The Maze Runner by James Dashner is a very fast paced and dystopian themed saga. If you like the Hunger Games or Divergent, this is similar to both. The beginning of the books takes place with Thomas, the main character, waking up in a metal box with no memory of his past life. He finds himself in the Glade, a mysterious place that is surrounded by four giant walls that trap him and the other boys in the area. The Glade is home for many boys who are trapped there, and now it's one for Thomas… for now. Outside the Glade there is a maze, hence the title of the book. The boys had created a functional society; they established roles for each boy to be, such as gardeners (Track-hoes), medical assistance (Med-Jacks), and people who run and map the maze (Runners.) The first book covers the boys trying to escape, but for the past 3 years they had failed to map the maze and escape. The main reason for this is because of the endless mazes, but the other reason is because there are mechanical creatures that come out at night called Grievers. They cannot be in the maze during the night. At night, the maze doors close, so if they were to not make it back, they would be trapped in the Maze for the night. Thomas quickly realizes that he has a unique connection to the Maze, and his arrival triggers a series of events that could lead to either salvation or destruction for the Gladers.
Some good things about the book I personally think are:
1. Fast-Paced Plot: The narrative moves at a very fast pace, so it makes the book harder to put down, and it is also something you can read in a few days.
2. Strong relationships between characters: The characters throughout the saga become very close showing a strong sense of brotherhood. In the first book it does take a bit to understand the depth of it, but once you finish the other books, it becomes clear.
3. Important Themes: The book series shows a big understanding of friendship, trust, teamwork, sacrifice, and bravery. These themes show the in-depth of human resilience.
Some weaknesses about the book:
1. Limited Character Depth: The book is very fast paced, so you don’t get much of a chance to explore the character development. Many of the characters are left in the dark, and their motivations and actions are sometimes stereotypical. However, if you do read the entire saga, there are books that do explain some of the characters and their background. For example, there is a book completely dedicated to a character named Newt.
2. Cliff Hangers: The conclusion of the novels can raise more questions than answering them, which can be frustrating, but they are answered when reading the entire saga.
Final thoughts: The “Maze Runner” is probably the perfect match for you if you like Dystopian books. It’s a very mysterious and suspenseful book, even if some parts feel underdeveloped. But the fast moving plot will definitely leave you excited to get your hands on the next book.