Weekend Reads #7

For anyone who viewed my blog this time last year will know that over the course of the summer I reread the Harry Potter series and reviewed each book individually. Well, almost each book. For some reason, once I finished The Deathly Hallows I didn't stick up a review and, whilst I could easily review it without having to reread it for the 100th time, I'm going to anyway. It's been a slow reading month due to my preparations for uni so finding a little comfort in Harry Potter is just what I need. So the book I'm going to tackle this weekend is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by the one and only J.K. Rowling.

As it's such a massive book it'd be more than ambitious to try and finish it over the weekend and find time to start another book. I could easily finish it over the weekend if it was the first time reading it but I always go a little slower with rereads because it's not quite as exciting as the very first time. But then again it's Harry Potter so who knows?

I will however, despite losing my notes on it, try and get my review of Ready Player One by Ernest Cline done at some point this weekend. It's not that it's not a brilliant book and can't do the review without the notes, I just like to take notes down as I go along so I know I've included everything I need to say. If you're a reviewer you'll understand haha; so be sure to look out for that. Until then, why not visit my Harry Potter tag and check out my reviews of the previous 6 books in the series here!

The Seckry Sequence: The Trinity Awakening - Joseph Evans

"It's Seckry Sevenstars second year at Eastergate Institute, and things are already shaping up to be just as eventful as the first; a revolting looking Nasty has appeared in the Food Grabber machine, a new lesson called fringe science has been added to his timetable, Mrs Cutson is acting more sadistic than ever, the twenty eighth Friction Mega Meltdown is fast approaching and two exchange students from Norsegate have arrived, causing trouble and provoking Seckry and his friends.

With homework mounting and Friction training at its most intense, Seckry has very little time for distractions, but soon Seckry is forced to rethink everything he knew about Eiya’s existence, whilst also trying to uncover the truth behind his father's mysterious disappearance. And, in his quest for answers, Seckry unearths long forgotten secrets buried within the school grounds."

The Trinity Awakening picks up shortly after the conclusion of City of the Falling Sky on the date of Seckry's sixteenth birthday. That, however, isn't before Evans opens the novel with an explosive prologue which really sets the tone for the book. He wastes no time in boring the reader with a predictable build-up and instead grips and engrosses you from the get go, intertwining twists even the smartest of nickpickers wouldn't see coming. The start of the book also brings a good reintroduction of key characters and visitation of past events, meaning, unlike many series that have a substantial wait between releases, you don't need to read up on a detailed synopsis to refresh your mind of the world.

Overall, I found this book so much more haunting and thrilling than the latter, stretching the YA genre by making it into something more than just love triangles, heroines and oppressive capitalism. It's clear that Evans has worked hard on linking every book in the series, looking towards the next book whilst writing the current one. This allows questions from Falling Sky to be answered in this book, whilst also introducing new mysteries and narrative arcs that, surprisingly, given the size of the world that Evans has created, stick in your mind - there never seems to be any loose ends.

The exploration of characters and the developing relationship between Seckry and Eiya is an element of this book I truly admired; I even found myself gushing at times. I particularly enjoyed the growing relationship between Vance and Seckry as over the course of the series Vance has become an essential father figure in Seckry's life and it'll be interesting to see where it goes as the series continues.

Despite having complimented Evans before on his use of imagination and descriptive techniques, they're something I have to mention again as there's nothing more exciting than reading a world that's so well constructed and exciting to devour. Each chapter is so beautifully cinematic that even the tiniest of details play out in my head with little effort. There's a lot of different things unfolding in the first half of the book, which, admittedly, can be a little confusing to keep track of at times. However, nothing that is mentioned or occurs is for the sake of filling pages, which is what I love about Evans' writing. There's a constant incorporation of cleverly linked events throughout that you don't take much notice of at the time because they appear minor to the story, yet later become a vital and intriguing part, again creating unpredictability.

Although very few could question its necessity to the story, simply because, as of yet, it hasn't helped in the unravelling of any mysteries, I for one love Evans' creation of the Friction game and Mega Meltdown. The game in general brings a bit of fun and a good distraction from the serious more darker themes of the story. It's safe to say I was quite the role-playing nerd when I was younger so I find it quite nostalgic to read, not to mention that I want nothing more than to play it. At the same time however it was nice to see that there wasn't much focus on it as it was established so largely in the first book that had there been any more of it in this book it would have lost its sense of excitement.

What stood out most however is the climax of the book. It definitely has one of those I don't know what to do with myself endings, giving me quite the 'book hangover', which I loved - there's nothing better than reading a book that leaves such a lasting impression.

