Tag: Genre: Dystopia

Book List 2014

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Ashley LP

The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)The Maze Runner by James Dashner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn’t really know what to think of this book at first. I found the language used, instead of swearing to be honestly jarring at first before I settled into the story. It pulled me in and I was intrigued, brain working to try and figure out what the maze could mean and why children? I know, logically dystopian fiction does seem to be the most popular genre in YA literature as of late, but each writer has their reason.

I grew to enjoy the characters, even though they weren’t people I would like in real life, Thomas filled with a sense of morals that he couldn’t necessarily reconcile with any sort of memory, Teresa with her mind-speak, Chuck with his good humour and in the end protective nature.

I’m quite excited to read the next book.

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Book List 2013

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Ashley LP

Allegiant (Divergent, #3)Allegiant by Veronica Roth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was written in a much different style, I felt, then the previous two. It offered POV’s from two characters, including Four/Tobias, who I had always wanted to know more about, in terms of his thoughts and feelings. This book provided a great insight to more of his fears, as well as his past which was nicely written and detailed.

The ending of this book was almost jarring, because I never suspected that this was the route these novels would take, call me naive but I really didn’t. Yet it seemed loyal and true to the character of Tris, and her general response to run into things first without taking time to think about how it would effect those left behind. It was a selfless and selfish act, all rolled into one and something I really enjoyed.

The writing style is still a little loose, and not tightly tied together enough, with a few eye rolling dialogue moments but yet there is something about the way it is written that just draws me in. It’s good story telling.

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Book List 2013

Matched by Ally Condie. A pleasant surprise.

Ashley LP

Matched (Matched, #1)Matched by Ally Condie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I bought this book on Kobo after some discussion about the YA dystopian fiction trend, as a friend recommended it to me and although I initially was unimpressed my opinion quickly changed.

This is one of those novels where it’s almost hard to get a handle on the other characters because of the POV. We love Cassia’s grandfather and parents because she loves them. We love Ky because she does, but characters like Xander remain unfulfilled because we only see one point of view. I think this develops a bit of weakness in a plot that is supposed to be about a love triangle. Ky is preferred because he seems like the only choice. This is fantastic in terms of us wanting to be in the characters shoes fully, but not so good if you’re a reader who likes to pick their own path.

The character of Ky though, is simply fascinating. An aberration who is nicely flawed in his jealousy, but passionate in his maintenance of his own person, and not giving in.

The world in Matched is one that scares me, with food moderated so heavily as to manipulate a population, which in the history of the world is not unheard of and while history does repeat itself in reality, it made this plot more real. The restriction on knowledge and books however was something that terrified me, as the thirst for knowledge itself actually seemed to be taken away from these people.

All in all, I’m excited for next pay day to get my hands on the second novel.

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