Maximum Ride Forever by James Patterson

Series: Maximum Ride (bk. 9) Final Book

Genera(s): Dystopian Sci-fi/Action Adventure

Subjects: genetic engineering, mutants, post-apocalyptic

Setting: Various locations around the world

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV, past tense: Max

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 383 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $19.00

Publisher: Hachette: Little, Brown

Summary/ product description: “THE NINTH AND ULTIMATE MAXIMUM RIDE STORY IS HERE! Legions of Max fans won't be disappointed by this encore episode in the beloved series about the incredible adventures of a teenage girl who can fly. As Maximum Ride boldly navigates a post-apocalyptic world, she and her broken flock are roaming the earth, searching for answers to what happened. All will be revealed in this last spectacular "ride"- a brand-new grand finale featuring all of the nonstop action, twists and turns that readers can rely on in a blockbuster Patterson page turner!

My Review:  This is my absolute favorite series. Maximum Ride is the book that got me into YA back in 8^th grade (2006 I think). This has got to be maybe the third so-called finale in this series. It could have ended just fine after book 3 (Saving The World and Other Extreme Sports). The 4^th book (Final Warning) was kind of pointless. Nevermore seemed to wrap things up, but left us with too many unanswered questions. 

I know people think this book is JP just beating a dead horse with a stick, but I was happy to find out that there’d be another book. I’m a loyal fan. I’d been dying to read it ever since I heard about it. (I preordered it even, but preorders never come the day of release.) So, now I’ve read it and know that this ending leaves no room for more books. The flock gets a proper ending to their story.

Full of twists and tear-jerkers, this is a ride that you won’t forget. It has all the feels. You may need tissues, just a warning. There is so much I want to say about this book, but I’d just spoil everything. I’ll try to be vague as possible. So, Armageddon happened at the end of Nevermore. Basically, an asteroid hit the Earth, Like the one that made the dinosaurs go extinct. A giant tsunami hit the island that the flock and other mutants were living on and volcanoes are set off too. Basically, all the mega-disasters of other dystopian series combine and practically destroy the world.

The flock are pretty much the only survivors on the island and set out to see what else survived. What they find of world wide destruction. City inundated with water or destroy in bombings. Some guy who calls himself the Remedy is sending “Horsemen” (enhanced mutants or androids) to kill survivors and search for the flock. The flock members split up to find out what’s going on in various places around the globe. There is a lot of flying and fighting mutants and Horsemen.

Angel is trying to gather survivors to fight. Angel is also being a bit dictator-ish. She still believes that Fang is going to die. Some familiar faces return. Some can be trusted, some have bad intentions. Bad stuff happens. Really cool stuff also happens. A surprise that I never saw coming happens too. And it happens a bit different than what happened to the Max in the Lake House book. That’s about all I can disclose. I probably said too much.

So, now it’s over. I can’t wait for the online mini-series. I hope it’s free to watch. I wish they’d make a movie, but those rarely turn out the way you want them too. There’s a script in the B&N exclusive edition. Anyone who part of the MR fan club should get it. This series has come a long way. I remember writing fanfic and making fanart back when there were only three books. I mean, look at these: Maximum Ride Fan Art 

I also did this blog sort of like Fang’s Blog, only with OCs. My character was Star, but she wasn’t like Fang’s Star. Mine was an angel with light powers. 

I had a message board too. Those were the good ole days. I’m a college student and Max is still a relatable character. The flocks are like family. My fictional family. And I’m going to miss them. But thankfully there are other great YA series out there calling my name. Thank you James Patterson for bringing these characters to life.  

Cover Art Review: Not feeling the cover at all. Very generic James Patterson-y cover. I liked the Nevermore cover because it at least has wings on it. Max in not a dress kind of girl.

