Book Thoughts: Shades of Earth

Title: Shades of Earth
Author: Beth Revis
Series: Across the Universe #3

*Warning: Spoilers for previous books!*

Elder and Amy have left the spaceship behind and made for Centauri-Earth. Surely whatever danger awaits them is worth being able to see the open sky again -- and they'll be able to wake up Amy's parents and the rest of the frozens.

Life on the planet turns out to be more difficult than they expected, though. Orion's warnings about monsters prove more true than they could ever have imagined, and the mysteries surrounding Godspeed's failure to land on time are far from solved.

I loved this trilogy all the way through. The characters especially made me want to keep reading (although sometimes the first-person narrators were a tiny bit hard to distinguish) -- Amy and Elder of course, but the others as well. I enjoyed the pacing, the plot, the twists and turns, all of it. Without saying too much (I don't want to spoil it for anyone!), I also thought the stylistic choices made in the last few chapters were brilliant; I've loved the use of negative space (line breaks) for emotional effect through the whole series and I think it works especially well in the ending. And content-wise... some of it is not how I wanted the series to end, but I think all of it was exactly how the series needed to end.

A brilliant ending to a brilliant series, and a story all its own too. Two thumbs-up for this trilogy! I can't wait for whatever Beth Revis comes out with next!

Book Thoughts: So Silver Bright

Title: So Silver Bright
Author: Lisa Mantchev
Series: Theatre Illuminata #3

Okay okay so. I've been trying to find this book FOREVER. It's been three years since I read the previous one and my local bookstore didn't have it and my local library didn't have it and the library at my college didn't have it, and then I finally got my hands on it --

And you couldn't tell it had been three years since I'd read the last book, the way I devoured it. The story pulls you right back in and reminds you well enough of what's going on that you're totally not lost. (Of course, it helps that this is such an engaging story that I still remembered most of the details even after three years.)

And I just. This was such a wonderful conclusion to a simply beautiful trilogy. Bertie continues to be awesome, because even though she's totally in the middle of a love triangle, she completely resists the damsel-in-distress trope and gets things done her way. Ariel and Nate are both awesome characters, and the FAIRIES don't even get me started because we'll be here all night with my love for them. I love the way word-magic and Shakespeare are incorporated, and the way this draws on the magic of the theater and of storytelling, and yeah pretty much everything about it.

The ending was bittersweet, as the endings to great series always are, but I think it was just what it needed to be. A truly stunning trilogy that I am so glad I finally got to finish. :) Definitely worth your time!

Book Thoughts: Dreamless

Title: Dreamless
Author: Josephine Angelini
Series: Starcrossed #2

*Beware spoilers for book 1!*

Helen's life kind of sucks. She can't be with the boy she loves, because (to their knowledge) they're cousins, and that's gross. Plus, she's spending every night in the Underworld and getting no sleep in her quest to free the Scions from the wrath of the Furies. And Tantalus still has it out for her, in new and interesting ways.

I continue to adore this series. I love love love the characters, the plot, the way familiar mythology is incorporated into a totally new story. The scenes with Morpheus in this one I found a bit odd, but I love love loved the way everything with the Furies and Cassandra went. Also Automedon. I don't want to say too much else because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but this one was even better than the first book (you can definitely see the author's writing get better from that one to this one, and the writing was not bad in book one) and I can't wait to get my hands on the third one. Finals week, hurry up and go away so I can read GODDESS!

Book Thoughts: Allegiant

Title: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent #3

This first part of the review is going to be spoiler-free. There will be spoilers later and they will be marked by a warning!

Okay so. I loved the first two books in this trilogy so I was pumped for the third one. Did I love it? Yes. Did I cry? Yes. Did I think it was flawless? No.

I loved the way V.Roth took the story; the world outside of Chicago was fascinating. My only complaint there was that I wish we had gotten more information about some of the genetics stuff, because it didn't necessarily completely make sense to me as it was. Like, I definitely got what it was doing (and I thought it was a very important point and I liked that story choice), I just wish it had been spelled out a little more. But then again, I'm a world-building geek in love with backstory, so of course I wanted more information.

It was also cool getting to see the story from both Tris and Four's perspectives, because they're both characters that I really like and I LOVE the way their relationship is portrayed (real and healthy, with the existence and subsequent talking out of problems; it's one of the best I've seen). My complaint here was that with both sets of chapters narrated in the first person and no significant voice switch between the two, I often had a really hard time telling who was narrating a particular chapter. Their narrative voices were exactly the same, and I tend to have a hard time enjoying books with multiple but indistinguishable first-person narrators.

