irxren's reviews
93 reviews

The Scorch Trials picks up right where the Maze Runner left off. Thomas and the other Gladers are rescued by WICKED, only to find themselves in a room swarming with Cranks infected by The Flare. They manage to escape the facility, but little do they know, it's all part of WICKED's plan, leading them into the second phase of their challenges.

I really enjoyed exploring the post-apocalyptic world in this sequel, though the first book set a high standard. The Cranks added a terrifying twist to the typical zombie scenario in dystopian fiction. The constant suspense and mystery kept me hooked, although I felt Thomas was passing out a bit too often.

Overall, The Scorch Trials is a great follow-up to the Maze Runner. While it's different, the changes work well. The book is full of action, even though the betrayal was a bit predictable.

The book beautifully captures the complexities of modern romantic relationships, showing how our past experiences shape our present selves. The characters, Marianne and Connell, feel incredibly real with all their depth and flaws, making their struggles and obstacles relatable. Although, I couldn't help but wish that they had made more of an effort to overcome their challenges and find a way to make things work.

One thing that threw me off a bit was the lack of quotation marks in the writing. It made the dialogue a bit tricky to follow at times. Another thing is the timeline jumps. It felt like we were hopping back and forth a lot, which could be a bit jarring.

Little Fires Everywhere beautifully intertwines the lives of Elena Richardson and Mia Warren, showcasing the clash between their backgrounds and values, leading to both catastrophic and cathartic consequences. The story's unique structure, starting with a house fire and then unraveling the events leading up to it, adds depth and empathy to the narrative. It's a story where no one is entirely right or wrong, making it incredibly relatable and thought-provoking.

While I expected a plot twist that never came, the story's power lies in its emotional depth and unique exploration of complex human relationships.

Firestarter follows father and daughter, Andy and Charlie McKee, who are fleeing a government agency called The Shop. Andy has a limited psychic ability known as "the push," while Charlie possesses limitless firestarting powers. Their abilities result from a secret experiment with a drug called Lot Six.

This book is a mix of emotions. It’s good, sometimes touching, and has a subtle creepiness that keeps you on your toes. King excels at creating real characters that feel alive and relatable. You can’t help but cheer for them as they navigate their dangerous lives and hope they make it through safely.

One of the most moving parts of the story is Andy's determination to assure his daughter that one day, she can have a normal life without always looking over her shoulder. The emotional depth in their bond makes the story even more engaging.

Home Before Dark is a gripping blend of suspense and atmosphere, with its standout feature being the innovative narrative structure of a book within a book. The story alternates between two timelines: the present day, where Maggie returns to Baneberry Hall to uncover the truth, and 25 years ago, where her father recounts their terrifying experiences in the house through his memoir. This dual narrative worked beautifully, providing a seamless flow between past and present while building tension with each shift.

From the very beginning, the story pulled me in, making me feel as though someone might be watching from the shadows of my own room. Sager’s vivid descriptions of Baneberry Hall, with its ominous presence and the encroaching woods, were so well-crafted that I could almost smell the damp earth and feel the chill in the air.

However, the novel is not without its flaws. Some plot holes undermine the overall experience, including unresolved tensions between characters like Dane and Petra, the unexplained opening of the book to the Fourth of July chapter, and the mystery of Buster, the teddy bear. The identity of the shadow on the tree line and the little girl Maggie saw as a child also remain unclear.

This story is a beautiful ride through emotions, taking us through love, loss, and the power of forgiveness. It starts with Abbie, who is driving home one evening when a car suddenly swerves into her lane. This shocking accident changes her life forever. After the crash, she discovers that the driver was drunk, and in the chaos, she can’t reach her husband. This leads her to uncover some shocking secrets about his life.

The writing is so engaging that I found myself wanting to read just one more chapter to see what would happen next. The story touches on important themes like grief, messy family dynamics, and the challenge of rediscovering yourself.

Abbie is a strong character who truly captured my heart. Her journey is inspiring as she faces the difficult truths of her life and finds her strength. I loved watching her grow and discover fulfillment despite the challenges thrown her way.

