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Hawk #2
City of the Dead
Hawk, the daughter of Maximum Ride, teams with her mother up to help save their beloved but dangerous city in this action-packed thriller.
For Hawk, being a hero weighs heavily on her wings.
In the City of the Dead, life happens in the shadows. That's why a war is brewing against an enemy no one can see.
Hawk and Maximum Ride never back down from a conflict, or from each other, and they argue more than they agree.
But as the dead begin to outnumber the living, a mother's experience and a daughter's instinct can make one powerful arsenal.
For Hawk, being a hero weighs heavily on her wings.
In the City of the Dead, life happens in the shadows. That's why a war is brewing against an enemy no one can see.
Hawk and Maximum Ride never back down from a conflict, or from each other, and they argue more than they agree.
But as the dead begin to outnumber the living, a mother's experience and a daughter's instinct can make one powerful arsenal.
Audiobook
First published November 29, 2021
342 people are currently reading
3188 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
982 books357k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
December 30, 2021
Well it was better than whatever Hawk was trying to do.
The ridiculous plot of rival gangs, lizard people in the woods, and a post-apocalyptic plague felt very Final Warning-MAX-FANG era of the original Maximum Ride books, which is to say it wasn't very original or compelling character wise, but more of an action packed sideshow attraction of strange events that only make sense because the entire basis of this series is, "yeah, these kids are mutants, roll with it".
That being said, trying to compare this to the original premise of the series is exactly why it only deserves two stars at absolute most, and that's also due to the fact that it was slightly more bearable than its previous book.
And now I'm going to nitpick.
The big bad is an adult scientist who tries to be trustworthy but ultimately wants to use mutants for their own gain. Where have we seen this plot before? Right, in the first 11(?) books of this series. At this point, any new plot point would be welcome.
2021 was a bold year to include a fantasy plague plot, and the less-than-subtle lines about vaccine distribution and spreading of the virus along with the fantastical racism of "mutants caused the plague" really took me out of the story because it could not be more obvious what year this was written. Maybe give it a few years?
Hawk takes more agency in her own story this time around, but the entire tagline and synopsis suggests that this book is going to be a mother-daughter action plot, when really it mainly consists of Hawk on her own adventure while Max shows up to bail her out of a sticky situation every once in a while. Fang appears in maybe three scenes to drop some sage (30-year-old) dad advice, Gazzy gets a name drop, and the rest of the Flock goes completely unmentioned. Props to the book for not depending on cameos to reel in old readers I guess, but I'm still so entirely uninterested in Hawk and her ragtag group of second generation mutants that completely missing out on Nudge, Iggy, and yes even Angel, was disappointing.
The James Patterson conglomerate (plus Mindy McGinnis this time around, apparently) forgot that there was a semi-main character named Holden [Squibb] in the original series who was not only a mutant but a member of Fang's secondary flock. A man named Holden shows up in this book and the entire time I was waiting for the reveal that he was the same character, but no. Just used the same name twice for two completely unrelated men.
Anyway, this sure was a book. I was expecting to hate it more, but it does have sprinkles of redeeming qualities so it gets a solid 2-stars and a place in the "didn't hate it as much as I thought I would" category of my brain.
The ridiculous plot of rival gangs, lizard people in the woods, and a post-apocalyptic plague felt very Final Warning-MAX-FANG era of the original Maximum Ride books, which is to say it wasn't very original or compelling character wise, but more of an action packed sideshow attraction of strange events that only make sense because the entire basis of this series is, "yeah, these kids are mutants, roll with it".
That being said, trying to compare this to the original premise of the series is exactly why it only deserves two stars at absolute most, and that's also due to the fact that it was slightly more bearable than its previous book.
And now I'm going to nitpick.
The big bad is an adult scientist who tries to be trustworthy but ultimately wants to use mutants for their own gain. Where have we seen this plot before? Right, in the first 11(?) books of this series. At this point, any new plot point would be welcome.
2021 was a bold year to include a fantasy plague plot, and the less-than-subtle lines about vaccine distribution and spreading of the virus along with the fantastical racism of "mutants caused the plague" really took me out of the story because it could not be more obvious what year this was written. Maybe give it a few years?
Hawk takes more agency in her own story this time around, but the entire tagline and synopsis suggests that this book is going to be a mother-daughter action plot, when really it mainly consists of Hawk on her own adventure while Max shows up to bail her out of a sticky situation every once in a while. Fang appears in maybe three scenes to drop some sage (30-year-old) dad advice, Gazzy gets a name drop, and the rest of the Flock goes completely unmentioned. Props to the book for not depending on cameos to reel in old readers I guess, but I'm still so entirely uninterested in Hawk and her ragtag group of second generation mutants that completely missing out on Nudge, Iggy, and yes even Angel, was disappointing.
