Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.
In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.
Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.
The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.
Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?
***
I really hate to say it, but The Scorch Trials isn't nearly as good as The Maze Runner. It's still quite a fun read and I enjoy most of it. But it just doesn't have the same magic on me as The Maze Runner does. The suspension is just not that strong in this book. And neither is the dangerous atmosphere, despite that they have to go through the wasteland in two weeks and with multiple dangers following them.
The problem with The Scorch Trials is that while it's still a very enjoyable book, it just doesn't have the right mix with the suspension part. Yes, Thomas and his friends can't remember a lot from their past lives. Yes, they have to go through another Trial without knowing exactly why. Yes, they don't know if they'll really be safe after this Trial. But I just can't feel the mysterious atmosphere (or whatever you call it), which is unlike my experience with The Maze Runner. The same goes with the danger part. Yes, I know they're in grave danger and they have to go to the safe haven in time. But it's not up until more than halfway of the book do I feel this danger ready to bite their ass. To be honest, it's pretty frustrating, knowing that the good parts doesn't even last for half of the book.
There are quite some good parts in The Scorch Trials, though. The scenes before the Trials is one of them. Because I was dying to know what the new tattoos on their body meant. That's quite a nice set up. Thomas is also quite a likable character. He gets better at being smart and keeping his emotions and anger in check when he's not sure if the one before him can be trusted. The friendship between Newt, Minho and Thomas is one of the major parts of the book. And they're really close, which is great, because I really like the three of them together and have their backs for each other.
I'd say The Scorch Trials is a nice read. But it's just not as good as the first book.
Rating: 7/10
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