The Infinite Glade

Not only did this book have a lot of the same problems as the previous two—too many characters, too little to care about, too many factions and no clear understanding of who was good or bad—but on top of all of that, there was far too few answers given. Elements that were touted as super important throughout the trilogy (like the Cure and the Evolution) are seriously downplayed here and never come to fruition of any kind. More characters are added that end up being completely pointless and a POV character added in the previous book also really had no point by the end. I struggle to understand what Dashner was going for in general or why these books didn’t get stopped before publication. But here’s the thing that is probably show more important for anyone reading this review to know: I didn’t particularly care for the first trilogy either. I liked the first book and truly wanted to know more about the world set up within it. But it felt like Dashner had written himself into a corner and proceeded to pants his way through the rest of the series, which ended up a convoluted, shallow mess. It was probably my mistake to read this follow-up trilogy, but I really hoped that it would be more of a call back to The Maze Runner, something that could possibly redeem the world for me. Instead, it deteriorated even further. This means that I obviously don’t recommend this trilogy to anyone. And yes, a lot of people enjoyed the first trilogy more than me and thus might enjoy this follow-up more too. Beware, though, that the overall rating, at least on Goodreads, of this trilogy is quite a bit lower than for the original trilogy, and reviews I’ve read indicate that plenty of people who loved the original didn’t like these books nearly as much.

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback. show less

3.5/5

The conclusion to the Maze Cutter and Maze Runner series. It wasn't what I expected but I went in without any deep feelings as the Maze Cutter series is so far removed from the original.

Isaac is incredibly frustrating as a character. He lashes out in the worst ways and it felt like it was just for dramatic tension, but it truly was childish. I appreciated how Dashner balanced the hope (albeit farfetched and insanely naïve) of the islanders and the harsh realities of the world. When their hope, dreams, and desires are more realistic, the story was good and solid.

Alexandra is someone I loved to hate. She is insane and helps balance the insane amount of hope some characters have for some reason. I liked all of the characters show more though, they were all fun in their own way if you could get over how some acted and thought.

The atmosphere worked well, there wasn't extra world-building as it's over. There felt like a lot of exposition and Alexandra had a few monologues. Erros and Cian had their own points too where they dragged the plot down with a lot of info. I didn't expect a lot of info dumping at the end of a series, never mind the end of a book. A lot of the "big reveals" and "twists" fell flat for me, I expected more of a punch from Dashner but it just felt a little dragged out and tired.

This isn't the book that is going to answer all of your questions. I don't think this series could ever, seeing how far removed (DECADES) it is from our first loves. As a book alone, it is fine and does a good job with its themes of family, truth, hope, and everything to do with the Cure. It was an okay read, but it's not what I expected from the end of it all.

If you like dystopian worlds, DNA testing, opposing factions at war, and fighting for the truth above all, then you'd probably enjoy this book. As long as you prepare yourself for a slower book, you'll get some enjoyment from it. show less

3.5 Stars
For Maze fans, this novel is the final book in The Maze Cutter series/The Maze Runner universe. Although there are some slow sections, overall, this one is fast-paced and action-packed, with a handful of intriguing characters (Minho) that close out the series moderately well. It's not as cohesive, dynamic, and successful as the original trilogy, but for new audiences and diehard fans who already read the previous Maze Cutter books, this one will be a good choice to finish it up.

LibraryThing Early Reviewer

James Dashner closes out The Maze Cutter trilogy with a tense, thought-provoking finale. The book raises the stakes as the Remnant Nation threatens the fragile world order, blending mystery, danger, and moral questions that echo the legacy of the original Maze Runner series.

The strongest elements are its atmosphere, emotional weight, and the final act, which delivers action and payoff after a slower build. Dashner balances bleakness with hope, and the themes of legacy, loss, and sacrifice resonate.

That said, the pacing drags in the middle, and some characters feel underdeveloped. A few plot resolutions land a little flat for a conclusion this ambitious.

Still, The Infinite Glade offers closure, suspense, and enough heart to satisfy fans show more of the series, even if it’s not flawless. show less

In the final book of the Maze Cutter series, the story takes a journey through continuing war, confusion about truth and sacrifice, and the fight to decide if the cure is worth everything that has been sacrificed for it. Unexpectedly, within the finale of the Maze Cutter, we turn slightly from adventure towards moral quandary. Diabolical intrigue would spark in almost any reader, making them question what their own motivations would be in a similar scenario, and the characters within the story certainly share in that struggle.

In this book of the Maze Cutter, there are some new characters, characters that many of us are quite familiar with(Mino!), and characters that are sometimes likeable and sometimes not. Whether familiar or show more questionably suspicious, each individual within the story grapples with their own perspective, experiences, and decisions in both the war itself, and what to do when the cure is discovered.

Overall, I would say that it is a solid story, that evoked in me excitement, personal reflection, and quite a bit of entertainment. I appreciate what the author was trying to do, and I would suggest it to anyone YA or above. show less

The Infinite Glade was not a very satisfying end to the Maze Runner/ Maze Cutter series. It had its bright spots; the Minho and Alexandra rivalry, Frypan, interesting settings, but a lot of it felt either forced or lackluster. Dashner had some ideas that still needed fleshing out.

It was good to revisit the maze runner universe but not as compelling as the main storyline