Book Review: Unearthed by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner once again team up to bring readers a gripping and memorable sci-fi duology. Unearthed is a combination of an Indiana Jones adventure, Lara Croft inspired action, and a complex mythology similar to The X-Files. If you’re in the mood to take a whirlwind trip through space, then Unearthed is the book for you!

Set in the near future, Earth is dying because of all the environmental damage on the part of humans. Humanity is desperately seeking a solution to restore Earth, but have had little success. When a message from a dead alien race—The Undying—is received, it promises a way for humanity to undo all the harm they have inflicted on their home. Salvation lies in the technology on Gaia, the alien home planet. Scientists and scholars, like Jules Addison, converge on Gaia to learn about and preserve the alien culture. Scavengers, like Amelia (Mia) Radcliffe, descend to raid the planet for riches. Jules and Mia are thrown together into an uneasy alliance when they unexpectedly encounter a ruthless group of scavengers who want to claim all the spoils for themselves. The duo must learn to work together to solve the complex puzzles, discover the hidden traps, and decode the truth that awaits them in the temple of The Undying. What they learn about The Undying has grave consequences for humanity.

Unearthed is told from two points of view. Mia and Jules have distinct voices and the alternating chapters flow seamlessly. I found both of these characters to be very likable. Mia is a street-smart teen doing whatever she can to survive. She’s honest, tough, but loyal to those she cares about. Jules is an academic driven to find the answers that will save Earth. He’s noble, kind-hearted, and brave. Mia and Jules complement one another as partners. While Jules uses his knowledge of languages and science to guide them through the myriad puzzles, it’s Mia’s quick-wittedness that keeps them alive. Their dynamic is one of mutual respect, trust, and understanding that eventually sparks a romantic connection. It’s easy to fall in love with these characters and follow them on their wild, crazy journey on an alien planet.

Kaufman and Spooner drop readers right into the action from page one and it does not stop till the end. The plot develops quickly, and as the mythology surrounding The Undying unravels it leads to a shocking conclusion. It was a bit difficult for me to get a sense of this world. The physical descriptions of Gaia were fine, but I wanted to know more about Earth and what life was like there. I would have liked more context and history in regard to world-building.

Most of the story takes place inside The Undying temple with Mia and Jules solving the puzzles and getting closer to the truth. Kaufman and Spooner create elaborate, layered puzzles that are mind-boggling in their intricacy. These scenes are tense, exciting, thrilling, and suspenseful. Each new challenge heightens the risk and danger to Mia and Jules, leaving you in anticipation of what will happen next.

I highly recommend Unearthed as your next YA sci-fi read. With its likable lead characters, intriguing mystery, and perilous jaunt on an alien planet, it is sure to entertain and appeal to many readers. The sequel, Undying, is slated for a December 2018 release.