The Maze Runner #3 The Death Cure

Presenting The Maze Runner #3 The Death Cure by James Dashner.

Here is the summary of the book:

The Trials are over. WICKED is planning to restore the survivors' memories and complete the final cure for the Flare.

But Thomas has already remembered more than they think. And he knows WICKED can't be trusted...

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine. Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

The book of aimless and goalless wandering is what I would call it. The Death Cure disappointed me very much. The Maze Runner series holds a lot of promise and if worked on better, the series could have shattered the norms of the same style of story telling prevalent in this genre with the insert of a fresh branch with this series. But it feels like James Dashner spent all that passion and drive in creating the first, declining in finesse as we went from there to Scorch Trials to finally The Death Cure. The story could have gone n in any direction in this finale...... but 'what ifs' can't change what is in the final result and it was most disappointing to read through.

Poor Thomas and the Gladers had enough of WICKED messing with their minds after what went on at the Maze and Scorch Trials. The Death Cure sees them be given the chance of their memories returned. But they are at an impasse. After much deliberation, bar Thomas, Minho & Newt everyone also decided to get their memories returned. Each and everyone of them are wary but the three boys reasoning that WICKED may not actually return their memories decide to run. What follows is that along with Brenda and Jorge, the boys decide to make a run for it before WICKED takes drastic measures on them.

Don't get me wrong here, I love James Dashner's style of writing. I love the first two books very much and I liked The Death Cure to an extent as well but ..... there has never been more of a disappointing finale than ever. No answers given whatsoever. Teresa relegated to a side role and side character Brenda suddenly becomes the heroine (WTF!) Somehow Thomas gets messed up too, making a lot of questionable decisions. So, the events of The Scorch Trials leaves a not so good image in his mind of Teresa that didn't mean he should just ignore her and trust Brenda when she clearly lied her way through his trust. Moreover when given the opportunity to regain his memories to actually know what his role was in WICKED ........

Then there was Chancellor Paige, who was she and just what was her role in getting the survivors to the safe zone and the rest of the Flare-induced to fend for themselves. I liked New very much, he was the glue and while Thomas' flat emotions at what he had to do didn't make much of a difference on his demeanor. Dashner did justice to his character and I was saddened by his loss. Minho should also have been given more room to breathe. There are million different things the author could have done to justify this finale. Each and everyone of them much better (in my opinion) than the unsatisfactory finale we get here.

I am not sure I want to recommend this book ..... Pretty much only the first two books are the good ones, so you should give them a chance but check this book only at your peril and that too only to see how James Dashner ends it.

"Held a lot of promise but unsatisfactory results"

Genre :     Young Adult, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: Chicken House

Release Date: 5th April, 2012

My Copy: bought (paperback)

Rate:             3/5 (Liked It)

Other Books in the Series(review links):

           #1 The Maze Runner 
           #2 The Scorch Trials

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository

Maze Runner #2 The Scorch Trials

Presenting Maze Runner #2 The Scorch Trials by James Dashner.

Here is the summary of the book:

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?

Poor Thomas. And poor Gladers. They really can't catch a break can they. Aftermath of the Maze, their lives just went from bad to worst. The Maze trials may have been over but things are not done yet. The Scorch Trials come next. Out in this desolate danger infested world, the Gladers must journey across the 'Scorch' to finish the Phase 2 of the mysterious experiements. And WICKED is still upto no good and as mysteriously and condescendingly behind the scenes still.

Thomas, Newt, Minho, Frypan, Teressa and all the other Gladers return for this next installment in the Maze Runner series. Conquered the maze they may have, journey the Scorch they must in a world infested by the Flare and get the supposed cure promised o them at the beginning. WICKED's intentions are still very much a mystery, raising even more questions thoughout this book than answering. The stakes too are greater, there was another maze. There is another group. All girls and just one boy.

The Scorch was perfectly imagined amidst the author's words. There is literally nothing left. The heat of the sun is scorchingly unbearable. The nights offer the much needed respite, water is scarce and the storms are dangerously unpredictable. Lets also not forget the 'Cranks', those carrying the Flare in them. And they come in all shapes, sizes and degrees of madness. You can never know with Cranks and that was the best, intriguing and terrifying addictions to the story.

Really no clue as to why people are giving this such low rates because it wasn't like that to me at all. Of course it is not on par with The Maze Runner but it comes close second to it. It held my attention and had me excited till the end. While keeping things close to the vest might be detrimental in the long run but Dashner keeps a well on the mysterious WICKED and I can quite agree that us readers (who haven't read the books yet) and the Gladers are more than ready to find out what the heck is actually going on ..... Of course the upcoming movie has us excited as well.

"An intriguingly dangerous and emotionally turbulent sequel"

Genre :     Young Adult, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Mystery, Thriller

Publisher: Chicken House

Release Date: 1st August, 2011

My Copy: bought (paperback)

Rate:             4/5 (Really Liked It)

Other Books in the Series(review links):

           #1 The Maze Runner 

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository

The Maze Runner #1 The Maze Runner

Presenting The Maze Runner #1 The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

Here is the summary of the book:

When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas remembers is his first name. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade - a walled encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible stone maze. Like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they came to be there - or what's happened to the world outside.

A certified page-turner, James Dashner's The Maze Runner offers a spine-tingling, nerve-wreaking and action packed saga about a group of boys thrown into a giant ever-changing maze with no memories except their names to figure a way out. An unforgettable adventure that will have you clammering to get the sequel to get answers and see what happens next.

Putting young boys together in a ginormous maze to battle it out with no memories of their own, and just the thought of getting out of the hell hole and finding out the truth. Thomas, Chuck, Newt, Alby, Minho, Gally, Teresa and the others. Strong and pliable characters for an even stronger plot with its twists & turns and the dramatic roller coasters.

While the story moves forward with Thomas' point of view, all of the Gladers pitch in their importance throughout. They each have something to offer and they all play their part well. And Dashner provides the perfect mix for it all. Maintaining the right amount of mystery and suspense that will have you glued on till the end in pursuit of answers and produce an aching to make sure you put the sequel first and foremost in your reading order (must buy.... I must buy it quickly...). Also in no ways similar to Hunger Games at all (as the cover line proclaims). Both are unique and both are mighty capable of standing on their own two feet. And of course excitedly anticipating the movie.

"A certified page-turner that will have you glued till the end and aching for the next" 

Genre :      Young Adult, Post-Apocalyptic, Dystopia, Mystery

Publisher: Chicken House

Release Date: 2011

My Copy: bought (paperback)

Rate:              5/5 (It was Amazing)

Buy:           Amazon | Book Depository