Book Review: The Fever Code by James Dashner

Title: The Fever Code

Author: James Dashner

Series/Standalone: The Maze Runner (Book #5)

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Young Adult

Pages: 347

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Year Published: 2016

Format: Audiobook

"Once there was a world's end.

The forests burned, the lakes and rivers dried up, and the oceans swelled.

Then came a plague, and fever spread across the globe. Families died, violence reigned, and man killed man.

Next came WICKED, who were looking for an answer. And then they found the perfect boy.

The boy's name was Thomas, and Thomas built a maze.

Now there are secrets.

There are lies.

And there are loyalties history could never have foreseen.

This is the story of that boy, Thomas, and how he built a maze that only he could tear down.

All will be revealed."

My Rating: 3/5

This was an interesting look into the backstory of The Maze Runner series. But it didn't show a ton that I didn't already expect or assume. I was curious about the relationships that the boys had before coming into the maze and whether they knew each other and that was answered. I also thought it was interesting after watching Theresa's entrance into WICKED in the fourth book. If you've finished the series and you are interested in what happened at the conception of WICKED this book is for you. It's fun and an easy read while still hitting with some interesting information.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Kill Order by James Dashner

Title: The Kill Order

Author: James Dashner

Series/Standalone: The Maze Runner Series (Book #4)

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction

Pages: 327

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2012

Format: Audiobook

"Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there's something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it's mutating, and all the evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.

Mark and Trina are convinced there's a way to save those left from descending into madness. And they're determined to find it- if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you're worth more dead than alive."

My Rating: 4/5

I love a prequel that describes where the first book takes off. I think that this story did an excellent job of explaining the flares and the illness. Just how everything started out really. This was heart-wrenching and made me angry about how WICKED used people and their innocence to start a pandemic. That being said, maybe not the best thing to read during a global pandemic. I loved Alex's character and would have done anything for that sweet, gruff man. The plot of this book reinvigorated me for the last book in the series.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Sidny

Book Review: The Death Cure by James Dashner

Title: The Death Cure

Author: James Dashner

Series/Standalone: The Maze Runner Series (Book #3)

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian, Young Adult

Pages: 325

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Year Published: 2011

Format: Audiobook

"It's the end of the line.

WICKED has taken everything from Thomas: his life, his memories, and now his only friends- the Gladers. But it's finally over. The trials are complete, after one final test.

Will anyone survive?

What WICKED doesn't know is that Thomas remembers far more than they think. And it's enough to prove that he can't believe a word of what they say.

The truth will be terrifying.

Thomas beat the Maze. He survived the Scorch. He'll risk anything to save his friends. But the truth might be what ends it all.

The time for lies is over."

My Rating: 4/5

I know that a lot of people didn't like this third book in the series as it drew a conclusion for a lot of people's reading experience. I enjoyed it. I think that the author did a wonderful job of continuing our intrigue into what was going on. The fact that we never truly know who to trust is a trope  I really enjoy used in plots with dystopian novels. I love not being able to see where we are going and having our main characters be paranoid to a certain extent as well. I plan to continue on with the series although I expect there will be a change in pace due to how this book ended.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Title: The Scorch Trials

Author: James Dashner

Series/Standalone: The Maze Runner Series (Book #2)

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia, Science Fiction

Pages: 362

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Year Published: 2010

Format: Audiobook (Library Copy)

"Solving the maze was supposed to be the end.

Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn't done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch.

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.

The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch- the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off.

There are others no. Their survival depends on the Gladers' destruction- and they're determined to survive."

My Rating: 3.75/5

This book held a lot of intrigue for me as I was curious about where the story was going after the plot twists in the last book. This book was better for me and I do plan to continue on. The atmosphere was better for me, and I love a journey book. The characters just aren't what I hoped they would be. Thomas is not my favourite character to read from, and I find it hard to believe that women are throwing themselves at him. I'm still curious about what WICKED is working on and the backstory so I will be continuing with the series, but I doubt they will be new favourites.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny

Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

 Title: The Maze Runner

Author: James Dashner

Series/Standalone: The Maze Runner Series (Book #1)

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction

Pages: 384

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Year Published: 2009

Format: Paperback Copy (Own It)

First Line: "He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air."

"If you ain't scared, you ain't human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He's surrounded by strangers- boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless ever-changing maze. It's the only way out- and no one's ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run."

My Rating: 3/5

I thought upon entering this story we were going to be very lord of the flies style survival book. And it just wasn't that. It was more mysterious than that. I enjoyed the intrigue of getting back the memories of the boys who have memories missing, the idea of figuring out why they're in a maze, what's going to change and how they're going to get out. Those are the parts I loved. The characters themselves don't have huge personality traits just due to the fact that most of them only remember living in the maze these past 2 years. So there isn't anything to really know about them. I also thought the final plot twist was perfection. I am looking forward to continuing with the series and seeing where these characters go.

Thanks for reading,

Sidny