[Meme] Teaser Tuesday - The Kill Order by James Dashner

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read.
2. Open to a random page.
3. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page.
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
4. Share the title and author too so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

The floor vibrates below his feet and the rumbling sound gets louder, becomes an outright roar. His eyes fall upon the stairs that lead up from the subtrans concourse just as the screams erupt - countless, countless screams and the blur of panicked movement in the crowd. A monstrous wall of filthy water is pouring down the wide steps.

This teaser is from The Kill Order by James Dashner and is the prequel to The Maze Runner trilogy. This highly anticipated book releases Tuesday, August 18th. I want to personally thank RandomHouse Canada for allowing both my son and I early review copies of this story.

The prequel to the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series.

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.

Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive.

Share your teaser with me!

[Meme] Waiting On Wednesday: The Kill Order by James Dashner

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I am SUPER excited about this book! Although it's release date isn't until August 14th (which is still way too far away for my liking) but EW shared a trailer and a teaser with the public so I started re-obsessing over it. So to get it out of my system I decided to share it all with you!

Title: The Kill Order
Author: James Dashner
Publisher: Random House Canada
Publication Date: August 14, 2012

The prequel to the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series.

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.

Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive.

You can read the first 34 pages on the EW site!

What book(s) are you waiting for right now?

[Cover Reveal] The Kill Order by James Dashner

I am a HUGE fan of The Maze Runner series by James Dashner. If you want to be convinced, just read my reviews on the series.

The Maze Runner
The Scorch Trials
The Death Cure

As such, you can imagine my ultimate glee when Mr. Dashner himself revealed the upcoming cover for The Kill Order, the upcoming prequel to The Maze Runner series.

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words...well who can argue with that when they see this...

Wow! This kind of makes me think of Stephen King's The Stand a little!

I simply CAN NOT WAIT to read this book! Oh...and my son agrees! August 14th consider yourself booked!

From Goodreads:

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares seared the earth and mankind fell to disease. "The Kill Order" tells the story of that fall.

“The prequel is something that has churned in my mind since before "The Maze Runner" was even complete. It's been hard to keep it a secret! I'm excited to finally share the news and I can't wait for my readers to see how it all began," shared author James Dashner.

[Giveaway] The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner

I love books, but I also love my husband, and my overcrowded home. It's because of this that I have decided to not only read and review books, but also to give them away to allow others to share in the enjoyment I have experienced (or possibly not as the case might be).

My first bundle up for grabs is the amazing Maze Runner series by James Dashner. I loved this series, my son loved this series, and now I want YOU to love this series!

So...because of that, I am offering up my very own, gently read, full set of Maze Runner series books. This includes the following:

• 1 trade paperback copy of The Maze Runner (book 1) - Purchased by me.
• 1 trade paperback copy of The Scorch Trials (book 2) - Purchased by me.
• 1 hardcover copy of The Death Cure (book 3) - Provided to me by RandomHouse Canada for review, not an ARC

So what do you have to do for a chance to win this bundle? Simple! Post a comment on the review for at least one of the books from the series (I would obviously love for you to post on all 3 but only 1 is required) . That's it. That's the only mandatory entry. (I will be checking!) You do not have to be a follower, though of course it is always appreciated.

As I am running this contest myself, and 3 books can be quite heavy, I have limited this contest to Canadian resident only. (Sorry to my international friends, I will get you next time!)

Here are the links to my reviews:
The Maze Runner
The Scorch Trials
The Death Cure

I am keeping this contest open until December 9th, which will give me enough time to ship the books out to reach the winner before Christmas!

Good luck!

[Review] The Death Cure by James Dashner

Title: The Death Cure
Series:  The Maze Runner Trilogy
Author:  James Dashner
Genre:  ya, dystopian, post apocalyptic
Format:  Hardcover, 384 pages
Publication Date:  October 11 2011
Published By:  Random House, Inc., Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Source:  Received from Publisher for Review.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?
Can Thomas survive in such a violent world?

My Thoughts

This final book in The Maze Runner trilogy picks up right where The Scorch Trials left off. Thomas is in a white padded room, contemplating something interesting...

"It was the smell that began to drive Thomas slightly mad. Not being alone for over three weeks. Not the white walls, ceiling and floor."

James Dashner definitely brought his A game back when writing The Death Cure. All the minor things that annoyed the heck out of me in The Scorch Trials was smoothed over by the fabulous writing and story-telling in this conclusion. It was an amazingly awesome wrap-up to this exciting and enjoyable series.

I don't want to give too much away, because I know nothing ruins my day more than stumbling across a nasty spoiler that drives me crazy for days on end...but I just have to say that I absolutely adore a writer who is not afraid to kill off main characters if and when it needs to be done. And to do it right! I mean, not just kill them to get a reaction, and not just for a matter of convenience sake, but because this character MUST die for things to be right with the world, and the story (if that even makes sense to you...it does to me...at least in my head...).

