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Digging in the Stars
A lost ancient civilization and the tomb of a legendary king lie buried beneath centuries of ash on the volcanic planet Thror, but that’s not the only reason sixteen-year-old Carter has tricked her Archaeology of Outer Space class into coming here. Her best friend Conrad has just disappeared on a trip to Thror, leaving behind little more than a broken vintage camera. The strange and disturbing photographs she manages to extract make her suspect Conrad’s disappearance is somehow connected to the hidden tomb of the last king of Thror.
Unfortunately, the ludicrously over-friendly ‘Furry Giants’ who have taken over the planet’s barren surface would rather offer her cheap souvenirs than answers, and the local officials insist they have no record of Conrad’s existence. Inspired by fear for Conrad’s life and the chance to make the greatest archaeological discovery of the century, Carter and her friends follow Conrad’s footsteps deep into the mountains of Thror’s forbidden Black Zone and launch an illicit excavation.
Coded messages, stunning ancient ruins, and clues left by Conrad himself begin to surface as the young archaeologists fall victim to an alarming series of accidents staged by the increasingly hostile Furry Giants. Piecing together a history of dictatorship, terrorism and disguise, Carter glimpses the horrors beyond Thror’s flamboyant façade and startling revelations about the friend she thought she knew. The masks of Thror hide devastating secrets, and the golden tomb buried deep in the frozen core may claim the lives of everyone she loves.
Unfortunately, the ludicrously over-friendly ‘Furry Giants’ who have taken over the planet’s barren surface would rather offer her cheap souvenirs than answers, and the local officials insist they have no record of Conrad’s existence. Inspired by fear for Conrad’s life and the chance to make the greatest archaeological discovery of the century, Carter and her friends follow Conrad’s footsteps deep into the mountains of Thror’s forbidden Black Zone and launch an illicit excavation.
Coded messages, stunning ancient ruins, and clues left by Conrad himself begin to surface as the young archaeologists fall victim to an alarming series of accidents staged by the increasingly hostile Furry Giants. Piecing together a history of dictatorship, terrorism and disguise, Carter glimpses the horrors beyond Thror’s flamboyant façade and startling revelations about the friend she thought she knew. The masks of Thror hide devastating secrets, and the golden tomb buried deep in the frozen core may claim the lives of everyone she loves.
- GenresScience Fiction
368 pages, Paperback
Published March 28, 2017
About the author
Katherine Blakeney
2 books35 followersKatherine Blakeney is an author and filmmaker with a BFA in Stop Motion Animation from the School of Visual Arts in New York and a PhD in Film Studies from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland, UK). Raised by an Egyptologist mother, she grew up among museums and excavation sites, where she developed an unhealthy fascination with ancient art and mythology. She divides her time between bringing 12”-tall people to life in her studio in Edinburgh, excavating ancient tombs in the Egyptian desert, and researching Gothic literary monsters in silent film. She has published numerous articles on film and archaeology and her independent short films have screened at various international film festivals including the Edinburgh Fringe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
February 10, 2017
First of all, thanks to BlazePublishing for the ARC (first one ever) !!!!
I had a lot of fun reading this unique book!
Carter’s friend Conrad is missing and so she goes looking for him. With her Archaeology of Outer Space class and their Professor P.
I don’t want to spoil anything so that the shortest summary ever but I think that’s enough to imagine the situation. It’s a really cool Science Fiction/Young Adult adventure and I really liked the writing style because it was really fast to read! I loved the connection of Archaeology and Science Fiction, I never read something like this before!
I loved loved loved Professor P! And Lizzy was one of my favs, too!
I could really imagine this being a series, but I don’t know if something like that is planned.
I had a lot of fun reading this unique book!
Carter’s friend Conrad is missing and so she goes looking for him. With her Archaeology of Outer Space class and their Professor P.
I don’t want to spoil anything so that the shortest summary ever but I think that’s enough to imagine the situation. It’s a really cool Science Fiction/Young Adult adventure and I really liked the writing style because it was really fast to read! I loved the connection of Archaeology and Science Fiction, I never read something like this before!
I loved loved loved Professor P! And Lizzy was one of my favs, too!
I could really imagine this being a series, but I don’t know if something like that is planned.
February 12, 2017
Archaeology in outer space! That's such a fun concept for a novel, and it makes for a really original sort of combination of sci-fi, historical fiction and detective.
Reading this, I loved it at times, but disliked it at other times. The main plot was certainly interesting and surprising, and the Throrians were a funny but also scary sort of aliens. Also, there were some great characters, especially Professor P. She was bad-ass and independent, but also never short of sassy comments. That way, she sent a really strong feminist message. So did Carter, the main character, for being bold and turning around the damsel in distress sort of storyline, trying to find and rescue her friend Conrad. But the book was hard to get into and kept being difficult to follow, because a lot of the time the details were all over the place and there were a lot of sidetracks that were distracting from the plotline. Also, most of the characters were quite flat, making it hard to really identify with them. They were quirky and loveable, but there wasn't much visible character growth.
All in all, this is a really fun read if you're looking for something that's mainly focussed on an adventurous plot and sassy remarks.
Reading this, I loved it at times, but disliked it at other times. The main plot was certainly interesting and surprising, and the Throrians were a funny but also scary sort of aliens. Also, there were some great characters, especially Professor P. She was bad-ass and independent, but also never short of sassy comments. That way, she sent a really strong feminist message. So did Carter, the main character, for being bold and turning around the damsel in distress sort of storyline, trying to find and rescue her friend Conrad. But the book was hard to get into and kept being difficult to follow, because a lot of the time the details were all over the place and there were a lot of sidetracks that were distracting from the plotline. Also, most of the characters were quite flat, making it hard to really identify with them. They were quirky and loveable, but there wasn't much visible character growth.
All in all, this is a really fun read if you're looking for something that's mainly focussed on an adventurous plot and sassy remarks.
April 29, 2018
The old belief that Thror was a black hole instead of a planet was not unfounded. A black hole sucking in all who ventured too far
* * .5
2.5 / 5
Digging in the Stars had a lot of potential (it's about archaeology IN OUTER SPACE, I mean talk about awesome) but unfortunately the characters were a bit too flat and the narrative too confused to pull it off. There was still a good chunk of mystery and a totally whacky ending to make this book fun, but it wasn't exactly a page turner.
Carter is our main character, a student at college studying Archaeology of Outer Space which is apparently rather unpopular, given her small class size of about six. Carter is Professor P's teaching assistant and so books the archaeology apprenticeship trip to Magnus. Except, well, she doesn't. Her friend Conrad went missing on the desert-like, low technological planet Thror, famed for the lost tomb of the last King of Thror. So Carter books a flight to Thror, which they somehow all board without anyone noticing that they are not, in fact, going to Magnus (how does this happen? What responsible adult trusts a sixteen year old to book an interstellar flight and accommodation and then pay so little attention in an airport so as not to notice?).
"You are not Howard Carter! You are my sixteen-year-old student, and you have done more than enough damage alread, risking our budget, my career, and perhaps all our lives on a whim"
On Thror, not all is as it seems. The natives, the "Furry Giants", are suspiciously unhelpful as Carter searches for traces of her missing friend. Then comes some treasure-searching, a bit of mystery, some archaeology and a whole lot of weirdness. Back to Carter: she's a bit flat. What do I know about Carter? Her parents are big archaeological folks, she loves archaeology and loves her namesake (Howard Carter), and she has a bit of a superiority complex. That's about it. She dips in and out of concern for her friend, Conrad. Given that he's supposedly dead, you'd think that he'd be a bit more on her mind, rather than traipsing around looking at markets and making necklaces.
Then there's the rest of her archaeology class who get unwittingly transported to Thror. The only two with a glimmer of real personality are Gioconda, who is a total hippy and ends up joining some kind of Throrian cult, and Lizzie who spends the whole book alternating between sarky and sulky. Allison and Bryanne are pretty interchangeable. None of the four are that into archaeology. Professor P, the class teacher, is actually rather interesting - she's a gem of a character. She's pretty sensible, being in charge of a bunch of emotional sixteen year olds and all, witty, and a little bit daring.
Unfortunately, I found the writing to be quite confused. Sections were either long and drawn out and I wasn't quite sure why they were happening or there's too much happening all at once. The mythology and history of Thror is pretty poorly explained, all the natives seem to be creepy and lecherous, and there's lots of little sideplots (Lizzie's family, for example) that are hinted at and never explored. Conrad is also very annoying and a manipulative irritant, when I think he's supposed mysterious and handsome.
"Now that we have established that this is an excavation and not an opera, we can proceed with our work"
That's all rather negative. So what do I like? I absolutely loved all the archaeology based bits - that's why I picked the book up initially, after all! I loved archaeology as child and was incredibly into Ancient Egypt, which seemed to sort of inspire Thror. Unfortunately, there was only a couple of scenes that really got into the details of what doing excavation is all about - everyone seemed a bit too gung-ho in going around a cutting locks and bashing doors in on ancient tombs. I also thought the opening pages of Digging in the Stars were pretty good - I was grabbed from the get-go.
Digging in the Stars is built off of an awesome idea, but the cast is too dull and the writing a bit confused to pull it off. I recommend it if you like reading about weird aliens or archaeology. Bonus points for incorporating a couple of my favourite lines of poetry ever:
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield
My thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of Digging In The Stars.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
* * .5
2.5 / 5
Digging in the Stars had a lot of potential (it's about archaeology IN OUTER SPACE, I mean talk about awesome) but unfortunately the characters were a bit too flat and the narrative too confused to pull it off. There was still a good chunk of mystery and a totally whacky ending to make this book fun, but it wasn't exactly a page turner.
Carter is our main character, a student at college studying Archaeology of Outer Space which is apparently rather unpopular, given her small class size of about six. Carter is Professor P's teaching assistant and so books the archaeology apprenticeship trip to Magnus. Except, well, she doesn't. Her friend Conrad went missing on the desert-like, low technological planet Thror, famed for the lost tomb of the last King of Thror. So Carter books a flight to Thror, which they somehow all board without anyone noticing that they are not, in fact, going to Magnus (how does this happen? What responsible adult trusts a sixteen year old to book an interstellar flight and accommodation and then pay so little attention in an airport so as not to notice?).
