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

Goodreads

*May contain spoilers for those who have not read The Maze Runner.*

Wow. That is all I can say about this sequel to the wonderful Maze Runner. Our favorite characters are thrown straight back into fighting for their lives. We knew from the end of The Maze Runner that they wouldn't be given more than a moment of safety. They are going outside; where they have not been in many years. This is not a planned maze. The maze is a shelter in comparison. The world has been taken over by a sun that will burn you within a moment spent in its rays and thunderstorms that will tear your body to pieces. People are losing their minds and becoming careless zombies. Will the Gladers lose theirs? There is a lot more I want to say, particularly about Theresa and other new characters, but I don't want to spoil anything for anyone who has yet to read this. James Dashner is a wonderful writer. He creates a world with his words that sucks you in, holds you there and forces you to ask questions. I read recently on James Dashner's blog that he was a LOST fan and why am I not surprised? If you hate being given mysteries without many answers (yet) then I advise you to look for a new book. James is keeping us on the edge of our seats until the third and final book in the trilogy is released later this year. I have to wonder, with so many questions left to answer, will he come through in the end?

Teaser Tuesday (3) on a... Wednesday?

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• 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!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Sometimes I think there's something wrong. I shouldn't be so aware. But then I realize I'm only aware for a moment, and then, as I'm realizing it, I slip into another dream. Mostly, I dream of Earth. I think that's because I didn't want to leave it."
Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Well, I went home not feeling so well last night and accidentally skipped out on Teaser Tuesday... so here it is now. Better late than never, right? :)

Giveaways.

Contests around blog land. Enter and enjoy. Good luck!

$25 Amazon Gift Card @ Reader Recommended ends 2/13
Book of choice or $5 Amazon GC @ Blkosiner's Book Blog ends 2/13

Teaser Tuesday and a review of The Scorch Trials to come later! Unfortunately my book is at home and I am not.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (3)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Book Journey. It’s where you share the books you’ve read recently, are reading now, and are about to read.

Slow reading week for me. Unfortunately there are no snow days to be had in Florida.

Read:

The Scorch Trials
If I Stay



Reviews for both on the way.

Reading:

Across The Universe!



Next:

Between Shades of Gray



What are you reading?

Review: Magic Study (Study #2) by Maria V. Snyder

You know your life is bad when you miss your days as a poison taster...

With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways—and her newfound friends and relatives don't think it's for the better....

Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training—especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince—and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians.

If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies.

What can I say about Magic Study that I didn't already say about Poison Study? I read many reviews in which readers claimed that Poison Study was the superior book and Magic Study fell short of their expectations, but for me that was not the case. This book was certainly different from its predecessor and had something different to offer but I found that refreshing. All of the old characters we fell in love with in Poison Study were back along with a cast of new characters who didn't disappoint. We are given a tree climbing mother, a bitter "king" without a throne, "talking" horses, a family of glass blowers, head magicians, etc. While Poison Study was a book primarily composed of "who can Yelena trust?" moments and endless intrigue Magic Study presented us with a story about family and a Hogwarts-esque magic school. In this sequel Yelena had all of her old friends (and her lover) from Ixia to support her. One of my favorite parts of the book was Yelena's ability to communicate with horses. I adored Kiki and Topaz and thought they added a necessary lightness to the book and to Yelena's otherwise complicated and dangerous life. I highly recommend this book and will continue on with the series. I've already got Fire Study, the third and final book in the series (not including its spin off series Glass that is), sitting in my to be read pile.

Rating: 5/5

Contests from blog land!

I will be updating this list over the next few minutes with a few contests from around the blogosphere for you all to enter.

300+ Follower Contest @ Reading Nook
Dark Days of Supernatural Book Giveaway @ Reading Nook ends 2/21
Valentines Day Giveaway @ Words & Whispers ends 2/26
Haven Giveaway (5 copies) @ Icey Books ends 2/21
Anna and the French Kiss Giveaway @ Getting Your Read On ends 2/11
Angelfire Giveaway @ Stuck in Books ends 2/15
The Demon Trapper's Daughter Giveaway @ Confessions of a Bookaholic ends 2/24
Desires of the Dead Giveaway @ The Naughty Book Kitties ends 2/11
Born Under A Lucky Moon Giveaway @ Must Read Faster ends 2/12
Giveaway Series: $10 Book at Book Depository @ Splash of our Worlds ends 2/20
$10 Amazon GC @ Reading Between Pages ends 2/21
YA Book of Choice @ Pure Imagination ends 3/2



PS. Please let the Steelers win today. They cannot lose lest I have to deal with endless moping around my house for the next week.
:)

In My Mailbox (3)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives book bloggers a chance to share with readers the books they’ve recently bought or received or borrowed.

Bought @ Amazon:





Bought @ Barnes and Noble






For Review:




Courtesy of my local library:





The best and most lively books ever:








Thanks for stopping by. What did you get in your mailbox this week? I hope you got at least one kitten.