The Kill Order by James Dashner
Published by Chicken House on December 5, 2013
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / General
Pages: 352
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When sun flares hit the Earth, intense heat, toxic radiation and flooding followed, wiping out much of the human race. Those who survived live in basic communities in the mountains, hunting for food. For Mark and his friends, surviving is difficult, and then an enemy arrives, infecting people with a highly contagious virus. Thousands die, and the virus is spreading. Worse, it's mutating, and people are going crazy. It's up to Mark and his friends to find the enemy - and a cure - before the Flare infects them all ...

The Kill Order was a gripping read that really pulled me back into the chaotic world James Dashner created. Having already enjoyed The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials, it was fascinating to see how it all started — the virus, the destruction, the government’s twisted decisions. I loved the action and intensity, and the pacing kept me turning the pages. That said, I found myself wishing for deeper insight into the virus’s effects, especially through more personal experiences. There’s a lot of secondhand information, and it made me feel a little distanced from the characters’ emotional arcs. Still, I appreciated the realism in how Mark and the others struggled to survive, and the morally grey areas gave the story weight. It’s the kind of book that answers some big questions but leaves you with even more — and I honestly wouldn’t mind another prequel to dig deeper into this world. A great pick for younger teens or fans of fast-paced dystopian fiction who want action over romance.