Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth and mankind fell to disease.
Mark and Trina were there when it happened, and they survived. But surviving the sun flares was easy compared to what came next.
Now a disease of rage and lunacy races across the eastern United States, and there’s something suspicious about its origin. Worse yet, it’s mutating, and all evidence suggests that it will bring humanity to its knees.
Mark and Trina are convinced there’s a way to save those left living from descending into madness. And they’re determined to find it—if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some, you’re worth more dead than alive.
Books
Young Adult Fiction
The Kill Order (Maze Runner Prequel)
The Kill Order (Maze Runner Prequel) http://www.yabookscentral.com/media/reviews/photos/thumbnail/200x285s/3f/58/aa/12996_kill-order-1344959541.jpg Featured
Author(s)
Publisher
Genre(s)
Age Range
12+
Release Date
August 14, 2012
ISBN
0385742886
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Editor reviews
Average editor rating from: 3 user(s)
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.
| Overall rating | 3.7 | |
| Plot | 3.0 | |
| Characters | 4.0 | |
| Writing Style | 4.0 |
Survival of the fittest
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.
Good Points
This was an action-packed, nail-biting novel of suspense that will appeal to fans of violent, dystopic novels. I never knew who would die next, and around every corner there lurked some danger or other. Fans of the series will not be disappointed.
Bad Points
The flashbacks made this a bit difficult to follow (they were almost always dreams that Mark was having), and I'm not entirely sure that I understand how this ties in with The Maze Runner, except for the short chapters that talk about Thomas before and after the main story.
Do You Recommend?
Yes
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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.
Reviewed by
Jen, Editor
August 26, 2012
Last updated: August 26, 2012
Top 10 Reviewer - View all my reviews (314)
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.
| Overall rating | 3.0 | |
| Plot | 3.0 | |
| Characters | 3.0 | |
| Writing Style | 3.0 |
Reviewed by
Jen, Editor
August 26, 2012
Last updated: August 26, 2012
Top 10 Reviewer - View all my reviews (314)
Not quite what I was expecting.
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.
Do You Recommend?
Yes
Was this review helpful to you?
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!
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!
| Overall rating | 3.7 | |
| Plot | 4.0 | |
| Characters | 3.0 | |
| Writing Style | 4.0 |
Prequel Fills in the Gaps
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!
Do You Recommend?
Yes
Was this review helpful to you?
User reviews
Average user rating from: 1 user(s)
The Kill Order, the prequel to one of the best series out there. I was kinda disappointed with this book, it just wasn't as good as the original series. I liked the idea and all, with the origin of the Flare, I thought it was brilliant and horrible. I thought it was sad for those leaders to think the solution is to destruct, really sad. What I didn't really like about this book is how Mark didn't think twice about killing, and ran off with Alec when he could be protecting his friends, his actions had no real reason.
I really liked the plot, and how it explained a few details that linked with the Maze Runner (Crankheads, the origin of the disease, and immunes). Although it had parts with Thomas and Teresa in the prologue and the epilogue, it didn't really connect deeply, which is both good (freedom to write) and bad (Thomas is awesome!).
I thought that the ending was kinda sad, how everyone just died. The whole journey for Mark and Alec to the base was really worth nothing at all, as they did not pass the information on to anyone, so it just died with them. They could of spent the time they wasted doing better things, like stopping Bruce and helping Deedee and Lana. I also felt like Mark and Trina should of spent more together, as in the blurb, the book hinted it was about them, not Mark and Alec, who were never to far apart.
All in all, The Kill Order was a great edition to the Maze Runner series. If you love the Maze Runner, then it is definitely worth reading. Be warned, I think it is a good idea to read this book after the Death Cure, as in the prologue and epilogue, it reveals much of the story in Maze Runner that would spoil the surprise. :)
I really liked the plot, and how it explained a few details that linked with the Maze Runner (Crankheads, the origin of the disease, and immunes). Although it had parts with Thomas and Teresa in the prologue and the epilogue, it didn't really connect deeply, which is both good (freedom to write) and bad (Thomas is awesome!).
I thought that the ending was kinda sad, how everyone just died. The whole journey for Mark and Alec to the base was really worth nothing at all, as they did not pass the information on to anyone, so it just died with them. They could of spent the time they wasted doing better things, like stopping Bruce and helping Deedee and Lana. I also felt like Mark and Trina should of spent more together, as in the blurb, the book hinted it was about them, not Mark and Alec, who were never to far apart.
All in all, The Kill Order was a great edition to the Maze Runner series. If you love the Maze Runner, then it is definitely worth reading. Be warned, I think it is a good idea to read this book after the Death Cure, as in the prologue and epilogue, it reveals much of the story in Maze Runner that would spoil the surprise. :)
| Overall rating | 3.3 | |
| Plot | 4.0 | |
| Characters | 3.0 | |
| Writing Style | 3.0 |
Great Prequel (Spoilers alert!)
The Kill Order, the prequel to one of the best series out there. I was kinda disappointed with this book, it just wasn't as good as the original series. I liked the idea and all, with the origin of the Flare, I thought it was brilliant and horrible. I thought it was sad for those leaders to think the solution is to destruct, really sad. What I didn't really like about this book is how Mark didn't think twice about killing, and ran off with Alec when he could be protecting his friends, his actions had no real reason.
I really liked the plot, and how it explained a few details that linked with the Maze Runner (Crankheads, the origin of the disease, and immunes). Although it had parts with Thomas and Teresa in the prologue and the epilogue, it didn't really connect deeply, which is both good (freedom to write) and bad (Thomas is awesome!).
I thought that the ending was kinda sad, how everyone just died. The whole journey for Mark and Alec to the base was really worth nothing at all, as they did not pass the information on to anyone, so it just died with them. They could of spent the time they wasted doing better things, like stopping Bruce and helping Deedee and Lana. I also felt like Mark and Trina should of spent more together, as in the blurb, the book hinted it was about them, not Mark and Alec, who were never to far apart.
All in all, The Kill Order was a great edition to the Maze Runner series. If you love the Maze Runner, then it is definitely worth reading. Be warned, I think it is a good idea to read this book after the Death Cure, as in the prologue and epilogue, it reveals much of the story in Maze Runner that would spoil the surprise. :)
Good Points
-Its pretty cool and sad to find out that the Flare was created by humans to murder half the population because of resources.
-To find out one of the first immunes, Deedee, and how everything came to be
-To find out one of the first immunes, Deedee, and how everything came to be
Bad Points
-I don't think it linked enough with Thomas, and the epilogue and prologue were the same as the original trilogy.
-It said in the blurb it was about Mark and Trina, not Mark and Alec :(
-It said in the blurb it was about Mark and Trina, not Mark and Alec :(
Do You Recommend?
Yes
Was this review helpful to you?
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