“The past is like a mirror, reflecting what was, but not what will be.”
— Lily reflecting on her past lives and the burden of prophecy.
Archivist's Choice
Earthbound
Aprilynne Pike (2013)
Genre
Fantasy / Science Fiction / Young Adult / Romance
Reading Time
280 min
Key Themes
See below
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A plane crash survivor discovers her visions are a call to save a crumbling world, forcing her to choose between her first love and a mysterious boy destined to be her partner in a cosmic battle.
Synopsis
Tavia Michaels, the only survivor of a plane crash that killed her parents, starts having vivid visions of a boy she's never met. These visions lead her to a shocking truth: her aunt and uncle, who took her in, may have caused the crash, with Tavia as the real target. Guided by the boy in her visions, she flees to Camden, Maine, looking for safety and answers. On the run, Tavia relies on her best friend and long-time crush, Benson, creating a romantic problem as she feels pulled to both boys. She soon learns that she is central to a prophecy to save a crumbling world, and fulfilling her destiny means uniting with the visionary boy, even if it sacrifices her love for Benson. As the Sentinels threaten and the Nexus, a key magical crossroads, becomes critical, Tavia must make a hard choice between her heart and the world's fate.
Reading time
280 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Mysterious, Romantic, Adventurous, Suspenseful
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy YA fantasy romance with a strong female protagonist, a love triangle, and a quest to save the world.
✗ Skip this if...
You dislike love triangles or prefer more gritty, less romantic fantasy.
Plot Summary
The Plane Crash and Lingering Visions
Tavia Michaels is a high school student living with her aunt and uncle, Sarah and Robert, after a plane crash killed her parents two years prior, leaving her the only survivor. Despite the time passed, Tavia often experiences visions of a boy she doesn't know, who appears to her in a dream, urging her to remember something important. These visions are intensely real, often with a feeling of deep connection and urgency. Her best friend, Benson, worries about her strange behavior, thinking it is trauma, but Tavia feels an inexplicable pull towards the boy in her visions, convinced he holds answers to her past and the odd things happening around her.
Uncovering a Hidden Past
While researching her parents' plane crash, Tavia finds a hidden compartment in her parents' old belongings containing strange symbols and a journal. She tells Benson, and together they find clues suggesting her aunt and uncle, Sarah and Robert, were involved in the crash and intended for Tavia to die. They learn that Tavia is a 'Preordained,' a powerful being meant to help stabilize the Earth's balance. This revelation shatters her understanding of her family and her identity, forcing her to face the dangerous truth that her guardians are actually her enemies, part of a group called the 'Sentinels' who want to control or kill her.
Escape to Camden
After overhearing Sarah and Robert confirm their sinister plans, Tavia realizes she is in immediate danger. The boy from her visions, now known as Corin, communicates with her more clearly, telling her to escape to Camden, Maine. With Benson's support, Tavia makes a desperate escape, leaving her normal life. The journey is risky, as she constantly feels hunted. Benson, despite his confusion about Corin and Tavia's new reality, remains loyal, promising to protect her, solidifying his role as her steady companion.
Arrival and New Allies
Upon arriving in Camden, Tavia and Benson find the hidden sanctuary Corin directed them to. There, Tavia finally meets Corin in person, confirming he is the boy from her visions. She also meets other Preordained individuals, including an elder named Elara, who begin to explain her powers and the world's impending collapse. Tavia learns about the 'Nexus,' a critical energy point that she, as a Preordained, is meant to protect and stabilize. The Sentinels, led by figures like her aunt and uncle, seek to exploit or destroy the Nexus, threatening all existence. Benson struggles to understand the supernatural world but remains supportive of Tavia.
Training and Developing Powers
Under Elara's guidance and Corin's instruction, Tavia begins to train, learning to control her abilities, which include manipulating natural elements and sensing the Earth's energies. Her powers are raw and often overwhelming. During this period, Tavia and Corin's connection deepens, becoming a strong emotional bond, fueled by their shared destiny and intense visions. Benson watches this growing closeness with concern and jealousy, feeling increasingly sidelined as Tavia's focus shifts to her new role and her connection with Corin. He tries to understand, but the gap between their worlds widens.
Benson's Struggle and Confession
As Tavia's bond with Corin strengthens, Benson's feelings of insecurity and jealousy grow. He feels Tavia slipping away into a world he can't fully understand or join. During a quiet moment, Benson confesses his long-standing love for Tavia, reminding her of their shared history and the comfort he offers. Tavia is conflicted; she cares for Benson greatly and has always seen a future with him, but her connection with Corin is undeniable and destined. This confession puts pressure on Tavia, forcing her to face the painful choice between her past love and her destined future, leaving her emotionally torn.