"You are not Howard Carter! You are my sixteen-year-old student, and you have done more than enough damage alread, risking our budget, my career, and perhaps all our lives on a whim"
On Thror, not all is as it seems. The natives, the "Furry Giants", are suspiciously unhelpful as Carter searches for traces of her missing friend. Then comes some treasure-searching, a bit of mystery, some archaeology and a whole lot of weirdness. Back to Carter: she's a bit flat. What do I know about Carter? Her parents are big archaeological folks, she loves archaeology and loves her namesake (Howard Carter), and she has a bit of a superiority complex. That's about it. She dips in and out of concern for her friend, Conrad. Given that he's supposedly dead, you'd think that he'd be a bit more on her mind, rather than traipsing around looking at markets and making necklaces.
Then there's the rest of her archaeology class who get unwittingly transported to Thror. The only two with a glimmer of real personality are Gioconda, who is a total hippy and ends up joining some kind of Throrian cult, and Lizzie who spends the whole book alternating between sarky and sulky. Allison and Bryanne are pretty interchangeable. None of the four are that into archaeology. Professor P, the class teacher, is actually rather interesting - she's a gem of a character. She's pretty sensible, being in charge of a bunch of emotional sixteen year olds and all, witty, and a little bit daring.
Unfortunately, I found the writing to be quite confused. Sections were either long and drawn out and I wasn't quite sure why they were happening or there's too much happening all at once. The mythology and history of Thror is pretty poorly explained, all the natives seem to be creepy and lecherous, and there's lots of little sideplots (Lizzie's family, for example) that are hinted at and never explored. Conrad is also very annoying and a manipulative irritant, when I think he's supposed mysterious and handsome.
"Now that we have established that this is an excavation and not an opera, we can proceed with our work"
That's all rather negative. So what do I like? I absolutely loved all the archaeology based bits - that's why I picked the book up initially, after all! I loved archaeology as child and was incredibly into Ancient Egypt, which seemed to sort of inspire Thror. Unfortunately, there was only a couple of scenes that really got into the details of what doing excavation is all about - everyone seemed a bit too gung-ho in going around a cutting locks and bashing doors in on ancient tombs. I also thought the opening pages of Digging in the Stars were pretty good - I was grabbed from the get-go.
Digging in the Stars is built off of an awesome idea, but the cast is too dull and the writing a bit confused to pull it off. I recommend it if you like reading about weird aliens or archaeology. Bonus points for incorporating a couple of my favourite lines of poetry ever:
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield
My thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of Digging In The Stars.
Read this review and more on my blog: https://atlasrisingbooks.wordpress.co...
February 12, 2017
This book earns a very solid 4.5 from me, but I round up. I enjoyed it for so many reasons. There's a big emphasis on science and archaeological exploration that I found engaging and thoughtful. There are tons of references for both history & science geeks alike. I loved the world of Thror. This book never takes itself too seriously, so it's a refreshing twist on a lot of modern sci-fi that can be too dark or aloof. This is a human science fiction tale with human characters using their adventure to all deal with their own unique struggles.
Though I loved the experience of reading this book, I often felt that it was slightly verbose which led me to put it down after a single chapter each day. After getting more engaged in the story and the characters I didn't have this problem.
One of my favorite things about the book was the development of the Furry Giants and the Stratinites. These are two races that inhabit the planet Thror, and I thought they were wonderfully brought to life throughout the book. Katherine Blakeney even used some abnormal human brain function to create the normal functioning of her alien races which I found fascinating. I love seeing stories work in elements of real science into fantasy stories in a small way.
Ultimatley, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has even a passing interest in archaeology, or who ever enjoyed watching documentaries on Tutankhamun or The Mummy. Carter makes a great main character with a lot of ambition. All the girls bring something great to the table, including humor, intrigue, and great one liners from the Professor. I really enjoyed digging into this story.
Though I loved the experience of reading this book, I often felt that it was slightly verbose which led me to put it down after a single chapter each day. After getting more engaged in the story and the characters I didn't have this problem.
One of my favorite things about the book was the development of the Furry Giants and the Stratinites. These are two races that inhabit the planet Thror, and I thought they were wonderfully brought to life throughout the book. Katherine Blakeney even used some abnormal human brain function to create the normal functioning of her alien races which I found fascinating. I love seeing stories work in elements of real science into fantasy stories in a small way.
Ultimatley, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has even a passing interest in archaeology, or who ever enjoyed watching documentaries on Tutankhamun or The Mummy. Carter makes a great main character with a lot of ambition. All the girls bring something great to the table, including humor, intrigue, and great one liners from the Professor. I really enjoyed digging into this story.
March 8, 2017
I really loved this book it was unlike anything I had ever read before. I mean planetary archeology?? Futuristic archeology?? Fascinating. Some of the one-liners that were in this book and the mysterious aspects of it all was really awesome :) i know there are so much that I can say about this book but it may be better for a person to go into this book blind no expectations because that's what keeps the story more interesting at least in my opinion.
March 9, 2017
Rating: 5/5
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 13+
Favorite Quote: "#ThrorLives"
I received a copy of this book from the publishing company (Blaze Publishing Company) from netgalley in exchange for a review and I received another copy of this book when I became a publishing rep for the company. This did not influence me in anyway.
Carter, a sixteen year-old girl living in the year 2222, longs to live up to her namesake, Howard Carter the English archaeologist and Egyptologist who discovered the intact tomb of King Tut aka King Tutankhamun in 1922. This is why she chose to major in Archaeology of Outer Space, which is normally a class where students who couldn't get into their first chose major go. Carter is an excellent student. She's a TA for her teacher, Professor P, and she's in charge of making the reservations for their expedition to Magnus. The class is supposed to journey to Magnus for an archaeology apprenticeship. However, Carter is too distracted by the recent disappearance of her best friend Conrad. He left without telling her and she recently received his possessions from a planet called Thror. Fearing the worst, Carter tricks her class into detouring from their expedition to Magnus to journeying to Thror. When photographs from Conrad's found camera reveal what could be the tomb of the last king of Thror and the overly-friendly natives seem to be hiding something, Carter and her classmates follow Conrad's footsteps into the mountains and launch an illegal excavation in a forbidden zone. Following the clues and coded messages strange things are revealed about Thror, but is the truth stranger than the facade?
Normally I don't like science fiction novels because I feel that so much about the technology and the time period goes unexplained and the technology can be outlandish; however, I loved this novel. The characters were very well written and the writing flowed beautifully. The characters were so well written and each had their own developed personalities that I could read something one of them said and hear the same character speak it in my head. The characters really do come to life in the novel and you come to love them, despite some of the characters having annoying traits at times (I'm looking at you Bryanne). A lot about the technology and the time period was explained and wasn't out of the realm of impossibility. The story had a nice ebb and flow, for every section about the archaeology of Thror there was a section with action in it and for every serious scene there was a few funny moments. The author also did a good job describing scenes and creating mystery and tension.
The only issue I had with this book is that I felt the ending was a bit rushed. I wanted more in the end and I wanted to have some of the ending explained better. I felt a tad overwhelmed by the amount of action and description going on at the ending of the book. Despite that, this book joins the league of my 2017 five star reads! I just want to reread this book right now! I'm excited to see other books this author can come up with.
Also, while I have your attention: Blaze Publishing Company is hosting a giveaway with this book in which you could win a $25 Amazon giftcard! Go check out their Instagram page or mine for further details. This book releases March 28th, so get your paperback copy now!
Genre: YA Sci-Fi
Recommended Age: 13+
Favorite Quote: "#ThrorLives"
I received a copy of this book from the publishing company (Blaze Publishing Company) from netgalley in exchange for a review and I received another copy of this book when I became a publishing rep for the company. This did not influence me in anyway.
Carter, a sixteen year-old girl living in the year 2222, longs to live up to her namesake, Howard Carter the English archaeologist and Egyptologist who discovered the intact tomb of King Tut aka King Tutankhamun in 1922. This is why she chose to major in Archaeology of Outer Space, which is normally a class where students who couldn't get into their first chose major go. Carter is an excellent student. She's a TA for her teacher, Professor P, and she's in charge of making the reservations for their expedition to Magnus. The class is supposed to journey to Magnus for an archaeology apprenticeship. However, Carter is too distracted by the recent disappearance of her best friend Conrad. He left without telling her and she recently received his possessions from a planet called Thror. Fearing the worst, Carter tricks her class into detouring from their expedition to Magnus to journeying to Thror. When photographs from Conrad's found camera reveal what could be the tomb of the last king of Thror and the overly-friendly natives seem to be hiding something, Carter and her classmates follow Conrad's footsteps into the mountains and launch an illegal excavation in a forbidden zone. Following the clues and coded messages strange things are revealed about Thror, but is the truth stranger than the facade?
Normally I don't like science fiction novels because I feel that so much about the technology and the time period goes unexplained and the technology can be outlandish; however, I loved this novel. The characters were very well written and the writing flowed beautifully. The characters were so well written and each had their own developed personalities that I could read something one of them said and hear the same character speak it in my head. The characters really do come to life in the novel and you come to love them, despite some of the characters having annoying traits at times (I'm looking at you Bryanne). A lot about the technology and the time period was explained and wasn't out of the realm of impossibility. The story had a nice ebb and flow, for every section about the archaeology of Thror there was a section with action in it and for every serious scene there was a few funny moments. The author also did a good job describing scenes and creating mystery and tension.
The only issue I had with this book is that I felt the ending was a bit rushed. I wanted more in the end and I wanted to have some of the ending explained better. I felt a tad overwhelmed by the amount of action and description going on at the ending of the book. Despite that, this book joins the league of my 2017 five star reads! I just want to reread this book right now! I'm excited to see other books this author can come up with.
Also, while I have your attention: Blaze Publishing Company is hosting a giveaway with this book in which you could win a $25 Amazon giftcard! Go check out their Instagram page or mine for further details. This book releases March 28th, so get your paperback copy now!
February 13, 2017
I do not come across young adult science fiction novels very often that are as advanced and well thought out as Digging in the Stars is. Katherine Blakeney writes with a knowledgeable hand when explaining the world that she has created, and I became trapped within her detailed world as I read along. Digging in the Stars is a novel that takes hold of you and won't let go until you cross the last page, and even then it stays with you long after. This is the perfect young adult novel to introduce readers to the science fiction genre, while also giving seasoned science fiction readers the ride of a lifetime.
