The Red Labyrinth

I was drawn into this wonderful labyrinth and honestly part of me is still there. I LOVED this! I need more!
The book is set in a little town of Trinnea where there are two types of people skilled and blanks and I really loved this idea. The town in run by the Leader who they believe is almost godlike. Where ever there is a god, there is usually a devil and the devil of Trinnea is Dex. Our Main Character is Zadie who is a blank which means she has no skills. I really liked Zadie, she was strong while also being fallible. She is in love with her best friend Landon who has always been there for her and saves her a few times.My favourite character was Dex, I liked him from the beginning. When something bad happens to the town, Zadie decides to go through the Labyrinth to the Leader. The Labyrinth is full of traps. I will admit that I guessed a few times what would happen in the book but I found that is still enjoyed it and I like to guess what will happen. The end, I loved the ending but I was also frustrated that that was it. I need more, I need to know what happens next! I will definitely read this book again and I will buy it when it is released!

Thank you for providing me this book. I will also post a review on my blog (lucysnovelpurpose.wordpress.com) about a week before the release date.

I have never read anything by Meredith Tate. This is a dystopian fantasy novel set in a world where humans have died out. There is this small isolated town that is left called Trinnea. The world has been laid to waste and is nothing but desert. This town that has survived is comprised of mostly people that have abilities (levitate, good eyesight, good hearing, strength, etc.). The thinking behind this is that these people survived because of their abilities and that humans are inferior beings. The individuals that have abilities are called "Skilled." There are people that are born with no abilities in this society. These people are called "Blanks". Blanks are treated terribly. Most of them are cast out into society to fend for themselves. Some of them are used as slave labor. As a blank, you can buy your way back into Trinnea, but it costs a lot of money and most people cannot afford this.

Zadie, our main character, is a Blank. She spent years in slave labor and finally her family has been able to afford for her to come back into Trinnea. Because she's a Blank, she is still looked down on. Her best friend is Landon. Landon is known as Limitless Landon because he has infinite abilities. Skilled are classified by how many abilities they have. She has been friends with Landon since they were very young, and Landon is the only person who doesn't look down on her and treat her like she is nothing. One day, Landon goes missing.
There is a labyrinth. It separates the people from the leader's housing/mansion. This maze was built as the leader's defense so that nobody would be able to cross into his domain. This maze is occupied by several bad things, but one of those things is Dex. He is known as a ruthless killer. He comes and grabs people from the town, pulls them into the maze, and wipes their brains. He does not discriminate, he takes blanks or skilled. Zadie is sure he has taken Landon, and she must save him.

So, this book sounded AWESOME. The whole thing intrigued me. So, this book was very fast paced. This was a good thing at some points and a bad thing in others. It was slow when describing the world, etc. Then when it got interesting, it got so fast you couldn't even process what had happened before it zipped us into something else. Because of this, Zadie's feelings did not come across well, especially when she is faced with death. It was like "oh great, I am staring death in the face. No biggie. I got this." It didn't capture her fear well at all. It was almost like it was just another day in the neighborhood.

Also, there were several discrepancies in the world building. I can't tell you what these were without giving this away. But these were major discrepancies. I thought to myself "did she forget she said it was this way in the beginning?" So it made it confusing because of that. I think Tate ultimately made the world too complicated that even she couldn't keep up with it.

That's not to say that this book wasn't entertaining. It was, and I could not put it down. This is the first book I haven't been able to put down in awhile. Because of this, I gave it a 4. But, I think this book would have been so much better with better pacing.

I wasn’t sure what to expect out of this book, but I was definitely surprised, in a very good way!

Zadie lives in a world where you are tested for magical abilities - called skills - at the age of six. After a thumbprint determined that she had none, she was literally ripped from her mother’s arms, branded with a zero on both palms, and sent to live in the wasteland. Ten years later, she is back living inside the town after her mother sacrificed everything to purchase a pass for Zadie. However, Zadie still suffers from PTSD, her sister, Chantry, will no longer speak to her, and she’s considered a second-class citizen and bullied by those in charge. Worst of all, her best friend, Landon, gets trapped inside the Labyrinth. People who come out of the Labyrinth are never the same, if they come out at all.

I found the beginning rather confusing. The back story and world building happen gradually, so as a reader, you’re thrown into it without a lot of background information. However, the details immediately peaked my interest, and I thought the pacing was great. The character development happens slowly, too, and you learn more and more about Zadie, Landon, Chantry, Dex, and so many others. Zadie ends up being a lot stronger than she thinks she is.

I’m not sure if I should have seen some things coming, but I definitely didn’t, and the ending was a total shock, in more than one aspect. I just hope the author comes out with a sequel, so we can find out what happens next - there is a cliffhanger ending!

The Red Labyrinth is a bit different spin on a common premise, dystopian maze stories. The heroine, Zadie, is a blank, meaning she was born with no skills. In a society where skills are tantamount to social class rankings, she is a ridiculed outcast nothing. Conversely, her best friend, Landon, has what seems like innumerable skills. There sits a red labyrinth in their town. Blanks go in and don't come back. No one survives this monstrosity. Occasionally, Landon must go in and save someone, but Landon is skilled enough to do it. On the other side, sits a castle where allegedly their leader resides. One day, Zadie wakes up and people are nice to her. The townspeople also don't remember Landon. She knows the answers are on the other side of the labyrinth. So, in she goes. She encounters twists and turns and a surprise ending. Zadie is a sympathetic character. To be treated like garbage for something she has no control of, well, it sucks. She doesn't really show her strength and intelligence until she enters the labyrinth. She gains confidence and starts to realize she is not worthless. The world building is great. It's an intriguing place full of mystery. The writing is good and the story unfolds at a good pace. Dystopian fans will enjoy this book. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I want to thank Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book.
The red labyrinth is a young adult fantasy book about our main chapter Zadie.
She’s a very smart girl but unfortunately she was born unskilled and with no powers which means she gets treated terribly.
When her best friend disappears into the red labyrinth which is a maze built for protection zadie follows him.
However if you enter the maze you run the risk of going crazy or ending up dead.

Overall this book was really enjoyable. I loved our main character and her best friend Landon.
I would recommend this to anyone who loves a really good YA fantasy book as it has me hooked from page one.
I gave it 4 stars!

This is a very up to date with current events book and things happening in life around us, it says things like all genders and speaks of same sex relationships and people who basically have kids with multiple people and not actually living with them and being with them. Honestly it caught me off guard because I wasn’t expecting it, I never read a book that speaks of things like this, it’s something I thought people were avoiding! But over all there was parts I liked and disliked about it.

