I finished this as an advance- the book is not due out until August 14th. James Dashner has done it again! The Maze Runner was one of those series that I knew would impact and enthrall young and old alike because it was such an original storyline and The Kill Order as a prequel will have the same impact. We learn of the events that caused Theresa,Thomas and his merry band of boys to end up in the Maze in the first place. This is the story of the solar flares and how love helps you keep going, keeps you fighting and doing the right thing. This is the story of Mark and Trina and a small group of survivors - one day you are in high school and the next you are in hand to hand combat with crazed zombielike sick people who want to tear you apart because of the flare. It is how government with good intentions can wreak havoc on average people. It is Walking Dead meets Mission Impossible meets the Dirty Dozen. The Kill Order will make you stare into the sun and wonder if your world suddenly turned upside down, who would you trust and where would you hide. This book is more violent/graphic than the other Maze Runner books so I would caution young kids against it but that also makes it a great crossover book - adults will be reading this alongside their teens.