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New World Trilogy #1
Piper at the Gates of Dusk
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Expected 7 Apr 26Win a free print copy of this book!
8 days and 12:16:58
10 copies available
U.S. only
Two-time Carnegie Medalist Patrick Ness makes a thrilling return to the world of Chaos Walking with this launch of the extraordinary New World trilogy.
It’s been twenty years since the monstrous war that almost tore New World apart, and there’s a new generation on the planet. Todd and Viola’s sons Ben and Max have known only peace growing up on the family farm outside a bustling human settlement. They dream of the usual things, like school and adventure, until the nightmares begin . . .
A sudden sickness has infected the young people of New World with Noise in the form of their worst thoughts about themselves. Some suspect the Spackle, the indigenous people with whom humans have a very uneasy truce. Others wonder about a connection to a mysterious object looming in the sky. And then, one by one, the children of New World begin to disappear.
Ben, with his mother’s logical mind, and Max, with his father’s courageous heart, become caught up in separate quests for answers, journeys that will test their beliefs in their parents, each other, and in their very existence on the planet.
Patrick Ness makes a masterful return to New World in this timely work of science fiction, one that looks at the interplay of fear, power, and propaganda, and at the stories we tell ourselves.
It’s been twenty years since the monstrous war that almost tore New World apart, and there’s a new generation on the planet. Todd and Viola’s sons Ben and Max have known only peace growing up on the family farm outside a bustling human settlement. They dream of the usual things, like school and adventure, until the nightmares begin . . .
A sudden sickness has infected the young people of New World with Noise in the form of their worst thoughts about themselves. Some suspect the Spackle, the indigenous people with whom humans have a very uneasy truce. Others wonder about a connection to a mysterious object looming in the sky. And then, one by one, the children of New World begin to disappear.
Ben, with his mother’s logical mind, and Max, with his father’s courageous heart, become caught up in separate quests for answers, journeys that will test their beliefs in their parents, each other, and in their very existence on the planet.
Patrick Ness makes a masterful return to New World in this timely work of science fiction, one that looks at the interplay of fear, power, and propaganda, and at the stories we tell ourselves.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 7, 2026
3233 people want to read
About the author
Patrick Ness
66 books18.8k followersPatrick Ness, an award-winning novelist, has written for Radio 4 and The Sunday Telegraph and is a literary critic for The Guardian. He has written many books, including the Chaos Walking Trilogy, The Crash of Hennington, Topics About Which I Know Nothing, and A Monster Calls.
He has won numerous awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Booktrust Teenage Prize, and the Costa Children’s Book Award. Born in Virginia, he currently lives in London.
He has won numerous awards, including the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Booktrust Teenage Prize, and the Costa Children’s Book Award. Born in Virginia, he currently lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
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December 27, 202415-year-old-me is losing her mind that this book exists
Want to read
November 10, 2025Most anticipated book of life
Want to read
November 10, 2025no one understands how much i need it to be injected into my veins.
PS. each new information about this one makes me even more excited
PS. each new information about this one makes me even more excited
Want to read
January 2, 2026patrick ness please don't ruin chaos walking for me with this spin-off series this is a very serious matter not to be taken lightly 🙏🏻🙏🏻
November 23, 2025
Thanks to edelweiss and Candlewick Press for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
RATING: 4.5
After being disappointed in a book by a YA author, which I liked, I lowered my expectations for this one, but it is so far from being a disappoint it's a really great follow up.
While it's nice to see Todd and Viola and they're still doing things here and there. The two brothers, Max and Ben, take center stage. Both of them have their own personal problems and conflicts, it took me a while to like Max, maybe because of the formatting, but by the end Patrick Ness created two great characters again, very fleshed out and really excited for the next book so they can grow some more.
The antagonists of this book are also well-written, you'll absolutely wanted to strangle them. It might be unbelievable for then, but looking around now these people exists.
While this is a young adult book, the characters are not really annoying or are they involved is some love triangle or some tropes that I find tiring. Instead in focuses on themes that are very timely today like xenophobia/racism, disability awareness and accepting of others' identity like transgender. I didn't really find them heavy handed nor do I find it subtle but it's presented to the readers organically and very well.
The mystery of the nightmares and the object at the sky is also great. Sometimes it feels like a backdrop of the themes I mentioned earlier and I don't really care for it - NOT THAT IT'S BAD. But I figured that I might not get every questions answered in the very first book. Nonetheless it's very entertaining, especially how it unfolds.
My only complaint is regarding one conflict. It just suddenly get solved... for now. It's very obvious that Ness is saving it up for the next book.