OMG!! Buckle up for an amazing journey with The Red Labyrinth. Zandie is an unlikely hero as she is a Blank, a nothing in her society. She has no skills, so she is a sub-human in her town/society's eye. Her mother and sister have skills, but not her. The town her "Limitless Landon" has many skills, and to her amazement is her BFF. However when Landon goes missing and the town people suddenly change, Zandie decides to face the Red Labyrinth to reach the town Leader, who is their god. However, no one has ever survived the Labyrinth. Can Zandie?? You'll have to read Red Labyrinth and see if she can survive the Devil of Trinnea, and the many traps of the Labyrinth. You'll be on the edge of your seat and wanting more.

This one was not what I expected. Some major twists and turns and not all were the labyrinth. Zadie was very likable and not whiny given her status as a blank. Dex we got to know quite well but still some things are still unknown. Landon we just got a taste in the beginning. Story does end on a cliffhanger.

I honestly have no idea what to say about this book other than I absolutely 100% loved it with every fiber of my being. I am one million percent excited for a sequel, even though this one hasn't even officially been published yet. It's definitely among my top five favorites of 2018, and I am beyond excited for others to read The Red Labyrinth.

I loved the world building. I loved the characters (although Zadie did frustrate me at times). I loved the tentative friendship that built between Zadie and Dex, and then that ending...ugh. I just can't.

I wish I could form a more coherent review for The Red Labyrinth, but I've been dwelling on what I've wanted to say for a few weeks now, and all I can say is this: I need more!

I received a copy of The Red Labyrinth by Meredith Tate from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first novel by Meredith Tate that I have read and I am pleased to have had an opportunity to find a solid new author through this advance copy!

The good: I found the novel to be well written and the plot was different from many other novels currently available. Even though this was a YA/fantasy novel, the underlying theme and romance (misdirected though it turned out to be) was not juvenile. I liked the world of The Red Labyrinth and the protagonist Zadie Kalvers. Although young and very much a victim of her world's society - Zadie is a Blank (no skills/powers) and the lowest of society, Zadie grows so much during the novel with each challenge and obstacle. You can't help but empathize with her.

The bad: my main critique was that the end of the story felt very rushed. It is obviously to set up the next novel, but I thought it could have been smoother.

*I received an ARC of The Red Labyrinth via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *

It's been quite some time since I read a dystopia, and I would argue that The Red Labyrinth, while most definitely a fantasy novel, has some of those classic dystopian tropes. It was great to be back in a world with a corrupt system and a girl who feels powerless. Zadie is introduced as a helpless character, and it was great to see her become more confident and strong throughout the book.

However, it was hard to suspend my disbelief on some of the fantastical elements. Some were so bizarre and felt out of place in a world full of magic. I would have liked more time fleshing out the maze, its structure, its rules, etc., because it seemed like a place where anything could happen in a way that made the world lack cohesion.

Despite my issue with the world (a bit too zany without a common thread tying all the magic together), I did enjoy The Red Labyrinth. Maybe it's because I've read a lot of fantasy and dystopian novels, but I did think that the antagonist was a little obvious. The pages leading up to said revelation were done really well, and answered some of the questions I had since the beginning of the book. The ending was probably my favorite part of the book and left me anticipating the sequel.

3.5 Stars!

I would love to read book two of Red Labyrinth right now!

I really loved the story and practically flew through the pages. The author's writing style pulled me in, painting this world in vivid colors and creating characters that are real, flawed, facing struggles and hardships. Nobody is clearly good or bad, everyone tries to hide something.

The Red Labyrinth itself, it's traps, mechanisms and inhabitants are surprising, scary and affect the mind not only of the characters but also the reader's.
At least, it made me feel and fear with the ones navigating through it, because when a trap snaps it demands something unique from you.

From the protagonists introduced to us, I liked Zadie and Dex best. Zadie clearly is strong in her own way but it takes some time for her to realize that.
And Dex... he is something else that I won't give away because it would spoil the travel.

The Red Labyrinth is a clear 4.5 Stars read for me.
I fell in this world, got lost in the Labyrinth alongside the characters, and am hoping that book two is happening soon(ish) because that ending was cruel!

I received this book by request from Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

At first glance, this book sounds similar to The Maze Runner (which I was not very fond of) but Red Labyrinth is much more and exceeded all of my expectations.

Trinnea, a town surrounded by a mysterious and magical labyrinth in which the Skilled (people with extraordinary powers) are elites while Blanks (people with no extraordinary powers) are oppressed and isolated to the outskirts of society. Meanwhile, the menacing and elusive Dex haunts the labyrinth keeping Trinnea's citizens from leaving.

I was hooked from the first few pages. Meredith Tate does an excellent job developing this post-apocalyptic world and weaving it into the plot without info-dumping everything. I enjoyed the fast-paced plot and the intrigue of the character's backgrounds- it kept me engaged in the story.

I liked that Zadie was an ordinary girl. She's a Blank in a society full of Skilled and combined with her abusive past, she doesn't have much self-worth or confidence. But by no means is she a weak character- she's determined and is trying to do her best with the skills she does have.

I also really liked Chantry and hope for some more character development from her. She came across as a compelling character especially with her complicated relationship with her sister, Zadie and I can't wait to read more about her.

Dex and Landon... even though they are part of a love triangle I liked how they enhanced Zadie rather than taking away from her character. Their clashing perspectives and motives were interesting and I liked that there was no "right" answer to the overarching conflict.

I didn't really like the ending though. The plot is building up to this major climax but it felt so rushed that it feels as if the climax is cut short. I did like the plot twist- didn't see it coming but I didn't like that the "villain" just info-dumped his evil scheme (I wanted it to be more of a suspenseful discovery and not the villain revealing everything).

Overall, this book was way better than I expected it to be. Cannot wait for the sequel because I need a resolution after that abrupt cliffhanger ending.

*Thank you to NetGalley and its publishers for providing a free ARC*

Though Red Labyrinth's plot sounds like a Maze Runner clone, it has nothing in common with the series from James Dashner except the fact that there's a maze.

In Red Labyrinth, people with special skills live under the close watch of The Leader - a person who lives in a palace separated from the rest of the populace by a dangerous, trap-filled maze. Those who enter the maze - if they escape at all - return as a hollow shell of themselves, unresponsive and with vacant stares.

Zadie is a blank - a person with no skills who's shunned by the others. She quickly finds herself in harm's way when she must enter the maze to save her loved ones. Traps, strange creatures, and other maze-related difficulties stand in her way of reaching the palace.

