The 13th Reality: Journal Of Curious Letters by James Dashner Review

The first UK publication of 13th Reality: Journal Of Curious Letters by James Dashner, author of The Maze Runner, will be released by Sweet Cherry Publishing next week and we were lucky enough to be given an advance copy to review. This is a book full of intrigue and mystery, as we join Tick Higginbottom and try to work out 'what on Earth is going on?'.

I have to start by saying the package we received was gorgeous - the boys and I loved it and it was just perfect for this book. We knew this was going to be something special. We had a puzzle to solve before we even opened our copy! It really set the scene for reading the book.,,

The hero Tick isn't the first character we meet, the book starts out in a remote Post Office in Macadamia, Alaska, with a collection of unusual characters to startle the local Postmaster and some very important post.

Tick is the recipient of one of the letters posted that day and as soon as he receives it his life starts to change. He can refuse the challenge, which he is told will be "Indubitably and despicably deadly" by simply burning his letter, but curiosity makes fools or heroes of us all.

This is a great book and I've read it alongside my 9 year old. The story has some genuine 'jaw to the floor' moments. Some of the puzzles given to Tick are easier than others, which delighted my son and really involved him in the storyline as he solved clues alongside the characters in the book.

I wasn't quite sure where we were going to finish up until very far into the book, which meant my interest was held alongside my son's. You can get an idea of what might be happening to Tick and his world, but why he's been chosen and what is going to happen keep you guessing until the end.

The text is a standard size and this is a 400 page book, so it might intimidate less practised readers, but the language used and even the more complex concepts are easily understood by a 9 year old.

This is a great story and very original, but quite genius. There are further books in the series and they're also receiving a UK print, including book 2, Hunt For Dark Infinity. It will no doubt also make an incredibly popular movie series. I'm thinking in the style of Tim Burton or Terry Gilliam....

The 13th Reality: The Journal Of Curious Letters by James Dashner is published by Sweet Cherry Publishing and will be released on 8th February. Available to pre-order now from all good book stockists instore and online rrp £6.99, including Amazon (affiliate link*).

I'll be taking part in a blog tour to promote The 13th Reality and so will loads of other lovely reviewers. You'll be able to find out their thoughts and their answers to some 13th Reality style questions on the dates given below...

We were sent our copy of James Dashner's The 13th Reality: Journal Of Curious Letters for review. The link is an Amazon affiliate link, which means I'd earn a few pennies if you ordered via my link as a thank you. for the time I took to create it and add it to this post.