So yeah, I had some complaints about Allegiant, but on the whole, I thought it was a stunning conclusion to a fantastic trilogy.

And now I am going to talk about the ending. There will be spoilers. DO NOT read past this point if you haven't read ALLEGIANT yet! Seriously, come back and read this AFTER you have read the book.

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Okay, everybody who hasn't read it gone? Let the spoilers commence.

So I was as blown away as everybody else when (seriously! last chance!) Tris died, because it is a seriously bold (and almost never seen) move in YA to kill off the hero, especially when that hero has a love interest. I kind of worried that would happen when perspectives split, because hey, someone else to continue the narrative if Tris is dead and can't narrate. And then I knew it was coming when Tris told Caleb she wasn't going to let him sacrifice himself for the wrong reasons (which isn't a decision I necessarily agree with, but it's one that I love that she made because it's so consistent with her character). But it was still a heartbreaking and kind of shocking scene. I 100% admit to crying.

I know a lot of people are really mad that Tris and Tobias didn't get their happy ending and kind of hate V.Roth for killing off Tris, but I disagree with that mindset. Am I sad that they didn't get their happy ending? Absolutely! Heartbroken! Because they are both characters that I love and I wanted them to be happy! But I think Tris's death was the right narrative course for the story. It was realistic, it was absolutely in character, and... yeah, did I mention it was realistic? And it takes guts to kill off such a popular main character (I mean, excepting George R.R. Martin, obviously), so I applaud Veronica Roth for making that choice. Even though it made me sad. And it was good to see Tobias grieving and eventually moving on, to the extent that moving on is possible. (The way he spread her ashes was another heart-wrenching moment.)

I had some issues with a few things in the book, and there were a few things that didn't quite make sense to me (Tris's memory serum plan, for one), but on the whole, I loved this book and the whole series. Round of applause for Veronica Roth, guys.

Book Thoughts: United We Spy

Title: United We Spy
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Gallagher Girls #6

Hi guys! I'm sorry I've been such a bad blogger lately. Apparently midterms this semester meant "three solid weeks of no free time." But I'm back, and I have a super awesome book to tell you about.

**Warning! Spoilers for Books 1-5! (Not for this one)***

Cammie has a mission. Well, sort of. Well, okay, she's not actually supposed to have a mission at all. But as Catherine closes in on the last few members of the Circle of Cavan, time is running out, and it may be entirely up to Cammie and her friends to save everyone they love -- and, quite possibly, the world.

I've loved this series from the get-go, but by this stunning conclusion, it is not the lighthearted spy-teens romp it was in book one. Issues are way, way more serious now -- and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love love LOVE this final adventure we get to take with Cammie, Liz, Bex, Macey, and Zach, and I thought it was a fantastic conclusion to a fantastic series.

It had honestly been a while since I read the previous book so I was a little hazy on the details, but I didn't need to worry. UNITED WE SPY reminded me of everything important and contained a pretty solid story in and of itself. I for one really loved the chance to see Cammie & Co. entering the real world and dealing with these serious issues, and also still being high school seniors. Yes, they face some seriously grown-up situations, but they're still just eighteen-year-old girls (and boy, in Zach's case), and they hold on to that.

Also, a certain speech near the end of the novel (I will not say more lest I give spoilers, but you'll know it if/when you read it) had me in tears. I am so sad to leave this beautiful sisterhood behind, and I am sure it's a world I will revisit. Can't wait for Ally Carter's next!

Book Thoughts: Once

Title: Once
Author: Anna Carey
Series: Eve #2

Eve is back, but she's lost Caleb: Califia, the safe place they've been looking for, is women-only. But if you think Eve is going to take that for very long, you've got another think coming. She goes looking for Caleb... and finds someone way more surprising. Trapped in the City of Sand, Eve has to find a way to save Caleb, her friends -- and herself.

I didn't love this one the way I loved EVE, but I definitely enjoyed it. It's awesome to see the world continue to develop, and I hope we get to see more details of The New America in book three! I continue to adore Eve and Caleb's romance, and the new characters (namely Charles, Harper, Beatrice, and Clara) are a welcome addition to the story. I think my favorite character is still Arden, though, because she's the one in whom I see the most depth and fight; I wish we'd gotten to spend more time with her in this book. I do love the dynamic Charles adds, though!

