The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Titel: The Maze Runner
Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte books
First published: 2009
Pages: 374 (Hardcover version)
Series: The Maze Runner trilogy
Star rating: *****

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.

This was just non-stop action from page one as we follow Thomas on his adventure in the glade along with all the other Gladers.

I really liked all the mysteries in this novel about the world of the Glade and to follow Thomas as he and his fellow gladers try to solve it. It seemed as if no one in the glade knew the truth and I couldn’t wait to find some answers to all the questions just like most of the characters.

Bringing me to the characters; Thomas was likable main character, I wasn’t loving him but his reasoning seemed well… reasonable. He did have his flaws but also some strengths as well. He reacted like I think a lot of people would if they were thrown in to the Glade.

The side characters were great as well and all had an amount of depth to them. Bringing me to this: CHUCK! Yes, I don’t really have more to say on that subject besides the word above. 

The glade was just so creepy because it sometimes felt so real and the maze and those sneaky monsters… I liked how the Gladers had tried to build a society thinking there was no way out of the mysterious maze. They seemed sometimes a little to mature for their age because not everyone would some up with a system that actually worked.

All together I really liked this novel and will definitely read The scorch trials sometime soon because I have so many unanswered questions that I can’t wait to get answered. 

Before I fall by Lauren Oliver

Titel: Before I fall
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: Harper Collins
First published: 2011
Pages: 470 (Hardback) 
Series: Stand alone
Star rating: *****


What if you only had one day to live? What would you do? Who would you kiss? And how far would you go to save your own life?

Samantha Kingston has it all: looks, popularity, the perfect boyfriend. Friday, February 12, should be just another day in her charmed life. Instead, it turns out to be her last.

The catch: Samantha still wakes up the next morning. Living the last day of her life seven times during one miraculous week, she will untangle the mystery surrounding her death—and discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing

This novel was just magnificent. It’s not the kind of novel I would usually read, but it had gotten so many rave reviews so I thought I would give it a shot anyways. I am so glad I did ‘cause it was just splendidly brilliant –a turn you learn from British commentators while they cheer for the British rowing team.

The big thing, for me, in this book was the main character. Samantha Kingston or Sam. In the beginning she was one of the really popular girls and so on rather stereotype as to what you see in movies. Someone I couldn’t relate to at all, I having never been that kind of person. But she changed. She grew up and learned so much about the world in that last week compared to her entire time in High school. It was a really wonderful journey to take with her, as I slowly began to relate more and more to her.

The plot was really wonderfully done, and the pacing was really good. Oliver didn’t dwell too long on 1 day but didn’t just skip through it in a couple of paragraphs. In my version there was about 60 pages to each day and that was sufficient. Each day would bring a whole new aspect to Sam’s character and show how our small actions can change the lives of so many people. 

The emotions felt so real in this book so that in the end I cried even though I had expected the ending I still cried it was just that good. I cared so much for the characters that I just went: “No…” with eyes sparkling.

In conclusion (Yeah!) I thought that this book is just brilliant and Oliver’s writing is beautiful making you flow with the story and meet some splendid characters in the way as you go on an adventure with Sam to become a better human being.

Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Titel: Bitterblue
Author: Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Dial
First published: 2012
Pages: 563 (Hardcover version)
Series: Sequel to Graceling and companion to Fire
Star rating: *****


Eight years after Graceling, Bitterblue is now queen of Monsea. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisors, who have run things since Leck died, believe in a forward-thinking plan: Pardon all who committed terrible acts under Leck’s reign, and forget anything bad ever happened. But when Bitterblue begins sneaking outside the castle—disguised and alone—to walk the streets of her own city, she starts realizing that the kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year spell of a madman, and the only way to move forward is to revisit the past.

Two thieves, who only steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck’s reign. And one of them, with an extreme skill called a Grace that he hasn’t yet identified, holds a key to her heart.


Ever since I finished Graceling in the beginning of the year I have wanted to read Bitterblues story, and she was one of my favourite characters in Graceling if not my favourite and that is saying a lot. Therefore when starting this story I had rather high expectations and it didn't surpass them but it didn't disappoint either. 

First of the pictures at each part was just so great and I had of course looked at all of them before starting and there they made no sense but as I got to each part I was like: "Ahhh, now I get it.." And also the key at the beginning of each chapter was just great.

I liked the characters in this book, both the new ones and my old friends from Graceling. I liked to see that Bitterblue had grown so much from the little scared girl from Graceling to a young woman. I felt I could identify with her a lot. As much as you can with a queen in a fantasy world. The need to know and her curiosity. She also grew a lot in this book because she had to figure out how rule her kingdom where she had previously just been guided by her advisers and she had to be more independent. 

