I put off reading this book because so many people complained about it. I don't see why though ! It was just as mysterious and left us hanging just as much as the first book. We learned a lot (well, still not enough) more about WICKED and their Trials they're putting these poor kids through. This time though instead of being in a Maze like lab rats they're in a wasteland of a city with other people. Except the others in this city have gone a bit mad with The Flare. A disease which we learn WICKED is trying to get rid of with these human trials. It kept me on my feet the entire time and I love how I could vividly imagine every scene going on... 
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 - The dancing scene with the cranks. 
 - Hiding from the cranks in the underground tunnels only to be attacked while hiding under a table 
 - The betrayal scene with Theresa. Which broke my heart. Like...I could NEVER do that to someone I love. Beat them to near death, kiss their "friend" in front of them, and many other things just to make him BELIEVE I was betraying him? I don't know how she did it. She betrayed me as a reader. 
 - Brenda. Idk....She fell in love way to hard and way to fast for Thomas. She said it's about where she's from but something just seems off. As though she's trying too hard to be one of Thomas's variables in these trials. 
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 Don't put this book off. It's worth it people !