Ravage by Jeff Sampson

Series: Deviants (bk. 3)

Genera: Sci-fi/Paranormal

Subjects: werewolves, genetic engineering, parallel universes

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 392 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: HarperTeen: Balzer & Bray

Summary/ product description: “The war against BioZenith is on.
Since she first came into her mysterious new superpowers, Emily has watched one of her packmates disappear through an interdimensional portal; she’s been hunted by creepy, body-snatching Shadowmen; she’s managed to form an alliance with the same telekinetic cheerleaders who once tried to take her down; and she’s discovered that her believed-to-be-dead mother is one of the BioZenith scientists responsible for her strange abilities.
Now it’s up to the Deviants to put together the last pieces of the puzzle, which includes tracking down the final, mystery member of their kind and forcing their parents to reveal why they mutated their own children. Emily fears the answer is far more sinister than anyone ever thought: after all, why would a parent risk a child’s life unless the stakes were high…scary, world-ending high?
Tired of being at the mercy of adult conspiracies, Emily forms a plan with the other Deviants: Destroy BioZenith before anyone can use the knowledge within the facility to aid the Shadowmen. But that’s only if BioZenith—or something worse—doesn’t capture them first.”

My Rating: êêêêê

My Review: This series is amazing and has been kind of under the radar. Not many people know it’s out there. I was happy when I read Vesper. And now with this third and final book, I am sad to let it go, but happy that it ended well and epically. If you are a fan of series like Maximum Ride  by James Patterson or Darkest Power and Darkness Rising series by Kelly Armstrong. This series is sci-fi with a paranormal edge, or vice versa. And it even has a kick-butt girl main character that’s a bit of a pop culture geek

This book had laughs and fun dialogue. It also had some sad and freaky moments. And then some very mind blowing revelations that reminded me of Angel Burn, Fringe, The Host and Ancient Aliens. We already found out about the whole parallel world that the shadowmen come from in the last book, but what are they?

I love the characters of course. They’re funny and interesting. Emily is kind of like me. Spencer seems very lovable and cute, in a techie geek kind of way. Tracie is preppie and a type-A personality. And there’s the cheerleaders, Nikki and Delgado triplets. And a new character named Evan, who’s kind of funny.

The plot was interesting to say the least. It was engaging and exciting, thrilling and so on. It was so good that I don’t even know what I just read. It’s over and a loved it and now I want a spin-off series like Kelly Armstrong did for Darkest Power. A character whose a Deviant with different, psychic, abilities!!! I know, I keep on asking for spin-offs and novellas when reviewing conclusions…..

Cover Art Review: I love the silhouettes on the covers, and the title with the smoke behind it. I just wish it wasn’t just glossy. And this cover is mostly monochromatic. I liked the first book’s cover the best.

 

~Haley G

Angel Fire by L. A. Weatherly

Series: Angel (bk. 2)

Genera: Paranormal Romance/Dystopian Sci-fi

Subjects: Angels, psychic ability, Mexico

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 638 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Summary/ product description: “In Book Two of L. A. Weatherly’s wildly romantic, action-packed trilogy, the angels are back with a vengeance . . . and they don’t have heaven in mind.
In the wake of the Second Wave, the angel menace has exploded, and Alex and Willow are on the lam. Willow’s prophetic dream points them to Mexico City, where they connect with a fledgling group of angel killers led by the exotically beautiful Kara, an Angel Killer from Alex’s past. But the team remains suspicious of Willow, even after the more-experienced Alex takes over as leader, training them hard for a rush attack on the Seraphic Council, or “The Twelve.” This elite group of all-powerful angels is also under the scrutiny of Willow’s angel-father, Raziel, who has his own sinister plan to defeat them.
What Willow hasn’t told Alex is that there was also a mysterious boy in her dream, one she felt overpoweringly attracted to. When brooding, gorgeous Seb shows up in the flesh, he turns out to be another—possibly the world’s only other—half angel. He’s been searching for Willow all his life, and when Alex enlists this rival to help keep Willow safe, he can’t predict what chemistry will pass between them . . . or how far Willow might go to keep Alex safe. Will their love endure or spell doomsday for the human race?”

