by
4.28 of 5 stars
We were in the square, in the square where I'd run, holding her, carrying her, telling her to stay alive, stay alive till we got safe, till we got ... read full description

reviews

Aug 19, 2011
Isamlq rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I imagine Viola, reluctant healer, the worst in fact, bumbling around; Todd working, slaving away. And I imagine their growing closeness despite everything that’s going on around them; despite the forced physical distance between them.

This book is a such a visceral experience. And it's more. I read it and I see everything in my mind’s eye. Not stills; I have a movie playing in my head. I sort of gag when I think of the stench from the Spackles’ corner in the morning. I can almost ca More...
8 comments like (10 people liked it)
Dec 21, 2009
Heather rated it: 1 of 5 stars
Ugh, I just can't do it. This book is contrived and ridiculous. The characters of Todd and Viola have reached a level of stupidity that I didn’t think was possible. I was put off by the first chapter, but continued to read for another 50 pages before I finally chucked it. Enough is enough. I had already ignored my instincts by picking this book up in the first place. Having read and been let down by book one, I was hoping that Ness would redeem himself. But alas, no such luck. Not only has More...
46 comments like (18 people liked it)
Oct 09, 2011
Michelle. rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here
7 comments like (3 people liked it)
Dec 22, 2009
Tatiana rated it: 2 of 5 stars
I won't lie, I am really disappointed in and exhausted by this novel. "The Ask and the Answer" is very little like the first book in the trilogy "The Knife of Never Letting Go."

If the first one is a fast-paced chase kind of story, which keeps you hooked by gradual revelation of the New World's mysteries of Noise, Haven, Viola's origin, etc., this book is basically an account of a civil war between Mayor Prentiss's army and the resistance called here the Answer. T More...
27 comments like (19 people liked it)
Nov 08, 2011
Jo rated it: 5 of 5 stars
SOUND THE ALARM: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SLIGHT SPOILERS FOR THIS BOOK AND ALSO 'THE KNIFE OF NEVER LETTING GO'.

You have been warned.


Initial Final Page Thoughts.
SPACKLEARGH.

High Point.
THE RETURN OF TODD. Seriously, I missed him in like the two days between finished the first one and starting this one. Mayor ....President Prentiss. VIOLA! The Answer. Sympathy for the devil. Welcome to the dark side. Mmm, I love the smell of a love triangle in More...
7 comments like (6 people liked it)
May 28, 2011
Amanda rated it: 4 of 5 stars
**Some spoilers for those who have not read the first book**

I just wrote an exhausting review of this novel, but Goodreads screwed me and lost the entire thing. Pissed does not even begin to cover what I feel right now. All of that brilliance, now lost to the cyberspace void forever.

I didn't so much read the first book in this series, The Knife of Never Letting Go, as inhaled it. Original and disturbing, Ness is not afraid to take some risks as he tells the story of More...
0 comments like (7 people liked it)
Apr 18, 2011
Jessica rated it: 5 of 5 stars

Ness has done it again! <3

Let's get the one "complaint" out of the way, unlike the first book in the trilogy, narration alternates between Todd and Viola (spoiler: she lives, but you knew that already because it says it on the back of the book). As much as I understand we needed to see the other side of the story, the female side, and Viola and Todd were separated, I can’t help my preference for Todd’s voice over Viola’s (and in general I just hate it when authors More...
0 comments like (6 people liked it)
Dec 02, 2011
Lawral rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Oh.My.Gosh. I finished this book a week ago, and I still feel like I haven't had enough time to really process it in order to write a review. There is just so much going on with Todd, with Viola, with Wilf(!), with the people of what used-to-be Haven, with Davy Prentiss (who you'll actually CARE about by the end), just so much going on.

It was practically impossible to put down.

Character development did not waste away in the face of SO MUCH plot either. Viola and Todd both More...
1 comment like (3 people liked it)
Jun 03, 2011
Lisa added it
(this is the second book in the Chaos Walking trilogy. there will be spoilers for the first book, "The Knife of Never Letting Go", but not for "The Ask and the Answer".

in a sentence or so: Todd and Viola finally arrive to Haven, only to discover that Mayor Prentiss has beat them there, and taken over the town. they are immediately separated, the town is divided over whether to trust the new leadership or to revolt...and then the bombing begins.

this boo More...
0 comments like (3 people liked it)
Oct 17, 2010
Melody rated it: 4 of 5 stars
10/2010 Stet.

10/2009: Even though Ness has ended book #2 with another cliffhanger, I forgive him. Taut, suspenseful, engaging- everything you want in a dystopian novel, including the unexpectedly poignant talking horses.



