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The Maze Runner #0.4
The Kill Order
Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.
Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.
Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive.
Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next. Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.
Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive.
327 pages, Hardcover
First published August 14, 2012
About the author
James Dashner
106 books34.9k followersJames is the author of THE MAZE RUNNER trilogy and THE 13TH REALITY series. He also published a series (beginning with A DOOR IN THE WOODS) with a small publisher several years ago. He lives and writes in the Rocky Mountains.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 12,065 reviews
April 25, 2013
I demand a sequel to the prequel
September 30, 2012
I can describe this book to you in a single word: disappointment. With a big capital D. See, the thing is, The Maze Runner was one of my favorite series ever… until the last book, which I hated. So the only reason I picked this book up was in hope that it would redeem the series for me and answer my bajillion questions. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. The Kill Order just failed to live up to The Maze Runner.
I think the thing that bothered me the most about this book was that it was not about Thomas and the rest of the Gladers. You would think that it would be, right? That’s what I was hoping for. Instead, this book is about some random people that I’m not 100% sure are connected to Thomas or anyone else. And because we don’t know anything about this set of characters, we’re left with even more questions. Sure, a few of my questions about the world building and all that were answered in this book, but I just ended up with so many more questions about everything in the series and specifically this book that will never be answered now.
The Kill Order along with having a new set of characters, had a ton of action. Non stop action, actually. If you know me, you’ll know that I love action in books. But even me, the teenager who loves action, thought that there was just. too. much. On every page, there was something going on, and I’m going to be honest… I got bored. I lost interest in the book, because nothing else was going on besides the action. Sure, action is fantabulous, but there’s a limit to how much you can have in a single book
Overall, I just could not bring myself to enjoy The Kill Order, even though I enjoyed the first two books of the series so much. We were left with a bajillion more questions, and there was way too much action for me to even remotely enjoy this book. If you don’t mind either of those two things, then you should give this book a shot, otherwise, I would pass this one up if I were you.
I think the thing that bothered me the most about this book was that it was not about Thomas and the rest of the Gladers. You would think that it would be, right? That’s what I was hoping for. Instead, this book is about some random people that I’m not 100% sure are connected to Thomas or anyone else. And because we don’t know anything about this set of characters, we’re left with even more questions. Sure, a few of my questions about the world building and all that were answered in this book, but I just ended up with so many more questions about everything in the series and specifically this book that will never be answered now.
The Kill Order along with having a new set of characters, had a ton of action. Non stop action, actually. If you know me, you’ll know that I love action in books. But even me, the teenager who loves action, thought that there was just. too. much. On every page, there was something going on, and I’m going to be honest… I got bored. I lost interest in the book, because nothing else was going on besides the action. Sure, action is fantabulous, but there’s a limit to how much you can have in a single book
Overall, I just could not bring myself to enjoy The Kill Order, even though I enjoyed the first two books of the series so much. We were left with a bajillion more questions, and there was way too much action for me to even remotely enjoy this book. If you don’t mind either of those two things, then you should give this book a shot, otherwise, I would pass this one up if I were you.
December 10, 2020
[Conversation in the editing room]
Remember all of the semi-likeable characters from the original series? Get rid of them
How about all the plot-holes from the first three books? Double them
Should we give it a decent ending? *ominous silence*
Annnnd....that's about it
We are set far before the first novel - in the heart of the initial Sun Flares and virus outbreak. We get front-row seats to the start of the apocalypse.
There's a whole new expendable cast that provides quite convenient fodder and a enough plot holes to bury all of them.
The pacing of this book really threw me for a loop.
Every second of the book was spent in heart-pumping action. Literally, all we did was race from plot arc to plot arc without taking time for character development or anything decent to happen.
And when things finally did calm down, Dashner only upped the tension by having everyone shout their plans and ideas. And the arguments...it was all 'science person wants to do this' and 'stupid army guy wants to do this' and 'civilian is running around with his head cut off'...the usual.
AND THAT SO-CALLED-SCIENCE - oooo, that reallllly rustled my jimmies. I can't even. The science. Ugh. Incoherent rage.
But seriously, when you are going to go for a science-based explanation for your series...you think it would begin by being rooted in...science.
Honestly. What was the author thinking.
Audiobook Comments
Read by Mark Deakins and he did an okay job. It just felt a bit bland overall. Could've just been the text though...
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
Remember all of the semi-likeable characters from the original series? Get rid of them
How about all the plot-holes from the first three books? Double them
Should we give it a decent ending? *ominous silence*
Annnnd....that's about it
We are set far before the first novel - in the heart of the initial Sun Flares and virus outbreak. We get front-row seats to the start of the apocalypse.
There's a whole new expendable cast that provides quite convenient fodder and a enough plot holes to bury all of them.
The pacing of this book really threw me for a loop.
Every second of the book was spent in heart-pumping action. Literally, all we did was race from plot arc to plot arc without taking time for character development or anything decent to happen.
And when things finally did calm down, Dashner only upped the tension by having everyone shout their plans and ideas. And the arguments...it was all 'science person wants to do this' and 'stupid army guy wants to do this' and 'civilian is running around with his head cut off'...the usual.
AND THAT SO-CALLED-SCIENCE - oooo, that reallllly rustled my jimmies. I can't even. The science. Ugh. Incoherent rage.
But seriously, when you are going to go for a science-based explanation for your series...you think it would begin by being rooted in...science.
Honestly. What was the author thinking.
Audiobook Comments
Read by Mark Deakins and he did an okay job. It just felt a bit bland overall. Could've just been the text though...
YouTube | Blog | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Snapchat @miranda_reads
November 27, 2014
My first ever 1 star review. Well done 'The Kill Order', you deserve it.
Before Reading it
-Oh I hope this is good!
During and After reading it
So here's what I didn't like about this book (basically everything)
-I couldn't get myself to read more than 50 pages per day.
-I thought about giving up constantly.
-The characters were boring, bland and flat
-forced, vague and unnecessary relationships
-stiff and unnatural dialogue
-people dying before I could care, or remember who they were
-inconsistencies in characterization (Being told a character never usually does something, and then they do it repeatedly!)
-the plot fading away into ridiculousness
-things just kept happening, but it all seemed pointless
-the feeling that the author had a beginning and an end. Then just put whatever he could in the middle to fill up space.
-unrealistic fighting scenes
-sentences that repeat what has just been said. Or state the obvious
-dreams that somehow show flashbacks in chronological order
-telling me things instead of showing.
Before Reading it
-Oh I hope this is good!
During and After reading it
So here's what I didn't like about this book (basically everything)
-I couldn't get myself to read more than 50 pages per day.
-I thought about giving up constantly.
-The characters were boring, bland and flat
-forced, vague and unnecessary relationships
-stiff and unnatural dialogue
-people dying before I could care, or remember who they were
-inconsistencies in characterization (Being told a character never usually does something, and then they do it repeatedly!)
-the plot fading away into ridiculousness
-things just kept happening, but it all seemed pointless
-the feeling that the author had a beginning and an end. Then just put whatever he could in the middle to fill up space.
-unrealistic fighting scenes
-sentences that repeat what has just been said. Or state the obvious
-dreams that somehow show flashbacks in chronological order
-telling me things instead of showing.
April 27, 2015
I would just like to say: How on earth can you rate this without even reading it?
---
It seems that I got an unexpected amount of 'likes' for this so-called review but I still don't get why people rate books without reading them. What are they thinking?
Anyway, I don't think I'll be making a real review because I'm terrible at writing (as evidenced by my mistake before this edit: using the word anyways instead of anyway).
---
It seems that I got an unexpected amount of 'likes' for this so-called review but I still don't get why people rate books without reading them. What are they thinking?
Anyway, I don't think I'll be making a real review because I'm terrible at writing (as evidenced by my mistake before this edit: using the word anyways instead of anyway).
July 11, 2022
The Maze Runner, book 4: More a prelude than a prequel; this is the story of teens, and neighbours, Mark and Trina who are together on the subway when the flares that created the dystopian world of The Maze Runner struck. This is not only the story of their survival, the people that they befriend or fight to survive, but how they get caught up in a post apocalyptic conspiracy. Did I say conspiracy, I meant to say intended genocide!
The book works very well as a prelude in that I didn't have to know anything about the original trilogy to get the most out of this 'big trouble at the end of times' read, but on the other hand, could there be anymore violence (said in Chandler's voice)? Interesting enough read, but not one that I'd really want to revisit. 6 out of 12.
