Carry On--Rainbow Rowell

Title: Carry On
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's, 2015
Pages: 522 p.
Source: Library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: Dec 2015

Rainbow Rowell's Carry On

Simon Snow made his first appearance in Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl as the subject of Cath's fan fiction. Very reminiscent of Harry Potter and the Hogwarts magical universe, this book tells Snow's story as the chosen one destined to defeat the evil Humdrum. Unfortunately Snow is not a very good chosen one. His spells don't work right, he often doesn't know what to do, and he's more focused on his nemesis Baz than the actual Humdrum. He should be having a great final year at his wizard school--Watford School of Magics--but instead he's having problems with his perfect girlfriend, feeling distant from his father-figure school head, and he can't stop thinking about Baz.

Carry On has plenty of magic and monsters and supernatural things, but at it's heart it's a love story between two very unlikely people. Anyone who ever read Harry Potter fanfic (particularly the Harry/Draco plots) will love this book. Carry On was the name of Cath's story in Fangirl, but this book is not written by her (or by the author of the Simon Snow series in that world). This is Rowell's story inspired by her own work. It's not necessary to have read Fangirl to appreciate Carry On. The story itself is entertaining, especially to fantasy fans, but as usual it's Rowell's characters who make us come back for more. Simon is the main character, but Baz is the most complex and interesting and proof that everyone is not always show they seem to be.

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Fangirl--Rainbow Rowell

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 2013
Pages: 445 p
Source: Library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: October 2015

Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl

Rainbow Rowell is quickly becoming one of my "read anything by her" authors. Fangirl tells the story of a college freshman away from home for the first time. Cath is attending the same college as her twin sister, but Wren has decided it would be better for both of them if they don't room together and if they try to make new friends. Cath is not too keen on this idea and just continues doing what she's always done--writing Simon Snow fan fiction and ignoring the real world. Her plan goes awry when the real world keeps interrupting and demanding she pay attention.

I loved this book: Cath's relationship with her roommate; her budding friendship with her roommate's quasi-boyfriend; her writing partnership with a fellow student; her conflicted relationship with her twin sister. Interspersed throughout the book is Cath's fan fiction story Carry On. The book is written much like I imagine Cath's mind is set up-- constantly traveling between the Simon Snow universe and the real world.

Fans of Rowell will not be disappointed.
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Death Cure--James Dashner

Title: The Death Cure
Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte Press, 2011
Pages: 325 p.
Source: Library E-book
Compensation: None
Read: August 2015

This book is the third in the Maze Runner series. While I always strive to avoid spoilers in my reviews, reviewing the second in a series will naturally spoil some of the first book. If you have not read The Maze Runner or The Scorch Trials yet, you may want to skip this review until you have. 

James Dashner's The Death Cure

Thomas has been under the control of WICKED long enough and now that he's survived the Scorch Trials and out in the real world, he's determined to save his friends and put an end to WICKED's manipulative testing. The more Thomas remembers, the less he trusts WICKED.

I read this back in August. I also read the first one back in August. I can remember the first one vividly. I can't remember enough about this one to write a full summary. I know that I felt very unsatisfied with the whole idea that all of these tests were just to map out brain patterns. I started reading The Kill Zone, the prequel to the entire Maze Runner series, but I didn't finish it. My son recently did and said it answers a lot of questions, but I shouldn't have to read another book to understand the trilogy. When I first read this I rated it 4 stars at GoodReads so it must have been entertaining at least, but my test of book quality is always how well it stays with me and this one isn't making a strong impression. It's worth reading it to finish out the series, but I don't think I'd recommend this trilogy like I do The Hunger Games or Divergent.

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Scorch Trials--James Dashner

Title: The Scorch Trials
Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte Press, 2010.
Pages: 368 p.
Source: Library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: August 2015

This book is the second in the Maze Runner series. While I always strive to avoid spoilers in my reviews, reviewing the second in a series will naturally spoil some of the first book. If you have not read The Maze Runner yet, you may want to skip this review until you have. 

James Dashner's The Scorch Trials

Thomas and most of his friends have escaped the Maze and think they have finally found freedom, but in reality they are less free than before. Aware now that they have been the subject of experimental tests, Thomas's next assignment is to survive the treacherous Scorch--the dangerous wasteland home to people dying of the Flare disease. On top of all the scary threats and crazy people, Thomas's closest friend has been taken away from him and he doesn't know who he can trust anymore.

There were quite a few scenes in this sequel that were even scarier than the first book. Although I zipped through it and generally enjoyed it, I had to overlook some things. I had so many questions after reading the first book and I was a bit disappointed with some of the answers in the second book. I just didn't buy the overall reason why WICKED was subjecting these boys and girls to these tests. But, the book was entertaining nonetheless and readers of the first one will want to continue the series.

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