"The Maze Runner" by James Dashner

I first heard of The Maze Runner when the film started getting some publicity last year. Getting on the hype plane I purchased the book and started reading it, however because of my load of work and school abandoned the read shortly after. The movie came out, and I had some basic knowledge, but didn't get any book "spoilers" because, well, I fell asleep and basically missed the whole thing.

So a couple of days ago I had a reading gap so decided to restart this book. The concept is not new, again we are introduced to a futuristic dystopian society that has a group of young adults go through a series of trials and tribulations that will make or break them. The device in this case is The Maze, and in the middle of it is The Glade, where our characters live.

From the beginning, the pieces of the puzzle are scattered. The characters themselves don't know much about their purpose, and the reader is left to start filling in the blanks as Thomas is introduced to this way of life. This character development is what lowered my rating for the book. While I understood the behavior of many of the characters, I failed to make a connection with them. Even the ones that are meant to be likable, like Thomas' tour guide Chuck, seem forced and fake.

What saves this book is the mystery of what exactly is the maze, which its plagued with annoying critters knowns as grievers. All it took is one description of this mechanical/organic hybrid to make me feel disgusted, but at the same time the mere description of how they were supposed to be made it real hard to suspend disbelief. But regardless, these creatures are the main antagonist in the search for answers.

As a series of events unfold, everyone of the kids in The Glade must face their fears and are forced to forge the path to their own salvation. The end, with its own plot twist, is not a big shocker.

While not as good as The Hunger Games, or even Divergent, The Maze Runner provides some good entertainment if you can get pass the dialect that the characters insert into their conversations. I will continue reading the series and watching the movies. Many questions are still in need of answers.

Finished on: August 23, 2015
Days reading: 3
My Rating: 3/5

"Wonderland" by Jennifer Hillier

One of the best books I have read this year! Wonderland is a thriller bound to become a classic. As a theme park employee myself, I felt attracted to this story from the beginning. And I can say that I'm glad I did, for it was a very pleasant read.

This story is about the secrets hidden in a small town, whose major attraction is a theme park called Wonderland. As with all theme parks, there is an external appearance of a happy place, full of laughter, rides, and food. But this park is full of secrets, and they all star unraveling after an unfortunate incident is discovered on a faithful morning.

A new deputy chief just moved to town, and her new set of eyes is all it takes to start peeling the layers behind the not so pleasant story of Wonderland. How deep does the rabbit hole go? Very deep, and with every page turned new secrets are discovered, and the way you look at the characters in the story keeps evolving until you realize who is who.

I don't think I ever got tired of reading this book. After a couple of days I was about halfway through it, when I decided I could not finish the day without finishing it. Jennifer Hillier did a magnificent job introducing the town of Seaside, and it's cast of characters. The mystery is fresh enough not to feel recycled, and the end was not as predictable as I had expected. This would make a great movie!

I very much recommend this book to anyone that enjoys thrillers, and stories about theme parks. Thankfully the one I work in is nothing like Wonderland!

Finished on: August 21, 2015

Days reading: 4

My rating: 5/5

** I received a free copy of this book as an ARC by the author/publisher in exchange of a honest review.

"Like Jesus" by Jamie Snyder

My first impressions of the book, considering the cover and the tag line, were that this was going to be a book that was going to mix the historical Jesus with the biblical Jesus, and the various interpretations by all the modern-day Christian books out there. This is not the case, as it is indeed a book written for Christians. That being said, I am not a religious person my self. I was raised Catholic, so I have my basic knowledge of religion, even though nowadays I might not really be a believer.

With those disclaimers out of the way, let's talk a little about the book itself. One thing I admired about the way it is written is that it truly sends a message for Christians to take a deep look at their behaviors and try to act more like Jesus would have. The old phrase  "What Would Jesus Do" comes to mind as I write this.

Jamie Snyder goes to great lengths in describing several ways that some Christian groups have made Jesus into a comfort image that feeds their wants. The "American Jesus"  and "Political Jesus" were my favorites, as I can see the influence of those Jesus in many people around places around social media.

One big thing the author does not do is make the reader feel bad. Religiously speaking, yeah we are all sinners and such, but this book is not about condemnation but rather a path toward love. And even though I'm not converted, I truly enjoyed reading about it. At times I feel like some Christians forget that message of love, and finding a book that places love back in the priority list makes me feel good. If more people pick up this book and feel compelled to love, instead of judging, then the world will instantly become a better place.

Finished on: August 17, 2015

Days reading: 5

My rating: 2/5

** I received a free copy of this book as an ARC by the author/publisher in exchange of a honest review.

The Lost Girl by R.L. Stine

I could not pass on the opportunity to read a R.L. Stine book, after all I can't count how many of his earlier works I read while in school. I was not familiar with the Fear Street novel series, so this served as my introduction to it. And let me tell you that I was not disappointed.

Without giving too much away, this story takes places in two different times, the modern day and the year 1950. As we turn the pages we come to realize how events that span half a century get connected, and how a young man named Michael will never be the same.

Full of suspense and plot twists, this story is in part about the consequences that come as a result of our actions, and how friendships are tested during extremely challenging situations. R.L. Stine proves that he can create vivid scenarios that are terrifying, but at the same time so realistic that you may feel that I can happen to you.

Finished on: August 13, 2015

Days reading: 3

My rating: 4/5

** I received a free copy of this book as an ARC by the author/publisher in exchange of a honest review.