Also not a fan of the cover, but the title is just chef's kiss.
For the CHAOS WALKING fans, you wouldn't be disappointed.
RATING: 4.5
After being disappointed in a book by a YA author, which I liked, I lowered my expectations for this one, but it is so far from being a disappoint it's a really great follow up.
While it's nice to see Todd and Viola and they're still doing things here and there. The two brothers, Max and Ben, take center stage. Both of them have their own personal problems and conflicts, it took me a while to like Max, maybe because of the formatting, but by the end Patrick Ness created two great characters again, very fleshed out and really excited for the next book so they can grow some more.
The antagonists of this book are also well-written, you'll absolutely wanted to strangle them. It might be unbelievable for then, but looking around now these people exists.
While this is a young adult book, the characters are not really annoying or are they involved is some love triangle or some tropes that I find tiring. Instead in focuses on themes that are very timely today like xenophobia/racism, disability awareness and accepting of others' identity like transgender. I didn't really find them heavy handed nor do I find it subtle but it's presented to the readers organically and very well.
The mystery of the nightmares and the object at the sky is also great. Sometimes it feels like a backdrop of the themes I mentioned earlier and I don't really care for it - NOT THAT IT'S BAD. But I figured that I might not get every questions answered in the very first book. Nonetheless it's very entertaining, especially how it unfolds.
My only complaint is regarding one conflict. It just suddenly get solved... for now. It's very obvious that Ness is saving it up for the next book.
Also not a fan of the cover, but the title is just chef's kiss.
For the CHAOS WALKING fans, you wouldn't be disappointed.
Want to read
November 6, 2025i’m so seated. the employees are asking me to leave because ‘it’s not april 2026 yet’ but i’m simply too seated
January 21, 2026
Is it too early to have a favourite book of the year that will most likely remain so?
This book absolutely floored me. I was shamefully late to reading Choas Walking, despite the fact that I had read every other of Ness’ books and been deeply in love with them. When I read the trilogy back in late 2020 I was furious that I had denied myself the beauty for so long. It quickly became one of my all time favourite trilogies. I fell in love with the world. The characters. All of it. And so to be back there… oh what a joy it was!
There’s always a slight worry when there’s a sequel to a believed book or series that has come many years after the original. This fear that the author won’t be able to recreate the same magic. That it won’t have the same pull. But thankfully any fears there couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to Piper!
Several decades have passed since Monsters of Men ended, and Todd and Viola are parents now. This book focuses on their sons, Ben and Max. For years there has been relative peace. Some humans still hold a grudge against the Spackle, finding it hard to relinquish their prejudices. But still, a peace of sorts. But a new danger has revealed itself and it’s creepy, scary and confusing.
The book is told in dual narrative sections by both of the brothers and the story just absolutely flew by. I could barely breathe with how fast it went. I tried to make it last, really tried to savour it but my god it was hard.
Patrick’s writing, as ever, was stunning and all consuming. I was sucked into this book so hard and I wasn’t let go. The book ends with a huge cliff hanger that has me gasping for book 2. I am so glad that this is a trilogy and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
My thanks to Candlewick for my earc!
This book absolutely floored me. I was shamefully late to reading Choas Walking, despite the fact that I had read every other of Ness’ books and been deeply in love with them. When I read the trilogy back in late 2020 I was furious that I had denied myself the beauty for so long. It quickly became one of my all time favourite trilogies. I fell in love with the world. The characters. All of it. And so to be back there… oh what a joy it was!
There’s always a slight worry when there’s a sequel to a believed book or series that has come many years after the original. This fear that the author won’t be able to recreate the same magic. That it won’t have the same pull. But thankfully any fears there couldn’t be further from the truth when it comes to Piper!
Several decades have passed since Monsters of Men ended, and Todd and Viola are parents now. This book focuses on their sons, Ben and Max. For years there has been relative peace. Some humans still hold a grudge against the Spackle, finding it hard to relinquish their prejudices. But still, a peace of sorts. But a new danger has revealed itself and it’s creepy, scary and confusing.
The book is told in dual narrative sections by both of the brothers and the story just absolutely flew by. I could barely breathe with how fast it went. I tried to make it last, really tried to savour it but my god it was hard.
Patrick’s writing, as ever, was stunning and all consuming. I was sucked into this book so hard and I wasn’t let go. The book ends with a huge cliff hanger that has me gasping for book 2. I am so glad that this is a trilogy and I cannot wait to see what happens next!
My thanks to Candlewick for my earc!
Want to read
March 20, 2025NEW CHAOS WALKING AS I LIVE AND BREATHE LET’S ALL LIVE 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
February 6, 2026
Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book!