The heroine of this novel, Carter, is one of the best characters that I have read about in this genre. She is feisty, rebellious, and strong, and she was relatable on so many levels. Everything she did was for the greater good, and her love of books was infectious. I felt as though Carter was a personal friend of mine by the end of the novel, and few authors can make characters as vibrant as Blakeney does. It was clear to me that Blakeney has had this story and these characters inside of her for quite some time, and they were just yearning to be released. I could feel their energy vibrating off of the pages, and threatening to break through. Some novels read as though they are forced, but Digging in the Stars was effortless. It allowed me to travel the galaxy within my own home, and very few novels have done that for me.
Blakeney is an expert at world building, and her carefully created realm inspired me to dream beyond this earth and our own society. It was clear to me that her world was inspired from different mythologies, and I loved how she incorporated science into the mix. Her characters were inviting and I cared deeply for each of them by the time the novel was over. I look forward to what Blakeney writes next, and I highly recommend this novel for anyone who loves space travel, adventure, and rebellious heroines who know no bounds.
The heroine of this novel, Carter, is one of the best characters that I have read about in this genre. She is feisty, rebellious, and strong, and she was relatable on so many levels. Everything she did was for the greater good, and her love of books was infectious. I felt as though Carter was a personal friend of mine by the end of the novel, and few authors can make characters as vibrant as Blakeney does. It was clear to me that Blakeney has had this story and these characters inside of her for quite some time, and they were just yearning to be released. I could feel their energy vibrating off of the pages, and threatening to break through. Some novels read as though they are forced, but Digging in the Stars was effortless. It allowed me to travel the galaxy within my own home, and very few novels have done that for me.
Blakeney is an expert at world building, and her carefully created realm inspired me to dream beyond this earth and our own society. It was clear to me that her world was inspired from different mythologies, and I loved how she incorporated science into the mix. Her characters were inviting and I cared deeply for each of them by the time the novel was over. I look forward to what Blakeney writes next, and I highly recommend this novel for anyone who loves space travel, adventure, and rebellious heroines who know no bounds.
June 11, 2017
So I started reading this book about a month ago, today I finally finished this book and it was okay. It had a promising plot but it just couldn't keep my attention. I do want to say the authors writing style was out of this world and was the only reason I kept reading until the end.
February 13, 2017
This reminded me of those books I liked to read when I was younger.
The Writing:
Some times this book was difficult to follow but I think that was because of the world and sometimes I was a bit confused about it. Other than that I found this to be easy to read. I read it in 9 days, with a read-along and I might have read it in less time but for me this is not a book you can read in one sitting. There is one POV through the book, Carter's and she is the MC.
The Story:
I found this story to be very creative and different from others. It had things I had never read before and again, as my first line says, it reminds me of books I read when I was younger.
We follow Carter, a 16-year-old teenager that is really smart and is studying her dream: archelogy. She has a friend, Conrad, who is dying but one day after a fight he suddenly travels to Thror, another planet. Then Carter receives this photos of Thror and an unfinished letter, all from Conrad, but photos from Thror doesn't exist. Carter wants to know what happened to Conrad and discover something really big so instead of booking their apprenticeship to a known and safe planet she takes her professor and classmates to Thror, a planet that no group of archeology came back.
Once there weird things start happening and the story goes from there.
I hadn't ever read a book with archeology and I loved that it was pretty cool. There is this story and discoveries they make through the book that were really fun to read.
Then we also have the mystery part of this book, you don't know what is really happening until the end and you are always guessing. There is no real clue about who is good and not, and when starnge messages start showing up everything gets a bit more dangerous.
There is no evident romance through the story but you might guess that there are feelings.
There isn't any physical fights or action in that way but it is a book that makes you still feel its bit of danger and mystery.
I think this is a YA book but it could be a middle grade too. There is this big adventure, mystery, just a bit of danger to remind you that not everything is safe, archeology, past and sci-fi.
The Characters:
Carter: She was so reckless, it frustrated me. It was insane to make that booking from the start but she also makes all these decisions that were so slefish. She didn't think of the others, only of her goals and her mission of making the big 'finding'. She was brave and very smart but that had me frustrated with her.
Professor P: I liked her. She felt like a mama bear. Even though her firt goal was the archeology she protected all her students and add to the story a great humour.
Lizzie: Her attitude was other I didn't like. She was so sarctastic and ironic all. the. time. A bit is good but then it was tiring.
Bryanne: Even though she ment well most of the time she was very naive, and that made me I don't know how to describe it but the real things is, I didn't like her that much and sometimes her character frustrated me.
Gioconda: She wasn't into the story that much but her things for auras and all spiritual stuff even if it was good there was a point you wanted to make her shut up.
Allison: Other character that wasn't that important but was more involved into the story that the previous character. She added the bit of romance. I liked her.
Furry Giants: At first I was so confused about these characters and through the story I didn't know if they were trust-worthy or not but some of them added a bit of humour. Then, the ending was an absolute surprise.
Conrad: He was and wasn't in the story at the same time. He was very important but at the same time not a MC. He surprised me as well as made me angry.
This is a fun story about adventures and archeoulogy in a sci-fi world. There is no romance or physical action but you are always wanting to know more. It's a good read when you want a bit f mystery and a good old adventure!
The Writing:
Some times this book was difficult to follow but I think that was because of the world and sometimes I was a bit confused about it. Other than that I found this to be easy to read. I read it in 9 days, with a read-along and I might have read it in less time but for me this is not a book you can read in one sitting. There is one POV through the book, Carter's and she is the MC.
The Story:
I found this story to be very creative and different from others. It had things I had never read before and again, as my first line says, it reminds me of books I read when I was younger.
We follow Carter, a 16-year-old teenager that is really smart and is studying her dream: archelogy. She has a friend, Conrad, who is dying but one day after a fight he suddenly travels to Thror, another planet. Then Carter receives this photos of Thror and an unfinished letter, all from Conrad, but photos from Thror doesn't exist. Carter wants to know what happened to Conrad and discover something really big so instead of booking their apprenticeship to a known and safe planet she takes her professor and classmates to Thror, a planet that no group of archeology came back.
Once there weird things start happening and the story goes from there.
I hadn't ever read a book with archeology and I loved that it was pretty cool. There is this story and discoveries they make through the book that were really fun to read.
Then we also have the mystery part of this book, you don't know what is really happening until the end and you are always guessing. There is no real clue about who is good and not, and when starnge messages start showing up everything gets a bit more dangerous.
There is no evident romance through the story but you might guess that there are feelings.
There isn't any physical fights or action in that way but it is a book that makes you still feel its bit of danger and mystery.
I think this is a YA book but it could be a middle grade too. There is this big adventure, mystery, just a bit of danger to remind you that not everything is safe, archeology, past and sci-fi.
The Characters:
Carter: She was so reckless, it frustrated me. It was insane to make that booking from the start but she also makes all these decisions that were so slefish. She didn't think of the others, only of her goals and her mission of making the big 'finding'. She was brave and very smart but that had me frustrated with her.
Professor P: I liked her. She felt like a mama bear. Even though her firt goal was the archeology she protected all her students and add to the story a great humour.
Lizzie: Her attitude was other I didn't like. She was so sarctastic and ironic all. the. time. A bit is good but then it was tiring.
Bryanne: Even though she ment well most of the time she was very naive, and that made me I don't know how to describe it but the real things is, I didn't like her that much and sometimes her character frustrated me.
Gioconda: She wasn't into the story that much but her things for auras and all spiritual stuff even if it was good there was a point you wanted to make her shut up.
Allison: Other character that wasn't that important but was more involved into the story that the previous character. She added the bit of romance. I liked her.
Furry Giants: At first I was so confused about these characters and through the story I didn't know if they were trust-worthy or not but some of them added a bit of humour. Then, the ending was an absolute surprise.
Conrad: He was and wasn't in the story at the same time. He was very important but at the same time not a MC. He surprised me as well as made me angry.
This is a fun story about adventures and archeoulogy in a sci-fi world. There is no romance or physical action but you are always wanting to know more. It's a good read when you want a bit f mystery and a good old adventure!
July 23, 2017
Digging In The Stars 4.75/5⭐️s
1. The beginning is a bit slow and confusing.
2. Thror is so funny😂 The Furry Giants are ridiculously funny! I love them so much😂
3. Prefessor P is so cool! Her attitude is on point.
4. Carter is a nice person to have as your main protagonist. She's not whining all the time about finding her best friend and she's not repetitive at all. Like no same thoughts over and over again.
5. The book has so much mystery and secrets, which I love! The message on the boulder was so cool!
6. There are no cliffhangers before the 70th page and I think that that's the reason why it's a bit slow, nevertheless the pace picks up after that!
7. It's so hard to put this book down!
8. Have you ever read a book and felt like losing yourself and forgetting about reading and feeling as if you were watching a movie? Well, I felt like this when Carter and the rest of the group discovered that chamber thing on chapter 16 or something.
9. Blakeney has done a great job in describing without over-describing! Like her descriptions are short and precise and can make the reader imagine everything perfectly without making him feel as if he were reading the same thing over and over.
10. All the plot twists, the cliffhangers, the action, the mysteries and all the secrets were soooo amazing!
11. Blakeney's world-building was perfect! I'm so in love with planet Thror *hoping for a trip there soon*.
12. The ending and the revelations were amazing! This book was soooo unpredictable! I just can't. It was perfect!
13. I just can't recommend this amazing sci-fi book enough!😭
14. Also, the characters were all so real and genuine you could have easily found yourself in one of them, get attached and you know, enjoy their amazing journey with them!
15. Definitely one of the best sci-fi books I've ever read!
16. Final Rating: 4.75/5⭐️s.
1. The beginning is a bit slow and confusing.
2. Thror is so funny😂 The Furry Giants are ridiculously funny! I love them so much😂
3. Prefessor P is so cool! Her attitude is on point.
4. Carter is a nice person to have as your main protagonist. She's not whining all the time about finding her best friend and she's not repetitive at all. Like no same thoughts over and over again.
5. The book has so much mystery and secrets, which I love! The message on the boulder was so cool!
6. There are no cliffhangers before the 70th page and I think that that's the reason why it's a bit slow, nevertheless the pace picks up after that!
7. It's so hard to put this book down!
8. Have you ever read a book and felt like losing yourself and forgetting about reading and feeling as if you were watching a movie? Well, I felt like this when Carter and the rest of the group discovered that chamber thing on chapter 16 or something.