The James Patterson conglomerate (plus Mindy McGinnis this time around, apparently) forgot that there was a semi-main character named Holden [Squibb] in the original series who was not only a mutant but a member of Fang's secondary flock. A man named Holden shows up in this book and the entire time I was waiting for the reveal that he was the same character, but no. Just used the same name twice for two completely unrelated men.
Anyway, this sure was a book. I was expecting to hate it more, but it does have sprinkles of redeeming qualities so it gets a solid 2-stars and a place in the "didn't hate it as much as I thought I would" category of my brain.
Want to read
May 19, 2021Are you saying we get another new maximum ride book???!!! And I thought Hawk was the only one?!?!?!!?! I need a minute to figure out my feelings
Want to read
December 27, 2021AHH I JUST BOUGHT A PHYSICAL COPY OF THIS BECAUSE OF THAT DAMN BARNES AND NOBLE HARDCOVER SALE
I HAVE NO REGRETS
IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS
IT BETTER BE GOOD
I HAVE NO REGRETS
IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS
IT BETTER BE GOOD
March 29, 2022
Hawk is the daughter of Maximum Ride, principal protagonist in a a 9-book series by James Patterson. Hawk is listed as book 10, but also book 1 in a new series. Although I did not read the longer series, I did start with Hawk in order to feel that I could get into this book, City of the Dead. I loved both books. In fact, now I want to go back and read the entire Maximum Ride series!
A war is imminent and Hawk does everything she can to save it, even if it means joining forces with her mother. In this exciting sequel to Hawk, the action never lets up in the endeavor to fight a deadly virus, as well as other things, including fighing dangerous enemies.
Many thanks to jimmy patterson books for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
A war is imminent and Hawk does everything she can to save it, even if it means joining forces with her mother. In this exciting sequel to Hawk, the action never lets up in the endeavor to fight a deadly virus, as well as other things, including fighing dangerous enemies.
Many thanks to jimmy patterson books for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
February 28, 2024
This is a Maximum Ride second novel in the spin off series starring Hawk, daughter of Max and Fang, written because the franchise is somewhat of a cash cow despite the abysmal quality of the writing, plot and characters.
We begin with Hawk while her parents are away "quelling unrest." Hawk hates that they won't let her accompany them citing the dangers and her age. Problem #1 is Max and Fang are idiots, I mean if you've just FINALLY reunited with your long lost (abandoned) child, shouldn't you be ... uh ... spending time with your precious child?? Not running off somewhere sending the message to your child that everything is more important than her?
Then the poor teenager who already has abandonment issues, is entrusted to represent demi-humans at leadership council meetings, where her childish tantrums, insolence and general teenage rebellious moodiness cause others not to listen to her, and she blames everyone but herself. Problem #2: Hawk decides to blindly sign some stuff she hasn't read, which is a big No-No. How stupid is that on a scale from 1 to probably Hawk will be the type of person that gives their bank account details to that Nigerian Prince from the email ...
She then gets a plum assignment from the head honcho, with sweet words, and that's all it takes for her to plunge headlong into another mess. Teen + power trip + huge ego + invincibility complex + inability to consider future consequences = recipe for huge disaster, which occurs. Instead of learning from her mistakes and admitting her faults, she plows head long into danger, harming not just herself, but her friends, parents, animal companion ...
I get that the Young Adult genre is full of teenage characters like Hawk, but all she proves is she is as bird-brained as both parents, reckless and rebellious. It's amazing they're not extinct! There's actually nothing remotely likeable about her character, so it was a horrific slog trying to finish this book. I found myself wondering what kind of readers actually enjoy reading about dumb characters making dumb decisions causing inconvenience and harm to everyone around them?
If I weren't a completionist I would give up on this series, but the best I can hope for is this is the last book in the franchise.
We begin with Hawk while her parents are away "quelling unrest." Hawk hates that they won't let her accompany them citing the dangers and her age. Problem #1 is Max and Fang are idiots, I mean if you've just FINALLY reunited with your long lost (abandoned) child, shouldn't you be ... uh ... spending time with your precious child?? Not running off somewhere sending the message to your child that everything is more important than her?
