The Scorch Trials

The Scorch Trials is James Dashner's second in the Maze Runner series. Picking up where the first novel ends, the reader is immediately thrust back into Thomas' world. As an added twist, all involved, the reader and the characters, know that the kids are being tested. This knowledge makes the entire novel more intense as the reader tries to stay one step ahead of Thomas regarding the overarching riddle.

If anything, The Scorch Trials is more action-packed and suspenseful than The Maze Runner. The advanced knowledge about the on-going trial and the small portions of information about the state of the current world make the boys' actions more meaningful. In addition, the reader spends a majority of the time trying to solve the riddle show more alongside Thomas. While Thomas may not be aware, the reader is definitely cognizant of the fact that Thomas knows more about the continuing tests and ultimate solution than he remembers. Watching this knowledge trickle down from the recesses of his memory only heightens the drama.

From a scientific standpoint, The Scorch Trials brings up some amazing questions that anyone with research experience is anxious to resolve. Does knowing that one is involved in a life-or-death trial adversely or positively impact the results? Would the kids act differently had the information about the Flare remained a secret? Are those monitoring the trials ultimately skewing the results by interfering? One can only hope that these gray areas, which became relatively obvious as the story progressed, are addressed in the third novel.

The Scorch Trials is frustrating, infuriating, exhilarating and exciting. Poor Thomas continues to bear the brunt of the action and focus during the trials. There is obviously a reason for this special treatment, and while there are hints, the truth is still too hidden to discern it completely. As this is the reader's first true exposure to the world outside of the Maze, one does not have a good grasp on this world to be able to predict anything that may happen. This anticipation makes the wait for the third novel seem endless! show less

The Maze Runner had me hooked from the beginning and The Scorch Trials kept that going. This one was non-stop action and even more of the mysteries of the world they live in are revealed.

The Gladers have been told that their trials are over now, but in reality, they are just beginning. There is no more Maze, but then they are thrown out into the post-apocalyptic, scorched world with a miimum of resources and told to cross the Scorch. They are made promises if they make it successfully across within the alloted time. And then the obstacles begin, different from the Maze, but just as serious and often horrifying.

This air of mystery is something I love about these books. Secrets are revealed, but never very many at the time. But instead of show more being frustrating, it amps up the anticipation. WICKED, its people and its motives, is still a blur outside of their immediate circumstances and it leaves a lot of room for the imagination.

There are a lot of new characters in this book and, even though I have finished the novel, I am still not sure how I feel about some of them. In this series, where what is good seems bad and what is bad may have a positive purpose, it is sometimes hard to neatly categorize the characters into simple "good" and "bad" groups. But I like this because there is a lot of gray in humanity.

There were some harsh lessons to be learned in this novel, especially that of betrayal and trust. From moment to moment, it is difficult to determine what is real and what isn't. Who is sincere and who isn't. This is not exactly conducive to building a trustful environment. And once again, we are left with almost as many questions as we got answers.

My Recommendation: The mystery behind the story is what builds the anticipation for me. While generally, I gravitate towards more character-driven stories, this one is very much plot-driven and I truly love it. show less

I began this sequel immediately after finishing book one, and the story picks up exactly from that point. Thomas and the rest of those that escaped the Maze have been rescued. Or so they thought. It turns out that Phase 2 of their trials is about to begin.

Book 1 introduced the mystery of who put them all in the Maze and why. Book 1 provided an answer (of sorts) to the first question: WICKED, an organization formed to combat a deadly virus called The Flare, put them in the Maze as part of a trial to find a cure. But the why has so much more to it than just that. This time around, WICKED actually tells them flat out that they are about to be tested again – they must cross The Scorch, a burned out area where nothing grows and Cranks lay show more in wait, to reach a safe haven.

This book could have been boring as the teens face yet more deadly obstacles, which many of them do not survive, if not for the book also providing some major answers and a few new questions. First, the boys weren’t the only ones being tested. In another Maze, Group B composed entirely of girls was in the same situation. And the two groups may now be in competition! Then there are the Cranks, people who have contracted The Flare, which causes them to go insane and become feral and violent. Finally, there is Teresa, labeled by WICKED as “the betrayer,” who was taken and put with Group B. Can Thomas really trust her? Can he trust anyone?

Overall, I found this book to be even better than the first. It expands on the mystery exponentially; the action is just as exciting; and some new characters are added that spice things up. Highly recommended. show less

Oof, my opinion on this one has really gone down over the last few years. Believe it or not, I used to really like this book. Even more surprisingly, I still like the movie! I rewatched it a few weeks ago, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The book, however, is quite a different thing. People who've read the book and seen its adaptation know how different the two things are. A ton of elements were changed, and I believe they were for the best. I don't like comparing books and movies as they're two different mediums of entertainment, but I must say that I enjoy the movie a lot more than the book when it comes to "The Scorch Trials". The book just isn't good.

Despite that, the first half is actually somewhat decent. I think show more it's well-paced and well-structured, and the plot is mildly entertaining. It feels very grounded and gritty, even more so than the first book. The situation seems more dire, and the Trials of WICKED feel even more brutal and horrifying. The story is also pretty straightforward. The Gladers wake up in their dormitory, and things start getting extremely weird. Then, Rat Man shows up and tells them that they have to go 100 miles north after entering a Flat Trans and reach a safe haven to get a cure for the Flare. It's a pretty simple premise, and it works well.

