Earth of Another Kind

Another Kind #2

by Steven Decker

Maddie and Cynthia lived peacefully in Paris for six years but are finally located by the authorities. Pursued across northern Europe, they are ultimately forced to leave the planet. Yet both of them yearn for Earth. Earth Station is not the kind of place Maddie wants to live; far from it. And Cynthia knows that life there can be tedious for some and ominous for others. Mother and daughter want to remain together, but both have love interests that are making that a complicated proposition. No one would have guessed what happened next. In the inspiring sequel to the bestseller CHILD OF ANOTHER KIND , Earth is changed forever, but so are Maddie and Cynthia.

Genres: Science Fiction

306 pages, ebook

Published September 1, 2023

About the author

Steven Decker is the author of many novels, including the bestselling Time Chain series and Child of Another Kind. His love of writing was born on the day he threw a spitball at one of his 5th-grade classmates. Rather than punish him, his wise old teacher, Mrs. Brewer, called Steven to the front of the class and handed him a book of poetry. She quietly instructed him to memorize “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening,” by Robert Frost and informed him that he would be reciting the poem in front of the class the following day. Mrs. Brewer hit a home run.

Inspired by Frost’s ability to paint a picture and generate deep emotion with the written word, Steven fell in love with reading, writing, and storytelling. As an 8th grader, he read the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, for fun. It wasn’t a homework assignment. As a student at the University of Virginia, he was thrilled at the prospect of writing a thesis as the culmination of his undergraduate studies. While traveling the world for work, Steven kept writing, and his experiences around the globe have influenced his novels in many ways.

When living in Appalachia while writing his first novel, Steven studied and practiced the art of storytelling. Since that time, he always edits his books by reading them aloud to himself. Novels are a story and need to sound like one. Fiction readers want to escape from their everyday lives when they read a novel. Thus the true job of a novelist is to imagine special things, sometimes even spectacular things, then write about them in a way that inspires the reader to go there, too, leaving the ordinary behind.

Steven lives and writes in both Arizona and Connecticut and travels throughout the world looking for new ideas and settings for his books. He enjoys spending time with Karen and Mr. Wilson, the beagle, walking in the countryside, and being with his family.

Reviews

[Eve Koguce · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if people were offered a solution to every global problem? Would they accept this generosity with joy or look for a nasty catch?

In “Earth of Another Kind”, the sequel to “Child of Another Kind”, Steven Decker takes the reader on a head-spinning journey. You take a breath when you start reading Chapter 1 and exhale only when you finish the book. The action begins right away, and the pace doesn’t slow down. Things keep happening, and the readers keep wondering what’s next.

I was charmed by the first book of the series “Child of Another Kind”. I loved the way the story unfolded gradually, with secrets getting revealed, all revelations fresh and unexpected. I liked the gentle focus on Cynthia’s doubts about her faith and her search for an anchor that would let her get her beliefs back. It was also fascinating to follow Maddie’s character development as she discovered the truth about her origins and learnt to live with it. This theme continues in book two.

In “Earth of Another Kind”, the veil of secrecy is thrown off from World 2A, the Makers, and the Imprints. At least for the readers. Are the people of Earth ready to find out the truth about what’s going on after some of them die? I won’t spoil it for you; read the book and you will find out.

Earth is about to change. Life as we know it will never be the same. However, the nature of the upcoming changes is still unclear. As usual, politicians play their games, rarely aimed at the well-being of the masses. In the meantime, ordinary people are being kept in the dark about what is about to happen. Still, this time, it might be different…

Along with making the reader plunge into the non-stop action rich in political intrigues, decisions with high stakes, and characters travelling across the globe and beyond, the author poses controversial questions. What makes us human? Is it solely about certain physical characteristics, or is there more to the true human nature? Are sacrifices for the sake of all worth making if mankind will not thank you for them?

And the most burning question for the people in “Earth of Another Kind”: can aliens be trusted?
I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series. “Gods of Another Kind” comes out next month, and I am sure the author has prepared another story packed with secrets, adventure, and issues to ponder for us.

[Swati Tanu · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "Child of Another Kind" is part of a series called "The Another Kind." This series by Decker is really good, and this book is no exception.

In this book, the characters grow and change a lot. Maddie, in particular, becomes more mature and independent. The friendship between Maddie and Cynthia is shown beautifully, and they become even better friends.

Decker has written many books, and I always find them interesting. The characters in his books seem real, which makes the stories easy to relate to. The extra stories in the books also make them more exciting and keep me interested.

You might like to check out more similar books here.