Then the poor teenager who already has abandonment issues, is entrusted to represent demi-humans at leadership council meetings, where her childish tantrums, insolence and general teenage rebellious moodiness cause others not to listen to her, and she blames everyone but herself. Problem #2: Hawk decides to blindly sign some stuff she hasn't read, which is a big No-No. How stupid is that on a scale from 1 to probably Hawk will be the type of person that gives their bank account details to that Nigerian Prince from the email ...
She then gets a plum assignment from the head honcho, with sweet words, and that's all it takes for her to plunge headlong into another mess. Teen + power trip + huge ego + invincibility complex + inability to consider future consequences = recipe for huge disaster, which occurs. Instead of learning from her mistakes and admitting her faults, she plows head long into danger, harming not just herself, but her friends, parents, animal companion ...
I get that the Young Adult genre is full of teenage characters like Hawk, but all she proves is she is as bird-brained as both parents, reckless and rebellious. It's amazing they're not extinct! There's actually nothing remotely likeable about her character, so it was a horrific slog trying to finish this book. I found myself wondering what kind of readers actually enjoy reading about dumb characters making dumb decisions causing inconvenience and harm to everyone around them?
If I weren't a completionist I would give up on this series, but the best I can hope for is this is the last book in the franchise.
November 11, 2021
The City of the Dead has changed in the months following the events of the last book. Max, Fang, and the rest of the flock are away trying to reform the prison where Max was held. Hawk is now, grudgingly, on the Council making decisions to better the city. Pietro disbanded his family's gang and trying to help the people addicted to drugs. Meanwhile, a member of the Council seeks to grab power for herself and erase past mistakes. A war between humans and hybrids is coming that starts with a deadly virus. Hawk must decide who she wants to be and whose side she's on. #Edelweiss
April 15, 2024
Tbh my biggest pet peeve of this book was that the tagline on the cover was literally max’s flock flies and fights together again. But outside of Max and Fang none of them actually were in the book, though Gazzy got a little cameo
December 1, 2021
This turned out to be a total surprise for me. As much as Maximum Ride is very close to my heart, I wasn’t expecting really anything from this book because of how the first one went - HAWK was pretty much just plain stupid, but I gave it 3 stars for the nostalgia and the appearances of the Flock. And while the beginning of this was incredibly predictable and cheesy and yeah, a little stupid - Hawk is a carbon copy of Max, Rain is a carbon copy of Angel, and the plot is literally pulled straight from the last few Maximum Ride books with not even an attempt at changing it - I found myself actually not minding the writing at all.
Plot wise, it gets a 2. This is, almost verbatim, the same exact plot as all the other Maximum Ride books, and there were no surprises. The characters get a 3. I’m still not connected to Hawk and do not care at all about any of her own band of orphans and mutants. Hawk is just Max, repeated.
However, I’m giving it 4 because like I said, the writing seems to have actually really improved since the last book, the dialogue and humor did bring me back to the original Max Ride books in a nostalgic way that I loved, and the involvement of Max and Fang in this book made my heart so damn happy. They finally seem more grown up and more mature as parents in this book, whereas they never did before, and Max finally seems like the 30-something adult she is by this point. So does Fang. They’re powerful enough on their own, combined with the writing, to actually make me not mind this book. And I can’t believe I’m saying this (I’m sure I’ll regret it later) but I’m …. Very cautiously optimistic for the next installment, if this pattern continues of each new book being better than the last. For Maximum Ride being one of my favorite series of all time (despite its flaws) this wasn’t even on my list of most anticipated releases for the year, but it turned out to be a very pleasant surprise.
I think if you’re a long time and long suffering MR fan like me and you go into it with no expectations, or at least expect it to be as bad as HAWK, you’ll actually end up not hating it all that much.
Plot wise, it gets a 2. This is, almost verbatim, the same exact plot as all the other Maximum Ride books, and there were no surprises. The characters get a 3. I’m still not connected to Hawk and do not care at all about any of her own band of orphans and mutants. Hawk is just Max, repeated.
However, I’m giving it 4 because like I said, the writing seems to have actually really improved since the last book, the dialogue and humor did bring me back to the original Max Ride books in a nostalgic way that I loved, and the involvement of Max and Fang in this book made my heart so damn happy. They finally seem more grown up and more mature as parents in this book, whereas they never did before, and Max finally seems like the 30-something adult she is by this point. So does Fang. They’re powerful enough on their own, combined with the writing, to actually make me not mind this book. And I can’t believe I’m saying this (I’m sure I’ll regret it later) but I’m …. Very cautiously optimistic for the next installment, if this pattern continues of each new book being better than the last. For Maximum Ride being one of my favorite series of all time (despite its flaws) this wasn’t even on my list of most anticipated releases for the year, but it turned out to be a very pleasant surprise.
