The Death Cure (Maze Runner Series #3)

( 1261 )

Overview

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.
What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than ...

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The Death Cure (Maze Runner Series #3)

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More About This Book

Overview

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.
What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.
The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

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Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble

The final volume of James Dashner's Maze Runner trilogy ties the bow in unforgettable ways. Thomas has learned and remembered much since he first awakened knowing only name, but now he and Glade survivors must risk everything as they confront one final test for the cure. A young adult dystopian sci-fi series with wings. (P.S. Watch for a forthcoming Maze Runner film, to be directed by Catherine Hardwicke, whose credits included Red Riding Hood and Twilight.)

VOYA - Valerie Burleigh
Fans of Dashner will not be disappointed in the final book of this trilogy. After surviving the maze and scorch trials, Thomas is again forced to confront his beliefs regarding the "cure" that WICKED claims to have within their grasp. Without understanding his importance to the cure and subsequent survival of the human race, he defies the government organization at every turn while trying to determine along the way who is friend and who is foe. As his list of friends grows smaller, Thomas relies on survival instincts to help him last just one more day in a world gone amuck with madness. When offered the chance to have his memories returned, Thomas decides that he does not want to remember who he was before. If he was actually involved in setting up the trials, as WICKED implies, he really does not want to return to being that person. Setting up experiments and then actually living them has changed him in ways he could not have possibly predicted. Readers will find themselves rooting for Thomas and his friends as they take this final journey into the unknown. A fast-paced, intense, and emotional ending will have readers eagerly anticipating the final chapters. There are graphic scenes of fighting, injuries, and death, similar to the previous two novels, as the groups find themselves questioning their survival. Teens will be drawn to the underlying theme of good versus evil, but the ultimate decision is one that will stay with them long after they finish reading. Is redemption even possible after unleashing such horror on the world? Reviewer: Valerie Burleigh
Children's Literature - Julia Beiker
Dashner illustrates how science and logic do not always partner up together. In this tale our young hero, Thomas, discovers he carries a deadly disease that the scientific world, Wicked, decides to exploit through physical trials and research. Wicked takes a handful of young people and puts them together where they face death on a continual bases until the climax builds and explodes all over the final chapters. The shocking ending through this world of twist and turns amazes all. Starting at the end of the series takes away from understanding character development and whether this story satisfies the reader's need to know theory. Sometimes I felt like I missed something important and had to go back and reread. I appreciate the originality and how well the book read, but the concept seems so farfetched that on a believable scale I would give it a three out of 10 being the most believable. This book is part of the "Maze Runner" trilogy. Reviewer: Julia Beiker
Kirkus Reviews

An explosive ending to The Maze Runner trilogy.

Thomas and the rest of the survivors of the Maze and the Scorch Trials are being held at WICKED (World in Catastrophe, Killzone Experiment Department) headquarters. Subjected to even more tests, they've learned enough to know that they're all part of a massive experiment to find a cure for the pandemic Flare disease. But does any cure justify what they've been put through? Or the engineered deaths of their friends? It's hard to believe that "WICKED is good," even though that's the message they're bombarded with. Discouraged, rebellious and definitely not trusting, Thomas, Newt, Minho, Brenda and Jorge break out and escape to Denver, now a walled city meant to be reserved for the uninfected and the immune. But it's all too clear that Newt has already been infected and is teetering on the verge of madness. It's equally clear that WICKED has put a bounty on their heads and won't rest until they have these survivors back in hand—especially Thomas, who may have been part of all the experiments from the very beginning and is now the Final Candidate. Dashner again displays his mastery of the action sequence, making readers turn pages even as they become further invested in the well-developed characters.

Heart pounding to the very last moment. (Science fiction/thriller. 12 and up)

From the Publisher
Praise for the Maze Runner series:
 
A #1 New York Times Bestselling Series
A USA Today Bestseller
A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year
An ALA-YASLA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book
An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick
 
"[A] mysterious survival saga that passionate fans describe as a fusion of Lord of the Flies, The Hunger Games, and Lost."—EW.com
 
“Wonderful action writing—fast-paced…but smart and well observed.”—Newsday
 
“[A] nail-biting must-read.”—Seventeen.com
 
“Breathless, cinematic action.”—Publishers Weekly
 
“Heart pounding to the very last moment.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“Exclamation-worthy.”—Romantic Times
 

