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A review by kyarabereading
The Kill Order by James Dashner
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Like all the other books in the Maze Runner series, The Kill Order is a real page-turner. Chapter after chapter gets you sucked into all the action and madness that you can’t quite put the book down. Every gory detail, every action-packed scene, every mystery unlocked, every heart-wrenching moment - they all bring the reader into the tragic world Dashner created. This book was a great addition to the series, helping the reader better understand the events that led the Maze being created in the first place, all the pain the world went through during that time. It almost makes me wish this book came with its own series, so we can learn more about the characters, what the world was like before the flare, etc.
The book is a prequel to the events of the Maze Runner, and it follows the lives of Mark and his friends - people who were all alive when the sun flares first started. For fans of the Maze Runner, it may be odd to read a book with a whole new set of characters. But for me, it was actually sort of refreshing to get to meet a whole new group of people, and Dashner did an incredible job helping us get to know them. I loved seeing their dynamics within the group - the way they care about each other and the way they work together. Most of the book focuses on two characters (Mark and Alec) so if I had any criticism, it would be that I wish we could see more of the other characters that are important to the protagonist (Mark).
The events of this book hit you rather quickly, with the reader being sucked into this world Dashner created almost immediately. That can sometimes be a book’s downfall, but Dashner’s world- building and imagery are so incredible, they help introduce the reader to this world without confusing them. The book is very action-packed and Dashner does a good job of describing all that action. I will say that I do wish the book had more moments where it slowed down a bit so that the reader can have more time to get to know the characters in a less stressful situation/environment. While reading, I often got tired of the fight sequences and wished we could see the characters simply exist without another problem arising.
Finally, I’d like to say that this book is also incredibly emotional. Rarely, do I have a book that makes my heart feel as heavy as this one did. It reminds me why I love these types of dystopian books. They show communities coming together not just to survive, but to live. They show how important love and compassion are. And they show us how when people truly care, they are willing to do just about anything, sacrifice just about anything for one another.
The book is a prequel to the events of the Maze Runner, and it follows the lives of Mark and his friends - people who were all alive when the sun flares first started. For fans of the Maze Runner, it may be odd to read a book with a whole new set of characters. But for me, it was actually sort of refreshing to get to meet a whole new group of people, and Dashner did an incredible job helping us get to know them. I loved seeing their dynamics within the group - the way they care about each other and the way they work together. Most of the book focuses on two characters (Mark and Alec) so if I had any criticism, it would be that I wish we could see more of the other characters that are important to the protagonist (Mark).
The events of this book hit you rather quickly, with the reader being sucked into this world Dashner created almost immediately. That can sometimes be a book’s downfall, but Dashner’s world- building and imagery are so incredible, they help introduce the reader to this world without confusing them. The book is very action-packed and Dashner does a good job of describing all that action. I will say that I do wish the book had more moments where it slowed down a bit so that the reader can have more time to get to know the characters in a less stressful situation/environment. While reading, I often got tired of the fight sequences and wished we could see the characters simply exist without another problem arising.
Finally, I’d like to say that this book is also incredibly emotional. Rarely, do I have a book that makes my heart feel as heavy as this one did. It reminds me why I love these types of dystopian books. They show communities coming together not just to survive, but to live. They show how important love and compassion are. And they show us how when people truly care, they are willing to do just about anything, sacrifice just about anything for one another.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Grief, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Torture, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Animal death, Death of parent, Vomit, Child death, and Sexual harassment