Book Review: The Death Cure by James Dashner

The Death Cure by James Dashner
Publisher: Random House (Delacorte)
Publication date: October 2011
Pages: 336
Source: Purchased
For: Fun
Series: Maze Runner, Book 3

*Spoilers for The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials inevitable*Thomas and his friends have reached the final trial in the race to get a cure.  But the past few months have taught Thomas one thing - don't trust WICKED.  So, when they plan to give everyone their memories back, he is reluctant to let them play any more mind games.  Plus, he's already remember much more than they think.  Can they figure out just what WICKED is up to? 

Things I Liked:
I'm kind of torn on this one.  I liked seeing what the outside world was like and watching Thomas try to figure out where he would fit.  Finally getting to understand WICKED and what happened in the world was so relieving!  I thought this last installment was unflinching, interesting, complicated, and just plain cool.  It seemed very much like you don't know for sure what is happening, you don't know much of anything - exactly how Thomas feels.  Definitely a unique series with a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants ending that will leave you reeling!  Some favorite parts:

We can't try to outguess them anymore.  Sometimes they do things just to make me do the opposite of what they think I think they think I want to do. p 114

"I want steak," he said, stopping to look at her.  "And shrimp.  And lobster.  And pancakes.  And a candy bar."
"I'm sorry - you'll have to settle for a couple of sandwiches."
Thomas sighed.  "Figures." p 267

Things I Didn't Like:
I spent much of the book wondering why we were taking these seemingly random detours.  It felt like all the things that happened up until about the last quarter of the book was filler so we could get to the exciting ending.  Yes, a lot of things happened, but seeing fight after fight and escape after escape kind of wore me down.  I was slightly more bothered by the slang too, since only the Gladers seemed to use it, but no one they met outside ever swore or had their own slang.  It was an odd contrast.  I think this book would translate really well to an action movie, and that might be part of why I didn't get a lot of it - sometimes it was like a movie scene being described.  And yet, after all that, I really did enjoy it.  Weird, crazy, horrifying, and action-packed.  A great series, especially for the guys!

Read-alikes:
Be sure to read The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials first!
Reminded me a bit of Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Enclave by Ann Aguire

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none 
surprisingly, considering the slang note above

mrg-factor: none 

v-factor: ->->-> 
lots of killing, fighting, and other gory details

Overall rating: ***  

What did you think of this last book?

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