It's always been pretty hard for me to do a fair review on a series. I mean, for one thing, the first book in a series usually serves to set up the story line -- giving back story, introducing the characters, and really just getting the scene ready for the reader. Often times, when I read the first book in a series, I'm hesitant to give starred reviews. Did this scene or that character really make no sense because this is the way it was intended to be written -- or, rather, am I going to learn something in book two that really clarifies things and develops the plot and story enough to make book one make more sense? For another thing, once you get to book two it's hard to truly avoid spoilers. Like, can I really tell you what happens in book two if I'm not positive you actually finished book one -- without ruining it for you? Although, why are you reading a review of book two if you haven't read book one, I wonder? 
 The ACROSS THE UNIVERSE trilogy by Beth Revis has been a bit different for me, though. In book one (ACROSS THE UNIVERSE), I found myself captivated by a setting and a group of characters that fully stood on their own without a sequel, but I was engaged enough to WANT to keep reading -- not so much to clarify the first story but to expand on it and learn what happens next in this fantastical little world I came to love so much last year. Now, I'm not sure how much I can say about the plot, without spoiling either ACROSS THE UNIVERSE or A MILLION SUNS, but I'll do my best. Again, though, I'm assuming that if you're still reading by now that you probably HAVE actually read ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. I'll try to be careful, but no promises. 
 So, in the last book we met Amy and her parents, who were part of a group that were cryogenically frozen aboard spaceship Godspeed, which was on a long trek to a new planet. Upon arrival, Amy (along with her parents and the other "essential" folks on the ship) would be unfrozen and free to cultivate a new generation of life upon a planet that would *hopefully* be as habitable and hospitable as expected. 
 However, things went vastly wrong when Amy found herself unfrozen, presumably many decades before landing on the new planet. As she stumbled along the foreign land of spaceship Godspeed, she found a complacent group of people ruled by a seemingly vicious dictator named Elder. She also met Elder, a curious teenager next in line to rule Godspeed -- although it seemed that there were many secrets and mysteries left for him to uncover aboard a ship that had been ruled so long through force and lies. 
 By book two, everything has changed and Elder is now in charge. After learning that the residents of Godspeed had been previously manipulated through mind-altering drugs force-fed through the water supply, Elder took it upon himself to create a leadership based on individuality and free will. Yet, he soon finds himself in a merciless world of revolt and mutiny. There are even *more* secrets and lies left aboard Godspeed, so Amy and Elder are thrown on a whirlwind scavenger hunt to uncover the truth. And once they do, it may be more than the residents of Godspeed can handle -- especially when it becomes unclear which ones are actually the good guys here. 
 All in all, I really think the ACROSS THE UNIVERSE trilogy is *hands down* the best YA series/trilogy I've read in a very long time. Revis has an uncanny talent for keeping the reader on her toes, creating twist after turn that left me guessing and flipping ahead pages for more. I'll admit, it took me a while to get into this book -- but once I did, I literally couldn't put it down. And the cliff hanger? Wow. You mean -- I have to wait until JANUARY 2013 to find out what happens next?! MADNESS! 
 Five stars, all the way. If you haven't started this series yet, I think it's time for you to get going! Although, you may save yourself the heartache and wait until January 2013 to get started -- believe me, it's going to be PAINFUL waiting another year to find out what happens to my Godspeed friends!!!