I think if you’re a long time and long suffering MR fan like me and you go into it with no expectations, or at least expect it to be as bad as HAWK, you’ll actually end up not hating it all that much.
September 26, 2022
This is aimed more at young readers, but I enjoy an easy, adventurous read sometimes. The themes within this are very much what one expects from a book aimed at young readers: learning how to trust and when not to, learning to lean on others for help, and finding that sometimes forgiveness is the hardest, but best thing.
I like how Hawk is such a young heroine, but one that is so strong willed and fiery, as well as her companions. They challenge her to be better, even when she doesn't think she can. Pietro, like in the last book, is one of my favorite characters simply for his willingness to help anybody, as well as a desire to do good.
It was nice to return to the world of Maximum Ride, even if we only get to see her and the Flock for a small bit of the book.
4 stars
I like how Hawk is such a young heroine, but one that is so strong willed and fiery, as well as her companions. They challenge her to be better, even when she doesn't think she can. Pietro, like in the last book, is one of my favorite characters simply for his willingness to help anybody, as well as a desire to do good.
It was nice to return to the world of Maximum Ride, even if we only get to see her and the Flock for a small bit of the book.
4 stars
February 21, 2022
I absolutely love this series and their world, I hope it never ends. City of the Dead is book two in the Hawk series a spin off from the maximum ride series. All best read in order to make yourself familiar with the characters and their lives etc. An easy read, short chapters.
Again we are back with Hawk (Maximum rides daughter) but this time there is a plaque ongoing and her and her hybrid creatures are being blamed for bringing the virus to humans when that is not the case. (I do wonder where this idea came from hmmm. Maybe covid? As its his newest release? Anyway…) this soon leads to war human VS hybrids. With the help of her parents and others surely they’ll survive? Fix it? Reveal the truth? You’ll have to read it to find out. Fast paced. Page turner. War. Survival.
There’s one character in this book who started the rumour that hybrids where at fault for the virus and she is evil, nasty and wants to control the city. Did not like her at all. But with Hawk, her orphans and her parents flock coming to help surely they can beat anyone and anything together. Another brilliant read. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.
Again we are back with Hawk (Maximum rides daughter) but this time there is a plaque ongoing and her and her hybrid creatures are being blamed for bringing the virus to humans when that is not the case. (I do wonder where this idea came from hmmm. Maybe covid? As its his newest release? Anyway…) this soon leads to war human VS hybrids. With the help of her parents and others surely they’ll survive? Fix it? Reveal the truth? You’ll have to read it to find out. Fast paced. Page turner. War. Survival.
There’s one character in this book who started the rumour that hybrids where at fault for the virus and she is evil, nasty and wants to control the city. Did not like her at all. But with Hawk, her orphans and her parents flock coming to help surely they can beat anyone and anything together. Another brilliant read. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.
December 30, 2021
Hawk is back for her second installment trying to improve life in the City of the Dead. She is bored out of her mind as the hybrid representative on the Council. So, when the head councilwoman asks her to investigate some mysterious hybrids lurking in the forest, she is off in a wingbeat. Adding to the mix is a mysterious virus being attributed to the hybrids and an equally mysterious gang called the Marauders who want the hybrids for their own nefarious purposes. I did enjoy this one better than the first one. I like Moke and his mutation and Tut with his. I do feel misled by the cover blurb that promised the return of the Flock. There was barely a mention of Gazzy, Izzy, Angel, and Nudge. The authors had a very loud and pointed comment about the people in the city who refuse the vaccine. Real life enters and inspires fiction.
June 6, 2024
IM FINALLY DONE WITH THIS SERIES
December 16, 2021
Not enough fang. I mean the cover says that maximum ride’s flock takes flight again, but this was mainly just HAWK…
Izzy, Gazzy, Angel-barely “appear” mentioned really by name only and a few gazzy bombs
Fang is there for a minute and Max maybe 5 minutes (what it feels like)
Storywise-not that great
Izzy, Gazzy, Angel-barely “appear” mentioned really by name only and a few gazzy bombs
Fang is there for a minute and Max maybe 5 minutes (what it feels like)
Storywise-not that great
January 13, 2022
I’m gonna continue to pretend that Maximum Ride ended after the third book 😌
December 31, 2022
I'm convinced whoever wrote the bulk of this book didn't even bother reading the first in the series. So many continuity errors. Plus lazy pacing and a tired, used plot. Overall, a disappointment.
December 22, 2022
I enjoy these books so much.