I was a teenager working in public libraries when the Chaos Walking trilogy was released- I’m now in my mid-thirties, working in an academic library, and a fervent fan of Patrick Ness. I haven’t read Chaos Walking since then; it’s on a short but significant list of books that I only ever want to read for the first time. I remember Manchee and the phrase “one in particular” and I remember how each of the books felt heavy with melancholy. Piper at the Gates of Dusk does not feel the same, and it’s because Viola and Todd grew into damn good parents. Their sons have been raised with the skills their parents had to fight a war to learn, and are brave, outspoken and near unshakeable as a result. The bigotry, racism, fanaticism and denial that *still* run through the human settlement on New World is something beatable, not inevitable, when seen through Max and Ben. Hope, not melancholy, is the feeling I will remember having when I remember having read this book. No spoilers- just read it as soon as you can. Extra stars awarded for referencing The Wind in the Willows.
I was a teenager working in public libraries when the Chaos Walking trilogy was released- I’m now in my mid-thirties, working in an academic library, and a fervent fan of Patrick Ness. I haven’t read Chaos Walking since then; it’s on a short but significant list of books that I only ever want to read for the first time. I remember Manchee and the phrase “one in particular” and I remember how each of the books felt heavy with melancholy. Piper at the Gates of Dusk does not feel the same, and it’s because Viola and Todd grew into damn good parents. Their sons have been raised with the skills their parents had to fight a war to learn, and are brave, outspoken and near unshakeable as a result. The bigotry, racism, fanaticism and denial that *still* run through the human settlement on New World is something beatable, not inevitable, when seen through Max and Ben. Hope, not melancholy, is the feeling I will remember having when I remember having read this book. No spoilers- just read it as soon as you can. Extra stars awarded for referencing The Wind in the Willows.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
As excellent as I was expecting it to be. great to be back in that world both to see how things have developed since monsters of men but also to dive into Ben and Max's story.
Want to read
January 17, 20252026? 😭😭😭
But also . . . a new Patrick Ness book set on New World WITH TODD AND VIOLA AND THEIR KIDDO?!?!?! 😍😍😍
But also . . . 2026.
But also . . . a new Patrick Ness book set on New World WITH TODD AND VIOLA AND THEIR KIDDO?!?!?! 😍😍😍
But also . . . 2026.
Read
March 4, 2025IM SO EXCITED
Want to read
April 17, 202512 year old Charlotte is screaming. 2026 cannot come soon enough😭😭😭😭😭😭😭❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Read
February 25, 2026Gaaahhh! I really thought I was going to love this. The Chaos Walking trilogy is incredible. I just didn’t enjoy this at all.
The first half of the book felt it was just rehashing old material from the first books, like a 150-page recap that nobody asked for.
And I just don’t care about the characters like I did first time round.
Honestly, I wished he’d have done a sequel to Burn and just left this shorty alone. This is giving Phantom Menace 🫤
The first half of the book felt it was just rehashing old material from the first books, like a 150-page recap that nobody asked for.
And I just don’t care about the characters like I did first time round.
Honestly, I wished he’d have done a sequel to Burn and just left this shorty alone. This is giving Phantom Menace 🫤
Want to read
March 8, 2026The excitement is REAL
November 27, 2025
I got this short preview through NetGalley, and oh how I have missed you Patrick Ness!
I was a huge fan of Chaos Walking in my teens and love to find more out about the world.
The writing is visceral and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The author drops you into an action scene immediately, in which you’re not sure how it will go for the main character. I love suspense and it is done very well here!
Even though I only have access to the first 3 chapters, I will definitely be picking this back up to find out more!
I was a huge fan of Chaos Walking in my teens and love to find more out about the world.
The writing is visceral and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The author drops you into an action scene immediately, in which you’re not sure how it will go for the main character. I love suspense and it is done very well here!
Even though I only have access to the first 3 chapters, I will definitely be picking this back up to find out more!
Want to read
September 19, 2025shaking crying and throwing up. i cannot wait for this sequel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for giving me an ARC.
Holy Hell, what an absolutely phenominal start to the new trilogy in the Chaos Walking series. I have been in love with this series since I first read it in high school and I have re-read it so many times since that I've lost count. As soon as I read 'and I don't say eff,' I immediately felt a wave of nostalgia drape over me.
One thing that always stands out to me about this series is the way Ness is able to effortlessly weave lessons about the dangers of authoritarianism, intolerence and hatred, and the Othering of people in a vivid and gripping fantasy world. And he's done it once again in Piper at the Gates of Dusk.