It's safe to say that I loved reading this book. It's exhilarating, unpredictable, fun and even pulls a little on your heartstrings. I even found myself craving the third book so I could read it straight after finishing this one. Speaking of, whilst no release date has been announced as of yet, you can check out the teaser trailer for The Seckry Sequence: Fate of the Fractured here - however I strongly advise avoiding it until you've read the first two books!

I give Joseph Evans and The Seckry Sequence: The Trinity Awakening

Gone - Michael Grant

"A small town in Southern California: In the blink of an eye everyone over the age of 15 disappears. Cut off from the outside world, those that are left are trapped, and there's no help on the way. Chaos rules the streets.

Now a new world order is rising and, even scarier, some survivors have power - mutant power that no one has ever seen before..."

Gone by Michael Grant follows the story of everyone under the age of 15, predominantly the protagonist, Sam Temple, as they face a world they could never have imagined. In the blink of an eye everyone over the age of 15 disappears, leaving Sam and the girl he's in love with, Astrid, along with every other remaining child, to fend for themselves in a new world full of mutations, betrayal and a lurking darkness.

In all honesty, the first time I read this book in the summer of 2012 I didn't particularly like it. I found it difficult to get into, tedious to read when I could and it didn't make me any more of a fan of the sci-fi genre. Gone simply felt like something I had read before, as well as seen in films, despite it being a brilliant concept. Having said that, this year I figured I'd give the series another shot now that all the books have been released and, whilst my judgement the second time round remained slightly clouded by my first experience with this novel, my opinion did change for the better.

On the whole, I found the pacing of this novel generally enjoyable and exciting to read, although it did occasionally fall flat and didn't quite meet my expectations. Having said that however, it has a rather impressive premise, á la Lord of the Flies meets X-Men, that stretches the YA genre through Grant's shocking and cruel use of imagery that isn't quite Saw-gruesome, but does make you cringe and wince over his use of descriptive techniques and his clear desire to present the harshness of this new, dark world in a way that many authors have avoided in fear of not drawing their younger target audience in. It does however feel like Grant could have done more with the story as I felt that the middle of the book was more of a filler as opposed to part of the novel.

I found the characters in this novel a bit of a mixed bag, some of them I liked, even loved, others I found boring and frustrating; unfortunately Sam Temple was one of those characters. Although I'm appreciative of the fact that his character is only 14-years-old, I found his entire 'I'm not trying to be the hero nor do I want to be the hero' charade irksome and pointless when it's clear that he's well aware that he is Perido Beach's only hope - there's also the small matter of him continually ending up in scenarios which result in him being branded the hero. It was also confusing to see him accept the fact that Astrid 'The Genius' perceived him as a hero and the person who should take charge of the situation, yet continue to moan and complain when either trait came into play for him or another character perceived and treated him in the same way. Astrid on the other hand was a character I loved. It's great when you find female characters, particularly within the sci-fi genre, that aren't oppressed tertiary or secondary characters and, instead, stand for being everything other than the pretty damsel in distress. Her character is beyond intelligent, maternal and carries the traits of a natural born leader and I love that in any and every character.

It's clear that whilst Grant put a lot of effort into creating this world and interlinking the narrative and creating arks for the later novels, it does become a little cliché at times, which I think is common within the YA genre. Whilst I appreciate Grant's desire to illuminate typical teenage problems and how that just because the world has changed doesn't mean their problems have suddenly diminished, I felt that I was, at times, reading something like Pretty Little Liars or The Vampire Diaries with over-dramatic, unnecessary, predictable twists.

However, what's particularly interesting about this novel is despite it primarily focusing on Sam, it occasionally changes perspective to other characters who appear to take prominence later on in the book and, I assume, later in the series. I liked how the story often backtracks a little when coming to focus on another character as it sheds light for the reader on the current situation, giving an understanding of more than just one perspective as well as allowing the narrative to move in different directions by enlightening you in each character's thought process. At the same time however, the switch on character focus can confuse the story a little as one minute you could be making your way through a fast-paced chapter which focuses on one character, then the pace suddenly ceases in the next chapter, landing you with a character in a completely different situation that you haven't met before or are unfamiliar with, so it definitely takes some getting used to.

I think it would be safe to say that the climax is so much more satisfying to read than the rest of the book. It's exhilarating, allowing your imagination to run wild, as a multitude of events take place simultaneously. The themes of death and horror prevail in the climax, lasting a few chapters instead of just a couple of pages, and presenting an ending that actually makes me want to read the sequel, Hunger, as opposed to wanting to put it off as I expected it to.

