From Earth to Terra: A New Beginning by Beverly Jenness launches you into an alien future. “The meaning of life is not to live forever, but to create something that will.” Earth will not survive much longer; therefore mankind must flee and begin again. Through a secret society know as The Guild, plans are made to escape Earth before it self-destructs. Amanda and her brother, Paul, have been preparing for a life on a new planet for years. The Guild secretly commandeers two spacecrafts to ensure the future of humanity. Yet, there is no guarantee. It is a one-way ticket into the unknown. The wealthy find their way on board, paying for their passage, not earning it. Ill-prepared for a new life, the elite don’t want to rock the boat or, in this case, the spaceship, much less lift a hand to create a new world. They revert to what they know best - manipulation, power, and greed. Soon after their arrival on Terra, Amanda and Paul realize they will have to fight for their new way of life. On an untamed planet, facing monstrous wildlife and mysterious vegetation, their greatest enemy is within; the evil of Earth has followed them.

Beverly Jenness is a gifted storyteller. Her science fiction novel, From Earth to Terra: A New Beginning, is beyond doubt out of this world. The author pens a great narrative hook, and you are immediately drawn into the story. The use of intrigue coupled with suspicion is captivating. With each revelation, you feel there is something just below the surface, ready to be exposed. The narrative is futuristic, portrays advanced science, but is not overtly technical, thus making it an enjoyable read. From Earth to Terra: A New Beginning is an animated view of the timeless adage – people change, but not much. When the world falls apart, change is inevitable. Right? However, change scares the small-minded. Those who refuse to adapt, overcome, and persevere depend on others to care for them, enslaving them to their desires. They prefer life to remain the same, expecting the world (regardless of what planet they inhabit) to revolve around them.

The things that caused the collapse of Earth’s civilization begin to rise up on Terra. Society is divided into those who deem themselves entitled, and those who serve their entitlement. The cast of characters reflects this truth in both thought and action, proving Einstein’s words: “The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” The protagonist is conflicted from within and without. She faces the fear of the unknown with courage and youthful exuberance, while battling the same enemy mankind has always known - selfishness. The narrative’s societal differences create a human divide, resulting in a climactic exodus. As the rising action falls, the narrative concludes with an uncertain yet hopeful future. But one thing is certain: the battle is not over, it is just beginning.

From Earth to Terra by Beverly Jenness is an interesting and well written sci fi piece. The fascinating storyline takes place several hundred years in the future - the planet and civilization are on a steep decline and it's only a matter of time before mankind is killed, either by wars or the total demise of Earth. A secret group called The Life Trust Guild has been working for years to save people, animals, knowledge and technology. The plan is to steal two NASA ships and send them to another planet. One day they finally set their plan in motion and soon the colonists find themselves starting anew in a strange planet. Most are determined not to make the same mistakes that resulted in Earth's decline, but now they have to contend with new dangers in the unfamiliar planet as well as conflicts among themselves. Old prejudices and politics surface and rifts begin among the colonists.

I finished this book pretty quickly since it's a fast-paced and easy read. The storyline is fascinating and kept me glued the whole time. I enjoyed reading about all the scientific details which to me seem quite sound and believable enough. The characters are interesting and the world building creative. I liked the description of the strange new planet and its strange flora and fauna. Though it also leaves you with many questions, Beverly Jenness' From Earth to Terra takes you through an exciting journey from beginning to end. Beverly Jenness writes a compelling first instalment in a series that holds promise.

From Earth to Terra: A New Beginning by Beverly Jenness is a powerful sci-fi novel with apocalyptic undertones. The story is set against a future 200 years from now, and the world is barren, dying. People fight to survive, but for how long? It is then that an elite group called the Life Trust Guild undertakes a very important mission to find a solution to the problems that plague the earth. They have discovered a new planet called Terra and are ready to send a selected group of people to settle there. This book narrates in powerful and clear prose, and with poignant images, the outcome of this daring adventure, the manifold struggles and challenges, and the conflicts among the group.

I am not a fan of sci-fi. I have only read some novels by James Rolling like Deep Fathom, and loved it, but From Earth to Terra: A New Beginning was utterly irresistible because it was timely and realistic. One wonders how a writer can create a story taking place 200 years in the future and still sound so convincing. Although this is set against the backdrop of a future decaying earth, it is a very timely warning of where we could be headed if we don’t start taking the right measures to fight climate change and the many ways the earth is being violated.

The author did a great job in creating powerful and convincing characters, a compelling plot, and a story that can’t be ignored. I loved the relevant themes covered in the book, especially politics and science. The author paints a political landscape that reflects the corruption and machinations of most governments in our world. Instead of being a dismal read, this book comes across as a message of hope, an invitation to take steps to change the future by fighting what destroys the earth. Readers will love the language, the science, the tight plot, the characters, and most will certainly find themselves in some corner of the world painted by Beverly Jenness.

The world is ending and there’s little that can be done about it, at least little that can be done to save it. But there is another world that will protect the people, well, that’s what they hope. For Mandy and Paul, it’s the only chance for survival and their parents are betting everything on them being able to survive. But it’s not going to be a perfect world when they arrive on Terra. There are things to do and building a colony is not an easy task. From first meeting their partners to building gardens and raising children and animals to grow their population, there’s more to this planet than meets the eye. There’s no telling what will come next, especially with strange creatures and activities showing themselves as time goes on in From Earth to Terra: A New Beginning by Beverly Jenness.

This book was intriguing and I was drawn in right from the start. Mandy is an interesting character and her relationship with Nick seemed to develop really well. She is really realistic, as are the rest of the characters throughout. There’s also plenty going on throughout the book and the whole plot really seems to fit in with what building a colony would be like. I loved the characters and would love to learn more about them as well, from Mandy and Nick to Evette and Thomas, and even Paul and Sierra. From Earth to Terra by Beverly Jenness is a book I will definitely recommend and read again too.