Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “Terra: Genesis” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

Terra: Genesis

A.S. Winchester (Goodreads Author)

4.29 · Rating details · 14 ratings · 10 reviews

Cala is not special.

Cala is Exceptional.

A young woman possessing a rare kind of intelligence, Cala anxiously counts down the arrival of her eighteenth birthday. It is the day she will be forced to leave her family, her home, and her best friend, Liam, forever. It is the day she will be placed into the Exceptionals Program.

However, with seventy-three days to go, Cala' ...more

Get A Copy

Or buy for $0.99

Kindle Edition, 564 pages

Published July 27th 2015 (first published July 14th 2015)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Terra, please sign up.

Be the first to ask a question about Terra

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

Showing 1-31

Average rating 4.29 ·

Rating details

· 14 ratings · 10 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of Terra: Genesis

Sep 01, 2015 Cass rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, sci-fi

English Review

I love dystopias, but I feel like I always read the same thing. By reading the summary of this book, I was attracted by the Sci-Fi side and I thought that it could be different.

I wasn’t disappointed. This book is FANTASTIC. I was hooked from the start and I had trouble putting it down to go to sleep after a hundred pages and, the next day, I did not let go of it until I had finished it. The plot is really interesting and full of twists. Some characters we love and those we hate. ...more

flag 3 likes · Like · see review

Aug 16, 2015 Ashley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-proofread

Y'all, this is such a fantastic book! Yes, I know it's long, but it's worth every page. I laughed out loud, I cried, I yelled, and I shouted and cheered for these characters! I can't wait until the next book comes out! ...more

flag 2 likes · Like · see review

Nov 18, 2015 Mary rated it it was amazing

Will to survive!!

Cala isn't just exceptional she is extraordinary. And because of this she will be taken from her family at the tender age of 18 to enter "the program." Not knowing how to handle this her family becomes distant and she feels alone. Cala has 173 days left of freedom. But something happens to speed up the process. This very smart girl goes through more than any one human should ever have to go through. But that's just it, Cala isn't exactly all human. However what makes her so vuln ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Jul 31, 2015 Jette Jenyk rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorires

I really suck at writing reviews because words often fail me when it comes to describing how fantastic something is. But I will say this - I am an avid reader who spends 90% of my spare time reading and have for over 20 years. I really love dystopian books and have a soft spot for indie authors. That being said, Hunger Games, Divergent and Harry Potter have always been my top 3 favorite book series of all times. Terra: Genesis easily surpassed both Hunger Games and Divergent in just the first bo ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Aug 15, 2015 Rachel Lo rated it it was amazing

Absolutely one of the hits of the summer, especially in the YA category! This original plot is filled with twists and turns. Everyone must read this book, because it's just absolutely amazing! I read it and finished it in two days and my mum yelled at me to put it down. You'll fall in love with the characters, especially Cala and you'll be wanting to read the next book. ...more

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Oct 05, 2015 Bill Littell rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-fantasy-sci-fi, ya-technology, adult-fantasy

Great characters, exciting plot. Looking forward to book 2!

flag 1 like · Like · see review

Feb 24, 2016 Claire Ingram rated it it was amazing

Reviewed for SJ BOOK BLOG

Genre: Dystopian future sci-fi

What's it about: the story follows Cala and her family in the new earth, post old earths death, the story takes place in a sector in new earth. Cala is an exceptional due to be sent away on the exceptional a programme and there is a forbidden love storyline going on with Cala and her best friend when tragedy strikes sector H and life will never be the same for any of the residents. I don't really want to say too much as I read this knowing n Reviewed for SJ BOOK BLOG

Genre: Dystopian future sci-fi

What's it about: the story follows Cala and her family in the new earth, post old earths death, the story takes place in a sector in new earth. Cala is an exceptional due to be sent away on the exceptional a programme and there is a forbidden love storyline going on with Cala and her best friend when tragedy strikes sector H and life will never be the same for any of the residents. I don't really want to say too much as I read this knowing nothing of the story and loved the surprise twists in the story starting quite early

Initial thoughts: odd how only days before reading this book I was discussing with a friend potential futures including cybernetics and cyborgs and the possibility of humanity having to leave earth for a new planet due to the depletion of resources on earth.
I also like the title terra meaning earth Genesis meaning beginning or New Earth (the name of the place the residents are inhabiting)

You will love this story if: you like a good action adventure story, although sci-fi you don't need to be a big sci fi fan to enjoy this story, the sci fi elements blend well with the story and incorporate the full tale keeping it believable.

My favourite thing about this book: I loved how unpredictable the story was, after the first few chapters I thought I had the whole story sussed, Cala the exceptional will go into the program rebel from within with the help of friends to bring down the new corrupt government ... Oh how wrong was i and this theory was quickly thrown out within a short space of time. Every time I thought I had a grasp on what o thought would happen my theory was time and time again proven wrong and the storyline took me on a whole new spin or twist right up to the last few pages.

What I liked about this book: I liked the fact the book was told in a 3rd person narrative from varying people's point of view throughout and I liked that the language used helped to really get into that persons mindset. The really electric vibrant characters that all stood on their own merit meaning even though there was one main character it rarely felt like that and felt more like watching a film seeing all sides and perspectives.
I loved the story in itself it is original creative well thought out and really evoked a lot of emotions.

What could be better: the use of descriptions to describe the characters in replacement for names (ie Liam is often referred to as the dark haired man in the text and Cala "the exceptional" this is said in passing ie "the exceptional said" and so, used from the correct POV this works well however at the start of the story from Caka and the family's POV she wouldn't think of Liam in such a informal way she would refer to him as Liam, this prevents bonding with the characters early on. Although this continues throughout the novel it becomes easier to read especially from certain POVs and doesn't jar as much with the story telling but I think these names should have been reserved for certain POVS ie Dels or Fultons

Final thoughts: an amazing read that I absolutely Loved and cannot wait to read the sequel ...more

flag Like · see review

Jan 08, 2016 Chessy The Cat rated it really liked it

Cala is a 17 year old female who will start in the Exceptional Program of New Earth on her 18th birthday and be forever separated from her family and friends. Seventy-three days before her birthday Cala is severely injured in a horrific accident. The only way for her to survive is for her to become a cyborg and immediately be placed into the Program. Can she hold on to her humanity as she finds out what the Program is really about?

Winchester’s first book in the Terra series, Genesis paints a sta ...more

flag Like · see review