I liked her advisers and their stories and how they all just fitted together in the puzzle. Just how different they were and yet somehow the same.

Saf and Teddy were just awesome! I really them in general. Well mostly Teddy and his book of words and Book of truths. Saf was just cool in his own way...

I really liked seeing some of the great characters from Graceling. Especially Po and Katsa but they were a little too much somehow. I liked Gideon a lot better in this one then in Graceling. We got to see a lot more of his character and I got more depth in this one.

All the ciphers and how the plot just came together in the end was really great and I really really liked that part, and just the plot in general.

All in all this a wonderful book by Kristin Cashore, and I therefore Rate it 4 stars or maybe 4,5, but it wasn't quite a 5 star for me. Can't wait to see what Kristin comes out with next. 

Hunger by Michael Grant

Titel: Hunger
Author: Michael Grant
Publisher: Harper Teen
First published: 2009
Pages: 590 (Hardback version
Series: Gone
Star rating: *****


It's been three months since everyone under the age of fifteen became trapped in the bubble known as the FAYZ.

Three months since all the adults disappeared. GONE.

Food ran out weeks ago. Everyone is starving, but no one wants to figure out a solution. And each day, more and more kids are evolving, developing supernatural abilities that set them apart from the kids without powers. Tension rises and chaos is descending upon the town. It's the normal kids against the mutants. Each kid is out for himself, and even the good ones turn murderous.

But a larger problem looms. The Darkness, a sinister creature that has lived buried deep in the hills, begins calling to some of the teens in the FAYZ. Calling to them, guiding them, manipulating them.

The Darkness has awakened. And it is hungry.

The sequel was even better then Gone and I adored Gone. 

This book takes off 3 months after Gone, and food i scarce and everyone is doing anything just to survive from day to day.

This book was just fantastic there was even more creepiness then in the first in the series with more mutated animals and kids. 

I have one problem with this book though. There are so many characters that it's crazy so one second we'll be following Sam and then we'll be following different people for the next 4 chapters and then return to Sam, and since I like some characters better it it irritating that in one book I might only get their point of view for a couple of chapters total. On the other hand this is actually really great because you get to understand all the different characters and not just one protagonist or antagonist. You learn about all the other ones as well.

The pacing in this book was really fast I think everything that happend in this book was in a couple of days or something like that, and there was just something happening all the time. 

I won't start to try and name all the characters and say my likes and dislikes because that would take up way too much time, but overall I like most of the characters and Drake is just creepy....

All in all this was a great sequel and it left me wanting to read the next one, which I did and I fell mostly the same and there will probably not be a review for that one, but I will post one for Plague once I read that.

Fire by Kristin Cashore

Titel: Fire
Author: Kristin Cashore
Publisher: Gollancz
First published: 2009
Pages: 461 (Paperback version)
Series: Companion Novel to Graceling and Bitterblue
Star rating: *****


It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.

This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she has the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.

Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City. The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there’s more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.

If only she weren’t afraid of becoming the monster her father was.


Fire, fire, fire... Where to start? 

I really enjoyed this novel, it took me rather long to read which is rather odd, since it was really a wonderful story that Cashore told. I don't think I liked it better then Graceling, they are equal. 

The main characters in this one were all so awesome! I loved Fire, she had so much spirit and personality. Her powers are really cool as well, I liked the idea of monsters. Fire had a lot of depth and you kept on discovering new sides of her, that were all so interesting.

I really just adored Brigan, he was just fantastic. First he seemed rather cruel, but as the novel wore on you learned so much more about him, and his reasons etc. His and Fires relationship was also so wonderful, and probably one of the reasons I never really liked Archer. Lots of the other characters were really great as well.

I really love the court and royal business and there is lots of it in this one. You got to see a country at war with itself, and a king struggling to keep the Kingdom together, the spies network, switching loyalties at court and so on. 

The plot in this novel was really cool but the pacing was sometimes a little weird a bit as in Graceling, but otherwise it worked just fine and wasn't confusing or anything

This was a great companion novel to Graceling even though I missed Katsa and Po... I definitely think you should read Graceling first since Fire can give away a few spoilers for Graceling.

Switched by Amanda Hocking

Titel: Switched
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: Tor
First published: 2010
Pages: 328 pages
Series: Trylle Trilogy
Star rating: *****


What if your entire world was built on a lie?

Wendy Everly knew she was different the day her mother tried to kill her and accused her of having been switched at birth. Although certain she’s not the monster her mother claims she is – she does feel that she doesn’t quite fit in...

