Review of The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The first book in the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series—The Maze Runner is a modern classic, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.

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 thirty 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.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner was a thrilling read, sure to delight fans of the film Labyrinth, as there is a maze to be figured out. However, there is no David Bowie, dancing, or singing, or Goblin king. But as I said, there’s a maze and a great cast of characters, which I grew to love.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner starts off with Thomas, the Main Character, riding this elevator into a new world called the Glade. He has no memory of anything. Since The Maze Runner is told in first person, I’d say the beginning is incredibly disorienting. At first it is bizarre, but if anything, it left me wanting more, I know I was on edge to find answers to the questions I had, such as why exactly was Thomas in the Glade. Why would they erase his memory?

The journey I was taken on through The Maze Runner by James Dashner was well worth my time. Every time the grievers were mentioned, I could feel my heart pound. Grievers are B.A. and incredibly scary. The pacing was excellent, The Maze Runner by James Dashner was a book I could not put down. I was curious as to what would happen to Thomas and his friends, and while the text was very teasing. You’d get a reveal of information, yet you would still want to know what’s next, so it was kind of impossible to set this book down. I like that, when a chapter leaves me wanting MORE.

The characters in The Maze Runner by James Dashner are awesome. Essentially, there’s a relatively large group of boys living on the Glade. They all play specific roles in the community and have distinct personalities. Honestly, I should confess that I want to jump Minho’s bones. Athletic, a leader, intelligent…what’s not to like? (Don’t tell my boyfriend though!) Then there was Chuck. I wanted to pet/smother/hug Chuck. He’s like that kid brother everyone seems to have, except me. He also sort of reminded me of Neville Longbottom. And obviously, Thomas was a strong character, as he grew and changed somewhat.

I am on tenterhooks for The Scorch Trials and definitely recommend this book if you enjoy dystopian fiction, and books with action!

Other Reviews of The Maze Runner by James Dashner:

This Purple Crayon
Chick Loves Lit
The Sweet Bookshelf
Presenting Lenore
Brooke Reviews

Series Order:

The Maze Runner (Book One)
The Scorch Trials (Book Two)
The Death Cure (Book Three)

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April (Books&Wine)

April is in her 30s and created Good Books And Good Wine. She works for a non-profit. April always has a book on hand. In her free time she can be found binge watching The Office with her husband and toddler, spending way too much time on Pinterest or exploring her neighborhood.

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