Book Review: THE DEATH CURE by James Dashner

The Death Cure (The Maze Runner #3)Author: James Dashner
Publication Date: October 11, 2011
Published By: Delacorte books
Genre/Category: Young Adult, Dystopian, Sci-fi

Summary on Goodreads:

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test. 

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says. 

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

My Thoughts:

I've waited for this book ever since I finished The Scorch Trial and it was definitely worth the wait. The first two books has always been on my top favorite list and I wish I could put into words the thoughts and the emotions I had when I read this final book. I expected a lot from it and James Dashner did not disappoint. Welcome back to the maze!

The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials put me on the edge of my seat. They're so hard to put down and I would say the same thing about The Death Cure. It's totally gripping, full of action and suspense. You will keep turning the pages up to the very end. And when you think that you had figured everything out, think again... The brilliant twists and the unexpected turn of events will leave you wanting for more and you'll be surprised by how the author pulled everything together to create a satisfying finale.

The Death Cure picked up what the second book left off. Once again, the Gladers and the other survivors are back--Tommy, Minho, Newt, Frypan, Teresa and Brenda. The world that awaits them is even more frightening than the life in the maze... or the scorch... The horrible cranks are everywhere, they have nowhere to turn to, no place to hide... it was a terrifying world. Expect more death and more sacrifices. Be ready to shed some tears as you witness some heart-breaking moments. I can't tell you how much I loved and enjoyed this book. It was amazing and I loved every part of it. I was hooked from the very first page up to the last one. It was intense and it's like a roller coaster ride kind of feeling.

I just have a few concerns that I want to honestly point out. Though the ending is satisfying and I find it really good, you might find some questions that hasn't been answered completely and this might leave confusion in the end. There are also some important characters that remained a mystery to me and I keep thinking about them until now. I wish there was some explanations about the past lives of the Gladers especially Tommy, Minho, Newt, Teresa and Brenda, and how they all ended up in WICKED. It didn't answer those questions. Nevertheless, it doesn't change the fact that this is an amazing book, and it's a good finale for a remarkable series.

If you haven't seen the maze and you haven't met the Gladers, I urge you to read The Maze Runner Trilogy. It's a series of heart-gripping, heart-wrenching, and heart-throbbing novels that will undoubtedly put you at the edge of your seat. With the engaging plot, terrifying setting, and a whole pack of amazing characters, you wouldn't be able to put down this book. You will never be disappointed.

I will always remember the maze and the Gladers I've grown to love. I'm going to miss those awesome shuck-faces!

My Rating:

Book Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Hourglass (Hourglass #1)
Author: Myra McEntire
Publication Date: June 14th, 2011
Publisher: Egmont USA
Category: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Sci-Fi

Summary from Goodreads:

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

My Thoughts:

The cover of this book is undeniably stunning. And as beautiful as the cover, is the story itself! Myra McEntire created a stunning debut novel that is not only unique but is also delightfully engrossing. From the beginning up to the very end of the story, I was hooked. I couldn't love this book any more than I do now. I love the strong not annoying characters she created, and it was exciting to see how the story unfolds for each of them. I easily liked Em, and I loved Michael. If you want to meet a smart and strong-willed heroine plus the gorgeous hot guy Michael, you better read this one. Plus all the other characters you'll be happy to meet.  It has always been one of the factors that make me love a book.

I am a slow reader, I admit (hehe). This is because I only read during the night, and it's very seldom that I could afford to read during the day. Unless the book is engrossing as Hourglass. It was so hard to put down. I always looked forward to reading it again every time I needed to stop. I read this book until way past my bed time and until my eyes can no longer stay open. I especially enjoyed the delicious romance between the main characters--it was quite a great ride. Without the usual huge cliffhanger ending, I felt satisfied with just the right amount of peace of mind. It ends very well for me and it gave me enough reasons to wait for the next book with so much anticipation. If you hate huge cliffhanger ending, then you'll probably like this one.

This book has the exact amount of romance, suspense, and action that will pull you  deeper into the story. A unique  compelling novel that will put you at the edge of your seat until the very end.

I know that not everyone who read this book ended up loving it. But I do. I loved Hourglass and it now has  its place on my bookshelf as one of my favorite books. I can't wait for the sequel!

My Rating:

Book Review: VARIANT by Robison Wells

Variant (Variant #1)
Author: Robison Wells
Publication Date: October 4, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins / HarperTeen
Genre/Category: Young Adult, Sci-fi/Thriller, Dystopian

Summary on Goodreads:
Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.
He was wrong.
Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.
Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

My Thoughts:

What will you do when you are sent to an enormous school with no teachers, no principals, no guards--no adults at all? A school surrounded by forest and walls and a 24/7 surveillance cameras? Where the students are not allowed to get out--breaking the rules means punishment, escape means detention, and detention means death? TRUST NO ONE.

