Skip to main content

'The Maze Runner' by James Dashner series review







'The maze runner' is a trilogy written by James Dashner (as you can actually see up there,but I felt like repeating).The three books in the series are:The Maze Runner,The Scorch Trials and The Death Cure.This is a dystopian series,not one of my absolute favourites,but a pretty great one.
First of all,let's discuss the plot a little bit.In the beginning of the first book we are introduced to Thomas,the main character,who has absolutely no memory except for the one of his name.He is sent through a box to an unknown camp-like place (referred to as "the Glad") situated in the middle of a gigantic maze.The entire group there is formed of several teenager boys,each having a specific role in the Glade's society,from cooking,cleaning or cutting animals,to what might be the most important group,the Runners.They have to explore the Maze whenever the stone walls move,forming a giant gate,so that they can look for an escape from the terrible maze and it's dangers.Once Thomas joing their little society,obviously,things start to get much messier than they ever did in the two years kids have been sent to the Glade,the danger represented by hideous creatures inhabiting the Maze named Grivers is bigger than ever and the boys need to find a way out.While this first book follows the characters' journey of escaping the Maze,the next few books focus more on the outside world and the dangers found there,especially a virus called 'the Flare' which is basically eating people's brains.Also predictibly,this has no cure.Going deeper into the plot of the last two books might spoil the first one,so I won't do that.
Let's talk about the high points of it.Unlike many of today's dystopians that follow strong female protagonists,Jashner throws it back to the old school action male protagonist.As a feminist,I love reading about female maine characters,but I thought that using a male one brought the book more of an original feel to begin with.Also,thankfully,the books' highest point in my opinion is the lack of romance(despite the ending of the last one).There literally isn't any time for falling in love when the world is ending,which Dashner really understood and avoided,despite having a double oportunity to introduce that,with both Teresa and Brenda being possible love interests for Thomas.Instead,he decides to focus on friendship,the friendship developed between the Gladers before Thomas even came there,the friendship between the girls in group B,the one between Aris,Teresa and Thomas before the Maze or the one that we can see forming between Newt,Minho and Thomas throughout the first book and developing beautifully throughout the next ones(which has become one of my favourite brOTPs of all time) and also the one between Thomas and Chuck,which is one of the best elements from the first book.I genuinely loved how these friendships managed to develop while trying to achieve the common goal,which was surviving.
However,obvsiouly,the book had it's low points,which made the series a turn down for a lot of people.Happily,I didn't mind them as much,they were a bit frustrating at times,but nothing I couldn't handle.The first one would have to be Thomas.Despite the idea of a male protagonist was something I was looking forward to,his character wasn't exactly the best built,I especially found him annoying in the second book,but there are many other characters you can look to and enjoy reading about(my personal favourites being Minho and Newt).The second really big thing I disliked was the slang,I realise that the language the characters used was important in shaping them as individuals and their society,but it was quite annoying to read about at times,so there's that.
All things considered,the book series is pretty good,I gave the books pretty high ratings,so in order of my least to most favourite here they are:The Scorch Trials,The Death Cure,The Maze Runner,although many people actually find the second one the best.
Also,I really want to read the prequel soon,which is called 'The Kill Order' and shows a bit more of the world and the flare and all of that before the Maze was created.
Give this a try.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The sequel of my dreams? // MONSTROUS DESIGN blog tour

  I was lucky enough to be part of the blog tour for the first book in the series , Dangerous Remedy , last year and it's fair to say these characters have been, as is their way, living rentfree in my mind ever since. Not only was the first book such a fantastic read, it ended on a cliffhanger promising many more adventures to come, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second installment in this series. Thus, I shall share with you all things Monstrous Design  so that you can join in my excitement! Synopsis:  Following the thrills and spills of Dangerous Remedy, the Battalion of the Dead return in a dazzling new adventure, set amid the opulence and squalour of 18th-century London and Paris. 1794, London: Camille and Al are desperately hunting Olympe's kidnapper. From the glamorous excesses of the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens to the city's seedy underbelly, they are caught in a dangerous game of lies and deceit. And a terrible new enemy lies in wait with designs more m...
Post a Comment
Read more

YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN // book review

YOU SHOULD SEE ME IN A CROWN BY LEAH JOHNSON ★★★★★ CW: anxiety, panic attacks, mentions of death of a loved one, illness of loved one, homophobia (challenged) & outing    Synopsis:      Liz Lighty has always believed she's too black, too poor, too awkward to shine in her small, rich, prom-obsessed midwestern town. But it's okay -- Liz has a plan that will get her out of Campbell, Indiana, forever: attend the uber-elite Pennington College, play in their world-famous orchestra, and become a doctor.       But when the financial aid she was counting on unexpectedly falls through, Liz's plans come crashing down . . . until she's reminded of her school's scholarship for prom king and queen. There's nothing Liz wants to do less than endure a gauntlet of social media trolls, catty competitors, and humiliating public events, but despite her devastating fear of the spotlight she's willing to do whatever it takes to get to Pennington.   ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Gods, monsters and ugly sea fish - Frances Hardinge's DEEPLIGHT

Rating:  ★★★.75 / 5 Plot: For centuries the gods of the Undersea ruled the islands of the Myriad through awe and terror: they were very real, and very dangerous. Sacrifices were hurled into the waters to appease them, and every boat was painted with pleading eyes to entreat their mercy. They were served, feared and adored. Then, thirty years ago, the gods rose up in madness and tore each other apart. Now, none remain. The islands have recovered and the people have patched their battered ships and moved on. On one of these islands live Hark and his best friend Jelt. To them, the gods are nothing but a collection of valuable scraps to be scavenged from the ocean and sold. But now something is pulsing beneath the waves, calling to someone brave enough to retrieve it. Review: The more I think about this book, the more in awe I am even though it's been a while since I've finished it. I had heard people singing Hardinge's praise for age...
Post a Comment
Read more