The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters / The Hunt for Dark Infinity

The 13th Reality #1-2

by James Dashner, Bryan Beus (Illustrator)

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Maze Runner comes the first two action-packed adventures of The 13th Reality series in one exciting edition!

What if every time you made a choice that had a significant consequence, a new, alternate reality was created—the life that would’ve been? What if those new Realities were in danger? What if it were up to you to save all the realities—and in turn, the entire universe?

Atticus Higginbottom, a.k.a. Tick, is living a regular life until the day a strange letter arrives in his mailbox. Postmarked from Alaska and cryptically signed with the initials “M.G.,” the letter informs Tick that dangerous—perhaps even deadly—events have been set in motion that could result in the destruction of reality itself.

Join Tick as he embarks on a series of adventures that cross time and space in the first two books of the acclaimed The 13th Reality series.

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Fiction, Adventure

1018 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

James is the author of THE MAZE RUNNER trilogy and THE 13TH REALITY series. He also published a series (beginning with A DOOR IN THE WOODS) with a small publisher several years ago. He lives and writes in the Rocky Mountains.

Reviews

[BAM doesn’t answer to her real name · Rating 2 out of 5]

Big thanks go to Sweet Cherry Publishing, James Dashner, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I️ cannot imagine at what audience this is aimed because I️ felt it was so dumbed down. The speech was so simple; the narrative seemed whipped out and never improved upon. I️ think it must be for young adolescents. They would get excited about time travel and the zany battle scenes. I️ think I️ would recommend it to about 10-12 year olds, definitely not the Maze Runner audience.

[Avery (ThePagemaster) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

The Journal of Curious Letters: 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Hunt for Dark Infinity: 4 out of 5 stars

As big as this bind up is, barely breaking 1000 pages, the story does read quicker than most 1000+ page books. The idea that this series bases itself--quantum mechanics, alternate realities--it just automatically calls for a classic.

Though I will say, these first two books, especially the first book, are slow burning and takes a while for the main plot to kick in, which can be a bit of a downer, depending on how you look at it; I thought the slow build up in the first book was needed. The first book, its plot consists of Atticus "Tick" receiving these mysterious letters from "M.G." containing riddles and clues among themselves, leading to a race against, and for, time.

With the second book, it picks up some short time after the events of the first book, with a "familiar" face trying to "help" Tick and friends.

I feel like every famous author has that book or series that no one seems to remember, or is underrated/put on the back burner, away from their most noticeable work(s). This is that to James Dashner. Worth the read, especially if you have that awakened, scientific curiosity.

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this two-in-one edition from the thrift store.

Book 1 Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Book 2 Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bobbi Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this book very much, it is full of excellent true to life emotions and suspense filled action. It is a young adult book, but I had a good time reading this well plotted story with many decisions that must be made and have to be thought through, because of the consequences of possible the wrong choices which could be and were very dire. Because so much was going on right up to the end. This book is now only half read, and now I will have to get #3 #4. If I want to find out how Atticus and his friends get on in the next editions of their adventure.

[Aristotle Blasi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Coming into this series, I had already read the Maze Runner by the same author, so I was excited to see what he had done before that. And I can safely say it was very disappointing. This series was meant for middle grade readers it seemed so not geared towards my audience which is okay but I'm still wondering how James Dashner went from this to the Maze Runner which is way better.

[Lucy Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good book. I don't usually like science fiction, but this was a very good book. Very science based.

