered towards the sweet and cute side rather than the hot and steamy, which I'm totally fine with! Both types are great to read about, and since most YA novels curve towards the steamy side, it's refreshing to see a delightfully awkward yet undeniably sweet romance for once. There was this one particular scene when Terra was in the shower and Adam....well for those of you who read the novel, you'll know what I'm talking about. For those of you who haven't, you'll have to get the book yourself, because I'm not too keen on giving away spoilers. xD Anyways, just the way that Gretchen described how it happened induced a "Awwwww" moment from me. xD However, that one....secret that was revealed near the end of the book about Adam, was a bit out of place. I wish Gretchen kept up with the whole Dystopian theme instead of bringing Sci Fi into this.

The action was well paced, because as I stated several times before, I was interested with the whole idea of scavenging for a living. I never once felt bored, and since this book only spanned about 250 pages, it was a quick and easy read for me. The thorough descriptions and details Gretchen used made the novel more enjoyable to read and didn't detract from the pace at all!

Overall, if your looking for a intriguing dystopian to breeze through, Terra is a worthy contender. It's perfect for anyone who wants to be able to finish a book in a short period of time. Although I wasn't all too happy with the Sci Fi twist that was incorporated into Terra, I'm still interested in reading the sequel to see what happens next.

Cover- 5/5
Heroine- 4/5
Romance- 5/5
Action- 5/5
Comedy- 3.5/5
Theme- 3/5
Overall- 4/5


About The Author: 

Gretchen Powell grew up in far-off places. She is 24 years old, half-Chinese, and the owner of two adorable miniature schnauzers. They wear many sweaters.

By day, she types and types (and types and types) for personal, professional, and cathartic purposes.

By night, she binges on episodes of Doctor Who and sleeps fitfully.

Sometime in the mid-afternoon, she writes a blog, called "Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen!" about food, fitness, and her life.

She loves words. And Harry Potter. And especially the words IN Harry Potter.

 Find The Author:

( Goodreads ! Website ! Blog ! Twitter ! Facebook )

 

Excerpt:

 

The crunch of multiple footsteps sounds in my ears, and I know the unseen speaker is not alone. With achingly slow speed, I bend my knees to pick up my bag and pivot in the direction of the voice.

 

Three huge men stand about a yard in front of me, lined up in a row. All three of them sport shaved heads, making them almost indistinguishable from one another, save for their differing skin tones. Their long brown coats hang open, revealing bare chests covered with tattoos that creep from below their waistlines all the way up to their chins.

 

Raiders.

 

The man in the middle has a chain of thick golden links hanging around his throat. As I watch it bounce against his dark chest, I realize I’ve never actually seen raiders up close before. All that time spent thinking about Lee’s final moments, what his murderers had looked like. Turns out I had it pictured all wrong.

 

How did I not hear them coming? I always hear them coming.
 

Sample Chapters

 

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