9. Blakeney has done a great job in describing without over-describing! Like her descriptions are short and precise and can make the reader imagine everything perfectly without making him feel as if he were reading the same thing over and over.
10. All the plot twists, the cliffhangers, the action, the mysteries and all the secrets were soooo amazing!
11. Blakeney's world-building was perfect! I'm so in love with planet Thror *hoping for a trip there soon*.
12. The ending and the revelations were amazing! This book was soooo unpredictable! I just can't. It was perfect!
13. I just can't recommend this amazing sci-fi book enough!😭
14. Also, the characters were all so real and genuine you could have easily found yourself in one of them, get attached and you know, enjoy their amazing journey with them!
15. Definitely one of the best sci-fi books I've ever read!
16. Final Rating: 4.75/5⭐️s.
February 10, 2017
Ok so when you read this book have your mindset in like young young adult. (My opinion it will make this book enjoyable.)
It's a very cute, descriptive, fantasy/sci fi novel.
The main character, Carter, is an Earth girl studying archeology at school. When her class and Professor P plan an educational dig at another planet entirely.
Hence, adventure ensues.
Mystic magic alien creatures greet them once they arrive.
Then the truth of Carters real plan is exposed.
It's a very cute, descriptive, fantasy/sci fi novel.
The main character, Carter, is an Earth girl studying archeology at school. When her class and Professor P plan an educational dig at another planet entirely.
Hence, adventure ensues.
Mystic magic alien creatures greet them once they arrive.
Then the truth of Carters real plan is exposed.
March 27, 2017
Oh My Goodness. This book.
This story follows Carter and her archaeology group to a different planet for an apprenticeship program. That alone drew me in. Archaeology in space? YES PLEASE. Not only does that sound amazing, but it is refreshingly different from so many other YA novels. This book included family, friendship, sci-fi, and mystery all into one. The plot was seriously never lacking in action.
I really enjoyed the writing style of it. It included real historical facts about archaeology, and added in fictional discoveries that mirrored some that actually took place in the early 1900s, and I thought that was fantastic. Blakeney's writing made it so easy to just fly through this book. She had mysterious moments, then made them funny with side characters, then right back to fun science fiction. I loved that we got so many answers in the end, and a lot of it, I was not expecting at all.
I went in not knowing too much about the plot itself, and I really enjoyed that way. I HIGHLY recommend this book. It was so unique and fun, and really a great read. Please do yourself a favor and pick it up!
This story follows Carter and her archaeology group to a different planet for an apprenticeship program. That alone drew me in. Archaeology in space? YES PLEASE. Not only does that sound amazing, but it is refreshingly different from so many other YA novels. This book included family, friendship, sci-fi, and mystery all into one. The plot was seriously never lacking in action.
I really enjoyed the writing style of it. It included real historical facts about archaeology, and added in fictional discoveries that mirrored some that actually took place in the early 1900s, and I thought that was fantastic. Blakeney's writing made it so easy to just fly through this book. She had mysterious moments, then made them funny with side characters, then right back to fun science fiction. I loved that we got so many answers in the end, and a lot of it, I was not expecting at all.
I went in not knowing too much about the plot itself, and I really enjoyed that way. I HIGHLY recommend this book. It was so unique and fun, and really a great read. Please do yourself a favor and pick it up!
March 28, 2017
Ok wow. First I just want to say that the writing was fast paced and so smooth, Excellent writing. The story was Intense and mysterious and gripped your attention, I've only read a few books that have involved space travel and different planets and alien species and I love the absolute anything can happen freedom of it! Basically anything seemed possible in this book and that made reading it feel so fun, I Couldn't put it down. I may or may not have read it in two days! There were quite a few creative twists, and you can't help but wonder what happened to her friend Conrad. when you thought you had it figured out, the plot would change. I had no idea how it was going to end...You also can't help but love the main character she's so spunky yet fiercely loyal and with the addition of the other classmates it gave the book a funny banter and lightened it up quite a bit. The ending was intense! I didn't see any of that coming. I would HIGHLY suggest this book to any Fantasy book lovers!
February 20, 2017
What a fun ride! I loved every second of the space travel, treasure hunt, archaeology, and learning about the culture on the planet Thror--the writing was so vivid, I could almost SMELL the planet!
After receiving a blank note and an old camera, Carter travels to the planet of Thror to solve the mystery surrounding her friend, Conrad's, sudden disappearance. She kidnaps her archaeology class--a group of interesting, very different girls and her professor--forcing them along for the ride. Digging in the Stars was very well-written and the characters were relateable and smart. I learned a lot about archaeology and what it entails. Katherine Blakeney sure knows her stuff! Carter's search for Conrad kept me guessing at every twist and turn. Was he really missing or was he like Margo in Papertowns by John Green--was he just playing her? The ending was satisfying but came way to soon! I can't wait to read more by Katherine Blakeney!
After receiving a blank note and an old camera, Carter travels to the planet of Thror to solve the mystery surrounding her friend, Conrad's, sudden disappearance. She kidnaps her archaeology class--a group of interesting, very different girls and her professor--forcing them along for the ride. Digging in the Stars was very well-written and the characters were relateable and smart. I learned a lot about archaeology and what it entails. Katherine Blakeney sure knows her stuff! Carter's search for Conrad kept me guessing at every twist and turn. Was he really missing or was he like Margo in Papertowns by John Green--was he just playing her? The ending was satisfying but came way to soon! I can't wait to read more by Katherine Blakeney!
February 15, 2017
This book is so unique and it's definitely for someone who love sci-fi, detective books.It's a really good combination.
In first it was hard for me to get into this book because of so many details,but in other hand it was really interesting to read it.
I cant wait for this book to come out in my language i will definitely reread it.
I could write more about this book,but 'beauty is in the eye of beholder' (or reader, in this case) amd definitely read this book.
In first it was hard for me to get into this book because of so many details,but in other hand it was really interesting to read it.
I cant wait for this book to come out in my language i will definitely reread it.
I could write more about this book,but 'beauty is in the eye of beholder' (or reader, in this case) amd definitely read this book.
January 28, 2018
Author: Katherine Blakeney
Publisher: Blaze Publishing
Publishing Date: March 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-945519-07-9
This novel was sent to me by Blaze Publishing in exchange for an honest and objective review.
Summary:
Conrad has gone missing, leaving Carter feeling hopelessly responsible. The last things she had said to him had been out of anger, and in fear that he'd responded in an irresponsible and emotional state, she believes she has caused his disappearance.
When her guilt becomes too much to withstand and the fear for Conrad's life consumes her Carter arranges a trip to Tho - the last place he was scene - kidnapping her whole Archaeology of Space class under the guile that they are headed elsewhere. With little more than a broken vintage camera, and what was left in his bag, when Carter discovers images that tie Conrad's disappearance to the long lost tomb of the last king of Thror.
Upon arriving in Thror it is discovered that the planet has been overtaken by "Furry Giants" who are more interested in flirting and selling souvenirs than they are in answering any of Carter's questions. As the story unfolds and Carter finds evidence of a huge archaeological find, her class begins to follow the trails left for them in hopes of finding Loreval's resting place. As they dig deeper into the stars will they find Thror to be the ecstasy of tourism it paints itself to be, or does Thror have a darker underbelly?
Pros and Cons:
I really loved that this novel followed Archaeology, and in a Sci-Fi, I loved that Katherine took it to its rudimentary form, versus hyper-focusing on possible technological advances in the future. As I am someone who isn't scientifically inclined, I did find it hard to follow this novel at times, but only in small ways. I was able to stay on the heels of the plot but if I looked too closely at the slower parts of the plots (the digs) I found myself easily bored. I also struggled with the names used for some of the characters. I found myself skipping over a few names as they acted as a speed bump in my otherwise smooth journey of reading.
It was really interesting to follow the imagery Katherine created for the world of Thror, in that it was a major tourist attraction. As a Floridian, I know what tourist traps look like, and she depicts them colorfully and even slightly overexaggerated, which is what makes them fun to read. With men who were eager for the attention of women, the constant reference to their attempts to make women "hot and steamy" I felt as grossed out and violated as the characters did in this book. It created a very tangible environment and had me cringing through most experiences - which was the point.
Another thing I really loved about this book was its underlying feminism. At times I wished that Katherine had created some diversity in the characters of the class (as all 7 are females) but as I dove deeper into the novel I realized that the testosterone provided by the Furry Giants (who greatly reminded me of a perverted version of "Wild Things") was all I could handle. She did, however, create diversity in the girls' personalities, which was made it easier to follow characters without their names being used all of the time. We'll talk about that more in "Characters," though.
Lastly, I did feel at times that the plot was long winded and slow - but then again, archaeological digs aren't supposed to be quick and racy. They are supposed to be scrupulous and detailed. I was able to push through the novel without much resistance, but be warned there are dry parts that may slow your reading pace.
Characters:
With a team of 6 girls, I was terrified I wouldn't be able to follow all of the characters as thoroughly as I usually do, however, each one fits into a unique and memorable stereotype so it wasn't difficult at all. For our main characters we had: Professor P, your militaristic and hot-tempered teacher, Carter, your know-it-all, teacher's pet, Gioconda, your spiritual guru, Allison, Your tech-savvy, highly emotional, pink-loving plastic, Lizzie, your emotionally wounded rich bully, and lastly Bryanne, your small-town farm girl who is timid and fragile. If I went into each character beyond the basic stereotype we'd be here forever, so I'll only address my two favorites and my one least favorite.
My favorite character of all was Professor P because she reminds me so much of my Mom. She's this kick-ass teacher who has a "NO BS" way about her. They talked often about her "look" that could "make anyone mute," and though plenty of Mom's have this trait, my mom has it down to a science. Professor P is also very loud and has super detailed and witty ways of attacking someone when they upset her or let her down (like bad service, or an inability to communicate effectively and clearly.) My Mom has a very similar demeanor so Professor P was just so close to my heart and very funny. Don't get me wrong, she isn't all mean! The other reason I loved her and was reminded of my mom was her sense of adventure and her love and dedication to her students. She may not have always been particularly affectionate but in her heart, she loved them and protected them like they were her own children.
