Review - The Kill Order by James Dashner

The prequel to the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series.

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.

Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive.

Reading The Kill Order by James Dashner was interesting. I expected more like the other books in the series but was pleasantly surprised that I liked how completely different it was. I was also pleasantly surprised that even though I'd gotten so used to reading about Thomas and Newt and Minho and the rest of the crew, I didn't miss them at all going through this story.

The sun flares have come and damaged much of the earth. If the heat didn't kill you then more than likely the flooding would have. Still, there are always a few who survive. But not without the help of others. Mark and Trina were lucky when they ran in to the old bear of a military retiree, Alec. The trio, along with several others, set up sort of a little village in the mountains where they've been surviving since escaping after the sun flares and flooding.

One day, though, the Bergs arrive. And start firing darts at people from the sky. Not just any dart... but darts that we find out are full of a virus that makes you feel like you've got bugs crawling around in your brain. Ick. Some it affects immediately, some take a little bit longer to fall ill. But eventually... everyone is going to succumb.

Mark, Trina, Alec and co. travel out in search of answers and stumble across a lot more than they bargained for. Including a little girl they take under their protection. And then everything goes wrong. Some of their group is taken. Mark and Alec learn that they're infected and don't have much time. They need to rescue their friends and get them somewhere safe before they, too, fall to The Flare.

I will say, again, as with the other three novels in the series, I thought I had figured a certain character out. But I hadn't. Thought that maybe what he was going through was simply a figment of his own imagination.... I hate being wrong. Although I'm not sure why I expect any different when it comes to these books. I haven't been right about any of them.

I really liked reading this. I won't say I enjoyed it, because how can you enjoy a book with the subject matter being what it is. But it was a good read. It was full of action and excitement (maybe just a little TOO much action for poor Mark).

My favorite character would have to have been Alec. He was a secondary character to Mark, but he was fantastic. He was their rock. The one who could hold everything together when it all threatened to fall apart. The one you could always count on to get you out of a tight spot. Even if he wasn't quite sure how he'd accomplish it.

I loved reading the flashbacks as well. You get a better glimpse in to Mark's and Alec's character. I do believe that they're really the only characters in the story who are fleshed out enough to really invest in their outcome. I felt sorry for Trina, and DeeDee, and Alanna, etc... but losing or almost losing them didn't really bother me. For me it was all Mark and Alec. But mostly Alec, if I'm being completely honest.

The twist there at the end was something I DID expect (yay me! one right finally) about 3/4 of the way through the book. So I was super glad when it came out how I'd thought it would.

I've read through a lot of reviews on this novel and a lot of people seem to be disappointed in it. They thought they'd be getting more of Thomas and Teresa and co. But really? You can't judge a book based on expectations like that. If they'd read the back of the book or even past the prologue it would have been completely evident from the start. And I will say that I vehemently disagree with all the negative reviews that are based SOLELY on the lack of Thomas and his friends.

I would recommend this if you've read the Maze Runner series. But I would warn you that if you're just reading it to get answers to questions the other three books have raised... don't. If you want more of Thomas (even if it's just a little bit) read Thomas's First Memory of the Flare. Just go in to this expecting action and a bit of heartache and you'll be fine.

Review - The Death Cure by James Dashner

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.

Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

I'm sure The Death Cure by James Dashner picks up right where The Scorch Trials leaves off, but I read these books all so fast and in succession that they kind of run together for me.

Again... I found myself trying to predict what was going to happen but falling utterly short. MAYBE Rat Man just told them some of these things to see what their reaction would be. NOT because they were actually true. Right?

Ha. Ha. Ha.

That was the author laughing at me. Again.

Thomas and company have escaped from WICKED's facilities only to find themselves in worse shape than when they left. They're in a city where everyone has the Flare. And if you don't, if you're immune like Thomas and his friends are, there are bounty hunters out looking for you. Not to mention WICKED is still on their tails trying to complete their "blueprint" so they can finally find a cure for The Flare.

I've browsed through reviews on Goodreads and it seems that there is no middle ground when it comes to this book. Either you REALLY liked it or you hated it completely. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

This one was definitely sad. We lose Newt to the Flare and Teresa because she saved Thomas. I have to be honest, after Teresa betrayed Thomas I harbored no love for her, but she redeemed herself there in the end. But what a horrible way to go. Newt, was the one I was hoping was not REALLY going to die, but was just told he had The Flare to see how he reacted to it. Like I said, I fail miserably at trying to predict ANYTHING in this book.

Gally makes another appearance here. Surprise surprise. I'm not really sure what purpose he played other than to guide Thomas, Minho etc, to the resistance who were trying to take over WICKED.

Ah, a resistance. I was hoping for righteous anger. For people who were going to take over WICKED and use the knowledge that WICKED had gained (however horribly) to FINALLY develop some kind of vaccine or treatment for this killer disease. But NO. Dangit. It was revenge they were after really, and rightly so. But disappointing still.

I liked this book. I wasn't AS in to it as the other three, although it was still a good read. I was hoping for everything to kind of tie together there at the end, but, true to form (at least for this particular series), nothing is as it seems. Ever. Just because you get an answer doesn't mean it's the right one or the one that you were supposed to have. Just because it ends for you doesn't mean it's ending for anyone else. Just because it LOOKS like someone is going to help you, doesn't mean they really are.