Overall, this is a story about children trying to adapt to and survive in a new, frightening world that offers great opportunity for action-packed scenes and excitement, yet, unfortunately, sometimes falls short due to irksome characters, a sudden change in character focus or the dominance of typical teenage drama. This series definitely has a lot of potential but Gone doesn't quite push it.

I give Michael Grant and Gone

Guess Who's Back, Back Again..

I think it's safe to say, given my sheer lack of dedication so far this year, that I'm probably one of, if not the most, unreliable blogger as of late. I have a tendency to set myself unrealistic goals in terms of when I can come back to the world of blogging and, whilst returning straight after my exams was initially realistic, I decided against it when my grandfather sadly passed away just a couple of weeks ago.

Whilst a horrible experience to go through, I think grieving is important, giving ourselves time to adjust and to accept the reality of the situation. It's taking me longer than expected because I was so close to my grandfather, but I think it's finally time to return and get back to what I enjoy; reading and reviewing.

Since my last post I've unfortunately only gotten through two books, The Seckry Sequence: The Trinity Awakening by Joseph Evans, as well as finally getting round to rereading Gone by Michael Grant as I want to continue with the series, despite pretty much hating Gone the first time around. I'm in the middle of writing up reviews for both so hopefully one will be with you Monday and the other in the middle of the week.

I'm also hoping, given that I have two whole months until I start university (which might I add I'm stupidly excited for), that I make general posts more often, with the belief that for some strange reason one or two of you might actually care about what's going on in my life.

Anyway I think I'll cut this post short. I always find that when I actually come to writing that I forget 95% of what I was going to say. Ah well, not to worry eh? Be sure to check back Wednesday evening (UK) for my review of Gone!

Where have I been?

For those of you who check my blog on a regular basis (I doubt anyone does) or are a new visitor, you'll notice I haven't posted since the end of April. Well, unfortunately for me, it's that horrible time of year again when I have to give up all hopes of a social life, hobbies and reading in order to focus on my examinations.

Luckily for me however, these are my A2 exams so after June 19th I'm officially free for three months, until I (hopefully) head off to The University of West England in the middle of September to study journalism and media. Another great thing is, if I do get into UWE, I'll have no exams throughout my three years as an undergraduate, which means that my A2s could potentially be the last time I ever have to pick up a book and revise, woo!

Once June 19th has come and gone I should (hopefully) have two reviews ready to write and publish, one of the second book in Joseph Evans' 'Seckry Sequence' series called 'The Trinity Awakening' and the other being 'Ready Player One' by Ernest Cline. You didn't honestly think I wouldn't be doing a sneaky bit of reading in my breaks haha?

So, until then, I doubt you'll be seeing any of me so best-of-luck to any of you who are currently in the same situation as me, let's hope it's all worth the effort eh? See you in a couple of weeks!

Torn - Cat Clarke

"Alice King is expecting the holiday of a lifetime when she sets off with her classmates on a trip to the Scottish wilderness, but she's not exactly prepared for an experience beyond her darkest nightmares.

Alice and her best friend Cass are stuck in a cabin with Polly, the social outcast, and Rae, the moody emo-girl. Then there's Tara - queen of mean. Powerful, beautiful and cruel, she likes nothing better than putting people down.

Cass decides it's time to teach Tara a lesson she'll never forget. And so begins a series of events that will change the lives of these girls forever.."

Torn by Cat Clarke follows the story of Alice King after she returns from an adventure trip to Scotland with her classmates, following an experience that will change the course of Alice's life forever, along with her best friend Cass, social outcast Polly and emo-girl Rae. The four girls do all they can to move on with their lives, but with betrayal, love, lies and insanity in the way, the future doesn't look bright for any of the four girls.

Anyone who has read my review of Undone by Clarke will already know that I'm a massive fan of her work, so naturally I was beyond excited to finally be able to pick Torn up. With Undone easily being one of my all-time favourite books, I knew there would be a lot to live up to, but thankfully Clarke did not disappoint. What I love most about this book is just how gripping it is. From the very first page Clarke sucks you in, enthralling yet terrifying you at the same time with her writing style and ability to perfectly capture teenage interaction, and the real struggles teenagers face today.