I'm honestly feeling pretty meh about this book right now. I enjoyed it, definitely, but it wasn't a standout like EVE was and there's not really anything jumping out at me that I just HAVE to talk about. Hopefully it's just middle book syndrome and RISE will bring the level of awesome back up, because I really do like the story Anna Carey is telling and the characters she's created. Here's to book three!

Book Thoughts: Crown of Midnight

Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #2

Okay. Let's talk about how much I love this book.

First and foremost, I just really love Celaena. I LOVE that we can have a girl who's totally not afraid to kick some but when she needs to (and darn good at it too) but also really loves pretty dresses and her puppy and chocolate cake. I like that she's not perfect -- she's reckless and impulsive, she doesn't always think about consequences, she can't sing. But she tries to do what she thinks is right, and she's just. I love her.

And I l-o-v-e the character development we get with Dorian and Chaol. My shipper heart does not know what to DO with this beautiful book, but quite apart from the romance I just love the two main men. They make mistakes, and they learn from experience, and their individual relationships with Celaena as well as their relationships to each other are just beautiful.

I love the pacing, too. With so much going on it would be SO easy to just rush the details, but it felt like the book was exactly the right length: it accomplished what it needed to and gave every event the attention it deserved without dragging things out. I called the "big reveal" at the end of this one way early on, but I didn't care, because I wanted to see how the characters got there, and there was enough going on that I totally didn't predict that I was still on the edge of my seat.

I cannot WAIT for the next installment of this series. I just need to know how the characters are going to deal with the situation they find themselves in at the end of this book, and I just need to spend more time with them and in this world. I hope we get to find out more about the Fae and the way magic works in this world as the series progresses!

So yes. Definitely a worthy continuation of the Throne of Glass story, possibly even better than the first book (which doesn't happen a lot for me). If you haven't read these yet, get on it! Meanwhile, I shall eagerly await Book 3...

Book Thoughts: The Savage Grace

Title: The Savage Grace
Author: Bree Despain
Series: Dark Divine #3

I was so excited to finally get to read this one, because I loved the first two and haven't been able to get my hands on this one until now. I was a little fuzzy on the details going into it, couldn't remember exactly how the last one had ended, but this one reminds you of the details without it reading like a summary, which is nice.

The writing in this fell a little flat -- not because the story was bad, but because it just felt like the book didn't get proofread very thoroughly before it was published. I kept finding little errors ("of" instead of "or," "your" instead of "you're," and "peek" was insistently spelled "peak" through the whole book) that kept pulling me out of the story. Probably wouldn't be a problem for someone who doesn't really care about grammar, but it put me on edge.

That said, I loved the story and the way the trilogy concludes. I mean, heartbreaking, yes -- but what story about demons and werewolves is going to be light and cheery? I thought the action made sense and I really enjoyed the story was resolved, and I'm going to stop talking right there because otherwise spoilers will happen. I'm glad it ended the way it did.

Also, can I just say -- she's a really minor character, but Grace's little sister Charity is pretty awesome.

Grace's struggle with the wolf is incredibly relatable for anyone who's ever been torn between anger and forgiveness, and even though Grace seems to have almost superhuman patience, I liked the hopeful note of the novel.

So, yeah -- I didn't adore this the way I did the first two books, but it's still definitely a series I'd recommend, with a well-handled ending and an awesome take on werewolf mythology.

Book Thoughts: Sever

Title: Sever
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Series: Chemical Garden #3

You know that feeling where you're reading a book and there's only a few pages left but still too much that needs to happen and you start to worry about how it's all going to wrap up in so little space? That's how I felt with this book.

I really loved the first two books in this trilogy, so I really wanted to love this one. While I enjoyed it, I didn't love it. Some of the plot elements that came into play to wrap up the story felt a little contrived, and some of it just came out of nowhere like a wrecking ball. Without being too spoilery, there is a character death that really surprised me (and kind of felt like a way to not have to deal with a particular plot line).

That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story and I think the series ended the only way it could have. Rhine continues to be a character worth rooting for, and I wish we'd gotten to meet Reed sooner because wow, great character. And Cecily is still her wonderful fourteen-going-on-thirty self.

The short version: not my favorite series-ender ever, but a worthy conclusion to a trilogy that on the whole I loved.

