This book, guys. I can't even. I finished it a few weeks ago and hadn't got round to writing up my thoughts on it until now but I suppose I should start by saying there will be no spoilers in this review, as always.

I've mentioned many times now that the Maze Runner series by James Dashner is one of my favourites ever and this third book just had me curled up in a giant ball of emotions. This book follows on from The Scorch Trials and the Gladers are trying to figure out what the hell is going on - still. They've endured two hugely challenging trials, the Maze and the Scorch and are now faced with another two challenge, maybe a little closer to home - having their memories back or not and finding out if they are actually immune to the dreaded flare or not.

This book is the final chapter for Thomas, Newt, Teresa, Minho and the other characters and it's hard to talk about the story in depth without giving too much away. The Gladers get separated at WICKED HQ and Thomas, Newt, Minho, Brenda and Jorge are on a mission to escape the wrath of WICKED once more and they venture to a new city, built behind tall walls and supposedly safe from cranks, to find the friends that they've lost. Here they encounter a blast from the past as well as discovering that nowhere is safe from WICKED and the deadly virus that is sweeping the earth.

This book is intense and honestly I never wanted to put it down until I read a certain chapter - when you read it, you'll know which chapter I'm talking about - and then all hell broke lose and I was a wreck, more of a wreck than I was when I read PS. I Love You or The Fault In Our Stars. Yes, that emosh.

I loved it though and the only thing that will stop me missing reading about these characters is knowing that I'll be able to do it all again when The Fever Code is released in 2016!

MAZE RUNNER: THE SCORCH TRIALS UK PREMIERE

Firstly, I'd like to say how sorry I am for not updating in such a long time. Life has just been manic and you know what it's like when you feel like everything's on fast forward and you could really do with a pause button while you have a cup of tea and let yourself catch up!

However, on Monday night (7th September) I was extremely lucky to be invited to the UK premiere of Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials at Vue cinema in Leicester Square, London. Let me start by saying I am a huge fan of this book series - and the first movie which was released at the end of last year - so this was an opportunity I was not going to miss! It was a manic rush to get up to London after work on a Monday night but my gosh it was well worth it. As usual, no spoilers in this here post my friends, so don't fear.

The event was hosted by YouTube star Jim Chapman who was so, so lovely and did a great job getting the fans waiting outside the cinema excited for the arrival of the movie's stars. Unfortunately, Dylan O'Brien who plays Thomas in the series had major food-poisoning and was unable to make it but Kaya Scodelario, Ki Hong Lee, Thomas Brodie-Sangster and director Wes Ball all made an appearance before the film begun to answer some fan questions.

The Scorch Trials continues where The Maze Runner left off. The Gladers are just out of the maze and thrust into a compound, being clothed, fed and looked after properly for the first time in years all seems well and good, with the promise of a new life just around the corner. However, not is all as it seems and Thomas soon learns that not everyone can be trusted. He escapes the compound with Teresa, Newt, Minho, Frypan and others into The Scorch where they encounter those left behind after sun flares scorched the earth, unleashing a nasty virus called The Flare. The Gladers find hope in rumours of a rebellion army called The Right Arm and they make it their mission to find these survivors, but WCKD aren't far behind...

Now, I had a lot of expectations for this movie because I'm such a fan of the books but I was pleasantly surprised by the adaption for the big screen. Although there were quite a few things that were different from the novels, Wes Ball had directed it in such a way that kept the true spirit of the Maze Runner series, written by James Dashner. There were moments from the movie that made me glance over at the hardcore fans (some dressed in costume) to see their reaction and it was really lovely to see how much they appreciated the small details that had been included.

It was an intense, fast-paced roller coaster ride of a movie that had me screaming, crying and laughing throughout and I am already dying to see it again once it's released in the UK tomorrow, September 10th. 

Will you be watching Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials?

BOOKSHELF: THE MAZE RUNNER TRILOGY - THE SCORCH TRIALS

In my opinion, The Maze Runner series written by James Dashner, will give The Hunger Games a run for it's money! It took me a good few chapters to get completely sucked into The Scorch Trials; the second book from the trilogy, but once I was I couldn't put it down.

The Scorch Trials follows the same characters from The Maze Runner, Thomas, Teresa and the other Gladers as they face new threats following their escape from the maze. Solving The Maze was supposed to be the end and Thomas and his friends were sure that escape would mean freedom but WICKED isn't done yet. Phase Two has only just begun. In The Scorch there are no rules, no help, no mercy. You either make it or you die and the Gladers have one challenge; to cross The Scorch and reach a 'Safe Haven' in only two weeks. All bets are off and The Scorch Trials make The Maze look like a stroll in the park...

Like I said before, it did take me a little while to get stuck into this book and I think that was mainly because I read The Maze Runner almost a year ago and saw the movie back in January so the storyline and characters weren't fresh in mind, it took a little while for me to invest in them again. Once I had, I was sucked in by the fast-paced, exhilarating plot which twisted and turned when I least expected. There's no let up in this novel at all and just when you think things might be settling for the Gladers something more sinister and threatening than the last is thrown in their direction.

I don't want to say too much about this novel because I would hate to spoil it for you. After watching the trailer for the movie adaption there doesn't seem to be many similarities between the two so it's not going to matter a great deal if you watch the movie when it's released next month before you read the book. I would still highly recommend adding this to your reading list though, there are so many details and scenes which I'm sure they haven't included in the film, so don't miss out!

I've just started the third book in this series, Death Cure now and have the prequel to the series (but the latest book to be released) lined up afterwards. I know the author James Dashner wanted to expand the post-Flare world but did not want to involve the main characters, resulting in the prequel The Kill Order and the upcoming 2016 release Fever Code. Make sure you keep checking here and over on my twitter @laurenfell for my latest thoughts on this series - spoiler free of course!