Please please make a 3rd hawk book!!!! Keep going 🙏
Please please make a 3rd hawk book!!!! Keep going 🙏
November 1, 2023
finally finished the series. it is okay. since i only read half of the first book when i was 13/14 i thought it was like the best thing ever but now that im older it seems mid.
cry count: 0
cry count: 0
February 11, 2024
God I’m so glad this book is over. Genuinely awful. A true waste of time and paper
August 19, 2024
They tried to make me like Hawk so bad but I can't for the life of me.
April 6, 2022
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed reading this and would recommend to anyone interested in a fantasy about government corruption and Hawk, the main character, trying to reunite the city
I really enjoyed reading this and would recommend to anyone interested in a fantasy about government corruption and Hawk, the main character, trying to reunite the city
March 4, 2022
Rating: 3.5
I was really disappointed by this. We genuinely don't need books about a pandemic where a minority population gets blamed for starting the virus and it leads to hate crimes against them. That's currently reality.
I was also really disappointed to see Max, Fang, and the rest of the Flock only have minor cameos. Hawk is just really annoying in her narration, and I genuinely miss Max's teenage narration. It was funny, sarcastic, and not throwing herself a pity party any chance she got.
Parts of the book just felt like rehashes of plot lines from earlier Maximum Ride series - like the whole breeding subplot: that's been done in the series before.
Not really sure why this book had to demonize addicts either. Both this and the book before it do a great job of doing that, and it's so unnecessary and doesn't need to exist. Just stop that trope.
Plz stop writing Maximum Ride books. I absolutely love the series, but this and the book before it have genuinely butchered the series.
I was really disappointed by this. We genuinely don't need books about a pandemic where a minority population gets blamed for starting the virus and it leads to hate crimes against them. That's currently reality.
I was also really disappointed to see Max, Fang, and the rest of the Flock only have minor cameos. Hawk is just really annoying in her narration, and I genuinely miss Max's teenage narration. It was funny, sarcastic, and not throwing herself a pity party any chance she got.
Parts of the book just felt like rehashes of plot lines from earlier Maximum Ride series - like the whole breeding subplot: that's been done in the series before.
Not really sure why this book had to demonize addicts either. Both this and the book before it do a great job of doing that, and it's so unnecessary and doesn't need to exist. Just stop that trope.
Plz stop writing Maximum Ride books. I absolutely love the series, but this and the book before it have genuinely butchered the series.
December 1, 2023
"crap turds" -Hawk
ehem. i'm actually writing a whole review cause this book was so trash, my list of grievances is probably a mile long but let's start simple.
this book was obviously a cash grab definitely trying to be nostalgia bait which it was but failed in execution. there's a literal banner on the book that says maximum ride fly's again or something when they literally don't show up till like page 200 and they do ✨nothing✨ don't get me wrong I loved the original series it had me in a chokehold when i was like 13, however now? well i actually enjoyed the hawk book (scandalous I know) i thought james paterson's writing had actually improved and we got a nice little plot with *GASP* MAXIMUM RIDE ACTUALLY IN THE BOOK??? -i have my own grievances with that book but that's a different story- the point is that one actually had some sense and a semi well thought out plot with actual nostalgia in the form of sections with max's POV
Now city of dead, here's a list of grievances
1. the entire set up. your telling me the overprotective mom who would literally do anything for her daughter that she spent 10 years trying to find again after losing her ditched her and her whole crew for a side quest in fixing up some random prison?
2. plot? what plot? i had whiplash with all the random directions it went and nothing made sense
3. as was a complaint with the og books all the characters are just randomly getting powers? (ok it's not as bad as iggy only being able to see when there's nothing to see or total randomly growing wings) why was there no mention of any of this stuff in the first book? oh it's cause your coming up with it on the fly for some interest in a book that shouldn't exist? ok i see
4. why show don't tell when you can tell your reader exactly what to think? -james paterson probably. the amount of times hawk would say "cause i need action " or "just cause im stubborn" or describe exactly what was happening JAMES I KNOW BASIC READING COMPREHENSION
5. STOP REEXPLAINING STUFF- im gonna be so honest and tell you i skimmed the entire second half of the book but DUDE ok so mr tannings explains his entire plan to hawk for no reason after she got kidnapped for like the 8th time this book -so how should hawk tell the 3 different groups of people she meets afterward? oh she should explain the entire plot of the book to them? taking like 3 pages each time? only for everyone to have the same reaction? wow that sounds like fun
6. this was a total cringe fest "crap turds" hawk no. go sit in the corner and think about what you've done
7. maximum ride was hardly in this book and the rest of the flock was hardly mentioned minus a name drop of gazzy and fang just hanging around this didn't even work as nostalgia bait
there's probably a million more things i could say but i'll stop here
overall this book has no need to be written, this series had its time it overstayed its welcome even then and has been milked so dry the cow died 15 years ago when 16 year old max had a teen pregnancy after the world ended for the third time.
