Book Review: Explosive 18 by Janet Ivanovich

Book Review for: Explosive Eighteen

Written by: Janet Evanovich

Bantam Books

ISBN:  978-0-345-52771-4

4 Stars

I read:  The hardback

An explosive “whodunit”

Recommended for readers 13 years or older

Evanovich pens a crafty tale full of suspense, danger, with a pinch of cozy mystery with “Explosive Eighteen.” 

On the way back from Hawaii, Stephanie picks up a coded photograph. Not thinking much of it, she throws it out. Then the fun begins. The FBI, the fake FBI, a hairdresser named Brenda, and a crazy hitman called “Razzle Dazzle” wants it.  Stephanie still has skips to catch so she can pay the bills. Lula drinks a love potion and falls in love with one of the skips. Then there’s Joyce – Stephanie’s evil nemesis, who insists on staying with Stephanie when she’s convinced someone is out to get her. Complicating matters are Ranger and Morelli. The vordu may be gone, but both men want her. Can Stephanie avoid the fake FBI, elude Razzle Dazzle, and get the info she needs from Brenda the hairdresser before her car, her home, or her life blow up again?

Evanovich’s writing style is easy to read. Her characterization is spot on with a great supporting cast that includes Lula, Connie, and Grandma Mazur. It’s the people around Stephanie who give the story heart. The plot builds nicely, but the reveal is a bit convoluted, and I was left saying ‘what just happened?’

Overall, “Explosive Eighteen” is an entertaining story that will make the reader laugh, groan in frustration, and keep them turning the pages to find out what happens next.

Question:  Who is your favorite character in the Stephanie Plum series?

Book Review: The Fate of the Tearling by Erika Johansen #bookreview #fateofthetearling

Book Review for: The Fate of the Tearling

Written by: Erika Johansen

Harper Collins Publishers

ISBN: 978-0-06-229042-7

I read: the hardback

5 Stars

Epic!!

Johansen pens a stunning conclusion to the Tearling series

with “The Fate of the Tearling.” Set in a dystopian future, the

Tearling is being attacked from all sides. Mortmesne threatens

 invasion, the Arvath has hired mercenaries, and the Orphan

sets his vampiric children on an unsuspecting populace.

Kelsea Glynn, The Queen of the Tearling, finds herself in a

Mortmesne dungeon unable to protect her people from danger.

The Mace, her regent, is torn between saving her and protecting

the Tearling. A surprise alley, Evenly Raleigh, seeks out

Kelsea to bring peace to the Tearling and Mortmesne as the

Orphan grows in power.

As in “Invasion of the Tearling,” Kelsea continues to have

fugues due to the influence of her sapphires. This time she

discovers Katie Rice’s story and learns how Katie’s past has

helped to shape Kelsea’s Tearling. Secret after secret unravels

 leaving Kelsea to reconcile past, present, and future. Can

Kelsea save the Tearling, or will her future crumble between

her fingers?

Johansen pens a thrilling end to the Tearling series. Her

writing style is easy to read. Plot, pacing, and

characterization are well balanced. Johansen’s ability to

make the Queen of Mortmesne a sympathetic character, and

the Orphan deliciously evil, deliver an excellent read. The

ending was hopeful, despite Kelsea’s personal losses, and I

thought the story came full circle as Carlin, who was such

an influential and haunting presence in Kelsea’s life, reached out 

to Kelsea in the end.

 I simply couldn’t put this book down. “The Fate of the

Tearling” will leave the reader breathless with every chapter

that is devoured.

Book Review: The Fever Code by James Dashner #bookreview #mazerunner

Book Review for: The Fever Code

Book 5 in the Maze Runner Series

Written by: James Dashner

Published by: Delacorte Press/Penguin Random House

ISBN: 978-0-553-51311-0

I read: the ebook

5 Stars

Dashner pens an edge of your seat thriller in the 5^th installment of "The Maze Runner" series with "The Fever Code." Teresa and Thomas are tapped by WICKED to help build the maze, look for variables in killzone patterns, and are groomed by Chancellor Ava Paige to carry out WICKED's objectives.  But, is WICKED truly good?

The novel starts with Teresa and Thomas, young immunes taken in by WICKED. They are studied and challenged by the organization. WICKED desperately wants to find a cure for the Flare and believes the immunes they collected (aka invited) to the WICKED facilities in Alaska are the key. Perhaps the one variable they don’t count on is the growing sense of independence of thought Thomas struggles with.

Soon Thomas and Teresa make friends with other immunes at the complex. As the cure alludes WICKED, they resort to more extreme measures with the belief the cure is close. Is the cure truly close or is WICKED grasping at straws?

This installment of the series helps to explain motivations for Teresa, Thomas, and WICKED. Dashner's writing style is easy to read. His short sentences and concise word choices help to increase the suspense and heighten the anticipation of the events to come.

"The Fever Code" is dystopian fiction and geared for a young adult audience. The main characters are endearing. Thomas, Teresa, Chuck, and Newt will tug on the reader's heartstrings. Paige embodies WICKED's values and yet there are moments of humanity in her actions which makes the readers question her choices.

Overall, "The Fever Code" is a gripping tale of a desperate future and can be read as a stand alone in the series.  This is a must for fans of the Maze Runner series.  I couldn't put it down!