Book Thoughts: Siege and Storm

Title: Siege and Storm
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: Grisha #2
Beware spoilers for Shadow and Bone!

I found this one a little harder to get into than the first and I think I liked the first one more, but this is still an excellent book.

I really enjoy Leigh Bardugo's world-building, and I just LOVE the way she writes characters. Alina and Mal's relationship is beautiful and heartbreaking as it develops over their return to Os Alta, and Alina's hesitant friendship with Nikolai is one of my favorite things about this book (Nikolai, actually, is probably my favorite thing about this book. Love him). Even the minor characters worm their way into your heart, which makes the realities of war, unflinchingly addressed, that much more painful and honest.

I also really enjoyed watching Alina's struggle to come to terms with her power and become who she is meant to be. I love love love the story this series is telling and the characters it's telling it with, and I cannot WAIT for Ruin and Rising next spring.

Book Thoughts: Breath

Title: Breath
Author: Jackie Morse Kessler
Series: Riders of the Apocalypse #4

I am just not quite sure how to feel about this book.

I like Xander; I thought he was better developed as a character than the previous protagonist, Billy. And I LOVED getting to spend time with Death as the protagonist. Seeing the character of Death develop was super cool and I love the way Kessler handled his backstory.

I also really enjoyed seeing the other Riders again. As a conclusion to the series, BREATH is absolutely what it needed to be.

I just didn't quite like Xander's story. Riley is never referred to by a pronoun, so it's always "Riley pushed Riley's hair behind Riley's ear" (that is NOT an actual quote, just a condensed example), and I didn't quite follow where the whole Baby Lex thing came from. The story with Riley made perfect sense in light of the plot twist, but Lex just didn't. And the twist just sort of felt like a cop-out, I dunno.

I think what I'm getting at is this: I love Xander's character and I liked his story (not his ending), but I thought the novel would have worked better had it focused solely on Death and the Riders without bringing Xander into it. But it's still definitely a worthy conclusion to the series and absolutely worth reading for Death's story.

Book Thoughts: If I Should Die

Title: If I Should Die
Author: Amy Plum
Series: Revenants #3

I really loved this series, and I thought IF I SHOULD DIE was an excellent conclusion.

Beware of spoilers for the first two books! As the trilogy winds to an end, Kate and her revenant friends must search for a way to bring Vincent back while stopping Violette and her army of numa from destroying Paris. One adventure follows another, and I adored the details of the revenants' world and their relationship to the guerriseurs. I'm a sucker for good world-building, and I haven't encountered a lot of books about revenants, so I thought that was cool and I love that we're still learning along with Kate even in the third book.

I was a little disappointed that I figured out two (and a half?) major plot points well in advance (no, I'm not going to tell you which ones because spoilers), but it didn't really matter -- even though I had accurately figured out what was coming, it was super fun to see how the characters got there. And of course, I simply love the romance between Kate and Vincent and the relationships between all of the different characters.

So, yeah, highlights: fun characters and the guerriseur world and absolutely beautiful romance. A fitting end to a series that I have very much enjoyed and can wholeheartedly give my stamp of approval. :) Now if only there were more books about the Paris revenants...

Book Thoughts: Everbound

Title: Everbound
Author: Brodi Ashton
Series: Everneath #2

*Warning! Spoilers for Everneath*

I am in love with this series.

In this second installment of the trilogy, Nikki sets out to rescue Jack from the Everneath -- but to do that, she's going to have to trust Cole, something she has sworn not to do. It won't be an easy journey, and it's going to take all Nikki has to get through it, if she can at all.

I just. I know finding your "forever" love in high school is unusual, but I simply adore the relationship between Jack and Nikki. I love the flashbacks where we get to see their life together before the Everneath, and I love how much faith Nikki has in him. I also really love the relationship between Nikki and Cole: it isn't quite love, but it's something real. I like that it's a love triangle without being a love triangle -- Nikki and Jack are in love, plain and simple; Nikki does not love Cole and she knows that, but he complicates things for other reasons.

I love Brodi Ashton's writing style. I adore her conception of the Underworld and the influence of mythology (because hey, I'm a mythology geek, and if you'll play to that, you're already well on your way to winning me over). I loved getting to explore more of the Everneath in this book.

And I love that there is no middle-book syndrome here! EVERBOUND is a complete story in and of itself, certainly reliant on the previous book but definitely NOT mere filler between the beginning and the end of the trilogy.

