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 are over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine. Will anyone survive the Death Cure?
The Death Cure’ by James Dashner is the finale in the ‘Maze Runner’ trio of books.
It’s difficult to put my opinions down in words because, quite frankly, I had mixed feelings throughout the novel. There were thrilling moments that made my heart rate pick up and stopped me from putting the book down in gripping, fast-paced action sequences and heart-breaking decisions. However, there were also moments that went by so fast that they felt emotionless and bleak. It is sort of the same issue I’ve had throughout all of the books whereby I felt more character development was needed. I got the impression that Thomas, Minho and Newt were supposed to be the ‘golden trio’ of the series, but their relationships felt weak and, well, underdeveloped.
It was also difficult to understand Thomas’ struggle between Teresa and Brenda at some points because it was not explored very deeply. Granted, I don’t think it was particularly Dashner’s intent to write a romance, but romantic feelings were heavily insinuated at times, so if you’re going to start something like that, you have to see it through and delve deeper or just don’t do a romance at all. It was like a love triangle that was trying not to be a love triangle, so it got confusing.
Despite the clichéd feel, I did rather enjoy the zombie aspect of the book. Dashner’s take on zombies (or rather, ‘Cranks’) was explored a lot more in this book than in The Scorch Trials, particularly with certain information about the Flare being revealed in this novel. These ‘Cranks’ had a much more zombie feel than previously shown in the series, as they were seen more as the crazy, virus infested people in The Scorch Trials and were now seen to – well, let’s just say one of Minho’s lines was, “That guy was eating a person. I just know it.”
One thing I did love was the references to the first book. It was both strange and wonderful to, amongst the chaos, stop for a second while Thomas remembers his short but eventful time in the Glade. Considering so much had changed and been revealed since the first book, it was nice to be reminded that the Maze was where it all started, and it was rather fitting that we should be reminded of it in the end.
I must say the ending was sort of clichéd, without giving away any spoilers. I was slightly disappointed by it, but then again I don’t know how I would have done it differently. There was a weakness to it, and (*MINOR SPOILER*) I felt like it made the Trials seem a bit redundant. (*END OF SPOILER*)
Nonetheless, I had a great time following Thomas around these past three books, and I’m looking forward to reading the prequel. There have been ups and downs, in both action and emotion, as well as my opinions about the books, but I don’t regret reading them because I enjoyed them and had fun (and can now shamelessly see all the films!) and really, that’s all that matters.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars and recommend the series to people from the age of 13/14 onwards due to violence and mature content.
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