It's clear that Clarke has no issue with placing her readers in awkward and uncomfortable positions, burdening you with the darkest thoughts of the protagonist and forcing you to ask yourself what you would do in their shoes and, in terms of Torn, that's a pretty frightening position to be in. But that's what's so effective about the story. Everything Clarke writes is so real. The story is so well dominated by dark and twisted themes such as betrayal, death and the consequences of all our actions, no matter how big or small. Clarke's stories provide something different to the YA genre that isn't based on superficial relationships and impossible situations and that's what makes Torn so relatable.

For me, guilt is the mother of all emotions. It can derive from any action or thought and it can, at times, be horrible to deal with. I'm in no way trying to pass off guilt as a mental illness, or even trying to compare it to one, but it was so compelling to see how Clarke used guilt to emotionally unravel her characters and, in some cases, drive them to the point of self destruction. As a reader, you're provided with so many different aspects of guilt that you get an understanding of fluidity. You have characters trying all they can to ignore and bottle up their guilt, characters trying to redeem themselves and rid their guilt with 'good' actions, characters suffering with anxiety and constant dread and then you have characters who are so consumed by guilt that they destroy themselves as a result. Clarke so tragically manages to capture real, human issues.

I love how Clarke never seems to write perfect characters, they're all flawed in some way and, no, I'm not talking about the pathetically trivial YA flaws like being too curvy or not beautiful enough, I'm talking about real flaws. All of her characters mess up and do bad things, with the root of all their issues going deep. Everything they do we all do as well. We all act without thinking. We fight and argue. We love and deceive. And because of that all of her characters are so easy to relate to, so I was constantly finding aspects of myself in all of them. So, whilst some may assume that the novel is a black and white story about bulling and cruelty, the consequences of it and seeking revenge, I see it more of a story that highlights the imperfections of all of us, showing that just because someone does wrong by you, does not mean you can too do wrong by them and then try to come out as the hero because you were merely seeking revenge. Thus, I find it easy to assume that Clarke is saying nobody is just good or just bad, and those are the kind of characters young readers need, which is why I'm so thankful for Clarke. Not at any time during this novel did I find myself rooting for the hero or the villain, because there simply isn't one of either.

Finally, without giving any spoilers away, it's great that Clarke highlights that life isn't a fairytale. Things go wrong all the time and whilst most of them are fixable, some things aren't; they're permanent and we have to pay the price for that. And whilst the ending might be a little bitter sweet for some, simply because it's both an open and close-ended narrative, I for one loved it and am not ashamed to admit that Clarke managed to reduce me to tears once again.

Ultimately, this is a story about troubled love, secrets, lies and friendships tearing at the seems. It steps over the typical YA girly narratives of hallway cat-fighting between the social outcast and 'Queen B(itch)' by taking a much deeper and darker root, showing that sometimes there is no hero or villain to root for.

I give Cat Clarke and Torn ★★★★★

Divergent - Film Review

"In a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late."

On the whole, I found myself quite content with this film. I mean, it wasn't quite on the level of other YA franchise films such as Harry Potter or The Hunger Games, but it was far better than its predecessors, such as the abysmal Beautiful Creatures. I was glad to see that the writers and director stayed as close to the book as they could, including so many recognisable quotes where they could and not straying too far from the book's narrative. However, I did at times feel as if the pacing fell a little flat, which is mainly due to the fact that some scenes couldn't be included in order Lionsgate could attain that all important 12A rating, which is disappointing.

Considering the film was created on a minuscule $85 million budget, the graphics and CGI were pretty impressive. I found myself taken aback by just how much detail had been put into creating the dystopian city that is Chicago as it was both beautiful and haunting. It's easy for a dystopian film to be quite generic but there was just the right balance of destruction and futuristic elements to give it a believable feel, so on the whole the setting was so much better than I imagined possible.

Although the pacing of the film did fall a little flat at times as previously stated, I did find that much of the more intense, action scenes were far more exciting to experience than in the book. It felt very much like the director, Neil Burger, tried as best he could to push the boundaries of the 12A rating to create an exhilarating atmosphere, adding a little more brutality than Veronica Roth did in the book.

What I did find a little disappointing with the film however was the execution of the characters. It felt very much like some characters were seriously underdeveloped whilst some were developed in completely the wrong way, Peter Hayes for example. Peter definitely didn't come across as the brutal yet desperate individual doing all he can to survive initiation into the Dauntless faction from the book, he was more like an annoying fly that you can't keep away from your food. I also wasn't particularly impressed by Theo James' portrayal of Four as room for him to express the character was pretty restricted, even his so called 'chemistry' with Tris seemed a little forced so I'm hoping he'll do a far better job in Insurgent.

