The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner #2) by James Dashner

Genre: action, science fiction
Series and Book #: Maze Runner Trilogy #2
Pages: 360
Synopsis:

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 done 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?

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The Maze Runner was very action-packed and creepy, playing with peoples fears of things unseen and monsters. But The Scorch Trials focused on different fears--sickness and betrayal. This was more psycological than anything else. Thomas has to figure out who wants him dead, who to trust, and what kind of dangers are lurking in dark corners in the Crank town of the Scorch.

James did another amazing job of describing everything with detail. From the Cranks, to the dilapidated buildings and the concotions of WICKED, he didn't waste words. Thomas's expieriences (some good, some not so good) were told in depth. I loved that. It made the novel very 3D.

Overall, this was a great sequel to The Maze Runner. I wish there had been more action than there really was. The Gladers were mostly trying to survive obstacles that weren't as scary as a huge, unsolvable Maze crawling with Grievers. I also felt as if WICKED wasn't made out to be the bad guy in this novel as much as it was in The Maze Runner. There really was nothing that suggested their presence in the Scorch. But the trip it took my mind on...wow. James definetly upped the ante, and I am intrigued to see what he comes up with in The Death Cure.

The Cover: Again it connects to the book really well. It combines everything that happens in the novel.

The Maze Runner (Maze Runner #1) by James Dashner

Genre: action, science fiction
Series and Book #: Maze Runner Trilogy #1
Pages: 374
Synopsis:

Everything is going to change….

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. He has no recollection of his parents, his home, or how he got where he is. His memory is empty.

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 expanse enclosed 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, for as long as anyone can remember, the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night, for just as long, they’ve closed tight. Every thirty days a new boy is delivered in the lift. And no one wants to be stuck in the Maze after dark.

The Gladers were expecting Thomas’s arrival. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl ever to arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. The Gladers have always been convinced that if they can solve the maze that surrounds the Glade, they might find their way home…wherever that may be. But it’s looking more and more as if the Maze is unsolvable.

And something about the girl’s arrival is starting to make Thomas feel different. Something is telling him that he just might have some answers—if he can only find a way to retrieve the dark secrets locked within his own mind.

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This was such an amazing, creepy, mysterious book. James was able to make the mysteries behind the Maze come to light just as a different revelation had become tired. Thomas was a great character, with a mix of courage, leadership, and insanity. He took risks that others didn't, leading him to unusual circumstances. He also thought out-of-the-box, which I always appreciate in MCs.

The Maze was a perfectly described place. I caught on to the ways of the Glade fast, and it was a very vivid place in my imagination. James described the scenery, Grievers, and living conditions with detail. I liked that most about this book. James didn't leave a scene with more questions than answers; instead he had balance.

I especially liked all the chaos when Teresa came into the Maze and triggered the end. That's when most of the action took place, because she was unconscious and unable to answer questions while life in the Maze fell apart.

Overall, this is definitely a trilogy not worth missing, especially if you're looking for a perfect creepy, post-apocalyptic read. I was amazed by all the connections made. Usually in novels like this, I put the pieces together before the MC, which always bothers me because I feel like then the author's been making too many questions and providing too many answers. But James took my attention off of one question long enough for me to focusing on answering that question while he continues to answer the previous question (if that made any sense). Just an amazing, colorful read.

The Cover: LOVE THE CONNECTION TO THE STORY! The visual of the Doors is great.