Pittacus Lore: Fugitive Six (2018)

    Escape into a world where humans possess astonishing powers and Taylor's adventure continues into even more dangerous grounds (Goodreads).

     Although it retains some of the problems from the first book, those being too many main characters and plotlines to keep track of, this second installment executes the rest of the novel with much more precision and charm. Each of the characters is developed well, although all of the different plots start to bleed into one another and almost seem too similar. That being said, this sequel is much more fast-paced and overall more interesting than its predecessor. Each of the groups vying for power are, in their own unique ways, intriguingly imperfect, and the main characters' separation early on leads to a climactic confrontation in a very Monsters Of Men-esque fashion. The climax in question, while undoubtedly exciting, is a tad convoluted and messy, but the fashion in which it resolves leads to a suspenseful cliffhanger that will surely leave readers begging for more. The characters integrated from the previous series are showcased decently, some more than others, but the new additions fall a little flat. With unique character dynamics and a riveting plot, the new Generation of Lorien seems to be taking off. 8.4/10

Stephen King: The Gunslinger (1982)

    Pursuing the man in black, an evil being who can bring the dead back to life, Roland is a good man who seems to leave nothing but death in his wake (Goodreads).

     I did literally fall asleep while reading this, but that may have been merely due to my overtired nature at the time. That being said, a lot of this first installment of the Dark Tower series was extremely dull. Luckily, it picks up the pace through the last third of the novel, and the climax, a bit underwhelming in itself, is, at the very least, quite thought-provoking. Unfortunately, the main character is rarely redeeming enough for readers to be invested in his journey, and there are perhaps a few too many flashbacks into a world that is not well established in the slightest. Several interesting concepts are implemented, and King writes with an intriguing tone of articulate vulgarity, which does provide some unique moments. There are some scenes which are well described and quite riveting, while others are downplayed to an extent which seems very unnecessary. Overall, a lackluster foray into a new world, but with the popular consensus of the following novels in the series being much better, I may find myself returning to the world of the Dark Tower. 6.7/10

Rick Riordan: The Burning Maze (2018)

    While Leo flies ahead on Festus to warn the Roman camp, Lester and Meg must go through the Labyrinth to find the third emperor—and an Oracle who speaks in word puzzles—somewhere in the American Southwest (Goodreads).

     "Why do I keep reading Rick Riordan's novels?" you might ask. The last two I reviewed were entirely underwhelming, and the franchise seemed to be going nowhere fast. Well, I keep reading them because sometimes Riordan puts out gems such as this. This third installment in Riordan's newest saga is excellently crafted. Solid character development that was extremely lacking in the previous novel turns up in spades in this one. An entertaining plot, well paced, with the addition of new characters and the revival of old favourites is done splendidly. Many elements are included, many of them layered and nuanced, even though the new villain introduced is slightly less developed than might be satisfactory, but this may yet change with following novels. Arguably the darkest novel in Riordan's Half-Blood canon, the novel features some of the most emotional and raw scenes in the entire saga, although at times, the narrator doesn't really know the spot for his humour. Add to this some jokes that fall somewhat flat, while some provoke a chuckle, the comedy portion of the novel is a mixed bag. In the end, though, Riordan redeems himself from some past projects with this excellent novel. 8.1/10

Khaled Hosseini: The Kite Runner (2003)

    The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant (Goodreads).

     There are so many conflicting feelings that go along with this novel. On the one hand, Hosseini writes with a brilliant voice, as he dictates a wonderful story with dynamic characters and showcases his mastery over emotion. Literary devices are used excellently, and the heart-wrenching moments truly set the novel into a league of its own. That is, until you consider the other hand. Our protagonist is so awfully frustrating, and that makes him a hard guy to root for. His self-pity and the painful way he interacts with others makes him hard to sympathize with. Or maybe we see ourselves in Amir more than we would like... Hmm... Anyway, although the author writes with brilliant stunning tenacity, he seems to point out his own hidden meanings. Which sort of defeats the purpose of hidden meanings. Pacing is also an issue, as the middle section is really boring, and an unnecessary bit of suspense is thrown in at the very end, when Amir is so close to completing an absolutely fantastically developed redemption arc. The novel is incredible in parts, and that just makes the frustrating bits all the more frustrating. Brilliant parallels between characters and a story rife with symbolism battle against several glaring negatives to produce a tale that, perhaps, is all the more compelling because of its flaws. 8.2/10

Patrick Ness: Monsters of Men (2010)

    As a world-ending war surges to life around them, Todd and Viola face monstrous decisions (Goodreads).

     This third installment in the Chaos Walking trilogy takes a step back from its predecessors, as much of the novel is of a slower pace. That's not to say it is dull, however, because there are many examples of Ness' trademark intensity and action peppered throughout the novel. Most of the conflicts are retained from book two, but they are written just as well, meaning that it is still enjoyable despite the similarities. Ness writes with such a stunning and simplistic brutality (in a good way), and readers are kept on the edge of their seats as hope is built up in a painstakingly brilliant fashion, only to have that hope snatched away in a heartbreaking moment as the climax begins. Both the main and secondary characters see their paths fulfilled as Ness builds up to a heart-pounding (and heart-wrenching) final battle. There is a vital moment concerning the main antagonist which seems somewhat forced, and his development is almost completely wasted with one action, but luckily, his overall brilliant character is fulfilled in the end. By now, the concept of the Noise is worn a bit thin, and the rules regarding its use are not extremely fleshed out, and 1017's monologue, while it does add depth to the story, doesn't live up to the other voices in terms of emotion and interest. Overall, though, Ness concludes his saga with an epic, emotional, and brilliantly-written novel. 8.5/10

Mal Peet: The Penalty (2006)

    As the city of San Juan pulses to summer's sluggish beat, its teenage football prodigy, El Brujito, vanishes without trace. Paul Faustino, South America's top sports journalist, is reluctantly drawn into the mystery (Goodreads).

     Peet writes relatively well; the setting and characters are all described thoroughly, and the overall plot is pretty compelling in and of itself. However, to put it frankly, the book is dull. Not to a huge extent, but the writing is presented in a very bland way, and it's hard to be invested in the positives mentioned earlier when the plot moves slowly. Both plot lines have their moments, but the novel goes back and forth between them so much so that, as soon as one is invested, it switches back, and the reader is forced to start over. Those looking for a book about the sport of soccer (or football for the rest of the world) should look elsewhere, as the sport is not really a factor. Not necessarily a negative, just something of note. Faustino is a likeable enough character, but the rest of the cast echoes just about everything else about the novel: mediocrity. 6.6/10

Patrick Ness: The Ask and the Answer (2009)

    Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. But what secrets are hiding just outside of town (Goodreads)?

     A brilliant foray into some of the most difficult themes in literature, this second book in the Chaos Walking trilogy delivers on all levels. It starts right where the first book left off, although from there it actually goes fairly slow. A new narrator adds some variety to the novel's voice, and again Ness writes with simple diction that seems to strike a chord. The concept of the Noise wears a bit thin this time around, though, and as we learn more about it, the rules surrounding its use is somewhat vague. The pace picks up as the plot develops, and the latter half of the book is rife with emotional, heart-wrenching scenes, as we see our protagonists struggle with difficult issues, and readers, too, are forced to pick sides as Ness unveils the true brutality of civil war. As far as complexity goes, this sequel outweighs its predecessor by far, and although some character development is slightly unrealistic, it delivers on that front as well. The antagonist(s) are given a lot more substance this time around, and Ness is able to narrate with such urgency that keeps readers on their toes for the majority of the novel, except for the slightly slower beginning. 8.7/10