Despite this however I was really impressed by Shailene Woodley's performance. As an actress I was totally unfamiliar with prior to this film I wasn't sure how well she'd cope, but she blew me away during the climax in particular. It's clear that she has a real understanding of Tris Prior's character and I can see why people are heralding her as Hollywood's next 'big actress'. I was also really pleased with the ending. As a book fan it can sometimes be frustrating when an adaptation strays from the source material, yet with this film I was pleased they shook it up and altered it slightly because it made it more exciting to watch because although I knew what the ultimate outcome would be, I didn't know what the process leading up to it would be.

Ultimately, this an adaptation that offers much in the way of excitement and action, yet has the tendency to fall flat at times with some characters feeling irrelevant to the narrative compared to their stance in the book. If you'd like the read my review of the book also then click here to do so.

I give Neil Burger and Divergent 7/10.

The Seckry Sequence: City of the Falling Sky - Joseph Evans

When Seckry Sevenstars is forced out of his village by the greedy Endrin Corporation and relocated to the daunting metropolis of Skyfall City, he harbours resentment for the company and vows to get them back one day for taking away his home, his school and his friends.

Then, when a mysterious email asks Seckry to break into the headquarters of the Endrin Corporation to steal a container full of worms for a hefty sum of money, his anger resurfaces, and he can’t resist the revenge he promised himself.

But what Seckry finds isn't what he expected. Staring at him through the darkness, with wide, innocent eyes, is something that makes Seckry’s heart almost stop.. A girl. Suddenly the question of what Endrin were doing with a few worms becomes the last thing on Seckry’s mind. What were Endrin doing with a human?

City of the Falling Sky by Joseph Evans is an exhilarating and unique story about a teenage boy named Seckraman Sevenstars as he and his family are forced out of their home and into the metropolis that is Skyfall City. After dealing with his initial frustration, Seckry begins to settle and enjoy his new home, but that moment of bliss can only last for so long before things begin to stir, resulting in Seckry being sucked right in.

From the get go it is clear that the plot is well thought out, creative, intriguing and unlike anything I've read in a long time. The tone of the book is excellently set in the prologue and instantly grabs your attention, not wasting time by setting out an unnecessary and draining build up; Evans just dives straight in and I love that. Evans' descriptive techniques and vivid imagination are beyond admirable and I found myself engrossed by and so easily picturing the world he's created, every unfolding event and setting, ranging from the magic and fantasy of the Friction game, to the futuristics of Skyfall City and Estergate High. In fact, whilst reading I found myself reminiscing about the world of Harry Potter and although I don't like to create comparisons between books, it just came natural to me, so it's apparent that Rowling has inspired Evans just like she's inspired the rest of us.

I really loved how the plot progressed throughout the book, expanding in an entertaining, gripping and knotty manner at the conclusion of every chapter. Questions are constantly being raised, as soon as you think you know what's going on the narrative is flipped and you're left stunned and confused by how you didn't see something coming, which is a great representation of just how talented Evans is. Although there are an array of narratives intertwined with each other, Evans eases the reader into any new aspects of the story and revisits them at later points when the picture becomes clearer, so you never for a second find yourself confused.

Albeit there are elements of the story that will forever remain fiction (or at least I hope so), I found myself relishing in the contrast between realism and fiction. It's difficult for a story, particularly one with such strong themes of fantasy, to find a balance that is both believable and totally out of this world, but that doesn't seem to be a problem within this novel. The characters are well developed with legitimate, human connections to each other and I especially found myself drawn to Seckry, sympathising with every ounce of pain, struggle and frustration he experiences. He's clearly flawed but not necessarily in a negative light, although I did find aspects of him, such as the way in which he dealt with Snibble, contradictory of his character. On the whole however he is a charming and ordinary human who extraordinary things have happened to, and that is part of what makes him such a great character

Finally, the ending had me in pieces. It was fantastic. Oh how I so desperately want to share it with you, but that would be unfair of me to do. I found it so compelling and exciting and I loved how everything was wrapped up nicely with no loose ends, which would inevitably lead to a rushed resolution in the follow-up if the ending was the complete opposite.

Overall, this book is a truly exciting and compelling YA novel that stretches the boundaries and successfully presents the generic conventions of sci-fi and fantasy whilst also having a great sense of uniqueness, and although I found one or two typos here and there, I didn't for a second find myself irked or distracted by them.

I give Joseph Evans and The Seckry Sequence: City of the Falling Sky ★★★★★

Eleanor & Park - Rainbow Rowell

Synopsis: Eleanor is the new girl in town, and with her chaotic family life, her mismatched clothes and unruly red hair, she couldn't stick out more if she tried.

