'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.
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