In the second installment of
The Maze Runner trilogy, Thomas and the surviving Gladers, must now endure an Earth scorched by solar flares and ravaged by the Flare; an epidemic, causing insanity. Now infected by the virus, Thomas and the Gladers are promised a cure, but only if they survive a trek across a landscape ravaged by scorching heat, unpredictable weather and populated by Cranks, people infected by the virus, and whose insanity causes them to behave in unpredictable ways. Thomas and Theresa, the girl with whom he has telepathic communication, are separated and Thomas must find her, before time runs out and before he reaches the destination that WICKED has promised will provide them passage to the Flare's cure.
The Scorch Trials is clearly the "middle book" of the trilogy...it moves the story along, none of the questions are answered, and many new questions come into play. Why was there a parallel maze, populated by girls and one boy? Why has Teresa disappeared and seemingly become the enemy of the boys? Why is WICKED investing so much in this experiment? The answers to these and many other questions lie in the third and final installment. In the meantime, the Scorch Trials leave the reader with no resolution, and a somewhat ungratifying reading experience. I compare this to Catching Fire, the second installment of
The Hunger Games trilogy...it just leaves you still hungry, wanting more.
Reed Reads Score: 3.5