While the ending might be predictable, there are enough twists and turns to keep it exciting. If you're looking for a heartfelt read that will take you on an emotional journey, this book is definitely worth picking up!

"It was all a journey of life and death, all of it a storm of infinite beauty. But always, months of darkness slowly gave way to light. How welcome it was, and how special, after a long cold winter.”

This novel weaves a beautiful story of love, loss, and discovery, set against the breathtaking backdrop of Alaska. Told in dual timelines, the book follows Hollywood legend Scarlett Fontaine during a year spent in Alaska, marked by one of the most severe earthquakes in history. Simultaneously, we follow her descendant, Gwen, as she uncovers Scarlett's secret past while navigating her own grief after the loss of a baby and the end of her marriage.

The vivid descriptions of Alaska are a highlight of the book. I felt like I was right there, surrounded by the raw, vast beauty of the landscape. You can almost hear the white thunder, feel the ground tremble, and see the stunning scenery unfold before your eyes.

I also found myself especially attached to Gwen and Peter, who travel to Alaska together to unravel the mysteries of Scarlett's hidden year. Their journey is not just about solving a mystery. It’s also about healing and finding new beginnings. The way they connect with each other, breathe in the fresh Alaskan air, and let go of their pasts is both heartwarming and inspiring.

At its core, this novel is about family—both the good and the bad. It's a story of the people who matter most in our lives, who are always there to help us through tough times. It also delves into the complexities of love and loss, especially the profound difficulty of surviving the loss of a child.

This book centers around Saffron, a soon-to-be mom, and her boyfriend Thomas, who stumble upon two bodies while fixing up a house she inherited from her grandmother, Rose. What starts as a simple home improvement project turns into a full-blown mystery, complicated by the fact that Rose, now in a memory care unit, suffers from dementia. With her grandmother's memory fading and her own mother out of the picture since she was a child, Saffron faces the challenge of piecing together a dark past that has been buried for years.

At first, the book starts out a bit slow. There are many characters and timelines introduced, which might make the beginning feel a little overwhelming. The author spends time setting the stage for what’s to come, and while it takes a bit to get going, once it does, the twists and turns are pretty wild. The mystery is solid, and the big twist is one I didn’t see coming.

This novel follows Emma, an artist who, at 13, attended an all-girls summer camp where her three cabin mates mysteriously disappeared, never to be heard from again. Fifteen years later, Emma returns to the same camp as an instructor, determined to uncover the truth about what happened all those years ago. As she delves into the past, she discovers secrets about the people she knew and the camp itself that have been hidden for a long time.

The story is fast-paced, engaging, and undeniably entertaining. It keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to piece together the mystery alongside Emma. The writing is easy to follow, and the plot has a campy vibe that makes it a fun and quick read.

The reason I’m giving it three stars is that the author seemed to try to pack in too much. There were secrets from the past and present, along with a slew of suspicious characters. It felt like nearly every new revelation was a red herring, making it hard to see how all the pieces could possibly fit together. By the end, there were many loose ends, and some of the clues Emma stumbled upon felt too conveniently overlooked by the police for fifteen years.

Despite these flaws, I still enjoyed the book. It’s a fun read, perfect if you’re looking for something light and entertaining.

The Vanishing Half tells the story of twin sisters, Stella and Desiree, who grow up in a small, almost invisible town. As they reach adulthood, their lives take very different paths. Stella chooses to pass as a white woman, while Desiree marries a dark-skinned man. The book spans about thirty years and explores the lives of the sisters and their daughters.

The premise of the story is incredibly interesting. It explores themes of identity, race, and family in a unique way. Bennett’s writing is truly beautiful. The way she describes emotions and settings pulls you in and makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters. However, for me, a good story also needs characters I can root for. Unfortunately, I found it hard to connect with any of the characters. They each have their struggles and flaws, but I didn’t really like any of them. This made it difficult for me to feel invested in their stories.