A SINGLE STEP (The 3rd Age Trilogy)

He even considers sacrificing himself if he thinks it means saving more people -- and with the help of the people who have been horribly manipulating him at every turn. These "scientists" continue their quest for a disease cure by staging trials that kill their teen subjects. There are two significant deaths of characters followed through the series. One is crushed by a building and the other succumbs to the Flare disease that causes madness and begs to be shot -- Thomas eventually shoots him.

There are numerous fist fights; some intense electrocutions by specialized weapons; shooting deaths and a pinkie toe shot off; stabbings, broken glass and knife fights; and Thomas strangles someone to death. In a lawless city overrun by the diseased, people are "killing anything that moves" and there are hints of cannibalism. A van is surrounded by diseased and people are thrown from the car and shot. Numerous people are crushed when a building collapses, others are sliced at by government machines.

Thomas is in solitary confinement for 5 weeks with no shower. The teens have their own slang. Fake swear words such as "shuck," "shuckface," "shucked in the head," "slinthead," "klunk," and "shanks" replace the real thing. And you'll see "bloody," "hell," and "dammit" a few times, as well. Sick people who can afford it shoot up a substance called "bliss" that slows down their brain significantly as well as the progression of the disease.

Parents need to know that this final book in The Maze Runner Trilogy is just as dark as the other two. Adult "scientists" are still manipulating and killing teens and a whole city succumbs to a disease that causes madness, mass violence, and eventually cannibalism. The publisher still has this series marked for ages 12 and up, but it's more in line with other dystopian novels marketed to 14 and up. Fans of the series will be shaken by deaths of two important characters.

One sadly begs to be shot when he gets the disease. Other violence is fairly constant and runs the gamut: The main character is forced to decide whether to sacrifice himself for what may be the greater good. Add your rating See all 6 parent reviews.

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Add your rating See all 23 kid reviews. They're willing to give him both if he's ready to get his memory back through an operation. But when he and some of his friends decide against getting their memories back it sets in motion an escape plan to Denver, one of the protected cities where the Flare disease is screened for and protected against constantly. All is not so safe in Denver, though. Looking for other escaped friends uncovers plots to take down WICKED -- about time, Thomas thinks -- and rumors of city officials becoming ill and spreading the disease.

It's not long before lawlessness reigns and Thomas has to decide whom he's going to side with: As answers surface, friends don't suddenly stop dying or getting manipulated by the government. The scientists keep being fanatical and nonsensically blood-thirsty and are just about always one step ahead. The world is still diseased and mad. The hopelessness gets downright oppressive after a while, even as the pace quickens toward an explosive finale. What keeps this series from being more memorable is that oppressiveness. The dystopian world of Hunger Games has a rabid fan base because of the hope the memorable characters have of overcoming all obstacles.

It's always pretty obvious in The Maze Runner that there are too many obstacles to overcome. If this was adult literature, sure, depress the heck out of readers. But this is YA fiction and even if teen readers are mature enough to handle it, they still deserve a little more optimism.

Families can talk about what a dark dystopian world this is. I think that ultimately, when people are able to watch this film and where this franchise is going, it really is about the ethical treatment of animals in the world and our responsibility to the living creatures that we share the planet with, alongside our responsibilities to the planet itself.

Ultimately, in setting aside fantasy on some level, he wants the tone of the films to remain consistent and revolve around real problems that derive from humanity. In Jurassic World, it was obvious that when faced with the opportunity to do a ridiculous or horrible act for a lot of money, human greed will win out.

And who can blame anyone for that? On some level, it is, because of course, we all want to see the dinosaurs. Themes of greed and human selfishness are very clear in the first film, but there was still so much else going on that it sort of got lost in the background.

However, now that the first film has already spent a good amount of time establishing the world and the characters, maybe there will be room in this second to explore these social themes a little more. It gives a grander picture, but it also creates a little distance between the reader and the characters in some ways. But ultimately, it did not deter me and I am quite glad I read through to the end.

This was a quite a bloody second installment in the series, one that had points of laughter and points of incredible tension and heartbreak and one that leaves me absolutely on edge for the final book. View all 3 comments. Apr 01, Celine rated it liked it Shelves: Sequel to the fast Age of Iron , Clash of Iron struggles to keep up the pace.

Lowa is now responsible for Maidun, and she starts to prepare for the prophesied coming of the Romans. However, Britain isn't easy to unite, and together with her trusted friends she will have to defend her people from dangers close to her. For the first two hundred pages, Clash of Iron flounders. After the story arc in the first book, there is not logical continuation, and the tension has to rebuilt from scratch. The Romans are coming - we know that - but this premise in itself isn't enough to keep the reader reading.

We see all kinds of flashes of the lives of our protagonists, but there is no conflict. To make a more reasonable time frame, there are big leaps in time, making the first part feel choppy and fragmented. Luckily, Mr Watson regains the reigns to his story after the beginning, and from then on, it's smooth sailing. The Age of Iron books are written in a wry, humorous and accessible style that will appeal to readers who find historical or fantasy books too dry. It should also be noted that Clash of Iron can be quite dark and gruesome - for many characters, lives aren't taken seriously.

They murder and torture like it's all a game to them. This kind of gore isn't uncommon in fantasy lately, but one does need to have the stomach for it. Clash of Iron follows more characters than Age of Iron did, but since we already know all of these faces, it's not hard to get into their stories. Sadly some of them remain one-dimensional, especially Ragnall, a druid's apprentice who is sent to Rome to spy. His thoughts lack the complexity to make them seem realistic.

On the other hand, I very much enjoyed the chapters written from the perspective of Spring and Chamanca. While fantasy is almost notoriously white-washed and misogynistic, Mr Watson succeeds in creating a believably diverse cast. I especially enjoyed that women fight in the armies as well, and that they weren't seen as inferior warriors.

‘Jurassic World’ Will Be a Trilogy, But One Not Like the Original

This sequel has some issues, but the ending of Clash of Iron is very strong and makes me excited to read the conclusion of the trilogy. If the last two hundred pages of this book are an indication, Reign of Iron is going to be pretty epic. Oct 01, Nuzaifa - Word Contessa rated it it was amazing Shelves: Stating that Britain in the Iron Ages was not quite the best place to be would be a gross understatement.

The threat of the fast growing Roman empire and the brutally legendary Caesar was imminent and worried even the greatest of warriors. As queen of Maidun, Lowa is now responsible for getting her people through these tumultuous times. Lowa not only faces having to handle the foreign threats across the ocean but she has also enough to be wary about in her homeland. Warring tribes and power-hungr Stating that Britain in the Iron Ages was not quite the best place to be would be a gross understatement. Warring tribes and power-hungry leaders are ever present and the lines between allies and foes are growing increasingly blurry.

Angus Watson wowed me last year with his brilliant historical fantasy debut, Age of Iron. History, fantasy, action, humor and magic, woven together made for an unforgettable novel. However, Clash of Iron surpassed all expectations to become one hell of a sequel. If you thought Age of Iron was bloody gruesome, think again. If you thought Age of Iron had just the right amount of wry, dark humor, think again.

If you thought Age of Iron was a sneaky, little bastard who wheedled his way into your heart, think again. Because everything Age of Iron did to your poor heart? Clash of Iron does it better. The additional POVs of Chamanca and Rangall were insightful and I couldn't help but be awed at how Watson connects these individual fragments to build an effortlessly seamless story. Both Ragnall and Chamanca played a significant role in this installment and it intriguing to see their respective characters unravel throughout the story.

Watson's gift for creating unforgettable characters is truly commendable: You will adore them, root for them and despise them but you would never forget them. Just as in Age of Iron, I was pleased by the way women were portrayed as equals rather than damsels in distress. More focus on empowered women in historical fiction and fantasy is a much needed initiative in these genres. If you wish for pretty prose look the other way because Watson's blunt writing style was just perfect for this alternative historical fantasy read.

The vivid descriptions meant that I could clearly envision every swing of Dug's war hammer and every smile on Spring's face. Betrayal, intrigue, magic, friendship, love and greed is brought to life within the pages of Clash of Iron. I haven't quite forgiven Angus Watson for that brutal ending. I did not see that coming. But that sucker-punch of an ending has only increased my anticipation for the third book, Reign of Iron. Clash of Iron is a dark and gritty and historical epic fantasy novel that packs a punch.

A punch that you'll remember for years to come. View all 4 comments. Apr 08, Kate rated it really liked it Shelves: Hugely entertaining, violent and exuberant take on Iron Age Britain's tribal clashes and Caesar's conquest of Gaul. Dec 13, Joel rated it really liked it. I took off quite a bit of time before reading the second novel, though found myself having no troubles jumping right back in with little to no refresher needed.

Clash of Iron takes us back to 1st century era Europe, a fantasy-based take on a real time period, real places, and in a lot of cases, real events. Some items are changed for the story, or made up altogether, but the bits and pieces involving historical figures are largely fact-based, and with my meager knowledge of the time period. I felt fairly immersed in the book. As with Age of Iron, the real stars of the story are the characters. The simple-yet-deep Dug, a relatable bear of a man, struggles to balance his duty to his new friends, his new lands, while finding a place to fit into the entire picture, unaware of just how important of a piece he is in the puzzle.

