My Book Reviews

The Kill Order by James Dashner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I could've finished this much faster, but I admit I took my own sweet time. =B

If anyone who hadn't bought this series as a set, let me just say this; if you're thinking of getting this book, know that it will not be about the Gladers.

The Kill Order is a prequel to the series, and it tells the tale of a group of people that experienced the Flare when it first arrived. In other words, this story was set years before Thomas and the Maze. Having said that, I feel that this book is 'optional' in the series, if you will. It's like a back story on how the Flare started and how WICKED was formed.

I don't think it would affect much of the trilogy in general even if you don't pick up this book.

That being said though, this is one intense book.

It's what I consider 'light reading', yes, but it's the kind where you can expect a cliffhanger at the end of almost every chapter. The scenes with the infected reminded me of the finale in The Girl with All the Gifts.

The final showdown for The Kill Order had me completely immersed, and I could feel the urgency; feel my heart pounding as I hastily scanned through the pages, eager to find out how this one ends.

There ARE little mentions of some of the Gladers (though I won't say who), but only in the prologue & epilogue.

If you want to find out how the pandemic started, then by all means get this book and fill in the plot holes. Otherwise, you can rest assured that you won't miss much.

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The Death Cure by James Dashner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is... something. I can say that in some ways, it doesn't involve another 'trial', as the first 2 books did. Though believe me when I say that it does not lack action and intensity.

There were incidents and scenes that I wasn't happy about; not in Dashner's writing, but with what happened with certain characters: characters that I had actually grown quite fond of. One such scene was when Thomas did not quite end up with the person I had been hoping for.

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Needful Things by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

See, the thing about King's novels is that they mess with your head. You get pulled into the story, so much so that you start questioning your surroundings. Needful Things is no different.

When I first found out that Needful Things was the name of a shop, I couldn't help thinking that it didn't sound.... well, grammatically correct. I privately thought that 'Needed Things' or 'Needy Things' would have fitted better.
(Alas, the grammar nazi has chosen to rear its ugly head again. Don't hurt me, Stephen.)

When I read the synopsis, it was attractive, but I don't think it did the story justice. Without revealing too much, the state of the occupants of Castle Rock disturbed me mentally. It was not the kind that scares you; it just made me feel really uncomfortable, in the best way possible-... if that even makes sense. I'll never look at arthritis the same way again, and I'll be weary of great deals for a while (FML).

As with It, the ending seems to be unlike the endings that other authors would normally choose. Maybe that's what sets King apart. He implies that sometimes, faith and belief in the simplest form goes a long way; not unlike the beliefs you would have as a child. Maybe what he's trying to say is that kids are very simple creatures. Imagination and belief runs their life, and they are able to accept most things and move on easily. Adults, on the other hand, can be too practical and overthink every little thing.
Or maybe that's just me.

But Needful Things illustrates the things us humans will do when we're desperate for something. The things we'd be willing to do.

I think that's what makes it even more disturbing - the fact that it hits so close to home: that we become different people when we're obsessed with something.

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