I was leaning towards a 5 based on enjoyment - while typical YA tropes abound, Tate's writing flows well and the world building works well enough. The maze's traps are unique and it's a pleasant read.

However, I disliked where things went. The finale's turn of events seemed rushed, and a certain aspect feels very, very familiar if you've read many other popular YA novels, such as Red Queen. I was disappointed by this and also didn't buy why it happened. Plus, Zadie's goes full-on trope with statements of rebellion and revenge. Groan :(

Hence the reduction of 1 star. Overall still a great read and I look forward to the sequel, but I hope that the story can focus on its unique elements rather than staying its course on a well-worn path.

*Received a free ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Who is Dex? And the secret of the Labyrinth?

The town Zadie lives in has very little love for her. She was born a Blank, a person who has no Skills. The laws in Trinnean requires that Blanks be exiled to the wastelands, and to survive most sign their life away to work in the Bunks, to receive food, a place to stay, and back breaking work. The Bunk is where she meets Landon, who becomes her closest friend. Somehow her ma pays the fee for reentry into Trinnean.

Trinnean is surrounded by desert and the only way out seems to be to the home of The Great Leader, protected by the Red Labyrinth. And the labyrinth is haunted by Dex.

I love this book! There is so many different things to touch upon, that this review can go into many of the rich details. This story is well crafted with a plot that hooks you from the beginning and a great twist in the ending. Meredith Tate is now on my favorite author list and this is my new favorite book!

I did receive an ARC in exchange for a review.

3.5/5

One of the first movies I remember watching when I was a kid was Labyrinth from Jim Henson. The fantasy tale starring Jennifer Connelly as Sarah and David Bowie as the goblin King Jareth gripped me from the start. I was about 8 or 9 when I first saw it and since that fateful first viewing, I’ve probably watched it over 1000 times. Also since that fateful first viewing, I’ve easily been intrigued by any movie or book that focuses on labyrinths.
Which brings me to The Red Labyrinth.

I’m a newer Net Galley person, and I thank the author, publisher and website for sending me an ARC copy to review. I still feel such a rush and it’s such a privilege to be approved to review a book.

I typically don’t read many YA releases, but over the last number of years, I’ve become more intrigued with the burgeoning genre. Mix in some sci-fi and fantasy and I knew I’d enjoy this tale. The cover art hooked me and I couldn’t wait to delve into it.

I found Meredith to be a deft story teller. She laid out the basic premise of this post-apocalyptic world quickly and efficiently and I believed in the “new way” of life rapidly. The town they live in has two types of people, Skilled and Blanks. Skilled have powers, physical abilities that allow them to do different things. Your number (1, 2, 3 etc) indicates how many Skills you’ve been born with. Blanks have none and are considered the low class citizens. They’re either tossed outside the border wall that surrounds the town or they’re enslaved to work in the mines.

Zadie, the main character is a Blank. The story follows her as she tries to reconcile her past with her current life. She’s best friends with Limitless Landon, the towns golden boy. They’ve been friends for ages and it’s now bordering on love.

In the middle of the town lies the labyrinth. Myth has it that it was created to protect the Leader, who lives in the centre in his golden palace.

The Labyrinth is a mysterious fixture. Within is the character Dex who’s a monster and is blamed for the mindless blanks that return to the town after entering for one reason or another.

The story gets going after the town is held hostage by some new arrivals and Landon goes missing. Zadie decides to enter the Labyrinth and hopes Dex will help her get to the palace in order to save her mom, sister and Landon.

The story starts to lose some of its luster the further along we go through the labyrinth. It’s clear this story was written to be a part of a longer story arc, I’m assuming a trilogy, and Tate gives us bits and pieces of character back story as it goes, compelling us to continue reading and getting further into the tale.

The ending fell rushed and jumbled. As though everything we’ve read up to that point was undone within a few paragraphs and I was left angry and confused over this odd turn of events. I think it would’ve been better served overall to have ended the story when the palace comes into play and let the ideas after it be expanded upon in a second book.

As much as it fell apart at about the 75% mark, I still want to know what happens. I want to find out the resolution for these characters and find out just what the heck the end game is. That speaks to Tate’s character development and how invested I was able to get into this story.

Overall a decent introduction to this world, but I was left wanting more.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2672683380

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC.

Really fast read with some interesting twists near the end. Was a little annoyed that there wasn’t much character growth from Zadie until nearer the end of the novel, but if there’s a sequel (please tell me there’s going to be a sequel, because that ending, I just can’t) then I’m looking forward to seeing her build on what was started here.

4/5 stars

When her best friend Landon goes missing, Zadie a non-magical 'Blank' will do anything to save him. Unfortunately, that may mean joining forces with Dex, a mysterious and magical killer that lives in the Labyrinth, in order to navigate the Labyrinth's perils and save her friend.

I really enjoyed this one! I loved the blend of fantasy and science fiction with a few thrills. There were definitely a few twists that kept you on your toes and I'm still wondering what's going to happen next after that ending!

Setting
There was definitely a magical and otherworldly beautiful feel to Zadie's world. A good portion of the story takes place in the city of Trinnea and the other half takes place in the Labyrinth. In this story, Zadie's post-apocalyptic world was brought on by a drought a hundred years ago therefore no one travels through the labyrinth to the palace of the Leader or beyond the city to the desert. The city of Trinnea gave me the feeling of a sci-fi desert border town with it's ominous red clay labyrinth, cacti garden, stone houses, burning sun, and air bikes. The skilled and Blanks, or magical and non-magical humans, gave the world a feeling of fantasy. The physical and society separation between the skilled and blanks added to the turmoil within the story and made Zadie the nonmagical under-dog you wanted to root for! Part of the story does take place inside the Labyrinth and that was when the setting became more of a fantasy adventure. The Labyrinth is basically made up of things trying to kill or trap anyone that enters and it adds an element of horror, action, and thrilling adventure to the overall story.

Characters
Zadie, a blank, was the non-skilled, non-magical heroine of the book. She was overall very likeable even though she made some annoyingly stupid mistakes at times. This wouldn't be so bad, except for the fact she has no magic and seems like a smart girl. Basically her only true power or defense was her brain and she consistently made poor decisions. There were also times that I felt frustrated for Zadie living inside the solely magical city of Trinnea with her magical family. Society didn't make it easy for her living as a blank. Her one friend was Landon. He was famous throughout Trinnea as 'Limitless Landon' due to the amount of powers he possessed, but he ignores society's opinions and still treats Zadie as a friend. Dex was the mysterious evil character of the story and I liked not knowing much about him at first. I loved how the backstory between characters played out throughout the entire story including the distance between Zadie and her sister, how Zadie and Landon became friends, and more about the mysterious Dex. I loved the lack of information dumps and how everything was given piece by piece! It allowed the reader to discover characters and past events throughout the story instead of it being shoved down our throats which I very much appreciate!

