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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
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Maze Runner by James Dashner - review

James Dashner, The Maze Runner (Maze Runner Series)

All he can remember is waking up in the box. Nothing else; just the darkness. Nobody remembers anything as they're dumped in the maze. They are just put there and their only mission is to get out. However, getting out seems to be an impossible task as it has already taken two years and still there's not even the faintest hint of escape. And then there are the grievers…

I must say, while at times the plot thrilled, it let me down more often than not. It is written in pretty much the same way as The Hunger Games and other typical teen dystopian thrillers and really lacked in originality for me.

I found the characters lacking any personality and Teresa quite frankly annoyed me as she was a stereotypical damsel in distress and did absolutely nothing.
The writing felt as if it was done in a rush and was completely relying on the plot. It felt half–hearted and made me, the reader, a bit bored at times reading it.

However, some aspects I did like such as the character Newt, I felt he was a lot more realistic and the fast plot helped saved the book from being completely dull.

I suppose this review may be a little harsh, but after reading the highly loved To Kill a Mockingbird that had lived up to its expectations and more, I can't help but feel a tad let down. I also find myself comparing this to other books which may slightly lessen my love for other perhaps not so brilliant books.

All in all if you particularly love dystopian thriller/adventure themed stories and are perhaps just looking for an OK book to flick through in your spare time then, although I wouldn't highly recommend it, it's worth a look through.

• Buy this book at the Guardian Bookshop

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