2022 read
The book works very well as a prelude in that I didn't have to know anything about the original trilogy to get the most out of this 'big trouble at the end of times' read, but on the other hand, could there be anymore violence (said in Chandler's voice)? Interesting enough read, but not one that I'd really want to revisit. 6 out of 12.
2022 read
May 22, 2017
Now I enjoyed this book. It's before the maze runner, I think it said 13 years.
Anyway, it was a pretty dark book. I felt bad for this group and what was happening to them. And holy crow, what those evil people did to Lana. I mean they did evil things to a lot of people but this was one of the group and these freaks were off their nut!
Also at the very end we get to read about Thomas as a young boy before all hell broke loose in his world. It was just a page or so. Either way I enjoyed it =)
Anyway, it was a pretty dark book. I felt bad for this group and what was happening to them. And holy crow, what those evil people did to Lana. I mean they did evil things to a lot of people but this was one of the group and these freaks were off their nut!
Also at the very end we get to read about Thomas as a young boy before all hell broke loose in his world. It was just a page or so. Either way I enjoyed it =)
August 23, 2012
Well. First let me start off my saying that I am extremely disappointed about the fact that the series is now done.
I started this book yesterday afternoon, and now, at 2 in the morning, I've finished it. And let me just say HOLY CRAP. THIS BOOK. I CAN'T.
I thought all the other three were good, but this book made me so overwhelmingly....I don't even know. So many feelings. Can I just vent? I'm going to vent, OK?
This book though, I can't even review this like my other ones because I'm filled with so many feelings and questions and angst right now. I haven't stepped away from it and then come back to write this when I'm not all worked up...so this is very raw right now. I literally just finished about ten minutes ago, and I'm still heated and in a completely my-heart-just-sank-what-the-hell-WHY-JAMES-WHY mood right now.
Five stars. There. Dear lord, well done. Well done. How do you do this, I don't know. But you are my favorite action author. Favorite author, I'll go all the way for you James. Not like that, I just really like your books. LJA99ad0=a]\[apsfdjlkapsof'jakijw OH MY GOD. I NEED TO CALM DOWN BUT I CAN'T. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS. DEAR GOD. I'M NOT GOING TO SLEEP TONIGHT. SERIOUSLY. UGH.
I know I should stop writing but I can't.... I'm just so worked up. Can I contact James Dashner? I wish I could have a conversation with the man. Honestly, I need to talk to him. Like, now. GET ME THE CIA, WE HAVE A SERIOUS CASE ON OUR HANDS. THIS BOOK IS A FREAKING, I DON'T EVEN KNOW, IT'S GOT THE FLARE. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE FLARE, RIGHT NOW. I HAVE TOTALLY LOST IT. I AM A LUNATIC. FREAKING, I CAN'T. I JUST CAN'T.
MAYBE WHEN I CHILL OUT AND HAVE A GOOD SLEEP I WILL COME BACK AND TRY THIS AGAIN TOMORROW. I JUST CAN'T.
I started this book yesterday afternoon, and now, at 2 in the morning, I've finished it. And let me just say HOLY CRAP. THIS BOOK. I CAN'T.
I thought all the other three were good, but this book made me so overwhelmingly....I don't even know. So many feelings. Can I just vent? I'm going to vent, OK?
This book though, I can't even review this like my other ones because I'm filled with so many feelings and questions and angst right now. I haven't stepped away from it and then come back to write this when I'm not all worked up...so this is very raw right now. I literally just finished about ten minutes ago, and I'm still heated and in a completely my-heart-just-sank-what-the-hell-WHY-JAMES-WHY mood right now.
Five stars. There. Dear lord, well done. Well done. How do you do this, I don't know. But you are my favorite action author. Favorite author, I'll go all the way for you James. Not like that, I just really like your books. LJA99ad0=a]\[apsfdjlkapsof'jakijw OH MY GOD. I NEED TO CALM DOWN BUT I CAN'T. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT THIS. DEAR GOD. I'M NOT GOING TO SLEEP TONIGHT. SERIOUSLY. UGH.
I know I should stop writing but I can't.... I'm just so worked up. Can I contact James Dashner? I wish I could have a conversation with the man. Honestly, I need to talk to him. Like, now. GET ME THE CIA, WE HAVE A SERIOUS CASE ON OUR HANDS. THIS BOOK IS A FREAKING, I DON'T EVEN KNOW, IT'S GOT THE FLARE. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE FLARE, RIGHT NOW. I HAVE TOTALLY LOST IT. I AM A LUNATIC. FREAKING, I CAN'T. I JUST CAN'T.
MAYBE WHEN I CHILL OUT AND HAVE A GOOD SLEEP I WILL COME BACK AND TRY THIS AGAIN TOMORROW. I JUST CAN'T.
September 13, 2018
3.5 ⭐️
This was a good addition to the series. It was quite action packed, with a whole new host of characters.
We meet Mark, Trina, Alec and Lana, part of the human population who have survived the sun flares, but now face a new terror. They fight for their lives as an awful disease ravages the human race. No one knows where it came from, or why.
Despite the constant action and violence, at times I felt it was almost too much. It relied heavily on the drama and excitement rather than actual plot.
As I got to the end, a few questions were answered. Like where the disease originated and what it's point was, which was really interesting to find out.
It was a good read if you are in need of some excitement, and watching characters risk their lives constantly, it was a good space filler.
This was a good addition to the series. It was quite action packed, with a whole new host of characters.
We meet Mark, Trina, Alec and Lana, part of the human population who have survived the sun flares, but now face a new terror. They fight for their lives as an awful disease ravages the human race. No one knows where it came from, or why.
Despite the constant action and violence, at times I felt it was almost too much. It relied heavily on the drama and excitement rather than actual plot.
As I got to the end, a few questions were answered. Like where the disease originated and what it's point was, which was really interesting to find out.
It was a good read if you are in need of some excitement, and watching characters risk their lives constantly, it was a good space filler.
October 8, 2014
DNF at 47%
I know that scene is supposed to have me at the edge of my seat, but the only thing I can think of right now is the lack of cheese sticks in my house, and that makes me wonder about my mental state.
After the fuckfest of The Death Cure, I wasn't sure I wanted to finish The Kill Order. I'd actually started this before The Scorch Trials (and experienced the heart-wrenching downward spiral of a promising series) because in a derp moment, I'd mistaken it for the second book. But then, I thought maybe it could shed some light on the crappy world-building. I wanted to find out about the Sun Flares and how the civilization ended. Plus, I'd already started it, so what the hell. How bad could it be?
Apparently, very bad.
I expected the apocalypse. I expected scenes of the climate growing hotter and hotter by day and baffled weatherman advising people to always wear sunscreen outdoors. I expected scientists running around like headless chickens trying to figure out the problem, while sweating world leaders tried to calm the masses. I expected the inevitable spark to the keg of hysteria, with all hell breaking loose, and people breaking store windows for supplies, acquiring guns to protect said supplies and fleeing to forests where there's more natural shade. I expected a grand mess in the footsteps of the The Stand, or on a smaller scale: The Mist.
Instead, I get thrown in a world a year after all the excitement has happened.
Where is the chaos, I ask you? The murder, the plundering? Where are the religious nuts, like Carrie's mom, that come out and say, "I told you so! Now repent for your sins!" Where are the groups of wild-eyed people in week-old clothes fighting for diapers and tampons? If it were the end of the world, I'd gladly trade my iPhone for a maxi pad.
No proper world-building, no excitement. And I do mean no excitement. We're talking watching-the-paint-dry levels here. Even when the characters were running for their lives, I couldn't work up a speck of emotion to care. The main characters, Mark and Trina, were really bland, like the characters whose names I have already forgotten in The Geography of You and Me. At least I was emotionally invested in Thomas, no matter how much I hated him in the aftermath. Mark and Trina, on the other hand, I care no more for them than I do about the hundreds of tinted food pictures my elementary school acquaintances post on Facebook.
Oh, wait, I do care about Trina a bit. I care that she, like Teresa and Brenda, are perfect, unblemished specimens of the female sex.
Why does every love interest have to be hot? Why can't she have a big nose, or be overweight, or have a weirdly-shaped hairline? I don't like this trend in male love interests in YA and I certainly don't condone the opposite, especially since girls are often objectified in manga and comics. No matter what way you argue it, I highly doubt Wonder Woman wants to fight crime in a cleavage-baring bustier.
Or heels.
Now I can finally rest in peace, knowing The Maze Runner series is genuinely a one-book wonder. Bland characters, shitty world-building, mediocre writing. Might see the movie, if only for Dylan O'Brien, but other than that, me and this series are done.
Don't call me, I'll call you. 'K?
