"Gregor and the Marks of Secret" by Suzanne Collins

Warning: This is the fourth book in The Underland Chronicles. If you haven't read the first three books you may not want to read this. 

Gregor And The Marks Of Secret was written by the well known author of The Hunger Games Trilogy, Suzanne Collins. It's a story that takes place in modern times with a fantasy twist. It has murder, mystery, suspense, love, and everything a great novel would have.

Gregor's mom has been left in the Underland to recover from her illness, they get constant updates. Gregor knows it is about time to head back to the Underland and continue his role as the prophecy predicts. Ripred starts lessons trying to teach Gregor echolocation, which he's not doing very well on. Gregor decides to quit lessons only to find  out shortly after how very badly he may need the skill. Luxa requests for Gregor's help. Something bad is happening to her friends, and she's determined to find out what. They're all disappearing. What they discover may be the beginning of a whole new form of war. 

I love Suzanne Collins and I love her Underland Chronicles! I love all five books! I never knew what to expect in these books, there's always something I didn't see coming. These books were originally targeted for a younger audience, but after reading them myself, and seeing lots of other reviews the Young Adult audience seems to be taking over. I highly recommend these books! Young, Old, or in between, start the series and you won't be disappointed.

                                                                 Rating 5 out of 5.

"Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods" by Suzanne Collins

Warning: This is the third book in a series. If you haven't read the first two you may not want to read this.

Gregor And The Curse Of The Warmbloods is the third book in The Underland Chronicles  by Suzanne Collins. You say, hey isn't that the lady who wrote The Hunger Games Trilogy? Yes, it is. This series was actually written before the trilogy. The story takes place in modern time with a unique fantasy twist.

Shortly after Gregor returns home, the Underland is calling for him again. Convinced that he is the savior from their prophecy still, the Underlanders want Gregors help. Ripred tells Gregor about a plague that is going around in the Underland killing off any thing warm blooded. They want to search for a cure. Gregor isn't really convinced he should go til Ripred mentions one of the warm bloods sick, is Gregor's bond. Ares. Gregor is now willing to go, but his mother forbids it. It doesn't remain forbidden for long though because Gregor's own personal escort or escorts come to make him go. The mother gives in. One condition though. She is coming to the Underland this time. With the plague running around though, the results of their decision turn deadly. They really have to race against the clock now. How many shall perish? Can they find the cure in time or will the whole Underland be wiped out?


Even though this series was targeted for a younger audience, more and more reviews are coming from the Young Adults who picked it up and fell in love with it.  I personally am one of them. I loved how in this book, that even though they were all technically at war or at least bitter enemies with each other, the groups had to come together in order to have any chance of survival. I wanted to read the series originally just because Suzanne Collin's wrote it, but once I started reading it, it reminded me of Harry Potter. Not because theirs any magic or wizards in it, but because the writing style and story were just very interesting and seemed like it could be for a very large age group. Young, Old, or in between, if you start reading The Underland Chronicles I know you won't be disappointed!


                                                                  Rating 5 out of 5.

"Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

Gregor The Overlander  is another wonderful novel by The Hunger Games author, Suzanne Collins.  This book and it's sequels are not Dystopian themed like her well known Hunger Games Trilogy. This series takes place in modern time with a fantasy twist. 

In wonderful New York City, lived Gregor and his family. Gregor was kept home from camp this year to watch his sister Boots while their mother worked. They're father had disappeared years before, and now their grandma was too ill to watch her. Gregor was rather bitter about it and thought his whole summer would be a total bust. Until the unthinkable happened. Gregor and his sister went to do the laundry in the laudromat in their apartment building.  Gregor was loading the washer while Boots played ball. Then his sister's ball fell behind a washer and when she went to retrieve it she was sucked down a rather large air vent. Gregor tried to look down to see if he could see boots, but it seemed to go on forever fading into blackness. He knew he couldn't leave her so he went after her. It seemed he was falling down the air shaft forever, riding the air current down. Once he reached the bottom, he knew he was far away from the city's surface. He had no idea how to get back either. He found Boots right away, but then something or actually a group of something or someone was coming out of the dark corners. Fear over took him quickly and he couldn't believe what he was looking at.

I loved this book, they had a different style then The Hunger Games.I wouldn't even had guessed Suzanne wrote it. I believe originally this book and it's sequels were intended for a younger audience, but after having my friends read them, myself read them, and seeing several reviews I believe the Young Adult audience took over. In other words I guess it reminds me of the Harry Potter Books, not because there's witches or wizards or anything, but because it appeals to such a large age group. It was definitely interesting to read and rather strange to think about. It's something I honestly wouldn't mind re-reading sometime soon. It cracks me up when people are like "OMG! I am the biggest Suzanne Collins fan!", to which I reply, "Oh what did you think of Gregor?", then they get completely lost. Yeah biggest fan alright. If you're the "biggest fan" I highly recommend you go ahead and read Gregor and the Underland Chronicles. Young, old, or in between, you won't be disappointed.                    

                                                                                                  Rating 5 out of 5.

"Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

Warning: this is third and final book of The Hunger Games. If you haven't read the first two books you may not want to read this.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins was a great ending for this dystopian trilogy. Just like the first two books, Hunger Games, and Catching Fire; this book had you on edge from beginning to end. The suspense was marvelous. 


Katniss Everdeen is now staying in the thirteenth district, which was once thought to be destroyed. Peeta on the other hand wasn't so lucky, he's was captured by the Capitol. As much as Katniss would like to go rescue him, she knows it's not possible, at least not yet. She met with the districts leader, and came up with a deal. She would continue being the rebellions poster child as long as all of the tributes were were granted immunity from any criminal charges they had or would have by the end of the war. Katniss wasn't happy about having to sit back and watch the fights go on, she wanted to be in the fight. Eventually she got put on a "mission" to do so. With very little time remaining in the war, will the Capitol manage to stay in control, or is the rebellion to strong this time?


I loved this whole trilogy so much, however; the ending just about made me cry. I couldn't believe what happened to Prim. That's who Katniss got into this mess for. She was always looking out for her little sister. I didn't really like how Katniss went temporarily crazy, however; I know it was realistic. All the stress she had been under and the deaths, it'd be unsettling for anyone. If you haven't read this trilogy it's a must! What side would you be fighting for the Capitol or the Districts? No matter where the power lies, there's always corruption.

                                                                  Rating 5 out of 5.

"Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Warning: This is the second book in a trilogy, if you haven't read the first book you may not want to read this.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins picked up right where Hunger Games left off. This book was just as thrilling as the first. Safety doesn't exist anymore in Panem. It's just a giant game in which the Capitol plays, the districts are their pawns. There's a nice little rebellion brewing again, but the Capitol intends to squash it just like the last time.

Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, and all the other victors should be safe from playing the Games. If you survived the Games you never have to play again. Except at the 75th quarter quell, the rules change. The Capitol is drawing names only from the victor pool. Katniss is the only girl in the 12th district who has ever won. She knows she's going back, and the likely hood of her survival this time is next to none. Haymitch and Peeta have a fifty fifty shot. Only of them has to go, except it seems one of them is already volunteering. The next couple weeks is strict training, they'll try their best to get home. The only difference about this round of Games is that there seems to be a secret only some are in on. Katniss isn't one of them. She was left in the dark, and she has no idea. How long can she expect to survive this time in the Hunger Games?

I loved this book just as much as the first one, maybe more. Suzanne really knows how to keep you on edge. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I had to know who'd be killed off. She wouldn't kill my favorite characters would she? or would she? It's definitely a must read trilogy. If for whatever reason you haven't hopped on The Hunger Games Trilogy Train , hop on now, and let the 75 Quarter Quell begin!

                                                                                                   Rating 5 out of 5

"Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is on my top ten favorite books list. You have a love triangle, you have suspense, plenty of life and death situations, and it's a first person perspective book! What's not to love?

