Book Review: The Kill Order by James Dashner

The Kill Order by James Dashner
Publisher: Random House (Delacorte)
Publication date: August 2012
Pages: 336
Source:  e-book from NetGalley
For: Review
Series: The Maze Runner, prequel

Mark and Trina will never forget those early days, over a year ago now, when the sun flares hit. The only reason they survived was because they were underground. But now, they've got more to worry about than the excessive heat. There's a disease makings its way through everyone who survived and it's mutating in ways that make survival difficult. Can they find safety again and figure out just where this disease came from?

Things I Liked:
This was not the book I expected.  I kinda hoped we'd learn more about WICKED, though I'd been warned this book wasn't about that.  Still, I had a secret hope.  It was interesting, though.  It's more of a look at how the Flare got started and what it did to people.  It is written with Dashner's signature humor, fast-paced non-stop action, and crazy plot twists.  And it kept my attention throughout.  It was an interesting look at a future world struck by catastrophe.  The ending does kind of throw you for a loop, too.

Things I Didn't Like:
I recognized that sometimes the writing style just didn't agree with me.  I like a bit more lyrical and poetic writing sometimes, whereas this is very straight forward and plain at times.  It's not bad, just different from what I like best.  The story was exciting and awful and tense all the time, but I didn't much care for the characters.  I was especially bothered by the strange shift in tense when Mark was having a flashback.  It seemed more logical to use a past tense, but it was told in present and that confused me a number of times.  Still, those fans of the gory, action-packed stories about this future Dashner's created will enjoy the ride.

Read-alikes:
Read the first three books in The Maze Runner series first
Benny Imura series by Jonathan Maberry
Ashes series by Ilsa J. Bick

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
some but not many

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->->
just enough to make me a bit sick at times

Overall rating: ***

I've seen lots of mixed reactions.  What did you think of this one?

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Book Review: The Death Cure by James Dashner

The Death Cure by James Dashner
Publisher: Random House (Delacorte)
Publication date: October 2011
Pages: 336
Source: Purchased
For: Fun
Series: Maze Runner, Book 3

*Spoilers for The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials inevitable*Thomas and his friends have reached the final trial in the race to get a cure.  But the past few months have taught Thomas one thing - don't trust WICKED.  So, when they plan to give everyone their memories back, he is reluctant to let them play any more mind games.  Plus, he's already remember much more than they think.  Can they figure out just what WICKED is up to? 

Things I Liked:
I'm kind of torn on this one.  I liked seeing what the outside world was like and watching Thomas try to figure out where he would fit.  Finally getting to understand WICKED and what happened in the world was so relieving!  I thought this last installment was unflinching, interesting, complicated, and just plain cool.  It seemed very much like you don't know for sure what is happening, you don't know much of anything - exactly how Thomas feels.  Definitely a unique series with a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants ending that will leave you reeling!  Some favorite parts:

We can't try to outguess them anymore.  Sometimes they do things just to make me do the opposite of what they think I think they think I want to do. p 114

"I want steak," he said, stopping to look at her.  "And shrimp.  And lobster.  And pancakes.  And a candy bar."
"I'm sorry - you'll have to settle for a couple of sandwiches."
Thomas sighed.  "Figures." p 267

Things I Didn't Like:
I spent much of the book wondering why we were taking these seemingly random detours.  It felt like all the things that happened up until about the last quarter of the book was filler so we could get to the exciting ending.  Yes, a lot of things happened, but seeing fight after fight and escape after escape kind of wore me down.  I was slightly more bothered by the slang too, since only the Gladers seemed to use it, but no one they met outside ever swore or had their own slang.  It was an odd contrast.  I think this book would translate really well to an action movie, and that might be part of why I didn't get a lot of it - sometimes it was like a movie scene being described.  And yet, after all that, I really did enjoy it.  Weird, crazy, horrifying, and action-packed.  A great series, especially for the guys!

Read-alikes:
Be sure to read The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials first!
Reminded me a bit of Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Enclave by Ann Aguire

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none 
surprisingly, considering the slang note above

mrg-factor: none 

v-factor: ->->-> 
lots of killing, fighting, and other gory details

Overall rating: ***  

What did you think of this last book?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Publication date: October 2010
ISBN: 9780385738750
Source: purchased

*This review and summary will contain spoilers for The Maze Runner, so read at your own risk*

Thomas and his friends are finally out of the Maze and safe.  Or so they think.  When they wake up the next morning, things are not as they expected.  They are thrown into a new test and must get across a wasteland, trying not to lose their heads, starve to death, get struck by lightening, or have their noses removed in the process.  Through it all, Thomas looks for Teresa, but he little expects their reunion to go the way it does.  Can he and his friends survive this next phase of this cruel and brutal test?

Things I Liked:
This second installment definitely doesn't lack for action.  You are sucked immediately into what happens next.  Dashner has a way of creating odd situations that inspire fear and dread in the reader, not to mention his characters.  They are put through many horrifying and painful experiences on this next part of their journey.  While we learn some things about why they are there, we certainly don't learn enough to satisfy our appetites and it definitely left me feeling bruised and aching for the next book.  Also, I think the book has some deeper things at work, looking at how people react in situations and what we will do to survive at the expense of others.  An intriguing and fast-paced book that will leave you desperate to know what happens next.

Things I Didn't Like:
It definitely played on my emotions.  You feel anger and frustration, not to mention pain and betrayal.  It will leave you feeling a bit raw by the end, wishing they could have some kind of reprieve. At times it was also very confusing, but I am assuming that's because the characters are supposed to be kept unaware of what is happening.
 
Read-alikes:
Read The Maze Runner first
The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
all of it is made-up cursing

mrg-factor: none
just some kissing

v-factor: ->->->->->
plenty of horrible things happen - some of it a bit gory

Overall rating: *****

Posted as part of the YA-D2 dystopian challenge (at the last minute, of course :)

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

*ARC provided by publisher*

The Maze Runnerbegins when Thomas wakes up in the dark with no memory of his family, friends, and past. He arrives in the Glade where he is welcomed by the other boys who have come, one a month, for more than two years. No one really knows why they are here, but they have been trying to find a way out through the Maze - a treacherous, ever-changing, beast-inhabited giant puzzle. When the very next day a girl shows up, things in the Glade begin to change - and not for the better.

Things I Liked:
Throughout the book, we see the Glade, the Maze, and everything through Thomas' eyes - and we feel everything he does: mostly confusion, anger, and fear. I could not put this book down! Every page was filled with terrifying surprises and unexpected twists. We feel Thomas' frustration first-hand! I was really drawn into his character and felt like I was right there running with him. This was exciting, full of adventure, mysterious and thought-provoking. And I CAN'T WAIT for the sequel. Dang cliff-hanger ending!

Things I Didn't Like:
At times I got so annoyed that I didn't know anything (neither did Thomas) that I wanted to throw the book. But, I couldn't unglue it from my hand, because I had to know what happened. I was frustrated with the unfamiliar language, but that was because Thomas was as well. Everything he feels and sees, I did as well. Which made for a lot of frustration, anxiety, fear, and confusion, but a very real character :)

Read-alikes:
Felt a lot like The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
they use words that aren't quite cuss words (shuck and shank)

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->->
definitely some violence and scary stuff that happens

Overall rating: *****