The Threat of the Sentinels
The Sentinels, relentless in their pursuit, find the sanctuary in Camden and attack. Tavia, Corin, Benson, and the other Preordained must defend themselves. The battle is fierce, showing Tavia's quickly developing powers as she fights alongside Corin. Sarah and Robert are present, their betrayal now clear and hostile. During the fight, Benson, despite his lack of supernatural abilities, bravely puts himself in danger to protect Tavia, showing his loyalty and love. This confrontation highlights the immediate danger they face and the high stakes of their mission.
The Nexus and the Prophecy
Following the attack, Elara reveals the full prophecy: Tavia, as the Preordained, must unite her power with Corin's at the Nexus to stabilize the Earth and prevent its destruction. This union, however, requires a complete spiritual and emotional bond, meaning Tavia must fully choose Corin, rejecting any other romantic ties. This revelation devastates Tavia, as it forces her to explicitly choose between her love for Benson and her destiny with Corin, knowing her decision will break Benson's heart. The weight of saving the world now rests on a heartbreaking personal sacrifice.
A Heartbreaking Decision
With the world on the brink, Tavia knows she must make the ultimate sacrifice. She confronts Benson, explaining the prophecy and her unavoidable choice. It's a deeply emotional and painful conversation for both. Benson is heartbroken, struggling to accept that their shared past and his steady love are not enough. He feels betrayed and abandoned, even as he understands the seriousness of her mission. Tavia, though equally pained, confirms her decision to unite with Corin, prioritizing the world's fate over her personal desires, acknowledging the immense cost of her destiny.
Uniting at the Nexus
Driven by their shared purpose and deepening bond, Tavia and Corin travel to the Nexus, a sacred and powerful location. They prepare for the ritual, facing its immense energy and danger. As they unite their powers, a powerful surge of energy flows through them, radiating out to stabilize the Earth. The process is intense and demanding, testing their limits. Benson, despite his broken heart, watches from a distance, understanding the magnitude of Tavia's sacrifice and her critical role. The world begins to heal, but the personal cost for Tavia is immense.
The Aftermath and New Beginning
With the Earth stabilized, Tavia and Corin emerge from the Nexus, exhausted but triumphant. The immediate threat is averted, and the world begins its slow recovery. However, Tavia is left with the deep emotional aftermath of her decision. While deeply connected to Corin, the pain of leaving Benson is a heavy burden. The future is uncertain, but Tavia embraces her new identity as a Preordained, ready to face future challenges with Corin by her side. The ending suggests a new beginning for Tavia, one intertwined with her destiny and the ongoing responsibility of protecting the world.
Principal Figures
Tavia Michaels
The Protagonist
Tavia transforms from a grieving, confused teenager into a powerful, self-sacrificing leader who accepts her extraordinary destiny to save the world, even at great personal cost.
Corin
The Love Interest / Supporting Protagonist
Corin transitions from a distant, visionary guide to Tavia's present, physical partner, fully embracing their shared destiny and deepening their emotional bond.
Benson
The Supporting / Love Interest
Benson, initially Tavia's steadfast anchor to normalcy and her romantic interest, evolves into a tragic figure who must accept Tavia's destiny, even if it means losing her.
Sarah Michaels
The Antagonist
Sarah is revealed as a primary antagonist, her initial facade of a loving aunt crumbling to expose her as a dangerous and power-hungry Sentinel.
Robert Michaels
The Antagonist
Robert is exposed as a conspirator alongside Sarah, his role as Tavia's uncle dissolving into that of an enemy agent.
Elara
The Supporting
Elara remains a steadfast source of wisdom and guidance, helping Tavia understand and fulfill her destiny.
Tavia's Parents (Mentioned)
The Mentioned
Their past actions and secrets are gradually revealed, shaping Tavia's understanding of her heritage and destiny.
Themes & Insights
Destiny vs. Free Will
Tavia's main conflict is whether she can choose her own path or if her destiny as the Preordained is set. She struggles with the weight of saving the world, which requires her to make choices that go against her personal desires, especially her feelings for Benson. The prophecy dictates her union with Corin, forcing her to confront the idea that some choices are not truly hers, showing the tension between personal happiness and a greater purpose. This is clear in her heartbreaking decision to choose Corin over Benson, a choice driven by fate rather than pure personal preference.
““Some choices are not choices at all, Tavia. They are simply the way things must be.””
Love and Sacrifice
The novel explores different forms of love and the sacrifices they require. Benson's unwavering love for Tavia leads him to protect her, even at great personal risk and ultimately at the cost of his own happiness. Tavia's love for Benson is real, but her deeper, destined connection with Corin forces her to sacrifice that love for the world's sake. This theme emphasizes that true love, especially in extraordinary situations, often requires deep personal sacrifice, not just from the protagonist but from those who love her. The pain of Tavia's decision exemplifies this theme.
““I would give up everything for you, Tavia. Everything.””