Todd and Viola are a duo to be reckoned with, even when they are forced apart by circumstances and evil people. I enjoyed this book mightily, and am eager for the final volume to come out, whereupon I will begin again with number one and just schedule a weekend to read straight t More...
6 comments like (3 people liked it)
May 28, 2011
Priscilla rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Seriously. One of THE best series I've read...and I'm not even done reading it yet. Why are you so awesome Patrick Ness?

First thoughts:

1) Love Todd.
2) Love Viola.
3) Love Todd and Viola.
4) The writing style is AMAZING.
5) Fully developed characters, plot, and concepts.

Check out my full video review here!
6 comments like (5 people liked it)
Nov 29, 2011
Regina rated it: 4 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here
26 comments like (8 people liked it)
Feb 19, 2011
Hope rated it: 5 of 5 stars
***CAUTION: Before you read this review, you must be aware that today is one of my “rambling days." Proceed at your own risk. ;) ***

I am officially entranced with this series. I tried not to be, because it freaks me out to no end, and it doesn’t exactly feel right being so enthralled with something that scares me so much.

But there it is…I am entranced.

And, therefore, my library has officially made it onto my hit list, for not having Monsters of Men. This More...
5 comments like (5 people liked it)
Apr 28, 2011
Kritika rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Ohmygodohmygodohmygod that book was amazing! I admit that at first I was skeptical because the book was a little slow at the beginning, but the last 100 pages were brilliant and powerful and suspenseful. I can't think of enough adjectives that capture the essence of this series, but I think brilliant, powerful, and suspenseful do a pretty good job.

Ness is a tactical genius. He reminds me a lot of Orson Scott Card - he blurs the lines between good and bad, and creates such intelligent More...
0 comments like (2 people liked it)
Mar 31, 2009
flajol rated it: 5 of 5 stars
If you loved The Knife of Never Letting Go, you won't be disappointed with The Ask and The Answer. It's just as brutal and uncompromising as the first in the Chaos Walking series, just as gripping, and now I'm left howling for book three! When's it coming out, Patrick?

Todd tries to hold onto his values as the Mayor manipulates and schemes and strips away those things that anchor Todd to his humanity. Once again, Ness isn't afraid to tackle big themes: war crime, terrorism, genoc More...
1 comment like (7 people liked it)
Mar 31, 2011
Emily rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This stunning sequel to The Knife Of Never Letting Go manages to measure up to its predecessor in a way I never thought possible. After reading the first book, I felt sure that Ness would be incapable of delivering something equally brilliant. But he did.
This is an even more important book than part one, though admittedly not quite as fast-paced. It deals with very grown up issues like feminism, terrorism, war and genocide; another reason why I have to reiterate my point that this trilogy More...
0 comments like (6 people liked it)
Jan 25, 2011
Terri rated it: 5 of 5 stars
(It was even better the second time! This time I looked past the story and took time to study the complexities and brilliance of the writing.)

Loved, loved, loved it! "The Ask and the Answer," which is the second book in the "Chaos Walking" trilogy, is so different from "The Knife of Never Letting Go." My major impression of the first book is one of running and intensity, and breathlessness. This book is more about relationships and emotional action; howeve More...
1 comment like (1 person liked it)
Jul 16, 2011
Blodeuedd rated it: 3 of 5 stars


I was blown away by book 1, and even if this wasn't that mind-blowing it was still a great book. The first was What, what, what!! And this one was more what, what, what?


Ness has this gift for total confusion. Who to trust, who to believe, I haev no idea. Everyone is telling things, everyone is lying. There is chaos walking the planet.


Todd has made it to Haven with the dying Viola, but there he is met by Mayor Prentiss and the army and Viola is take More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Mar 28, 2011
Chris rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Better the devil you know.

I wonder why the only choice is twixt two devils, tho.


What do you do when your only choices are between bad and worse? Especially when you're not even sure your choices are choices, since you've been consistently manipulated and lied to at every turn until you find you're unwittingly doing exactly what your enemies want no matter what choices you make, capitulating to their demands and being molded to their whims despite your best efforts at res More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
May 16, 2010
Heather rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I loved its prequel, The Knife of Never Letting Go, so much that I really looking forward to this one. And it didn't disappoint. It was worth every annoyance I had searching it out in multiple bookstores after its release date -- which included one exasperating lecture from a bookseller that most novels, unlike Harry Potter, don't have to hit the shelves the day they're released -- before finally ordering it online and then pacing around my house for a few days anxiously awaiting it.

