Review: Colonization (Paradise Reclaimed #1) by Aubrie Dionne

 

Colonization (Paradise Reclaimed #1) by Aubrie Dionne

Publication Date: November 7th 2012

Genre: YA Dystopian

Pages: 212

Format: Kindle (PDF file)

Source: Literary Quill Promotions

Goodreads

 

 

~Summary~

 

Andromeda has spent all seventeen years of her life aboard a deep space transport vessel destined for a paradise planet. Her safe cocoon is about to break open as Paradise 21 looms only one month away, and she must take the aptitude tests to determine her role on the new world and her computer assigned lifemate. As a great-granddaughter of the Commander of the ship, she wants to live up to her family name. But, her forbidden love for her childhood friend, Sirius, distracts her and she fails the tests. The results place her in a menial role in the new colony and pair her with Corvus, “the oaf”.

But when Andromeda steps foot on Paradise 21, her predestined future is the least of her worries. Alien ghosts from a failed colonization warn her of a deadly threat to her colony. And when Sirius’s ship crashes on the far ridge in an attempt to investigate, she journeys to rescue him with Corvus.

Andromeda now must convince the authorities of the imminent danger to keep her protect her new home. What she didn’t expect was a battle of her own feelings for Sirius and Corvus.

Can she save the colony and discover her true love?

 

 

~My Thoughts~

I received a copy of this from Literary Quill Promotion for an honest review

Wow, this dystopian kicks butt. Like action packed nonstop and I was hooked from the very first page. I was really excited to read this book but at the same time I was afraid that it'll be like all other dystopians, following the same old formulas. Though yes there are some same stuff in here from the dystopian format but they weren't big which is why this one stands out from the rest of them. Which is why I am dying to get my hands on the sequel, Reconnaissance.

This dystopian takes place in outer space. So the great detail the author writes can make one a bit claustrophobic and may make one feel small to the big great blackness that surrounds our characters. We get to see a part of their lives on this ship before they make it to Paradise 21 and their life is a bit bumpy with a few challenges their ship is going through. I like the detail of the way they work and live, like the commanders mind is actually connected to the ship itself and that's how they control it. Or like how they have creatures from the old world living and striving in different climate controlled rooms on this big ship. Like their learnings in school, how they disposed people that have passed, and like how they slept in pods (even though I know that one has been done before haha).

Now I enjoyed most parts of this book but some things just didn’t sit well with me so I'm going to start talking about them now before I go back to raving about this awesome book. Okay first off, like most dystopians the society chooses who you'll end up mating with the rest of your life, so when Annie (the main gals nickname and I don't blame them for giving her one haha) finds out she isn't mated to her long time crush and best friend so she literally goes berserk. Running down the ships halls, crashing into people cause she can't see through teary eyes, making a mess because of it, and then banging on her best friends portal (door). Like I get being rejected and all (cause I have been many, many times before) but I have yet to react like this. So I didn’t connect real well when she did that. I mean, yeah it kinda makes sense but at the same time I think it was a bit much.

And then when she finally got to talk to him he pretty much slammed the door in her face. Defaq? Are you seriously? Just cause all of a sudden you are better than her cause of a test and of your life mate, doesn't give you the right to shut out your best friend after a few minutes of you finding out about your future. So, Sirius got to me. He completely changed and he just became totally rude to her. Even though he was, do you think she got over her crush on him? Nope. Though yes she was mad at that same time she ended up making excuses for his behavior, ugh >_<. I understand to a point why she still crushed on him but still. So this bugged me.

I'm sure by now you're expecting a love triangle, huh? Well there is and there isn't at the same time. Since Sirius pretty much cut most of her out of his life she was able to grow closer to her life mate and I absolutely loved him. He was sweet, charming, but actually listened to her while everyone else didn't. He was there for her, always (and not in a creepy way like some guys come off as haha). He also tried to make his life better so he could be worthy of her. When he said that that just made my heart melt and I even began to fall for him myself. I think part of that was because he sorta reminded me of my boyfriend.

Watching those two grow closer together was amazing and watching how their people adapted to this new colorful world was just as great. Man was this place described in creepy detail. It felt so real that it made me feel like I have fallen right onto the jungles vine floors myself. The man eating plants and the micro exploding giant red flowers just made my skin crawl and I felt like I was endangered myself thanks to the great writing of the author. This world was so unique and it was written so real I couldn't help but fall even more for this story. This is one awesome tale that stands out from the rest of the dystopians out there.

Overall it was a great ride and I can't wait to get back on it with the sequel. Almost everything about it was just great and made this short read very enjoyable. Though there is a shocking part of this story I didn't see coming and it was the fact that the main gal was psychic (her name was another thing I didn't like. Like where did you come up with Andromeda? Sorry but that's just too much of a mouth full when you're on a roll). But it was a shock I could deal with. One that didn't really take much away from the story. It flowed nicely and was used when needed. It helped Annie kick butt and it showed everyone that maybe this place isn't really paradise after all.

 

Sweet Readings Everybody!