Kill Order

The world is in chaos. Devastating sun flares have destroyed civilisation as we know it. People survive in small communities trying to cobble their lives together. Mark and Trina are two teenagers in this struggle to survive. Together with Alec, the ex-US soldier, they are managing create a new life. Then comes the attack; a terrible virus is let loose. No one seems to be immune from a contagion that sends people mad. But where has it come from? Who is responsible? The trio embark on a race against time to try find a safe haven.

Kill Order is a prequel to the best selling trilogy that began with Maze Runner. It is very much aimed at fans who have already read those titles, and readers unfamiliar with the original sequence might struggle. The central plot is easy enough to follow and presumably sets the scene for what follows. However both the prologue and epilogue are confusing – the reader would have to recognise the references to appreciate their relevance. This is unlikely to trouble most young readers who will be reading it for the action; and action there is – in spades. Think Bruce Willis, non-stop gun fire, racing, chasing, horror after horror, one climactic moment after another   – this is the flavour of the narrative. Clichés abound, characterisation and reflection are set aside in favour of detailed description of extreme behaviour, extreme action.

Kill Order will satisfy those who enjoy the dystopian futures represented by writers such as Michael Grant and films of the same genre. Aimed at KS3 and upwards.