In general I do not enjoy James Patterson novels as I find them predictable and formulaic but for some reason I quite enjoy the Maximum Ride series. I found the characters to be interesting and I found the story to be fascinating. I liked how it was fantastical but also believable enough that it felt like the vents could maybe actually happen. The writing style is very readable if a bit simplistic. ( )

I was annoyed by Max a lot in this book with all her moping and whining about which boy to choose. The plot seemed to come secondary to that, but it seemed to me that the plot, the end of the world and taking care of her flock, should have been much more important to her. ( )

This book wasn't as fantastic as the others.
I don't like how they erased Fang from the story so fast and threw in Dylan to "replace" him so quickly.
Max needs to get a hold of herself and try to be a little independent.
I'm probably just salty because I miss her and Fang hanging out.
I'm still gonna finish the series and I hope things turn out alright for the flock in the end. (Wishing on a star Dylan dies too! ha) ( )

Another Maximum Ride book that walks a thin line; I jump from seeing flashes of the series I adore to things I just can't, in good conscience as a reader, accept without some irritation. Still, my love for this series and these characters won out.

Things seem to be finally coming to a head; after so many egotistic scientists and tyrants having it in for the Flock, an immense movement called the Doomsday Group seems to be setting its sights on the whole world. The Doomsday Group believes that the only way to save the planet is to wipe out humanity and leave the world free for genetically enhanced creations. And they're not afraid to use creepy brainwashing techniques to do it.

So of course Max, with her mandate to save the world, sees this as what may finally be the big battle. Never mind that she's still torn over losing Fang, especially now that he seems to be gathering his own gang of mutants and doing fine without her. Never mind that Dylan is getting annoyingly likable, trying to fill the gap Fang has left. Never mind that Angel may or may not be going back to her old, non-backstabbing self.

As in the last couple of books, things like pacing and development noticeably suffer, and the plot sort of does as a result. Patterson's brisk, movie-ish, action-focused style leaves little room for nuance, buildup, or explanation, which worked pretty excellent in the first three books, but not so much when we're up to Book 7. Max's angsting was likewise sometimes annoying, although I have to admit her fights with Fang were pretty realistic in a teenage-y sort of way. But the characters are still mostly themselves, and glimpses of the amazing, laugh-out-loud people I grew to love still show through.

I will always love this series in an "I know it's not really that great writing-wise, but darn it I still like it" way, but even I can admit it's a good thing Patterson has recognized when to stop and will release the last Maximum Ride book next year. I hope that he'll find a way to give a satisfying conclusion to the Flock I love, and not make me sorry he didn't stop after the amazing third book, as perhaps he should have. ( )

I had to give this one 3 stars because I hate the fact that Max and Fang are separated and I hate the fact that Patterson have both max and fang throwing dylan and maya in each othets faces. I just hate hate hate the way this series is ending up as, the end of the world sure I can handle that, but max and fang not together that's just bullshit and needs to be rectified.

another member is her review haf stated to Patterson to get them back together ifnot for himself but for his readers who have followed these two since the beginning of it all.

I feel I was robbed of the potential of their relationship by a couple of clones. you're joking right?!?!?!?
let the clones have each other its not like dylan would be losing out after all, I mean maya us max II after all.

angel in the last book will either be the ultimate hero or ultimate villain, from knowing throughout this series I'm going towards the ultimate villain route.


I just hope patterson won't do us wrong by keeping fang and max apart. ( )