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Saturday, October 31, 2009

Review: Max (Maximum Ride, Book 5)




Maximum Ride and the other members of the Flock have barely recovered from their last arctic adventure, when they are confronted by the most frightening catastrophe yet. Millions of fish are dying off the coast of Hawaii and someone - or something - is destroying hundreds of ships.

While Max and her team are exploring the depths of the ocean, their every move is being carefully tracked by a powerful enemy--a criminal mastermind who will stop at nothing until they're under his control. Can the flock protect themselves from his army of mercenaries and save the world from utter destruction? Now, nowhere is safe.


Genre: Fiction, Adventure, Sci-Fi/Fantasy(ish), Young Adult
Edition: Hardcover; Library
Page Count: 309
Pub. Date: March 16, 2009
Series: Maximum Ride series, Book 5

My Rating: 3.5 Stars (out of 5)
Amazon.com: 4 stars
Goodreads: 4.17 (Average)

Recommended For: Teens (although it's an all-age book), Fans of light Sci-Fi, Readers who enjoy a wit and a feisty female lead

(First impression: Nothing really. The cover was cool but I was more excited to continue the story.
(Reaction after I finished: "So when's the next book released?")

Max was vastly better than the fourth book, but not quite up to par with the first one. While I did enjoy it, the plot has somehow managed to go from a flock on the run for their lives, to an Eco-friendly flock saving endangered species from radiation or global warming. Not that there's anything wrong with being Eco-friendly, it's just that I'm beginning to miss the intense action from the first few books. You know... being on the lamb, fighting to survive, kicking butt against crazy Erasers, and bringing down evil with a swift roundhouse kick. Now it's all about radiation, mutated sea turtles, one creepy villain, and then the butt kicking action. The ending left a few open ends but dutifully sets up book 6...wherever that may lead.

While the story line didn't quite woo me, James Patterson's writing sure did. I have to say, I LOVE how he writes the Maximum Ride series from Max's point of view. I'm a sucker for wit and this man is a witty mastermind. But I won't lie when I say some parts were a bit ridiculous, if not amusing.

Plot direction aside - Max is an easy read and has it all: adventure, suspense, humor, and even romance. It just sucks you in. Another enjoyable tale about the wild adventures of the six bird kids. Oh and I can't forget the dog! I definitely recommend the series if you're feeling rather adventurous.

On a side note, I do have one thing to say about a person, or rather persons in the book: IT'S ABOUT TIME! Those of you who've read the series (hopefully) know who I'm talking about. :)

Fang, book 6 in the Maximum Ride series, is said to be released sometime next year. And I'm looking forward to it!

And on a completely unrelated note: HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

4 comments:

Eleni said...

Nice review, damn it seems like his series goes down hill as you read it...I recently bought the first book which has pretty good reviews, but the other ones aren't all that great...eh oh well I already bought the first might as well read it :)

Tales of Whimsy said...

I gotta read this.
Great review.
:)

Nikki @ Bookizzle said...

@Eleni - While the books lose a bit of their momentum the further along they go, they're still a fun series! James Patterson has a way of keeping you on your toes and wanting more. :)

Nikki @ Bookizzle said...

@JuJu - Thanks! :) I hope you get a chance at the series, they're quite fun.

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