My review of The Maze Runner
My review of The Scorch Trials
My review of The Death Cure
"Mark jumped to his feet, pulling Alec's arm. The entire area around them shook as it rose, and it took all of Mark's effort not to fall again. He knew that what was happening had to be impossible, and it made him wonder about his mental state."
I know that scene is supposed to have me at the edge of my seat, but the only thing I can think of right now is the lack of cheese sticks in my house, and that makes me wonder about my mental state.
After the fuckfest of The Death Cure, I wasn't sure I wanted to finish The Kill Order. I'd actually started this before The Scorch Trials (and experienced the heart-wrenching downward spiral of a promising series) because in a derp moment, I'd mistaken it for the second book. But then, I thought maybe it could shed some light on the crappy world-building. I wanted to find out about the Sun Flares and how the civilization ended. Plus, I'd already started it, so what the hell. How bad could it be?
Apparently, very bad.
I expected the apocalypse. I expected scenes of the climate growing hotter and hotter by day and baffled weatherman advising people to always wear sunscreen outdoors. I expected scientists running around like headless chickens trying to figure out the problem, while sweating world leaders tried to calm the masses. I expected the inevitable spark to the keg of hysteria, with all hell breaking loose, and people breaking store windows for supplies, acquiring guns to protect said supplies and fleeing to forests where there's more natural shade. I expected a grand mess in the footsteps of the The Stand, or on a smaller scale: The Mist.
Instead, I get thrown in a world a year after all the excitement has happened.
"We survive months of the sun beating the tar out of the planet, find a place where we can build shelter, find food."
Where is the chaos, I ask you? The murder, the plundering? Where are the religious nuts, like Carrie's mom, that come out and say, "I told you so! Now repent for your sins!" Where are the groups of wild-eyed people in week-old clothes fighting for diapers and tampons? If it were the end of the world, I'd gladly trade my iPhone for a maxi pad.
No proper world-building, no excitement. And I do mean no excitement. We're talking watching-the-paint-dry levels here. Even when the characters were running for their lives, I couldn't work up a speck of emotion to care. The main characters, Mark and Trina, were really bland, like the characters whose names I have already forgotten in The Geography of You and Me. At least I was emotionally invested in Thomas, no matter how much I hated him in the aftermath. Mark and Trina, on the other hand, I care no more for them than I do about the hundreds of tinted food pictures my elementary school acquaintances post on Facebook.
Oh, wait, I do care about Trina a bit. I care that she, like Teresa and Brenda, are perfect, unblemished specimens of the female sex.
"Man, she was pretty...She turned a page, her green eyes following the words...Her short blonde hair shifted in the wind, and she appeared the very definition of peace and comfort."
Why does every love interest have to be hot? Why can't she have a big nose, or be overweight, or have a weirdly-shaped hairline? I don't like this trend in male love interests in YA and I certainly don't condone the opposite, especially since girls are often objectified in manga and comics. No matter what way you argue it, I highly doubt Wonder Woman wants to fight crime in a cleavage-baring bustier.
Or heels.
Now I can finally rest in peace, knowing The Maze Runner series is genuinely a one-book wonder. Bland characters, shitty world-building, mediocre writing. Might see the movie, if only for Dylan O'Brien, but other than that, me and this series are done.
Don't call me, I'll call you. 'K?
My review of The Maze Runner
My review of The Scorch Trials
My review of The Death Cure
July 11, 2015
ffffff, we have to wait until August?
And yeah, people, this is a prequel. It's before The Maze Runner even took place. I don't know what other people thought, but this trilogy is one of the best I've read and I don't like this genre of book. I am thoroughly looking forward to this book. I do have high expectations for it, and I do think they'll be met.
October 5, 2012
So, starting to read this, I kind of said to myself "what do Mark and Trina have to do with everything else?" but I gave it a chance because I knew the author had an underlying plan here. So I read it.
And it was really effing good.
I can only assume that Deedee became Teresa, because of the epilogue. Apparently there's a version with an extra chapter? I'm not sure which that is, so I don't know what went on in it. If Deedee did in fact become Teresa, than it was nice to have this backstory. I liked all these characters a lot - even Misty, Darnell and the Toad. Even though we really didn't get too many glimpses at them, I was sad when they died. But the one character I really liked was Alec. When he had to vaporize Lana, my heart broke. When he flew the Berg away for good, even when he got sick, my heart broke even more. I get these weird emotional attachments to characters and Alec was one of them. And of course, those are the characters that die or something.
Anyway, I thought this prequel was great. I want to reread the whole series - they are one series I recommend to anyone and everyone who needs something to read, and this book didn't let me down.
Does anyone know if he's writing another one, or was this it?
And yeah, people, this is a prequel. It's before The Maze Runner even took place. I don't know what other people thought, but this trilogy is one of the best I've read and I don't like this genre of book. I am thoroughly looking forward to this book. I do have high expectations for it, and I do think they'll be met.
October 5, 2012
So, starting to read this, I kind of said to myself "what do Mark and Trina have to do with everything else?" but I gave it a chance because I knew the author had an underlying plan here. So I read it.
And it was really effing good.
I can only assume that Deedee became Teresa, because of the epilogue. Apparently there's a version with an extra chapter? I'm not sure which that is, so I don't know what went on in it. If Deedee did in fact become Teresa, than it was nice to have this backstory. I liked all these characters a lot - even Misty, Darnell and the Toad. Even though we really didn't get too many glimpses at them, I was sad when they died. But the one character I really liked was Alec. When he had to vaporize Lana, my heart broke. When he flew the Berg away for good, even when he got sick, my heart broke even more. I get these weird emotional attachments to characters and Alec was one of them. And of course, those are the characters that die or something.
Anyway, I thought this prequel was great. I want to reread the whole series - they are one series I recommend to anyone and everyone who needs something to read, and this book didn't let me down.
Does anyone know if he's writing another one, or was this it?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2012
So disappointing. I liked the prologue and the epilogue, I felt the rest of the book was completely pointless except for the character Deedee and the explanation of the origins of The Flare. Which a whole book was not needed for those things. It was a ton of action which got really boring, and I just don't see the point of the story. It was fairly entertaining at times, but compared to the rest of the series it was pretty crappy.
March 3, 2016
Uninteresting. Disjointed. It could be easily confused with a fanfic.
September 10, 2016
First DNF of the year. I got to about 75 pages in and realized: I DON'T GIVE A SHIT WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE PEOPLE
Really that's it. I loved the Maze Runner books, devoured them back when they were released but I think this book is a perfect example of reading tastes changing over time.
Really that's it. I loved the Maze Runner books, devoured them back when they were released but I think this book is a perfect example of reading tastes changing over time.
September 10, 2020
***3 stars***
Weeeell, as I suspected.. I did not like this book 👀 But I'm still giving it three stars though, because it was fast paced and non stop action, both things I appreciate in a story.
Right from the beginning, we're told that the story takes place 13 years before the Maze. Except for the prologue and epilogue, where we learn new things about the characters from the original storyline, here we get to know a bunch of new characters. They're all survivors of the sun-flares and they're living together in a village somewhere. At some point, trouble ensues and it's only going downhill from there right up to the end.
As I said above, there is non stop action going on, so there is barely a dull moment. My problem is that I didn't connect or care about any of these newbies. It was nice learning about how it all began, but I wasn't satisfied with the scientific facts about the flare or the sickness that stems from it. Nothing made much sense to me, it actually felt like just some mumbo jumbo we were told to believe, with little to no real science behind it.
The only thing I (barely) cared about was the epilogue. Overall, a very mediocre story.
Weeeell, as I suspected.. I did not like this book 👀 But I'm still giving it three stars though, because it was fast paced and non stop action, both things I appreciate in a story.
Right from the beginning, we're told that the story takes place 13 years before the Maze. Except for the prologue and epilogue, where we learn new things about the characters from the original storyline, here we get to know a bunch of new characters. They're all survivors of the sun-flares and they're living together in a village somewhere. At some point, trouble ensues and it's only going downhill from there right up to the end.
As I said above, there is non stop action going on, so there is barely a dull moment. My problem is that I didn't connect or care about any of these newbies. It was nice learning about how it all began, but I wasn't satisfied with the scientific facts about the flare or the sickness that stems from it. Nothing made much sense to me, it actually felt like just some mumbo jumbo we were told to believe, with little to no real science behind it.
The only thing I (barely) cared about was the epilogue. Overall, a very mediocre story.
September 19, 2016
He sido incapaz de pasar de la página 100. Pf se me ha hecho súper peñazo.
September 7, 2020
2 no-no STARS ★★✩✩✩
⤐ Overall.