Variant is a gripping story of alliance and survival.  It started with Benson (the protagonist) as he told the story in his POV—starting on the day he arrived at the Maxfield Academy. Though I am not much impressed with Benson's character, I like him enough to accept and understand his behaviour. He's not the super strong, super smart hero but I admire him for his motivation and courage to stand up against the injustice when the majority couldn't.

Reading Variant reminded me of Unwind and The Maze Runner. It was suspenseful and thrilling at the same time. Though the story was a bit slow in the beginning, it was never boring. I started to really enjoy the book during the second half where the turn of events put me on the edge of my seat as I discovered secrets and the questions were slowly being answered.

The twists are surprising, even the characters are unpredictable. I liked how the author made me so curious about each them. I’m loving a character and then I hated him afterwards. There are some whom I loved and hated them in the end. You'll never really know whom to trust when the first instinct of everyone is to survive no matter how.

It doesn’t have the typical romance flavor you’ll find in other books, but it didn’t lessen the excitement. From the beginning, I waited for the right girl to come out. The author kept me guessing! Just when I thought I figured it out already, the story proved me wrong! I am so anxious to know the real girl for Benson and I’m so excited to know what will happen next especially after the HUGE CLIFF HANGER ENDING! I was totally surprised! It made me even more excited to read the next book. I am almost sure that the story will just keeps getting better once it comes out. I can’t wait!

My Rating:

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins / Harper Teen and Author Robison Wells for the copy of the book. 

Book Review: UNWIND by Neal Shusterman

Unwind (Unwind #1)
Author: Neal Shusterman
Publication Date: November 6, 2007
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Sci-fi

Summary on Goodreads:

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

My Thoughts:

This story takes place in the United States somewhere in the near future. After a civil war--known as the Second Civil War or the Heartland War--fought over abortion, a compromise was reached, allowing parents to sign an order for their children between the ages of 13 and 18 years old to be unwounded--taken to "harvest camps" and having their body parts harvested for later use. The reasoning was that, since 100% (actually 99.44% taking into account the appendix and "useless" organs) was required to be used, unwinds did not technically "die", because their individual body parts lived on. In addition to unwinding, parent who are unable to raise their children to age thirteen for retroactive abortion can "stork" their child by leaving it on another family's doorstep. If they didn't get caught, the "storked" baby then becomes the other family's responsibility. (Wikipedia)

Most of the times I checked the reviews first before buying a book, but there are times that I go by instinct alone. The first time I saw this, I knew that it is something I will surely enjoy so I downloaded the sample in my Kindle. I have to say, this book is engrossing, I was instantly on the verge of my seat  up to the last page of the book sample. Due to some unavoidable reasons, I wasn't able to buy this book sooner, and I wasn't able to continue reading until yesterday! I am a bit moody and it's hard to go back to the book I once set aside, no matter how good it was that time. So I admit, I still waited until I was in the mood to continue. And now, I am a bit regretful that I didn't finish it sooner, because I have to say this book is brilliant! The second time I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I was so engrossed to the story, and once again, I was on the verge of my seat (oops, my bed literally).

I learned to love the characters not only Connor, Risa, Lev, but also Cyfy, Hayden, Emby and the Admiral. They were perfectly crafted which made them realistic to me. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control that's why they decided to send him to the harvest camp for unwinding. Risa is a ward of the state and a victim of shrinking budget and is not talented enough to be kept alive. Lev on the other hand is a "tithe"--raised by his religious parents for the sole purpose of being unwound. These characters along with Cyfy, Hayden, Emby, and the rest of the unwinds have their own stories to tell... each sent me a feeling of despair, pain, anger, sadness, compassion and love. I pitied them, I sympathized, and I hoped for them. Many times, I held my eyes to keep myself from crying. I was moved. 

From time to time, I find myself thinking about the choice I have if I were on their shoes. What if I was one of those teenagers to be unwounded? Would I rather choose to be killed and die whole than have my body parts harvested to use by other people? And with the society who sees the "unwinds" as trouble and unimportant, would I choose to be partly great than to be entirely useless? And what if someone I know or love is in the same circumstances? The thought of seeing someone I love go through unwinding made me feel cold and numb inside.

Truly, this book is engrossing, thought-provoking and ultimately compelling. Some says this book is gruesome and terrifying--maybe because it tackles issues on abortion and contains some parts that are somewhat distressing. I admit I was a bit shocked while I read the part where the unwinding process is being done. It was so vivid and I could almost picture the scene entirely. That part was mind-blowing. 

I am also impressed by the pacing of the story, the turn of events were unpredictable and it made the book more exciting and intense. It was surprisingly good.

Over all, I think this YA Dystopian Novel is a must-read. I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it. 

"In a perfect world mothers would all want their babies, and
strangers would open up their homes to the unloved.
In a perfect world everything would be either black or white,
right or wrong, and everyone would know the difference.
But this isn't a perfect world.
The problem is people who think it is."(Unwind)

My Rating: