Ramblings -- Spoiled by the Synopsis

I don't read synopsises/synopsii/synopsis. Especially if they are books that have captured my attention and I really want to read them.

But, Katrina, how exactly does a book capture your attention if you don't read the synopsis?

Easy. Judge the book by its cover. 

Calm it down, General Shang. Put away the torches and the pitchforks. Take a deep breath. Now are you sure you're not going to bite my head off? Yes? Awesome. Let's proceed.

If someone recommends me a book (if that someone is someone I trust), most of the time, I take it, no questions asked. If I'm at my library and I see a pretty spine or stunning cover, it gets checked out faster than you could say 'overdue'. If I'm running around on Goodreads and I see a book that looks interesting, the cover and the title, it goes straight to my to-read pile. Sometimes I take a peek at my friends ratings, maybe read a paragraph of their review and if its funny/interesting enough, I read the whole thing (but that rarely happens). Anyway, you get my point. I don't read the synopsis.

Why? Because it's misleading as hell.

I know covers can be just as misleading, if not more but you can blame my hatred for synopses on The Thirteenth Child. I read the book a while ago but it has forever scarred me. I expected this whole amazing story with fast paced plot, magic, discovery and characters I can love. What I got was an annoying, whiny protagonist and an almost non-existent plot with the pace of a snail. Those two paired together ruined the book more than anything else. Anyway, after I realized that I got burned by the synopsis, I shied away from reading it.

Not to mention the fact that synopsises/synopsii/synopsis contain a lot more spoilers than you would imagine. I remember after I read The Maze Runner, I turned to the book jacket to judge the synopsis and I got so angry that they included that bit about Teresa turning up in the all-male inhabited Glade. When I got to that part, I gasped so hard it seemed like I sucked all the air out of the room.  Some books even summarize what happens up until the middle of the book. Where's the fun in THAT? I knew then that my decision not to consult the synopsis was a good one.

Which brings us to now. I've been doing this no-synopsis thing for quite some time now. I'm content. There have been some covers that tricked me but I wouldn't go back to the old ways. Anyway, against my better judgement, I read the synopsis for Onyx by Jennifer L Armentrout. I was only on chapter 2 but I HAD to find out if the new guy whatsisface. Wait, let me check what his name is... Blake! Blake from Santa Monica. I had to find out if Blake from Santa Monica was going to be all flirty (of course he is) with Katy, thus resulting in a love triangle. I don't really know what I was hoping to achieve by checking the synopsis. It's not like I would've stopped reading it if there was a love triangle, no matter how much I hated it. It brings physical pain, usually caused by me as I yank my hair out, reading about the indecisiveness and the drama and <snooty voice>oh, I love Edward ever so much. But Jake doesn't own a shirt. But Edward sparkles. But Jake turns to a furry dog. However shall I choose?! </snooty voice>Ugh. Spare me. So see? I had to find out, if only to end the suffering anticipation.

And I read it. Was it a good idea? Fuck no. It seemed like synopsis already gave away half the book's surprises. I can just see myself bugging my eyes out when I find out. The DOD knows about Katy knowing The Luxen? 

Blake knows about Katy and Daemon's linky thing?

He's going to help Katy understand the linky link, thus spending time with Blake and she isn't going to tell Daemon about it?

Someone who shouldn't be is alive??!!! *cough* Daemon's brother *cough* *cough* Daemon's brother's girlfriend *cough* 

Granted, my interest shot to the edge of space and the synopsis was only doing it's job by peaking my interest. But I still would have liked to find out about all of it by myself. And I HATE spoilers. Even more than love triangles. Surprise, not anticipation please. (I realize that the reason I spoiled myself was so that I could anticipate the love triangle. Shut up.) It's all part of the reading experience. I really should've just stuck to my vow. Sigh...

That's all. I just wanted to rant.

Feel free to comment about your outrage at my approach to finding books or my stupidity or whatever. Or you know, don't. I won't mind either way, truly. But it would be nice to know that I'm not having a conversation with myself although I do make a habit of it in real life.

Oh my God, Katrina. Stop creeping out everyone. You are so weird.

I know, shut up. Whatchu gonna do about it?

Nothing. I'm you.

Remember how the post is called 'Ramblings'? Yeah...

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Review: The Kill Order - James Dashner

Title: The Kill Order
Author: James Dashner
Series: (Prequel) The Maze Runner Trilogy
Publisher: Delacorte Books
Release Date: 14 August 2012
Date Read: August 2012
Rating: ★★☆☆☆

The Kill Order is the much anticipated prequel to the Maze Runner trilogy.

This novel takes place thirteen years prior the time initial time setting of the trilogy. This is a time before Thomas and the Gladers, before WICKED was even created. The sun flares struck the earth and mankind succumb to a deadly disease.

We follow a new set of characters; Mark, Alec and a group of teenagers, who were all there when the sun flares struck. It is a constant battle for survival in the desolate landscape left behind by the sun flares. But they've managed to build a settlement, one of the few places left on earth where something that resembles a normal life can be established.

But one day, a Berg flies in on their settlement from nowhere, shooting darts at people, many of whom died immediately. Others took days to die, some weeks. They soon realize that the darts contained a virus designed to kill everyone. But the virus is evolving. Mark, Alec, Lana along with a few other survivors set out to find the origin of the horrific Berg. They must find a cure to the virus.

I thought The Kill Order would be about Thomas, Teresa, WICKED and the creation of the Glade. I thought we'd get to see Newt, Minho even Alby before their memories got wiped. The only mention of the characters we were all familiar with was at the prologue, highlighting the moments before Thomas entered the elevator that would soon take him to the Glade. To be honest, I was a lot more interested in what exactly Thomas' parts were in WICKED, in the creation of the Glade. Why was he and Teresa so important? It's not like he was the only one immune to the Flare.

Instead, Dashner brings us the story of the origins of the Flare, the disease that started it all. New characters are introduced where Mark and Alec are the main characters. Mark barely has any personality and Alec is a retired military man, whose job is fight and keep them alive. Mark has a love interest, Trina, that he has to saveut their relationship wasn't established well enough for me to feel sympathy over these separated 'lovers'. I didn't feel a connection with Mark. Sure, I wanted him to survive but there is that gnawing feeling that he isn't going to survive this, in the end. There was honestly no hope in this book, for the reader and even the characters themselves. Mark didn't even believe himself that he was going to survive this new set of unfortunate events.

The Kill Order had complete lack of character development. There was no emotion. It was mindless action, action, action. They were well-written action scenes meant to keep the readers on their toes, flipping page after page determined to finish the book. But the thing was that it was all action. If the action scenes had nothing to contrast, then it's going to fall flat. I found myself glazing over the action scenes because it was too much and after a while it got boring.

The 'humour' that was supposed to be amusing and provide comedic relief, failed. I didn't even realize the characters cracked a joke until others laughed.


It's hard not to be disappointed when the trilogy had so much promise for a prequel and Dashner chose to do the Flares. I hope he takes another stab at this, and he might since there is that thirteen year gap between this book and the Maze Runner.

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