Book Review - Scorch Trails

Title: The Scorch Trials
Author: James Dashner
Series: The Maze Runner (book 2)
Publisher: Chicken House Ltd
Release Date: 5 Jun. 2014
ISBN: 9781909489417

Synopsis
Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escaping meant he would get his life back. But no one knew what sort of a life they were going back to...
Burned and baked, the earth is a wasteland, its people driven mad by an infection known as the Flare.
Instead of freedom, Thomas must face another trial. He must cross the Scorch to once again save himself and his friends.

My Review

I enjoyed Maze Runner overall but had a few reservations, but I was intrigued to find out more so started to read Scorch Trials. The Gladers are out of the maze, but it's not the comforting end they hoped for, instead the experiments continue, but on a much larger and more dangerous scale. Thomas and his friends must once more band together to try and overcome all the trials and adversities that are put in front of them. 
THe book is fairly fast paced and has plenty of twists and turns, Teresa becomes a bit of an Enigma which started off as an interesting mystery, but one that i soon got bored with. I didn't really care where she was or whose side she was on. I just wanted them to get on with it and make a decision.
The setting of the plains was interesting and offered a lot more opportunities for danger, the characters mostly stayed true to themselves and developed in a way that you would expect. There was some very intense scenes and one in particular that made my skin crawl so much I nearly put it down. Dashner is very good at setting scenes and creating tension, and being a bit creepy. 
I liked the addition of Brenda and Jorge, they offered an interesting dynamic and another layer to the story. I am interested to see where they go in the next book and what part they really have to play. 
The main frustration I had with this book was that I still haven't learnt anything more about WICKED, this added more questions, but didn't really help to answer any of the hundreds I had from the first book. It was enjoyable enough as a story but I feel like it's just padding out situations. I hoped for a bit more. However, saying that, I did enjoy it overall and am intrigued enough to proceed onto the third book and hope I get some answers.

My Rating