However, around the time Thomas and Brenda reach the dance club, things start getting very strange. The story starts to feel pretty disorganized and random, and then things just... happen. The plot doesn't feel like it has much of a rhythm to it. Thomas gets shot and instantly healed, Teresa's massive betrayal happens, it's revealed that her betrayal was all an act to stimulate some killzone patterns, the Gladers arrive at the Safe Haven, a battle with massive robots ensues, Thomas makes it into the Berg and wakes up in a white room, and then the book just sort of... ends. It just doesn't feel like a contained story. It feels like Part 2 of a 3-part story, so it doesn't hold up on its own very well. Also, we still don't know much about WICKED's grand plan by the end. I'm sorry, but we're two-thirds of the way through this damn thing. The main premise shouldn't be revealed in the beginning of the final chapter.

That's pretty much my main problem with this book. It feels messy, not just as its own story, but also as the middle chapter of a trilogy. A lot of my other problems with this book are the same as those I have with the first book. James Dashner is still the author, and he's still not that great. The dialogue isn't much better, the Glade slang is as annoying as ever, and the characters feel just as shallow as they did in the previous story. I don't know, man, but I really don't feel anything towards any of these people. Sure, Minho is really funny, and Newt is a tad-bit interesting, but besides those two, I don't feel anything for anyone else. Thomas just seems like a massive idiot who doesn't have the world's interest at his heart and only cares about himself and his friends. He can't think for more than two seconds about what Teresa's options were when it came to what WICKED had asked of her, resolving instead to be as bratty, whiny, and stubborn as he always is. Dude, Teresa's only options were either to do what WICKED had told her to do or let you die. You ever think of that, or is your skin that important that a couple of bruises are enough to make you lose trust in your best friend forever? Grow up. Percy Jackson and Harry Potter would never.

Anyway, I don't really have much else to say. This book is kinda bad, and I'm dreading re-reading "The Death Cure" because I remember how much I hated it the last time I went through it. show less

The Scorch Trials, the second installment in James Dashner’s Maze Runner series, attempts to raise the stakes by introducing a harsher environment, new enemies, and more cryptic elements surrounding the mysterious organization known as WICKED. However, while it delivers plenty of action and suspense, it ultimately stumbles in execution—especially in comparison to the gripping originality of the first book.
The story picks up directly after the events of The Maze Runner, with Thomas and the Gladers believing they've found safety. But instead of answers, they’re thrust into a new trial: a brutal trek across a sun-scorched wasteland filled with unpredictable threats and new enemies. The rules? There are none. WICKED is still show more manipulating every move, testing the Gladers with confusing variables and impossible choices.
Unfortunately, the book spends so much time trying to heighten the mystery that it forgets to provide any meaningful payoff. Questions from the first book remain unanswered, and even more are piled on without clarity. The introduction of the “Cranks” (those infected with the Flare virus) and the ongoing presence of the illness adds a layer of tension, but it’s underexplored. Readers are given little insight into the fever or how it truly affects the characters beyond vague threats and physical decay.
Character development also takes a backseat. While Thomas continues to be the central figure, the emotional depth that could have made the escalating danger more impactful is largely absent. Many supporting characters become one-dimensional, and the introduction of new ones doesn't quite fill the gap. Relationships that could have evolved are either rushed or sidelined, which dulls the emotional stakes of the journey.
That said, Dashner's fast-paced writing style and knack for cliffhangers keep the story moving. The setting of the Scorch—the barren, deadly desert—does create a sense of unease and hopelessness that fits the tone of the series well. There are glimpses of the author’s vision of a dystopian world ravaged by a mysterious plague and controlled by a powerful organization—but it still feels like a holding pattern for a bigger reveal that never comes.
The Scorch Trials builds on the adrenaline of its predecessor but ultimately fails to answer key questions or develop its characters further. While younger readers and action lovers might enjoy the nonstop danger and twists, those hoping for deeper world-building or character arcs may be left frustrated. It’s a necessary bridge to the next chapter in the series—but not a particularly satisfying one on its own. show less

Boy, this was one crazy novel. But it actually seemed to work perfectly as the bridge novel in this mind-screwy series, because it dropped just enough hints to be maddening while at the same time tossing more mysteries at you like confetti.

I really like the atmosphere of these books for some reason; it changes as Thomas and the Gladers move from one horror to the next but retains that sense of the surreal unknown and a malignant bigger picture that's missing just one too many puzzle pieces. There are more terrifying creatures (the Grievers almost look cuddly after this novel), more harrowing trials, as the Gladers are run through a nightmarish outer world ravaged by disease and a burning sun, supposedly part of trials created by the show more mysterious Big Brother-like organization known as WICKED. It turns out they aren't even the only ones who are part of WICKED's crazy tests. But constant illusion, mind control, twists, double-crossing, and many other elements keep you from ever feeling like you're on solid ground, although it's a bizarrely enjoyable feeling for me, for some reason.

I really like the characters too; just like in the first novel, the author does something hard to pin down with Thomas's emotions and point of view that just makes him very relatable. You really feel for the poor guy, and want to find out what's going on just as badly as he does. The other characters are interesting too; their fear, their reckless bravado, and their attitudes come to life, although the important named character cast is a lot smaller this time around.

Things don't necessarily become a whole lot clearer in The Scorch Trials, but enough hints are thrown to make you want to read the final book and see if the author can live up to his promises involving the ultimate goal of WICKED and Thomas and Theresa's involvement. I for one am pretty excited. show less

Perpetual confusion, flat girl characters, but I'm still too curious about what Wicked is doing so... on to the next book! This one is more psychological warfare than physical challenges at a certain point. Curious to see what direction this goes in next. Not looking forward to anything involving the girls in general because they are paper thin and irritating at this point. Can we just hang out with the boys again? That was fun. Remember when we just did that for the majority of a book? Good times. Better to stick with a well-written male cast than throw in girls that aren't worth a grain a salt, or so it seems right now.