• “James Dashner’s illuminating prequel [The Kill Order] will thrill fans of this Maze Runner [series] and prove just as exciting for readers new to the series.”—Shelf Awareness, Starred

School Library Journal
Gr 7 Up—In this final book in the series, Thomas and his friends learn that the World in Catastrophe, Killzone Experiment Department (WICKED) wants to devise a blueprint for a cure for the lethal Flare disease by analyzing their brain patterns. Although Thomas knows that he was partially responsible for the creation of the Maze, a brutal experiment that forces its subject to undergo trials and tribulations, he no longer thinks the end justifies the means—even if the goal is to save mankind. Despite his friend Teresa's continued protestations that WICKED is good, Thomas disagrees. His memories have started to come trickling back. He decides, with a few others, to break out of its headquarters. The group journeys to Denver, a city fruitlessly trying to keep the Flare at bay. Without a maze to escape from or a predetermined location to journey toward, the plot meanders. Thomas and his allies join forces with the Right Arm, a revolutionary organization determined to bring WICKED down. Like most things in the gripping series, good and evil are not black and white. WICKED, the Right Arm, and even Thomas all initially act with good intentions but make questionable moral choices along the way. Thomas's struggle to understand this contradiction makes the novel interesting. Fans of the previous books may be disappointed that many questions are left unanswered, but most of them will be satisfied with the conclusion.—Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NY
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780385738774
  • Publisher: Random House Children's Books
  • Publication date: 10/11/2011
  • Series: Maze Runner Series , #3
  • Pages: 336
  • Sales rank: 16,843
  • Age range: 12 - 17 Years
  • Lexile: HL760L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 5.80 (w) x 8.40 (h) x 1.30 (d)

Meet the Author

James Dashner

JAMES DASHNER was born and raised in Georgia but now lives and writes in the Rocky Mountains. He is also the author of The 13th Reality. To learn more about him and his books, visit jamesdashner.com.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 1261 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(839)

4 Star

(216)

3 Star

(106)

2 Star

(48)

1 Star

(52)

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See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 1266 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 11, 2011

    That's it?!

    I have raved about this series to everyone and i could hardly wait for the conclusion. This last book was a huge let down. It felt like the author didn't know how to wrap everything up for the conclusion. It was boring and slow. There were moments between the characters and the employees of wicked where thomas wasn't running for his life and actual answers could have been given. Instead, i feel like i just read a whole lot of nothing. If the author didn't know how to conclude the story he should have waited. I feel like i just ran in circles like a chicken with its head cut off. Not my idea of a good time.

    58 out of 111 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted December 27, 2011

    more from this reviewer

    Great conclusion to the trilogy

    I was gifted the first two books of this series for Christmas and quickly devoured them, which resulted in high expectations for The Death Cure. Fortunately, I was really pleased with the third and final installment in this trilogy by Mr. Dashner. Granted, there were moments in the middle where the book seemed to drag a little given the rapid pace established earlier in the series. However, I did not feel it significantly detracted from the overall story. This was a great read and for comparison purposes, I would rank it slightly above Mockingjay, the final book in The Hunger Games series.

    46 out of 54 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 12, 2011

    Extremely disappointing!

    This was an extremely disappointing ending to a semi-ok series. A friend recommended this series to me after reading the Hunger Games. It took me a while to get into this series but they kept telling me it gets better. Once the series finally got better I think it just got horrible! The ending of this series was a complete let down! The writer left so many loose ends, it felt like he just got bored with writing this and wanted to complete it. How can you just leave it with a ¿happy ending¿? Why can¿t you tell us more about their memories!? Who is Brenda? What about the chancellor?! You bring in all these characters and try to develop them but fail. UGH I¿m still frustrated!
    It¿s unfortunate, but I will not recommend this series to anybody unless they are looking for a book that teases that it¿s good and then leaves you hanging. My series of choice is still The Hunger Games.

    33 out of 81 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 27, 2011

    Wow.

    James Dahner is a master of playing with the human mind. He toys with the fear we all have as humans; the end of the world. In The Death Cure, we get to experiance Dahners thrilling version of the end of the world. As you know of course the Flare is making all who are not immune go slowly crazy, and the worst part is they know it too, yet another fear of the human mind.
    I envite a person of high school age and above to engulf themselves in Thomas, Minho, and all the others who find themselves competing against WICKED, story. Dashner is a brilliant writer and this book appeals to all.

