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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The Maze Runner--James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte Press, 2009
Pages: 384 p.
Source: library e-book
Compensation: None
Read: August 2015

James Dashner's The Maze Runner

Thomas wakes up in complete darkness with no memories of where he is or how he got there. He realizes he is in a box moving upwards for what seems like forever when finally the elevator stops and the top door opens. Blinded by the light, Thomas eventually focuses on a group of boys peering down at him. Frightened and confused, Thomas leaves the elevator and enters the Maze.

Actually he enters the Glade, the home of this group of lost boys, which opens up to the Maze, an ever-changing towering stone maze that holds the only hope of escape--if the boys can evade the monstrous Grievers and stay alive long enough to find it. Just when Thomas thinks things are strange enough, the box makes an early delivery and this one is a girl who sparks some memories in Thomas.

I read this book based on a recommendation from my 11 year old son (and so we could watch the movie together ((book better than movie))). He loved the book. I enjoyed it as well. There are plenty of scary and suspenseful moments and I think this is the strongest of all three. This book leaves you with so many questions but is a good choice for readers who love all things apocalypse.

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Allegiant--Veronica Roth

Title: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins, 2013.
Pages: 526 p.
Source: Purchased Kindle ebook
Compensation: None

Allegiant picks up where Insurgent leaves off. While I generally try to avoid spoilers here, it's harder to do when reviewing a sequel. Rest assured I will not give away any surprises from Allegiant, but details from Divergent and Insurgent may be revealed. If you haven't read them yet, consider yourself warned. 

When we last left Tris and Tobias, she had betrayed him to work with his father to expose the truth the Erudite wanted so very much to hide and at the very last minute Tobias decided to trust her over his mother and helped to expose that truth. That the people outside the wall put them in there to help them develop into Divergents and that when there were enough of them they should open the gates and help the people outside the wall. The decision to stay or to travel beyond the wall is made a little difficult when Tobias's mother imprisons Tris and her friends. She is released and they make plans to escape the city and see what's on the other side of the wall. Once there they discover that things aren't quite what they thought--as usual--and Tris and Tobias face the ultimate test of their relationship. 

This final installment in the trilogy is told in alternating viewpoints, which makes perfect sense for the story. We've always known Tris's motivations and feelings, but only saw Tobias through her. Alternating the narrators lets us see both of their thoughts and decisions and fears. There were times when I briefly forgot who was narrating what, but for the most part I could keep track. 

I know there has been a lot of strong opinions about the ending of the book. While trying to avoid spoilers as much as possible here, I will say that I think it ended the way it needed to. Not that I was happy, not that I didn't feel emotionally wrecked afterwards, but that the ending remained true to the story and the characters. I liked this one just as much as the others and read it just as quickly. 

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Insurgent--Veronica Roth

Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Harper Collins, 2012
Pages: 404
Source: Library ebook
Compensation: None

I was a little late to reading Divergent which actually worked out well since I didn't have to wait for the next two books to be written. Sometimes procrastination works. I loved Divergent (and the movie!) and had high hopes for the rest of the series.

I wasn't disappointed.

Insurgent picks up where Divergent leaves off. While I generally try to avoid spoilers here, it's harder to do when reviewing a sequel. Rest assured I will not give away any surprises from Insurgent, but details from Divergent may be revealed. If you haven't read it yet, consider yourself warned. 

Tris and Tobias have escaped Erudite's clutches and Dauntless' treachery for the freedom of Amity. Although they are able to rest and heal at Amity, they quickly realize that they are not truly safe anywhere. They narrowly escape Amity and after boarding a train, discover a secret connection to the Factionless. From then on Insurgent is like a wild train ride of suspicions and distrust as Tris and Tobias try to save their people and not lose themselves in the process. There are so many twists and turns and moments when it is just literally impossible to stop reading.

I enjoyed this book just as much as the first and found it very hard to put down. "Luckily" I had the stomach bug which forced me to lay down for quite a few hours and I was able to devour this book in just one night. Although I was on the waiting list for the library ebook for the next one, I gave in and purchased Allegiant roughly 5 minutes after finishing Insurgent.

