Category Archives: Book Reviews

Review of “The Fever Code” by James Dashner

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The Fever Code - James DashnerTitle: The Fever Code
Author: James Dashner
Series: The Maze Runner #0.6
Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian
Pages: 347
Published: 2016, Delacorte Press
My Grade: 5 out of 5 subjects

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

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 REVIEW

Yes, everything was definitely revealed. And it was shocking! One sentence on the second to last page made me see the whole Maze Runner trilogy completely different. When I finished this in the middle of the night last night, I couldn’t fall asleep until I had grasped what the three original books was about. And how all that changed with just that one sentence. It is crazy! It is klunking crazy!

I loved the Maze Runner series. It is up there with The Hunger Games and Divergent. Dystopian adventures for young adults. I guess Silo is the same but for older people. Anyway, the Maze Runner is amazing, loved all four books (The Kill Order, Maze Runner, Scorch Trials and the Death Cure), though the Death Cure was not as good as the rest. When the first prequel came out I was so excited to finally find out why the Maze Trials was a thing. But it didn’t really cover why WICKED did what they did, the Kill Order just described what happened during the flare and up until WICKED. The Fever Code takes place right after the Kill order and explains exactly everything that happened between the Kill Order and Maze Runner. Everything is now clear and it is more understandable why Thomas acted the way he did in the last parts of the series, even though he never recovered his lost memories, which is basically this book.

This bookis very similar to the rest in the series, which describes itself. They are really really really really good. So I recommend everyone who is into this genre, to read it, but only after the other four are read. It would not be as fun to read the original series and knowing what is revealed on the second to last page in this book. It is an easy five out of five!

Review of “Empire of Storms” by Sarah J. Maas

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Empire of StormsTitle: Empire of Storms
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #5
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 704
Published: 2016, Bloomsbury Publishing
My Grade: 5 out of 5 embers

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don’t.

As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

Aelin’s journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?

 

MY REVIEW

I don’t want to wait until September next year to find out how this amazing series ends! This book’s cliffhanger at the end was the worst yet. I would lie if I said I didn’t cry. I am sure Sarah J. Maas is no George R. R. Martin so the ending most likely will be a happy one. But it is hard to see right now after that horrible and shocking ending.

Anyway, this is one of the best series I have ever read and the books just get better and better, this one is the best so far! The first one, Throne of Glass, was an incredible introduction to the series which sort of had its own story and style while the next three books kind of all blend together now that I try to think back on them. It was a while ago I read them and many books have been read since. But those three right now feels like traveling books, each focusing on an important part of Aelin’s road to regaining her kingdom though, leading up to this one. I remember the fourth one was a bit confusing because a big part was focusing on new characters and I had no idea what role they would play, but in this book, all the puzzle pieces fell into place. And not just that part, but everything else so far. You read the books, love them, feel confused but eager to find out why, and this book finally has all the answers. I love that feeling and this one was full of it!

One thing that bothered me a little was the new parts Sarah added. The sex. Sure, it is entertaining to read, but this story is so amazing in itself, that it only made it feel like she wanted to try something new. I mean, the scenes were well-written and around a hundred times better than Fifty Shades of Grey. But those scenes weren’t really needed and it felt too much when the same thing happened to all of the immortal characters who have lived forever and ever and all of them experienced the best sex they had ever had at the same time, in the same group of people. It was too much.

But except for that minor thing, this book is still one of the absolute best ones I have ever read! I want to give it a grade 6, but I can’t be that silly so I will have to stick to a 5. Everyone, if you haven’t read this series, please read it now. Or wait until next summer and read all six of them right after each other, because this year-long-waiting between every book is killing me.

Review of “1984” by George Orwell

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1984-george-orwellTitle: 1984
Author: George Orwell
Series: –
Genre: Science Fiction, Political Fiction, Dystopian
Pages: 328
Published: 1949, Penguin Books
My Grade: 5 out of 5 posters

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

The year 1984 has come and gone, but George Orwell’s prophetic, nightmarish vision in 1949 of the world we were becoming is timelier than ever. 1984 is still the great modern classic of “negative utopia” -a startlingly original and haunting novel that creates an imaginary world that is completely convincing, from the first sentence to the last four words. No one can deny the novel’s hold on the imaginations of whole generations, or the power of its admonitions -a power that seems to grow, not lessen, with the passage of time.

 

MY REVIEW

Wow! Just wow. It has truly been a delight to read this extremely dark dystopian novel. After about ten pages I felt connection to this book because of the way it was written. It has now been 67 years since this book was first published, it came out right after WWII, it’s forever ago!! But you couldn’t tell (like with Lord of the Flies). I don’t know how to describe it, but the words Orwell used, the sentence structure, it just made so much sense and I felt the flow when I was reading it like I have never done before.

