The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner #2) by James Dashner

Rating: 4 out of 5

Title: The Scorch Trials

Author: James Dashner

Series: Book 2 in a trilogy

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Ember; Reprint edition (September 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385738765
ISBN-13: 978-0385738767

Thomas and his friends are free, free from the Maze. But things are about to get a whole lot worse, because they have another trial to endure. The Maze was the first trial now the second trial is to cross the Scorch; the waste land around the equator where the diseased Cranks with the flare live, weather is wild, and the sun bakes everything to a crisp. Will Thomas and his friends survive this trial and get the reward they have been promised?

It is always hard to review a series, especially a trilogy and not give anything away, so this review will be short.

The Scorch wasteland is barren and harsh. The sun burns almost on contact with the skin and the storms when they hit are vicious and wild. Almost nothing survives out here except Cranks, people who are infected with the disease that inhabit the only remaining crumbling city.

While Thomas and his friends manoeuvre through the city the reader gets to learn about the Cranks, their lives, and how the disease effect them.

We get to meet new characters who add an interesting dynamic to the band of merry Gladers. Brenda and Jorge being the most notable new comers.

There is a lot of action and a far higher death count in this book compared to The Maze Runner.

New story threads are revealed and old ones explained. I was happy with some, not sure about the direction of the new threads but all in all not bad.

A good instalment in the series.