ehem. i'm actually writing a whole review cause this book was so trash, my list of grievances is probably a mile long but let's start simple.
this book was obviously a cash grab definitely trying to be nostalgia bait which it was but failed in execution. there's a literal banner on the book that says maximum ride fly's again or something when they literally don't show up till like page 200 and they do ✨nothing✨ don't get me wrong I loved the original series it had me in a chokehold when i was like 13, however now? well i actually enjoyed the hawk book (scandalous I know) i thought james paterson's writing had actually improved and we got a nice little plot with *GASP* MAXIMUM RIDE ACTUALLY IN THE BOOK??? -i have my own grievances with that book but that's a different story- the point is that one actually had some sense and a semi well thought out plot with actual nostalgia in the form of sections with max's POV
Now city of dead, here's a list of grievances
1. the entire set up. your telling me the overprotective mom who would literally do anything for her daughter that she spent 10 years trying to find again after losing her ditched her and her whole crew for a side quest in fixing up some random prison?
2. plot? what plot? i had whiplash with all the random directions it went and nothing made sense
3. as was a complaint with the og books all the characters are just randomly getting powers? (ok it's not as bad as iggy only being able to see when there's nothing to see or total randomly growing wings) why was there no mention of any of this stuff in the first book? oh it's cause your coming up with it on the fly for some interest in a book that shouldn't exist? ok i see
4. why show don't tell when you can tell your reader exactly what to think? -james paterson probably. the amount of times hawk would say "cause i need action " or "just cause im stubborn" or describe exactly what was happening JAMES I KNOW BASIC READING COMPREHENSION
5. STOP REEXPLAINING STUFF- im gonna be so honest and tell you i skimmed the entire second half of the book but DUDE ok so mr tannings explains his entire plan to hawk for no reason after she got kidnapped for like the 8th time this book -so how should hawk tell the 3 different groups of people she meets afterward? oh she should explain the entire plot of the book to them? taking like 3 pages each time? only for everyone to have the same reaction? wow that sounds like fun
6. this was a total cringe fest "crap turds" hawk no. go sit in the corner and think about what you've done
7. maximum ride was hardly in this book and the rest of the flock was hardly mentioned minus a name drop of gazzy and fang just hanging around this didn't even work as nostalgia bait
there's probably a million more things i could say but i'll stop here
overall this book has no need to be written, this series had its time it overstayed its welcome even then and has been milked so dry the cow died 15 years ago when 16 year old max had a teen pregnancy after the world ended for the third time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2025
For the first time ever, I have to give a book in the Maximum Ride series a rating below a 5 star. I've loved the series from the beginning, through most of the good and the bad and everything in between. Typically, it was the cast of characters that kept the series endearing throughout. The character of Hawk, does not have that same hook for me. She was good enough in the first book, and a battling a capable villain, which made it hold up as an acceptable addition to the series.
This book takes a step back on multiple counts. The villains are too convoluted, predictable, and messy. It is too much rolled into one story and it does not come together for a satisfying conclusion.
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One of the villain wants to kidnap hybrid children to turn them into breeding machines. This is extremely icky for a young adults book. This is a book about children, targeted at teens and young adults, and has old, male scientists that are excited about turning female hybrids into his personal incubators. Disgusting, and the biggest reason this book loses a star. It's lucky I didn't drop it a second star for how disgusting this is. Max and Fang are barely in this novel, the Flock are barely even mentioned, and even Hawk's friends are barely involved in anything important.
I wish I had something more positive to say, but this book truly hurt the overall franchise.
This book takes a step back on multiple counts. The villains are too convoluted, predictable, and messy. It is too much rolled into one story and it does not come together for a satisfying conclusion.
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One of the villain wants to kidnap hybrid children to turn them into breeding machines. This is extremely icky for a young adults book. This is a book about children, targeted at teens and young adults, and has old, male scientists that are excited about turning female hybrids into his personal incubators. Disgusting, and the biggest reason this book loses a star. It's lucky I didn't drop it a second star for how disgusting this is. Max and Fang are barely in this novel, the Flock are barely even mentioned, and even Hawk's friends are barely involved in anything important.
I wish I had something more positive to say, but this book truly hurt the overall franchise.
