Review: The Maze Runner (Audiobook)

The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Series: Maze Runner #1
Genre: Dystopia. YA
Length: 10 hours and 50 minutes
Narrator: Mark Deakins
Source: eLibrary
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Description:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

My Rating:

My Review:

Thomas wakes up in a box and the only thing he remembers is his name.  He finds himself in a world run by teenage boys who no little more about how they got there than Thomas.  The walls close at night and mechanical monsters try to kill those caught outside the walls.  Ever day the boys hope to survive by performing jobs within their community and trying to solve the riddle of the maze right outside their doors.  They simply want to go home, wherever that is.  Though Thomas can't remember his past, some boys find him vaguely familiar.  They do not remember the details, but simply know him as a threat.  When a the only girl ever to enter the maze comes up in the box shortly after Thomas and declares that things are about to change, the boys know that they must solve the maze soon or all perish.

On the story...
This is one of those stories that didn't sound like my kind of book.   I gave it a try because I running out of dystopian options on audio.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The book took a little while to get started and the writing wasn't especially exciting but the plot and characters were amazing.  The boys were well developed and I found myself attached to a few of them.  I was intrigued by the maze.  As I learned more about the boys' lives, I became even more fascinated by the entire premise.  Things are unveiled bit by bit with plenty of adventure in between.  I loved how each boy's personality showed through and I found favorites in Meinho, Newt, and Chuck.  I was so invested and wanted them to succeed.  It really drew me in.

On the narrator...
Mr. Deakins did a great job.  The voices were distinct and well done.

Overall...
Very intriguing story that kept me guessing from beginning to end.  Just when I thought I understood, the epilogue told me I didn't.  This is another example of a dystopian that doesn't look like the rest.  This is a different type of dystopian.


 P.S.  This goes toward that Dystopia challenge that I committed to.  I wasn't kidding when I said there were more to come.  It'll start winding down soon though.