And then comes the story on top of that. Wow again! It is not a story in a way that the characters move around and do stuff all the time, not like Lord of the Rings for example, or Maze Runner. This is just simply about a man in a big-brother society who questions big brother. You get to follow his line of thought, you get to see him fall in love, and seemingly getting away with it all. I can’t really say anything that won’t spoil, but most of the book was just a long way towards the end where everything happened. I still don’t really understand how or why it ended like it did. The last page and what happened there, I totally get, but not the part before that. It was really a mindfuck-read. I didn’t expect it to be, but it really was. This book kind of reminded me of the movie Shutter Island (I haven’t read the book yet, Patient 97, but it is on my list).

It’s scary to think about really. I know it is a made-up story, but how can a country (or empire maybe? I don’t know what they called it) just so easily buy everything that Big Brother says? One day the news sadly announced that the chocolate ratio had gone down from 30g per week to 20g. And literally the next day the news announced that the chocolate ratio had increased to 20g and everyone is super happy about it. No questions whatsoever about the news the day before! It is the same with everything Big Brother tells them. Winston (the main character) understands how, but not the why. The end of the book explains why, and it is scary because that is probably true in reality too.

It is hard to write reviews without spoiling. To sum it up, it is an easy and very enjoyable read, you kind of have to be focused while reading it to not miss something, lots of things happen in the end and after it is all done, you can’t stop yourself from asking “what the fuck?” Definitely one of the best books I have ever read, so I strongly recommend everyone to read it, especially people who love dystopian future novels. Crystal clear five!

Review of “Magic in North America” by J. K. Rowling

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History of Magic in North America - [J. K. Rowling]Title: “History of Magic in North America” + “Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry”
Author: J. K. Rowling
Series: –
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 16 + 32
Published: 2016 (on http://www.pottermore.com)
My Grade: 5 out of 5 snakes

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

 

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MY REVIEW

I recently rediscovered pottermore.com and I am not dissappointed. I did not know that Rowling wrote stuff on there related to the Harry Potter universe, but she does, and it is so great! Short stories about everything. So far I have only read two of the things posted there (two bigger writings) and they are both about the wizardry world over in America. History of Magic in North America is a short description of, well, the history of magic in North America. It was too short in my opinion, it seems like a very interesting history and I would love to know some more! Maybe Rowling eventually will write a series that takes place at Ilvermorny? Because that sounds like a really cool place. That would be the greatest thing ever.

The second thing I read was the history of Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Longer than the first text and written like a short story. I haven’t really read Rowling’s original writing (since I read all the Harry Potter books in Swedish) before, but after reading this, I really really want to read the original series in English. Is that a project I will take upon myself next? Probably.

These are short texts, but if you love Harry Potter, you should most definitely check them out. On pottermore.com there are also writings on the other schools. 5 out of 5, since, well.. it is J. K. Rowling.

 

Review of “Lord of the Flies” by William Golding

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Lord of the Flies - [William Golding]Title: Lord of the Flies
Author: William Golding
Series: –
Genre: Fiction, Classic
Pages: 205
Published: 1954
My Grade: 4 out of 5 smoke detectors

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

When a plane crashes on a remote island, a small group of schoolboys are the sole survivors. From the prophetic Simon and virtuous Ralph to the lovable Piggy and brutish Jack, each of the boys attempts to establish control as the reality – and brutal savagery – of their situation sets in.

The boys’ struggle to find a way of existing in a community with no fixed boundaries invites readers to evaluate the concepts involved in social and political constructs and moral frameworks. Ideas of community, leadership, and the rule of law are called into question as the reader has to consider who has a right to power, why, and what the consequences of the acquisition of power may be. Often compared to Catcher in the Rye, Lord of the Flies also represents a coming-of-age story of innocence lost.

 

MY REVIEW

I am surprised at why I didn’t read this one in school many many years ago. Doesn’t everyone read Lord of the Flies in school and have to write analyses on what the deeper meaning of the book is? I didn’t and therefore felt that I really should read this and see why it is so loved by teachers. I definitely see why it is considered to be a classic. And it is most definitely a book that fits right in with today’s societal problems. The main story of young boys getting stranded on a deserted island is an exciting story in itself. It is an intriguing scenario where most people can only imagine what it would be like, what they would do and what their new personalities would develop into. I honestly felt uneasy at several points in the story and I also caught myself making faces on the train on my way to and from work. It is a brutal story and it is hard to imagine why some of the 12 year-old boys could cmpletely change personalities and become violent-loving tyrants. It is really sad. The sides, represented by the rule-abiding nice-guy Ralph and the bloodlusting hunter Jack, can be compared to society. Ralph stands for politics and democracy and only tries to do what’s best for everyone, keeping the fire alive so a ship can see them and come to rescue. Jack wants to have fun, he wants to go hunting and loves the drama and stands up to Ralph. He gets lots of followers and in the end the good side only consists of Ralph and the smart, but rather disliked boy Piggy.