The new trilogy follows Ben and Max, the sons of Viola and Todd from the initial series, as they carve out their own paths on New World. Although very different, their sibling bond is incredibly strong. I loved both Ben and Max; although initially it seems that Max is similar to Todd, whilst Ben follows Viola's personality more, they are, in fact, a fantastic blend of both of their parents. Max seems more headstrong and confrontational, whereas Ben is a bit more reserved and is always thinking about things. However, whilst Max is outrightly critical of the mayor, similar to Viola in the first series, Ben gives him the benefit of the doubt, trying to see all sides of the argument, similar to how Todd was in the second and third books of the initial series. I adore them both and I cannot wait to see what happens in the following books.
The Noise is such a fascinating idea and I love how it was showed in the initial trilogy. It's a bit different in this book as Todd is one of the few people who chose not to take a noise cure, whereas most of the young people in New World have. This makes Todd somewhat of an outsider of the city and he prefers to stay on his farm, away from the politiking. Todd laments to Max that he sometimes wishes his sons hadn't taken the cure for their Noise, but that they thought it was the right thing to do at the time. This creates an interesting dynamic where their sons, especially Max, see how Todd interacts with The Land through their Noise and wonders if they should have kept their Noise too.
I really appreciated that, whist there was some conflict between the humans and The Land, with an annoying mayor and a fervently aggressive religious figure, this wasn't the main focus of the book. As Todd says throughout Piper at the Gates of Dusk, history does unfortunately have a way of repeating itself, and it would be somewhat idealistic to suggest that all the political and social issues of the previous trilogy had been resolved. However, I liked that this wasn't the main plot, as I do think it would've been a bit too similar to the first trilogy. The threat coming from outside of New World was a really fascinating mechanic; it creates a highly tense situation where the people of New World have to band together to put up a united front against the threat.
Ben being unable to speak was a really fascinating plot point. I really liked the concept of the cure for Noise having taken something away, as well as, seemingly, giving people peace. I cannot wait to see how that unfolds within the wider plot in the next two books. I also really liked how Max and Ben had picked up aspects of their parents' speech. Max uses a double negative quite a few times.
Queer representation has always been prevalent in Ness' writing and it's something that has always meant so much to me. Being a young teen and reading the first trilogy and realising that Ben and Cillian were a romantic pairing was life changing for me. Up to that point, I hadn't really read books with that much queer rep, especially not with the characters being older adults, and definitely not as father figures. I could quote so many parts of Piper at the Gates of Dusk that made me tear up in the best way. Max's journey and interaction as a trans man comes at a time when, politically and socially, trans people are under attack from all sides. It was so lovely to see this represented in such a heartwarming and positive way.
Some of my favourites are;
"There are plenty of boyish girls. Plenty of girlish boys, too. Nothing wrong with that. But sometimes, just sometimes, they're actually boys and girls, rather than girls and boys, if you see what I mean."
"Turns out if you find one prejudice in a person, there are probably lots of others hiding just beneath the surface."
"There are Land who cross the boundary. Land who were born one way but are actually another. And everything along that spectrum."
"You can't belong to everything and everyone, Ben!" Max shouts. "You end up belonging to nobody!"
Holy Hell, what an absolutely phenominal start to the new trilogy in the Chaos Walking series. I have been in love with this series since I first read it in high school and I have re-read it so many times since that I've lost count. As soon as I read 'and I don't say eff,' I immediately felt a wave of nostalgia drape over me.
One thing that always stands out to me about this series is the way Ness is able to effortlessly weave lessons about the dangers of authoritarianism, intolerence and hatred, and the Othering of people in a vivid and gripping fantasy world. And he's done it once again in Piper at the Gates of Dusk.
The new trilogy follows Ben and Max, the sons of Viola and Todd from the initial series, as they carve out their own paths on New World. Although very different, their sibling bond is incredibly strong. I loved both Ben and Max; although initially it seems that Max is similar to Todd, whilst Ben follows Viola's personality more, they are, in fact, a fantastic blend of both of their parents. Max seems more headstrong and confrontational, whereas Ben is a bit more reserved and is always thinking about things. However, whilst Max is outrightly critical of the mayor, similar to Viola in the first series, Ben gives him the benefit of the doubt, trying to see all sides of the argument, similar to how Todd was in the second and third books of the initial series. I adore them both and I cannot wait to see what happens in the following books.