    26 out of 31 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted September 10, 2011

    To amazing

    I have also read the first to books and the maximum ride books and they all are truly phenomonal.i strongly encourage anyone who sees this to read the maze runner series.

    23 out of 35 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 1, 2011

    I Also Recommend:

    Beelzebub Girl (Ancient Legends)

    can't wait

    I love the maze runner series. So fantastic. Can't wait to read the next book.

    20 out of 44 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 22, 2012

    Death cure.

    Excellent start.bit slow, but that is what pulls it together. I HAVE READ THE SERIES, and it is a series you will not put down.

    17 out of 21 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 29, 2012

    The ending is not good enough for the trilogy

    i liked all the maze runner books tons but i hate the ending of this book. I personally think teresa better than brenda. So naturally i hate the ending of the book.

    14 out of 40 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted January 21, 2012

    Makes me angry

    The first two books were amazing. I loved them both. They were filled with excitement and they kept you reading until you finished the entire book. This book wasn't exciting and did the opposite of making me want to continue reading. I had enough of it and stopped reading half way into the book. Thomas's decisions and lack of understanding of what Theresa did for him just makes me incredibly angry. Everything is dragged on and on and honestly, it's just very boring. I had to skip over some parts because of all of the useless information. Skip this book. Don't waste your time on it.

    14 out of 40 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 27, 2011

    Loved it!

    I couldn't put this book down.

    14 out of 19 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 23, 2011

    Disappointing

    First of all, terrible title. There is no cure for death, since it is not a disease, and that is not what they are trying to cure.

    Dashner has great ideas in this series, but executes them poorly. There are so many questions left unanswered, and they are the most intriguing, suspenseful questions in the story (What was Thomas' perception of WICKED before The Maze? Why did he help them? What were his memories that they blocked from him? And why was that necessary?). I hope these get answered in The Kill Order, though I'm doubtful I will read it.

    In the end, this series accomplishes nothing and leaves us just as confused as the Gladers when they first started this adventure.

    14 out of 26 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 27, 2011

    Great series

    I liked the whole series. It had great characters and it was very suspenseful. Must read!

    12 out of 16 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted October 6, 2011

    OMG!!!!!!!!!CANT WAIT ANY LONGER!!!

    I have been waiting forever!! I just hate it wen authers leave a cliff hanger and u have to wait forever for the next book to come out.if u havent red this series yet u should! This an awesome series

    10 out of 18 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 14, 2012

    Unaware of his surroundings, Thomas opens his eyes warily, only

    Unaware of his surroundings, Thomas opens his eyes warily, only to see white. White everything. The walls, the floor, the ceiling. Thomas had lost his orientation of nighttime and daytime. This seemed to last forever, until one day/night, Janson-a.k.a. "Rat Man"- walks in and lays it all down to Thomas. "The Trials are over Thomas. You're immune to the Flare, always have been always will be, and you now have the option to get your memories back". After all WICKED had put him through, after all his struggles with these "Trials", they expect Thomas to believe them? But WICKED is depending on the Gladers and Group B to help them form a cure for the Flare. What are Thomas and his friends to do? Save themselves? Or submit themselves to potential torture to attempt to save the human race? Boy. What. A. Book. Absolutely an outstanding read. Written so descriptively that the entire book seemingly plays out in your head as you read. I especially enjoyed how the bonds between friends loosen to nearly a thread, only for them to be brought together again. The vocabulary contained in the novel will most likely not trouble anyone above grade six, keeping it a pretty quick read, even for a 300+ page book. Recommendations include, but are not limited to readers of: Fantasy, Action, Strong relationships, and Dystopian novels.