My Rating: êêêêê

My Review: My thoughts on the first book: I loved Willow and Alex’s relationship. I loved that they traveled across the country and ending up in so many places. It’s just exciting. I love adventure stories. And the romance was so hot. The story was unique because the angels were evil, soul sucking creatures. Aliens or beings from another dimension. Alex is an Angel Killer, Willow is half-angel. They fall in love despite that.

Now my thoughts on this book: I still love this series, but this book was so freaking long. Lots of stuff happened, I just felt like this book could have been 2 books. It really heavy to hold this thick book. And also I’m kind of sad that Alex and Willow’s relationship is kind of ruined by Seb. Seb’s a great character, but I really loved Alex. I hate love triangles that appear in the second book. They’re okay if they happen in the first book, but it still also seems that whatever “team” I’m on loses. I’m still Team Alex.  Seb is funny. He’s kind of a compulsive liar when it comes to his past, but he’s really honest to Willow. He seems pretty good looking, not at all like a stereotypical Mexican. His mother was Italian, apparently. Seb’s really in love with Willow, and he’s the only other half-angel, then I guess they are meant to be (Which makes me feel like how I did at the end of Hallowed by Cynthia Hand).

I’m still giving this book 5 stars. It was pretty awesome. I’ve never been to Mexico, and this book was set in Mexico City. I’ve not read many books set in other countries, and it’s nice to read another one. I even looked up the setting on Google Earth so I could picture it better. I actually had Spanish in high school, so no problems there.

The plot is really hard for me to describe because the book was so long. Basically, Alex and the AKs, and Willow and Seb are going to try to kill the Council of 12 angels because they think that will kill all the angels in the world. And they keep trying to find a good way to make that happen. And they keep running into problems. And of course, there’s the love triangle subplot (which turns into a love quadrangle). Alex keeps training a bunch of Angel Spotter to be Angel Killers. He teaches them how to shot moving targets. Alex is getting migranes, Willow thinks it’s her fault. Willow only wants to be friends with Seb, even though Seb is clearly in love with her. There’s still some switching perspectives. Willow’s 1^st person perspective and 3^rd person perspectives of Alex, Seb and Raziel. The 1^st book had all but Seb.

The ending of the book wasn’t exactly a cliff hanger, but it’s certainly enough to leave you anticipating the last book. It’s a pretty long wait if you read this book when it came out January 2012. Since its January 2013, and it’s supposed to come out in November, the wait for me is kind of cut in half. I really want to see how the end of the series plays out. Hopefully it will be full of action, adventure and excitement.

Cover Art Review: This cover looks too creepy. Not at all how I’d picture Willow’s angel form.

 

~Haley G

Maximum Ride: Nevermore by James Patterson

Series: Maximum Ride (bk. 8)

Genera: Sci-fi

Subjects: Genetic engineering, adventure, apocalyptic, super-humans

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 344 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $17.99

Publisher: Little, Brown

Summary/ product description: “Maximum Ride and her faithful friends stand ready to face the two greatest threats that humankind has ever known--now combining forces in an unbeatable plot to destroy life as we know it once and for all. And this time, the enemy truly can't be stopped.
The danger mounts just as Dylan has finally worked his way into Max's heart--and just as her beloved Fang unexpectedly returns to the flock. An explosive confrontation between the two boys with a claim to Max's heart ensues, and the entire world hangs in the balance.
In this powerful and moving finale to James Patterson's epic fantasy series, fans will finally get the answers they've been waiting for--and an ending full of shock, surprises, and the greatest conclusion you never saw coming.”

My Rating: êêêêê

My Review: I was kind of afraid to read this. There were some bad reviews and rating from people on Goodreads. And I hate reading endings. Especially to my favorite series. And this is the series that started it all for me. The first series I became truly obsessed with. The series that made me read, and write. I created so many fanart pieces and fanfiction and was so inspired by this series. Now it’s over.

Good book, okay ending. I loved this whole series, even though I felt it really should have wrapped up after book 3. Book 4 was a disaster (which I still enjoyed). Don’t be discouraged from other reviews. Read this book. It’s good. A final goodbye to Max, unless you plan to read or write fanfiction like I used to. I will miss Max’s voice, personality, and every Flock member.