The Noise is such a fascinating idea and I love how it was showed in the initial trilogy. It's a bit different in this book as Todd is one of the few people who chose not to take a noise cure, whereas most of the young people in New World have. This makes Todd somewhat of an outsider of the city and he prefers to stay on his farm, away from the politiking. Todd laments to Max that he sometimes wishes his sons hadn't taken the cure for their Noise, but that they thought it was the right thing to do at the time. This creates an interesting dynamic where their sons, especially Max, see how Todd interacts with The Land through their Noise and wonders if they should have kept their Noise too.
I really appreciated that, whist there was some conflict between the humans and The Land, with an annoying mayor and a fervently aggressive religious figure, this wasn't the main focus of the book. As Todd says throughout Piper at the Gates of Dusk, history does unfortunately have a way of repeating itself, and it would be somewhat idealistic to suggest that all the political and social issues of the previous trilogy had been resolved. However, I liked that this wasn't the main plot, as I do think it would've been a bit too similar to the first trilogy. The threat coming from outside of New World was a really fascinating mechanic; it creates a highly tense situation where the people of New World have to band together to put up a united front against the threat.
Ben being unable to speak was a really fascinating plot point. I really liked the concept of the cure for Noise having taken something away, as well as, seemingly, giving people peace. I cannot wait to see how that unfolds within the wider plot in the next two books. I also really liked how Max and Ben had picked up aspects of their parents' speech. Max uses a double negative quite a few times.
Queer representation has always been prevalent in Ness' writing and it's something that has always meant so much to me. Being a young teen and reading the first trilogy and realising that Ben and Cillian were a romantic pairing was life changing for me. Up to that point, I hadn't really read books with that much queer rep, especially not with the characters being older adults, and definitely not as father figures. I could quote so many parts of Piper at the Gates of Dusk that made me tear up in the best way. Max's journey and interaction as a trans man comes at a time when, politically and socially, trans people are under attack from all sides. It was so lovely to see this represented in such a heartwarming and positive way.
Some of my favourites are;
"There are plenty of boyish girls. Plenty of girlish boys, too. Nothing wrong with that. But sometimes, just sometimes, they're actually boys and girls, rather than girls and boys, if you see what I mean."
"Turns out if you find one prejudice in a person, there are probably lots of others hiding just beneath the surface."
"There are Land who cross the boundary. Land who were born one way but are actually another. And everything along that spectrum."
"You can't belong to everything and everyone, Ben!" Max shouts. "You end up belonging to nobody!"
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
.
Piper at the Gates of Dusk is a thrilling new return to the world of Chaos Walking, which was one of my favourite series as a teenager so I had to pick it up. Piper is set many years after the events of Monsters of Men (the exact time jump is never specified but it’s around 13-14 years) and the humans have settled into an uneasy peace with the native Land. But something ancient is stirring. A strange new light has opened in the night sky, horrific burning figures erupt from the ground and divisions are spreading between those who trust the Land and those who see them as an enemy, and Todd and Viola’s two children are caught up in the middle of it all.
I had a lot of fun reading Piper at the Gates of Dusk! While the original trilogy did wrap things up nicely, it’s always so wonderful to dive back into a familiar world with beloved characters and I really liked how Todd and Viola were clearly older and more developed yet still the same flawed people. I also really enjoyed the expansion we got on the world of the original trilogy, there are some really interesting looks into the culture and history of the Land, some new creatures and lots of hints at a deeper lore that I’m really excited to see more of.
The ‘stream of consciousness’ writing style of the original series is maintained here and, though it’s definitely not for everyone, I really enjoyed how close it made me feel to the characters and the action. The fast paced nature of it meant I ended up just inhaling the book in one long reading session, and I can see many young adult readers doing the same!
The plot is where Piper felt the most different to the original trilogy. While Chaos Walking felt quite character driven, Piper is pretty much 100% plot driven and it was a super fun plot! There was brilliant action and so many wonderful layers of mystery - I felt like getting out a red stringboard at points. It was also wonderfully weird in places, spiralling off into directions I never would have predicted.
The themes were very similar to some of the themes of the original series: xenophobia, religion and its impacts, etc, and they’re all really important and interesting to explore in this alternate world. I did feel like they were perhaps a little more heavy handed than I remember Chaos Walking being. There’s always a very difficult balance to strike in young adult books between exploring important themes in depth and doing it in a way teenagers can understand, but I feel like Piper swung a little too much towards the latter. Young people can and will understand deep complexity and I think the book could have done with a little more of that.