One thing that didn’t really feel good when reading this, was that I never really knew the characters. Most of them were just names, but still mentioned a lot. It was first at the end where the names were fewer that you understood them better. It was also written rather inconsistently. It almost felt like there were two different authors. This is a book meant for children, but in some places it was written with many difficult words that I don’t even know and had to look up. But in most places the language was normal. It should have been consistent throughout in my opinion. It would have been easier to read, either way. The characters felt their age, however. It is not often that a book nowadays has characters that act their age, they usually come off much older. But these boys really felt like 12. Good.

I don’t really know what else to write, it was well worth my time, and I do get it why students read it in school. But maybe more kids would appreciate it more if they waited some years. I give it a 4.

Review of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” by J. K. Rowling

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Title: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One and Two
Author: J. K. Rowling, John Tiffany, Jack Thorne
Series: Harry Potter #8 (of 8)
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 343
Published: 2016
My Grade: 5 out of 5 love potions

 

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London’s West End on July 30, 2016.
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.
While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

 

MY REVIEW

A new Harry Potter story? I was ecstatic when I learned about this fantastic piece of news a while ago. I had no idea what this new book was about before though, I like having no expectations on.., anything really. I did know that it was about Harry’s son, 19 years after the Deathly Hallows, but nothing more than that. So after reading four pages of this book I had to open up Google in the dark of our bedroom and look up if I really had the right version of this book (since I am reading it on my eReader – a Kobo GLO HD if anyone is wondering, the best thing I have ever bought). Turns out, this book is the script for the play. That was a surprise I did not enjoy. I was expecting a new amazing story written by J. K. Rowling, like the old books were written. So I was hugely disappointed at first. But once I got into the story I enjoyed it very much and finished it in two days. The story is amazing and very easy to read, the pages just fly by in that format. And I think that the reason I could get so into the story is because I have read the previous books and know the environments and could picture it all while reading the short environment descriptions and dialogues. My plan was to reread the seven books before this one since I haven’t read them in English and I read them when they came out many years ago. But I got impatient and it worked out well anyway. But now on the other hand, I really really want to reread the original seven.

If you have read the previous Harry Potter books, you will love this story where Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy (who is my favorite character by the way, he makes the book even better) tries to do something heroic but it obviously doesn’t go that way. Even though I was disappointed at first, it won’t take the grade down from a crystal clear 5.

Review of ‘The End’ by Lemony Snicket

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Lemony Snicket - The EndTitle: The End
Author: Lemony Snicket
Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events #13 (of 13)
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Mystery
Pages: 337
Published: 2006, Scholastic, Inc.
My Grade: 3.5 out of 5 grapes

Since this is the last book in a series of 13, and I didn’t come up with the idea of expanding my blog and writing reviews during the first 12, I will try to write this review on the whole series with this one as the base. Here’s a link to all the books on Goodreads.

 

 

GOODREADS’ DESCRIPTION

Dear Reader,
You are presumably looking at the back of this book, or the end of THE END. The end of THE END is the best place to begin THE END, because if you read THE END from the beginning of the beginning of THE END to the end of the end of THE END, you will arrive at the end of the end of your rope.
This book is the last in A Series of Unfortunate Events, and even if you braved the previous twelve volumes, you probably can’t stand such unpleasantries as a fearsome storm, a suspicious beverage, a herd of wild sheep, an enormous bird cage, and a truly haunting secret about the Baudelaire parents.
It has been my solemn occupation to complete the history of the Baudelaire orphans, and at last I am finished. You likely have some other occupation, so if I were you I would drop this book at once, so THE END does not finish you.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

 

MY REVIEW

It is always a strange feeling that comes after finishing a book series. And especially a long one. The End was the thirteenth book in the series about the unfortunate events the Baudelaire children experienced.  Even if they are considered books for children, I am glad I decided to read them now, as an almost-adult. But I can also see the benefits of reading them as a kid since the books are not only intriguing, but they are written in a rather educational way. It would probably be appropriate to add ‘dictionary’ as one of the genres since the books are always describing both difficult words and sayings and honestly, I have learned a lot. While at the same time they were easy to read and follow.

The characters felt a bit unreal, but it is a story meant to entertain children, and a normal 14-, 13- and 1-year old would not be fun to read about, so I did not bother to think about that at all after the first two books. Their personalities are interesting though, age aside, and my favorite would be Sunny, the baby, she is cool.

Something I didn’t really like about the books was that the first five or so, had the exact same story. And it got a little boring and a little hard to want to continue like that for thirteen books. But, it changed and all the rest of the books had different stories. Another annoying thing that I found while reading these books these last few months, was that the mysteries the siblings were trying to figure out, made me curious and eager to read more. And then it made me very frustrated when no real answers were given, but rather more questions. Sorry for that spoiler.

To sum up, the series was really good, no time was wasted while reading it, but I don’t really feel that a straight 3 or 4 would be correct, so I will give a 3.5 as the final grade for this book/series.