Dystopian thrillers for YA readers continues to deliver some of the most gripping, exciting and imaginative storytelling out there. YA dystopian thrillers not only captivates its teenagers readers, but also grabs the attention of older readers who crave fast-paced adventure and emotional depth. While many titles standout within this genre, James Dashner’s The Maze Runner trilogy is one of my favourites – it’s a series that had me hooked from the very first page and didn’t let go until the final chapter of The Death Cure – the gripping finale to a dystopian thrill-ride.
Having quickly devoured The Maze Runner, with its eerie, dangerous shifting maze and its monstrous Grievers inhabitants that protect it, I plunged straight into the red-hot The Scorch Trials (the second instalment in the series), where the stakes escalated with a scorched wasteland, unpredictable weather and the terrifying Cranks – humans driven to madness by a virus known as The Flare. Both books were intense and thrilling reading, but it’s The Death Cure that truly brings the trilogy to its explosive climax.
In The Death Cure, the trials are over – or so WICKED claims. Thomas and his fellow survivors are offered one last chance to help finish the cure for The Flare. But as Thomas starts to regain more and more fragments of his memory, he begins to see through WICKED’s manipulations. The organisation, which is backed by various governments around the world, has been using teenagers, without their consent, as test subjects under the guise of saving humanity. Now, Thomas has a choice to make – does he cooperate with them or rebel, knowing that the truth may be even more dangerous than the lies.
Overall, The Death Cure is a fantastic conclusion to The Maze Runner series. It is an whirlwind all-action race to save the world, filled with betrayal, and moral ambiguity. The Death Cure is an exciting read that concludes this dark and exciting trilogy.
As a story for YA readers it doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of this dystopian world – violence, loss and the ethical dilemmas of sacrificing few for the many are central themes. The Cranks, now more terrifying than ever, roam the cities in full force and the post-apocalyptic setting is bleak and unforgiving. It’s a story that doesn’t pull any punches. I would recommend it for readers aged 14 and up.
The characters have continually evolved throughout the trilogy for the better. In this final instalment, Thomas is grappling with trust, leadership and the heavy weight of his past. While some readers may be disappointed by the unresolved romantic tension between Thomas, Teresa and Brenda, I found it refreshing that Dashner kept the focus on survival and the greater mission. The emotional stakes are high, and yes – some beloved characters don’t make it to the end, which adds to the realism and gravity of the story.
Although The Maze Runner remains my personal favourite in the trilogy for its originality and suspense, for me The Death Cure surpasses The Scorch Trials with its pacing and purpose. The action is relentless, and the revelations about WICKED’s true intentions give Thomas’s journey a satisfying finish. That said, there are still some lingering questions that remain unanswered, but fans can turn to the prequel novels, The Kill Order and The Fever Code, for a deeper insight into the origins of the Maze, WICKED and the characters’ backstories.
The Death Cure is a thrilling, exciting and emotionally charged finale. It nicely brings the trilogy full circle and to a satisfying conclusion. Set within a unique and terrifying dystopian landscape, with a cast of complex characters and high-stakes conflict, it is a must-read for fans of thrilling YA dystopian sci-fi adventures such as The Hunger Games and Divergent – although some younger readers might find some violent themes upsetting. The Death Cure, and the trilogy as a whole, is a rollercoaster ride of danger, discovery and defiance. The Maze Runner trilogy will leave young page turners breathless until the very last page.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £9.95 (Paperback) / £5.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit jamesdashner.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
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