Pacing
This story had a decent pace in the beginning while Zadie was in Trinnea. It was still faster than most stories while allowing detailed world building and character interaction while the reader figures out all the characters in play. Once the story shifts to the Labyrinth, I thought it had a faster pace and became more of a thrilling adventure with quiet spots here and there for more character backstory.

Overall
I really liked this story overall with it's magical setting, fast pace, thrilling Labyrinth adventure, twists, and characters you want to know more about. However, I was a little frustrated with the character's poor choices at times and a little torn on the ending. I loved and hated the ending at the same time. I wanted so much more and felt a lot of issues were still left unresolved! I'm truly hoping there will be another book! I really need to know how Zadie, Landon, Dex and the town of Trinnea are faring after that ending!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, North Star Editions and Flux for allowing me a chance to review this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I greatly appreciate it and truly hope to read the next story in this series soon!

4.5 stars

Oh, how pleasantly surprised I am about this book! Well, I guess “pleasant” isn’t quite the right word because I AM SHOOK. But we’ll get to all that in a bit ;)

First of all, I want to thank NetGalley, Flux from North Star Editions, and Meredith Tate for providing me with an arc for her novel! Though I am extremely late in posting this, I hope I can spread the novel around so it can get the attention it deserves.

Now for the fun stuff. I SO SO SO loved this book! I was immediately drawn in by the writing and the steady world-building. We see around the little town, then we learn of its prejudices, and then we see glimpses of our main character Zadie’s past. Needless to say, I was really impressed by Tate’s introduction of the setting and the characters. Tate feeds us just enough to make us slightly suspicious but not really... Well, I don’t know how else to describe it, but I will say this: at first, I was suspicious a certain event typically of YA was going to happen, but as the novel progressed, I completely forgot about it.

And then, as if we needed more awesomeness, Zadie has to flee inside a maze full of booby traps and scary things… like, what?! That’s freakin’ awesome if you ask me. And never once did I think, Aw man, this is kinda cheesy. Heck to the no. Ok, yeah, I loved the world, if you didn’t get that yet.

Character development is also something I want to note, because I really felt the characters’ pain and why they have the weaknesses they do, and I respected the way Zadie and Dex support each other.

And on that note, Zadie and Dex!! I’m not even going to put spoiler thingies on that because if you read the description and if you’ve read even one YA novel, then you know the endgame is Zadie and Dex, alright? Ok. Anyways, going into this, I thought there was going to be some insta-love, I’m not gonna lie. But there was a really nice progression into their feelings for each other.

Of course, I could gush for a while longer, but as this brings me perfectly to my only (slight) complaint, I will stop the gushing. As much as I love Zadie and Dex, every once in a while I wish the good guy would get the girl; for reals, nowadays it’s always the “bad boy” with a secretly golden heart who gets the girl. Classic Stelena or Delena dilemma, ya know?

Lastly, I have to address the cliffhanger CUZ OMG I’M DEAD AND NEED TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPENNN. You seriously won’t expect it at all, because you’re gonna read it. You’re going to, right? Yes, of course you will, because it’s sooooo good! AND THIS BETTER NOT BE A STAND-ALONE!

I’ll just stop this now haha. Au revoir!




Oh, and if you enjoyed this review, be sure to follow me here on Goodreads so you can experience even more of my weirdness! ;) I also have an instagram dedicated to books @ashton_reads if you’d like to follow that as well. I love you guys!

Great worldbuilding and a fantastic storyline. Connected almost immediately to the characters and couldn't put it down! I look forward to reading anything this author has to offer.

In the near future humanity has been divided in to those with "skills" (magic, telekinesis, etc.) and those without called "blanks". The skilled community looks down on and abuses those without skills to the point of practically enslaving them. Zadie was born a "blank" and tossed out by the community of Trinnea when she was six years old to live and survive on her own. She indentured herself to work in the mines, until one day her mother and friends had scraped enough money to purchase a pass for her to return to Trinnea. Still shunned and hated by the community Zadie works each day only interacting with a few others, including "Limitless Landon" her childhood friend who is so named because of the limitless amount of "skills" he has. All is normal until one day when the town is taken over by outsiders and Landon goes missing. Zadie must attempt to work her way through the Labyrinth, a massive structure that was constructed to keep citizens separate from their "Leader", in order to attempt to save the town and Landon. What will happen to her as she takes on the labyrinth, its' monsters, and the "devil" inside named Dex?

Loved this book! Loved the female protagonist, her struggle, her optimism, everything. Excellent read, well written! Enjoyed it so much that I added to my to purchase list! Kudos for developing such an interesting and diverse universe with a hero with flaws! Love!

Zadie is a great main character in this book, but she was born a "blank". I liked Zadie right away.  This book was faced paced for me and I like the ride it took me on. This book reminded me of the "maze runner" movies.   I really liked those movies.  I was rooting for the characters and the book kept me wanting to read more. I think I will try the next book or more from this author. The ending worked for me even if it left me hanging. *This book was given to me for free at my request from NetGalley and I provided this voluntary review.*

Danger waits at every turn in this fast-paced adventure.

Zadie is a blank, her hands branded to make sure everyone knows she's part of the lowest class. Non-blanks posses magic and look down on her. But Zadie has come to terms with that...more or less. Her town is the only inhabitable place left on the planet and protected by the leader who lives in a castle beyond the deadly labyrinth. No one has ever survived even being a few minutes in the labyrinth, only her best friend has been able to dash in and out to save someone who gets dragged in by the labyrinth's evil resident—Dex. But when her town is take over by evil forces and her friend disappears into the labyrinth, Zadie is determined to do her best to save them all. If she can survive Dex and the other deadly dangers.

When I started reading this, I was quickly reminded of The Maze Runner. Unlike Dashner's world, the people living in the town are doing fairly fine and aren't trying to escape. The break between the talented and blanks creates instant sympathy for Zadie, who is a kind young woman and knows 'her place'. She still has a bit of a rebel streak in her, but it doesn't overpower her personality. There's also a bit of sibling problems thanks to her older sister being talented and not wanting to show her care for Zadie in any open way.