[Dudi Dahmanto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novel pertama yg berhasil diselesaikan tahun ini, dengan hanya menghablskan waktu sehari semalam. Tak lain dan tak bukan karena libur kerja dan terbebas dari internet. Selain itu, tentu saja karena novel ini benar2 asyik. menyuguhkan petualangan seru dan alur yg sulit ditebak. Sejujurnya Harry Potter sedikit kalah dari novel ini. Itu karena novel ini dipenuhi dengan humor2 segar yg mau tidak mau membuat kita berpikir penulisnya adalah sosok terasyik jika diajak ngobrol. 3 Karakter utama novelnya mengingatkan sy pada trio Harry Potter dkk. tetapi dengan karakter yg terasa lebih nyata dan membumi. Ide ceritanya juga mengingatkan saya pada seri Bumi karya Tere Liye. Dari sudut pandang penceritaan dan ehm... selera humor, jujur sy harus berkata Mas Tere harus belajar banyak dari James Dashner. ;) peace!
Akhir kata, novel ini layak mendapat penghargaan tertinggi berupa bintang lima. Saat ini bahkan su sedang lanjut baca ke sequelnya yg terpaksa dilakukan di saat kerja dan dekat dengan internet. mudah2an situasi dan kondisi tidak merusak keasyikan novel kedua tersebut.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 13th Reality by James Dashner was the book that I was recommended to read this month by a friend. This book falls into the category of science fiction. They recommended me this book because they wanted me to read something totally out of my comfort zone. I don't usually read books out of the science fiction category so they thought it was a perfect book for me to read. They suggested this book because they found it very gripping. The book really makes you think about what will happen next and has a few suspense moments.
I rate this book a three out of five stars. I give it this rating because it was indeed a very interesting book but it really wasn't something I would've picked out. I didn't find it as fascinating as my friend who recommended me the book. The 13th reality was well done but I didn't enjoy simply because it didn't fall into the type of book genre I usually read. I like to read new things but I personally think that science fiction is not for me.

[Jaiten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. This book is about a kid named Atticus Higgenbottom. I think it is interesting that he is a kid who gets picked on at school. He is often locked in his locker and has no friends. In the end he ends up being so special and makes a huge difference in the world that he lives in. I really admired how he had the opportunity to hide things from his parents, but instead he confides and includes them in his journey. His parents are his biggest fans and they support him. I liked the message this book sends. I think it helps kids to realize that everyone has something to offer this world. We can all be heroes. My parents are always there for me and sometimes even when I think that they are going to get mad at me or be disappointed in me, my life is better when I talk to them and let them into my life. I think that anyone who wants a good fantasy book with good morals and a fun adventure should read this book.

[Clair Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atticus Higginbottom, a.k.a. Tick, is a bit of a bullied highschool nerd. One day a strange letter arrives in his mailbox. Postmarked from Alaska and cryptically signed with the initials “M.G.,” the letter informs Tick that dangerous—perhaps even deadly—events have been set in motion that could result in the destruction of reality itself.

Tick embarks on a series of adventures that cross time and space in the first two books of the acclaimed The 13th Reality series.

I enjoyed this book more than The Maze Runner. I felt it was a bit slow in parts but the faster pace bits took off, when they kicked in.

[Kyren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book because of the concept of the realities. I like this book because it is science-fiction so it has that twist in it. The first bit of the book is slow and odd but gets better. The main character (tick) you can attach to rather quickly. They read how he develops after he reads his special letter. He finds out his letter is to be recruited to save all of the alternate realities. Every decision that he has made could be different in one f those realities. So he has to try and save the other realities and the entire reality of existence itself.

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose to review this book because of an interest in author James Dashner. I enjoyed his Maze Runner books immensely and used them as choice readings in my classroom.

This book was aimed at a slightly younger audience, but I found it just as enjoyable. I would readily use this book as a librarian, teacher, or parents. As an adult reader, I also enjoyed the book myself.

I'm looking forward to the next chapter in what Dashner brings forward.

[Laura Hlad dunwoody · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really great! Full of mystery and suspense. The characters all were really interesting and fun and have great personalities!! I know if I like the Maze Runner that I would most likely like these as well and I was right! Working on the second book now....

[Tristan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keeps you on your feet and gets your mind thinking, definelty reccomend this book to readers who love science-fiction and quatum physics! Loved the plot, characters and can't wait to read the next 2 books!

[Big Shaq · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ye ye boom
Dis book great so far
wow i can rite 20000 chrctrs das a lot mo' dan twitter

[Crystal McGuire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow at start but quickly picked up and couldn't put it down.

[Matilda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hoping that this would be a situation where while the first book was not great, it was all worldbuilding culminating in a great second book. Unfortunately it wasn't that at all and the second book was exactly the same experience as the first. I am being a bit critical considering I think this book is made for someone MUCH younger - maybe 11/12 - but good writing goes a long way even when you're writing for kids.