It’s REALLY hard to review this books without talking about talking about what happened, and spoiling stuff, so I’m not going to try…

WARNING, From this point, the review contains spoilers:

It wasn’t a bad ending. It was the kind of ending that makes me want a spin-off series. I enjoyed every minute of this book, but I really want to see what happens after. Maybe that’s what fanfiction is for. Hope somebody  writing fanfiction off of this ending. (Why does the description of the sky make me think of the aether in Under The Never Sky?) This is not a spoiler…some body write the post-apocalyptic fanfic of Maximum Ride. I really want to read it!

I think it’s cool that they try school again. What that school the one that won the contest to be written into the book? I though some school in NYC of Chicago won. And then there’s Fang’s new gang, and then later his travel. Really, he’s in Chicago for a few pages. Awesome! And him falling into Lake Michigan, I really don’t know of any or many cliffs that are on scenic overlooks. (And I’ve travel all around the Lake Michigan shoreline) I am really happy that Fang comes back, because I was Team Fang (Fax) all the way. Dylan makes me think he’s some guardian angel created to protect Max. He’s not really the one for her no matter what they say.

Angel is the Voice and I knew it!!!!!!! It’s like duh, she’s telepathic. Of course she’s the Voice! I was kind of hoping it was God and that the Flock member were angels/Nephilim instead of bird kids and they had a purpose, like the Unearthly series (my other fav). I’m kind of wondering if the Confessions of a Murder Suspect book is about angels or a religious cult too.

The 99% Plan sounded like a religious cult…without the religion part. Really, what’s with all the mass extinction? This series is almost Dystopian now, but it’s over.

Good luck writing fanfiction. Call it The Post-Apocalytic Society of Maximum Ride. Note to self: Come up with a more creative title. A shorter one.

Cover Art Review: For once they try putting wings on the model. Sure, the model looks NOTHING like Max. Wrong hair. They still didn’t do the wings as good as I did. But they did okay for the cover of the last book. I like that it’s metallic and shiny.

~Haley G

Dead Reckoning by Mercedes Lackey and Rosemary Edghill

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Genera: Western/steampunk/paranormal

Subjects: Zombies, cults, cowboys, Native Americans, the Frontier

Length: 324 pgs.

HC/PB: Harcover

Summary/ product description: “Jett is a girl disguised as a boy, living as a gambler in the old West as she searches for her long-lost brother. Honoria Gibbons is a smart, self-sufficient young woman who also happens to be a fabulous inventor. Both young women travel the prairie alone – until they are brought together by a zombie invasion! As Jett and Honoria investigate, they soon learn that these zombies aren’t rising from the dead of their own accord … but who would want an undead army? And why? This gunslinging, hair-raising, zombie western mashup is perfect for fans of Cowboys vs. Aliens and Pride & Prejudice & Zombies”

My Rating: êêê

My Review: This was pretty good for a historical fiction/steampunk book. I’d said I was never gonna touch a steampunk book or historical book again. But after watching a few wild-west movie, I decided I should give westerns a try, and this one just so happens to have zombies. I love cowboys and zombies (for diff reasons). Sure this book was not one of my favs and it still wasn’t interesting enough to be 4 stars, but I liked it enough to give it 3. I really liked the 3 main characters and their different personalities. They’re all very brave in their own ways. The story stuff was interesting too. A religious cult turning people into zombies (rather than a zombie plague). It reminded me of the Lazarus people in some short story I read. The dive resurrection, in this book. And Gibbons kept trying to explain the zombies scientifically since she’s a debunker/cynic. Jett grew up in New Orleans, so she knows about hoodoo and voodoo, and she’s disguised as a boy, which reminds me of a book I read in middle school. White Fox is a tracker, a white boy raised by Natives.

I recommend this to people who saw like Cowboys & Aliens, or love westerns or non-viral zombies. I even suggest watching a western movie or two before or after you read it.

Cover Art Review: Perfect cover (except Jett looks too sassy, could never pass for a boy). Love the zombies. So well done!

~Haley G