Park is the boy at the back of the bus. Black t-shirts, headphones, head in a book - he thinks he's made himself invisible. But not to Eleanor.. never to Eleanor.

Slowly, steadily, through late-night conversations and an ever-growing stack of mix tapes, Eleanor and Park fall for each other. They fall in love the way you do the first time, when you're young, and you feel as if you have nothing and everything to lose.

Eleanor & Park follows the heartwarming and heartbreaking story of two teenagers, Eleanor and Park, as they deal with the every day obstacles of teenage life in the 1980s. All is not how it seems however as whilst dealing with those obstacles the unexpected happens; they take you on an a journey of being young and falling in crazy, stupid love for the very first time.

For me, it was a relief to finally pick up a YA romance that isn't about unrelatable characters with perfect lives and an instant connection or attraction, in fact Eleanor & Park is the complete opposite of that. As the book shifts between 3rd person past tense of both Park and Eleanor, you're given a real understanding of the story and how they're both feeling - both are honest about their perceptions of each other, even if much of it is kept deep in their thoughts. Rowell successfully derives from the idea of 'perfect' character traits as a result, which are too often part of the YA genre.

On the whole, this novel is such a real and relatable story and everything fits and flows together so nicely and is achieved through Rowell's charming and delicate writing style, which is so wonderful to read. Everybody has experienced that first messy love, or at least dreamed of it, and Eleanor and Park's relationship captures that so beautifully and in the truest way. They fall in love slowly and simply by bonding over music and comics but despite all that they are also a perfect example of how love is far from perfect.

All of Rowell's characters are so well thought out and easy to connect with in this novel, particularly Eleanor who you can do nothing but sympathise with. She's experienced such a horrible home life because of her stepfather and it's so heartbreaking to read. I love how often Rowell ventures into Eleanor's past because she has such a massive and interesting backstory - you're constantly reminded of how 'flawed' Eleanor is as a result of her past and thus grow a greater understanding of her character.

Saying that however I did occasionally find myself irked by Eleanor. Although her anger, frustration, snappy nature and ability to take the simplest of things the wrong way are totally justified of her character, I felt as if she was sometimes she just created a scene with Park in order to distract herself from her home life, which is quite tragic. Nonetheless, I did find a positive in loving and being annoyed by Eleanor and that was a particular appreciation for Rowell as an author as she has the ability to create a range of opinions on a character for you, rather than just feeling love or hatred.

In all honesty I wasn't expecting to get so caught up in this contemporary novel but there is just something about Rowell, her writing style and her amazing ability to tell a story in its truest form that keeps you hooked from start to finish. You're left asking yourself whether there is such a thing as falling and being in love, or whether this was simply an infatuation or the first of many loves and thankfully you're not given a definitive answer.

I give Rainbowell Rowell and Eleanor & Park ★★★★★

The Maze Runner - Trailer Discussion

Synopsis: When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas can remember is his first name. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade, an encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible maze.

Like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they came to be there, or what's happened to the world outside. All they know is that every morning when the walls slide back, they will risk everything to find out..

Alas! After several months of waiting and suffering from the pain of the movie release date moving from February 2014 to September 2014, the first official trailer for The Maze Runner was released on Monday and I'm pleasantly surprised by just how incredible it looks! I'll admit, despite being a massive fan of the series, I had my doubts about how the film would turn out. I'm not really sure why, I just had a feeling that I'd be disappointed, I couldn't be more wrong however.

What really stood out for me in the trailer was the effects and CGI, I mean I'm actually quite blown away by how good they are and how Fox have perfectly captured the look of the Maze; it's everything I imagined it would be and more. Although we don't see a lot of it, the inside of the Maze also looks really fantastic so I'm almost glad that the release date of the film was pushed back because I think if they didn't have that extra time then the setting wouldn't be as strong as it is. What was really great mind is how terrifying the Grievers seem. When reading the book I found myself not particularly frightened by them, but I can just tell they're going to scare the socks off of me in the film, which is great.

I was particularly excited by Dylan O'Brien's portrayal of Thomas. I was aware that O'Brien was a good actor, but it wasn't until Season 3B of Teen Wolf that I realised just how much of an amazing actor he is so I have such high hopes for his portrayal of Thomas and from what is shown in the trailer it's evident that he's going to do the role so much justice. Saying that however I was quite disappointed by the lack of footage of Kaya Scodelario as Teresa but she definitely looks the part so I just hope she can deliver the character as a whole, which I'm sure she can. In fact, the cast as a whole is fantastic - I'd go as far as to say that I don't think I've ever been so content with a cast.

