The Fever Code (The Maze Runner #0.6, #5) by James Dashner
Publisher: Chicken House
Goodreads Summary: All will be revealed in the fifth book in James Dashner’s #1 New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series. This is the story that fans all over the world have been waiting for—the story of how Thomas and WICKED built the Maze. You will not want to miss it.

Once there was a world’s end.
The forests burned, the lakes and rivers dried up, and the oceans swelled.
Then came a plague, and fever spread across the globe. Families died, violence reigned, and man killed man.
Next came WICKED, who were looking for an answer. And then they found the perfect boy.
The boy’s name was Thomas, and Thomas built a maze.
Now there are secrets.
There are lies.
And there are loyalties history could never have foreseen.
This is the story of that boy, Thomas, and how he built a maze that only he could tear down.
All will be revealed.

A prequel to the worldwide Maze Runner phenomenon, The Fever Code is the book that holds all the answers. How did WICKED find the Gladers? Who are Group B? And what side are Thomas and Teresa really on? Lies will be exposed. Secrets will be uncovered. Loyalties will be proven. Fans will never see the truth coming. Before there was the Maze, there was The Fever Code.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review: In this prequel to The Maze Runner we journey back in time to before the Maze trials, and how WCKD begun. (begun or began?) We watch as some lose their sanity and the way they turn out after they become infected. The Fever Code starts from being separated from their families, to entering the maze. Some of TMR's main characters' old names are revealed too.

Thomas is quite different from TMR Thomas. he is involved in a web of lies, however he doesn't realise it. He is a lot more naive and innocent as well. Teresa is loyal and believes in the cause, yet her loyalties aren't always clear for others. I was ecstatic when Newt appeared in the book, and some of his history and family is revealed. As we know, the maze is no bloodless affair, and through Thomas's observations we see the Maze before TMR.

Ava Paige's character intrigued me throughout the book. She begins as a kindhearted secondary mother to Thomas, hiding her true intentions and gaining his trust. The clues are present, but both Thomas and I ignored the flashes of her other side when she got impatient. I think her character had the best development overall, with all the hidden agendas only hinted at through Thomas's third person perspective.

I enjoyed this book so much more than The Kill Order, which is a relief. I didn't love it, but the adventure parts of the story were well written. I disliked that WCKD knew everything and no reasons or explanations were given when they revealed their knowledge because I thought this was unreasonable and they couldn't know "everything". The Fever Code is a must-read for all TMR fans as it contains the backstory you've all been dying to hear.
Purchase Location: Borrowed From School Library
Edition: Paperback
Buy the book: Book Depository
Recommended for: Anyone who has read The Maze Runner, this could also be an introduction to The Maze Runner series.

The Kill Order (The Maze Runner #0.5) by James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Goodreads Summary: The prequel to the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series.

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.
Rating: 2 Stars
Review: Took me a long time to read this with many breaks, but I finally finished it. Perhaps that affected the rating, along with me being a speed reader, but I'm not certain; this review is entirely my opinion and based on my reading style.

I didn't get bored too often in The Kill Order, I just found it somewhat plain. Yes, there is lots of adventure, but it didn't feel that genuine to me. As for why, I have no idea.

The Kill Order is written in third person, present tense. There are flashbacks to give the reader insight and a background story, which is written in past tense. These are brought in the form of Mark's 'nightmares'. While they were intended to give background information, I felt like they were quite sudden and unwarranted; I'd start reading in past tense, then realise that the setting and characters weren't right, and finally realise I was in one of Mark's nightmares.

Mark is a boy rescued by Alec, an ex military soldier. His love interest is Trina, his former neighbour and the only girl his age. A lot of people die, including many from their group. As they travel, they find deadly information and discover a cold and twisted truth.

I felt that the epilogue was my favourite part. It didn't relate to the rest of The Kill Order at all, and I felt that it was the true prequel to The Maze Runner as it related directly to a younger version of Thomas.
Purchase Location: Borrowed From Library
Edition: Ebook
Buy the book: Book Depository

The Death Cure (The Maze Runner #3) by James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte Press

The Scorch Trials (The Maze Runner #2) by James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Goodreads Summary: Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. 

Thomas was sure that escape from the Maze would mean freedom for him and the Gladers. But WICKED isn’t done yet. Phase Two has just begun. The Scorch. 

There are no rules. There is no help. You either make it or you die.

The Gladers have two weeks to cross through the Scorch—the most burned-out section of the world. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them. 

Friendships will be tested. Loyalties will be broken. All bets are off. 

There are others now. Their survival depends on the Gladers’ destruction—and they’re determined to survive.

The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner #1) by James Dashner
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Goodreads Summary: If you ain’t scared, you ain’t human.

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.

Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.

Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.

Everything is going to change.

Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying.

Remember. Survive. Run.
Rating: 5 Stars
Review:  Terrifying. James Dashner creates a beautiful tale that pulls you in from the first word- as soon as you start reading you are caught up in Thomas' deadly world, and as you read it is as if you are Thomas himself, facing all his challenges and making his decisions. Not long after, you feel terrified- after, what if the maze is really just a joke? What if none of it is true? The maze runner is just stunning, and filled with suspense. James Dashner has created a brilliant action packed novel.
Edition: Paperback
Buy the book: Book Depository
Recommended for: Fans of Divergent, the Hunger games, Partials and other Dystopian/ Mystery novels will love this! Action is key.