I also really liked Carter! Having graduated 2 years early, and having JUST turned 16-years-old, she had her goals aimed high. Sure, she was emotionally unstable at times and highly impulsive but what 16-year-old isn't? I mean, she literally took University funds for a MONTH's worth of transportation, shelter, and food for SIX people and spent it on her nagging need to find her friend. She was easily a leader by nature, but she also sucked at comforting people which made her feel awkward when her morality couldn't let her ignore someone's pain. With parents who aren't particularly affectionate, and are very stoic she's left to feel like she really is facing the world alone. Now, it isn't because her parents hate her that she's alone, it's because they trust her emphatically and treat her like an adult.
Oddly enough, the character that I disliked in this novel was one that I usually find myself drawn to. Bryanne is excruciatingly weak. Though she can have outbursts when pushed by anger or fear, she's mostly made up of this glass snowglobe that's got a nasty leak. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not heartless. I recognize she's a small-town farm girl from another country who has been shoved into the Big Apple. Yes, that's completely scary. As someone who's just now starting college (which is essentially as big of a jump for me seeing how I know no one nearby because I was homeschooled and my cohort class graduated in 2015) I've had my fair share of fear and tear shedding - but what I don't get is why Bryanne has to break from EVERY. LITTLE. THING. It's like existing terrifies her, which just really gets under my skin.
Conclusion:
I gave this Coming-of-Age Sci-Fi focused on friendship and self-discovery a 3.5-star rating. The book in and of itself is good, and I don't really have much to say about it. It wasn't bad, but it also didn't rock my world. As I stated above it was long-winded at times, but that could easily be ruled away by personal preference. If you are a Sci-Fi lover and found yourself loving "Wild Things" then I would highly suggest you check out this novel. I suggest it for the age of 13+ for the touristy innuendos and the description of death and war. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this novel.
A BIG thank you to Blaze Publishing for providing me with this novel in exchange for an honest and objective review.
Favorite Quotes:
"Excellent. Carter's the natural choice; she's the smallest and is admirably devoid of phobias." - Professor P
"But, Professor, we don't know what's back there."
"Thank you Bryanne for defining the purpose of Archaeology for the rest of the group. If we knew exactly what we would find, we would gain little scholarly advantage in searching for it." - Bryanne and Professor P
"Every challenge has a solution. The scientific mind is always open and flexible, ready to accept the unconventional." - Carter's Parents
"What does this story teach us? Make sure you have someone who wants you?"
"Goodness no!" snorted Professor P, "Become a professional and learn to take care of yourself." - Allison and Professor P
Publisher: Blaze Publishing
Publishing Date: March 28, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-945519-07-9
This novel was sent to me by Blaze Publishing in exchange for an honest and objective review.
Summary:
Conrad has gone missing, leaving Carter feeling hopelessly responsible. The last things she had said to him had been out of anger, and in fear that he'd responded in an irresponsible and emotional state, she believes she has caused his disappearance.
When her guilt becomes too much to withstand and the fear for Conrad's life consumes her Carter arranges a trip to Tho - the last place he was scene - kidnapping her whole Archaeology of Space class under the guile that they are headed elsewhere. With little more than a broken vintage camera, and what was left in his bag, when Carter discovers images that tie Conrad's disappearance to the long lost tomb of the last king of Thror.
Upon arriving in Thror it is discovered that the planet has been overtaken by "Furry Giants" who are more interested in flirting and selling souvenirs than they are in answering any of Carter's questions. As the story unfolds and Carter finds evidence of a huge archaeological find, her class begins to follow the trails left for them in hopes of finding Loreval's resting place. As they dig deeper into the stars will they find Thror to be the ecstasy of tourism it paints itself to be, or does Thror have a darker underbelly?
Pros and Cons:
I really loved that this novel followed Archaeology, and in a Sci-Fi, I loved that Katherine took it to its rudimentary form, versus hyper-focusing on possible technological advances in the future. As I am someone who isn't scientifically inclined, I did find it hard to follow this novel at times, but only in small ways. I was able to stay on the heels of the plot but if I looked too closely at the slower parts of the plots (the digs) I found myself easily bored. I also struggled with the names used for some of the characters. I found myself skipping over a few names as they acted as a speed bump in my otherwise smooth journey of reading.
It was really interesting to follow the imagery Katherine created for the world of Thror, in that it was a major tourist attraction. As a Floridian, I know what tourist traps look like, and she depicts them colorfully and even slightly overexaggerated, which is what makes them fun to read. With men who were eager for the attention of women, the constant reference to their attempts to make women "hot and steamy" I felt as grossed out and violated as the characters did in this book. It created a very tangible environment and had me cringing through most experiences - which was the point.
Another thing I really loved about this book was its underlying feminism. At times I wished that Katherine had created some diversity in the characters of the class (as all 7 are females) but as I dove deeper into the novel I realized that the testosterone provided by the Furry Giants (who greatly reminded me of a perverted version of "Wild Things") was all I could handle. She did, however, create diversity in the girls' personalities, which was made it easier to follow characters without their names being used all of the time. We'll talk about that more in "Characters," though.
Lastly, I did feel at times that the plot was long winded and slow - but then again, archaeological digs aren't supposed to be quick and racy. They are supposed to be scrupulous and detailed. I was able to push through the novel without much resistance, but be warned there are dry parts that may slow your reading pace.
Characters:
With a team of 6 girls, I was terrified I wouldn't be able to follow all of the characters as thoroughly as I usually do, however, each one fits into a unique and memorable stereotype so it wasn't difficult at all. For our main characters we had: Professor P, your militaristic and hot-tempered teacher, Carter, your know-it-all, teacher's pet, Gioconda, your spiritual guru, Allison, Your tech-savvy, highly emotional, pink-loving plastic, Lizzie, your emotionally wounded rich bully, and lastly Bryanne, your small-town farm girl who is timid and fragile. If I went into each character beyond the basic stereotype we'd be here forever, so I'll only address my two favorites and my one least favorite.
My favorite character of all was Professor P because she reminds me so much of my Mom. She's this kick-ass teacher who has a "NO BS" way about her. They talked often about her "look" that could "make anyone mute," and though plenty of Mom's have this trait, my mom has it down to a science. Professor P is also very loud and has super detailed and witty ways of attacking someone when they upset her or let her down (like bad service, or an inability to communicate effectively and clearly.) My Mom has a very similar demeanor so Professor P was just so close to my heart and very funny. Don't get me wrong, she isn't all mean! The other reason I loved her and was reminded of my mom was her sense of adventure and her love and dedication to her students. She may not have always been particularly affectionate but in her heart, she loved them and protected them like they were her own children.
I also really liked Carter! Having graduated 2 years early, and having JUST turned 16-years-old, she had her goals aimed high. Sure, she was emotionally unstable at times and highly impulsive but what 16-year-old isn't? I mean, she literally took University funds for a MONTH's worth of transportation, shelter, and food for SIX people and spent it on her nagging need to find her friend. She was easily a leader by nature, but she also sucked at comforting people which made her feel awkward when her morality couldn't let her ignore someone's pain. With parents who aren't particularly affectionate, and are very stoic she's left to feel like she really is facing the world alone. Now, it isn't because her parents hate her that she's alone, it's because they trust her emphatically and treat her like an adult.
Oddly enough, the character that I disliked in this novel was one that I usually find myself drawn to. Bryanne is excruciatingly weak. Though she can have outbursts when pushed by anger or fear, she's mostly made up of this glass snowglobe that's got a nasty leak. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not heartless. I recognize she's a small-town farm girl from another country who has been shoved into the Big Apple. Yes, that's completely scary. As someone who's just now starting college (which is essentially as big of a jump for me seeing how I know no one nearby because I was homeschooled and my cohort class graduated in 2015) I've had my fair share of fear and tear shedding - but what I don't get is why Bryanne has to break from EVERY. LITTLE. THING. It's like existing terrifies her, which just really gets under my skin.
Conclusion:
I gave this Coming-of-Age Sci-Fi focused on friendship and self-discovery a 3.5-star rating. The book in and of itself is good, and I don't really have much to say about it. It wasn't bad, but it also didn't rock my world. As I stated above it was long-winded at times, but that could easily be ruled away by personal preference. If you are a Sci-Fi lover and found yourself loving "Wild Things" then I would highly suggest you check out this novel. I suggest it for the age of 13+ for the touristy innuendos and the description of death and war. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this novel.
A BIG thank you to Blaze Publishing for providing me with this novel in exchange for an honest and objective review.
Favorite Quotes:
"Excellent. Carter's the natural choice; she's the smallest and is admirably devoid of phobias." - Professor P
"But, Professor, we don't know what's back there."
"Thank you Bryanne for defining the purpose of Archaeology for the rest of the group. If we knew exactly what we would find, we would gain little scholarly advantage in searching for it." - Bryanne and Professor P
"Every challenge has a solution. The scientific mind is always open and flexible, ready to accept the unconventional." - Carter's Parents
"What does this story teach us? Make sure you have someone who wants you?"
"Goodness no!" snorted Professor P, "Become a professional and learn to take care of yourself." - Allison and Professor P
February 17, 2017
Thanks Blaze Publishing for sending me an ARC of this book as a part of a read along!
I'm so glad I liked this book because I always loved archeology!
Until I finished reading this book I didn't realized that Katherine Blakeney is, in fact, very familiar with archeology and filmmaking, which only added depth to the story.
Anyway, back to the book!
The story begins in the year 2222, with our main female protagonist Carter who studies Archeology of Outer Space in the time when nobody cares about the past, only about the future.
She finds out that her friend slash boyfriend Conrad is missing.
All she knows is that he went on Thror (a mysterious planet that was once a home of an powerful ancient civilization that had, presumably, disappeared in the explosion in 2060) after they had a fight and that he's sick (he has some sort of a lung disease). A few days later she received a bag with his belongings and a letter from him, that was never finished.
She doesn't want to believe that he's dead.
So when the computer says that there's no available hotels on Magnus (a planet where her and her Archeology class is supposed to do an apprenticeship along with their Professor P - who's kinda female Indiana Jones -> brave and smart and independent) and offers hotels on Thror, she sees that as a sign, and, without telling anyone, book it.
That's the start of one huge adventure where their little group gets stuck on Thror without possibility to return to Earth in the next 30 days or so.
They meet Furry Giants, residents of the Planet Thror, who's funny, annoyingly stubborn and determined not to let them investigate disappearings or history of their planet.