More...
0 comments like (2 people liked it)
Oct 07, 2010
Jess rated it: 4 of 5 stars
The Knife of Never Letting Go Chaos Walking Book One was all rush rush rush, with characters on the run for most of the story. Here, there's still plenty of suspense and action, but most of the story takes place in and around Haven. This second volume also switches off between Todd and Viola's viewpoints - I can't quite decide if this combination gives the story less momentum or not. With alternating viewpoints, Ness can leave us hanging with one character, then the other, and so on, which More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Nov 12, 2009
Tori rated it: 5 of 5 stars
OMG!! AMAZING! I love this series so much! I could not wait for this book to come out after I read the first one and once I got this one I was sooo happy! It started off with a bang and just kept going. It's so amazing, the action didn't even stop! I don't know if I'll make it until the next one comes out! The only thing that a little bit put me off was the length. I think it could have been a little shorter, but it didn't bother me that much. What I LOVED was that it was in Todd and Viola's poi More...
10 comments like (2 people liked it)
Dec 17, 2011
Lynai rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Review coming up. Need to catch my breath first.

***REVIEW UPDATE***

It is no secret that I loved The Knife of Never Letting Go. I loved it too much that I had a hard time moving on from the despairing deaths and loss of my favorite characters. This is also the reason why I felt I needed a breathing space before I read the sequel, never mind that The Knife has a very compelling cliff-hanger ending.

So, seven months after I finished The Knife of Never Letting Go, More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Jul 01, 2011
MissChievous rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I liked this book better than the 1st in the series because it was so suspenseful and even more gruesome than the first. The separation of Todd and Viola was hard to bear but I felt there was really good character development for both of them because of it. I also enjoyed meeting some of the supporting characters, especially the evil but pitiful Davy. Mayor/President Prentiss is as abominable as ever - what a twist ending, although it was foreshadowed earlier in the book. Can't wait to read the More...
0 comments like (2 people liked it)
Feb 06, 2011
Linna rated it: 5 of 5 stars
I'm in that catatonic state you get after reading something utterly incredible. Why can't all YA be as amazing as this?

I can't remember the last time I've shouted at a book this much... The neighbors must think I'm crazy. This was so freaking good.
4 comments like (3 people liked it)
Jan 27, 2011
Maureen rated it: 4 of 5 stars
by Patrick Ness

Opening line: "Your Noise reveals you, Todd Hewitt."

This is the sequel to The Knife of Never Letting Go, and what a sequel it is. I won't say anything about the plot, since it's hugely and enormously spoily from the get-go.

But.

Oh, Todd. You're breaking my heart.

The Knife of Never Letting Go showed that Ness isn't afraid to pull his punches (Ow, Todd). He certainly doesn't here. People die, people we care about do bad th More...
Feb 11, 2012
Faith rated it: 2 of 5 stars
I don't think this book should have been written. The best plan would have been ending it in book one with a happy-ish ending, but no. It drags onto this one.

My first complaint is the death. The only characters that I mildly liked that lived were Todd and Viola, every other good character? Dead, dead, dead. It gets so predictable I don't even bother liking any characters.

It even gets worse, which side do you choose? Sure you're not supposed to know as this adds to the suspen More...
Jan 12, 2012
Dani rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Title: "The Ask and the Answer"
Author: Patrick Ness
Download at: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-Ask-a...
How long it took me: Four days to read this book. Finished 1/07/2012, 519 pages.
Liked: How I literally wanted to scream at the book when Todd and Viola were making decisions. Yes, it was THAT captivating.
Disliked: That poor Todd and Viola hardly get a second to breathe from all the madness brought on from the very first book.
Favorite quote: "Batt More...
Jan 09, 2012
Charlotte rated it: 5 of 5 stars
A follow up to The Knife of Never Letting Go, the novel sees outcasts Todd and Viola arrival into Haven, a place they deemed safe, but (as seen in The Knife of Never Letting Go) in a cruel twist of fate the army they have been running from has beaten them, and they are now at its mercy. As the duo are split, so does the book, alternating between Todd and Violas story, a style which still manages to keep up with the pace of the first.

I'm a huge fan of Ness' fast-pace writing style, b More...
Dec 28, 2011
Shamila rated it: 4 of 5 stars
Real rating 3.75*

*Off topic*. I sort of noticed that most of you guys provide a little resume of your own within your reviews. To anyone excepting that in my review, well sorry but I won't be making one. First, if you haven't read the book and just want to read someone's opinion, then I guess you don't need it and 2nd if you have read the book, then you don't need it ;)!!!

***SPOILERS HERE AND THERE UNTIL THE END OF THE REVIEW***
So the question is...Is it better than the More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)