[Katie-Faith Markham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Theoretically, every choice we make creates a new reality. The main one is the Prime reality. It is the strongest of the realities. It is almost impossible to destroy, however, there are other realities as well. Some of them are falling apart themselves. Others are being destroyed by unknown forces. Quite possibly, you could be in one of the realities that is slowly being torn apart.

Now, imagine what your life was like in 7th grade. All of the drama seemed too much to begin with, right? The only exception was if you were an introvert like Atticus Higginbottom. He would rather be called "Tick", however "Atticus" seems much more deluxe. The only attention he ever earned was when he was being shoved into his locker by the traditional ruffians. He felt as if this was how he was to spend every minute for the next 4 or 5 years. He was a nobody. That was until he received a letter in the mail. All he knew was that it was from Alaska, of all places, and that is was from someone by the title of "M.G.". Tick had a choice to "play the game" or not. If not, he would have to burn the letter. If he did want to take part in this adventure, which he knew almost nothing about, he would have to solve the clues he was given and see what happened. He would have to go through events much more intense than any bully could muster up. One more thing, he would have to find a way to explain this to his parents.
This book had multiple #relatable moments for those teenagers who need reassurance. Also, for those who are interested in Quantum Physics, this book has quite a few moments of serious science talk. Lastly, it is a fairly decent sized book with about 500 pages. In tern being a truly exceptional novel for those who are scrambling to find a decent book for a project.

[Garren Massey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book "The 13th Reality: The Journal of Curious Letters is one of the best book I have ever read. The book is a boy named Atticus, or commonly referred to as Tick, Higginbottom. Tick is a extremely intelligent boy who never fit in with other people his age, but one day he received a letter in the mail only signed 'M.G.' with a note inside with a riddle. Once he solved the mysterious riddle, he would receive another. Eventually he finds that ‘M.G.’ stands for Master George. Because of all of these riddles he goes on all kinds of adventures, finds out many strange secrets and meets a lot of new people, not always friendly. When he gets the final letter he is given the instructions to go the the graveyard near his home. Once he arrives at the cemetery he waited till midnight, and suddenly found himself in a room with multiply other teens and an old man, who reveals he is Master George, and he tells them that there are multiple realities that they didn't know existed, and there is a women named Mistress Jane who is trying to take over all of these realities and use them for evil purposes. Tick and his new friends have to travel to a different reality to try to steal an evil wand Mistress Jane plans to use to brainwash everyone into being her slaves. Tick travels to her castle and fights off her minions until he arrives to face her. He battles her, retrieves the wand, and narrowly escapes. Then Tick returned to his home to resume a normal life, or does he? Read the next book to find out.

[Kyle West · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose the book “The 13th Reality” by James Dashner because it’s genres were young-adult and science fiction which interested me. “The 13th Reality” mashes different elements from character names to the unusual writing. The plot consists of a smart boy named Tick, who gets mysterious letters from a man; who is in Alaska, sending letters to a lot of kids to hope that one would send a letter back. After the man leaves, a tall brightly but oddly dressed woman comes in the building and asks Norbert(a postman) if he had seen the previous gentlemen, although the question was avoided because it would spoil the story. Any who, the book is about saving types of realities and alternate universes as Tick, his friends, and the world are at risk because of an entity trying to take control. The 13th Reality is a mystery book within an addition of fantasy. This story contains man vs self, and man vs society, as the main character lacks self confidence but also has to concentrate on the task at hand. One meaningful quote is “Sit and rest and eat and sigh”(Dashner 741). This quote doesn’t relate to the plot but relates to me in a way of constant ongoing lethargy in real life, which I personally love. This book was very entertaining to read although it does not meet the standards of “The Maze Runner”, I would highly recommend this to anyone.