The other thing I'm disappointed about is the fact that Tom and Teresa's telepathy in the books won't be present in the film. Yes, I understand that not every element of a book can be carried into a film but I just feel that their telepathy is such a vital part to the story, particularly within the first book when Tom first hears Teresa and revelations about how the Gladers came into the Maze start to creep into the story.

On the whole though it does seem as if they've stuck as close as possible to the book and have focused more on pleasing fans of the books than focusing more on those that haven't in order to increase audiences and box office revenue. I just hope that Fox put a lot of work into its marketing of the film so it can have the success it deserves, and so we can see the rest of the series hit the big screen.

Be sure to let me know in the comments what you thought of the trailer! And, if you haven't seen it yet, simply click here to do so. I give the trailer ★★★★

Wish Upon a Star - Trisha Ashley

Single mum Cally's life is all about her little girl Stella. She's resigned to the fact that the only romance she's going to get is from the rom-coms she watches, and with her busy job and her daughter, she doesn't have time to even think about love.

But life becomes very tough when Stella gets sick. Balancing her job as a recipe writer and looking after Stella is all consuming, so when Cally meets handsome baker Jago the last thing she wants to do is fall in love, especially when she's been so badly burned by a Prince Charming from her past. Can laid-back, charming Jago unlock Cally's frozen heart and help her find true love and magic under the mistletoe?

Wish Upon a Star by Trisha Ashley is a heart-warming novel that highlights the importance of family, friends and true love and how easily we can take all of that for granted. The novel is predominantly a first person narrative which follows the story of single mum, Cally, as she tries to keep atop of her job and relationships whilst also fundraising for a life saving operation for her little girl, Stella.

Forgive me if you beg to differ and think I'm over analysing her character, but I personally perceive Cally as quite a strong feminist character. Okay she may not be an action heroine like Katniss Everdeen or someone who lives by her own rules like Alaska Young, but she is a real woman who doesn't allow herself to be controlled or walked over by men, particularly her ex, nor is she particularly bothered about her curves or her looks. Instead Cally is fuelled by the strength and positivity her daughter gives her and the hope she has for her future and that is so heart-warming to read and often brings a lump to the throat, which for itself highlights just how strong the character's in this novel are seeing as it would typically be difficult for an 18-year-old male like myself to connect with such a maternal character.

I particularly loved reading the development of Cally and Jago's friendship and how it blossomed as the book went on. I've grown oh so very tired of romances that seem to fall into place within a matter of chapters which is why it was so refreshing and reassuring to read a well-developed and thought out relationship that isn't based upon materialistic matters such as good looks or diving straight in the deep end and just seeing how things turn out. These are real characters with real problems so it was great to see that brought out in their relationship too. Also, the community spirit and the acceptance the townsfolk give Cally despite her family being the black sheep of the village, which, might I add, was so interesting to follow, was so lovely to read; there's just such a range of characters within the community and something for everyone to enjoy.

What I loved most about this book however is just how beautifully written and constructed it is. Although generally understandable, most novels I've read that contain a seriously ill character I've struggled to connect with because the author has focused too closely on the technicalities and science of the character's illness, which can make it difficult to understand. Ashley, however, tackles Stella's condition in a light that is educational, understandable and somewhat fascinating. Yes, a seriously ill child can be problematic to present but you feel a greater sense of empathy for the character's involved through Ashley's superb portrayal and an appreciation for her writing as a result. I also found myself relishing in Ashley's descriptive techniques throughout the book as they painted such a beautiful picture in my mind of all the buildings, shops and festivities celebrated in Sticklepond. I personally think there's no better setting for a book than a little English village.

I just can't wait to see Cally, Jago, Stella and so many other characters introduced in this book to (hopefully) pop up in future work of Ashley as I just have to know how things work out for them. Until then however this book is ultimately the perfect read to accompany a hot chocolate and a massive blanket and has everything you could possibly want and more, not to mention it really encourages you to appreciate what you've got and who you've got around you.

I give Trisha Ashley and Wish Upon a Star ★★★★★

Allegiant - Veronica Roth

Synopsis: The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered - fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she's know, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties and painful memories.

Following the shocking revelations at the conclusion of Insurgent, Tris Prior and Tobias Eaton find themselves posed with more lies and mysteries as they finally decide it's time to explore the world outside the fences of Chicago.