The beginning is a bit slow but the ending was so fast paced that I often found myself re reading previous sentences only to understand what just happened.
Hence the 4 stars.
But, overall, it was a great story and I would recommend it to anyone who loves history/archeology/adventure!
I'm so glad I liked this book because I always loved archeology!
Until I finished reading this book I didn't realized that Katherine Blakeney is, in fact, very familiar with archeology and filmmaking, which only added depth to the story.
Anyway, back to the book!
The story begins in the year 2222, with our main female protagonist Carter who studies Archeology of Outer Space in the time when nobody cares about the past, only about the future.
She finds out that her friend slash boyfriend Conrad is missing.
All she knows is that he went on Thror (a mysterious planet that was once a home of an powerful ancient civilization that had, presumably, disappeared in the explosion in 2060) after they had a fight and that he's sick (he has some sort of a lung disease). A few days later she received a bag with his belongings and a letter from him, that was never finished.
She doesn't want to believe that he's dead.
So when the computer says that there's no available hotels on Magnus (a planet where her and her Archeology class is supposed to do an apprenticeship along with their Professor P - who's kinda female Indiana Jones -> brave and smart and independent) and offers hotels on Thror, she sees that as a sign, and, without telling anyone, book it.
That's the start of one huge adventure where their little group gets stuck on Thror without possibility to return to Earth in the next 30 days or so.
They meet Furry Giants, residents of the Planet Thror, who's funny, annoyingly stubborn and determined not to let them investigate disappearings or history of their planet.
The beginning is a bit slow but the ending was so fast paced that I often found myself re reading previous sentences only to understand what just happened.
Hence the 4 stars.
But, overall, it was a great story and I would recommend it to anyone who loves history/archeology/adventure!
February 14, 2017
I loved this book! I would recommend it to anyone who likes adventurous stories. I enjoyed it's plot twists. It's very unique and isn't like anything I've read in the past! I would totally recommend purchasing this book! I was happy with the details as well.
February 14, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this book in. readalong that was arranged by stefanos and blaze publishing.!
Archaelogy in outer space.! Amazing concept.! I throughly enjoyed this book and the whole plot was beautifully written and the way suspence was freaking amazing.
Professor p and Carter is my fav character i loved their bonding and ofcourse throrians were funny.!
I don't want to spoil anything so inshort do read this book if you are fond of reading sci-fi historical..!
Archaelogy in outer space.! Amazing concept.! I throughly enjoyed this book and the whole plot was beautifully written and the way suspence was freaking amazing.
Professor p and Carter is my fav character i loved their bonding and ofcourse throrians were funny.!
I don't want to spoil anything so inshort do read this book if you are fond of reading sci-fi historical..!
March 30, 2017
First things first. I love Professor P, and I think we should all aspire to be more like her. She’s caustic, unsentimental and deeply passionate about her work, first and foremost.
“What does this story teach us?”
“Make sure you have someone who wants you?” Allison said tremulously.
“Goodness, no!” Snorted Professor P. “Become a professional and learn to take care of yourself.”
Carter’s relationship with the largely absent Conrad is an interesting one, and it speaks to some very carefully thought-out character work. She ocillates between competing with him for the find of the century (technically, of two centuries), hating him for his cryptic clues and mysterious methods, and being desperately afraid for his wellbeing. I like the fact that they’re friends, with very little indication of any romantic interest, but I think Conrad’s actions do call for perhaps further examination than Carter has the time to give them. I’d like to see a sequel to work out whether their relationship could hold up if they actually spent more than five seconds in the same room.
I loved the incredible detail that Katherine builds into this world of a desolate alien planet. There are cultures upon cultures here, and each one is meticulously built, so it really does feel like Carter, her class of archeology students and their indomitable tutor are genuinely uncovering secrets that have been hidden under the rock and sand for decades. On the other hand, I’m not happy with the idea that the Furry Giant’s harassment of the Human women is explained away as being part of their ‘disguise’ – let alone that the planet’s indigenous women are trapped in an underground well by an accident of biology which makes them less. It speaks to some colonialist stereotypes about indigenous populations that ought to be examined more in order to be justified in the text. The gender aspect is examined, but because of the way the species involved is built, it’s difficult to challenge the existing gender roles in any meaningful way.
Some of the plot developments did seem to rely a little too heavily on Conrad being in the most effective and convenient place at any given time. I’d like to see him make a mistake and it have real consequences, particularly when he requires that Carter – and therefore, everyone else – relies on him with absolute faith, and without all the information. I think the male characters generally could benefit from a lot more attention paid to their actions.
I know, from reading this, that you might be confused that I’m rating it four stars. The simple truth is that I loved the concept, the science, the history, and the speed of a complex plot. I think it was let down by its lack of diversity and by the behaviour of its male characters, but there is a lot to love here. Carter’s stone-cold ambitious streak was something I enjoyed every time it appeared, and it was such a wonderful journey to share with a group of girls who all grow and mature as the book progresses. I have a special soft spot in my heart for Bryanne, shy and awkward Brit, who learns to stand on her own two feet when she’s beyond the influence of her parents’ coddling.
Representation:
I am absolutely headcanoning Professor P as are/ace, and no-one can take that away from me – though obviously, I’d love for that to be specified in the text. Her hair is frequently referred to as “curly” and “frizzy”, and she has dark eyes – I couldn’t find a reference to her skin colour but I don’t think interpreting her as a woman of colour would challenge the text.
I find it difficult to believe that out of this large cast, none of them are queer – or explicitly non-white. Obviously, I’ve got my own theories going on, but there’s nothing on the page.
There’s a bad reference to bipolar disorder, when it’s used to indicate that a character’s mood is changing frequently: “her capacity for emotional reversal sometimes bordered on the bi-polar.” Not cool, and I’d like to think that this could change in future editions. You can describe mood changes being dizzyingly fast without minimising the impact of actual mental health conditions – I just did it.
This review was originally posted on my blog here: https://rustlingreads.wordpress.com/2...
“What does this story teach us?”
“Make sure you have someone who wants you?” Allison said tremulously.
“Goodness, no!” Snorted Professor P. “Become a professional and learn to take care of yourself.”
Carter’s relationship with the largely absent Conrad is an interesting one, and it speaks to some very carefully thought-out character work. She ocillates between competing with him for the find of the century (technically, of two centuries), hating him for his cryptic clues and mysterious methods, and being desperately afraid for his wellbeing. I like the fact that they’re friends, with very little indication of any romantic interest, but I think Conrad’s actions do call for perhaps further examination than Carter has the time to give them. I’d like to see a sequel to work out whether their relationship could hold up if they actually spent more than five seconds in the same room.
I loved the incredible detail that Katherine builds into this world of a desolate alien planet. There are cultures upon cultures here, and each one is meticulously built, so it really does feel like Carter, her class of archeology students and their indomitable tutor are genuinely uncovering secrets that have been hidden under the rock and sand for decades. On the other hand, I’m not happy with the idea that the Furry Giant’s harassment of the Human women is explained away as being part of their ‘disguise’ – let alone that the planet’s indigenous women are trapped in an underground well by an accident of biology which makes them less. It speaks to some colonialist stereotypes about indigenous populations that ought to be examined more in order to be justified in the text. The gender aspect is examined, but because of the way the species involved is built, it’s difficult to challenge the existing gender roles in any meaningful way.
Some of the plot developments did seem to rely a little too heavily on Conrad being in the most effective and convenient place at any given time. I’d like to see him make a mistake and it have real consequences, particularly when he requires that Carter – and therefore, everyone else – relies on him with absolute faith, and without all the information. I think the male characters generally could benefit from a lot more attention paid to their actions.
I know, from reading this, that you might be confused that I’m rating it four stars. The simple truth is that I loved the concept, the science, the history, and the speed of a complex plot. I think it was let down by its lack of diversity and by the behaviour of its male characters, but there is a lot to love here. Carter’s stone-cold ambitious streak was something I enjoyed every time it appeared, and it was such a wonderful journey to share with a group of girls who all grow and mature as the book progresses. I have a special soft spot in my heart for Bryanne, shy and awkward Brit, who learns to stand on her own two feet when she’s beyond the influence of her parents’ coddling.
Representation:
I am absolutely headcanoning Professor P as are/ace, and no-one can take that away from me – though obviously, I’d love for that to be specified in the text. Her hair is frequently referred to as “curly” and “frizzy”, and she has dark eyes – I couldn’t find a reference to her skin colour but I don’t think interpreting her as a woman of colour would challenge the text.
I find it difficult to believe that out of this large cast, none of them are queer – or explicitly non-white. Obviously, I’ve got my own theories going on, but there’s nothing on the page.
There’s a bad reference to bipolar disorder, when it’s used to indicate that a character’s mood is changing frequently: “her capacity for emotional reversal sometimes bordered on the bi-polar.” Not cool, and I’d like to think that this could change in future editions. You can describe mood changes being dizzyingly fast without minimising the impact of actual mental health conditions – I just did it.
This review was originally posted on my blog here: https://rustlingreads.wordpress.com/2...
March 28, 2017
"She dreamed of faces concealed by long-nosed masks, of voices murmuring like water, and place figures swaying among bubbles of fragrance. Then her throat was filled with ash, and she could smell nothing but smoke."
Plot: Carter, named after the famous Howard Carter, is in a mission: find her best friend Conrad who went missing in Thor, a planet where technology doesn't work and where a great civilization was lost after several volcanic eruptions. In order to reach Thror, Conrad lies to her Archaeology classmates and professor, who delegated her the task of booking the trip to their apprenticeship in Magnus. However, Thror is not what meets the eye. The planet is a mysterious wasteland with secrets hidden at every turn and Furry Giants who created a touristic empire, but have no record of Conrad's existence - even though they were the ones who informed Carter about his disappearance.
I won't lie. It is clear to see that this is Katherine Blakeney's debut novel (it was something that could also be seen it in Leigh Bardugo's first novel and look where she is now). The writing is flawless, but I had a few issues with the structure. Some scenes don't seem to be in harmony with the rest of the story and, during my reading, I felt that sometimes there would be a jump, I mean, it was if some scenes were left in the middle or were cut (bear in mind that I read an ARC; most novels are edited even after ARCs are distributed). Although the main character is sixteen, the story in Digging in the Stars seems more turned to middle-graders than young adults.
