Book Nerds Across America

Book Summary
THE NINTH AND ULTIMATE MAXIMUM RIDE STORY IS HERE! Legions of Max fans won't be disappointed by this encore episode in the beloved series about the incredible adventures of a teenage girl who can fly. As Maximum Ride boldly navigates a post-apocalyptic world, she and her broken flock are roaming the earth, searching for answers to what happened. All will be revealed in this last spectacular "ride"- a brand-new grand finale featuring all of the nonstop action, twists and turns that readers can rely on in a blockbuster Patterson page turner! 

Flo's Review
I'm disappointed :(  I wanted to like this one. Though it had some "ehhh" moments/books, I enjoyed listening to this series on audio. So when I found the audio for this new one, I went for it. I was a little cautious about it because it seems like the series was meant to end with the 8th book. (Without giving anything away, that book ended with a pretty clear ending type event!) Sometimes extra, unplanned series books go well, but a lot of times they don't, unfortunately. It was so obvious that this wasn't meant to be a story. It felt like the author was just making up stuff to have a plot line. In order to accomplish this, he took a lot of things that were resolved by the end of the 8th book and opened them back up again. Resolutions? Nope. Just bring back the same issues for another book. And Max was pretty unbearable in this one. What I loved about the series, what made it dynamic and fun to read was how kick-butt Max was. She was a great leader and a great warrior. She really cared about her flock and I loved to see how that manifested in her adventures. I also enjoyed finding out about her family. Later on in the series a romance element was added. I didn't like it at first, then came to accept it. But that's not what Maximum Ride is about. But enter this book. Max is helpless and depressed and only thinking about herself. There are shades of a love triangle,which groan. This Max wax not the Maximum Ride that I had come to love through the series. 

Combine the unlikeable Max, the useless love story element, the regurgitation of plots that had already been resolved, and the feel that there wasn't really a plot to move this story forward, and that is the experience I had with Maximum Ride Forever. I DNF around 30 percent. It's a shame, and I've decided to just pretend like this book doesn't exist.

Here are some reviews of the earlier books in the series:

The Angel Experiment: http://www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com/2011/09/maximum-ride-angel-experiment-by-james.html

School's Out - Forever: http://www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com/2011/09/maximum-ride-2-schools-out-forever.html

Nevermore - http://www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com/2012/08/nevermore-by-james-patterson.html

To celebrate the 8 days of Hanukkah, the four book nerds will each select an author or book series that is meaningful to us to share with all of you.

Today I'm going to talk about a book series that was meaningful for me in 2012. And the lucky series is....

"One last chance...
For Max, Fang, Angel, Iggy, Nudge, and Gazzy.
Before it all ends.

Are you ready for the final chapter? Are you ready for the ultimate flight? Because THIS IS IT. One last incredible, explosive adventure with an astonishing ending that no one could have seen coming." (from Goodreads)

Flo's Review

And so I say goodbye to another beloved series. I flew through (pun intended) all eight of these books, and in true fashion I was done with Nevermore in a few hours. I just didn't want to put it down. The actions, the questions, the emotions kept me trapped in Max's world (or end-of-the-world, if you will) and wouldn't let me go. 

The way the end of the book played out totally surprised me. At first I was annoyed. Then I understood Max's decision. Then, when I read further, I liked the way it ended up. Yes, a few small things felt like loose ends to me, but I suppose it's hard and unnecessary to wrap every little thing up without leaving some things for the reader imagination.

So, overall I am very happy with the way this series ended. I love all of the flock and have truly enjoyed the time I've spent in their crazy life.

Have any of you read these series? What did you think of how it all ended?

Some of my past Maximum Ride reviews:

The Angel Experiment
School's Out -- Forever

 "Adventure, fighting, backstabbing and love abound" (VOYA) in this action-packed follow-up to the #1 New York Times blockbuster MAXIMUM RIDE: THE ANGEL EXPERIMENT, now available in paperback. The heart-stopping quest of six winged kids--led by fourteen-year-old Max--to find their parents and investigate the mind-blowing mystery of their ultimate destiny continues when they're taken under the wing of an FBI agent and attempt, for the first time, to live "normal" lives. But going to school and making friends doesn't stop them from being relentlessly hunted by sinister spies, who lead Max to face her most frightening match yet: a new and better version of herself." (from Goodreads)

So, we've already established that I have beef with James Patterson for getting me sucked into a whole new series. And now he goes and makes the second book better than the first! This one was all about shades of gray...characters you thought you knew made you second guess them. Is Jeb actually trying to help? Was Angel right about what she realized about Ari? The same goes for new characters: parents. Real and adopted ones show up in this book...that should be a good thing....right?! Maybe not. And what about the Voice? And finally, even Max. 

In retrospect, I should have seen the ending plot twist coming, but I totally didn't! To be totally cliche, this series is one ride that thrills me and surprises with its crazy plot turns and twists along the way. Guess I have to hang on tight and see what else Mr. Patterson decides to throw at me!


~Flo~

"In James Patterson's blockbuster series, fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time..." (From Goodreads)

Oh James Patterson! How could you do this to me?! You know very well that I already have an incredibly long TBR pile. And then what do you do? You go and make me invested in a bunch of teenagers with crazy names like Nudge and Fang. *sighs* Even if I wanted to stop reading with this one book (which I don't!) I can't -- you left me with so many questions at the end of this book that I simply MUST keep reading to find out the answers!!

Two quick things I want to say about this book. First, I listened to the audiobook...and it wasn't just an audiobook -- it was a Production. Evan Rachel Wood is one of the most expressive (if not the most expressive) reader I have ever listened to on a book on CD. She always had a hint of laughter in her voice that made the crazy story that much more fun. It also made you realize just how much Max loves her flock. 

It's hinted, though, that something might happen with Max and Fang...and I may be in the minority here, but I'm not a fan of that! They grew up together -- they are like brother and sister! They can't start dating! Awkward!

But, yes -- this is a cute read. Though I had my doubts around the middle whether I would stick around to see the series through, I knew by the end that I would.