I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner Series: Maze Runner #2
Also in this series: The Maze Runner
Also by this author: The Maze Runner
Published by Random House LLC on 2011
Pages: 361
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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The Scorch Trials picks up where The Maze Runner left off. The Gladers have escaped the Maze, but now they face an even more treacherous challenge on the open roads of a devastated planet.And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.Can Thomas survive in such a violent world?
The Scorch Trials by James Dashner takes place immediately after the end of The Maze Runner. The boys plus Theresa have made it out of the maze, and must now compete in another challenge known as the Scorch Trials. As you may remember, the Earth dealt with this thing called the Flare, which I think has something to do with the Sun going nuts. As a result of the Flare, people caught this disease called Crank, in which you eventually lose your cognitive reasoning and go nuts. Anyways, the Gladers are all injected with the Crank and told they must go due North 100 miles in two weeks, or else they all die, because W.I.C.K.E.D. is going to throw some crazy things their way.
What can I say? The Scorch Trials by James Dashner was a fast-paced book. It was one of those rare reads which left me breathless. I always felt as though it was one thing after another. Poor Thomas, our main character just can’t catch a break, seeing as how the fate of humans seems to rest upon his shoulders as well as the other Gladers. I mean, you would think after escaping the Glade, he would be able to indulge in some R and R time, but that’s not how W.I.C.K.E.D. rolls.
As much as I enjoyed The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, a few things did not work for me. I am still wondering what the deal with Theresa is? I’m as confused by that in The Scorch Trials as I was during the Maze Runner, and I thought maybe there would have been a little clarification, but unfortunately there was not. I mean, I finished this book more confused about the series than I was with the first book. Granted, yes I will keep reading, and I did like it overall, I just want to be able to understand what the heck is going on. Furthermore, as a character, I liked Thomas, but I feel as though I don’t have a strong sense of him at all. I don’t exactly understand all of his motivations. However, what is lacking in character development is made up in plot twists and turns.
As I said before, the plot of The Scorch Trials by James Dashner is like a roller coaster ride, you think you are coasting, but turns out, you are about to get dropped down a huge hill or do some corkscrews. That’s how nuts this is. I also quite like the interaction between the Gladers. Nothing like a bit of camaraderie sprung from a shared horrific experience. I suppose, I admire that a lot of them still use humor in the face of so much crap, because that is what they receive. CRAP. Crap from W.I.C.K.E.D. about how they will help save mankind if they pass. This is something I think kids will think about. How adults sometimes use children for their own ends. There’s a few good ethics discussion to be had. Finally, I want to end on a note of YAY as there is more Minho in this book and he is totally my favorite Asian Sensation EVARR.
Other Reviews of The Scorch Trials by James Dashner:
Ticket To Anywhere
DeRaps Reads
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Great review! I was obsessed with the Maze Runner and can’t wait for this one. I felt was MR was fast paced and left me in a whirlwind with so many questions. I’m glad to hear that the sequel was just as good!
I just finished this book day before yesterday and really enjoyed it. I thought it was even better than the first which I quite liked as well. You make a good point about being confused about people’s true intentions, but that actually made it more interesting for me. Usually I’d be less inclined to enjoy it but the way Dashner wrote it made it fun and interesting.
The cliffhanger ending was tremendous…ugh, a whole year to wait! Gail mentioned she’d heard there will be no ARC’s of the final book either (which doesn’t shock).
I’ve heard of The Mazerunner, but I’ve never read it. Your review is awesome – the books just don’t speak to me. 🙂
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AGGGHH!!! I really need to go and get this one and put all the other books on hold. Love your review now I’m even more anxious to get it. =D
I’ve been wanting to read The Maze Runner all year. I just haven’t been able to get to it yet.
Thats a bummer that there isn’t more character development in this one. I thought the characters were a little flat in The Maze Runner but I hoped they would get better once they found out about some truth to their past. Apparently not. Oh well. YAY for Minho! So glad to hear he is in this more. Go Asians! 🙂
The disease was called the flare!!