Lowa is now queen of Maidun after the events of Age of Iron, and her life is that much more complicated because of it, not to mention her relationship with Dug, and some of the revelations to come between them. However, her scouts soon discover some very concerning items regarding the impending Roman invasion. Oh, right, the Roman invasion — I mentioned that, right? We find another favorite from the first book, Ragnall, now in league with Julius Caesar, and also torn — between his homeland, which he feels increasingly bitter towards, and his new Roman compatriots, particularly the impressive Julius Caesar.

He soon finds himself a close confidant and insider for Caesar, admiring the man in his own way, and enjoying the favor he was able to achieve by assisting him, even if he did not get the same courtesy from the other self-aggrandizing Romans around him. Ragnall finds himself ever more impressed with the Roman culture and diplomacy, and ever more jaded towards his former homeland, to the point of beginning to wish the Romans upon them as a way to civilize and modernize them.

The novel is a lot of fun — not nearly as funny as the first, in my opinion, but still very clever, and getting several legit out-loud laughs from me.

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It takes a much darker direction overall than Age of Iron, both in tone and events, but it was never oppressive or overly gloomy, as some grimdark novels can become. The characters are brilliantly written — each with unique characteristics and voices, each well rounded and deep, never bland or flat — there are many shades of gray in this book. The female characters, in particular, are very well-written, and given a place in the forefront of the novel, positions of power, and very competent attributes and skillsets to boot. There might be more page time for the male characters, but Lowa, Spring and co always felt well represented and integral pieces of the story.

Where a lot of authors struggle to finish their novels, Watson hits an absolute home run in this piece, giving a gut-wrenching, moving and important tour through the final few chapters, leaving the reader pining for more, but also needing some time to recover and recuperate after what happened. Clash of Iron has some very high points, a few flat periods, and in general a lot of positive attributes. Aug 31, Andrea rated it liked it Shelves: I'm not sure what it is, but the second book on the Iron Age trilogy just didn't work for me a well as the first one.

Oh yeah, there were also countless other little tribes mingling here and there. There were so many politics involved, the two central character had very little space left to develop past their first book counterparts. The evil kings that Lowa is left to f I'm not sure what it is, but the second book on the Iron Age trilogy just didn't work for me a well as the first one. The evil kings that Lowa is left to fight after becoming the queen of Maidun are each colorful and sick in their own glorious ways, but what about the good guys?!

Outside the gory adventures of Lowa among Murkans, she seriously has very little stuff to do besides mulling about her inexperience as a ruler. Dug and her both go back and forth acting like teens confused about their feelings, and convincing themselves that the other hates them. Even Randall get more chapters than these guys. Also, what is up with a random ending?! Are you trying to pull the "Red Wedding" random reference here, Mr.

What in the world is going on? It's not going to scare me off the next and final book, but I'm getting a bit worried. Sep 26, Frank rated it really liked it Shelves: I don't want to spoil this for anyone reading. A good second book in the trilogy. Watson advances the story nicely. The time is split with these locations as well as, Britain. Once again there is war, blood and grit. Dug plays a smaller part in this book, who I truly missed. But we get much of Lowa, Ragnall and other supporting ch I don't want to spoil this for anyone reading.

But we get much of Lowa, Ragnall and other supporting characters. We get hints of magic in the form of Druids and others, that leaves you wondering what will happen. The ending just blew me away, I was speechless. Off to book three. Sep 27, nat. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.

The Death Cure: Maze Runner Trilogy, Book 3

To view it, click here. Ritroviamo Spring, Lowa e Dug, ma siccome li conosciamo, invece di perderci in presentazioni varie saltiamo direttamente nella storia. I think my favorite part of this book was the historical elements of Rome and it's legendary characters. I had forgotten so much of this time period and the author notes that his depictions of Rome, it's politics, leaders and battle legions didn't need embellishment. Their brutality was uncompromising in the face of their lust for power.

It also made me realize how heavily authors such as Erikson, Martin and other genre greats are drawing from that era. Caesar makes Mallick Rel and Cersei look benign.

Our favorites are back again mostly in Britain but some on the continent. Their role is somewhat overshadowed but Rome until the finale which was an unforeseen twist which was well done.

There is also a lot more magic in this book compared to book one. The druids and their magic is very dark and archaic which is a good change from most fantasy books where there's a need to have a very specific and developed magic. Not that those magic systems are bad but life, variety and all that. May 04, Bart rated it it was amazing Shelves: Feb 26, Anoop Menon rated it it was amazing.