Book Review: The Death Cure by James Dashner

The Death Cure by James Dashner

The Death Cure is the third book in the Maze Runner series. This book is all about the final showdown between Thomas and WICKED. Thomas is faced with new challenges and opportunities. WICKED has taken everything from Thomas, his family, the other Gladers and his memories. But he remembers enough to know that trusting WICKED is never a good idea.

In this book we see Thomas make some very big decisions. WICKED tells Thomas that the trials are finally over and that they have collected all the data that they can from the trials. That they will rely on the Gladers, with their full memories restored, to help them with the ultimate mission, creating a cure for the flare.

A lot happens in this book and I really don’t want to give it all away so I’ll just stop there but I have to warn you to brace yourself for some major feels…

I actually loved (and for certain reasons hated) this book. This was the last one I read in the series, as I read The Kill Order first. But I thought it was just as good as any of the others. There are so many different things going on. So many feels and the whole series was just pure genius! The good news…it’s not over there is a fifth book in the works titled The Fever Code due to be published in 2016! I CAN’T WAIT!

Recommended age:

14+

On to the ratings!

Stars..

0 = None 10 = Tons

THE FEELS:

There are some really, really emotional moments in this book…I typically don’t cry at books but I probably, kind of, totally did a little bit at this book.

8/10

Violence:

There are deaths throughout the book, fights and insane people called Cranks who want to attack Thomas and friends.

8/10

Sexual content:

A couple kisses.

1/10

Crude language:

Not many crude or profane words. The occasional “hell” or “damnit” but no major offensive language is used.

3/10

Other elements:

Thomas shoots another person point blank and it is the “victim’s” choice. Yes, there is violence but it is all pretty necessary in order for Thomas to get to his goal of escaping WICKED’s control of him.

Overall:

Overall this story was incredibly thought out and like I've said Dashner is just a genius! I loved the series and totally recommend it for anyone who liked The Murder Complex, or the Divergent series!

9/10

Xoxo

- Sarah

Book Review: The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

The Scorch Trials is book two in the Maze Runner series. The book picks up right where The Maze Runner left off with Thomas. Thomas and his friends have escaped the Maze and are now with the people who rescued them from WICKED’s lab. The rescuers tell the teens that they are safe now but are actually still with WICKED, the organization that put the teens in the Maze.  And of course, things start going wrong. Teresa goes missing from the dorms where the Gladers are staying. And things get weird. And when I say weird I really mean super creepy. There are some things that totally grossed me out in this book. And were downright weird. But I loved to see a new side of Dashner’s imagination within the same world of the Maze Runner and The Kill Order.

The theme for this book is that Thomas and his friends have to go through “phase two” of the trials, the Maze being the first phase. WICKED tells the kids that they have been infected with a virus called the Flare that will eventually make them go insane and ultimately kill them and the trials are to test them and that it's all for the greater good of the world…uhhhh….

 Anyway.. As phase two, WICKED forces Thomas and his friends to cross what is known as the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world. Once they cross they must find the “safe haven” and they have to do so in two weeks to receive the cure for the Flare. It turns out that Teresa was kidnapped while at the dorms after being “rescued” from WICKED and placed with girls from the other Maze….yeah there were two mazes. One full of boys and one full of girls. All the while, the group of girls are trying to get to the “safe haven" too. And WICKED has made sure to stack the odds against them. Without the walls of the Maze surrounding them, the Gladers are faced with insane people called Cranks, the people who are infected with the Flare. They also face lightning storms and robotic monsters. I don’t want to give anymore of the story away so I’ll stop there. This book is not for the squeamish and has some pretty gory parts but is a crucial book to read in the series! 

Recommended age:

14+

On to the ratings!

Stars..

0 = None 10 = Tons

THE FEELS:

Throughout the book Thomas deals with the grief of losing one of his friends and also has more than one love interest.

5/10

Violence:

There is violence throughout the book and one scene where bodies are hanging from a ceiling later it is revealed that they were not real bodies that they were digital images placed there. The group battles Cranks and some of WICKED’s monsters as well but the violence is all necessary in order for them to survive.

8/10

Sexual content:

Thomas kisses Teresa and Brenda tries to kiss Thomas.

1/10

Crude language:

0/10

Other elements:

Again I’ll say that it may be creepy for young kids.

Overall:

Overall I liked the book and the series quickly became one of my all-time favorites. James Dashner’s imagination is incredible and so is his style of writing. Instead of seeing it as a creepy book take a new perspective and take it as what it is…an art form and totally fictional!

