Monthly Archives: April 2015

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April 24, 2015

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5 of 5 stars to “The Scorch Trials” by James Dashner

Scorch trials

WICKED is good?

The Maze trails were brutal. Now, safe in the care of their rescuers, Thomas and the Gladers can relax and begin to heal from the horrors of the past months.

But WICKED is not done yet.

They have more trials in store for Thomas and his friends. They’re ready to plunge the boys into dangers that will make the Maze trials seem like child’s-play. There will be peril, murder, betrayal, tough decisions and heart-break along the way. This time, there are no rules and only one objective: to survive.

Dashner has his foot on the accelerator and he’s not letting up in this second, thrilling installment of The Maze runner series. Once again, the fantasy world created by the author (and WICKED) is unique, filled with “variables” that terrify and have you sitting on the edge of your seat.

Some of the characters who I felt were a little “shallow” in The Maze Runner got a chance to shine in this novel. Teresa’s character played a bigger, although very ambiguous role, but we got to see a little more of what drives her. Minho gained strength throughout the journey. The main storyline revolved around Thomas though, and his reactions to the people and challenges thrown at him.

I was hoping for some more answers to questions raised in The Maze Runner, but I think I have even more than when I started. I am dying to find out what WICKED has in store for Thomas and I’m positive that Dashner will finally deliver the answers in an action-packed third installment!

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April 20, 2015

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5 of 5 stars to ‘Drums of Autumn’ by Diana Gabaldon

Drums of Autumn

Another sterling installment 

Claire Randall is happily living her life alongside her husband Jamie Fraser two hundred years ago – or so Brianna thinks, until she discovers a newspaper clipping from the past. Now she must choose between staying with the man she loves, or risking everything to change the past.

I’ve got to admit that every time I start another book in the Outlander series, I’m expecting the worst. I keep thinking: what more could happen and how could Ms Gabaldon possibly hold my attention through another couple of hundred pages after the thousands I’ve already read? Yet without fail, when I read the last sentence of each novel, I’m left holding my breath, wanting more.

This installment focuses greatly on one of the most interesting issues raised by the series – the question of whether it is possible to change the past, whether doing so is morally correct, what effects changing the past has on the future and whether the fates are truly fated. This issue is of particular importance with the character of Bonnet and it is fascinating and heart-breaking to watch the Frasers reap the consequences of their timeline interferences.

The relationship between mother, daughter and father is heart-warming. Each character is so human and the dynamics between them are so realistic and yet so right for the time period. In a time when women were married and became mothers in their early teens, I particularly enjoyed the freedom and maturity of interaction between Brianna and her mother. Claire is always there for her daughter, but she allows her to experience her own life and reap the consequences of her own actions.

What I found really interesting, is the way in which Ms Gabaldon created a relationship between two characters who never meet – James and Frank. The effect each one has on the other through the characters of Claire, Rodger and Brianna is fascinating to behold.

The historical setting is once again unique, realistic and rustic. Ms Gabaldon’s descriptions of untamed America are sweeping, beautiful, wild and fresh. I’m astounded by the ease with which she can switch settings from Scotland to France, Jamaica to America and can only assume that she has done her research well and travelled too!

This is still one of the best series I’ve ever read!