• The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book 4; Origin)

  • By: James Dashner
  • Narrated by: Mark Deakins
  • Length: 9 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (3,470 ratings)

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The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book 4; Origin)  By  cover art

The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book 4; Origin)

By: James Dashner
Narrated by: Mark Deakins
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Publisher's summary

Book four in the blockbuster Maze Runner series that spawned a movie franchise and ushered in a worldwide phenomenon! And don’t miss The Fever Code, the highly anticipated series conclusion that finally reveals the story of how the maze was built!

Before WICKED was formed, before the Glade was built, before Thomas entered the Maze, sun flares hit the earth, killing most of the population.

Mark and Trina were there when it happened. They survived. But now a virus is spreading. A virus that fills humans with murderous rage.

They’re convinced that there’s a way to save those who are left - if they can stay alive. Because in this new, devastated world, every life has a price. And to some you’re worth more dead than alive.

The end is only the beginning.

The Maze Runner, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, and Maze Runner: The Death Cure are all now major motion pictures featuring the star of MTV's Teen Wolf, Dylan O’Brien; Kaya Scodelario; Aml Ameen; Will Poulter; and Thomas Brodie-Sangster. Also look for James Dashner’s edge-of-your-seat Mortality Doctrine series!

“James Dashner’s illuminating prequel [The Kill Order] will thrill fans of this Maze Runner [series] and prove just as exciting for readers new to the series.” (Shelf Awareness, starred)

©2012 James Dashner (P)2012 Listening Library

What listeners say about The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book 4; Origin)

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,782
  • 4 Stars
    970
  • 3 Stars
    510
  • 2 Stars
    138
  • 1 Stars
    70
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,996
  • 4 Stars
    766
  • 3 Stars
    250
  • 2 Stars
    54
  • 1 Stars
    38
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,564
  • 4 Stars
    779
  • 3 Stars
    506
  • 2 Stars
    182
  • 1 Stars
    85

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Totally superfluous

What could James Dashner have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

He could have linked it better to the maze runner trilogy, giving some insight, some new facts about the political background.

What character would you cut from The Kill Order?

The main characters are badly chosen in general. To make the prequel interesting to read, the story should be about the politicians giving the kill order, rather than the victims who only get a few glimpses of what is happening.

Any additional comments?

I absolutely loved the maze runner trilogy and was looking forward to finally getting a load of answers in the prequel. However the author chose not to reveal anything that you didn't already know at the end of the trilogy. About 70% of this novel consists of close combat fights that are described in detail. I was utterly bored by it, and totally unsatisfied with the lack of a story.
I hope that the next book in the series, "The Fever Code" will be the real prequel we've all been waiting for.

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26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Waste of time

What was most disappointing about James Dashner’s story?

There are no answers. Nothing is ever fully explained. It was like being on a treadmill going full speed that never slows down. Everything became numb after a while. It was like listening to the same story over and over and over again.

Any additional comments?

Don't waste your time. Seriously you don't learn anything new and there are no cool or interesting stories or facts that relate the rest of the series that make it worth the read.

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23 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

In the beginning ...

I read a review that said, "Read this first!" You do NOT have to do that. I read all 3 in the original series first then read this one. I can't say reading this book first will do you any good really, in reference to understanding anything prior to reading it in order of release date. I liked this book and I felt at peace w/how the plague/illness started. I would have liked to have learned more about what Thomas and the others did while in the care of WICKED. It wouldn't have made a difference to the story, it's just what I was curious about. No big.

This will show you how the world breaks down more so than Book 2 & 3. Very interesting and well worth the read. I gave the 4 stars on "story" only because I wanted to hear more about Thomas during his stay w/WICKED. That's all.

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Read it first

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes but I hate the idea of prequels. The only reason I read this one is because I read it before the others.

What other book might you compare The Kill Order to and why?

The Hunger Games but way darker so far.

Have you listened to any of Mark Deakins’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me sad. Actually really sad. But no tears. I liked several of the characters and got attached.

Any additional comments?

I just finished this and I'm glad I read it first because I think had I read the trilogy first it would have ruined it for me. Not because the story isn't great but because knowing ultimately where it all ends up would have spoiled it. It would have taken away the suspense and hope I had while reading it.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Worth it, but the weakest in the series

I loved this series and so the Pre-quel was a "must listen" for me. I don't regret listening at all and it was entertaining. But, I found the other books more interesting and more rich. Perhaps knowing where it is all going takes away the punch though. Overall, I do recommend this to fans, but don't listen to it first. Maybe its for "fans only".

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11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

fun to litsen …but the ending

If you are thinking about buying this book or not, I highly recomend you to buy this book.
I really liked litsening to this book because it has lots of battles in it.
The reason that i marked the story with four stars is because i didn’t like the part that in the end of the book, most of the main characters whom have survived a lot of things, died.
This is a personal thing, but I also didn’t like the part about my favorite character “A” dieing.
I am looking forward about litsening to the next book in the series.
And also if you read this, I am sorry about my English being difficult to understand. (I’m a japanese)

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

added details

you will find details on the start of the flare, not the building of the maze. good writing, yet the idea behind this script is not as good as of the other three books of the maze.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Stunning, shaking to bones, a horrible reality

So real, so disgusting at moments and so horrible in other moments, the story presented grips you and holds you to the bones until you finish it.
Struggled a bit to finish but not because of story or narrator, but because of some horrible images and troubles of comprehending the picture. Yes, the story gets complicated at times, but it never gets boring or loses pace or quality of details or storyline.
The narrator was fine as before.
I would recommend this audiobook mostly to those strong of character and not to the faint of heart. I myself get scared barely and rarely in horror movies, yet the images here were hard to bare or imagine at times.
Profound story telling with great ideas and great narrator made it another good read and unique through its style and world.
P. S.: Better listen to this only after you've listened to all three books in the series. Otherwise it would be unclear in some places and spoilers for the series in other parts. It's best understood together and after the whole series, also this prequel completes the series with new understanding and like a great picture puzzle it comes together. It's like the ideas behind (reasons of/ideas at the base of) the series summarized in a story.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Poor

Definitely the weakest of the series. Far too much description of scuffle after scuffle after scuffle. Gives some good information on the actual flair but has zero Segway to the maze runner. It's ok for context I guess but not a requirement to reading the main part of the trilogy.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Very Intriguing, definitely a great ending for the

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, a bit boring at the start but it gets better as you move forward.

What did you like best about this story?

Story was exciting, filled of action.

What does Mark Deakins bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The change of voices, and the way his voice would express the situation. I love it.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The end. (can't say why....)

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3 people found this helpful