My enjoyment of the first Maze Runner was down to the fact that certain pieces of the puzzle were witheld from the reader and the characters, to create a conspiracy and sense of suspense. It's odd, considering that, that it's also the reason I really disliked this sequel. 
 In the first book, the concept of the maze was really interesting and taut, yet the 'trials' in this entry feel like one random attack or story twist after another. Nothing feels connected, and because of that, nothing within the story flows for me like it did last time. 
 Overall, I found myself wanting this book to just be over already, which is never a good sign. This series maybe should have answered a few more questions in the first book and stayed a stand alone, because this sequel is disappointing.