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Content snapshot
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Violence
A lot
Graphic violence including infected people attacking, fights for survival, and death of major characters; more intense than the main trilogy
Language
Some
Moderate language; authentic teen survival voice
Sexual Content
Barely any
No sexual content
Substance Use
Barely any
None
Emotional Intensity
A lot
The psychological horror of watching civilization collapse and the despair of survival without hope
What this book is about
The prequel to The Maze Runner reveals the origins of the Flare virus and WICKED—following Mark and Trina in the immediate aftermath of the solar flares that destroyed civilization. James Dashner's prequel is arguably darker than the main trilogy, with more graphic violence and a more despairing tone.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
More graphic violence than the main Maze Runner trilogy
Deaths of important characters
Reader Verification
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