The characters were probably the weakest aspect of the book for me. I really appreciated the diversity, one of the main characters, Max, is transgender and it’s really nicely written. He’s shaped by it but not defined by it and I really appreciated the thoughtfulness behind it. I also loved the focus on found family. It’s frustratingly common for fantasy/sci-fi to put so much emphasis on blood relations when found family can be just as strong, it’s just so lovely to read about. However, I did struggle to connect to Max purely because he just didn’t seem to have many flaws. Unlike Todd in Chaos Walking, Max seemed to have most things figured out. He’s brave, he’s kind, he rattles off moral lessons and I just wished he’d been a bit messier like most people his age are. He was very likeable and fun but it seemed like he just didn’t have much growth left to do and I missed the coming of age aspect. Ben was a little better on this front, but still just didn’t feel flawed enough for me to properly connect with. I hope that their characters will be expanded upon more in future instalments.
To conclude, I had a lot of fun reading Piper at the Gates of Dusk and it will certainly satisfy young fans with its layers of mystery and breackneck action. However, I felt it was missing the messiness and flawed nature of the characters in the original Chaos Walking trilogy. The plot has hooked me enough that I’ll definitely be picking up the next instalments but I hope that the depth of the themes will increase to match the original trilogy.
Piper at the Gates of Dusk is a thrilling new return to the world of Chaos Walking, which was one of my favourite series as a teenager so I had to pick it up. Piper is set many years after the events of Monsters of Men (the exact time jump is never specified but it’s around 13-14 years) and the humans have settled into an uneasy peace with the native Land. But something ancient is stirring. A strange new light has opened in the night sky, horrific burning figures erupt from the ground and divisions are spreading between those who trust the Land and those who see them as an enemy, and Todd and Viola’s two children are caught up in the middle of it all.
I had a lot of fun reading Piper at the Gates of Dusk! While the original trilogy did wrap things up nicely, it’s always so wonderful to dive back into a familiar world with beloved characters and I really liked how Todd and Viola were clearly older and more developed yet still the same flawed people. I also really enjoyed the expansion we got on the world of the original trilogy, there are some really interesting looks into the culture and history of the Land, some new creatures and lots of hints at a deeper lore that I’m really excited to see more of.
The ‘stream of consciousness’ writing style of the original series is maintained here and, though it’s definitely not for everyone, I really enjoyed how close it made me feel to the characters and the action. The fast paced nature of it meant I ended up just inhaling the book in one long reading session, and I can see many young adult readers doing the same!
The plot is where Piper felt the most different to the original trilogy. While Chaos Walking felt quite character driven, Piper is pretty much 100% plot driven and it was a super fun plot! There was brilliant action and so many wonderful layers of mystery - I felt like getting out a red stringboard at points. It was also wonderfully weird in places, spiralling off into directions I never would have predicted.
The themes were very similar to some of the themes of the original series: xenophobia, religion and its impacts, etc, and they’re all really important and interesting to explore in this alternate world. I did feel like they were perhaps a little more heavy handed than I remember Chaos Walking being. There’s always a very difficult balance to strike in young adult books between exploring important themes in depth and doing it in a way teenagers can understand, but I feel like Piper swung a little too much towards the latter. Young people can and will understand deep complexity and I think the book could have done with a little more of that.
The characters were probably the weakest aspect of the book for me. I really appreciated the diversity, one of the main characters, Max, is transgender and it’s really nicely written. He’s shaped by it but not defined by it and I really appreciated the thoughtfulness behind it. I also loved the focus on found family. It’s frustratingly common for fantasy/sci-fi to put so much emphasis on blood relations when found family can be just as strong, it’s just so lovely to read about. However, I did struggle to connect to Max purely because he just didn’t seem to have many flaws. Unlike Todd in Chaos Walking, Max seemed to have most things figured out. He’s brave, he’s kind, he rattles off moral lessons and I just wished he’d been a bit messier like most people his age are. He was very likeable and fun but it seemed like he just didn’t have much growth left to do and I missed the coming of age aspect. Ben was a little better on this front, but still just didn’t feel flawed enough for me to properly connect with. I hope that their characters will be expanded upon more in future instalments.
To conclude, I had a lot of fun reading Piper at the Gates of Dusk and it will certainly satisfy young fans with its layers of mystery and breackneck action. However, I felt it was missing the messiness and flawed nature of the characters in the original Chaos Walking trilogy. The plot has hooked me enough that I’ll definitely be picking up the next instalments but I hope that the depth of the themes will increase to match the original trilogy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and Walker Books for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
As a massive Patrick Ness and Chaos Walking fan, I read this book voraciously, quickly, trusting the author to deliver a new, exciting story with all of his signature quirks.
Unfortunately, I found that Piper at the Gates of Dusk, while being a fun and fast-paced read, is quite far from the heydays of Chaos Walking.
