Dashner completely flipped his style of writing so that the story made more sense and was more descriptive in this book. The Maze Runner books were confusing as heck and lacked descriptive language. It was nice to see more of Newt, but you can easily enjoy the series without picking this one up.ĭashner’s writing style and chapter length is what stuck out to me the most about this novella. I mostly enjoyed this story, but like a lot of The Maze Runner books after The Death Cure, this one wasn’t necessary. Keisha was a breath of fresh air for me because most of Dashner’s female characters annoy the crap out of me. Dashner is great at writing amazing characters and this book was no exception, as being that the new characters of Keisha and Dante were spectacular.

Crank Palace fills in the gaps with what was happening with Newt. Newt, as you will know if you’ve read the series, was not present for a lot of the main events in the final book. I feel like we should all band together and convince him to give the proceeds to an organization dedicated to helping women who are being sexually harassed and abused just to make him know that we do not support his actions.Ĭrank Palace is a novella that takes place in the events of The Death Cure. I do not support this author but all proceeds from this book are going to “charitable causes” chosen by his followers, so you aren’t giving the sexual harasser any money by buying this book. It’s also worth noting that James Dashner sexually harassed women. Before I get farther into this review, Newt was my first crush ever so I am biased with my rating. I’m a huge Maze Runner fan but I’m also a major critic of this series so this review is going to be a crazy mess of thoughts that may or may not justify my star rating. He will try to fulfill a newfound destiny before his path leads to its inevitable conclusion-and one last meeting with his best friend. Taking place during the latter events of The Death Cure, Crank Palace tells the story of Newt like never before, from inside his own mind, as he searches for meaning in a life gone horribly wrong. Although Newt thought he was running away from his friends to save them from himself, along the way he meets a young mother named Keisha and her son, Dante, who end up saving Newt in a way he could never have imagined. From there, he experiences the gritty nightmare of life on the streets, running from the infected and those hunting them, until he ends up in the Crank Palace, the last dumping ground of those without hope. Leaving only a note, Newt departs the Berg before the Gladers return from their mission into Denver, Colorado. And Newt can't bear the thought of his friends watching him descend into madness as he succumbs to the virus. But now he has a burden that can't be shared with Thomas and the others-the Flare. Newt has been to hell and back with his friends.

The maze runner the crank palace