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!

Book Review: The Death Cure by James Dashner #bookreview

Book Review for: The Death Cure

 Written by: James Dashner

 DelaCorte Press

 ISBN: 978-0-385-73878-1

 Avail in print and as an ebook

4 Stars

Dashner crafts an action packed ending to “The Maze Runner” series with “The Death Cure.” The killzone trials are done and Thomas is reunited with Teresa and his friends in WICKED’s headquarters. Only now, due to Teresa’s betrayal and WICKED’s secrets, Thomas is not very trusting. Dare he get his memories back so as to understand WICKED’s true purpose?

Thomas now understands the devastation the sun flares have done to the Earth. He comprehends now the release of the virus called “The Flare” has destroyed humanity. Ultimately, he has a choice – find a cure to the Flare or save humanity’s immunes to start all over again.

Dashner’s writing is crisp, sharp, and engaging. Thomas is a true hero, striving to do the right thing in the face of adversity. The supporting cast embodies friendship, loyalty, and a fierce conviction in their beliefs.

While the ending resolves the series in a satisfactory conclusion, I was a little disappointed in the resolution between Thomas and Teresa, as I feel it was sacrificed for the sake of an action packed ending.

“The Death Cure” is a dystopian futuristic young adult novel. I would recommend it for 11 years on up. “The Death Cure” will leave you breathless.

Question:  Did you see "the Maze Runner" movie?  

Book Review: The Scorch Trails by James Dashner #bookreview #mazerunner

Book Review for: The Scorch Trials

Written by: James Dashner

Delacorte Press

ISBN: 978-0-385-73876-7

Avail in ebook and print

5 Stars

Dashner crafts a taut, nail-biting dystopian story with “The Scorch Trials.” Thomas and the Gladers are given a near impossible task: to cross “the scorch” in two weeks if they want the cure to the Flare, but is two weeks enough time?

Thomas and his friends barely have enough time to recover from their trials in the maze when they’re thrown into another problem – cross the scorch in two weeks. Thomas learns the maze was a test and there were two test groups. The second group was all female with only one boy – Aris. Whereas the maze was more of a physical trial, the scorch ups the ante by involving complex emotions. Thomas’ loyalty, resolve, friendship, courage, love, and frustration are driven to their limits. How much can a young man take before his mind snaps? Is a cure to the Flare worth the emotional scars crossing the scorch promises to leave?

Dashner’s writing is fast-paced and easy to read. There’s plenty of action and suspense. Dashner infuses just the right amount of characterization and pulse-pounding plot that keeps the reader turning pages. Thomas is a true leader. He faces adversity with a stiff chin. Theresa, as a character, is hard to get a feel for as she has a role to play as ‘the betrayer’, yet there are hints that she wholeheartedly believes she must do what she does.

“The Scorch Trials” is the second book in the series, but stands alone well, though reading the first book will flush out the arc of the storyline better for the reader. I highly recommend this book for readers 12 and older. “The Scorch Trials” is a quick, engrossing read. I didn’t want to put it down. It’s a worthy sequel to the series.