The Final Six (Final Six, 1)

If you suspend reality and all your questions, the book is very enjoyable. But the reality of this timeline feels rushed and not realistic. I.e. If you are planning to send a bunch of 17-19 year olds on a life saving mission. Would you be working to bring them together in teams and do more extensive training? The timeline of the training went from 4 months to 4 weeks to what felt like another shift and it felt like at the point of announcement that there would be more training for the final 6 than the announcement and then launch. So it felt rushed and that the first book could have dug in further. The characters could have been developed more and the antagonist could have used more development to make him more human but also realistic. So the book was ok. I will likely keep reading but it wasn't the OMG this is revolutionary book.

The story was well written and fast paced but there were several glaring plot holes and faulty logic that had me rolling my eyes.I felt that the main characters lacked a distinctive voice. They were hard to distinguish and sometimes had me flipping back to check who's head we were in. Leo = Italian guy almost never uses or even thinks with Italian, if only as indicators that would have been useful. Also little to no character development. No personal growth (I don't count falling in love as growth).Some mild spoilers ahead....The training schedule sounded far more like the hunger games, dramatic trials for eliminating people, than trying to actually prepare them for a mission. As other people mentioned the timetable made no sense. If they are trying to save the whole human race, i.e. humanity's last hope, adequate preparation should trump saving a supply ship.There were no learning sessions described, only throwing them into "test" situations with no preparation. I mean even watching Armageddon would have given you a better background preparing for a mission than obstacle courses (why would you run a short obstacle course in pairs?) and 10,000 feet high bungee jumps (they brought them from around the world only to throw them out of a plane? why risk such a dangerous stunt?)They may sound exciting but how were these tasks supposed to prepare them for anything??Supposed genius girl in a high security facility tells us that she rerouted her tablet through a false address to avoid detection and then goes and writes "bring the secret data to my room" with her name typed in? I groaned aloud at that.Also, their assumptions that they aren't always being watched on security cameras, that if you block a camera outside your room no one will notice or come check what's up (This is NASA!)Definitely expected this to have a sequel so maybe it will get better... The story has a lot of potential

In the not so distant future, climate change devastates planet Earth. Massive Tsunamis destroy countries around the world, millions and millions of people are dead. Not much is left. With high hopes of saving the human race, world governments unite with a plan to finally explore the final frontier by colonizing space. A massive high-tech spaceship is built, Jupiter's moon Europa is the chosen destination. Six of the brightest and fittest teenagers from around the globe will be chosen for this most perilous mission, a desperate shot on saving earth’s inhabitants from total annihilation.Twenty-Four teenagers are selected for their advanced skills and mental abilities. They are brought together to the Johnson Space center near NASA to undergo a month of intense and vigorous astronaut training, mental and physical testing, and to experience simulators that mimic the environment of not only the rocket they will launch in, but of the spaceship they will explore the galaxies in. Teams will work together in mock environments of Jupiter’s harsh icy terrain, most of which will be under the frozen sea. Half way through this strenuous training, twelve competitors will be eliminated, six more a week before the launch. This story gives “survival of the fittest” a whole new meaning.Alexandra Monir’s exhilarating new Young Adult sci-fi novel is a high-octane rollercoaster ride depicting the competition and chance of a life time for six lucky teens to perform at their highest peak. The grand prize being a one way ticket to the stars. The atmosphere of this fast paced page turner is that of the high stress Olympic contestants experience when trying to win a gold medal. These 24 kids undergo incredible duress both physical and mental, some egos run high, sabotage and secret missions of infiltration involve threats of murder and imprisonment to those attempting to oust out the weak. When two kids are shockingly eliminated, horrifying events cause alarm and fear. As things go seriously wrong, some believe they are in danger and risks are run to uncover the truth even under threat of death!Devouring this novel in two sittings, I was absolutely riveted. The author has great talent in developing wonderful characters full of depth, and knows how to keep her readers continually anxious as to just what will happen next! Her writing style is smooth, the story flows well, and is detailed with a great amount of scientific research that is easy to grasp. Readers will be on the edge of their seats reading intense scenes of peer pressure rivalry, cool astrophysics and new technology, as well as exciting thrill-ride space race training exercises that the chosen six must endure. Unputdownable, The Final Six offers up a plate of mystery, romance, action, espionage, and a crumbling dystopian world! It’s sure to be a winner and I will be impatiently waiting for the sequel! Five Stars without blinking!

I really wanted to love this story but it has some significant flaws. It definitely kept me hooked - I read the whole thing the same night I got it in the mail - it has a great premise, engaging characters, and is well written, but it quickly becomes unrealistic (past the point that is forgivable in a scifi novel), rushed, trope-y, and the ending falls extremely flat if there isn't to be a sequel, and maybe even if there is. Overall it was an enjoyable read but it feels like wasted potential for a great story.

The Final Six is the unexpectedly gripping and beautifully original story of a group of teenagers selected from a dying world to compete for a spot in a potentially humanity saving trip to one of Jupiter's moons. The charaters are fantastically fleshed out, and the author moves between them seamlessly, giving each a unique voice.There is enough in here to keep you on the edge, and the ending is a fantastic cliffhanger. I can't wait for the sequel!

Some parts were far too convenient, resolutions were provided without the characters having to do much. Not much character development. The romance seems forced and fake. That said, I enjoyed the adventure, the tension, and the cliffhanger.

I love love love this book because my favourite genre is YA adventure/dystopian/mystery/sci-fi with minimal cheesy romance so this was perfect!

Interesting read