The Death Cure

While I love to finish a trilogy it's still always bittersweet.  You (or at least I) wait a year for each book to hit the shelves, hoping it will be better than the last and, you read the books so fast because you're already attached to the characters and you devour it and forget to savor.  I ate this book up just like I did the previous two.

As it says on the back of this last book, "The time for lies is over."  After Thomas has endured the maze and the scorch he didn't know how much worse it could get.  Now he's out in the real world and he's not the only one who wants to bring WICKED down.  He and his fellow Gladers are through with the torture and the death these people have put them through and there has to be a way to stop them.  Will he find it?  Or will he have to endure yet another game?  I'll leave that up to you to find out.

This trilogy keeps you reading and not want to put the books down.  Filled with adventure and mystery and real-life emotion.  Let me know what you think of it.  Personally, I really liked this trilogy.  It didn't end quite how I hoped it would, but I'm not saying it was bad.  Just different than I expected.  This last book was also a bit sad.  With a story like this one there is bound to be a bit of sadness, but overall, it was really good.  I recommend The Maze Runner trilogy by James Dashner.  I hope you enjoy it too!

Happy Reading!

Christmas Jars

There's something about the upcoming holidays that brings out the very best in people.  Thanksgiving helps us realize how much we've been given and been blessed with.  With a heart so full of gratitude it's hard not to share.  And what happens during Christmastime?  A lot of sharing and giving.

For my book club this month our book is Christmas Jars.  I just finished reading it, and that's probably a good idea since our meeting is tonight.  (You could read it in one sitting. ;) It's one of those stories that lifts your heart and makes you want to give a "Christmas Jar" of your own.  This story shows that no small act of kindness goes unnoticed.  I don't want to say too much about it.  Just know that I sat here at work attempting to hold back tears and wasn't very successful.  If you are looking for a good Christmas book to get you into the spirit of giving, I recommend this one. 

I Finally Finished

That's right.  I finally finished my novel!  Okay, not my novel, but the novel I was reading.  It took me an unnecessarily long time to finish.  I guess that's what two busy jobs will do to you.  There was a time when I literally didn't understand how a person could "have no time to read".  I guess part of me understands a bit better now.  Mostly, I still think it's an excuse because most of those people still find time to watch TV...

Anyway, let's get to the point.  The First King of Shannara was a great book.  My brother has been begging me to read it for years and I always seemed to have an excuse.  High fantasy, as you all know, is not always my favorite genre to read.  Yes, The Hobbit was completely enjoyable, but that's about all I've ventured to read.  While I'm not ready to start writing stories about elves, dwarfs, and wizards, my eyes have been opened to explore fantasy a little more.

The First King of Shannara is about a group of people sought after by Bremen to join forces to bring down the Warlock Lord--a man who has let evil magic consume him beyond return.  The characters are well crafted and I couldn't help but care for them.  I wanted them to succeed and find peace after their quest.  Each character had something unique to offer and the mystery in some of them compelled me to keep reading.  There are beautiful images evoked in some of the scenes thanks to the way the story is told.

There were times when I felt everything used too many words, but I'm always looking for ways to squeeze as much meaning into a sentence as I can with as few words as possible.  Wordy language is also the nature of fantasy books.  People don't speak in contractions and they are often formal.  But, like I said earlier, the character still come through.  Despite these few things, I really liked this book and I would recommend it.

Happy Reading!