Unfortunately, unlike the previous two novels in Roth's stunning series, the start of Allegiant is somewhat disappointing. Throughout Divergent and Insurgent, Tris and Tobias' relationship has been a subdued theme, referred to in only small snippets that keep the reader interested but not fed up of their relationship. This final installment however I found focused too prominently on 'Fourtris' and thus made the dystopian YA novel just like any other, despite there being no love triangle.

I was however more than willing to overlook my initial disappointment as we were finally able to discover what was outside the fence of Chicago. Typically, dystopian novels tend not to venture outside the country in which it's set in and I believe that's largely due to the fact it's difficult to make it as exciting to read. Nevertheless, I was intrigued to see how Roth would take on the task. Again, I was disappointed. Personally I found the entire exit out of the compound and the discovery of the 'new world' incredibly anti-climatic. Not only was the discovery anti-climatic, but much of what occurs there. There were occasional moments of excitement, anticipation and general page-turning action but it just didn't last as long as I hoped it would. Discovery of the outer world however did give lots of opportunity for the reader to learn more about Tris' mother, Natalie, and what it means to be Divergent - two elements which I feel weren't given enough detail in the first two installments.

Surprisingly however it wasn't the slow pace of the story that disappointed me most in this book, it was in fact Tris. I just found her character so infuriating to read in this book, one minute she loves someone, then she hates them and then she loves them again - it's all very confusing to read. I found that within the space of one book she's become so up herself, believing that she's always right and throws hissy fits when things don't quite go her way. She ultimately becomes everything you hate in a YA character, which is unfortunate because I used to find her such a strong, feminist figure. I also found myself irked by Tris and Caleb's relationship and it just seemed as if so much unnecessary drama was created between them in order to fill the pages.

Although it didn't necessarily make up for the disappointment of the first three quarters of the book, I do feel as if Roth focused all of her attention on the last quarter, making the conclusion easily the best part of the novel. Roth so beautifully captures the capability the human race has to destroy itself, to be so evil and senile and how, on a day to day basis, we try to play God. We discriminate and torture and kill and I feel as if the final quarter does such a great job of reflecting that element of today's society, which finally allows you to connect to the story in the same way you can connect to Divergent and Insurgent. I also feel as if Roth partially redeems Tris' poor character traits throughout the story in this final quarter, whilst also going against the traditional 'rules' of YA novels and I can do nothing but praise her for that.

Overall, this final installment unfortunately follows many other YA trilogies and doesn't have much sense of where it's going, yet it also satisfies the reader and provides a decent, closed ending that does, in retrospect, reflect the brilliance of the series on a whole.

I give Veronica Roth and Allegiant ★★★

If I Stay - Gayle Forman

Synopsis: In a single moment everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck..

If I Stay follows the story of seventeen-year-old Mia as she relives the best and worst of her memories when struck with the agonising decision of staying or going, following a tragic accident that takes everything away from her.

The novel begins with an explosive start that dives straight into the narrative and, perhaps fortunately for the reader, the tragedy that unfolds for Mia isn't quite traumatising enough to create much of an emotional impact as you barely know the characters involved. You do however instantly connect with Mia on a certain level as you imagine what it would be like if you were in her shoes, as well as leading you to constantly question what you would do if you could see your body being taken from a wreck, knowing you've lost everything, but with the the ability to decide if you stay or go.

Within such a short period of time you come to know and love the characters of If I Stay, particularly Mia. The novel centers around Mia bouncing between the present and her view of everything going on around her and the choice she has to make about herself and the loved ones she's lost and kept, and some of her favourite and worst memories, which often relate to her boyfriend, Adam, and her best friend, Amy, in some way. The concept of reading past and present provides an interesting route for character development and adds layers to the narrative that allow you to know exactly what you would do if you were Mia.

As it is with any main character in a first person narrative, it's easy to become fond of Mia simply because you're seeing everything unfold from her eyes. Yet it is not that that leads you to become connected with her character; it's the beauty of the strength and willpower she maintains. She's so young and unfortunately loses so much in such a short space of time and yet she soldiers on and takes the time to come to terms with what has happened and the decisions she has to make. She's an admirable and independent character that doesn't let anyone influence her. Everything she does is her choice and she's willing to accept any consequences that come with those choices. It's so refreshing to read a YA novel (that isn't dystopian) with such a strong female protagonist.

Overall this novel is a great philosophical YA read that deals with a contrast between light-hearted and dark themes that pose the question of, "do we really have a choice in everything that happens in our own lives?"

I give Gayle Forman and If I Stay ★★★★