Identity and Belonging
Tavia's journey is about discovering who she truly is. Initially, she identifies as a trauma survivor living with her aunt and uncle. As she uncovers her Preordained heritage, her understanding of herself shatters, and she struggles to reconcile her 'normal' past with her extraordinary present. She seeks to understand where she belongs, both within the human world and the newly discovered supernatural one. Her eventual acceptance of her role as the Preordained shows her embracing a new, powerful, and unique identity.
““I’m not just Tavia anymore. I’m… something else.””
Betrayal and Trust
A key part of the plot involves betrayal. Tavia's aunt and uncle, who were supposed to be her guardians, are revealed to be her enemies, responsible for her parents' death and actively trying to harm her. This deep betrayal forces Tavia to question who she can trust. Conversely, Benson's loyalty and Corin's destined connection represent the profound trust Tavia learns to place in others, which is essential for her survival and the success of her mission. The initial betrayal is the catalyst for Tavia's escape and her search for truth.
““The people you trust the most can sometimes hide the darkest secrets.””
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The Visions
Tavia's recurring, dream-like encounters with Corin that provide guidance and foreshadowing.
The visions serve as a crucial plot device, initially creating mystery and drawing Tavia into her destiny. They are her primary connection to Corin and the Preordained world before she physically meets him. The visions provide fragmented information, emotional resonance, and a sense of urgency, compelling Tavia to seek answers. They also establish the profound, destined connection between Tavia and Corin, making their eventual union feel inevitable and foretold, rather than simply a new romance.
The Prophecy
An ancient foretelling that dictates Tavia and Corin's roles in stabilizing the Earth.
The prophecy is the overarching narrative framework that drives the plot. It establishes the stakes (the world's destruction), defines Tavia and Corin's roles as the Preordained, and dictates the conditions for their success (their union). It creates a sense of destiny and inevitability, particularly regarding Tavia's romantic choices, forcing her to make difficult sacrifices. The prophecy is revealed incrementally, building suspense and Tavia's understanding of her immense responsibility.
The Nexus
A critical energetic hub of the Earth that Tavia and Corin must stabilize.
The Nexus acts as the central objective and the ultimate destination for Tavia and Corin. It is the physical manifestation of the Earth's deteriorating balance and the focal point for their combined power. Its vulnerability creates a ticking clock, adding urgency to their mission. The Nexus also serves as the site of the climax, where the prophecy is fulfilled, and the world's fate is decided, symbolizing the interconnectedness of all life.
The Sentinels
A shadowy organization that hunts the Preordained and seeks to control the world's energy.
The Sentinels function as the primary antagonistic force. They provide external conflict and danger, driving Tavia's flight and creating a constant threat. Their motivations, though initially vague, are revealed to be a desire for power and control over the Earth's natural energies. The personal connection through Tavia's aunt and uncle makes the threat more visceral and adds a layer of betrayal, raising the emotional stakes for Tavia.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“Love isn't about finding the perfect person, it's about seeing an imperfect person perfectly.”
— Lily's thoughts on her complicated relationship with Tristan.
“Some things are worth fighting for, even if you know you might lose.”
— Lily's resolve to protect those she cares about, despite the danger.
“The greatest prison people live in is the fear of what other people think.”
— Tristan offering advice to Lily about her insecurities.
“Every ending is just a new beginning, if you're brave enough to see it.”
— Lily contemplating the cyclical nature of her existence.
“Sometimes the hardest part of a journey is believing you're worthy of the destination.”
— Lily struggling with her self-doubt and the weight of her responsibilities.
“True strength isn't about never falling, it's about getting up every single time you do.”
— Lily pushing through physical and emotional challenges.
“The world is full of magic, you just have to know where to look.”
— Lily discovering the hidden wonders of the fae world.
“You can't outrun your fate, but you can choose how you face it.”
— Lily grappling with the prophecies surrounding her.
“Trust is a fragile thing, easily broken, and incredibly difficult to mend.”
— Lily dealing with betrayals and her struggle to trust others.
“Sometimes the quietest voices hold the most profound truths.”
— Lily learning to listen to her instincts and the wisdom of others.
“Home isn't a place, it's a feeling. It's where you belong.”
— Lily searching for her true place in the world.
“The greatest adventures often begin with a single, unexpected step.”
— Lily's initial encounter with the fae world that changes her life.
“Even in the darkest moments, there is always a flicker of hope, if you only look for it.”
— Lily finding strength and optimism in dire situations.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
Tavia discovers that her aunt and uncle, who became her guardians after the plane crash, might have orchestrated the very crash that killed her parents. More alarmingly, she suspects she was the true intended target of the incident, leading her to question everything she thought she knew about her family and safety.
About the author
Aprilynne Pike is the author of the best-selling 'Wings' trilogy, which includes 'Wings,' 'Illusions,' and 'Earthbound.' Her work is known for its imaginative take on faerie lore and its engaging young adult fantasy narratives. Pike's debut novel, 'Wings,' was a New York Times bestseller, establishing her as a notable voice in contemporary fantasy fiction.