July 11, 2024
now that i’ve finished every book that has to do with Maximum Ride (including the Lake House and When the Wind Blows), i feel like these last two that are supposed to serve as a reboot of the series are just underwhelming. the first book was better than this one, i think the lack of the flock in this one just makes it less enjoyable for me.
overall this series has a special place in my heart. i think it is underrated for its themes in particular. it’s unsurprising that i was drawn to a rebel girl with wings living on the outskirts of society just trying to survive and make a found family for herself. Max is a huge influence on my name choice and life choices in general. she’s a spitfire, an anarchist, a fighter, a hero. these books honestly deal with big issues like morality (specifically in science) and climate change and i think the cheesy writing makes people overlook how important it is for younger generations to read books like these. we never want to stop trying to save the world, we unfortunately grow up and get distracted by just trying to survive, but max and her flock are always here to remind us that fighting for the greater good is always an option.
overall this series has a special place in my heart. i think it is underrated for its themes in particular. it’s unsurprising that i was drawn to a rebel girl with wings living on the outskirts of society just trying to survive and make a found family for herself. Max is a huge influence on my name choice and life choices in general. she’s a spitfire, an anarchist, a fighter, a hero. these books honestly deal with big issues like morality (specifically in science) and climate change and i think the cheesy writing makes people overlook how important it is for younger generations to read books like these. we never want to stop trying to save the world, we unfortunately grow up and get distracted by just trying to survive, but max and her flock are always here to remind us that fighting for the greater good is always an option.
March 1, 2023
JAMES. JIMMY. JIMMOTHY. JIMMIFER. Stop it.
Hawk 1 was good. But THIS?! No. The fact you thought this would be acceptable is insulting, honestly.
You just spent an entire book reuniting Max and Fang with their long lost daughter going on and on about how they were never gonna let her go and they spent forever looking for her and would never stop looking yadda yadda and they juST LEAVE HER TO GO LIBERATE A PRISON?! Nope. Not fucking buying it. I'm gonna finish the book out of spite, but just know that this plot is worse than Max, Fang, and Angel combined.
UPDATE:
I know the flock is technically supporting characters in the Hawk novels but I still find myself wanting more. I would have LOVED a few more chapters getting into the relationship between Hawk, Fang, and Max and how they’re all navigating being reunited and parenting and guilt.
There was some great moments in the book, and some nice writing, but the plot was still just bad. Please let us grownup readers get some more of the parental relationship and more nostalgic flock please!
Hawk 1 was good. But THIS?! No. The fact you thought this would be acceptable is insulting, honestly.
You just spent an entire book reuniting Max and Fang with their long lost daughter going on and on about how they were never gonna let her go and they spent forever looking for her and would never stop looking yadda yadda and they juST LEAVE HER TO GO LIBERATE A PRISON?! Nope. Not fucking buying it. I'm gonna finish the book out of spite, but just know that this plot is worse than Max, Fang, and Angel combined.
UPDATE:
I know the flock is technically supporting characters in the Hawk novels but I still find myself wanting more. I would have LOVED a few more chapters getting into the relationship between Hawk, Fang, and Max and how they’re all navigating being reunited and parenting and guilt.
There was some great moments in the book, and some nice writing, but the plot was still just bad. Please let us grownup readers get some more of the parental relationship and more nostalgic flock please!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2023
Prompts for reading challenges: subtitle, book in a series you already started, favorite author, urban fantasy, dystopian fiction, YA fiction, red cover, has a pet as a character, a found family, war that isn't WWI/WWI, survival story, refugee, science fiction, banned book, secrets, audiobook. ISBN has 1/5/0. Multiple authors, secrets, misdirection.
I enjoy the narrator for both the first book, and this second book in this new series. However, when the narrator did the voice for Tanning (sp?), one of the characters in this book, their voice went VERY low, and was difficult to hear and understand. Otherwise, the audiobook is well done. But those moments were frustrating as I had to adjust the volume up and down just so I could understand and hear what that character was saying.
I loved the Maximum Ride books (both iterations, back in the day). And I enjoyed the first book in Hawk's story. This one was just not holding my interest the way the other books did. I don't see myself bothering with a third book if the series continues. I'm glad I listened to it, but it really almost seemed like retelling the same story as the first book, just with different characters, in many ways. Bit of a letdown, honestly.
I enjoy the narrator for both the first book, and this second book in this new series. However, when the narrator did the voice for Tanning (sp?), one of the characters in this book, their voice went VERY low, and was difficult to hear and understand. Otherwise, the audiobook is well done. But those moments were frustrating as I had to adjust the volume up and down just so I could understand and hear what that character was saying.