Full disclosure: I did not pay attention. Like, almost at all. I've got a good chunk of beginning, middle and end and that tells me everything I need to know about this book. Seriously, who gives a flying fig about this book? I tell you who doesn't: ME.
FYI: The only reason I'm not rating this 1 star is because I didn't hate it. There was nothing in here that triggered or angered me.
As bad as this year has been in some regards, it definitely enabled me to be a lot more confident about my opinions and ratings about books. Shitty story equals shitty rating!
⤐ What’s happening.
I am amazed by myself for finishing this. Although we do find some more information that can be tied to the Maze Runner book, overall, this book illustrated Mark and Trina's fight for survival, who eventually pair up with a (retired?) soldier, Alec, to find and make it out of whatever kind of apocalypse this is alive.
_____________________
2 STARS. Definitely a disappointment. It might not even have been worth finishing for a variety of reasons.
This book is for you if… not a single thing in this world has more allure to you than reading this absolutely lame, inconsequential and mediocre prequel to The Maze Runner.
⤐ Overall.
Full disclosure: I did not pay attention. Like, almost at all. I've got a good chunk of beginning, middle and end and that tells me everything I need to know about this book. Seriously, who gives a flying fig about this book? I tell you who doesn't: ME.
FYI: The only reason I'm not rating this 1 star is because I didn't hate it. There was nothing in here that triggered or angered me.
As bad as this year has been in some regards, it definitely enabled me to be a lot more confident about my opinions and ratings about books. Shitty story equals shitty rating!
⤐ What’s happening.
‘Oh, I'm good. Seriously, after all these years, you'd think I would stop amazing myself. But here I am, still doing it.’
I am amazed by myself for finishing this. Although we do find some more information that can be tied to the Maze Runner book, overall, this book illustrated Mark and Trina's fight for survival, who eventually pair up with a (retired?) soldier, Alec, to find and make it out of whatever kind of apocalypse this is alive.
_____________________
2 STARS. Definitely a disappointment. It might not even have been worth finishing for a variety of reasons.
October 25, 2018
Cuando empece a leer este libro no sabia que esperar, en especial con ese prologo que en lo personal me dejo en shock!
Fue algo desconcertante cuando vi que no era sobre los mismos personajes, pero conforme pasaban un poco los capítulos me resigne que iba a ser diferente. No fue lo que esperaba, creí que iba a narrar todo el proceso de armado del laberinto y CRUEL, me sorprendió encontrarme con una historia independiente a Thomas y compañía, con personajes nuevos y la verdad la historia empezó a gustarme.
En general la historia es muy interesante, nos menciona los orígenes y un poco los antecedentes de los chicos en el laberinto y de ese peculiar proyecto para salvar a la humanidad por lo cual es interesante de leer.
James Dashner me recomenzó de aquel final un tanto decepcionante de la trilogía, pues ha vuelto a su narración característica plagada de acción con su característica claustrofobia, buenos giros y con un bonus de terror.
Ha sido exquisito conocer por fin los sucesos tras las explosiones solares junto con nuevos personajes que nos van descubriendo varias de las claves, secretos y misterios de CRUEL y la Llamarada.
Fue un libro grandioso que me hizo sufrir como loca.
Fue algo desconcertante cuando vi que no era sobre los mismos personajes, pero conforme pasaban un poco los capítulos me resigne que iba a ser diferente. No fue lo que esperaba, creí que iba a narrar todo el proceso de armado del laberinto y CRUEL, me sorprendió encontrarme con una historia independiente a Thomas y compañía, con personajes nuevos y la verdad la historia empezó a gustarme.
En general la historia es muy interesante, nos menciona los orígenes y un poco los antecedentes de los chicos en el laberinto y de ese peculiar proyecto para salvar a la humanidad por lo cual es interesante de leer.
James Dashner me recomenzó de aquel final un tanto decepcionante de la trilogía, pues ha vuelto a su narración característica plagada de acción con su característica claustrofobia, buenos giros y con un bonus de terror.
Ha sido exquisito conocer por fin los sucesos tras las explosiones solares junto con nuevos personajes que nos van descubriendo varias de las claves, secretos y misterios de CRUEL y la Llamarada.
Fue un libro grandioso que me hizo sufrir como loca.
September 8, 2016
Had to DNF this at about 150 pages. I'm just not interested in the "Maze Runner" world anymore and the story didn't grip me at all. Meh.
March 24, 2017
Me encantó saber como empezó todo lo de la llamarada pero me dejó muy picada en cuanto a CRUEL, son mucho más malvados de lo que había pensado, wow lectura obligatoria para fans de maze runner.
January 27, 2013
Before reading the book:
Wow, this sounds interesting!
_____________________________________________________________
After reading the book:
Well, that was disappointing...
I'm gonna warn you guys, and you should take it seriously as a fair warning:
Do NOT read this book and/or review if you haven't read the ENTIRE Maze Runner Trilogy.
Just don't if you're planning on reading the trilogy. At least not if you don't want to get spoilers for the whole three books.
Now that it's set i will start off by mentioning why this book was such a disappointment for me.
After finishing The Death Cure many people were disappointed with that ending, they said it was all just a waste of time because in the end they couldn't find the damn cure and just decided to go with plan b, which is starting human population from scratch with the inmunes. I didn't think it was that bad, I actually liked it a lot, like it was such a tragic ending, i loved it, but there were things that i wanted to see more.
I wanted to see how it came to happen that this people before forming WICKED decided to get such a harsh means of population control, which is the flare, and how it got out of control, and how they decided that making groups of kids go into those trials would help them find the cure.
Of course, here it is briefly explained through a few letters how they decided to use that flare virus to kill people so their resources would last more.
But I wanted to know more of that, I wanted... I don't know probably more from WICKED* point of view, I wanted to get a better understanding as to why they decided to do everything that way.
* Obviously, I'm not talking about WICKED, since it was not yet formed, I'm more exactly talking about the people who later created WICKED.
Well, I didn't get that...
Instead, I just got another survival story with non-stop action coming from characters i just couldn't care about.
I hate it how they sometimes made stupid comments or actions just because the author wanted to give the impression that the characters cared about one another.
For example, when they took that girl Deedee with them, and the two guys went to where her people went, after spying, the first thing they do is say "Why did you leave Deedee behind? she's just a girl!". yeah, like they care about her, like it is the smartest thing to do after spying them, and trying to make out if they are insane or not or if they could be of help.
It was just very unrealistic, one second one character is caring a lot about another, and the other, they are not even sad the character died.
And they are Invincible!!!!. With so much action going on, and the flare eating up their brains plus the sun flares heating them up, I just can't believe how long they could survive .
This book just pissed me off.
I originally rated it 2 stars, but after writing the review I decided to change it to 1 star.
Wow, this sounds interesting!
_____________________________________________________________
After reading the book:
Well, that was disappointing...
I'm gonna warn you guys, and you should take it seriously as a fair warning:
Do NOT read this book and/or review if you haven't read the ENTIRE Maze Runner Trilogy.
Just don't if you're planning on reading the trilogy. At least not if you don't want to get spoilers for the whole three books.
Now that it's set i will start off by mentioning why this book was such a disappointment for me.
After finishing The Death Cure many people were disappointed with that ending, they said it was all just a waste of time because in the end they couldn't find the damn cure and just decided to go with plan b, which is starting human population from scratch with the inmunes. I didn't think it was that bad, I actually liked it a lot, like it was such a tragic ending, i loved it, but there were things that i wanted to see more.
I wanted to see how it came to happen that this people before forming WICKED decided to get such a harsh means of population control, which is the flare, and how it got out of control, and how they decided that making groups of kids go into those trials would help them find the cure.
Of course, here it is briefly explained through a few letters how they decided to use that flare virus to kill people so their resources would last more.
But I wanted to know more of that, I wanted... I don't know probably more from WICKED* point of view, I wanted to get a better understanding as to why they decided to do everything that way.
* Obviously, I'm not talking about WICKED, since it was not yet formed, I'm more exactly talking about the people who later created WICKED.
Well, I didn't get that...
Instead, I just got another survival story with non-stop action coming from characters i just couldn't care about.
I hate it how they sometimes made stupid comments or actions just because the author wanted to give the impression that the characters cared about one another.
For example, when they took that girl Deedee with them, and the two guys went to where her people went, after spying, the first thing they do is say "Why did you leave Deedee behind? she's just a girl!". yeah, like they care about her, like it is the smartest thing to do after spying them, and trying to make out if they are insane or not or if they could be of help.
