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Booksnthreads (19 KP) rated The Maze Runner in Books

Jun 4, 2018

The Maze Runner

James Dashner | 2011 | Children

8.0

(55 Ratings)

Book Rating

Eventually, this one redeemed itself for me. The last half of the book, once all the exposition is out of the way, gets really interesting and does eventually reach the point where you can’t put the book down.

I think Dashner’s strength here is really in his character development. Even once the action begins, the characters’ actions and choices align with what you’ve learned about them, and while some of those choices lead to tragic consequences, they are completely in keeping with the characters’ personalities and experiences. It’s nice to see this kind of thought and sophistication put into a novel geared toward young adults.

In addition to my complaint about the frustratingly slow start and exposition, I was also bothered by what seems to be the standard strategy for serial writers…the ending that leaves you with more questions than answers. I’ve only read a handful of YA novels that deal with this well, where the current storyline is given just enough resolution to satisfy me as a reader while leaving enough of a door open to entice me to continue reading the series.

Dashner really treads that fine line and doesn’t quite make it for me, leaving me frustrated enough that rather than being eager to begin the next novel, I just want to toss this one in the corner. Okay, maybe not that strong of a reaction, but the jury is still out on whether or not I’ll pick up the next book in the series.

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Phil Leader (619 KP) rated Favian's Law (The Truth Teller Series #3) in Books

Nov 13, 2019

Favian's Law (The Truth Teller Series #3)

Kurt Chambers | 2016 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)

10.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

This is the third of the fantasy series for young adults involving Charlotte who, with the help of a magic pendant, is able to travel to another realm populated by elves and dwarves. In this land she is known as the Truth Teller, an almost mythical being.

But Charlotte is not the only one who travels to the other world; Favian, a theatre performer, also makes the trip and Charlotte soon discovers that things are very different as a result. With big changes both in the fantasy world and when she returns to ours Charlotte must face her fears to put everything right.

The first two books were fairly straighforward fantasy; this takes on a darker tone as Favian's meddling has caused a lot of changes none of which are for the better. Here we see a very different world from the first two books. Despite being reunited with Elderfield there seems to be nothing they can do to avoid a terrible fate.

This change in tone works well with our heroes in real peril. But where the book really shines is when Charlotte returns to our world. Things have changed here too and everything really does seem hopeless.

Chambers handles the narrative with verve, putting Charlotte through the wringer but always with an eye on the sympathies of the reader. As before the reader is encouraged to care about all of the characters. Unusually there is no ultimate villain here and that makes for a interesting read as the various plot threads work their way to their conclusion.