As much as I would like to regard this book on its own (and as a fresh start for new readers, as the marketing suggests), it is impossible for me to talk about it without comparing it to the series that originated this setting. Where The Knife of Never Letting Go was breaking conventions in YA and truly stretching the genres and its capabilities to its limits, PatGoD feels like a more traditional and straightforward narrative set in the same universe as Knife. It is not without its merits, and it's still enjoyable to read, but I thought it felt like a book that demands way less of its readers, preferring to deliver a narrative that is action packed, largely uncomplicated, easy to follow, frictionless.
Friction is, in my opinion, where Ness excels: it's a hard balance to strike, but if the reader has to work at least a tiny bit, the pay-off feels earned. PatGoD is a smoother experience compared to any of his previous books, and for this reason it feels less impactful. The characters are interesting, but rarely put in situations that highlight their most complex traits. Even genuinely emotional beats could've been deeper and more poignant if only we had waited a bit more for them (I'm thinking of a specific confrontation between the two brothers; I understand what it was trying to do, but I can't help wonder if Ness could've saved it instead for book 2, in order to let those underlying emotion percolate and settle instead of dispelling that tension immediately. Same thing for a character death; I felt that there was barely any time to get attached to them, and while it is undoubtedly an important moment for all the main characters, it ended up feeling scripted and accessory).
Moreover, I thought it would've benefited from a higher page count; it is the shortest novel set on New World to date, and I thought many moments or characters could've been improved by letting the reader stay with them longer. PatGoD feels very much all plot, and I reckon it needed some prattle.
Returning to New World and meeting up with old characters is nice, but I wonder if this could truly be a good starting point for new readers. It doesn't require extensive knowledge of the original trilogy, and past events are summed up in a way that doesn't completely spoil the fun of going back and reading the old books for the first time, but the original books are more complex, and they play with structure, form and tone in a way that isn't present in PatGoD. At the end of the day, this is a completely appropriate, fun book for teens; adults who have read the Chaos Walking Trilogy as teenagers might find it fun to revisit a beloved world, but because people grow up and priorities shift, they might come out of it dissatisfied. Similarly, in my opinion, the old trilogy holds up quite well with adult readers for its scope and depth, whereas PatGoD felt shallow and wholly YA in comparison.
My hope is that Ness is saving the big guns for books 2 and 3; I've read every single one of his novels (except for his very first one), and I know that he's done and can do much, much more. I will be continuing this series, of course, but I'll probably just recommend the original series for new readers, teens and adults alike.
As a massive Patrick Ness and Chaos Walking fan, I read this book voraciously, quickly, trusting the author to deliver a new, exciting story with all of his signature quirks.
Unfortunately, I found that Piper at the Gates of Dusk, while being a fun and fast-paced read, is quite far from the heydays of Chaos Walking.
As much as I would like to regard this book on its own (and as a fresh start for new readers, as the marketing suggests), it is impossible for me to talk about it without comparing it to the series that originated this setting. Where The Knife of Never Letting Go was breaking conventions in YA and truly stretching the genres and its capabilities to its limits, PatGoD feels like a more traditional and straightforward narrative set in the same universe as Knife. It is not without its merits, and it's still enjoyable to read, but I thought it felt like a book that demands way less of its readers, preferring to deliver a narrative that is action packed, largely uncomplicated, easy to follow, frictionless.
Friction is, in my opinion, where Ness excels: it's a hard balance to strike, but if the reader has to work at least a tiny bit, the pay-off feels earned. PatGoD is a smoother experience compared to any of his previous books, and for this reason it feels less impactful. The characters are interesting, but rarely put in situations that highlight their most complex traits. Even genuinely emotional beats could've been deeper and more poignant if only we had waited a bit more for them (I'm thinking of a specific confrontation between the two brothers; I understand what it was trying to do, but I can't help wonder if Ness could've saved it instead for book 2, in order to let those underlying emotion percolate and settle instead of dispelling that tension immediately. Same thing for a character death; I felt that there was barely any time to get attached to them, and while it is undoubtedly an important moment for all the main characters, it ended up feeling scripted and accessory).
Moreover, I thought it would've benefited from a higher page count; it is the shortest novel set on New World to date, and I thought many moments or characters could've been improved by letting the reader stay with them longer. PatGoD feels very much all plot, and I reckon it needed some prattle.
