The End Games Review

TITLE: The End Games

AUTHOR: T. Michael Martin

PUBLISHER: Balzer + Bray

PUBLICATION DATE: 5/7/2013

PAGES: 384

MY RATING:

DNF

BACK COVER SUMMARY: In the rural mountains of West Virginia -- armed with only their rifle and their love for each other -- the brother follow Instructions from the mysterious Game Master. They spend their days searching for survivors, their nights fighting endless hordes of "Bellows" -- creatures that roam the dark, roaring for flesh. And at this Game, Michael and Patrick are very good.

But the game is changing.

The Bellows are evolving.

The Game Master is leading Michael and Patrick to other survivors -- survivors who don't play by the rules.

And the brothers will never be the same.

T. Michael Martin's debut novel is a transcendent thriller filled with electrifying action, searing emotional insight, and unexpected romance.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I really wanted to like this book. I haven't read a good zombie story in a long time so I was really hopeful about this one, but it just didn't do it for me. 

The language in the first chapter threw me off. It didn't feel natural or something -- it's hard to put my finger on it, but I had a hard time reading through it. 

This book was very boring for me. It needed more action. I found myself trying to find other things to do in order to avoid reading this book. Reading isn't supposed to be a chore, but this one was becoming a chore for me, so I gave up on it. Maybe I'll pick it up again in the future, but for now, I just can't continue it.

CHARACTERS: I really like the relationship between the two brothers, Michael and Patrick. I feel like Patrick is such a trooper, dealing with everything and hanging in there. And the way Michael takes care of his brother is heartwarming, you can tell he would do anything to protect him.

**I received an ARC copy of this book from Amazon Vine for my honest review.

Escape Theory Review

Amazon

TITLE: Escape Theory

AUTHOR: Margaux Froley

PUBLISHER: Soho Teen

PUBLICATION DATE: 3/12/2013

PAGES: 288

MY RATING: 1/5 - Did Not Finish

BACK COVER SUMMARY: Sixteen-year-old Devon Mackintosh has clung to Hutch's words since freshman year at Keaton. Never mind that Hutch whispered those words one crazy night together before classes even started. Or that Hutch was a legacy student with charm, good looks, and built-in popularity. Or that they never hung out together again. She and Hutch shared a bond that night; she knows it.

Now, on the eve of junior year, Devon is poised to become the prestigious California boarding school's first Peer Counselor. But Keaton is turned upside down when Hutch apparently commits suicide. As Devon provides confidential support for Hutch's closest friends, she comes to believe that Hutch couldn't have taken his own life. Bound by her oath of confidentiality--and tortured by her unrequited love--she finds herself on a solitary mission to get to the bottom of Hutch's death, with stakes higher than she could ever have imagined.

OVERALL IMPRESSION: I tried so hard to finish this book, but I finally gave up at page 177. I was extremely interested in the mystery and wanted to keep reading to find out if there was more to Hutch's suicide, but everything about the story was just so boring. I felt like it wasn't going anywhere and it dragged on so much. I may pick this back up at a later time just to see if I can make it through to find out about what really happened to Hutch, but for now I have no interest in continuing with this one.

CHARACTERS: All of the characters, besides Hutch, were so flat and un-entertaining. The beginning of the story sucked me in because we met Hutch and got to see his awesome personality, but then after he was gone, the rest of the characters were just existing and didn't have any depth. I didn't connect with any of the characters and I feel like I didn't really know anything about anybody.

COVER: The cover is fine. It ties in with the story. I like the pink color in the title.

**I received an ARC of this book for my honest review.