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Divergent--Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Harper Collins, 2011
Pages: 419 p
Source: library ebook
Compensation: None

I know, I'm a little late in reading this. But now I don't have to wait for the rest to be published (I just have to wait for them to be available at the library!).

Beatrice lives in a post-apocalptic world separated into different factions: Amity (Kindess), Candor (Honest), Dauntless (Brave), Abnegation (Selfless), and Erudite (Intelligent). Although children are born into a faction, when they reach the age of 16 they undergo a virtual reality test to determine which faction they truly belong in and they then have a choice to either stay in their home faction or transfer. Beatrice expects her test to say Abnegation, even though she secretly hopes it doesn't. She is completely surprised when her results are actually inconclusive--she doesn't belong in any one faction but could go in many. This is a dangerous spot to be in and she is lucky her test administrator is sympathetic and doesn't tell the authorities. Beatrice debates what to do until the final moment of choosing when she decides to be brave instead of selfless. She enters the Dauntless faction as a transfer not knowing what to expect and completely unprepared for her future. Renamed Tris, she must compete against all the other initiates for a spot in the Dauntless society or be factionless.

I've heard the comparisons to The Hunger Games and while I think fans of The Hunger Games, and post apocalyptic novels in general, will enjoy Divergent, I really didn't see it as being the same. All post apocalyptic books have the same general framework-- something got screwed up and now the world is really different and about to get more screwed up. Tris has to compete against her fellow initiates, but she doesn't HAVE to kill them. She just has to be better. There are some cruel kids who take it too far, but it's not a requirement.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Tris's character. I loved the relationship between her and her instructor Four. I thought her family dynamic was really interesting and I was glad to see that her mom was not just another clueless parent. The ending was non stop can't put it down thrilling action. I'm looking forward to the next one and hope the rest of the trilogy holds up to the promise of the first.

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Ashfall--Mike Mullin

Title: Ashfall
Author: Mike Mullin
Publisher: Tanglewood, expected pub date October 2011
Pages: 472 eGalley
Source: Netgalley courtesy of the publisher
Compensation: None

I read this back in May, but May was not a good month for me so I am just now reviewing it. 

Alex is a normal high school boy living in Cedar Falls Iowa when a super-volcano erupts. Although the volcano is at Yellowstone, it's a SUPER one so it causes lots of problems for people all over the country. Unfortunately for Alex, he is alone in his house when the volcano hits it--literally. A piece of rock flies hundreds of miles and destroys part of his house. His parents and sister are visiting family in Illinois, so Alex is completely alone. He starts out staying with his neighbors while the volcano continues to cause havoc and deafening thunderous booms, but quickly decides he needs to get to Illinois to be with his family. There's no public transportation or working cars because of all the falling ash so all Alex can do is walk. Luckily he finds a pair of his father's skis in the garage which makes the walking slightly quicker. Along the way Alex finds helpful people and murderous people. He spends the bulk of his journey with a young girl named Darla, a MacGuyver-type resourceful farmer who teaches him how to survive off the land.

As with most "post apocalyptic" books (and movies), in Ashfall the worst in human nature often comes out. Most people are just out for themselves and are not above killing and raping to get what they want to survive. But author Mullin does a good job of balancing the dark forces of humanity with some genuinely good people who help Alex and Darla on their mission. He also does a good job of showing how truly connected we are as a nation--the volcano physically affects neighboring states but it also has a severe impact on the nation's economy and the food supply. Money is useless if there's no food to buy.

Alex is a little naive at times but he grows up quickly on his journey. He's a good kid and we want him to reach his family. He and Darla fall in love, but it's done realistically and slowly. They endure horrible events together and it matures them in ways that most teens don't go through. Romance is not the crux of the story however and it will not be enough to turn off boys. The main story is survival and adventure. This is not a boy book or a girl book. It will appeal to both. Boys will like the harsh survival story. Darla is a strong character and girls will like reading how she is just as crucial to their survival as Alex.

The book ends how we expect it to with a little twist and sets Alex and Darla up for further adventures. Readers will be happy to know the sequel, Ashen Winter, will be published in the fall of 2012.

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