The first chapters of this book had me bound to the pages. There is a lot of tension and secrecy surrounding the maze and Zadie's circumstances. Even the slight romance begins with her best friend hold and are sweet. It's when she enters the maze and meets Dex that things wobbled a little bit.

Dangers lurk around every corner in the maze—brutal and evil ones. The various traps and creatures are rich and create a very intriguing atmosphere. There is no easy way through, and to see how Dex and Zadie make their way through the maze did keep me on the edge of my seat. There are tear jerking moments and enough depth as well to make the characters vivid and worthy to root for. Still, there were holes in some of the world building, and logic didn't always hold or was simply contradictory. Even Dex...a character with so much dark potential...quickly fell into a normal, young adult role. The read was still intriguing, but it seemed to miss it's mark and left me a little disappointed. Even the ending wasn't what I expected and rushed through. Despite all of this, I still enjoyed the read, though. So, I'm giving it 3.5 stars and rounding up.

I received a complimentary copy and was drawn enough into this story to want to leave my honest thoughts.

I received a copy.ofThe Red Labyrinth from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book was brilliant! I really loved Zadie and her struggled of being a personal non grata in a society that values powers over anything.

Ugh, the Nadine story was absolutely heartbreaking and the stuff in the labyrinth was horrifying!

I love this book, I couldn't stop reading! It's a YA Fantasy adventure and while the idea is not new, I think the author gave a fresh spin to the maze story. Without spoiling too much, the main character is a girl who discovers her strengths after entering a maze that nobody dares to enter. Her world is turned upside down when she finds someone she didn't expect at the end..

The characters are good and realistic. You can really relate to them. I started rooting for the maze Devil Dex right away so I really hope there will be a sequel so I can read more about him!

Some pieces were a little confusing for me, in some chapters there was a flashback but I didn't really get that until I was halfway through the flashback. It's not too troublesome, though. I got used to it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC! These are my honest opinions! Review will be on Goodreads and my blog a week before release.

I love puzzles and I love mazes and Labyrinths. I also love dystopian fiction so with an engaging protagonist this was right up my street. And I really did like this book. It was fast paced and fun with stakes high enough to make the story worthwhile. Some of the writing felt a bit abrupt and while I liked Zadie, she didn’t completely gel with me. That said I highly enjoyed this and recommend it for fans of YA dystopian fiction.

This book was like Alice In Wonderland meets The Maze Runner and was extremely well written. The ending definitely surprised me, and I will be eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

Review will be posted Jan 10th at www.instagram.com/booksandyass and www.facebook.com/mizwonderland.

Well it's safe to say I'm OBSESSED and I firmly believe this book is going to be HUGE.

Think a mix between Alice in Wonderland, The Hunger Games and Divergent.

I am a SUCKER for complex, morally ambiguous characters and Dex is just this. He is both sensitive and ruthless and while we don't get the full spectrum of his personality in this book what we do see is a blend of The Darkling and Rhysand and I'm convinced he'll be popular.

The book does start out a little cliche ya novel in terms of "different, wallflower type girl" is noticed by "popular, jock, hero type boy" but once the action starts you won't be able to put this down. It's fast paced but still great character and world building so it's not confusing or without context.

The whole plot revolves around a society where "skilled" people are the norm and "blanks" or unskilled people are outcast or put into slavery. There is a labyrinth that is set as a test for anyone who wishes to seek their societies leader and in the authors own words it's a crazy killer maze.

Our protagonist undergoes significant self insight and character progression and the author creates an accurate and realistic portrayal of PTSD that is slowly revealed layer by layer. I struggle with PTSD myself and sincerely appreciated the reality ise its portrayal within this book.

There are twists and action and swooning and conspiracies and overall it's a bloody brilliant read. Five stars.

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 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, Red Rising/Red Queen and they literally reference "this is the brave new world". It's got a 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. Maybe how the skills help with certain jobs? Hopefully it gets explored more in the next book!
4 out of 5.
I recommend it to anyone who likes the Hunger Games, Maze Runner or Red Queen. It fits into these books with tone, direction and bad ass 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.

I had a lot of fun reading The Red Labyrinth and look forward to (hopefully) a sequel. Zadie Kalver's memories are full of angst due to the torment and abuse she was put through since being literally branded a 'blank' and outcast at 6 years old. In a society that revers people with skills, Zadie fights to live the life she's allowed to due to the sacrifices her mother made to buy Zadie out of indentured service. With a deadly labyrinth that walled off part of her city and caused the disappearance of her best friend, Zadie plunges into its danger to save her best friend (and secret crush). Within the maze, Zadie encounters Dex (the Devil of the maze) and needs his help to overcome its challenges and save her best friend/love.

I liked the characters within the book, especially Zadie and how she endures/grows with the challenges she's faced.

I was feeling under the weather when Flux approved my request for an e-ARC of The Red Labyrinth by Meredith Tate. And it was so perfect: I curled up under my covers and let the dystopian world of The Red Labyrinth help me escape. I'd read the first few chapters of it a while back, so I was READY to pick up where I left off.
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Without spoilers... It was aMAZEing!
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My absolute favorite scene was the chair scene. It was such an enthralling way to learn about the main character and have fun. Pick it up when it comes out on June 4, 2019 and you'll see what I mean!!

Thank you to Flux for the ARC!

This story was so captivating for me! It was intriguing and fast paced. I made assumptions at the beginning that were totally wrong and I love when that happens.

I started reading it with the intention of only reading for 30 mins. That didn't happen. My 30 min break lasted until I finished the book. It wasn't flawless but it was an extremely enjoyable read that held my attention for hours. And the ending had me saying, "I didn't see that coming!"

I received a free ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Red Labyrinth is amazing! It started slow but it ended with a bang. I just wanted it to keep going! So many twists and turns, this book is a labyrinth indeed! Take a chance because it is totally worth it.

3.5 stars
When’s the sequel coming out?!?! Because I need it NOW!
How do I explain my feelings about this book?
I started the ARC with relatively low expectations - the synopsis sounded like it’d be a fun read but also like a rip-off of Maze Runner-meets-Divergent. To be honest, a lot of the world-building for Trinnea is incredibly similar to the city the MC is from in The Three Doors trilogy by Emily Rodda. And the premise of the maze with monsters at every turn is very Maze Runner-like, and there were many other things in the book that reminded me of other stories I’ve read - but then I suppose there is little new under the sun. Maybe what I’m trying to say is that I was disappointed that more effort didn’t go into disguising the similarities?

