Genres: YA Sci-Fi Romance
Published by Inkspell Publishing
Released on November 6, 2012
Pages: 229
Format: eBook
Source: Giveaway
The Delight
After finishing the New Dawn series, I always meant to press forward with the next generation trilogy that followed up many generations later with the Old Earth colonists on New Dawn arriving at their Paradise 21 destination. It’s been about seven years and I was a little hazy on the details of the past books at this point, but I soon slipped right back into the world. I love the explorer- survival element that infuse these books with a natural tension though they are light on the thrilling quality.
Review
Colonization begins when the New Dawn limps its way to the final destination of the planet known to them as Paradise 21. They are eight generations from those who left a dying old earth and developed a new survival-style culture aboard their colony ship that kept them alive and prepared them for what was in store for them. The Guide, as the instructions are called, rules all their actions. Two of these are careers and relationship matches. Each child comes of age to take these tests. Now, it is Andromeda’s turn. She knows what she wishes for a career and doesn’t need a program to tell her who her life mate should be.
But, her test scores lead her far away from Sirius who is set on a leadership position, and match her with simple Corvus.
The ship arrives and soon Andromeda and the others are met with the work of colonizing their world and taming a little corner of it for themselves. It is not long before she learns danger awaits them and the person helping her finding a way to save her fellow colonists is surprisingly Corvus.
This is definitely Young Adult and Andromeda might be in a sci-fi world, but she is a teenager to her core in thoughts, emotions, and actions. At first, we learn from her first person point of view that she is something of a naive, slightly spoiled, ‘head in the sand’ kid, but then she is forced out of her comfort zone and there she starts to shine. She discovers strengths and abilities in herself and starts to see others- really see them- and especially Corvus.
While Colonization is the start to a new series and is about a new set of people, I would definitely say that readers need to start with the New Dawn series. This book didn’t introduce much of the worldbuilding beyond what is new to this story arc. It assumes the reader knows what went before it. I think a new reader would flounder or find the story under-developed to start here.
In truth, it was even somewhat under-developed to me who had read the previous series. I felt that there should have been a longer adjustment period for people who had lived aboard a ship all their lives and all their grandparents lives. And, the events from there went swiftly particularly the individual growth and relationships. I’m not saying that I didn’t like the story or what happened, but I felt it happened to swiftly. There was a hint at a love triangle and mentions one in the blurb, but it read a bit less dramatic on that since there is a lot of focus on survival and the actual romance was rather sweet. What an adorable hero!
The rise action to the climax was done superbly and I was flipping pages quickly as they raced to save everyone. The denouement was just as it should be and left me eager to see what happens next for the others who were on Andromeda’s adventure with her.
YA warnings: none
So, if you enjoy YA Sci-Fi, this one is a good bet for a quick and easy read.
Challenges Met
Literary Pickers #88 another planet
Mt. TBR #33
Magical OWLs RAT #5 Transfiguration (red on cover)
Romanceopoly #19 Alien Avenue
Preview
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It is nice when you can slip back into a series (or a spinoff series) and quickly get back into the story. Glad youo enjoyed this one. I’m sorry it was a bit underdeveloped. Great review.
Yeah, it was a challenge to recall the last book I read from several years ago so some of what was going on would make sense. LOL I think if even the mention of days or weeks rather than hours and a few days for some of this and I wouldn’t have questioned the events unfolding the way they did. Oh well, still a good one. 🙂
It must be quite a culture shock to leave a ship after eight generations of people have lived there. I would imagine getting acclimatised to a whole new environment would be a book in itself, although perhaps not the most thrilling of reads :-/
That’s what I thought. I figured at the very least they would have all struggled to walk or get sensory overload or something coming off that ship into a lush jungle world. I was waiting for one person to panic and need to be sedated. LOL
Oh that would be some getting used to I think. This sounds good.
Yeah, I couldn’t imagine one test would determine my life long career and my spouse. Yikes!
Excellent review. And I love that cover. I still shy away from YA and I would enjoy the survival explorer theme also.
Yeah, you’ll want to avoid this one. Certain YAs don’t feel YA, but this one feels like it. 🙂 The survival and planetary exploration part was really exciting. 🙂
Glad to see you enjoyed this one, Sophia. Science Fiction always intimidates me. Even when a blurb sounds interesting, I usually manage to talk myself out of reading it.
Great review.
Straight sci-fi is like that for me, too, but I usually do alright with scifi romance and space opera. Some is even light and cheesy with blue aliens stealing earth women and great fun. 🙂
This doesn’t sound like one that I would pick up. Good to know that it might be a tough place to start for readers not already familiar with the world.
Yeah, I like to know if a book works as a place to start even if it is marked the first of a series. A new reader would be confused as to why they did stuff the way they did.
I have read a few books by this author in her Paradise 21/New Dawn series and I really liked them. I am glad you liked this one. I will have to pick this one up!
Mary
Yes, those are the ones I read earlier and enjoyed. Hope you like this next generation trilogy, Mary. 🙂
Great job working on your backlist. I am glad this spinoff was engaging even if it lacked development. Hopefully, the next is stronger.
Yes! It’s felt good to getting to several older ones this year. I almost waited too long on this one b/c I barely remembered what happened leading in. 🙂
Huh. Sounds pretty good
Definitely. I’ve enjoyed cheering on these earth survivors since the beginning. 🙂
Not my kind of story, but I am happy to know you enjoyed it.
Yeah, not for everyone. 🙂 But, I did have a good time.
I enjoy Y.A. sci-fi, and this book cover is gorgeous! I’m glad you were able to enjoy the story even though it was somewhat underdeveloped! I’ll keep in mind to start with The New Dawn Series if I venture in to this book. I’m glad the rising action to climax was done so well. Excellent Review Sophia!
YA scifi is my jam. These books grabbed me from the start and they are lesser known so I was glad the author reached out. Hope you like them if you get the chance, Lindy. Oh, and don’t skip the prequel. It’s important. 🙂
Ok, will do! Thanks Sophia!