It was just very unrealistic, one second one character is caring a lot about another, and the other, they are not even sad the character died.
And they are Invincible!!!!. With so much action going on, and the flare eating up their brains plus the sun flares heating them up, I just can't believe how long they could survive .
This book just pissed me off.
I originally rated it 2 stars, but after writing the review I decided to change it to 1 star.
December 9, 2020
RESEÑA COMPLETA
Ufff, no estoy segura de poder decir algo coherente, lo acabo de terminar y son demasiadas cosas que asimilar.
Fue un libro grandioso que me hizo sufrir como loca. No fue lo que esperaba, creí que iba a narrar todo el proceso de armado del laberinto y CRUEL, me sorprendió encontrarme con una historia independiente a Thomas y compañía, con personajes nuevos.
También creí que todos los interrogantes que La cura mortal nos dejó iban a tener su respuesta, pero en el fondo sabía que Dashner no es de esos. Sin embargo, para mí explica lo más importante, el gran WTF del último libro: ¿Cómo que el virus de La llamarada no es causado por las llamaradas? D:
No me esperaba la respuesta a esa pregunta, fue tan indignante y espantosa. Pero... a la vez es ambigua, así como CRUEL no es bueno ni malo, me pareció que el plan, a pesar de lo vil, tenía su coherencia. *SPOILEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER* Mejor una muerte rápida e indolora a una espantosa, si el virus no hubiera mutado, claro está.
Me gustó mucho, fue devastadora y desesperante. Amé esta saga, la mejor de esta temática que he leído de momento.
La única critica que tengo: Dashner, querido, las llamaradas derritieron los polos, destruyeron el planeta, pero no llegaron hasta el subterráneo en el que viajaban Mark y Trina. Hasta que no salieron afuera no se enteraron que el mundo había sido abrazado ni sintieron el calor. Ni siquiera, a escasos metros de la superficie, oyeron una mínima explosión, y eso que estaban en Nueva York, donde la relación cantidad de combustible por metro cuadrado debe ser bastante alta, como en todas las grandes ciudades. A menos que en el futuro no muy lejano (me gustó que en uno de los mails apareciera la fecha, aunque el mes (o el día, vieron que estos te ponen la fecha al revés) tuviera tres dígitos O.O) los trenes subterráneos circulen a kilómetros de profundidad, solo me queda decir...¡Viva la coherencia!
Sacando eso, fantástico.
Espero no tener pesadillas al respecto hoy, ya van dos días seguidos ^^U
Dashner logró lo que solo King había logrado, traumarme hasta las pesadillas.
Ufff, no estoy segura de poder decir algo coherente, lo acabo de terminar y son demasiadas cosas que asimilar.
Fue un libro grandioso que me hizo sufrir como loca. No fue lo que esperaba, creí que iba a narrar todo el proceso de armado del laberinto y CRUEL, me sorprendió encontrarme con una historia independiente a Thomas y compañía, con personajes nuevos.
También creí que todos los interrogantes que La cura mortal nos dejó iban a tener su respuesta, pero en el fondo sabía que Dashner no es de esos. Sin embargo, para mí explica lo más importante, el gran WTF del último libro: ¿Cómo que el virus de La llamarada no es causado por las llamaradas? D:
No me esperaba la respuesta a esa pregunta, fue tan indignante y espantosa. Pero... a la vez es ambigua, así como CRUEL no es bueno ni malo, me pareció que el plan, a pesar de lo vil, tenía su coherencia. *SPOILEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEER* Mejor una muerte rápida e indolora a una espantosa, si el virus no hubiera mutado, claro está.
Me gustó mucho, fue devastadora y desesperante. Amé esta saga, la mejor de esta temática que he leído de momento.
La única critica que tengo: Dashner, querido, las llamaradas derritieron los polos, destruyeron el planeta, pero no llegaron hasta el subterráneo en el que viajaban Mark y Trina. Hasta que no salieron afuera no se enteraron que el mundo había sido abrazado ni sintieron el calor. Ni siquiera, a escasos metros de la superficie, oyeron una mínima explosión, y eso que estaban en Nueva York, donde la relación cantidad de combustible por metro cuadrado debe ser bastante alta, como en todas las grandes ciudades. A menos que en el futuro no muy lejano (me gustó que en uno de los mails apareciera la fecha, aunque el mes (o el día, vieron que estos te ponen la fecha al revés) tuviera tres dígitos O.O) los trenes subterráneos circulen a kilómetros de profundidad, solo me queda decir...¡Viva la coherencia!
Sacando eso, fantástico.
Espero no tener pesadillas al respecto hoy, ya van dos días seguidos ^^U
Dashner logró lo que solo King había logrado, traumarme hasta las pesadillas.
August 14, 2023
می دونم گوش و چشم و حلق و بینی و احتمالا بقیه اندامهای داخلی تون پره این حرفاست. ولی لازمه بگم. یادتونه کرونا رو؟
نمیدونم چقدر جدی گرفتینش. یا چقدر شما یا آدمهای اطرافتونو تحت تاثیر قرار داد یا اصلا چقدر راست یا دروغ بود یا ... نه تنها الان نمی دونم بلکه وقتی 6 ماه پیش یه چیزی گرفتم با همون علائم (بسیار سخت تر و متفاوت تر از سرماخوردگی و آنفولانزا) و یه عده ای که باخبر شده بودن با تعجب می پرسیدن" وااااا!! مگه هنوز کرونا هست؟!! " ، اون موقعم نمی دونستم چی باید بگم. احساس حماقت می کردم.
پس یادتون میاد کرونا رو؟
حالا فکر کنید همون ویروس به جای اینکه بره بشینه تو ریه و مجاری تنفسی، پا بشه بره شاهنشین بدن، اون بالای بالا، وسط مغز جا خوش کنه. یه ویروسی که مستقیم می زنه به مغز...
توصیفهای جناب دشنر مثل 3 کتاب قبل همچنان بسیار جوندار و زنده و پر تحرکه. از خوندن این کتاب بیشتر از کتاب قبلی لذت بردم. خیلی قابل لمس بود. این درجه از ملموسی رو- و شاید حتا بالاترشو- موقع خوندن" طاعونِ جناب آلبر کامو" خیلی عمیق تجربه کرده بودم
با این حال چند تا مته به خشخاش برام پیش اومد که دوست دارم ثبت کنم تا شاید یه روزی یه کسی خوند و نظری داشت و توی فهم بیشتر بهم کمک کرد
یکی ص 95، راوی می فرماید... که با رعایت ایمنی و پوشیدن ماسک و دستکش...! آخه فکر کنید یه طورایی دنیا نابود شده، نصف مردم با طوفانهای خورشیدی سوختن و مردن، زندگی باقی مونده ها به یه تار مو بند شده. اون تعداد اندکی که موندن با یه ویروسی آلوده شدن و افتادن به جون هم. اونوقت اون وسط شاید بتونم قبول کنم با یه تیکه لباس ماسک بسازن، اما دستکش...!! نه هرچی فکر میکنم نمی تونن دستکش داشته باشن
دومی در مورد خواب دیدن مارک هست. وقایع گذشته به صورت فلش بک هر چند فصل یک بار در قالب خواب برای ما بازگو میشه. نمی تونم این مدل فلش بک رو هضم کنم. چرا؟ چون وقتی خوابی در مورد یه اتفاقی در گذشته هست بعید میدونم در مورد مو به موی اون رخداد باشه! معمولا یه اقتباسی از اون رخداد رو توی خواب می بینیم. یه طورایی دیدن و مرور کردن همه جزئیات اون واقعه توی خواب ممکن نیست. هرچند اینم یه احتماله ولی به عنوان مخاطب نمی تونم از راوی بپذیرمش. حالا گیریم اینم یه طورایی زیر سیبیلی رد کردیم و گفتیم باشه، اینکه هر دفعه خواب جدید از ادامه خواب قبلی شروع میشه دیگه واقعا عجیبه! خدایی مگه خواب دیدن دست خود آدمه؟ که حالا بگیم خب بخوابیم ادامه سیل رو ببینیم
ایده فلش بک در قالب خواب ایده خیلی قشنگیه، اما به نظرم باید پراکنده و حالت تیکه تیکه و پازل وار می بود تا هم به ماهیت خواب نزدیک باشه هم من به عنوان خواننده یه تلاشی کنم برای کنار هم گذاشتن تیکه های خواب و فهمیدن داستان
خوندن این جلد تجربه خوبی بود
🌟📚🌟
اصلا خوندن همه علمی تخیلی های دنیاااا تجربه خوبیه
همین طور فانتزی ها
🤩🤝🤩
نمیدونم چقدر جدی گرفتینش. یا چقدر شما یا آدمهای اطرافتونو تحت تاثیر قرار داد یا اصلا چقدر راست یا دروغ بود یا ... نه تنها الان نمی دونم بلکه وقتی 6 ماه پیش یه چیزی گرفتم با همون علائم (بسیار سخت تر و متفاوت تر از سرماخوردگی و آنفولانزا) و یه عده ای که باخبر شده بودن با تعجب می پرسیدن" وااااا!! مگه هنوز کرونا هست؟!! " ، اون موقعم نمی دونستم چی باید بگم. احساس حماقت می کردم.