[McKay Argyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a book about a boy named Adicuks Higinbotum, Nick named Tick. He gets sent a mysterious letter asking him if he will want to receive 11 more letters and solve the clues to save the world. He starts to get the letters and then he find out that two others are getting the same letters and thy want to meet up and discus them. tick meets Sophia from France and thy solve the clues together. At the end of the clues it says that thy will save lots of people if that do what the clues say and at the end thy have to fight a lady named Mistress Jane and get her a wand from her.
for my first character is Tick. He is in the book to add a hero and the mane character. My next character is Master George he is the one that sent the letters. He is in the book to add a leader and a guy that gives advice.
The theme is in life we often think that life is hard for us but there is somebody out there that has gone thew that thing to. In the book Tick thinks that he is the only one to get the letters and he is wrong. It also could be that we often take friends for granted and don't know how much we need them until we don't have them. In the book this is done by Tick and he lost his friends and he has a relay hard time.
I think this is a good book. It could have moved a little faster. It also could have had more action and suspense. I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Jared S · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 13 Reality by James Dashner is about a boy who is very smart and starts receiving mysterious letters from a man, who in the prologue is in Alaska sending many letters to many kids, to hope that one would answer. After he leaves, a tall, evil looking woman comes and asks the postman if he had seen that man, and luckily for the sake of the whole story, he didn’t. The book is about saving the realities or alternate universes because they are at risk because of an entity who is trying to take control. The whole story after that is pretty much like a mystery book with some fantasy mixed in. This story has a particularly unsatisfying ending, but it definitely leads into part two which is also about saving the realities. I think these books are very well written and are very entertaining to read. The author uses cliffhangers and new characters in a way that makes the book seem more exciting with each turn of the page. I would recommend it to anyone who likes mystery, action, adventure or fantasy.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The time period in this book is around 2010. There are three main characters: Tick, Paul, and Sofia, A.K.A. the "realitants". Master George is the leader of the realitants, and Mothball and Rutger are his sidekicks. Reginald Chu is the antagonist and the realitants are trying to stop a plague called "Dark Infinity" from spreading into all of the realities. They have to develop a cure and get inside Chu's headquarters.

This book is about many different realities, or worlds, where everything is different, but the same people. It makes me wonder if there really are other universes. I doubt it but there is a chance where this could actually be true and that would be very cool.

I would definitely recommend this book to a classmate. This is one of my favorite series that I have read. I think people who liked the Hunger Games, Harry Potter, and Percy Jackson series would enjoy this series because I have also greatly enjoyed those series.

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Throughly enjoyed every bit of it. Sophia started out as being a little too ... Sarcastic. Tried too hard to be "joking". She grew on me though. The beginning 10-15 chapters may be a tad juvenile for some, however if you keep in mind the story is written for the current generation's middle school age, it really fits right in. Having a fabulous adventure where I could simple read and enjoy vs doing a lot of thinking while reading, was a nice change to my norm.

If you want a splendid all around just good adventure, I would definitely recommend this read. The (only) reason for the 4stars instead of 5 is simply because the dialogue starting out and intermittently throughout, could have been slightly better. Not quite so off the wall random. That said. I will most likely be re-reading in the future.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the first book in the beginning with all of the clues from M.G. and watching Tick try to figure them out. The ending of the first book was a little disappointing, but had an interesting twist that made me want to continue with the series. I loved how the second book pretty well jumped right into the action. I didn't want to stop reading once I started and I pretty much didn't. Sofia was really annoying at first, but she started to grow on me by the time I started the second book. Mothball and Rutger are awesome and hilarious. I am glad I stumbled upon these books and I can't wait to start the third one.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

The team of Tick, Paul, and Sofia are called into action to discover why people in the Realities are unexpectedly going insane and Realities are disintegrating. The teens are kidnapped and forced to decipher several riddles in order to escape from deadly traps. They learn the Mr. Chu is behind the kidnapping and the dangerous new weapon Dark Infinity. Second book in the series and ends with a setup for another installment.

[Tim Serdynski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me a while to get through both books. I had more going on than usual, but the stories just weren't "gripping" enough to keep me hooked. I did like the stories and love the characters, but in many ways, you can tell these are earlier works. Dashner's come a long way. I will be reading the second two, but not right away, like I did with the Maze Runner and Mortality Doctrine series. Just need a small break.

[Mush · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay, I will admit that I haven't finished this book... yet.
But, I already have a small critique to make.
In the first book, the sister, Kayla, was two, right?
The second book is based three months after the first book, only three months, yet Kayla is magically five years old.
How?
How do you mess up that badly.

[Charlane Lucardie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like James Dashner. Twists and turns and unexpected things happening all the time make this book a great success on to #2 and #3.

[Flora Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

review coming soon