The Maze Runner Books in Order: The Complete Reading Guide
Updated September 2026
The Maze Runner Books in Order: The Short Answer
James Dashner's Maze Runner saga is now complete at eight novels plus a novella: the original trilogy, two prequels, a novella about Newt, and the three-book Maze Cutter sequel series, which wrapped up in September 2025. For a first read, take the Maze Runner books in order of publication:
| # | Title | Published | Part of |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Maze Runner | 2009 | Original trilogy |
| 2 | The Scorch Trials | 2010 | Original trilogy |
| 3 | The Death Cure | 2011 | Original trilogy |
| 4 | The Kill Order | 2012 | Prequel |
| 5 | The Fever Code | 2016 | Prequel |
| — | Crank Palace (novella) | 2020 | Side story |
| 6 | The Maze Cutter | 2022 | Maze Cutter trilogy |
| 7 | The Godhead Complex | 2023 | Maze Cutter trilogy |
| 8 | The Infinite Glade | 2025 | Maze Cutter trilogy |
If your list stops at The Fever Code, it's out of date. The Infinite Glade (September 9, 2025) is the newest book, and Dashner's own site calls it the finale of the Maze Cutter trilogy and "the epic conclusion to The Maze Runner saga."
In this guide:
- Maze Runner Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
- The Original Maze Runner Trilogy
- The Maze Cutter Trilogy (2022–2025)
- The Maze Runner Movies
- Maze Runner Age Guide and Content Notes
- More From James Dashner and What to Read Next
- Find the Series in Used Copies
- Frequently Asked Questions
Maze Runner Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
Here's the same series in story order:
- The Kill Order — 13 years before The Maze Runner
- The Fever Code — Thomas's years inside WICKED, ending as the Maze begins
- The Maze Runner
- The Scorch Trials
- The Death Cure (with Crank Palace taking place during it)
- The Maze Cutter — 73 years after The Death Cure
- The Godhead Complex
- The Infinite Glade
Why publication order wins
The whole engine of The Maze Runner is that Thomas wakes up in a lift with no memory, and you know exactly as little as he does. The Fever Code answers most of those questions — who Thomas was, what WICKED wanted, why Teresa matters. Read it first and the trilogy's mysteries simply aren't mysteries any more.
The Kill Order is less of a spoiler risk; it follows different characters, Mark and Trina, as sun flares and then the Flare virus wreck the world. It reads best as background once you already care about the world, and it's the darkest of the prequels.
Where Crank Palace fits
Crank Palace follows Newt during the events of The Death Cure, after he leaves the group. It came out first as an audiobook in August 2020, with print later that year. Read it after The Death Cure, never before — it depends entirely on knowing what happens to him.
There's also The Maze Runner Files (2013), a short e-book of WICKED documents and extra scenes. Nice for completists, skippable for everyone else.
The Original Maze Runner Trilogy
The Maze Runner (2009)
A group of boys lives in the Glade, a clearing ringed by a giant maze whose walls move every night. Thomas arrives, and the day after, the first girl ever sent up arrives with a message. Tight, fast and built on mystery; this is the one most readers love best.
The Scorch Trials (2010)
The Gladers escape into a sun-scorched wasteland full of Cranks — people driven mad by the Flare virus. More action, more horror, and a lot more questions.
The Death Cure (2011)
Thomas has to decide whether WICKED's search for a cure is worth what it costs. Several major characters die. The ending answers the big question, but readers expecting every mystery tied off may be frustrated — which is part of why Dashner kept writing.
The Maze Cutter Trilogy (2022–2025)
The sequel series picks up 73 years after The Death Cure. The survivors who escaped to a safe haven at the end of the trilogy have built a new community, and it's their descendants who take centre stage when a ship arrives from the mainland. The world beyond the island is still broken, and the past is far from finished with them.