Katniss Everdeen lives in a world where everyone is split up into twelve districts. One district is know for growing crops, one is known for fishing, others make beautiful things like jewelry in which everything is given to the Capitol. The Capitol runs everything. The districts had an uprising almost 75 years ago in which the thirteenth district was annihilated, and as punishment for the rest of the district the capitol made the Games. Each year the Capitol officials come to the districts and do a drawing. They take one boy and one girl, give them a week of preparation and television time to try and get sponsors, then they throw all twenty four kids into an arena to fight to the death. Whoever the last living person is they get to go home and be pampered with a nice house and lots of money. None of which amend  the emotional and traumatizing memories from the arena. For the districts it's the worst possible time, having their children or their friends ripped from their arms practically sentenced to die. For the Capitol it's the best survival television show everyone likes to bet on. Katniss's district is the poorest one, near time for the games they can enter their name into the drawing extra times in return for food. Katniss has entered her name every year since she turned twelve. Since her father died she's had to provide for her and her little sister Prim. Their mother was just to out of it. This year will be Prim's first time getting her name put in the drawing. Katniss prohibits her from entering her name in extra. The day of the drawing Katniss had her name in their about twenty times, there were still thousands of other girls though. She wasn't worried about it. The Capitol official pulls out the girls name for this years game, but instead of feeling relief, Katniss's heart drops. The name was Prim's. Katniss starts yelling trying to get to her sister through the crowd, only to be held back. Then she screams. "I volunteer! I'll go into the Games in Prims place! I volunteer!"


 I'm going to assume by this point almost everyone who plans on reading this book has read it. For you people who haven't read it because you saw the movie and didn't like the movie, Don't judge a book by it's movie, The book is almost always better. Get on The Hunger Games Trilogy Train! Start reading the book and let the Games begin.




                                                                                                                                                                    Rating 5 out 5.

"Maze Runner" by James Dashner

The Maze Runner  became not only my favorite book, but my favorite trilogy. It is one of the most well written YA novel. It's filled with suspense from beginning to end. Don't make the mistake of starting it right before bed time. I did, and I didn't sleep til it was over. It's not a first person perspective book like I love, but it didn't matter it was so detailed. I, personally, was afraid for the characters in the book.

 Thomas wakes up in an elevator shaft with no memories besides his first name. He has remembers how to do certain things, but he has know idea who taught him. The elevator stops and the roof of it opens up. There he discovers the gladers. They're all boys ages 13-18. They've been showing up here for the past two years with no exact memories, just like Thomas. It originally started with a group boys waking up here, then once a week supplies got sent up the elevator and once a month a new boy came. Unfortunately, most of the boys from the original group weren't alive anymore. There's a rock wall that goes around the glade, each night the doors shut keeping the gladers safe from the creatures that live in the Maze. Thomas is quickly brought up too speed. The Maze is like a giant puzzle, the walls move each day creating different patterns. If they can figure the Maze out, they think they can escape and get back to wherever they are originally from, however; they have been trying for the past two years with no avail. Only those nominated as runners are allowed to leave the glade and explore the Maze. If they don't make it back before the doors close around the glade, they don't live through the night. A few days after Thomas is there, an alarm sounds. he has no idea what it means til one of the guys explain it to him. The alarm goes off when a new glader is coming up through the elevator. The fact that the alarm is going off now unnerves everyone because it's only gone off once every month since they first got to the Glade. What comes out of the elevator unnerves everyone more. It appears to be a dead girl, with a piece of paper clutched tightly in her hand. The rules of the Glade, and the Maze are about to change forever. Will they get out in time?

                
This was honestly one of the most nerve racking books I had ever read. The law of "main characters can't die", doesn't apply in this book or the two books after it. I was constantly like oh no, whats going to happen next. Will this person die or will that one? You can't help but get attached to a lot of the characters. You had Thomas as the main one, but he was always with these other people. They all worked as a team, and the not knowing of if they would live, totally got to me. I thought The Maze Runner Trilogy as a whole was brilliant even if my heart got ripped out at certain parts.


                                                                                                                                                                Rating 5 out of 5.