Death Cure by James Dashner

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Thomas knows that WICKED can't be trusted.  They stole his memories and locked him inside the Maze.  They forced him to the brink of death by dropping him in the wilds of the Scorch.  And they took Gladers, his friends, from him.


Now WICKED says that the time for lies is over.  That they've collected all the data they can from the Trials and will rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission: to complete the blueprint for the cure for the Flare.  But Thomas must undergo one final test.


What WICKED doesn't know, however, is that Thomas has already remembered far more than they think.  And it's enough to prove that he can't believe a word of what WICKED says.


The time for lies is over.  And the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could have ever imagined.

WILL ANYONE SURVIVE THE DEATH CURE?

Intense, non-stop, heart-pounding, rip-roaring action would be the best way to describe The Death Cure, the third and final installment in the excellent  Maze Runner series. Thomas continues to battle the mind games on all fronts and maneuver between good and evil in a fight to save his life and that of his friends.


After years of tests and mind traps, WICKED has finally promised a cure to those who have survived the Scorch. But of course, can anyone really trust them? There are always strings attached and Thomas’ has been tethered pretty tightly to them. With the unenviable task of leading the group upon his weathered shoulders he must decide carefully if he wants to sever all ties with WICKED or put his life into their hands. His decision is directly tied to the cure…but at a cost. When WICKED offers the opportunity to retrieve all his memories he goes with gut instinct. He hides his secret that he's slowly regaining his memories, fleeting as they may be, but they're enough to plant doubts in his mind about WICKED's ulterior motives. With his friend Brenda, one of the few he trusts implicitly besides his Glader friends, Minho and Newt,  they hatch plans for their escape to go searching for answers on their own terms. The Death Cure is where this gang finally takes charge of their fate. Former enemies become allies, former allies become untrustworthy and all the while society is rapidly descending into debauchery around them.


What I have enjoyed most about this series is that you’re just as cynical and confused as the characters are.  Every misdirection somehow leads closer to the truth and every easy route is questionable. There is always so much more than meets the eye that you find yourself second guessing everything. It’s so easy to get sucked in and feel the pressure that these kids feel.  But these kids are so unbelievably resilient and loyal and ultimately they make this series so fantastic.


The intensity in The Death Cure is relentless and doesn't disappoint.  And if you have the special edition which includes never-before-seen classified documents –  let's just say that they're intriguing enough to make you wonder if perhaps there's more of the story to tell ...


~ Bel