- The Maze Cutter (published October 4, 2022 internationally; November 1, 2022 in North America)
- The Godhead Complex (November 14, 2023)
- The Infinite Glade (September 9, 2025)
Two practical notes. First, read the original trilogy before starting here; the Maze Cutter books assume you know how it ended. Second, they're a little harder to find used than the originals, simply because they're newer; Dashner's site lists a paperback of The Infinite Glade for fall 2026.
The Maze Runner Movies
| Film | Released | US rating |
|---|---|---|
| The Maze Runner | 2014 | PG-13 |
| Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials | 2015 | PG-13 |
| Maze Runner: The Death Cure | 2018 | PG-13 |
All three were directed by Wes Ball and star Dylan O'Brien as Thomas. The first film is a reasonably faithful adaptation. The second departs heavily from the book — the telepathy and many plot points are gone — and the third follows the film version of events rather than Dashner's. Treat them as a separate take on the story. They're easy to find used on DVD; browse our Maze Runner DVDs and sci-fi and fantasy movies.
Maze Runner Age Guide and Content Notes
The books are published as young adult fiction. In our experience they suit ages 12 and up, and they're one of the most dependable series we know for teenage boys who "don't read." Our list of books for reluctant teen readers has more in the same fast-moving vein.
- Violence: Frequent and sometimes gruesome, especially in The Scorch Trials, where the Cranks are close to zombie horror. Characters the reader cares about die.
- Language: The Gladers use invented slang ("shuck," "klunk," "shank") in place of real swearing. Kids find it funny; parents find it convenient.
- Romance: Minimal — a couple of kisses and some tension between Thomas, Teresa and Brenda.
- Themes: Whether it's right to sacrifice a few to save many, trust, and manipulation by adults. Good discussion material.
For a younger or more sensitive reader, the first book alone is a fine stopping point; the sequels get considerably darker.
More From James Dashner and What to Read Next
Finished all eight? Dashner has written several other series, and they cover a wider age range than people expect.
- The Mortality Doctrine (starting with The Eye of Minds) — a teen gamer trapped in a virtual-reality conspiracy. The closest in feel to the Maze Runner, with the same twisty plotting.
- The 13th Reality (starting with The Journal of Curious Letters) — a younger, lighter adventure series, good for 10- to 12-year-olds who want Dashner before they're ready for the Glade.
- Infinity Ring — Dashner wrote the first book, A Mutiny in Time, in this multi-author time-travel series for middle-grade readers.
For the same kind of story by other writers, our guides to books like The Hunger Games, the Hunger Games reading order and the Divergent reading order are the natural next stops. Teens who liked the survival side more than the science fiction often move on to Hatchet and Lord of the Flies, and our survival adventure novels for teen boys list has plenty more. Lord of the Flies makes a particularly good homeschool pairing, since the Glade is essentially William Golding's island with better organisation.
Find the Series in Used Copies
The original trilogy and the prequels show up often in paperback, sometimes as boxed sets. Check what's on the shelf in James Dashner books today, and see more in young adult and science fiction. Spend $15 and shipping is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Maze Runner books are there?
Eight novels: the original trilogy, two prequels (The Kill Order and The Fever Code) and the three-book Maze Cutter series. There is also a novella, Crank Palace, and a short companion e-book, The Maze Runner Files.
What is the newest Maze Runner book?
The Infinite Glade, published September 9, 2025. It concludes the Maze Cutter trilogy and, according to James Dashner, the whole Maze Runner saga.
Should I read the prequels first?
No. The Fever Code in particular reveals most of the trilogy's secrets. Read the original three books first, then the prequels.
What is The Maze Cutter about?
It is set 73 years after The Death Cure and follows the descendants of the Gladers who escaped to safety, whose world changes when a ship arrives from the mainland.
When should I read Crank Palace?
After The Death Cure. The novella follows Newt during the events of that book and spoils its ending.
What age is The Maze Runner for?
Roughly 12 and up. There is frequent violence and several major character deaths, but the swearing is replaced by invented slang and romance is minimal.
Are the Maze Runner movies faithful to the books?
The first film, from 2014, is fairly close. The Scorch Trials (2015) and The Death Cure (2018) change a great deal, so read the books for the full story.