[Verityy Veritty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, guys, let's dive into this weird, wobbly waffle of a book called Earth of Another Kind by Steven Decker. I'm not saying it’s from an alternate universe, but I am implying it. Wink, wink.

Theres a mixed bag of quirk and chaos in the characters and some of them felt like my next-door neighbor types (if they were secretly an alien), and others were the kind of people (or creatures?) you'd hesitate to share an elevator with. And trust me, in the world Decker created, that's a compliment.

The author has once again managed to make Metaphysics fun and exciting, with his engaging plot, non-stop action, and brilliant characters. All in all, its a roller-coaster of strange that I didn't know I wanted to ride, but once on, I was sorta strapped in for the bizarre journey. Definitely recommended.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maddie and Cynthia have lived in France for six years but now Boris Vaka and his men have found them in Gino alerts Cynthia who has been living is Lily to get Maddie who has been living is Juliet in flee the country ASAP. The women flee to the Netherlands and this is where they are when Cynthia comes clean with Maddie and tells her all about her new capabilities and telling her she also reveals that her old friend Gino is alive on earth 2B. Back on earth 2B Gino feels special being one of two men who watch over Cynthia and Maddie he knows he is not supposed to but he feels an extreme protectiveness and care for her. When the teacher refers to Gino as my son both men wonder what this means for the teacher ever since he and Cynthia made a trip to actual earth it seems the teacher isn’t exempt from emotions after all. Not to mention Boris Vaka is becoming an issue for Cynthia and Maddie and then we’ll find their cells back on earth 2B where one will stay for Love and the other will also find love but it will be in America on earth. There is so much I haven’t mentioned in the book like the reason Maddie was sent to earth in the first place the fact that Cynthia is a study in progress and this is all being run by the mysterious makers a place Cynthia desperately wants to go to and just make it hurt chance. Not to mention the already mentioned Borus who is the evil opposite of the aliens from earth 2B. I have already bought book 3 Gods Of Another Kind and I can’t wait to finish this has been one awesome trilogy so far and it’s a little bittersweet that it’s almost over I love this authors books and earth of another kind is just another example of why. If you love sci-fi alternative universes the new definitely love these books and although this could be read as a standalone it is a much fuller and more amazing story when you read the books in order. Please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

[Soochi Sandhiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-woven fictitious read

This has been an amazing read for me, as I've already read book 1 of the same series.

This uniquely woven story transports the reader to a different world where Earth has become the habitat of species from other planets. But this is different than any conventional "Other Planets and Their Species" book.

Maddie and Cynthia lived amicably in Paris for approximately six years before they were tracked down by some authorities. Pursued across northern Europe, they are ultimately forced to leave the planet, which brings more twists to the story. They are similar to us in that they are searching for a place to live with sanity and peace.

But as it was difficult for them to stay on Earth without being supported, they left half-heartedly. In their quest to come back to Earth and return to normalcy, they devise a plan and accompany two other interesting characters.

I have been fortunate to read around three books by the same author, and I am highly impressed by the uniqueness of each of them. The characters are realistic, which makes the plots and storylines more relatable. The subplots are aligned to keep the reader hooked. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books like this.

 

 

[Samm Son · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Steven Decker's second instalment of this riveting series, readers are taken on a virtual, literary journey to distant worlds. But humanity must survive and prosper here on earth. With threats of nuclear annihilation and accelerating climate change hanging over our heads, an urgent, dramatic shift is required.

Buckle up and prepare to be amazed as our protagonists Maddie and Cynthia return to Earth Station after a dramatic escape. There is simply no one better versed in metaphysics than Decker, who expands on the initial story, building new connections and transporting us to realms beyond our wildest imagination.

We learn about another species, Makers and their colleagues, Imprints, who have inhabited our planet for over 5000 years. Their ultimate goal; to assimilate certain positive and negative characteristics of mankind, an element I found revealing and most intriguing. I look forward to further entertaining escapism from this talented author.

[Applepole · Rating 5 out of 5]

EARTH OF ANOTHER KIND (The ANOTHER KIND series Book 2) by Steven Decker is a great addition to this series and expands well on the initial story. This carefully constructed story brings you to an alternative reality where Earth serves as a refuge for extraterrestrial species, breaking science fiction conventions. Maddie and Cynthia's peaceful existence in Paris lasts six years before police locate them sparking a chase through northern Europe and eventually forcing their escape from the planet. Their departure is difficult, impeded by a lack of support on Earth. Determined to return and restore a sense of normalcy, they come up with a strategy and team up with two friends who just might be able to help them. The story is well-constructed with a strong plot and highly relatable characters. A fast pace keeps the book moving along and the setting is wonderfully described with a ton of detail. Highly recommend.