Characters: If I had to choose a favourite character, it would be Professor P. I enjoyed her sarcasm and how she dealt with the over-friendly Furry Giants (at the beginning, the ways these creatures flirted with the Earthly women was funny, but after a few pages of flirtation it felt a bit annoying). Through the story, I felt over the fence with Carter because of her behaviour. Conrad, her best friend -and potential love interest- was missing and probably dead, yet, one moment she was worried about him, the next moment she thought Conrad wanted to steal her destiny (superiority complex, much?) and in the next one all she wanted was to find King Loreval's tomb and Conrad was all forgotten. Nonetheless, Carter is a brave girl who fights to reach her goals.
Then, there is the rest of the archaeology class, which I found kinda of flat. There were a few times I did mistake Allison for Bryanne (or maybe it was the other way around). Their personality is very similar. However, Lizzie showed personality with her snarky observations. For most of the novel, Gioconda was not around, which is disappointing because of her hippy persona was more interesting than Allison/Bryanne personality.
Worldbuiling: The worldbuiling is the strongest suit of Digging in the Stars. There is so much to be learned and discovered in Thror's wasteland. The planet is crafted down to the tiniest detail, from its history to its mythology, which is slowly unraveled by the Golden Vial League; from the Furry inhabitants and their souvenir markets to their lost ancestors. An entire planet was brilliantly created from the scratch. Extraterrestrial archaeology was something I never saw developed in any other book and I found the idea intriguing and unique. I ended up loving all the archaeology and references and little bits.
Plot: Carter, named after the famous Howard Carter, is in a mission: find her best friend Conrad who went missing in Thor, a planet where technology doesn't work and where a great civilization was lost after several volcanic eruptions. In order to reach Thror, Conrad lies to her Archaeology classmates and professor, who delegated her the task of booking the trip to their apprenticeship in Magnus. However, Thror is not what meets the eye. The planet is a mysterious wasteland with secrets hidden at every turn and Furry Giants who created a touristic empire, but have no record of Conrad's existence - even though they were the ones who informed Carter about his disappearance.
I won't lie. It is clear to see that this is Katherine Blakeney's debut novel (it was something that could also be seen it in Leigh Bardugo's first novel and look where she is now). The writing is flawless, but I had a few issues with the structure. Some scenes don't seem to be in harmony with the rest of the story and, during my reading, I felt that sometimes there would be a jump, I mean, it was if some scenes were left in the middle or were cut (bear in mind that I read an ARC; most novels are edited even after ARCs are distributed). Although the main character is sixteen, the story in Digging in the Stars seems more turned to middle-graders than young adults.
Characters: If I had to choose a favourite character, it would be Professor P. I enjoyed her sarcasm and how she dealt with the over-friendly Furry Giants (at the beginning, the ways these creatures flirted with the Earthly women was funny, but after a few pages of flirtation it felt a bit annoying). Through the story, I felt over the fence with Carter because of her behaviour. Conrad, her best friend -and potential love interest- was missing and probably dead, yet, one moment she was worried about him, the next moment she thought Conrad wanted to steal her destiny (superiority complex, much?) and in the next one all she wanted was to find King Loreval's tomb and Conrad was all forgotten. Nonetheless, Carter is a brave girl who fights to reach her goals.
Then, there is the rest of the archaeology class, which I found kinda of flat. There were a few times I did mistake Allison for Bryanne (or maybe it was the other way around). Their personality is very similar. However, Lizzie showed personality with her snarky observations. For most of the novel, Gioconda was not around, which is disappointing because of her hippy persona was more interesting than Allison/Bryanne personality.
Worldbuiling: The worldbuiling is the strongest suit of Digging in the Stars. There is so much to be learned and discovered in Thror's wasteland. The planet is crafted down to the tiniest detail, from its history to its mythology, which is slowly unraveled by the Golden Vial League; from the Furry inhabitants and their souvenir markets to their lost ancestors. An entire planet was brilliantly created from the scratch. Extraterrestrial archaeology was something I never saw developed in any other book and I found the idea intriguing and unique. I ended up loving all the archaeology and references and little bits.
June 3, 2017
**Thanks to BlazePublishing and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC! All opinions expressed are my own.**
Where to begin? This is the story of Carter, a girl who loves archaeology and the history of her namesake, Howard Carter. She and her Archaeology of Outer Space class are leaving for an excavation apprenticeship on the planet Magnus, and as the professor's teaching assistant, Carter is tasked with buying the tickets.
Well, she's preoccupied with her worries for he best friend Conrad, who vanished to the planet Thror a few weeks earlier, and this accidentally books their flight to... not Magnus, but Thror.
Once they reach Thror, nothing is as it seems, and Carter and her group will have to dig (no pun intended) deeper than ever to find the answers.
LIKES
-Professor P. She was just kind of great. She reminded me of Professor McGonagall. She had so much personality, and... yeah.
-The actual mystery parts were really well done. When you have no idea what's happening and the characters are confused also? Love it.
-The Archaeology of Outer Space group is a group of five girls, with a female professor. Quite frankly, I loved that. The dynamic was perfect and they all acted like oblivious teen girls.
-The descriptions of the food were hilarious. I cried when they could never find anything to eat. Because it all sounded SO INCREDIBLY Nasty.
-The last ten percent or so (on my Kindle) was amazing. I raced through it.
DISLIKES
-Carter. I don't know; she just wasn't my favorite protagonist.
-The beginning was a little improbable. No one thought to even check their flights before they boarded? They didn't get told, "Enjoy your flight to Thror" or see a sign that said that or anything like that? I don't know. It was weird.
-The first half of the book was kind of slow. But that's just me. If you're looking for lots of heavy action, this is not the book for you.
-There were a couple of creepy parts I didn't appreciate.
CONTENT
Two cuss words near the end.
Running jokes throughout the book involving non-English speakers trying to be nice and coming out flirty and/or suggestive.
No drugs, etc, as far as I know. A character uses a breathing machine.
VERDICT:
This was a slow book and not my favorite, but that is my personal opinion: and the next person to read this book might really like it. Nice debut, and I appreciated the lack of offensive content.
Also: I loved Professor P so much. She was at times almost like a grownup version if Ms. Frizzle from Magic School Bus.
Where to begin? This is the story of Carter, a girl who loves archaeology and the history of her namesake, Howard Carter. She and her Archaeology of Outer Space class are leaving for an excavation apprenticeship on the planet Magnus, and as the professor's teaching assistant, Carter is tasked with buying the tickets.
Well, she's preoccupied with her worries for he best friend Conrad, who vanished to the planet Thror a few weeks earlier, and this accidentally books their flight to... not Magnus, but Thror.
Once they reach Thror, nothing is as it seems, and Carter and her group will have to dig (no pun intended) deeper than ever to find the answers.
LIKES
-Professor P. She was just kind of great. She reminded me of Professor McGonagall. She had so much personality, and... yeah.
-The actual mystery parts were really well done. When you have no idea what's happening and the characters are confused also? Love it.
-The Archaeology of Outer Space group is a group of five girls, with a female professor. Quite frankly, I loved that. The dynamic was perfect and they all acted like oblivious teen girls.
-The descriptions of the food were hilarious. I cried when they could never find anything to eat. Because it all sounded SO INCREDIBLY Nasty.
-The last ten percent or so (on my Kindle) was amazing. I raced through it.
DISLIKES
-Carter. I don't know; she just wasn't my favorite protagonist.
-The beginning was a little improbable. No one thought to even check their flights before they boarded? They didn't get told, "Enjoy your flight to Thror" or see a sign that said that or anything like that? I don't know. It was weird.
-The first half of the book was kind of slow. But that's just me. If you're looking for lots of heavy action, this is not the book for you.
-There were a couple of creepy parts I didn't appreciate.
CONTENT
Two cuss words near the end.
Running jokes throughout the book involving non-English speakers trying to be nice and coming out flirty and/or suggestive.
No drugs, etc, as far as I know. A character uses a breathing machine.
VERDICT:
This was a slow book and not my favorite, but that is my personal opinion: and the next person to read this book might really like it. Nice debut, and I appreciated the lack of offensive content.
Also: I loved Professor P so much. She was at times almost like a grownup version if Ms. Frizzle from Magic School Bus.
February 17, 2017
There's Something About This Book
It's a teen drama, girl's own, sci-fi, "King Solomon's Mines", alien world quest adventure. The characters are stock, except when they aren't, and the plot is incoherent, except when it makes sense. It is loaded with loose ends and implausibilities piled on top of coincidences, but it is so ambitious and imaginative, and it is driven by such a helter-skelter narrative, that I stormed through it despite myself.
Here's a brief plot synopsis. Moody, damaged heartthrob Conrad heads to the planet Thror and disappears. He sends some clues about his fate to Carter. She books her archeology class field trip to Thror without telling her prof or the other students, and so they get on a spaceship to Magnus and find themselves actually transported to Thror. Really? Since they're all stuck there they all decide to try to find Conrad, because hey, why not. Thror was once home to an advanced, artistic and glamorously exotic civilization that was totally wiped out by massive, cataclysmic volcanic eruptions and earthquakes that basically Pompeiified the entire planet. Or did it? Is there cool hidden stuff out there? Are the few surviving Throrians hiding it? Did Conrad find it? Will we? The only way to find out is to hike out into the baking, ash covered, volcanic wasteland of Thror and have a bit of a look around.
This shouldn't work. Our crew is Carter, (a sometimes lion-hearted and sometimes timid heroine), Professor P, (alternately furious at everything and then calmly understanding), and a sarcastic famous girl, a homesick namby-pamby, an earth child nutty granola girl, and a phone dependent gum chewer. The local Throrians are seven-foot-tall furry gorilla/lizards who spend most of their time hitting on attractive Earth woman. (How would that work?) And Conrad is Lord Byron by way of Heathcliff. Stop it; you're killing me here.
I think the thing is that when the book gets cooking it's really very good. This book is set in the year 2222, and our Carter wants to be like the Howard Carter who found Tut's tomb in 1922. When she thinks about his discovery, and reads about the way Thror used to be, and imagines what there is that might be found in Thror now, well, the book just takes off. The writing is beautiful and evocative and romantic in a great adventure sort of way. That part is so good, and there's enough of it, that I was willing to skip over the bumpy parts, the stilted dialogue, and the crazy quilt plotting. (In all of that, by the way, the book is identical to "King Solomon's Mines", and that's a classic.)