That comradeship that was built in The Maze Runner comes back into play in The Death Cure and you see, and feel, how important these relationships these characters have built with each other are, and how fragile they can become when push comes to shove. You care about these characters and what can, and does, happen to them. They are almost like family now!

The chapters, as always, were kept short, yet involved, which keeps the readers interested and coming back for more. Overall it was an amazing story that I am glad I got the opportunity to read and review. The ending cleared up almost all outstanding issues and I was really impressed with the series as a whole.

I recommend this book, and this series, to everyone!

My rating?

 

Series Rating (My detailed reviews are linked):

The Maze Runner - 5/5

The Scorch Trials - 4/5

The Death Cure - 5/5

Overall Rating: 4.67!!!

And did I mention the best part? James Dashner just announced a prequel to the series, The Kill Order, to be released in August 2012. A prequel! Oh yeah I'll be reading that!

[Review] The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Title: The Scorch Trials
Series:  The Maze Runner Trilogy
Author:  James Dashner
Genre:  ya, dystopian, post apocalyptic
Format:  Trade Paperback, 384 pages
Publication Date:  September 2011
Published By:  Random House, Inc., Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Source:  Purchased

Synopsis from Goodreads

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? 

My Thoughts

This book (book 2 in The Maze Runner trilogy) picks up right where The Maze Runner left off. As mentioned in my review of The Maze Runner, James Dashner is an amazing writer, and his writing remains up to snuff in this second installment. Once again the book opens with an intense and intriguing opening that immediately pulls the reader right into the story, but this time we are shoved into a room cramped with the surviving gladers, but we already know things are going to be bad.

"She spoke to him before the world fell apart."

I felt the pacing was a bit off with this novel. I was often left wondering what was really going on, why they were where they were, and what everything meant. It felt a little slapped together to be honest. It wasn't nearly as scary and creepy as The Maze Runner, and the whole back and forth thing with Theresa was just plain annoying.

Thomas felt completely detached from the rest of the group, which I am sure was part of the point, but it just seemed like all those relationships that were built up in The Maze Runner didn't matter at all and were a waste of space. I hope things come together better in The Death Cure.

Another thing that really annoyed me was the whole thing where Thomas would meet someone new, debate whether he should basically tell them his whole life story, then decide he either can trust them or has no other choice, and then those characters have no real main part in the book. Again it just feels like filler...and annoying filler at that...

I guess it just felt like overall there wasn't enough surprises to keep my interest, especially since I knew there would be one more book. I find most trilogies tend to slack in the second book...almost as if there really should have been only two books in the first place.

The chapters were kept short, yet involved, which keeps the readers interested and coming back for more. So that's a plus. There were also a few new characters added that made the story interesting, and hopefully continue to do so into The Death Cure. The writing was fantastic as was to be expected, just felt jumpy and unnecessary at times. Overall it was still a very enjoyable read, despite my complaints. It was interesting to see what happened to all the surviving gladers after they thought they were finally safe from the maze.

I recommend this book to anyone who loved the first one, and plans on finishing the series off with The Death Cure.

My rating?

[Review] The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner
Series:  The Maze Runner Trilogy
Author:  James Dashner
Genre:  ya, dystopian, post apocalyptic
Format:  Trade Paperback, 375 pages
Publication Date:  August 24, 2010
Published By:  Random House, Inc., Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Source:  Purchased

Synopsis from Goodreads

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.

My Thoughts

I'm going to say this right off the top, James Dashner is an amazing writer. The Maze Runner has an intense and intriguing opening that immediately pulls the reader right into the story, throwing them right in beside a lonely and confused Thomas in a creepy elevator shaft.

"He began his new life standing up, surrounded by cold darkness and stale, dusty air."

Dashner's pacing is perfection. The story flows along so nicely you almost don't realize as you sneak up on the ending. I was so involved in Thomas's character, trying to figure out why he seems so familiar with everything, yet why most of his memories are missing. Trying to put all the clues together to find out what is happening so everyone can escape the horrors of the maze. The author doesn't give too much away too early, he lets the reader discover the important aspects of the plot as the characters do. I love this in a storyteller. It keeps you reading, turning every page one right after the other until you reach the mind-numbing conclusion.

One of my favourite aspects of The Maze Runner is the new language the characters create during their time living with one another. Completely devoid of memories of their past they quickly develop their own entertaining slang. I love how this allows the boys in the book to "swear" as boys often do, but without having the book filled with profanity.

“Klunk’s another word for poo. Poo makes a klunk sound when it falls in our pee pots.”

That quote seriously made me snicker out loud on the subway... embarrassing...

The chapters were short, yet involved, which keeps the readers interested and coming back for more. The characters were alive and vivid, allowing the reader to become emotionally invested in them (which is not always a good thing!)

I highly recommend this book to everyone, male or female, old or young, I think there is something in it for everyone.

My rating?