Crank Palace

Set between the events of The Death Cure and the series finale, this novella follows Newt after he separates from Thomas and his friends. Infected by the Flare virus and facing the onset of insanity, Newt travels to the Crank Palace, a containment facility designed to isolate the infected from the healthy population. He navigates a decaying society of the mentally unstable, encounters a young mother and child, and documents his physical and neurological decline in a journal as the virus erodes his memories and self-control.

This book is for readers of the Maze Runner series who want to understand Newt’s mental state during his final days of infection. Fans read it to see the specific mechanics of the Flare virus and how it destroys the human brain. The reader learns the details of Newt’s private motivations for leaving the group and follows the logistical reality of how the post-apocalyptic government manages those beyond medical help. It provides a direct perspective on the internal experience of losing one's identity to a biological weapon.

Clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.

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