She’s bored and frustrated by her small town life – and then there’s the secret that she can’t tell anyone. Her mysterious ability – she can influence people’s decisions, without knowing how, or why...

When the intense and darkly handsome newcomer Finn suddenly turns up at her bedroom window one night – her world is turned upside down. He holds the key to her past, the answers to her strange powers and is the doorway to a place she never imagined could exist. Förening, the home of the Trylle.

Finally everything makes sense. Among the Trylle, Wendy is not just different, but special. But what marks her out as chosen for greatness in this world also places her in grave danger. With everything around her changing, Finn is the only person she can trust. But dark forces are conspiring – not only to separate them, but to see the downfall everything that Wendy cares about.

The fate of Förening rests in Wendy’s hands, and the decisions she and Finn make could change all their lives forever...

The premise of this book didn't sound overly original, but it was about trolls! Most books are about Vampires, faeries, Witches, Wizards, werewolves and that kind of stuff. But this is the first I have encountered that featured trolls outside of a fantasy realm.

The trolls in this book are not really troll like. When someone says troll to me I think of those ugly dump creatures from Lord of the Rings. That is not the case with Amanda Hocking. When someone says troll to her it is a person who looks rather human and with humanintelligence, short tempered, hate shoes, prefer organic food, crazy hair and sometimes some weird superpowers. This is when I go WHAT? You call that a troll? That just sounds like human with some special interests and superpowers, not a troll.

Aside from the fact that the trolls are rather weird, the world of Förening is really awesome. So if we could just swap those excuses for some trolls with real trolls or superheroes it would be awesome! We can keep the trackers and the mänskligs.

The characters in this book were alright, they weren't the best characters ever, but they weren't irritating either... At least most of the time they weren't.

Wendy was a fine character I didn't love her or anything, but she made some good and bad choices, was lucky and unlucky, sometimes i wanted to just slap her in the face, but other times I was cheering her along.

Finn -The love interest if hadn't figured that out from the synopsis was an okay character but he was rather withdrawn and one moment he is one way and a few pages later he is a whole other person. It's like he keeps on changing personality to fit the story and that is rather irritating

Asides from those two I liked most of the other characters. I really likes Rhys, he was always so happy compared to all the others and i liked Rhiannon as well.

I have one more thing that is bugging me about this book; The ending. It felt so rushed and everything beforehand had been described in great detail and then the last part wrapped up so quickly and then it was just done...

So overall I liked this book, but is not my favourite book ever, since I had some issues with it but enjoyed the book in general.

Pegasus and the Flame by Kate O'Hearn

Titel: Pegasus and the Flame
Author: Kate O 'hearn
Publisher: Hodder childen's books 
First published: 2011
Pages: 344
Series: Pegasus
Star rating: *****


When Pegasus crashes onto a Manhattan roof during a terrible storm, Emily’s life changes forever. Suddenly allied with a winged horse she’d always thought was mythical, Emily is thrust into the center of a fierce battle between the Roman gods and a terrifying race of multiarmed stone warriors called the Nirads. Emily must team up with a thief named Paelen, the goddess Diana, and a boy named Joel in order to return Pegasus to Olympus and rescue the gods from a certain death.

Along the way, Emily and her companions will fight monsters, run from a government agency that is prepared to dissect Pegasus, and even fly above the Manhattan skyline—all as part of a quest to save Olympus before time runs out.


Hmm, in between 3 and 4 stars I think...Whatever I'll just give it 4 stars, Since I have no idea how to give half stars..
This book tells the story of Emily who is thrown into a world full of Roman myths and all of that. Since I love greek and Roman mythology and stuff like that, this sounded like a book I would enjoy, and I definitely did. It was just so full of Action and I really liked that.

The gods were written about more humanlike then I am used to from my beloved Percy Jackson series. They are just so different, and sometimes different is a good thing and sometimes not. In this book it was mostly a bad one. Maybe it's just because I am used to the way they are presented in Percy Jackson, and not really liking the change. That is probably very likely. 

The other myths I found really cool though especially Pegasus. Which is a good thing since Pegasus is kind of important in this book, and probably the next ones as well. 

This book was really fast paced, and sometimes it was too fast paced. In the beginning where Emily meets Pegasus she starts of totally not believing and then 5 minuts later she is running down in her apartment to get a WINGED HORSE food, and actually believing that it's a winged horse! For real? You believe in the myths like that? The horse didn't even explain a thing, or anything like that Pegasus just stood there, and Emily believed in the myths..

All together I think this is a very enjoyable novel, very fast paced light adventure. It has myths and that is basically what makes me like this book. It is also rather clear that it is written for children, and is a good fun adventure read if you have just read some really heavy book.