Book Review: The Maze Runner - James Dashner

Synopsis: 

When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas can remember is his first name. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade, an encampment at the center of a bizarre and terrible maze. 

Like Thomas, he Gladers don't know why or how they came to be there. All they know is  that every morning when the walls slide back, they will risk everything to find out. 

Review: 

I purchased The Maze Runner novel series after watching and loving The Maze Runner movie. I know, I know that most people hate when book lovers say “the book was better than the movie,” but I’m going to say it.

The book was better than the movie.

So there's this kid who wakes up in an elevator without any memory of his past other than his name, Thomas. However, when the elevator doors open, he is greeted by a bunch of male teenagers who also have no memories. Thomas discovers that he is trapped in the ‘Glade.’ The Glade is the maze, a chilling labyrinth of tall, concrete walls. Behind these walls are lethal creatures known as ‘Grievers.’ To make matters worse, the day after Thomas’s arrival, a female is delivered through the elevator. For two years, there were only boys who were delivered in the elevator, and they were only delivered once a month. Her arrival sparks up curiosity as since her coming, the deliveries of supplies stop coming, and the doors stay open at night which allows the Grievers to come in a taunt the civilians of the Glade. So basically the whole plot line is the difficulties of ‘solving’ the Maze. This may sound simple and frankly, boring, however, there are many frightening obstacles that disturb their search for the solution.

Little do the Gladers know, they are actually experimental subjects for WICKED. They do suspect that they are being watched and that they are there for a purpose a they refer to WICKED as the ‘creators.’ WICKED tests these teenagers on their reactions to certain variables and their ability’s in times of terror to try and develop a blueprint to cure the flare, a man-made disease that has been leaked and is spreading like wild fire across the world.

The main character is the courageous young boy, Thomas. He has an amazing daring ability to attack any obstacle that that comes his way. I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in watching his character develop and getting to know him from the start to finish. The other key characters also share the courageous qualities, especially Thomas’s main companion, Minho. Minho is with Thomas throughout the majority of the story and can be quite a jerk and very sarcastic at times, but together, they balance each other out very well.

Dasher has done remarkable work in crafting this isolated world, jam-packed with tests and variables. I was intrigued to know more and more about the “who is controlling this all” concept the whole time an that’s why I finished it in only two days. I am looking forward to reading the following installments.

I want to know what you think! Don't forget to leave a comment below!
Thanks for reading,

Ally xox