Crap.

If you've read through book two, you have to finish the series out. I mean, seriously. How can you just leave it at two? You've come this far. Go on.... read book three.

Review - The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner picks up right where The Maze Runner left off.

The boys and Teresa have been rescued and taken to a place where, hopefully, they'll be able to prepare to live regular lives and try and find the loved ones they left behind and forgot. Thomas and Teresa can discover just exactly what part they played in all of this and everyone can go about their business.

But that's not what happens.

Their rescue was just another "variable" in WICKEDs quest to completely torture these poor guys (and Teresa). Shoot, life in the Glade was a piece of cake compared to what they're up against now. Bodies hanging from the ceiling, silver globs of gel that eat your face and decapitate you, the worst thunderstorms ever imaginable, air so hot and dry you can barely breathe.... and to put the icing on the cake, Cranks. People who once were normal, just like you and me, who have been taken over by The Flare and have forgotten themselves in their insanity and will now do whatever it takes to take from YOU whatever they want.

Body parts included.

Teresa is gone and the boys have found out that they aren't the ONLY group of people who were implanted in to a Maze. Only, the other group is all girls, save on boy. Who seems to have taken Teresa's place. And it seems their purpose is to kill Thomas.

You don't know who you can trust in this book. You don't know if they're saying the thing they say or doing the things they do because they want to, or because they're being forced to. Someone is lying, but you don't know if it's to you or to the others. There's no way to tell for sure. It's incredibly confusing and frustrating.

There are a few new characters introduced. Jorge and Brenda. Jorge got under my skin right at the beginning, but I believe that was his purpose. And Brenda seemed to be able to hold her own and seemed genuinely friendly and helpful for Thomas.

Some of the scenes in this book could have been straight out of a horror movie. The kind that haunts little kids in the middle of the night, ya know? It didn't take much to imagine things playing out in my head as I read them in the book.  Seriously disturbing the kind of imagery a story like this inspires.

Every time I thought I had this book figured out, it basically laughed in my face and told me I was wrong. After a while, I stopped trying. I stopped trying to predict what was going to happen at the end or guess what a character was really thinking because it always ended up being the complete opposite. Go figure.

If you read the first book, you have to read this one. I think I take back what I said about it being ok for younger readers... some of the things in this book are DEFINITELY not for younger readers. I mean, they were hard for ME to read. But if you got through book one, definitely grab book two. But be prepared to have more questions than answers at the end of it all!

Review - The Maze Runner by James Dashner

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade-a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up-the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

I went out and bought The Maze Runner by James Dashner on a recommendation from a couple of different friends. One, who urged me to read it a LONG time ago. And one just recently. I'd been looking for another series to jump in to so I thought why not.

I was definitely not disappointed with The Maze Runner.

Thomas is just kind of dumped (or lifted, as it were) in to this brand new life style where he remembers absolutely nothing but his name. No friends, but apparently already an enemy, though he can't figure out why.

He doesn't know what's going on or what he's supposed to do and no one is too keen to tell him.

He's forced to accept this new existence in a place completely alien to him while he deals with trying to fit in, trying NOT to get killed every time he sets foot in The Maze, and trying to figure out what he's forgetting... and who the girl is who came up after him. Something is knocking at the back door to his memories but he can't quite unlock it and open it to see what he's missing.

This is an interesting book. The language really stuck out to me from the get go. Cussing without cussing (ha!) so it's safe for young-ish readers as well. Words like klunk and shank are part of their normal vocabulary and klunk is really the only one explained so it's pretty much left up to your imagination what you think the others might be.

I was frustrated for Thomas. Brought up in to this new place with absolutely zero idea who he is and what's going on. And no one wants to clue him in. I mean, can you imagine how upsetting that would be? To be desperate for answers but not given any? Especially when Teresa comes up after him and all of the sudden he's in the spotlight because things are different now. So obviously he MUST know what's going on.

He showed his stuff pretty early on. Being terrified and yet still having the juevos to do some of the things that he'd done, despite the rules.

I liked Newt and Minho from the beginning. They were likeable and seemed pretty easy to get along with. It didn't matter that there were a few hiccups in their party, they did what needed to be done when it needed to be done and generally didn't let emotion or judgement rule their actions.

The grievers were disgusting. Mostly because I couldn't quite solidify a picture of them in my head, so the ones I came up with were just... globs of gross. The noises they made and the things that they did to those poor boys, though, was all too easy to picture thanks to the details given by the author.

Although far from a utopian society, the boys in the Glade and the Grievers kind of remind me of the Eloi and the Morlocks from The Time Machine. The boys each have a specific job that they work at to make sure the Glade runs smoothly, but just outside the walls of the Glade are creatures that will end their world just as quickly as it began.

After you get past the first couple of chapters, the book really picks up. It's full of action and suspense and it's a really good story to jump in to. There are some wicked plot twists at the end that will throw you for a loop but have no fear... it picks right back up in book 2!

Like I said before, because of the language in this book, I'd recommend this, really to anyone. It may take a bit to understand exactly what's going on, but young and old readers alike can enjoy this one!