The Kill Order (Maze Runner Prequel)

This prequel to The Maze Runner series tells the story of Mark and his friend Trina, who both survived the sun flares by meeting up with Alec, a military type, and Lana, a nurse. They have set up a small community, where they are managing to survive with some others. Then, giant Bergs descend with soldiers shooting darts at people, who are then infected by a virus that drives them insane and then kills them. Several of the group die, but Alec, Trina, Mark and Lana set off away from the town, where they happen upon a little girl, Deedee. Deedee has been shot by the arrows but is not ill, a fact which makes her group, headed by the zealous Jed, believe that she is sent by the demons who are causing all the trouble. Mark and Alec get separated from the girls when they try to escape Jed, and stumble upon a Berg landing site, where they find out that the Post-Flare Coalition in Alaska has sent the virus to kill the population, but the virus is mutating. They also find out that the girls are back in the hands of Jed's group, so they take off in a Berg to try to find them. Things go from bad to worse, and even when they find the girls, keeping everyone safe is impossible. The best they can do is to get Deedee to the government facility in Asheville so that she can be studied for a possible cure for the Flare virus. There are frequent flashbacks to thirteen years previous, when Trina and Mark survived the flares and met up with the others.

I was really looking forward to this prequel to the Maze Runner trilogy because I thoroughly enjoyed those books. (Team Minho FTW) However, this wasn't what I was expecting. There's a prologue and epilogue that focus on the characters of the Glade but other than that, this is a completely different story with new characters.

It's still interesting and action packed with characters as intense as the ones we've come to know but for fans looking for more information on Thomas, Teresa, or Brenda, they might be disappointed. I was hoping for more background on the Gladers themselves.

For those readers who are just beginning the series, I would say to this is a good place to start.

The Kill Order takes place thirteen years prior to the initial time setting of The Maze Runner. This is before Thomas and the Glades, even before WICKED was created. This is the story of Mark and Alec and their group of survivors after the Sun Flares.

For readers looking to read more on Thomas, this might be an initial disappointment. But that shouldn't stop fans of the Maze Runner Series from skipping this prequel.

The story line is excellent. Although not what I expected, I enjoyed learning about the years that brought the world from what we know today to the world of the Glads. It puts a whole new perspective on the world Thomas and the Glades lived in. I came to understand the world they grew up in and what helped create their characters.

Mark and Alec are realistic and likable characters, it took me awhile to tear away my bias as I read.( I have to admit I really wanted to know more about the Gladers!) But once I got past it- the characters of The Kill Order are strong and resilient.

This is a must read for any Maze Runner Fan!