پس یادتون میاد کرونا رو؟
حالا فکر کنید همون ویروس به جای اینکه بره بشینه تو ریه و مجاری تنفسی، پا بشه بره شاهنشین بدن، اون بالای بالا، وسط مغز جا خوش کنه. یه ویروسی که مستقیم می زنه به مغز...
توصیفهای جناب دشنر مثل 3 کتاب قبل همچنان بسیار جوندار و زنده و پر تحرکه. از خوندن این کتاب بیشتر از کتاب قبلی لذت بردم. خیلی قابل لمس بود. این درجه از ملموسی رو- و شاید حتا بالاترشو- موقع خوندن" طاعونِ جناب آلبر کامو" خیلی عمیق تجربه کرده بودم
با این حال چند تا مته به خشخاش برام پیش اومد که دوست دارم ثبت کنم تا شاید یه روزی یه کسی خوند و نظری داشت و توی فهم بیشتر بهم کمک کرد
یکی ص 95، راوی می فرماید... که با رعایت ایمنی و پوشیدن ماسک و دستکش...! آخه فکر کنید یه طورایی دنیا نابود شده، نصف مردم با طوفانهای خورشیدی سوختن و مردن، زندگی باقی مونده ها به یه تار مو بند شده. اون تعداد اندکی که موندن با یه ویروسی آلوده شدن و افتادن به جون هم. اونوقت اون وسط شاید بتونم قبول کنم با یه تیکه لباس ماسک بسازن، اما دستکش...!! نه هرچی فکر میکنم نمی تونن دستکش داشته باشن
دومی در مورد خواب دیدن مارک هست. وقایع گذشته به صورت فلش بک هر چند فصل یک بار در قالب خواب برای ما بازگو میشه. نمی تونم این مدل فلش بک رو هضم کنم. چرا؟ چون وقتی خوابی در مورد یه اتفاقی در گذشته هست بعید میدونم در مورد مو به موی اون رخداد باشه! معمولا یه اقتباسی از اون رخداد رو توی خواب می بینیم. یه طورایی دیدن و مرور کردن همه جزئیات اون واقعه توی خواب ممکن نیست. هرچند اینم یه احتماله ولی به عنوان مخاطب نمی تونم از راوی بپذیرمش. حالا گیریم اینم یه طورایی زیر سیبیلی رد کردیم و گفتیم باشه، اینکه هر دفعه خواب جدید از ادامه خواب قبلی شروع میشه دیگه واقعا عجیبه! خدایی مگه خواب دیدن دست خود آدمه؟ که حالا بگیم خب بخوابیم ادامه سیل رو ببینیم
ایده فلش بک در قالب خواب ایده خیلی قشنگیه، اما به نظرم باید پراکنده و حالت تیکه تیکه و پازل وار می بود تا هم به ماهیت خواب نزدیک باشه هم من به عنوان خواننده یه تلاشی کنم برای کنار هم گذاشتن تیکه های خواب و فهمیدن داستان
خوندن این جلد تجربه خوبی بود
🌟📚🌟
اصلا خوندن همه علمی تخیلی های دنیاااا تجربه خوبیه
همین طور فانتزی ها
🤩🤝🤩
July 26, 2012
The Kill Order is the much anticipated prequel to The Maze Runner series by the incredible James Dashner.
I can't even begin to express how badly I wanted this book. Dashner is one of my all time favorite authors. He's the reason I found my love for post-apocalyptic/dystopic books which provoked me to want to read more in this genre.
This installment takes place thirteen years prior to the initial time setting of the series, which was before Thomas and the Glade, and even before WICKED was created. We follow new characters, Mark and Alec and a group of teenagers battling to survive the aftermath of the Sun Flares. To add more to their already difficult lives, one day a Berg comes out of nowhere and starts shooting darts, killing and effecting everything in its path.
The Flare Virus.
Mark, Alec and a couple of the remaining survivors hunt down where the Berg came from, to demand answers as to why these people are spreading a virus when the world is already in horrendous devastation. During their journey they see how the virus is affecting people and all the different reactions it causes - from graphic brutalized pain to bizarre hallucinations. Along the way, they do manage to rescue a little girl named Deedee, who miraculously seems to be immune.
This is where it all begins...
Wow! What a prequel! This book is a roller-coaster of non-stop action and heart pounding desperation. I'll admit, I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I found out that a prequel was in the works. I was a bit nervous to read about new characters knowing their inevitable fate. But leave it to Dashner to have me totally consumed by Mark and Alec's journey. Dashner doesn't hold back. This book is filled with thick agony, madness and the twisted minds of unhinged people. I couldn't help feeling so sickened by all the sadness and furious about the unnecessary tactics that caused these people so much grief and despair. A part of me kind of wished that Dashner would have written about Thomas and Teresa or even Newt and Minho. What they meant to WICKED, how they contributed to the plans and life for them before the Glade.
The Maze Runner had one constant. Hope. It's what drove the readers to battle it out till the very last book. But for The Kill Order, it felt very fatal, very final. In the end, I'm glad that Dashner decided to share this story. It may feel hopeless, but it wasn't pointless by any means. This is a story for fans who are curious to know why WICKED was born. Why it was good. It's the birth of the Flare Virus and where we learn that certain characters played a vital role in the protection of others.
Overall, there is no happy ending, but fans of The Maze trilogy already know that, so it’s no surprise. This was a heart breaking and terrifying glimpse into a world that has been utterly destroyed. But it's also a story about fighting for humanity and survival till the bitter end.
So, with a heavy heart, I'm finally able to let this series go. It's been a fascinating and thrilling adventure.
Fans of The Maze Runner trilogy are going to want to experience this prequel because it's a definite gem for their collection!
I can't wait to see what James Dashner has planned next!
(Arc provided by Netgalley and Random House Children's Books)
This review and more can be seen at:
I can't even begin to express how badly I wanted this book. Dashner is one of my all time favorite authors. He's the reason I found my love for post-apocalyptic/dystopic books which provoked me to want to read more in this genre.
This installment takes place thirteen years prior to the initial time setting of the series, which was before Thomas and the Glade, and even before WICKED was created. We follow new characters, Mark and Alec and a group of teenagers battling to survive the aftermath of the Sun Flares. To add more to their already difficult lives, one day a Berg comes out of nowhere and starts shooting darts, killing and effecting everything in its path.
The Flare Virus.
Mark, Alec and a couple of the remaining survivors hunt down where the Berg came from, to demand answers as to why these people are spreading a virus when the world is already in horrendous devastation. During their journey they see how the virus is affecting people and all the different reactions it causes - from graphic brutalized pain to bizarre hallucinations. Along the way, they do manage to rescue a little girl named Deedee, who miraculously seems to be immune.
This is where it all begins...
Wow! What a prequel! This book is a roller-coaster of non-stop action and heart pounding desperation. I'll admit, I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I found out that a prequel was in the works. I was a bit nervous to read about new characters knowing their inevitable fate. But leave it to Dashner to have me totally consumed by Mark and Alec's journey. Dashner doesn't hold back. This book is filled with thick agony, madness and the twisted minds of unhinged people. I couldn't help feeling so sickened by all the sadness and furious about the unnecessary tactics that caused these people so much grief and despair. A part of me kind of wished that Dashner would have written about Thomas and Teresa or even Newt and Minho. What they meant to WICKED, how they contributed to the plans and life for them before the Glade.
The Maze Runner had one constant. Hope. It's what drove the readers to battle it out till the very last book. But for The Kill Order, it felt very fatal, very final. In the end, I'm glad that Dashner decided to share this story. It may feel hopeless, but it wasn't pointless by any means. This is a story for fans who are curious to know why WICKED was born. Why it was good. It's the birth of the Flare Virus and where we learn that certain characters played a vital role in the protection of others.
Overall, there is no happy ending, but fans of The Maze trilogy already know that, so it’s no surprise. This was a heart breaking and terrifying glimpse into a world that has been utterly destroyed. But it's also a story about fighting for humanity and survival till the bitter end.
