Book Review: The Fever Code

Despite many good reviews from my friends, I wasn't convinced that the Fever Code, the prequel in the Maze Runner series, was worth my time and money.  I've always been suspicious of spin off books, based on bad experiences and the general hunch that authors will do anything for more cash. The seventeen thousand "novellas" from the Percy Jackson series make a good example, although it's not a very popular opinion, I think! Anyway, despite misgivings, I downloaded the free sample from Amazon and got reading.

I was hooked.

In a breath, this book covers everything leading up to the first book - Thomas and Theresa's relationship, meeting Chuck and the rest of the Gladers and, most importantly, the power struggles of the corrupt, decaying institute: WICKED.

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Book Review: Nowhere by Jon Robinson

Nowhere, a sci-fi thriller by Jon Robinson.

 
'No one's coming for us. Not our families, not the police. No one.' Alyn and Jes, along with a hundred other teenagers, are trapped in a concrete jail guarded by hundreds of guards, surrounded by fences of barbed wire, in literally the middle of nowhere. But they aren't your average criminals - they can't remember committing any crimes. But who will listen to them? Why are they there? Slowly, secrets get pulled into the open, and Alyn starts to realise who they really are...

This sci-fi thriller has a lot going for it: Robinson is clearly a good author and the setting is fascinating. It has a nice level of suspense and action, and the book's secrets are slowly and craftily revealed to the audience through a series of flashbacks. It kept me hooked for more information, and I read it so quickly, the ending really crept up on me. 

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Book Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them

Well, after being captivated by the successful film, FBAWTFT, I decided to prove my worth as a HP fan and read the screen play. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but as I was desperately wishing to see the film again, I thought it would be a nice reminder.

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Book Review: The Eye of Minds

The eye of Minds, by James Dashner, written in 2013.

I'll start by saying that James Dashner has done it again. From one wildly popular series to the next, (the Maze Runner being the most well known) he can't seem to do anything wrong. It was because of this that I headed into this book with a sense of foreboding - it's a general pattern that after an author's smash hit series, the next books to come will be decidedly less thrilling. However, I can assure you that this book is just as good, if not better, than Maze Runner.

It takes place far into the future, in a world where virtual reality has become so advanced, it's almost hard to tell between reality and "Lifeblood", the game. The only difference is that players know that no matter what, they will always wake up safe and sound in the real world. However, when a master coder starts corrupting Lifeblood, and gamers are found brain dead at their homes, everyone can sense something's going to happen. The lines between reality and lifeblood are being erased, making it a very dangerous game indeed.

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Book review: All the light we cannot see

All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr

A great book, beautifully woven together

I cannot tell you how well written this book is. Set in the Second World War, it tells the perspective of a young German orphan called Werner, and a blind girl, Marie, living in Paris. The slow buildup to the war is artfully done, showing both sides of the story; the poverty in Germany and the more extravagant lifestyle in Paris. The story shows some of the horrors of war, juxtaposed with the refugees' view of the bombings, but it doesn't make too heavy reading.

The story is beautifully woven together, carefully spliced with the past and present. I don't want to say anymore, for risk of spoiling the plot, but it's a masterpeice. Whilst this is an "adult" book, it's gripping enough for any historic-fiction fan, and even a varied reader such as myself would enjoy it immensely.

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Series in the Spotlight: Maximum Ride by James Patterson

In this Series in the Spotlight, I review the fast-paced thriller: Maximum Ride.

Hooked from the first page, I sprinted through the first few books, lapping up the action, the humour and the great characterisation. I laughed with the characters, I cried on their shoulders and I was just loving the whole thing.

The story follows Max and her "flock", who are being chased by the very people who created them. Yes, I said created. They are actually a human/avian combo, born in a lab, with wings, sharp eyesight and other random powers. You join them as they race around the globe, avoiding the monsters the scientists have sent out to kill them, and in the meantime, trying to discover who their parents were. It was action packed, fast paced and humorous; perfect for those who aren't so keen on reading meaty books.

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Book Review: Time Riders by Alex Scarrow

Time Riders by Alex Scarrow

Thrilling, funny and filled with action, but a one trick pony.

A brief synopsis

Being a fan of sci-fi, I was expecting to get my teeth into another great series that would keep me occupied for at least a week. However, although it was a nice plot, with flashes of action and humour, I didn't feel tempted to buy the next in the series. 

But, despite that, the book itself was great. It had a fast-paced start, that pulled you in from the get go. I definitely enjoyed reading it. 

The story starts with three teens who should be dead. Seconds before they died, they were given a choice: die now, or join a mysterious group, set out to defend the world against time-baddies and the like. Not much of a choice, really. As they reach out to clasp their only chance of survival, everything goes black.

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Book Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

A powerfully written window into an Asperger's person's mind.

A brief synopsis

Despite not fitting into my normal book preferences (alternate-world fantasy, sci-fi or action fantasy, if you must know), I found this book a surprisingly compelling read. It gave me a snapshot into the life and mind of an Asperger's boy - something that I hadn't given much thought about before.  

The story is written from the perspective of Christopher Boone, a young, self-elected detective with Asperger's syndrome. He hates the colours brown and yellow, and can name every prime number up to 7,063. He starts of by saying that this book will not be funny, as he cannot understand jokes, but his way of describing the little details and noticing pointless facts in (sometimes dangerous) situations gives it a different style of humour.

Mark Haddon is such a good writer that often I'd forget that he was even writing it, as Christopher Boone was such a real and lifelike character. 

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Book Review: Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Wolf by Wolf  by Ryan Graudin

A thrilling book, based on a different outcome of WW2. Provided lots of food for thought, and discussed themes of identity, betrayal and grief. Very powerful. 

After reading several books based around WW2, taken from stories in death camps, refugee shelters and torture chambers, I was groaning slightly at the thought of another death-and-destruction dooms-day tale. However, as soon as I read the blurb, I was hooked.

Set in the decade after world war two, it follows the life of Yael (pronounced YAH-ell), an escapee of a German prison camp. However, when she runs away, she has to remain in hiding. Why? Because the Germans won the war.

During her stay at the camp, she was experimented on by German scientists, who were trying to make her black hair blond, and her brown eyes blue. If they got this to work, they would be able to make any "normal" rich politician, suddenly become the picture of German ideals : Aryan.   However, these injections malfunction, leaving Yael with a life-changing ability: the power to look like anyone.

(This wasn't deeply gory, but more detail about this will come later)

Using her powers, she manages to escape the camp, but takes with her nothing more than a tattoo on her wrist, and a thirst for vengeance.


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