BOOK REVIEW: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

This review is on the second book of "The Maze Runner". I have provided no spoilers to the actual plot, but have provided an honest review.

Title: The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner, #2)
Author: James Dashner
Publication: August 1st 2011, by Chicken House
Genre: Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Survival
Pages: 359

Goodreads and Amazon

Rating: ★ ★ ★

The Scorch Trials picked up where The Maze Runner left off. The Gladers have escaped the Maze, but now they face an even more treacherous challenge on the open roads of a devastated planet. 

And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them. 

Can Thomas survive in such a violent world?

I almost feel bad about rating The Scorch Trials only three stars, but I just cannot force myself to rate it anything higher. I had enjoyed The Maze Runner profusely -- Thomas really became an excellent protagonist, with the secondary characters slowly becoming well-rounded characters themselves. However, whilst The Scorch Trials was still a good book, I personally felt as though it had lost a little of what had made The Maze Runner great.

The Scorch Trials picks up immediately where The Maze Runner ended. This was definitely one of the novel's greatest strengths. Thomas and the group of Gladers, now only a small group, discover that whilst they may have escaped the maze, they have not escaped WICKED's clutches. Instead, they are still part of an elaborate experiment. Thomas and the Gladers are forced to navigate themselves through the Scorch -- a large expanse of sand and heat, occasionally touched by harsh storms. The Scorch is littered with infected humans, two of which become secondary characters. Their task? Fight through the obstacles placed out before them and get to the safe haven in two weeks.

I was very disappointed that there were large portions of this novel that Thomas left the Gladers for long periods of time. This meant that there was very little time to focus on Minho, Newt and Teresa -- three characters that I have grown incredibly fond of. Instead, a lot of this novel focused on Thomas building a new friendship with a new character: Brenda. At times I found her frustrating, almost infuriating, mainly because her personality was constantly changing and was unpredictable. Furthermore, Thomas constantly feels guilty for his growing feelings towards Brenda, and this is repeated continuously throughout the novel. It felt as though what made Thomas a good main character was overlooked because of his focus on her.

Overall, despite these faults, I did enjoy The Scorch Trials. It was a good sequel, flowing well from the previous novel. However, I do think it could have been a lot better if the novel had focused on Thomas and the Gladers, instead of having Thomas running around by himself or with a newly introduced character. There were a number of twists and turns along the way, some of which surprised me, keeping me reading because they were intriguing. But sadly, I still have to give this book three out of five stars.

What are your opinions of The Scorch Trials?

April 2015 Wrap-up

Hello fellow readers! After months and months (and months and months, etc. etc.) of not reading, April 2015 is the month that I fell in love with reading all over again. I hadn't read anything for a very long time. Instead, I was letting myself become overwhelmed with the stresses of university and work, and my large pile of books became severely neglected. But I am so happy to announce that I am working through that pile once again!

I began April by re-reading two of my all time favourite novels -- allowing me to fall in love with reading all over again. City of Bones by Cassandra Clare is one of my favourite novels, ever. The characters, the plots and the numerous twists and turns all contribute to the book's absolute awesomeness. I rated it five stars. The second that I read that allowed me to fall in love with reading again was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, which I rated five stars as well. Who doesn't love The Hunger Games?!

The last two books that I read for April was the first two books of The Maze Runner series. The Maze Runner by James Dashner, which I rated four stars due to a slow beginning, and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (the review will be posted this upcoming Saturday). I decided to read the books after watching the first movie. I love that the books offer a lot more than the movie, especially regarding the characters: their personalities and their background. 

How was April for you? How much reading did you get done?

BOOK REVIEW: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner, #1)
Author: James Dashner
Publication: Chicken House, August 4th 2011
Genre: Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Survival
Pages: 371

Goodreads & Amazon

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Everything is going to change. 

When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas can remember is his first name. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade, an encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible maze. 

Like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they came to be there, or what's happened to the world outside. All they know is that every morning when the walls slide back, they will risk everything to find out.

Admittedly, I actually picked up James Dashner's The Maze Runner after discovering the wonderful movie adaption a couple of weeks ago. I was honestly expecting to already know the storyline, the plot and the characters, that this book was only necessary to read to ensure I understood everything before continuing on to read the second book: The Scorch Trials. However, I was completely surprised with what I ended up reading: Dashner's The Maze Runner is completely different than the recent movie adaption. I could provide some examples of these differences, but I do not want to give any spoilers away to those who have not read the book.

The overall storyline is practically same as the movie. Thomas wakes up in 'the box' remember nothing but his own name. Whist focusing on Thomas as he attempts to navigate his way through his new life in the Glade, The Maze Runner introduces readers to the Maze: a mysterious and dangerous and terrifying entity that begins to take on a life of its own, becoming a main character of Dashner's book itself. Thomas begins aiding the other Gladers (a group of boys brought together to the Maze over a three year period) in their attempt to escape the clutches of the Maze and discover the secrets it hides.