[Greenery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earth of Another Kind is book two in the "Another Kind" series by Steven Decker. I have already had the pleasure of reading book one, and once again Decker took me on another literary journey I hadn't quite anticipated.

The pacing is perfect, it allowed me to immerse myself fully into the revelations of each chapter. The characters, again entertained, each have their own personality traits and I really feel as if I got to connect with them on a deeper level as their personalities were revealed further.

The book had every element a good story should have. An intriguing plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. It’s one of those stories that come along once in a while that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end.

I look forward to reading a lot more by this author. Decker is a great storyteller, and he crafts a story that is believable and unforgettable. It is a story that will linger with me, and i look forward to reading the next instalment.

[Simon Baribeau · Rating 2 out of 5]

All the setup from book 1, for THIS? What a disappointment. If i had to pick one word to describe this book, it's "lame". In the previous installment we are introduced to a nearly infinitely large universe, grand plans to attain ultimate enlightenment, separate worlds, important questions about god and the afterlife and the promise of real answers to them. All the ingredients were there to concoct a story with scale, depth, ambition. And instead, Steven forgets all of this and instead returns our now godlike characters to earth to live as regular earthlings and deal with non-issues like covid and global warming. Yawn! It is just so lazy, is this really what he had in mind when he wrote the first book, which opened up so many possibilities? Or is he just winging it because sequels sell better?

I simply cannot see how our superhumans living regular lives could be interesting. There are no stakes, there is no danger. They're more or less impervious to harm and immune to deception. I can't even think "well maybe there will be a twist somewhere" because fundamentally, there can't be : our characters know everything, how can you surprise them? I found myself skipping more and more pages, thinking "i don't care about this", "i don't care about that". Until i ultimately decided not to finish it.

The writing itself is not helping. Like in the previous book, the prose is extremely simple, almost like the story is being told to a child. When we were exploring compelling ideas, this didn't matter too much, it didn't get in the way of the story. But here it feels like there IS no story, so i could definitely have used a bit of artistry in the writing to increase engagement. Instead, a significant portion of the text is devoted to characters exchanging information with each other that the READER ALREADY KNOWS. At some point you have to just go with "X told Y everything" and not make us sit through multiple copies of a nearly identical conversation.

The other reason this book is lame is because there is basically no conflict, no intrigue. Everywhere that something could go wrong, it doesn't happen. For instance, the aliens meet with the president and his entourage, and you mean to tell me that not one of those people had some gruesome past of evil deeds? Wouldn't it have been more interesting to discover the president himself was some psycho animal torturer? How would they have handled that? Then there's the issue of the Makers. Every time our characters want some privilege, we are told "this will be a difficult request, it's not the way of things, etc". And a paragraph later, it's simply "they said yes lol". Then Cynthia goes to meet Amy and i was thinking "finally, she's going to find out that Amy is the one that leaked the info to the feds, because this was the only plausible way they would have known". But no, once again, we just get a lame happy reunion with the exchange of information you've read 5 times.

Maybe this story gets "massive" down the line once again, but i've run out of patience to find out.

I do have to say i greatly appreciate the covid mockery. All-powerful aliens are bringing you cold fusion and the end of all war, and some basic bitch clerk goes "SIR you gotta wear a mask" on them. It showed the inanity of it all and brought me a big smile.

[Soochi Sandhiya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has been an amazing read for me, as I've already read book 1 of the same series.
This uniquely woven story transports the reader to a different world where Earth has become the habitat of species from other planets. But this is different than any conventional "Other Planets and Their Species" book.
Maddie and Cynthia lived amicably in Paris for approximately six years before they were tracked down by some authorities. Pursued across northern Europe, they are ultimately forced to leave the planet, which brings more twists to the story. They are similar to us in that they are searching for a place to live with sanity and peace.
But as it was difficult for them to stay on Earth without being supported, they left half-heartedly. In their quest to come back to Earth and return to normalcy, they devise a plan and accompany two other interesting characters.
I have been fortunate to read around three books by the same author, and I am highly impressed by the uniqueness of each of them. The characters are realistic, which makes the plots and storylines more relatable. The subplots are aligned to keep the reader hooked. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more books like this.

[Grymm Gevierre · Rating 4 out of 5]

At this point, Decker has become a regular author on my virtual shelves. This series, "The Another Kind" series, has been pretty good so far. As I've said before, his world-building is skillful and vast. His writing is very visual, and his characters embody the same life he breathes (or types) into his settings.

