Terra by Gretchen Powell Review & Giveaway

A broken and desolate Earth. A young girl struggling to survive. A lost boy with a powerful secret.

A discovery that will change everything.

In the distant wake of a plague that has decimated the Earth's population, humanity is split in two: The rich and powerful live in skycities that float overhead, while those who remain on the ground have gathered in settlements strewn across a dying planet. Eighteen-year-old Terra Rhodon is a terrestrial--a denizen of the barren groundworld--who makes her living as a scav. Long abandoned by her father, her caregivers gone, Terra supports herself and her younger brother, Mica, by scouring the earth for discarded scraps and metals to recycle for profit. One day, while on a routine scavenging run, she discovers something that shocks her home settlement of Genesis X-16. When the value of her discovery is revealed, Terra's world is turned upside down.

Terra suddenly finds herself asking questions no one will answer. Her search for the truth leads her to Adam--a beguiling skydweller unlike any she has ever met. But Adam has secrets and a quest of his own, and with him by her side, the world Terra thought she knew begins to unravel. Soon her discoveries unearth a terrifying conspiracy that has the potential to shatter everything--a revelation that will test the bonds of loyalty, family, and love.

The first book in debut author Gretchen Powell's anticipated Terrestrials series, Terra catapults you through a story filled with blood-pumping action, intrigue, and surprising twists that will both wrench and warm your heart. As the hidden truths of this world unfold, new dangers that loom on the horizon are sure to leave you waiting breathlessly for the sequel.

Terra is an 18 year old ground dweller, a guardian, a scavenger, a sister, a provider... She is a terrestrial. Born into this dying world, Terra lives on the dissipated earth, each day scavenging through the dry barren conditions outside of Sixteen to support her younger brother Mica. Everything on earth now is scarce, recycled and reused. So when Terra stumbles across a strange contraption that she assumes has fallen from one of the Skycities, and hope that it can be exchanged for enough credits so that the siblings have enough for food and Mica's school supplies. Come collection day, the whispers surrounding her unusual find are deafening, once the people of Sixteen find out that the machine has earned Terra enough to live comfortably off for months.

Something isn't right... Why are the guards and collection officers refusing to answer any of her questions? What was it that she found? Terra returns to the site of her find to look for answers when she stumbles upon raiders. Now running for her life, she stumbles upon a strange world below the contaminated ruins of cities gone by... And into the arms of Adam.

With eyes too blue, Adam must be a sky dweller. He has headed to ground level to conduct research and gather data, but seemingly separated from his group and now lost. He convinces Terra to help him with his research throughout Sixteen, her settlement. Adam sees her world with a strange awe, rather than shy away from the strangers that sky dwellers tend to steer clear of, Adam marvels in their company, he interacts. Adam immerses himself into Terra's world, but she can't fall for him, she simply wont. She knows all too well what happens when sky dwellers fall for groundworldians, her own father was a sky dweller and left her and Mica after her mother died. Adam will only break her heart. 

When her world is in chaos, Terra discovers a secret so devastating, her life before Adam will become a distant memory.

I loved this book! Gretchen Powell created a world so unique to escape to, it was devastating. Terra is the true star of this book, she reminded me of Katniss Everdeen, a strong heroine. She is independent and selfless with the weight of the world on her shoulders. Well written and even funny at times, I loved Terra's hostility and sarcastic remarks. By far the best dystopian based book I've read in a while. Eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Terra

(Terrestrials: Book One)

Written By Gretchen Powell

Published: 12 / 12/ 2012

286 Pages

You can read the first TWO chapters of Terra by clicking HERE

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Gretchen Powell grew up in far-off places. She is 24 years old, half-Chinese, and the owner of two adorable miniature schnauzers. They wear many sweaters. By day, she types and types (and types and types) for personal, professional, and cathartic purposes. By night, she binges on episodes of Doctor Who and sleeps fitfully. Sometime in the mid-afternoon, she writes a blog, called "Honey, I Shrunk the Gretchen!" about food, fitness, and her life. She loves words. And Harry Potter. And especially the words IN Harry Potter.

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