I have really enjoyed the characters that Dashner has created -- they are vastly different than the movie adaption characters. Whilst Thomas, Minho and Chuck are somewhat similar to their movie adaptions (with some characteristics varying), Newt, Teresa, Gally and Alby are not. Instead, they are much more multifaceted and three-dimensional, with aspects of these characters seemingly forgotten in The Maze Runner movie. For example, Newt's limp is removed from the movie, which disappoints me as I feel as though this was an important element for his character.

The only reason that I did not rate this book five stars was because the beginning of The Maze Runner was a little slow. It took a while before any real action occurred, with the first few chapters dedicated to exposition. I wasn't looking for action from the beginning, but it could have been a little more exciting.

The Maze Runner has quickly become one of my new favourite series. I have not read many books from a male protagonist's perspective -- the only other one would have to be Harry Potter. I love reading about Thomas and his interactions with other Gladers.

Have you read The Maze Runner? What other books with male protagonists have you enjoyed?

BOOK REVIEW: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publication: Scholastic Print, 2008

Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult

Page Count: 454

Goodreads & Amazon

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Twenty-four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death - televised for all of Panem to see. 

Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love. 

WINNING WILL MAKE YOU FAMOUS. LOSING MEANS CERTAIN DEATH.

This was my third -- or perhaps fourth, I honestly cannot remember -- re-read of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, as I was not disappointed. I love returning to my old favourites and once again engaging with wonderful characters that I have not seen since last closing the book and placing it back on the shelf. The Hunger Games is, without a doubt, one of the best young adult fiction books that I have ever read. Why? Because it follows a strong and powerful heroine: sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen. The Hunger Games is from Katniss' perspective as she navigates her way throughout the trials of a frightening post-apocalyptic America: from the controlling and cruel Capitol, to their most outrageous, brutal and animalistic creation: The Hunger Games, which is a televised and celebrated event to keep the twelve separated districts in check.

Whilst there are various elements of The Hunger Games that I thoroughly enjoy -- from the wonderful array of characters to the heart-stopping action to the twists and turns -- it is the perfectly structured dystopian world that Suzanne Collins has created that captures my attention. There is an obvious distance between Katniss' poverty-stricken District 12 and the fabulous (and just as glamorous) Capitol. The way that Collins describes her settings throughout her use of a first-person narrative is probably one of The Hunger Games' greatest strengths. She captures every slight detail of the poverty of District 12 with such detail, which is as equally applied to her descriptions of the Capitol's wealth and power.

To be honest with you, at times Katniss can be a slightly annoying character. Though, perhaps this can be attributed to the first person narrative that readers are privileged to. Personally, I did not like her initial observations and feelings for Peeta Mellark. However, as The Hunger Games develops so does Katniss. There is a definite growth with Katniss' character, but it definitely takes about two-thirds of the way to get there. After she does, though, she becomes a wonderful, engaging and rememberable character.

There are probably a number of people that question whether or not they should read The Hunger Games after watching the wonderful movie adaption. Honestly, I would tell them that they definitely should. Suzanne Collins offers readers a much different perspective if you sit down and take the time to read it. This is because her novel is entirely in the first-person. Readers will definitely gain a much better and clearer understanding of Katniss' feelings, emotions and motives throughout the novel -- especially her relationships with her mother, sister, Gale and Peeta.

The Hunger Games may seem like a brutal, maybe even violent novel about the murder of teenagers. However, if you take the time to read this novel you will discover that the violence is not overly detailed and the novel focuses more on Katniss and the all-embracing control of the Capitol.

Have you read The Hunger Games? What did you think?

BOOK REVIEW: City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Book Title: City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, #1)

Author: Cassandra Clare
Publication: February 19th, 2008 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Page Count: 442

Goodreads & Amazon

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murders are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? 

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a venegence, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

For her entire life, Clarissa 'Clary' Fray believed that she was simple and normal teenage girl, until she witnesses a murder committed by three teenagers at the Pandemonium Club -- three teenagers that she can only see. Confused and worried that she is going crazy, City of Bones chronicles Clary's journey of learning the truth behind her origins: she is a Shadowhunter, a warrior, a demon hunter. Clary is forcefully thrown into this world after her mother, Jocelyn, is suddenly violently taken in the middle of the night and she is determined, with the help of Jace Wayland, and siblings Isabelle and Alec Lightwood, to get her back. Meanwhile, there are numerous rumours circulating about the return of Valentine, a notorious and disgraced Shadowhunter, who may drastically change their lives forever. 

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, the first novel is the six book, young adult fantasy series: The Mortal Instruments, is definitely one of my most favourite books. This was my fourth time reading it, and the first time after watching the disappointing movie. However, as I patrolled the Goodreads reviews last night it became apparent that the readers of the City of Bones either love it or hate it -- there is no in-between. To be honest, I find this peculiar. I understand that not everyone has to love this book, but there are definitely aspects of the City of Bones that avid readers will, at the very least, appreciate. Clare's writing, in particular, is exceptionally beautiful, and at times almost poetic. By choosing to write the novel in third person, she is able to capture aspects of the characters, the plot and the scenery in ways that she would not have been able to successfully achieve in first person. For example:

"In the centre of the room sat a magnificent desk. It was carved from a single slab of wood, a great heavy piece of oak that gleamed with the dull shine of years. The slab rested upon the back of two angels, carved from the same wood, their wings gilded and their faces engraved with a look of suffering, as if the weight of the slab were breaking their backs."