I loved the Maximum Ride books (both iterations, back in the day). And I enjoyed the first book in Hawk's story. This one was just not holding my interest the way the other books did. I don't see myself bothering with a third book if the series continues. I'm glad I listened to it, but it really almost seemed like retelling the same story as the first book, just with different characters, in many ways. Bit of a letdown, honestly.
June 22, 2025
Hawk is back for her second installment trying to improve life in the City of the Dead. She is bored out of her mind as the hybrid representative on the Council. So, when the head councilwoman asks her to investigate some mysterious hybrids lurking in the forest, she is off in a wingbeat. Adding to the mix is a mysterious virus being attributed to the hybrids and an equally mysterious gang called the Marauders who want the hybrids for their own nefarious purposes. I did enjoy this one better than the first one. I like Moke and his mutation and Tut with his. I do feel misled by the cover blurb that promised the return of the Flock. There was barely a mention of Gazzy, Izzy, Angel, and Nudge. The authors had a very loud and pointed comment about the people in the city who refuse the vaccine. Real life enters and inspires fiction.
January 26, 2026
Good, But I Liked The First One Better
I think Hawk was better told (despite the heavy swearing), but as a sequel, this book was still pretty good. An accumulation of grievances on both sides is about to boil over, and Hawk has to team up with her parents and find a way to bridge enormous gaps before war breaks out.
I find it very, very ironic that in the Maximum Ride books, Max is highly rebellious and naturally mistrusts and thinks the worst of all adults. Now she herself is an adult with a rebellious teen.
Also, teen Max often made smart-aleck remarks of Freedom and the systems that maintained it. Now she's helping her daughter establish a similar system to help people...how the tables turn.
Call me biased, but I think the real hero of both these series is Fang...
Christa
I think Hawk was better told (despite the heavy swearing), but as a sequel, this book was still pretty good. An accumulation of grievances on both sides is about to boil over, and Hawk has to team up with her parents and find a way to bridge enormous gaps before war breaks out.
I find it very, very ironic that in the Maximum Ride books, Max is highly rebellious and naturally mistrusts and thinks the worst of all adults. Now she herself is an adult with a rebellious teen.
Also, teen Max often made smart-aleck remarks of Freedom and the systems that maintained it. Now she's helping her daughter establish a similar system to help people...how the tables turn.
Call me biased, but I think the real hero of both these series is Fang...
Christa
May 27, 2025
book 2 - I finished. That's more or less the best achievement of this book...
I don't really warmed up to Hawk, not in the first book and not in this. She's snarky, makes dumb decisions (signing stuff without reading), hasn't got a clue and still everyone looks up to her. Why?
I've also missed the flock (they seemed like a cool bunch of bird people in the first book).
Even Hawk's own mutants and friends didn't get much story time. At least the reptile hybrids were interesting but how they came to be? Embryos chucked down the sewers survived? Maybe the author heard too many stories of those alligator babies living in the sewers...
2.5 stars but worse than the first book, so rounded down to two.
I don't really warmed up to Hawk, not in the first book and not in this. She's snarky, makes dumb decisions (signing stuff without reading), hasn't got a clue and still everyone looks up to her. Why?
I've also missed the flock (they seemed like a cool bunch of bird people in the first book).
Even Hawk's own mutants and friends didn't get much story time. At least the reptile hybrids were interesting but how they came to be? Embryos chucked down the sewers survived? Maybe the author heard too many stories of those alligator babies living in the sewers...
2.5 stars but worse than the first book, so rounded down to two.
December 22, 2021
I've been reading Maximum Ride and been a huge fan for a long time. I'm one of those "let's just pretend it was a trilogy" types.
That said, City of the Dead was a huge improvement compared to the first book. Mindy McGinnis doesn't jerk us around with mini cliffhangers at the end of chapters, which is a common issue with the Maximum Ride series, Hawk book 1 also suffers from this so it was quite refreshing.
That said, the plague plot I felt was a bit poorly timed in 2021. I'm reading to escape my current situation. Reading about people getting sick and bodies piling up isn't really the best plot to be using at the moment.
That said, City of the Dead was a huge improvement compared to the first book. Mindy McGinnis doesn't jerk us around with mini cliffhangers at the end of chapters, which is a common issue with the Maximum Ride series, Hawk book 1 also suffers from this so it was quite refreshing.
That said, the plague plot I felt was a bit poorly timed in 2021. I'm reading to escape my current situation. Reading about people getting sick and bodies piling up isn't really the best plot to be using at the moment.
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