This is an excellent sequel to Child of Another Kind. The characters grew (and grew up in Maddie's case) and found their loyalty and bond strengthened (in the case of Cynthia/Maddie). We also get some backstory and information on the side characters that add a lot of value to the character development aspect of it. Decker also explores their core motivations and feelings, which humanizes and creates connections with them.

The story, as the last, opens with action, with the readers knowing that Maddie and Cynthia are being watched and protected. I particularly liked the mystery of Cynthia, how much Magnus struggled to figure her out, and how she "came clean" to Maddie.

This is a great installment to the series and a wonderfully written book by Decker.

[Pegboard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steven Decker has the unique skill of placing you within a story, yet keeps you in suspense as it unfolds before your eyes. Earth of Another Kind is the second book in the "Another Kind" series. Cynthia and Maddie have been in hiding, enjoying their mother/daughter relationship, but Maddie doesn't seem to question her mother's ability to remain ageless. They are truly more like sisters. With just seconds to escape their nemesis, Boris Vaka, they flee France and end up in the Netherlands. Secrets are revealed and hiding where Boris can't reach them becomes the expected. Then they have to deal with uncharted emotions that aren't allowed within their field of study. I just wanted to savor this novel as these women grow, love, and go their separate ways. I can't wait to see what Steven Decker has for us in Gods of Another Kind.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book one was a wild ride, and I couldn’t wait to dive into book two. I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. Characters we got to know before are back, and so much has changed, while other things stay the same. The story moves along smoothly at a good pace, and there’s enough tension and twists that you’ll be reluctant to set it down once you start reading. I love how well-developed the characters are, they feel real, like you could meet them in real life. We get to learn more about the world, and those working behind the scenes, which is nice (no spoilers though). A thrilling sci-fi read with characters that will find their way into your heart.

[Kurt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't wait to get through this book. It had the same trade-offs as the first one, but amplified. That is to say the story remains interesting and engaging, but the dialog is (very) sterile and transactional. Unfortunately, the dialog became such a distraction that it detracted from the overall story.

There was one section in particular which essentially went like:

Character A: I'm unwilling to make this incredibly significant change you're asking for.
Character B: But I think you should.
Character A: OK, you convinced me. Now I'll make the change.

That's slightly hyperbolic, but not by much.

Anyway, I love the universe the author put together, but I just can't get past the terrible dialog. Dropping the series here.

[Zach Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book took a step back. Unfortunately the writing hasn’t improved regarding the dialogue. It’s so stilted. Which is wild because the environments and settings are given such love. Unfortunately nothing happens in this book. Got a problem? It’s fixed by the next chapter. Rinse, repeat for 300 pages. I’m hoping with new characters introduced the third book can be better. I was left wanting more with this one.

[Dyanna Minor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow very interesting

This was a lot. I wonder what it would be like to be reborn or whatever & have immortality. I think Maddie shouldn't have killed the president of Russia, I think she should've erased his memory or whatever. Can't wait for the next book!

[Florence C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A tiny bit better than the 1st on the storyline but still:
- a very linear and basic writing style,
- black and white characters, no depth whatsoever,
- dull dialogue
- a religious undertone that does not seat well with me.

I gave it a fair shot but nope!

[Carol Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betrayal

Maddie finds out that the man who killed her partner and tried to force himself onto her when she was fully human is still alive and is more like the teacher than her physically. Now how to get him for what he has done? Good Read.

[Mauaqui]

Strange

Well, Teacher and Cynthia along with Maddie and Gino make interesting aliens and humans. Maybe someday all they accomplished in this book will come true.

[Katie Topp · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was a huge letdown after the first in the series. I waited for a while to listen to it, and it did not feel worth it. Don’t know if I’ll continue the series.

[Brian Quick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a book where intelligent decissions are made and they work!
Good character development and a story that is worth following.

[Greenery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Earth of Another Kind is book two in the "Another Kind" series by Steven Decker. I have already had the pleasure of reading book one, and once again Decker took me on another literary journey I hadn't quite anticipated.

The pacing is perfect, it allowed me to immerse myself fully into the revelations of each chapter. The characters, again entertained, each have their own personality traits and I really feel as if I got to connect with them on a deeper level as their personalities were revealed further.

The book had every element a good story should have. An intriguing plot, attention to detail, but best of all fleshed out, well-written and well-rounded character development. It’s one of those stories that come along once in a while that makes you want to read it non-stop until you get to the end.

I look forward to reading a lot more by this author. Decker is a great storyteller, and he crafts a story that is believable and unforgettable. It is a story that will linger with me, and i look forward to reading the next instalment.