8/10

Xoxo

- Sarah

Book Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner, we have all heard of it by now and especially since it has been made into a movie. Maybe you’ve heard of it through a friend, a coworker, your kid, online or even on TV. The Maze Runner has most definitely gone viral! (Pun intended for those of you who have read all four books in the series.)

This book takes place after The Kill Order and focuses on Thomas, a young man around the age of sixteen. Thomas wakes up in a dark elevator having no idea where he is or who he is or why he is in the pitch black elevator. When the elevator stops doors open from the top and sunlight pours in. At the opening of the box more boys stand looking down on him and one jumps inside the box and helps Thomas out. Thomas is scared and confused as to what is going on. When Thomas gets out of the box he takes a look around to see that he is in a large grassy area that is surrounded by enormous cement walls. He can’t remember anything at all about his past and what led to him being there. All he knows is his name. The boys who are already there tell Thomas that they call the place the Glade and that they call themselves Gladers. They also tell Thomas that for two years one boy each month has been sent up in the box just like he was. No memories, just a name. Always a boy and always one each month.

Unlike the past newcomers, Thomas is curious and asks questions about why they are all there and what the place is. Thomas finds out that they are all trapped inside of the center of a gigantic maze. He wants to know why they are there and who put them there but he has strange feelings about it all. Everyone in the Glade has a job, butchers, gardeners, builders and so on, but there is one job that Thomas is dying to have. He wants to be a runner. Everyday a group of guys called runners go out into the Maze to look for a way out. In two years they have found no such thing but Thomas wants to find the way out. The day after Thomas arrives at the Maze something unexpected and very odd happens...a girl is sent up in the box! After the girl arrives things begin to take a turn for the worse and Thomas takes it upon himself to do what no Glader has ever done before… Find the way out.

Recommended age:

11+

On to the ratings!

Stars..

0 = None 10 = Tons

THE FEELS:

There is one really emotional part at the end of the book and I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t read the book or seen the movie yet!

4.5/10

Violence:

There is violence, Thomas gets attacked by another Glader, boys are killed and some other bits here and there.

6/10

Sexual content:

None.

0/10

Crude language:

There isn't any bad or crude language to mention.

0/10

Other elements:

There are some made-up words that to some may be “slang” words but I rather enjoy the Glader lingo!

Overall:

Over all this book is really fun and very interesting James Dashner has become one of my favorite authors. This book would be great for fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent and The Murder Complex!

10/10

Xoxo

- Sarah

Book Review: The Kill Order by James Dashner

The Kill Order by James Dashner

The Kill Order is the prequel to the New York Times Bestselling book The Maze Runner. By now we are probably all familiar with The Maze Runner series or have at least heard of it since the first book’s film adaption came out on September, 19 2014. This book in particular is set thirteen years before the time of the maze (obviously that’s why I said prequel…anyway) and focuses on Mark, Trina and war vet Alec. The world had been scorched by sun flares causing most of the remaining population to be homeless.

It begins with Mark and Trina who live in a tent village. One day a Berg flies over their part of the village and strange people in green suits start shooting darts from inside of the Berg at the people below killing some and sending others into mental fits. What happens to the ones who were hit by darts and do not immediately die is that they increasingly go insane and die slow and extremely painful deaths.

Mark and his friends who aren’t showing signs of being infected (yet) set out to find out why whole villages are being targeted and killed by what is supposed to be the government only to find that it was a poorly executed plan to control the population because resources are scarce for the number of people still left after the sun flares. The virus, known as the Flare, that was created to kill has failed to do its job and is mutating causing its victims to become completely insane. They eat one, another beat one another and kill whatever moves. They're called Cranks and are totally living, breathing, heart beating versions of zombies!

This book started off slow for me but once I got into the story I became really interested in the plot and I really enjoyed it! So! For anyone who likes fun, slightly creep, post-apocalyptic books this is a good book. Also most people read prequels after finishing the others in a series but I chose to read this one first and am really glad I chose to do so!

Recommended age:

14+

On to the ratings!

Stars..

0 = None 10 = Tons

THE FEELS:

There aren’t too many emotional moments in this book that would make you cry.

3/10

Violence:

There is violence throughout the book and the whole series but it could be worse I suppose.

8/10

Sexual content:

There isn't much sexual content in the book at all. Mark and Trina kiss once that I recall.

1/10

Crude language:

There are minor cuss words used throughout the book such as “hell” or “damn” but nothing you wouldn’t normally hear on television.

4/10

Other elements:

The story deals with crazy insane people who want to eat other people’s brains and flesh. It’s pretty gross at times so this book isn't for the squeamish. It cound come off as comical though.

Overall:

Overall the book is pretty good. Especially if you have already read The Maze Runner!

7/10

Xoxo

- Sarah