So, with a heavy heart, I'm finally able to let this series go. It's been a fascinating and thrilling adventure.
Fans of The Maze Runner trilogy are going to want to experience this prequel because it's a definite gem for their collection!
I can't wait to see what James Dashner has planned next!
(Arc provided by Netgalley and Random House Children's Books)
This review and more can be seen at:
February 6, 2023
After like a month of holding off this review, I'm finally ready...
Okay, admittedly, for a Maze Runner book/backstory, this book means nothing. It's pathetic, probably a two star rating.
However, if you're looking for (deep inhale): an epic virus novel that causes complete and genuine fear 😷, an adventure dystopian (cause apparently those exist?) that's really well paced , awesome action sequences with a really dope gun 🔫, again, because I can't stress it enough, a HORRIFYING virus that does horrifying things to people 🤒➡🤢➡👿, a super fun cast of characters 🕴🏋🕺🏃💃👫, a devastating ending 🤧, or intriguing but thrilling scenes (another deep inhale) 😨, then do yourself a favor and read this book (of course, you should read the original trilogy first, and THEN admire the beautiful masterpiece that is this book).
At the time that I read this (it was a little while before I'm sitting my fat butt down and writing a review), I hadn't given a 5-star to a book in MONTHS! But I promise you this: if there was ONE book that I could have SWORN would not get that first 5 star in a while, it would have been this one. Heck, last year, I even DNFd it after the first chapter. And then I tried it again, determined to finish it, and whaddya know, it was magnificent.
This teaches ya a lesson, kiddos: NEVER (most of the time), EVER (most of the time) judge a book by what you've heard about it. Always, always, always (most of the time) give the book a try. I had heard so much crap about this, and that helped me DNF it after one chapter. Another lesson kiddos: NEVER (I mean NEVER), EVER (I still mean NEVER) judge a book by its first chapter. That's just............ stoopid.
So anyways, blah blah blah, stop yapping about this book being *.+sO gOoD*.+, and get to the WHY WAS THIS BOOK SO GOOD!?
Simply put: it was really scary. The flare was 10/10,, 20/20,, 100/100 the BEST and most horrifying thing, disease, and excuse for a zombie apocalypse that I have ever witnessed. In this book alone, it showed what the flare did to the infected, how it changed them, and how they slowly got crazy as the book progresses. And then there were just THOSE SCENES, where the suspense was IMMENSE. Like, the "jump scares" in the original trilogy felt like a cheap jump scare that you see in, like, an action movie. They were average; not predictable, but also not original, which to me, can be equally annoying in certain areas.
Also the characters. Mark was such a delight to read as, and his *.+.*+.*GIRLFRIEND*.+*.+.* was... actually tolerable... UNLIKE TERESA, THAT STUPID LITTLE RAT!!!!! Okay, so here me out: I'm notoriously awful with remembering book characters' names, so I'll refer to them as follows: the old guy (was it Al?) was a BOSS, and I would LOVE NOTHING MORE than for him to lead me through the apocalypse. The older girl (Lani?????) was not very memorable except for one scene... unfortunately, if you know, you know. And Deedee: adorable. Kids in books, when they're not snobs, are actually amazing. Deedee was no exception.
I think that that's it: scary virus, suspenseful scenes with said virus, awesome characterizing, and fun action sequences with cool guns..... very cool guns...
If you made it this far, thank ya very much 😁 and I hope that you have a very good day. Stay tuned for more reviews by yours truly, because surely you want your brain to feel mushed and numb after every review by me you read.
-Me✌🏼
Okay, admittedly, for a Maze Runner book/backstory, this book means nothing. It's pathetic, probably a two star rating.
However, if you're looking for (deep inhale): an epic virus novel that causes complete and genuine fear 😷, an adventure dystopian (cause apparently those exist?) that's really well paced , awesome action sequences with a really dope gun 🔫, again, because I can't stress it enough, a HORRIFYING virus that does horrifying things to people 🤒➡🤢➡👿, a super fun cast of characters 🕴🏋🕺🏃💃👫, a devastating ending 🤧, or intriguing but thrilling scenes (another deep inhale) 😨, then do yourself a favor and read this book (of course, you should read the original trilogy first, and THEN admire the beautiful masterpiece that is this book).
At the time that I read this (it was a little while before I'm sitting my fat butt down and writing a review), I hadn't given a 5-star to a book in MONTHS! But I promise you this: if there was ONE book that I could have SWORN would not get that first 5 star in a while, it would have been this one. Heck, last year, I even DNFd it after the first chapter. And then I tried it again, determined to finish it, and whaddya know, it was magnificent.
This teaches ya a lesson, kiddos: NEVER (most of the time), EVER (most of the time) judge a book by what you've heard about it. Always, always, always (most of the time) give the book a try. I had heard so much crap about this, and that helped me DNF it after one chapter. Another lesson kiddos: NEVER (I mean NEVER), EVER (I still mean NEVER) judge a book by its first chapter. That's just............ stoopid.
So anyways, blah blah blah, stop yapping about this book being *.+sO gOoD*.+, and get to the WHY WAS THIS BOOK SO GOOD!?
Simply put: it was really scary. The flare was 10/10,, 20/20,, 100/100 the BEST and most horrifying thing, disease, and excuse for a zombie apocalypse that I have ever witnessed. In this book alone, it showed what the flare did to the infected, how it changed them, and how they slowly got crazy as the book progresses. And then there were just THOSE SCENES, where the suspense was IMMENSE. Like, the "jump scares" in the original trilogy felt like a cheap jump scare that you see in, like, an action movie. They were average; not predictable, but also not original, which to me, can be equally annoying in certain areas.
Also the characters. Mark was such a delight to read as, and his *.+.*+.*GIRLFRIEND*.+*.+.* was... actually tolerable... UNLIKE TERESA, THAT STUPID LITTLE RAT!!!!! Okay, so here me out: I'm notoriously awful with remembering book characters' names, so I'll refer to them as follows: the old guy (was it Al?) was a BOSS, and I would LOVE NOTHING MORE than for him to lead me through the apocalypse. The older girl (Lani?????) was not very memorable except for one scene... unfortunately, if you know, you know. And Deedee: adorable. Kids in books, when they're not snobs, are actually amazing. Deedee was no exception.
I think that that's it: scary virus, suspenseful scenes with said virus, awesome characterizing, and fun action sequences with cool guns..... very cool guns...
If you made it this far, thank ya very much 😁 and I hope that you have a very good day. Stay tuned for more reviews by yours truly, because surely you want your brain to feel mushed and numb after every review by me you read.
-Me✌🏼
March 18, 2024
(this is my first rewiew ever)
This part of "The maze runner" tells us how everyting started. It takes place 13 years before that day when Thomas was sent to the maze. The characters are totaly different, in some parts 3 year old Teresa appears and Thomas just in epilogue. It basically shows a very beginning of the virus and a little bit sun flares memories. It wasn't as catchy as other "the maze runner" books, but still pretty good. I read in English, which is not my first language and it was so easy to read. I feel like it explains most of the things and honestly sometimes I was just shocked.
For Teresa
🖤❤️🩹❤️🔥
This part of "The maze runner" tells us how everyting started. It takes place 13 years before that day when Thomas was sent to the maze. The characters are totaly different, in some parts 3 year old Teresa appears and Thomas just in epilogue. It basically shows a very beginning of the virus and a little bit sun flares memories. It wasn't as catchy as other "the maze runner" books, but still pretty good. I read in English, which is not my first language and it was so easy to read. I feel like it explains most of the things and honestly sometimes I was just shocked.
For Teresa
🖤❤️🩹❤️🔥
November 2, 2018
First Read: January 2015, Rating: 4 Stars
Second Read: October 2018, Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first of two prequel novels to The Maze Runner trilogy. Unlike all the other series instalments, this follows a different group of characters and deals with events separate to the WICKED experiments.
The novel opens after the sun flares have ravaged the earth. Those that survived have grouped together in a semblance of a community and an attempt to continue their existence for however and as long as they can. But this is not the worst of fates to befall them. As the world is in chaos an organisation is seeking to gain momentum and unleashes a deadly virus that will wipe out or control all that remains of the human race.
This book opened up this post-apocalyptic landscape and the reader garners an understanding of how life is lives away from the Glade. Just surviving is still the main objective of the central characters and this makes for very action-dominated reading.
I know this is a source of contention with many but I really like how vague this series is on details. I really appreciate how Dashner aligns his characters and his readers in their not knowing. All work together in salvaging whatever clues they can in an attempt to puzzle out the series of catastrophic events that befalls them. This kept me engaged and intrigued throughout, if secretly missing my favourite Gladers a little!