Additionally, avid readers will come to appreciate the extensive world-building. Clare has successfully created a supernatural world within our own that positions readers to believe that the Shadow World may actually be surrounding us. Readers slowly learn about the Shadowhunter world, not in large or overwhelming 'info-dumps', but spread out throughout the books pages. Most of the world-building, in fact, comes from the character themselves, especially when teaching Clary. Their world is vast and intricate, with rules and laws. However, there is little development concerning the world of the Downworlders (i.e. the vampires, werewolves, warlocks, etc.). Their world is only explored through their relationship with the Shadowhunters, but if I remember correctly their worlds are explored separately in the next few novels.

What brings me back to the City of Bones is the characters. I do, however, feel a little conflicted over my like for Clary. I absolutely adore her, but there are a few instances throughout the novel where she annoys me. There are times where she is insecure, clumsy and/or oblivious, but I think that my dislike for these traits are cause they seem to be overused in Young Adult fiction. But I understand that this is, essentially, a 'coming of age' story. And Clary certainly grows and develops; however, the City of Bones only offers a small snippet of Clary's potential. As for Jace Wayland -- one of my favourite literary characters -- he initially appears to be the typical sarcastic, bad-mouth, devil-disguised-as-an-angel archetype. On the surface, perhaps he is, but as the book continues, Clare allows readers to learn more about Jace's past and feelings. Whilst he is portrayed as the mysterious, attractive love interest that offers readers some humour, Jace seems to be an entirely different person at the end of the novel. Lastly, the relationship between both Clary and Jace develops at a nice steady pace.

The other main characters of the City of Bones: Isabelle and Alec Lightwood, and Simon, all have their annoyances as well, but are entertaining secondary characters that readers eventually grow to love.

Overall, the only problem that I found with the City of Bones with each read was the fact that whilst this novel is action packed -- with never a dull moment or page -- I struggle to believe that all of these events happened over a one-week period. Personally, I would have found it more believable if the time frame was expanded, perhaps to encompass an entire month.

Have you read the City of Bones? If so, what did you think?

BOOK REVIEW: Lone by Danae Ayusso

Book Title: Lone (Wolves of Haven #1)

Author: Danae Ayusso
Publication: February 6th, 2014 by Geeks on Ink
Genre: Paranormal, Crime Fiction

Page Count: 183

Goodreads & Amazon

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Akia de Wolfe was quickly becoming known as one of Boston's finest. After closing the Silent Ripper case, a promotion soon followed. For the first time since running away from home a decade ago, her life was perfect, until a ghost from her past, a mistake that she had fought to forget, calls. 

Coming home home to Haven wasn't something she never wanted to do again, but her father needed her. A serial killer was loose on the small island her family called home, and trying to pin the gruesome murders on him. Facing her demons won't be easy, but in order to clear her father's name and catch a killer she must.

The first of the supernatural, crime fiction series "Wolves of Haven", Lone welcomes readers to the wonders and mysteries surrounding around the beautiful and seductive Detective Akia de Wolfe, who happens to be the only female werewolf. After leaving behind her family -- prior to the novel's beginning -- Akia has worked exceptionally hard to become Boston's finest detective, whilst also developing a strong, intimate relationship with her superior: Captain Damien Nikas. Though, despite wanting to forget her past, Akia is forced to return to not only Haven, but the family she left behind to catch a killer that is framing her father.

Danae Ayusso has created a story that has blended Supernatural and Criminal Minds, with intertwining storylines threading together effortlessly. The characters are individual, humorous, unique and interesting -- both in appearance and personality; I can picture every single one of them perfectly. I looked forward to reading about the secondary characters the most, especially Akia's brothers and her father, Beowulf. However, at times, the secondary characters seemed to be over the top, erratic and can be extremely annoying, especially regarding their constant swearing, child-like fighting, nudity and sexual references. Yet, they did provide some much needed comic relief.

The Good:

- Akia de Wolf is a multifaceted character; she is strong-minded, stern and determined, whilst also emotional and struggling internally.

- The relationship between the two main characters, Akia and Damien, is believable and intimate. Whilst the two are dependent on each other, their relationship doesn't make the characters weak, but instead makes them stronger.

- The writing is witty and humorous.

- The scenes that involve crime, police work and murder investigations are obviously well-researched. Additionally, the dialogue in these scenes are not far-fetched and feel as though they are from Criminal Minds.

The Bad:

- There are an overwhelming amount of sex scenes and sexual references that do not do anything to move the story forward.

- There are a few spelling mistakes.

Overall, I would definitely recommend Lone to readers who are looking for a very interesting and new take on werewolves, and doesn't mind reading a novel that possesses numerous sex scenes and a lot of sexual references.

Madeline