2.5 stars (although I might have been more kind if I hadn't read any of the previous books)
*WARNING! THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS SPOILERS!*
My suspicions that the Maximum Ride series never really recovered after Patterson’s lecture on global warming, also known as The Final Warning. Don’t get me wrong, I know the series has never been what you’d call perfect, what with its gaping potholes that are so big it’s a wonder Max and the rest of the flock don’t fall into them and discover Wonderland and the fact that any attempt at plot has already been one hundred times, fifty in the Maximum Ride series alone. No, I know this, but the characters’ colourful personalities and witty dialogue always made up for it - until now, that is. I was hopeful the series was starting to improve again after reading Max, despite the dire plot. (I mean, any self respecting science fiction fan - and me - will have heard the whole “mutants-caused-by-companies-dumping-radioactive waste” thing a thousand times.) Sadly, I was wrong.
Fang has a gripping blurb, which falsely leads to the reader to think they’re in for a real treat, with the unthinkable possibility of Fang dying. I know for me it felt like I was revisiting an old friend as I excitedly settled down to read 336 pages devoted to my favourite character. However, the flock’s latest exploits unfortunately fail to live up to expectations. Maybe I’m starting to grow out of the series, and have become one of those grumpy, killjoy, “what’s fun?” people, who I’m always complaining about. But as Stefan said to Damon in The Vampire Diaries, “I liked you a lot better when you hated everyone”. Although in this case, “I liked you a lot better when you weren’t all bothered about saving the world”. I miss the old flock, the fugitives as opposed to “the protectors” which sparks of memories of some sinister government agency. Back then, the flock had a lot more spunk and attitude - oh, how I miss those days, when the flock weren’t spoilt and had to actually fend for themselves as opposed to having a nice doctor baking cookies for them.
Let’s start with the main thing that bugged me: Patterson has ruined my favourite character. I knew the whole love hate relationship and sexual - well, about as sexual as is allowed for a children’s book - tension bubbling between Max and Fang couldn’t last forever, but ever since Max gave in to Fang’s advances, he’s become a real sop - hell, he’s even started talking! - and it’s no wonder the loved up couple get voted out of the flock. I mean, what with Fang’s letter where he suddenly started pouring out his emotions? I believe you need to look up the word “subtly” in a dictionary, Mr Patterson, and add to your limited vocabulary.
And as for Fang’s “rival” Dylan, Max perfect match? Well, has Dr Hans actually bothered to read the previous Maximum Ride books? Seriously, because he had, then he would know that Dylan is in no way perfect for Max. He’s far too tween-heart-throb-ish. It doesn’t help that Patterson has neglected to create any sort of chemistry between them whatsoever.
There are some nice scenes throughout the book - the flock exchanging presents is particularly touching - but it seems more like a sketch show than an actual story, as the plot lurches drunkenly from one fight scene to the next Sure, there a few shocks - Dylan attempting to kill himself, the prospect of Iggy being able to see again, and Fang leaving. But these are all quickly followed by let downs: Dylan survives, Iggy never gets the chance to see again as it is never followed up, and Fang is found again, and this makes his second (final?) departure not as thrilling as we’ve already been there before. Speaking of rehashes… Patterson has gotten lazy, and has seemingly referred to past books for ideas - we’ve seen the Erasers before and the flock have already been spilt up. Oh, and Fang messes up his death. I’m guessing this was supposed to be one of the great twists of the story, a real tragedy, but Patterson doesn’t execute it with enough emotion, and so it doesn’t come as a real shock. And Fang can’t even stay dead! What’s up with that?
Verdict: Fang had great potential, but is a barrel of missed opportunities, as opposed to the usual barrel of laughs Patterson provides us with. It lacks the punch of the earlier Maximum Ride books and also any real laughs - although Fang’s pros and cons list provides some much needed humour, it seems to have come out of nowhere, and it was a big mistake taking Total out of the scene.
