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anna_curlyquotesediting's reviews
180 reviews
The Death Cure by James Dashner
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
There wasn't a whole lot of mystery in The Death Cure. It was more about survival and trust/betrayal. Which is fine, but I would've been happier with more questions answered about the sun flares, the virus, and the history surrounding the collapse of civilization. However, what we learn about what the Flare does to people is very well done. You see the virus at every stage, and it's terrifying.
I'm looking forward to the prequels and sequels.
I'm looking forward to the prequels and sequels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, and Blood
Minor: Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Injury/Injury detail
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A bit less going on in this book than book #1, but we finally get some lore answers! Not all of them, but enough to feel that "happy until the next book" feeling.
My only real complaint about The Scorch Trials is the girls needed better characterization. The few we meet were pretty flat. Just kinda there. Teresa is the most well-rounded female character so far, but even she could use some work.
My only real complaint about The Scorch Trials is the girls needed better characterization. The few we meet were pretty flat. Just kinda there. Teresa is the most well-rounded female character so far, but even she could use some work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, and Alcohol
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Loved it! Great tension throughout. Decent, well-rounded cast of characters. (They're teenagers, so do not expect adult behavior all the time.) The plot was interesting, and it didn't drag. The mystery of the maze was neat too, even if it didn't solve how I expected it to.
The Maze Runner is just as good as I remember. (Originally read in 2009 on release.)
The Maze Runner is just as good as I remember. (Originally read in 2009 on release.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death
Redeemed by P.C. Cast
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
I have one good thing to say about Redeemed: it didn't give the main villain a cop-out and have all the characters "forgive" her at the end. No "we defeat you by the power of love!" But that's about it.
The rest was slow, tedious, and so full of boring tropes, I just about stopped reading a few times. But again, I fell into a sunk cost fallacy with this series, so I kept at it. I'm so glad it's over.
The authors had so many chances to make rounded and interesting villains, and they wasted every single one. Neferet never evolved beyond a spoiled, whiny, vindictive child. Kalona's arc ended in a weird all-the-assault-and-murder-you-committed-is-forgiven-'cause-you-made-an-oath-to-fight-for-the-good-guys-after-literal-eons-of-being-evil way, and it was super rushed. Which is hilarious for a book this slow.
Speaking of, the ending--how they defeated Neferet--was also rushed and deeply unsatisfying. Zoey learned nothing that book #11 implied she needed to. Honestly, if you're crawling, like I was, toward the finish line of this series, just read the final 15 or 20 pages, and you'll be set. Free to move on to greener pastures and better books.
I don't even want to talk about the Afterward. Some people might like their series all tied up in a neat, perfect bow. I am not one of those people, because it kills realism and the acknowledgement that characters still have ways to grow and improve. And this Afterward was just plain silly.
Somehow, Redeemed is the worst book in the entire series, and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
The rest was slow, tedious, and so full of boring tropes, I just about stopped reading a few times. But again, I fell into a sunk cost fallacy with this series, so I kept at it. I'm so glad it's over.
The authors had so many chances to make rounded and interesting villains, and they wasted every single one. Neferet never evolved beyond a spoiled, whiny, vindictive child. Kalona's arc ended in a weird all-the-assault-and-murder-you-committed-is-forgiven-'cause-you-made-an-oath-to-fight-for-the-good-guys-after-literal-eons-of-being-evil way, and it was super rushed. Which is hilarious for a book this slow.
Speaking of, the ending--how they defeated Neferet--was also rushed and deeply unsatisfying. Zoey learned nothing that book #11 implied she needed to. Honestly, if you're crawling, like I was, toward the finish line of this series, just read the final 15 or 20 pages, and you'll be set. Free to move on to greener pastures and better books.
I don't even want to talk about the Afterward. Some people might like their series all tied up in a neat, perfect bow. I am not one of those people, because it kills realism and the acknowledgement that characters still have ways to grow and improve. And this Afterward was just plain silly.
Somehow, Redeemed is the worst book in the entire series, and it left a bad taste in my mouth.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Violence, Blood, and Murder
Moderate: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Death of parent
Revealed by P.C. Cast
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
God, finally stuff is happening. This part of the plot should've (and easily could've) happened three or four books ago.
There have been some interesting character developments among Zoey and Co.'s group. Zoey is finally interesting again, even if I'm still sick of the multi-boyfriend angst. Some characters even experienced actual consequences for their actions: good and bad!
What's my complaint? Neferet. She's a boring villain, overall. Makes me want to say, "Cool motive, still murder." If Neferet's backstory and motivations had been slowly fed to the reader during the series, it would've been so, so much better. As it is, and as I said in a previous review, it's too late for that. The only thing all the reveals do is make me believe the authors had no real plan for Neferet's backstory to begin with.
One book to go.
There have been some interesting character developments among Zoey and Co.'s group. Zoey is finally interesting again, even if I'm still sick of the multi-boyfriend angst. Some characters even experienced actual consequences for their actions: good and bad!
What's my complaint? Neferet. She's a boring villain, overall. Makes me want to say, "Cool motive, still murder." If Neferet's backstory and motivations had been slowly fed to the reader during the series, it would've been so, so much better. As it is, and as I said in a previous review, it's too late for that. The only thing all the reveals do is make me believe the authors had no real plan for Neferet's backstory to begin with.
One book to go.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, and Torture
Hidden by Kristin Cast, P.C. Cast
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'd give this book a better rating if the villain wasn't so childish. Really, it ruins her whole vibe, which could have been so good if the authors had just given her a solid motive, a why. At this point, I doubt that's going to happen. Even if it did, the impact wouldn't be as great, because it's too late in the series.
However, finally, I was happy to see some character development in Zoey & Co.'s group. It's about time some people in their circle had true and lasting change . . . as long as they don't backpedal (again) in the next couple books.
I was also happy to see at least one of these authors has improved their descriptive writing. This alone raised the quality of the book, even if the dialogue is still incredibly cringe-y or off-putting sometimes. I've seen it referred to as "teen speak," and I'm inclined to agree, even if no teen I've ever heard has sounded like these guys do. (And I'm from Oklahoma; I'd know.)
But, as usual, there's clichés without the addition of a twist to make it unique. This just leads to boring, predictable, and forgettable conclusions to problems.
At this point, I'm ready for the series to end. These books are clearly being unnecessarily dragged out, and it shows, even if this particular book had a pretty solid medium pace. I'm battling a serious case of sunk cost fallacy.
However, finally, I was happy to see some character development in Zoey & Co.'s group. It's about time some people in their circle had true and lasting change . . . as long as they don't backpedal (again) in the next couple books.
I was also happy to see at least one of these authors has improved their descriptive writing. This alone raised the quality of the book, even if the dialogue is still incredibly cringe-y or off-putting sometimes. I've seen it referred to as "teen speak," and I'm inclined to agree, even if no teen I've ever heard has sounded like these guys do. (And I'm from Oklahoma; I'd know.)
But, as usual, there's clichés without the addition of a twist to make it unique. This just leads to boring, predictable, and forgettable conclusions to problems.
At this point, I'm ready for the series to end. These books are clearly being unnecessarily dragged out, and it shows, even if this particular book had a pretty solid medium pace. I'm battling a serious case of sunk cost fallacy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, and Blood
Moderate: Violence, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, and Kidnapping
Destined by Kristin Cast, P.C. Cast
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I still have no idea if I actually read this book when it came out. Maybe I just read a synopsis somewhere.
Anyway, once again, nothing much happens in Destined. Similar to the previous few books, Destined is slow paced, but it also takes place over a very short amount of time: five (5) days.
Most of this slowness is due to more of the same: relationship drama, multi-boyfriend drama, the villain having no clear reasons for wanting what they want (a superobjective, a why,) and cliché tropes without an original spin.
At this point, there's really only one character worth reading these books for, and it isn't the MC.
The ending of this book, where something finally happens, is obviously the best part. But the last few pages somehow manage to trivialize what does happen and turn it into melodrama instead of engaging drama. Great job?
Anyway, once again, nothing much happens in Destined. Similar to the previous few books, Destined is slow paced, but it also takes place over a very short amount of time: five (5) days.
Most of this slowness is due to more of the same: relationship drama, multi-boyfriend drama, the villain having no clear reasons for wanting what they want (a superobjective, a why,) and cliché tropes without an original spin.
At this point, there's really only one character worth reading these books for, and it isn't the MC.
The ending of this book, where something finally happens, is obviously the best part. But the last few pages somehow manage to trivialize what does happen and turn it into melodrama instead of engaging drama. Great job?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Body horror, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Awakened by Kristin Cast, P.C. Cast
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Just like in book #7, Burned, nothing much really happened in Awakened.
Some arcs ended in this book and not all were satisfying. One villain, after three books, still hasn't been dealt with. His arc is dragging so hard the bumper is hitting the road. One semi-villain went a predictable route and got turned into a real boy. Another character died before she ever got to have a personality, which made her death fall flat. And the big bad herself is on the verge of coming across as petty and shallow when she's supposed to be evil, malicious, and clever. She really needs to stop acting like a teenager. Which I'd have hope for if these writers could write characters that aren't teenage stereotypes. But as it is . . .
Anyway, I'm tired of the accents being written out. It makes so much dialogue difficult to read, which is incredibly distracting and annoying. This goes for the speech patterns of Stevie Rae and Kramisha especially.
I swear, I'd give these books higher ratings if the writing was better.
Some arcs ended in this book and not all were satisfying. One villain, after three books, still hasn't been dealt with. His arc is dragging so hard the bumper is hitting the road. One semi-villain went a predictable route and got turned into a real boy. Another character died before she ever got to have a personality, which made her death fall flat. And the big bad herself is on the verge of coming across as petty and shallow when she's supposed to be evil, malicious, and clever. She really needs to stop acting like a teenager. Which I'd have hope for if these writers could write characters that aren't teenage stereotypes. But as it is . . .
Anyway, I'm tired of the accents being written out. It makes so much dialogue difficult to read, which is incredibly distracting and annoying. This goes for the speech patterns of Stevie Rae and Kramisha especially.
I swear, I'd give these books higher ratings if the writing was better.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Blood
Moderate: Violence, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death of parent
Burned by P.C. Cast
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
I was correct! The Kalona arc drags, and it's obvious in this book. Burned is slow. It should've ended at the halfway mark of the book with the rest being the setup for the next arc. And there were too many POVs.
The only aspect of Burned that kept my attention consistently was Stevie Rae's side story. No spoilers for that though.
But Zoey? Her arc was not great. Nothing really happened. There was a looming consequence (her death) and no price to avoid it. The authors had a chance to make Zoey's place in Burned really make an impact, but instead they chose to let her flounder and then magically find herself when she got angry. Boring.
On another note, the rude language makes a comeback in this book. Not a fan; I really thought the characters were growing out of that, and seeing it again makes their growth feel less meaningful.
The only aspect of Burned that kept my attention consistently was Stevie Rae's side story. No spoilers for that though.
But Zoey? Her arc was not great. Nothing really happened. There was a looming consequence (her death) and no price to avoid it. The authors had a chance to make Zoey's place in Burned really make an impact, but instead they chose to let her flounder and then magically find herself when she got angry. Boring.
On another note, the rude language makes a comeback in this book. Not a fan; I really thought the characters were growing out of that, and seeing it again makes their growth feel less meaningful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Blood
Moderate: Death, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Rape, and Sexual content
Tempted by Kristin Cast, P.C. Cast
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Book #6 of House of Night stands at a pretty even keel with the previous book.
My biggest pet peeve: the authors were not consistent about what kind of entity the villain is.They consistently call him either a fallen angel or a nephilim. These are not the same kind of creature no matter which way you look at it. Even from the original Hebrew possibly meaning "fallen ones," it's still not talking about actual fallen angels. Do better research; don't just say whatever. So because of this, I'm wondering what parts of Cherokee lore the authors have totally butchered for their own uses.
Anyway, I'm interested in the side plot going on with Stevie Rae and the red vampires and Rephaim. BUT I'm not enjoying the multi-guy aspect Stevie Rae is getting too. It's getting old. Multiple love interests at the same time are not a requirement for YA, you know. However, I'm happy to see Zoey taking her relationships more seriously rather than either stringing people along or putting up with abusive behavior to keep a sense of normalcy. So, good for you, Zoey.
I did remember correctly that this arc is dragged between at least three books; if it doesn't end about halfway through the next book (#7, Burned) then I'll definitely been in "this is taking too long" territory.
My biggest pet peeve: the authors were not consistent about what kind of entity the villain is.
Anyway, I'm interested in the side plot going on with Stevie Rae and the red vampires and Rephaim. BUT I'm not enjoying the multi-guy aspect Stevie Rae is getting too. It's getting old. Multiple love interests at the same time are not a requirement for YA, you know. However, I'm happy to see Zoey taking her relationships more seriously rather than either stringing people along or putting up with abusive behavior to keep a sense of normalcy. So, good for you, Zoey.
I did remember correctly that this arc is dragged between at least three books; if it doesn't end about halfway through the next book (#7, Burned) then I'll definitely been in "this is taking too long" territory.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Fire/Fire injury