    7 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 8, 2013

    Disappointing and Unbelievable Ending

    Not every author knows how to finish a book or series well. A satisfying ending can be achieved even if you don't agree with all of the author's decisions. In "The Death Cure", James Dasher fails at ending the series believably or giving a satisfying ending. The most intriguing and well written characters die inexplicably; and Thomas, our protagonist, makes irrational decisions and becomes generally unlikable in his quest to find out who WICKED is. In the first two books (The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials), Dasher had created a wonderful premise full of suspense and mystery. At the end of the trilogy in The Death Cure, the reader is not rewarded with any answers, just more questions and and a feeling that they wasted their time reading this trilogy. The character development is lacking, and one of the best characters, Teresa, the "love interest", is left as an afterthought until the very end. James Dasher expects us to believe that Thomas has fallen for Brenda, a character that is so poorly written I wondered if she was just an illusion of WICKED. Their interactions are forced and lacked the heart and soul Thomas had with Teresa (or Chuck and Newt in the first two books). In fact, the entire book was absent of heart. It plodded along without focus, waiting for Thomas to find answers and a resolution, only to discover he doesn't want his memory back to get those answers and there isn't a resolution. Dasher is not alone in this. D.J. MacHale created wonderful worlds in the Pendragon series, but it ended with an epic fail with its resolution and final relationship choices. The same with Stephenie Meyer and the final book in the Twilight series, which was wonderful until the climax that was promised never happened and characters behaved irrationally. Even though I didn't agree with how all the story lines ended in the Harry Potter Series, J.K. Rowling provided a satisfying ending. Suzanne Collins got it right with The Hunger Games. Even the great Charles Dickens wrote an alternate ending to "Great Expectations", when a friend suggested that the first ending was bleak and unsatisfying. While Dasher is no Dickens, he should take a page from him and take another stab at concluding this series.

    6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted February 6, 2013

    more from this reviewer

    Not quite the ending I hoped for...

    The Death Cure is the final chapter of Dashner's dystopian Maze Runner trilogy. Though I enjoyed the first two books, my liking for the third pales in comparison to previous installments. I was hoping for something really climactic and I feel cheated because all I'm left with is a bunch of unanswered questions. How was mapping their reactions to the trials going to create a cure? To what extent were Thomas and Teresa involved with WICKED? Why was Thomas so much more important? I don't always need my endings to be tied up in a pretty little bow, but Dashner places so much emphasis on certain things that, by the end, you expect to get those answers. Another problem I had with this book is that I found most of the main characters to be one-dimensional and flat. Thomas is annoying and weak, Brenda is underdeveloped and Teresa is dull. Clearly Dashner has some issues with writing multifaceted lead characters, particularly with regard to women, which is a shame because his knack for writing engaging sidekicks is quite good. Let's just say, my love for Newt and Minho was enough to let me get over my issues with the rest of the cast. These guys are the two whose fates I genuinely cared about and they are the ones I was really rooting for. It just sucks because Dashner puts them through the ringer and no one made it out unscathed! Overall, I really enjoyed the series though this book was my least favourite of the three. As a whole, I think the series could've been parred down to either one really long book or made into two, because so much happens that wasn't necessary to the main plot. And I know it sounds like I hated The Death Cure, I didn't. There were heart-pounding moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was an appropriate locale to end the book, bringing the series around full circle. Perhaps the best thing about the book is that Dashner gets you thinking about right versus wrong and how the answers aren't always in black and white. You start to wonder, does the end really justify the means? Is either force justified in their extreme actions? To The Death Cure's credit, I will say this--- it leaves you pondering those thought-provoking questions long after you finish reading.

    6 out of 8 people found this review helpful.

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  • Posted January 7, 2013

    Please note- there are a few SPOILERS in my review. I loved rea

    Please note- there are a few SPOILERS in my review.

    I loved reading the Maze Runner and while my interest started to wane with the Scotch Trials I was still excited to read the Death Cure. While Dashner does try to answer some of the questions regarding "the flare" - I don't think he provided answers that were in depth enough to satisfy me. Many of the characters remained flat and undeveloped to me and I wished that Dashner would have gone into more detail about their regained memories. I also didn't care for the cliche triangle between Teresa, Brenda, and Richard. Not to mention that Richard just seemed become attached to Brenda to quickly. Overall, Dashner's writing just seemed to become lazy to me - It's like he got caught up in his own maze-like (lol!) writing and didn't know finish the series so he decided to rely on cliches such as the return to the maze and the showdown with rat man. Also, what a misleading title given the events in the book.

    5 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted April 26, 2012

    Wow

    Loved it! Great conclussion, the trilogy keeps getting better and better! I recommend the books to young adults and adults, not children, too many deaths. This is a book that kept me reading, I couldnt stop! Amazing!

    5 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 26, 2012

    I love this book

    I will give this book a 4 out of 5 but it is coollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

    5 out of 10 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted November 29, 2011

    HORRIBLE

    I was so excited to read this after the ending of Scorch Trials, but this was just one HUGE letdown. I hated almost all of the characters and I had no sympathy for any of them. I honestly wanted to punch each and every character because they were all so stupid and asinine. Thomas' selfishness in the book made me want to throw up, and all in all, these were two hours that I want back.

    5 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

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