Publication Date: June 4th, 2019
Pages: 270
Genre: Fantasy, Dystopian, YA
Goodreads Blurb:
"The massive labyrinth was built to protect Zadie Kalver's isolated desert town. Unfortunately, living in the maze's shadow makes her feel anything but safe. Even without its enchanted deathtraps and illusions, a mysterious killer named Dex lurks in its corridors, terrorizing anyone in his path.
But when Zadie's best friend vanishes into the labyrinth-and everyone mysteriously forgets he exists- completing the maze becomes her only hope of saving him. In desperation, Zadie bribes the only person who knows the safe path through-Dex-into forming a tenuous alliance.
Navigating a deadly garden, a lethal blood-filled hourglass, and other traps-with an untrustworthy murderer for her guide-Zadie's one wrong step from certain death. But with time running out before her friend (and secret crush) is lost forever, Zadie must reach the exit and find him. If Dex and the labyrinth don't kill her first."
Thank you Netgalley, Meredith Tate and Flux/North Star for the opportunity to read this book early, in exchange for an honest review. I was ridiculously happy to see that I got approved for this book, since the blurb seems so interesting! I also have a weird thing for mazes. The Legend of Zelda Labyrinth's made me happy and I have a secret desire to build my home in the middle of a maze of shrubs. Imagine a smaller version of The Shining maze with my house in the middle.
I really enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. The protagonist, Zadie is smart and resourceful, and uses what abilities she has to succeed. She is a Blank, which means she doesn't have a Skill and is less of a person in this world. It's interesting reading about her past and how being a blank in this world impacts everything she does. I like how we were shown how she was smart, not told.
The area that they live in has a maze on the outskirts. This maze is dangerous and everyone in the town is scared of it. It is full of illusions and everyone who has entered it has gone crazy. One person, Dex (the devil of the area) is the one person that knows how to navigate it. One day, her best friend Landon disappears into the maze and she makes an alliance with Dax to make it through and find him.
The book certainly has a YA feel, but it works for the book. I got vibes to The Maze Runner (I mean there's a maze duh), Red Rising/Red Queen (blank vs skilled is like the red/silver blood) and they literally reference "this is the brave new world". It's fast paced, enjoyable protagonist and I'm here waiting for the sequel now.
My own complaint is that there is so much more to the world I want to know, but obviously this is a first book in a series. We got a bunch of history at the end, but i would've liked to know more jobs and more of the city before we left to the Labyrinth. Hopefully it gets explored more in the next book!
4 wineglasses out of 5.
I recommend it to anyone who likes the big YA novels: The Hunger Games, The Uglies, Red Queen, Divergent, etc. It fits into these books with tone, direction and bad ass female protagonist. Or if you are just a dystopian fan give it a shot in general. You won't regret it. Go in picturing a typical dystopian novel and it will meet or surpass your expectations. Just go for a ride with it and enjoy it.
Cheers,
Jen