So, for an older Middle Grade or younger YA reader with a taste for romantic high-energy alien world adventure and mystery quests, my bottom line is that this could be a very happy find.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
It's a teen drama, girl's own, sci-fi, "King Solomon's Mines", alien world quest adventure. The characters are stock, except when they aren't, and the plot is incoherent, except when it makes sense. It is loaded with loose ends and implausibilities piled on top of coincidences, but it is so ambitious and imaginative, and it is driven by such a helter-skelter narrative, that I stormed through it despite myself.
Here's a brief plot synopsis. Moody, damaged heartthrob Conrad heads to the planet Thror and disappears. He sends some clues about his fate to Carter. She books her archeology class field trip to Thror without telling her prof or the other students, and so they get on a spaceship to Magnus and find themselves actually transported to Thror. Really? Since they're all stuck there they all decide to try to find Conrad, because hey, why not. Thror was once home to an advanced, artistic and glamorously exotic civilization that was totally wiped out by massive, cataclysmic volcanic eruptions and earthquakes that basically Pompeiified the entire planet. Or did it? Is there cool hidden stuff out there? Are the few surviving Throrians hiding it? Did Conrad find it? Will we? The only way to find out is to hike out into the baking, ash covered, volcanic wasteland of Thror and have a bit of a look around.
This shouldn't work. Our crew is Carter, (a sometimes lion-hearted and sometimes timid heroine), Professor P, (alternately furious at everything and then calmly understanding), and a sarcastic famous girl, a homesick namby-pamby, an earth child nutty granola girl, and a phone dependent gum chewer. The local Throrians are seven-foot-tall furry gorilla/lizards who spend most of their time hitting on attractive Earth woman. (How would that work?) And Conrad is Lord Byron by way of Heathcliff. Stop it; you're killing me here.
I think the thing is that when the book gets cooking it's really very good. This book is set in the year 2222, and our Carter wants to be like the Howard Carter who found Tut's tomb in 1922. When she thinks about his discovery, and reads about the way Thror used to be, and imagines what there is that might be found in Thror now, well, the book just takes off. The writing is beautiful and evocative and romantic in a great adventure sort of way. That part is so good, and there's enough of it, that I was willing to skip over the bumpy parts, the stilted dialogue, and the crazy quilt plotting. (In all of that, by the way, the book is identical to "King Solomon's Mines", and that's a classic.)
So, for an older Middle Grade or younger YA reader with a taste for romantic high-energy alien world adventure and mystery quests, my bottom line is that this could be a very happy find.
(Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)
July 12, 2017
Funny, fresh, exciting, and imaginative. I loved the Furry Giants, the vivid landscape, and how the author's passions for film and archaeology shone through the novel. A fun read!
March 11, 2017
I received this book for free, in exchange of being a Blaze Publishing Rep.
This book was very creative, and insanely unique. I believe that fans of Sci-Fi and Fantasy are going to love and devour this book. Typically, it's not my style of a read, but I did find it very interesting.
The world building was very cool, and descriptive in a way, that it was easy to imagine THROR in my mind, without being totally over done.
I also loved the interaction between the characters, it's nice to read books without insta love, insta friendship, and insta hate. It was fun to watch them struggle with trust, and seeing how the Earthians interact with the Throrvoians. This book, was very interesting, to put it mildly.
This book was very creative, and insanely unique. I believe that fans of Sci-Fi and Fantasy are going to love and devour this book. Typically, it's not my style of a read, but I did find it very interesting.
The world building was very cool, and descriptive in a way, that it was easy to imagine THROR in my mind, without being totally over done.
I also loved the interaction between the characters, it's nice to read books without insta love, insta friendship, and insta hate. It was fun to watch them struggle with trust, and seeing how the Earthians interact with the Throrvoians. This book, was very interesting, to put it mildly.
February 18, 2017
I like the main concept of the story and the plot twist, it was quite surprising and didn't expect it, I liked the characters development and I love the cover.
However I didn't quite like the writing style, not my favorite, nothing wrong with it but its just not for me.
I found that events and stuff happened quickly, it was hard to catch and keep on with everything happening.
Also the way the Thororians talk annoyed me, in the other hand I am sure you will like the earthiness characters, they are quite funny and smart, as like Carter is adventurous, professor P was hmm nosey but funny & smart, each character had their own personality.
What I want to say it wasn't my cup of tea, am sure there are many who will like it, I found it hard to connect or like Space related stories, I am a picky reader and thats all.
**Ps: I was offered an ARC ebook copy, and joined a read along with @StefanosCharalampous , it was my first read along and first arc copy ever. I wasn't given anything or forced to say anything, I was only expected to give an honest review in exchange for the e-copy.
However I didn't quite like the writing style, not my favorite, nothing wrong with it but its just not for me.
I found that events and stuff happened quickly, it was hard to catch and keep on with everything happening.
Also the way the Thororians talk annoyed me, in the other hand I am sure you will like the earthiness characters, they are quite funny and smart, as like Carter is adventurous, professor P was hmm nosey but funny & smart, each character had their own personality.
What I want to say it wasn't my cup of tea, am sure there are many who will like it, I found it hard to connect or like Space related stories, I am a picky reader and thats all.
**Ps: I was offered an ARC ebook copy, and joined a read along with @StefanosCharalampous , it was my first read along and first arc copy ever. I wasn't given anything or forced to say anything, I was only expected to give an honest review in exchange for the e-copy.
February 18, 2017
I was surprised by how much I liked this book it has a great plot with lots of action, aliens and mysteries to keep you guessing until the very end of the book, so much so that I will had a hard time putting it down once I started. I wasn’t completely sure of my expectations going into this book since the blurb reminded me a lot of Janet Edwards "Earth Girl" series (and one of my favorites) but it is has plenty of original twist and turns that that make it a wonderful book. This review was originally posted on Books In Brogan
February 12, 2017
I participated in a readalong hosted by @stefansbooks on instagram and got provided with an e-copy of the book from the pulisher.
Although I had a really hard time getting into the book, I liked the concept.
The plot takes the reader to the future, where spacetravel is nothing new. What starts as a rescue mission quickly turns into a exciting space- archeology adventure for the characters.
I had pretty high expectations for this book, and sadly the story didn't live up to them. While I liked some of the characters (earthians mostly), I just didn't really get into the others. Habits on this other planet seemed a little silly and childish to me, not only because of the coarse language and behavior of the inhabitants.
Reading this book, I had a feeling that for a long time nothing really exciting happened and in the end it was all at once, so for me it was a bit hard to keep up.
The story, the writing and the general concept were not bad at all, but it just failed to capture me as an individual. I realized pretty fast that I'm not really into this space-theme and it was hard for me to stay unbiased through the rest of the book.
My overall review is: The book was ok. Not bad, but also not one of the best reads I've had. It just didn't cast a spell over me, but I still recommend you to read it and form your own opinion about it.
Although I had a really hard time getting into the book, I liked the concept.
The plot takes the reader to the future, where spacetravel is nothing new. What starts as a rescue mission quickly turns into a exciting space- archeology adventure for the characters.
I had pretty high expectations for this book, and sadly the story didn't live up to them. While I liked some of the characters (earthians mostly), I just didn't really get into the others. Habits on this other planet seemed a little silly and childish to me, not only because of the coarse language and behavior of the inhabitants.
Reading this book, I had a feeling that for a long time nothing really exciting happened and in the end it was all at once, so for me it was a bit hard to keep up.
The story, the writing and the general concept were not bad at all, but it just failed to capture me as an individual. I realized pretty fast that I'm not really into this space-theme and it was hard for me to stay unbiased through the rest of the book.
My overall review is: The book was ok. Not bad, but also not one of the best reads I've had. It just didn't cast a spell over me, but I still recommend you to read it and form your own opinion about it.
February 25, 2017
I absolutely loved this book! It has such a unique concept and it just pulls you in. Definetly recommend it.
December 12, 2017
“Digging in the Stars” eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Katherine Blakeney (https://katherineblakeneyauthor.wordp...). This is Ms. Blakeney’s first publication.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set is the far future. The primary character is 16 year old Carter Vanadian.
Vanadian, five of her fellow Archeology of Outer Space students and their professor are about to set off on a month long apprenticeship trip. Vanadian’s close friend, Conrad, has recently gone missing while on the planet Thror. Vanadian manipulates the travel reservations so that her group goes to Thror as well.
The planet is a chaotic place with the resident “Furry Giants” hosting visitors in spa hotels with much flirting with the female guests. As Vanadian begins to dig into the disappearance of Conrad, she inadvertently drags the rest of her small group into the mystery. She also finds that there is the real possibility that she may be on the trail of a truly significant archaeological discovery. This knowledge and the efforts to discover what has happened to Conrad do not go without risk to her and the others.
I thought that this was an interesting 10 hour read of a 344 page Young Adult Science Fiction Mystery Thriller. Beyond the fact that Vanadian and her companions travelled to a remote planet in just a day or two, this was a pretty hard to accept story. The basic concept was OK, but to me, the novel was contrived and weak. The cover art is OK, but could have been better. I give this novel a 3.4 (rounded down to a 3) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
I received an ARC of this novel through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set is the far future. The primary character is 16 year old Carter Vanadian.
Vanadian, five of her fellow Archeology of Outer Space students and their professor are about to set off on a month long apprenticeship trip. Vanadian’s close friend, Conrad, has recently gone missing while on the planet Thror. Vanadian manipulates the travel reservations so that her group goes to Thror as well.
The planet is a chaotic place with the resident “Furry Giants” hosting visitors in spa hotels with much flirting with the female guests. As Vanadian begins to dig into the disappearance of Conrad, she inadvertently drags the rest of her small group into the mystery. She also finds that there is the real possibility that she may be on the trail of a truly significant archaeological discovery. This knowledge and the efforts to discover what has happened to Conrad do not go without risk to her and the others.
I thought that this was an interesting 10 hour read of a 344 page Young Adult Science Fiction Mystery Thriller. Beyond the fact that Vanadian and her companions travelled to a remote planet in just a day or two, this was a pretty hard to accept story. The basic concept was OK, but to me, the novel was contrived and weak. The cover art is OK, but could have been better. I give this novel a 3.4 (rounded down to a 3) out of 5.
Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.
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