Oh, and the other thing I loved? The plot twist. I didn't see it coming, but I should have. Can't wait for book three!

Book Thoughts: The Iron Knight

Title: The Iron Knight
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: Iron Fey #4

*Spoiler warning for earlier books in the series*

I am SO, SO GLAD we got a book four. The series was originally going to be a trilogy, leaving Meghan as the Iron Queen but at the great cost of losing Ash. But because Julie Kagawa's editor is apparently as much of a Meghan/Ash shipper as I am, we got THE IRON KNIGHT.

Told from Ash's perspective, THE IRON KNIGHT is the tale of Ash's journey to the End of the World to find a way to be with Meghan. There will be costs, there will be trials he never dreamed of, but he is determined to do anything at all so he can be with Meghan... isn't he?

I simply adore Ash and Puck both, and Grimalkin... well, if you don't love Grimalkin, I do not understand you on some fundamental level. (That's only mostly a joke.) It was super cool getting to see Ash's point of view and to see the interplay between him and Puck without Meghan around. And I just LOVE the way the series incorporates so many familiar elements of fey lore with so much new stuff and other storytelling. I am a huge fan of the setting and the characters, so the seriously epic adventure is almost icing on the cake.

For some reason, I found this one a little bit slow getting into (can't tell you why, because I loved it), but once I was into it... well. I may have stayed up until three in the morning to finish it. And by "may have" I mean "totally did."

A wonderful conclusion to a wonderful series. I definitely recommend this series to anyone looking for a fun new twist on faerie tales (or simply a great romance or adventure) and I look forward to reading more from Julie Kagawa.

Book Thoughts: Loss

Title: Loss
Author: Jackie Morse Kessler
Series: Riders of the Apocalypse #3

Billy Ballard is the local punching bag, the kid everyone picks on, the boy who never fights back. He keeps his head down at school, cares for his Alzheimer's-afflicted grandfather, and generally hates his life. He also has nightmares about the "Ice Cream Man" -- nightmares that are about to become all too real, when Death himself shows up on Billy's doorway and hands him the Bow of Pestilence.

I really enjoyed the story here -- the idea of Pestilence having been so disenchanted with and maddened by his job that he tricks little Billy, who must now at fifteen go get him back. It's a change from the previous two books; although I enjoyed both of them, the story arcs were very similar, and this one takes a slightly different tack.

I also really love the way Kessler puts words together. I love that she's putting out such a vehement anti-bullying message, and I love that she's donating proceeds from this novel to Alzheimer's research. It was a fun story and a good continuation of the series.

But Billy felt kind of flat to me. He's the school punching bag, sure, but there are references to bringing home good grades and slight hints that he's into music that could have helped him be so much more rounded as a character. There are vague indications that he has a personality besides "bullying victim," but that's the only part that's really developed. And while I think the message about standing up to bullies is incredibly important, I think it's also important to acknowledge that there is more to a person than just being bullied.

So I don't know. I definitely liked the book, but there were also things that I thought could have been better. I'm still going to look for book four for sure, but I'm not going to say LOSS is my favorite in the series.

Book Thoughts: Dead Silence

Title: Dead Silence
Author: Kimberly Derting
Series: Body Finder #4

*Spoilers for earlier books in the series*

Stuck with an imprint of her own and the terrible memories of her nearly fatal kidnapping, Violet is determined to keep her ability to sense the dead hidden. But threats from her psychiatrist are making sure she stays on her special team, and her friends are making it harder than ever to keep her two worlds separate -- especially now that Rafe and Gemma are going to her school. And when she stumbles across a particularly violent murder scene, her life gets that much crazier.

I loved the story in this one, and I continue to adore the relationship between Violet and Jay. The way the mystery unfolds is, as ever, brilliant. I was less thrilled with the conclusion, though.

If there were going to be another book in the series, then I would have no trouble with the ending whatsoever. It resolved the events of this story well; the relationships, the murder mystery, the book-specific plot events, everything was tied up. But in terms of concluding the series, I just felt like there were still way too many things left unclear about Violet's team of people, especially with all of the buildup to some Big Secret via Grandma Louise's old journals. I felt like there was a secondary mystery being heavily teased that was never resolved, which would be fine if there were another book to resolve it, but with this as probably the last in the series, I feel a little unresolved.