And yet, the story hooked me in so much that I forgive it all, including the bits that feel like the book just needs to go through the final polishing phase to be the best it can be.
The characters were in.credi.ble! Multi-dimensional, believable back stories, and I fell in love with how they are gray rather than all good or all bad. And I’m always super happy whenever an author accurately portray PTSD.
The pacing was on point. Going into the labyrinth doesn’t even start until Part Two, and yet it manages not to be slow. And when the action was full-pelt most of the time in Part Two, the author still managed to fit in character development!
The plot! Maybe I enjoyed it so much in the end because of this, but what started out as completely predictable/cliche ended up being very much not. I saw the twist coming, but not in the way that it did.
Which is why I need the sequel right now!

I just finished the book and I am confused.... I was excited that in a ocean of series appeared a stand-alone book but... the ending is open, so I guess there can be a sequel in the future, what is bit frustrating because I wanted to read a standalone book.

It was a quick read, I was never bored. I liked the characters, Dex was intriguing and the labyrinth has same fascinating features....

I enjoyed this book, I got an ARC from Netgalley in excange for an honest review

The Red Labyrinth is a face pace YA dystopian book. The characters are well developed, including the minor characters. The book does a great job dealing with PTSD and how being different has its good and bad.

I will say that I enjoyed the book but my reason for giving it a 4 out of 5 is because of the fast pace. Some scenes just needed to be explored a little bit more. It felt like the author purposely skip the more details to get as much in as possible. Some of the ending I saw coming like who the leader was but not who the monster of the maze was. I also loved DEX and look forward to the next book to see what else he can do to save himself and Zadie.

Zadie is the hero of the story. She is well rounded even though at times it felt like she wasn’t. Zadie spent her entire life from the age of 6 to current being called names, being spit at, and physically or verbally assaulted. That can affect a person’s self-image. She did a wonderful job overcoming it and realizing that blanks are the ones with all the power.

I look forward to reading the next book. I was given an advance copy of the book for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this dystopian book. Makes me think of Labyrinth sort of, which is a good thing. The main character is a strong lead and I like the plot twist. Two thumbs up!

3.5 stars

A fast paced sci-fi fantasy adventure that feels a bit like Maze Runner meets Caraval - a highly enjoyable read.

Because I was anticipating to read mostly about the labyrinth and its curious inhabitant Dex, the introduction to protagonist Zadie and her world felt a bit long. Things move a little slowly and have a strong YA feel about them: Zadie, and average Blank girl, is best friends with Landon, a special Skilled boy. She realizes that she has deeper feelings for him but cannot see that he, who is adored by all the girls, feels the same way about her. Despite all this, it never felt boring to get to know Zadie and her environment.

Things get really interesting when Landon ends up in the maze and Zadie goes after him, teaming up with Dex, to save her childhood friend and love of her life. This is also the strongest part of the book. We rarely get to take a breath in the maze as Zadie and Dex constantly face new challenges. The labyrinth with its secrets is fascinating, intriguing, and a bit scary but not to the point of I-don't-think-I-can-sleep-alone-tonight-scary. I loved following these two through the labyrinth, discovering the maze's as well as each other's darkest secrets. Tate does a phenomenal job scattering hints here and there and gradually revealing the truth. This was my favorite part and loved it so much!

I was hoping for a good twist at the end and yes! We get one! I love a great wrapping up of the story that leaves me stunned and speechless with my heart beating because I can't believe it. Unfortunately, that is not what we get here although there was the potential for it. <spoiler>Alas, once the "bad guy" is confronted, he does not hesitate to reveal his scheme which feels like an information dump and is disappointing. I wish the author had taken the time to let our protagonists either gradually uncover the plans to create more suspense. I would also have enjoyed a more dramatic climax in which the protagonists find out about everything - but they should find out themselves, they shouldn't be told!</spoiler>

The final pages of the book suggest that our protagonists will need help by someone else who, inevitably, will have to enter the maze. So, I am excited to go through the labyrinth again and hopefully discover new features. I am already looking forward to the sequel.

The Red Labyrinth is set in a dystopian world, presumably many years in the future, where they have airbikes, monogamy is unheard of, homosexuality is accepted and those without powers are shunned by society. The persecution of these 'Blanks' can represent many present-day examples in real life and is well presented by the author.

Zadie appears weak on the surface and there is even one point where she acknowledges it head on(some people might not find that eases their frustration at her but it did for me). I think it's realistic how she doesn't know how to fight well seeing as she's never learnt any battle or defense skills(and come on, not every character in the world can kick ass, right?). Her strength, however, is physical and mental endurance.

Just from reading the synopsis I guessed(and hoped) it would contain a certain trope. What it is will give a small part away. Also, this story reminds me of Failsafe by Anela Deen(which I loved!)

The plot was somewhat predictable but I didn't mind as I loved reading about their journey in the maze. The mystery and danger of the maze is the highlight of this book. I'll admit the author got me once or twice despite the aforementioned predictability. There was one minor plot-hole, I think. I could be wrong. I'm curious as to what the other readers think about it.

I thought The Red Labyrinth was going to be a stand-alone. It isn't. There's at least a sequel and I'm of the opinion that the author should have made it it a stand-alone. There are only 270 pages in this book so it's perfectly possible.

If you like mazes, broody and capable guys, YA dystopian fiction, and if you enjoyed Failsafe by Anela Deen, then this is definitely your type of read! I don't want to think about the fact that this book isn't out yet, which means the next book will come out when??!

I’ve been struggling with YA books for a few years. I love them, but I can’t (few exceptions aside) seem to get into any of them. So while I still get exited whenever I see new releases, I often end up dnf-ing them or just not reading them at all. And while the plot for “Red Labyrinth” sounded great, I went into the book without real expectations.
That being said, this book surprised me because I loved it!
It was fast paced and just... interesting. In a positive way, of course! It also gave me Hunger Games vibes in the beginning (I don’t know why), which is a huge plus to me.
The main characters were likable enough. Zadie wasn’t some badass heroine without any flaws. She had her better moments, but she was also insecure and scared. And that’s okay, because people have been treating her like dirt for most of her life. Of course that messed with her head!
Dex didn’t have much of a personality yet, but he was okay.

So, yeah, this book wasn’t perfect or anything, but I really enjoyed it and people should read it...

I received an arc from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The beginning was a bit rocky with how the book was written, but as the book went on it got better! I love the premise of the book. It was a very original idea. I am definitely going to pick up the second book!

Things that were questionable about the book:
There are the obvious troupes in it, it is a YA book. Love triangle. Taking down the currently "government" or "rule" of the area. Also, I am not sure how well this book deals with the PTSD that Zadie definitely has. It is obvious how she reacts to certain aspects that she has PTSD. I feel as if her reactions are close to how PTSD actually is (though I am not sure, because I have never had PTSD nor known anybody who does).

