The Maze Runner Review

Title: The Maze Runner

Author: James Dashner

Pages: 371

Genre: Dystopian, Sci-Fi

Publisher: Chicken House

Date Released: January 1st 2009

Format: paperback

Synopsis: The novel is about a boy called Thomas, he wakes up without his memory, only knowing his first name. Thomas is not alone, there are kids who are also in the same situation and have been in the lift.
They all welcome him to the Glade. Nobody knows how or why they were sent here the only thing they know is that they are surrounded by a maze which the doors open to every morning and close at night.
Every month a new boy is sent into the Glade through the lift. They knew that Thomas was coming but what they didn't know was that the next day a girl (the first girl ever) would enter the glade, not only that but she would deliver a message. Thomas struggles to find the answers that his mind will not seek. ( Goodreads synopsis )

Review:
I really enjoyed this a lot. First of all I like how it just plunges straight into the story, it didn't take up the first chapter to explain what was going on, you kind of figured it out along the way.
It starts of with Thomas being totally clueless as to what is going on. He is constantly demanding answers only to get a vague sentence and shut down. The way that Dashner explains their environment is very vivid and I can see everything so clearly in my head. I really enjoyed the world building and the character development. I am very much looking forward to the next instalment and I can't wait to see what happens next.


*Now for the spoiler part of the review, if you do not want to be spoiled please stop reading *
Thomas was constantly saying how he wanted to become a runner so I thought it was quite obvious there would be some way that he would get what he wanted. What I was not expecting was that he would go into that maze after Minho and Alby, he was a pretty brave shuck to do that (haha get it ).
One thing that I found strange was the fact that there were no girls and you don't really realise until the girl (Teresa) comes through the lift with the note but the boys all act as though its not strange?!
honestly you would think they would be wondering why there are only boys in the glade?

I had this theory that the grievers took their victims bodies into the griever hole and got revived but they were not themselves. I then get to the near end of the novel,  the gladers escape and there is Gally (who was dead!) standing there, it made me wonder if my crackpot theory was right.

Gally was almost like a puppet for the scientist,  in that moment I felt sorry for him because even though he was a bit crazy, he did not have the choice in pulling the trigger or not.
When Chuck dodged the bullet for Thomas it shows how much courage and compassion he had. I could feel Thomas's pain for the loss of Chuck, even though he was annoying to him at times, he was still one of his first friends he made at the Glade and he had made him a promise which he could not keep now that he was dead.

*end of spoilers*

Overall:
I recommend this to anyone who loves a good dystopian, Young adult or anyone just looking for a good read because honestly you will not be disappointed it is so good.
 If you have not read this yet, seriously go pick it up you will not regret it!

Cover Art: 3.5

Plot:5

Characters:4

Writing:5

Level Of Interest:4

Total Rating:4.5

 

Where can you get this:

physical copies

• Amazon
• Book Depository (Free shipping worldwide)
• Fishpond (NZ wide free shipping)

 e-books

• Amazon - Kindle

 

Happy Reading Everyone :)
jordypaigebooks

Reviews coming soon...
Teardrop by Lauren Kate

January TBR

Hello Everyone,
I hope you are all have a fabulous day. So today I have decided to share with you all the 2 books I am going to be reading this month (well what is left of it haha).

 The books I am going to be reading include:

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Synopsis:When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade-a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up-the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind. (source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6186357-the-maze-runner?ac=1 )


I am quite excited to start this, I bought it a few days ago because I have  heard such great things about it and all the reviews on goodreads seem to be pretty positive so I thought I'd pick it up and give it a try. There is also the movie coming out in September, so I wanted to read this before that came out. I love the cover art, and the synopsis seems very interesting. I really enjoy dystopian novels so I hope that this is just as good as books like The Hunger Games and Divergent series.
 Stay tuned for my review.


             
Phoenix (Black City #2) by Elizabeth Richards

Synopsis:Ash and Natalie are just starting to build a life together when things in the United Sentry States go from bad to worse. Ash and Natalie find themselves at the center of turmoil when dictator Purian Rose threatens Natalie’s life unless Ash votes in favor of Rose’s Law—a law that will send Darklings and other dissenters to a deadly concentration camp known as the Tenth.

When Ash can’t bring himself to trade Natalie’s life for those of millions of Darklings, her fate is sealed. Enter Elijah Theroux, the handsome Bastet boy Natalie once saved from her mother’s labs, where he’d been experimented on and tortured. It was his venom the Sentry used to create the lethal Golden Haze, the heart of the government conspiracy that led to Black City’s uprising and Ash’s rebirth as the Phoenix, the face of the rebellion. Elijah is back and Ash doesn’t like him; it’s clear he’s taken with Natalie, and Ash fears she may have feelings for him as well.

But Elijah also may have the answer to taking down Purian Rose for good—a powerful weapon called the Ora. Ash, Natalie and Elijah just have to escape Black City undetected to find it. But fleeing the city and finding this weapon (if it even exists) are easier said than done, and the quest could tear Ash and Natalie apart, even pushing them into the arms of others.

This enthralling sequel to Black City is just as absorbing, delicious and steamy as the first book, leaving readers hungry for the series conclusion.


I read Black city about a two months ago, I thought it was pretty good so I've decided to download Phoenix and pick up where the story left off.
I would recommend Black City to those of you who like vampire novels, its nothing like Twilight or Vampire Academy so it has a very different vibe to it. I'm not one to read a lot of vampire novels but there are a few that I like, and Black City was one I didn't mind.
There were some parts of it that I didn't like too much but I've decided to give it a second chance. Review to come soon.
                               

So those are the books I will be reading for the rest of the month.  Stay tuned for my reviews and happy reading :) x
jordypaigebooks

Review coming soon...
 The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards