Book Review : Reboot (Reboot #1) by Amy Tintera

Goodreads Discription:

'5 years ago, I died. 178 minutes later, I woke up.'

In this post-apocalyptic thriller a deadly virus mutation sees teenagers raised from the dead and trained to be vicious soldiers until Wren, the deadliest Reboot, joins forces with Callum, the most innocent, to try to overthrow the organisation that has corrupted their world.

Title: Reboot (Reboot #1)
Author: Amy Tintera
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopian, Post Apocalypse, Romance
Format: Paperback (UK edition)

Pages: 384 pages
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Source: Purchased from Dymocks

I am a sucker for anything with the word 'Zombie Apocalypse'! This is a really cool and unique twist on the genre where instead of the undead coming back as flash eating monsters they come back as super bionic humans! The longer they are dead the stronger but less emotional they are rebooted.

I put off getting the series as I wanted to get the sleek looking US covers from the bookdepository but recently I won the sequel Rebel in a giveaway (which was the UK/Aus cover) so naturally I had to get the matching edition.

The pacing of the book is fast pace and full of awesome action pack moments. Reading it, the atmosphere reminds me of some great survival apocalypse themed video game that I've played like Left 4 Dead and The Last of Us.

The plot have a good balance of action where they were fast pace but not too fast that you can barely catch up as well as some great character and world building moments.

I instantly love Wern and Callum characters! Wern has been dead for 178 minutes which makes her one of the strongest, deadliest but emotionless reboots. Strong, sharp and straight forward, she's what I like to see in a main female character.

 Callum is the total opposite to Wern which is very different from a lot of books as if there is a strong female character there usually is a stronger male character. In this case because Callum has been dead for only 22 minutes, he is one of the weakest reboots, and is practically human with the fact he show's a lot of emotions. Unlike a lot of reboots he ask too many questions, he refuses to kill and fright and cause he has alot of emotions he smiles alot. Still he is sweet, funny and charming and is not afraid of Wren. He makes her feel less of a monster and more human.

I like their relationship! The pacing was surprising as usually in dystopian/apocalyptic the romance is insta-love. Instead the build up to the romance took a while so that was refreshing to read.

I whiz trough Reboot and picked up the sequel Rebel the moment I was done. The ending was sort of a cliff hanger which was a good not frustrating set up to the sequel.

Overall I love this book! It has everything I enjoy in a survival/apocalypse genre! Check this if you want a great survival action reads along with a unique twist to the Zombie Apocalypse world!

Book Review :The Death Cure (The Maze Runner #3) by James Dashner

Goodread Description:

The Trials are over. WICKED is planning to restore the survivors' memories and complete the final cure for the Flare.

But Thomas has already remembered more than they think. And he knows WICKED can't be trusted...

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine. Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

 

Title: The Death Cure (The Maze Runner #3)

Author: James Dashner
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Apocalyptic, Post Apocalyptic, Action, Thriller, Suspense 
Format: Paperback
Pages: 329 pages
Source:Purchased from K mart

OMG this series will be the death of me!!! *wave fist at the author for writing a amazing series*

I'm not crying... just got something in my eyes... no not crying... no...

Takes place immediately where we left off in scorch trials and once again the book if fulled with confusion, suspense, mystery along with good kickass actions, adventure and friendship. 

The scenario and environment they are in is once again different from the first two books.

We got a lot of good plot twists till the point you don't know who to trust. Many I didn't see coming at all and a lot of throwbacks to both The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials. Some of the things that happen in this book reminded me a bit of the video games The Last Of Us with its similar scenarios.

Even though we got more questions answered on wicked and the trials... there is once again some questions are not answered thought I am guessing that its a for shadow to the prequels like Killzorder and Fever code to answer those questions.

Also we go more in depth with The Flare and how it effect someone who is infected. We also learn what WICKED does with those who are infected, immune and about the quarantined zones.

Okay I seriously want to give Thomas a hug as the poor guy has been trough alot. He's very caring and loyal to his friends. Quick thinking on his actions and for once he didn't do anything too stupid that makes you want to hit him in the head. He goes trough life/death and traumatic experience trough out the series but non as gruesome as this book. I feel as a character, he grew a lot in this book. The decisions he makes in this book were good and wise even though some were difficult and painful.

MINHO IS MVP OF THE SERIES!!! or MVC (MOST VALUABLE CHARACTER). I love this guy to bits!!! Sassy and sarcastic as always, a great leader and loyal friend. I also love all the quick thinking action scenes he has!

WHERE.CAN.I.GET.A.MINHO.IN.MY.LIFE???

Yay we got to know more about Jorge and Brenda! Jorge was an okay character and a father figure to Brenda. Brenda was kickass but also mysterious and at times I had trust issues with her. In the end I still like her character. 

Newt... oh boy I really want to hug the poor guy. Lets just say something happens and though I expected his fate to happen, the way it played out was the saddest and most painful thing I've read in the series... *sniff *sniff 

Theresa... I feel for Thomas on my thoughts on her. In scorch trials she betrays him so I don't blame him for not trusting her. In death cure she was trying to win back his trust. The ending I didn't see coming at all.

A character from the previous book shows up and it kinda gave me a shock. I didn't like him in the previous book but they did a good job explaining actions and has change for the better.. yah I kinda like the character.

Also most side characters from previous books are pushed aside and briefly mention. The Death Cure mainly focuses on Thomas,Minho and Brenda with a bit of Jorge, Theresa and Newt.

WICKED... though they did a lot of screwy things, for once they did something right in this book and I am quiet glad about it. Though that Rat Man guy is efffffffffff up! Like mental crazy efff up! Also there is still alot some questions about Chancellor Paige that needs answer!

Like any dystopian/apocalyptic genre, we have a mess up 'government' but also a mess up 'rebel' and at the end we really don't know who to trust. I have such mix feelings with the right-arm people trough the whole book.

The pacing and build up for the plot was so good! James Dashner has a good way of captivating and keeping me wanting to turn the pages to know what happens next as like the previous book SOMETHING IS ALWAYS HAPPENING! And yes... I stayed up till 3am reading this... again...

Some action scenes were too draggy but there are still some fast pace moments. Also while some scenes were sad and emotional as well as intense, there were a couple of scenes that I found flat.

While in the last book there was a bit of love triangle romance tension and confusion, I'm glad that there is not love triangle in this book and the romance is put to the back seat as this series focus mainly on survival, trust and friendship. If they added the romance I think it will have chocked up the storyline so its refreshing to read a series where its light on romance.

The ending... partly sad as we lost another major character and that it was not focus as a significant but I don't really blame them as they were in a life/death not time to think or turn back situation. I am also kinda surprise with the ending cause its a happy ending.

Then I turned the page to that god damn epilogue... wait...what?! why?! okay but still wth?!?!

Like the previous books it ends with a confusing email/note from WICKED so maybe... just maybe the adventure is not over for Thomas and his friends.

Even so I am satisfied with how it ended though I am freaking sad on all the characters we lost!

I found this book sadder and more emotional than the previous books. The action is less intense compared to scorch trials but it have some really good world and plot build up. I also feel like this book is more character centric.

James Dashner has made it to the list of new favorite author and I love this series he has created!

Though the scorch trials is my favorite book in the series I love all three books! Each for a different reason! I want to pick up the Killorder but not too soon as this series have left me in exhaustion and maybe even a book hangover...

Amazing series that have a lot of epic actions, adventure and trills that will leave you on the edge of your seat. I also love the snarky and sarcastic dialogs and the cast of characters .

Definitely check out this series! Not a disappointment! 

Also check out my review on The Maze Runner Book and Movie and The Scorch Trials

 What was the last great series you've read?

Me? The Lunar Chronicles even though the series is not yet over... NEED.WINTER.YESTERDAY.

Book Review: The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner #2) by James Dashner

Goodreads Description :

The Scorch Trials picks up where The Maze Runner left off. The Gladers have escaped the Maze, but now they face an even more treacherous challenge on the open roads of a devastated planet.

And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Can Thomas survive in such a violent world?

Title: The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner #2)
Author: James Dashner
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Apocalyptic, Post Apocalyptic, Action, Thriller, Suspense 
Format: Paperback

Pages: 359 pages
Publisher: Chicken house
Source: Purchased from Kmart

 The Maze is over but the Scorch Trials have just begun...

Holy Smokes!!! This was INTENSE! SUSPENSE! PANIC! THRILL! CONFUSION! 

Just a crazy page turner book!!! 

Its crazier, scarier and darker than the maze runner!

While some question are answered about the Maze, the world and what WICKED, there are still alot more questions that needs answers! 

  

The book takes place immediately after the Maze Runner where the remaining Gladers have yet another trial called the Scorch Trial (the first book focuses on the Maze Trial) where they have to journey across the Scorch to get to the safe heaven in order to be given the cure for the Flares by WICKED.

Sounds easy? Wrong! 

The Scorch Trials involve the Gladers crossing the Scorch in order to make it to the 'Safe Heaven', dodging obstacles, vicious creatures that are just as vicious as the Grivers and Cranks!

We learn alot about the outside world on how there is no ozone layer and that earth is now a big dessert! Worst is that because of this climate change, a virus called the Flares is spreading, turning people who got the flares to this thing called Cranks that are just as bad as Zombies.

 Apart from surviving the trials and figuring out the purpose of WICKED, lessons are learned as friendship, betrayal, trust and loyalty are put to the test. There is a bit of a love triangle happening which was okay... not crazy love triangle but confusing love triangle for Thomas.. poor guy haha. 

I actually like Thomas more in this book than the previous book! He is sweet and caring for his friends yet he is still strong and tough to fight trough the trials. I also kinda like how his brain works. That moment when you think he is making one of the stupidest decisions, he manages to counter it with a really quick smart move. Also we learn that he is very clueless about his emotions when it comes to romance and girls (not a surprise... poor guy :P). Thomas have some really good sarcastic dialogs in this book (must have picked up from Minho!).

My favorite character in this book is definitely Minho and Newt!  Sadly Newt's role is not as significant as I wanted it to be but Minho... gosh I love this guy! 

I admire how Newt can be calm and collected during some scenario in the book. Like Thomas he gotten more snarky and sarcastic in the book.

Minho has a much larger role in the book and has taken over the role as leader. It's great to see him developed as a character! He is definitely one of the strongest and toughest character in the book. He is also really caring and loyal to his friends. The thing I love most about him in this book is his hilarious snarky dialog! Every time things starts to get super intense, he says something and I found myself laughing for a good few minutes.

The bromance between Newt, Thomas and Minho is definitely one of my all time favorite friendship in a book!

Some new characters that we meet include Jorge and Brenda (think of them as a less likeable Joel  and if Ellie from the Last of Us), Aris and the girls of Group B.

Brenda is my favorite new character! Snarky, outspoken, tough and alert but with a mysterious side. I love her personality! She is like a girl version of Minho! Looking forward to knowing more about her in the Death Cure!

Theresa in this book... I have very mix feelings about her. I don't hate her nor do I like her.

One thing that stood out of the book is the pacing of the story. James Dashner has a good way of timing the pacing in the book which makes you NOT want to put it down! This kept me up till 3am as everytime I think they are safe, SOMETHING HAPPENS! 

The action was fast pace, nail biting intense and freaking scary! The plot twist was unpredictable! I think I shouted 'WTH' and 'NO' more than Newt said the word 'Bloody' trough the book because of this! This book takes a new twist on the adventure, survival and horror genres.

Once again the book ended very confusing and full of suspense along with another a bloody cliff hanger. Thank goodness I finally acquired the lovely box set so I am gonna start on the Death Cure immediately after I post this review.

Overall this book was so different from The Maze Runner in so many good ways that I enjoy it more than the first book! It exceeded my expectations and have made it to my favorite book-shelve! This is one of my favorite sequels.

Definitely pick this book up and read it! 


Also check out my video review for the book!

If you have yet to read The Maze Runner, pick it up (review here)! If you love The Maze Runner but have yet to watch the movie GO WATCH IT (review here)!

Now all we got to do is wait for 2015 for the Scorch Trials movie... 

Till then I guess I'll make a start on the Death Cure.

If you have read the book are you looking forward to the Scorch Trials movie?

I definitely am! Get me a Time Machine to 2015!