Second Read: October 2018, Rating: 4 Stars
This is the first of two prequel novels to The Maze Runner trilogy. Unlike all the other series instalments, this follows a different group of characters and deals with events separate to the WICKED experiments.
The novel opens after the sun flares have ravaged the earth. Those that survived have grouped together in a semblance of a community and an attempt to continue their existence for however and as long as they can. But this is not the worst of fates to befall them. As the world is in chaos an organisation is seeking to gain momentum and unleashes a deadly virus that will wipe out or control all that remains of the human race.
This book opened up this post-apocalyptic landscape and the reader garners an understanding of how life is lives away from the Glade. Just surviving is still the main objective of the central characters and this makes for very action-dominated reading.
I know this is a source of contention with many but I really like how vague this series is on details. I really appreciate how Dashner aligns his characters and his readers in their not knowing. All work together in salvaging whatever clues they can in an attempt to puzzle out the series of catastrophic events that befalls them. This kept me engaged and intrigued throughout, if secretly missing my favourite Gladers a little!
July 10, 2012
Also posted here: http://wintrywords.blogspot.com/2012/...
I feel like curling into a little ball and punching a Crank in the face after reading only half of The Kill Order. There’s not much else I can do anymore, feeling like my life is a lie.
I am a huge fan of The Maze Runner series so when I found out there was going to be a prequel I about had a heart-attack. When I somehow manage to land an ARC, I am pretty sure I did indeed die of a heart-attack. My zombie is typing up this review now. The neighbors probably heard my loud, YES as I read the email.
Being disappointed, I will say, plainly sucks.
Starting The Kill Order or any book for that matter, I usually plan out the said book elaborately in my head before the description is even out sometimes. I know I shouldn’t, but I think I’m not the only one. Am I? So forgive me, but I thought this novel would be about Teresa and Thomas’s adventure as they created the Maze and more on their family life. I was also majorly looking forward to seeing Newt, Alby, and the others before the Maze.
The Kill Order isn’t about any of those things.
We see a glimpse into that window in the prologue of this story, but it’s blurry at best. And after that the book jumps thirteen years earlier. What is wrong with you, Dashner? Why must you write about something we have no interest in reading? Hmm?
I’ll admit I don’t care how the Flare started (you’ve already elaborated) or about how the sun flares scorched the Earth (again, you’ve already elaborated). I want to read about Thomas, Teresa, and the boys honestly, as I said before. The Maze is one of the most curious and complex, yet simply amazing and awe-inspiring structures in all of YA literature and I would love for him to elaborate on that.
The Kill Order indeed did disappoint me. It’s all action, action, action. There isn’t much emotion or anything deeper than doing, running, going, jumping, hiding, and dying. In short, it was as dry and boring as a stick in a dead forest.
Dashner, I think it’s time to let The Maze Runner series go and write something else. I will probably read it, since Dashner is one of the best writers of YA. But I think going backwards and yet not dealing much with Thomas was a mistake.
I am not sure if it was because I’ve read a lot of great books lately or if I have so many I rather read right now more than this. Or maybe some other factor, I am not sure. I mean, every time I tried to read a paragraph my brain was like, "What? You mean you want me to read this?" *laughs evilly*
I feel like the whole series was just let down by The Kill Order and with it, my respect and whole-hearted love. Maybe one day when I feel like I should give it another chance, I will, but right now I just feel like putting it down and leaving it alone.
I feel like curling into a little ball and punching a Crank in the face after reading only half of The Kill Order. There’s not much else I can do anymore, feeling like my life is a lie.
I am a huge fan of The Maze Runner series so when I found out there was going to be a prequel I about had a heart-attack. When I somehow manage to land an ARC, I am pretty sure I did indeed die of a heart-attack. My zombie is typing up this review now. The neighbors probably heard my loud, YES as I read the email.
Being disappointed, I will say, plainly sucks.
Starting The Kill Order or any book for that matter, I usually plan out the said book elaborately in my head before the description is even out sometimes. I know I shouldn’t, but I think I’m not the only one. Am I? So forgive me, but I thought this novel would be about Teresa and Thomas’s adventure as they created the Maze and more on their family life. I was also majorly looking forward to seeing Newt, Alby, and the others before the Maze.
The Kill Order isn’t about any of those things.
We see a glimpse into that window in the prologue of this story, but it’s blurry at best. And after that the book jumps thirteen years earlier. What is wrong with you, Dashner? Why must you write about something we have no interest in reading? Hmm?
I’ll admit I don’t care how the Flare started (you’ve already elaborated) or about how the sun flares scorched the Earth (again, you’ve already elaborated). I want to read about Thomas, Teresa, and the boys honestly, as I said before. The Maze is one of the most curious and complex, yet simply amazing and awe-inspiring structures in all of YA literature and I would love for him to elaborate on that.
The Kill Order indeed did disappoint me. It’s all action, action, action. There isn’t much emotion or anything deeper than doing, running, going, jumping, hiding, and dying. In short, it was as dry and boring as a stick in a dead forest.
Dashner, I think it’s time to let The Maze Runner series go and write something else. I will probably read it, since Dashner is one of the best writers of YA. But I think going backwards and yet not dealing much with Thomas was a mistake.
I am not sure if it was because I’ve read a lot of great books lately or if I have so many I rather read right now more than this. Or maybe some other factor, I am not sure. I mean, every time I tried to read a paragraph my brain was like, "What? You mean you want me to read this?" *laughs evilly*
I feel like the whole series was just let down by The Kill Order and with it, my respect and whole-hearted love. Maybe one day when I feel like I should give it another chance, I will, but right now I just feel like putting it down and leaving it alone.
July 10, 2019
شاید روی کتاب اسم جلد چهارم دونده هزارتو نوشته شده باشه و تو همون دنیا جریان داشته باشه ولی شخصیت ها کاملا جدید و متفاوتن و بیشتر باید به عنوان اسپین آف شناختش تا جلد چهارم
اصلا دلم نمی خواست مجموعه به اون خوبی (دونده هزارتو) مثل صد نفر با اومدن جلد چهارمش افت کنه ولی خوشبختانه هیچ ربطی به کتاب های اصلی نداشت و داستان متفاوتی رو تعریف میکرد.
سال ها قبل از ماجرای توماس و دوستانش شخصیت های کتاب وارد ماجرایی میشن که نحوه شکل گیری اهرامن رو توضیح میده
چیزی هم که برام جالبه این بود که با اینکه داستان کتاب کاملا تموم نشده و قرار جلد بعدی هم چاپ بشه اما کارمون با شخصیت های اصلی کتاب تموم شده
امضای جیمز دشنر هم تو کتاب هست ( اینکه از پایان خوش هیچ خبری نیست)
هیجان کتاب هم مثل قبله و گشت و گذار ها و افت خیز های زیادی برای شخصیت ها اتفاق می افته
ترجمه خانم کشوری هم مثل همیشه عالیه
اصلا دلم نمی خواست مجموعه به اون خوبی (دونده هزارتو) مثل صد نفر با اومدن جلد چهارمش افت کنه ولی خوشبختانه هیچ ربطی به کتاب های اصلی نداشت و داستان متفاوتی رو تعریف میکرد.
سال ها قبل از ماجرای توماس و دوستانش شخصیت های کتاب وارد ماجرایی میشن که نحوه شکل گیری اهرامن رو توضیح میده
چیزی هم که برام جالبه این بود که با اینکه داستان کتاب کاملا تموم نشده و قرار جلد بعدی هم چاپ بشه اما کارمون با شخصیت های اصلی کتاب تموم شده
امضای جیمز دشنر هم تو کتاب هست ( اینکه از پایان خوش هیچ خبری نیست)
هیجان کتاب هم مثل قبله و گشت و گذار ها و افت خیز های زیادی برای شخصیت ها اتفاق می افته
ترجمه خانم کشوری هم مثل همیشه عالیه
April 23, 2015
Mmmmm..., no me gustó. Pesado, insustancial, un hastío interminable. Creía que Dashner con este libro me iba a dar las respuestas que no me dio en la trilogía.
Pero no.
En algunas partes es entretenido, eso tengo que aceptarlo; también tiene un buen inicio. Sin embargo, está lejos de ser considerada —en mi opinión— una buena novela.
Pero no.
En algunas partes es entretenido, eso tengo que aceptarlo; también tiene un buen inicio. Sin embargo, está lejos de ser considerada —en mi opinión— una buena novela.
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