Even so, I enjoyed the book and would recommend the series in a heartbeat to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery.

Book Thoughts: Reached

Title: Reached
Author: Ally Condie
Series: Matched #3

*Possible spoilers for books 1 and 2*

I had high hopes for this, having loved the first two Matched books, and I was not disappointed. Reached is told in alternating perspectives between all three of the leads: Cassia, Xander, and Ky. There were times when I got confused as to who was narrating, but I think it was good to see the story from all three perspectives.

And what a story it was. Oh, man. I cried.

The story continues to explore the nature of choice and freedom, hitting the characters with some really tough choices about who to love and who to save and how to use their skills for good. The romance played out beautifully, and so did the other kinds of love: familial, platonic, and a general love for humanity. As Cassia, Ky, and Xander struggle to navigate love, loss, disease, and loyalty, the Society may be changing from its very foundations.

Also, wow I love the way this trilogy deals with a change of leadership in a dystopian society. I don't want to say too much because spoilers, but the interplay between the Rising and the Society is brilliant and makes the dystopian-psychology nut in me freak the heck out.

As I mentioned earlier, some of the narrative-switching got a little difficult to follow, but on the whole I think this was a beautiful conclusion to a beautiful trilogy: the story kept moving and wrapped up well, and I was sad to let the characters go. (Also I cried. That's a thing that happened.)

Having read all three books now, I can safely say that this series is a good one through and through.

Book Thoughts: A Million Suns

Title: A Million Suns
Author: Beth Revis
Series: Across the Universe #2

*Possible spoilers for book 1*

I love mysteries. I really, really do. And I love stories about space travel and I love dystopias and basically wow this series is perfect for me.

Three months ago, the world as Amy knew it changed. Instead of waking up on a new planet with her parents, she's woken up on a seriously troubled spaceship while her parents are still cryogenically frozen. But the apparently evil Orion has left her some clues to a big secret that may turn even this new world on its head. Meanwhile, Elder is trying to be a leader, but what if his people don't want to be led?

I love the characters, I love the story, I adore the mystery and the way information is revealed. Also, yeah, the romance. (Beth Revis, you are an A+ writer.) I love the way this book tackles the very real issues of leadership and control and feelings of helplessness and even things like sexual assault while still managing to be a ridiculously fun outer-space adventure. If you haven't read this series, get to it!

(P.S. Kayleigh as the character always tinkering with mechanical things? I have caught your Firefly reference and I love it.)

Book Thoughts: Until I Die

Title: Until I Die
Author: Amy Plum
Series: Die for Me #2

**Potential spoilers for Book 1! Read at your own risk**

The revenants of Paris have welcomed Kate among them, but she still feels like an outsider. Especially when snobby ancient revenants Arthur and Violette arrive to deal with the mysteriously quiet numa. At least Kate has Vincent -- but now he's keeping secrets too. What will it take for their impossible love to work?

This series... paranormal romance done right. I love the way Kate and Vincent's relationship works. It's a very normal, healthy, human relationship, focusing on more aspects of the relationship than just "he's undead, she's alive." (Although yeah, that's there too.) It's a steamy romance but the characters are about so much more than being in a paranormal romance. I don't feel like I'm saying this well. Point is, yes good romance.

Also: yes good fantasy. Loving the whole revenants deal, it's not an idea you see explored in a lot of modern fantasy, and it's always fun to get daylight interaction with characters from thousands of years ago. There's a little bit of middle-book syndrome going on, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story and characters and look forward to reading the third one!

Book Thoughts: The Death Cure

Title: The Death Cure
Author: James Dashner
Series: Maze Runner #3

I was really excited to get my hands on this one after the first two books in the trilogy. I don't know whether it was that I hadn't read the earlier books in a while or what, but The Death Cure didn't really live up to my expectations.

It was still good -- I still liked the characters and it was fascinating seeing the development of everything with the illness and the real world outside the maze and all of that. It was a fascinating setting, but it felt... redundant?

I don't know. I think there could have been a lot more closure (I wish there had been), I think the story could have ended better. Not plot-wise, but writing-wise. I wanted to see a better conclusion to the trilogy.

Mind you, even knowing that I would be kind of disappointed, I would still definitely read it, because after the first two, you have to know how it ends. And I feel like I'm making it sound like it was a terrible book -- it wasn't. It just wasn't up to par with the first two-thirds of the trilogy.