She does grow in this book! I appreciate when a book does that.
The book is setting up for a series.

When I read the description for this book it reminded me of 'The Maze Runner' which is why I wanted to read it, but when I started reading I realized I was wrong and the only similarity is the maze/labyrinth!!! I really enjoyed the different tasks Zadie had to undertake in the labyrinth and some of those scenes were my favourite parts, I knew from the beginning Dex wasn't going to be as bad as they made him out to be, I loved seeing how his character developed and I think that he is secretly my favourite bad guy character!! Meredith did a brilliant job of misdirection because I honestly wasn't expecting some of the outcomes at the end (I don't want to give too much away). I do think it's nicely set up for a sequel which I will be looking out for.

(Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review).

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

The Red Labyrinth is a YA fantasy set to be published in June of 2019.

I loved this! I devoured this story and was left wanting more!
It is a fast paced story which I have noticed most other reviews have mentioned. Although fast paced it definitely didn’t affect the quality of the story.
The plot was enjoyable and for some reason gave me Divergent and Red Queen feelings. But the maze setting was all it’s own and original.
I thought Zadie was a likeable main character with great character development.
The plot twists at the end were surprising. I knew something was up as I continued reading but could never put my finger on what so I was pleasantly surprised at the end.
And you could definitely tell that the author and publisher are planning on another book but thats okay as I definitely want to read more!

This was a great read and I think it has the potential to be a hit for 2019!

This review has been posted on ‘The Red Labyrinth’ GoodReads page at https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39292610-the-red-labyrinth

Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a pretty good Ya fantasy novel. The author creates a world where skilled people are valued over Blanks (people without powers). Zadie is born a Blank and she gets abused and harassed for most of her life by the Skilled. She meets Landon her childhood friend and he helps her fight off some of her tormentors. When her town is sabatoged by a new Leader Zadie finds the bravery to fight her demons and rescue her town.
This is a lot like The Wizard of Oz meets The Maze Runner series where nothing is what it seems.
Awesome first novel in the series. Can't wait for the next one.

The Red Labyrinth is a fast paced and adventurous story. I liked it from the start and read it till late in the night, because I needed to know how it would all work out. I didn't know for a long time if this is a Sci-Fi story or Fantasy. As it turns out, it's both and liked the combination of magic and science. Zadie also is a cool character. Her disturbing past didn't stop her at all but she suffers from it in her silent way. I'd totally recommend this book though I had some small issues with it like the repetition of some phrases or facts I've read several times before and I wish it were mentioned somewhere that this book is likely to be the first in a series. Otherwise the ending would be completely unfinished as it ends with a new beginning even though it's not a frustrating cliffhanger. Anyway, I want to know what is going to happen next.

Wow I just finished Meredith Tate's The Red Labyrinth and I have to give it 5 stars. This book was amazing and I couldn't put it down. I was so captavated by Zadie and Dex and their journey through the labyrinth. I couldn't wait to see what awaited this duo at every turn and to see what mysteries the labyrinth had in store for them. I'm not sure if there is going to be a sequel but I sure hope so. I believe there is more story to tell and I can't wait to read it. This book is a must read and will have you flying though to get to the end.

This is such a quick, fast-paced book filled with an authoritative regime, a labyrinth full of traps, grand characters, a murderous lovely boy, a self-doubting epic badass female. It's grand. It's awesome. There's are plot twists. and you should read it.

Zadie and Dex were the best, and I loved watching them come to trust one another and how they kept saving each other, and how in the end they could never leave one another behind. I loved how much they both loved their families and how they both would have done anything for them--and that's also the thing that KILLED me.

Things skyrocketed in action towards the end and I'm still reeling from everything and now I just need the next book in this series as soon as physically possible because I will not survive otherwise.

This book description reminded me of The Maze Runner, a novel I fell head over heels for and kept me guessing, and the cover really grabbed me.

The world-building is creative, detailed, and pulled me in almost immediately. The Skilled, the Blanks, and the labyrinth housing the monster, Dex, and separating the town folk from the Creator held me spellbound. The author does a magnificent job explaining Zadie's world without an info dump. Zadie is also very likable, and has survived tragic circumstances in her past. I cringed more than once when reading about her interactions with the Warden. Landon is the stereotypical hero, and plays the role of rescuer and town hero very well. But by far, Dex is the most compelling, and multi-layered character. Honestly, if the author wrote a spin-off focusing on Dex's backstory, I'd snatch it up immediately. The story is well-paced, and the obstacles Zadie and Dex face in the labyrinth are dangerous, challenging, and, at times, heart-breaking.

Everything was going smoothly - awesome world-building, life and death circumstances, intense action - until it became very obvious that one character isn't what the reader is led to believe. That's nothing new - it goes along with good storytelling. But the revelation is meant to be a twist towards the end, and some things just didn't ring true for me with this character early in the story. In scanning other reviewer comments, it didn't seem to come as a shock to them, either.

If you're looking for an original YA dystopian/fantasy, The Red Labyrinth fits the bill nicely. Although the ending includes a cliffhanger, it wraps rather suddenly, and I'll definitely be adding the next book to my TBR.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Scrolling through Netgalley recently my eyes immediately zeroed in on the word Labyrinth. I am an enormous fan of the old Bowie fantasy film from Jim Henson, in fact I'd only watched it the week before. I only needed to skim the blurb of The Red Labyrinth to see the similarities.

-A young girl enters the labyrinth to save her best friend (instead of her brother).
-The journey is time sensitive (a week rather than 13 hours).
-A dangerous enemy is bribed into helping her reach the palace, (he's scarier than Hoggle was though that's for sure!)

Being a lover of magical tricksters I knew I had to read this. Whilst the premise can be compared as above to my beloved childhood movie, the book itself is very much it's own unique tale.
Additionally, unlike my beloved movie, the reason for and origin of the Labyrinth is given in this tale.

I found Tate to be very clever in creating enemies and obstacles encountered throughout the labyrinth that were fun to read and simultaneously poignant to the characters.
Each trap or distraction provides further insight into the characters as well as action packed entertainment.

Told in present tense from the POV of our main character Zadie, Tate gives us excellent character development for both Zadie and the protagonist Dex via their backstories.
Zadie's continuous internal battle between what she truly wants and what is morally just is wonderfully written. I connected with this MC and could hear her hope, desperation and pain in Tate's words.

One of the noticeable things I discovered in this book was the perfection of character diversity. Race and sexuality were varied throughout characters in the most natural way I've seen for a while. There was no beating you about the head to prove the inclusion, it just belonged - which is exactly how this should be approached IMO. The relationship between Chantry and Nadine especially was a beautiful touch.

The Red Labyrinth appears to end with intentions of a sequel, however I enjoyed this book as a stand alone.

Thank you to Flux and Netgalley for providing a copy for review.

This was so good! I literally read this in a handful of hours. So this book takes place in a desert town, where people are Skills (have powers) or Blanks (no powers). The Blanks are considered second class citizens at best, but more like scum. There is the Leader who likes to show up on a big screen and grace the town with water occasionally. Then there is the labyrinth. The labyrinth is a big, red, scary maze dividing the town from the palace where the leader resides. Life is not so fantastic for Zadie, who is a Blank, but her best friend Landon, the town hero is usually around to protect her. At the annual Water festival, Dex, a mysterious boy/monster who lives in the maze tries to kidnap Zadie, and all chaos breaks loose. Landon saves Zadie from Dex, but then the next day he's gone and no one remembers him. Zadie decides to brave the maze to save him.

The maze was a great setting. You wouldn't necessarily think so, but with all the traps and magical creatures it made for a really interesting background. I really enjoyed Zadie's character arc. She starts out very scared, timid, and just feels very worthless. It doesn't help that this has literally been beaten into her for most of her life. However through out the book she grows a lot. Dex is not what he seems at all, and while his character arc didn't seem as developed there were definite changes in him. The action, and the emotional growth that comes about through the different maze challenges was just really well done, and felt natural. I can honestly say that I did not see that ending coming! It was such a great cliff hanger, like I am so excited for the next book because I have a feeling it is going to be a roller coaster of a ride. I just really enjoyed the hell out of this book. It gave me some Wizard of Oz type vibes, with a smattering of Alice in Wonderland, while being its own thing.

Zadie's life is horrible. Born without any powers in a village filled with people born with, she is treated like dirt. She has to take the worse jobs and is constantly bullied by everyone. She is in love with her best friend but can't think about being with him because he has powers. One day he disappears and everyone in the village becomes brainwashed. In order to save her family, Zadie goes into the labyrinth to find their leader. The labyrinth is filled with monsters and a powerful man who can help and hinder her.

This is an exciting book and hard to put down. I knew there was more to the setting than it first seems. The reveals at the end made me want more and I'm assuming that this is going to be a series because Zadie has more work to do. She, as a character, was sympathetic and was very hard on herself. She kept thinking that she was relying on others too much but her society punishes her for protecting herself. Once in the labyrinth, she does a good amount helping herself as much as she can.

Dex is a very interesting character who also blames himself too much for things others have done to him. His relationship with Zadie was slow growing and built on trust. No insta love.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I was able to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
***
The Red Labyrinth by Meredith Tate is a story about a girl, Zadie, who is a blank living in a world where that is basically a death sentence. Blanks, people born without skills, basically think x-men like powers?, are typically cast out of the desert town Zadie is from and into the wastes. Through years of hard work from her family and best friend Landon, Zadie was able to buy her citizenship back but is still very much a second rate citizen.

Besides the danger of being a blank where the city guard even harass the blanks, inside the village things aren’t exactly safe. There is a maze between their village and the building their leader stays in. A maze that is very dangerous and houses the mysterious and deadly Dex. Many a person has gone into the maze and come out without their wits about them anymore, a skill attributed to Dex who has more rumors and assumptions about him than anything else. Dex who has been starting to wander further from the entrance of the maze to drag in blanks after him for some unknown but very feared reasons. Many people fear Dex for good reason, except Landon whose gone after those who’ve entered the maze and brought them back, mostly safe and in one piece.

When Zadie wakes up one day to find her home turned completely upside down and Landon missing she realizes she needs to enter the maze if she’s going to make things right. She teams up with Dex but what does she have to fear more, the maze and it’s many traps or Dex? Big secrets are being kept and finding them out might be worse than the lie.
******
So, wow. Interesting read. I was largely drawn to it because it’s a book published under the Flux imprint, even if its not under the Flewellyn publishing house anymore, and I’m a huge fan and have yet to be disappointed by what they release. I’m around a 3.5 rating for this book.
I think the world was interesting, but getting to things happening just seemed like it took so long and what kicked it off seemed a bit contrived I guess and considering what I learned at the ending I guess it fits.
Zadie wasn’t exactly my favorite kind of character for the most part, but as you got closer to the end her real character started to show through more and really shone. Dex was an interesting guy with a lot of motive, depth and so many secrets. Landon surprised the heck out of me, I didn’t like him much at the beginning and still didn’t really like him at the end but boy can I admire his determination to make things happen.
Also, if this book is not in fact the first in a series I’m going to go burn something very dramatically because that ending means I need answers. I will fight someone for answers.

This book was SO GOOD. Seriously. I couldn’t put it down. And when I did put it down, all I thought about was picking it back up for wanting to know what was going to happen.

Now, full disclosure, Labyrinth starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly is my favorite movie. Of all time. Ever. So I discussed with my best friend the possibility that this book was only amazing to me because I was imagining THAT world. Once you get into the labyrinth part of the story, there are “dangers untold and hardships unnumbered”… BUT… they’re different. AND THEY ARE SO GOOD. Oh my goodness. I don’t want to give any of the obstacles away but they’re so clever and so dangerous and so… elaborate.

As for the characters, I was kind of annoyed with Zadie at first as she was so helpless allll the timeeee. Someone would start picking on her and she would mentally wish for Landon to swoop in and save her. But I soon learned there was a reason we were taken through that part of her character. She had to grow. She had to learn. Being a Blank scum who was considered worthless around her town was all she knew and it came to be how she saw herself. I love where the author took her character and I enjoyed her journey up to that point.

I’ve been known to love the dark characters in books and this book was no exception, Dex was my favorite. The mystery and the way he does what he has to do no matter the cost… Maybe he’s evil but it. 😈 Let’s just go ahead and add him to my fictional boyfriend list.

This is a YA novel… BUT, that didn’t stop the author from making some brutal decisions throughout the story. I loved that aspect. Given the situation of the book and the setting, there’s no room for romanticized words or actions and the author sure doesn’t try to force them in. We get some pretty heart wrenching scenes in this book. The author really doesn’t show any mercy. For ANY character. So, prepare yourself for that. I wasn’t ready.

This was honestly such a good book but I NEED THE SECOND ONE. There’s going to be a second one… right? Meredith???