Returning to New World and meeting up with old characters is nice, but I wonder if this could truly be a good starting point for new readers. It doesn't require extensive knowledge of the original trilogy, and past events are summed up in a way that doesn't completely spoil the fun of going back and reading the old books for the first time, but the original books are more complex, and they play with structure, form and tone in a way that isn't present in PatGoD. At the end of the day, this is a completely appropriate, fun book for teens; adults who have read the Chaos Walking Trilogy as teenagers might find it fun to revisit a beloved world, but because people grow up and priorities shift, they might come out of it dissatisfied. Similarly, in my opinion, the old trilogy holds up quite well with adult readers for its scope and depth, whereas PatGoD felt shallow and wholly YA in comparison.
My hope is that Ness is saving the big guns for books 2 and 3; I've read every single one of his novels (except for his very first one), and I know that he's done and can do much, much more. I will be continuing this series, of course, but I'll probably just recommend the original series for new readers, teens and adults alike.
March 12, 2026
4.5 rounding up.
Was stoked to get the Advanced Readers Copy at Emerald City Comicon! Patrick Ness has been a favorite of mine since I read The Knife of Never Letting Go in 2012, and stepping into that world again was a trip.
A couple decades after the end of Monsters of Men, Todd and Viola are parents to two teen boys, Max and Ben, who each favor one of their parents. Ben is smart, diplomatic, and pragmatic, like his mom. Max is headstrong, empathetic, and righteous like his dad. So when an unknown godlike creature appears on the planet and starts burning things to the ground and kidnapping children—and the humans start blaming The Land as a scapegoat—Max and Ben have very different takes on how they should go about saving their community. But they will always agree on the importance of having their brother’s back.
I appreciated how naturally the first trilogy established Todd’s parents as a gay couple, showcasing the importance of representation in books, and that representation only gets better here with such unique protagonists: one is mute and one is trans. These details are both important to their development while also not completely defining them. The book also has some great call backs to the original trilogy/reminders of plot points that don’t go too in the weeds. But you also probably could get by if you hadn’t read them, which is a tough balance to strike.
And of course, it’s Ness so there are going to be some snarky dialogue, several beautiful sentences, and at least one character death that makes you cry.
As with most YA books, there were some moments that felt a little “this is how the world is and so you should have these values if you don’t want to be a bad person” which can sometimes take the reader out of the story. But I also understand that young people are in fact learning about the world and establishing their values! And if after reading this book, they end up thinking similarly to Ness—valuing empathy, intellect, diversity, a community—I think our future is looking bright.
TL;DR if you enjoyed the Chaos Walking Trilogy, this is a great start to a sequel trilogy. I have no idea where it’s going, but I’m looking forward to continuing the ride!
Was stoked to get the Advanced Readers Copy at Emerald City Comicon! Patrick Ness has been a favorite of mine since I read The Knife of Never Letting Go in 2012, and stepping into that world again was a trip.
A couple decades after the end of Monsters of Men, Todd and Viola are parents to two teen boys, Max and Ben, who each favor one of their parents. Ben is smart, diplomatic, and pragmatic, like his mom. Max is headstrong, empathetic, and righteous like his dad. So when an unknown godlike creature appears on the planet and starts burning things to the ground and kidnapping children—and the humans start blaming The Land as a scapegoat—Max and Ben have very different takes on how they should go about saving their community. But they will always agree on the importance of having their brother’s back.
I appreciated how naturally the first trilogy established Todd’s parents as a gay couple, showcasing the importance of representation in books, and that representation only gets better here with such unique protagonists: one is mute and one is trans. These details are both important to their development while also not completely defining them. The book also has some great call backs to the original trilogy/reminders of plot points that don’t go too in the weeds. But you also probably could get by if you hadn’t read them, which is a tough balance to strike.
And of course, it’s Ness so there are going to be some snarky dialogue, several beautiful sentences, and at least one character death that makes you cry.
As with most YA books, there were some moments that felt a little “this is how the world is and so you should have these values if you don’t want to be a bad person” which can sometimes take the reader out of the story. But I also understand that young people are in fact learning about the world and establishing their values! And if after reading this book, they end up thinking similarly to Ness—valuing empathy, intellect, diversity, a community—I think our future is looking bright.
TL;DR if you enjoyed the Chaos Walking Trilogy, this is a great start to a sequel trilogy. I have no idea where it’s going, but I’m looking forward to continuing the ride!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The god comes screaming through the trees, shoving them to each side like matchsticks, breaking and burning them as it thrashes its way out of the woods... [opening paragraph]
In the original Chaos Walking trilogy (The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men) Todd was thirteen, dealing with life on an alien planet and the constant phenomenon of Noise -- the constant thoughts and feelings of the men (all the women are dead) in the colony -- and the threat of the alien Spackle. Piper at the Gates of Dusk starts a generation later, and focuses on Max and Ben, the two sons raised by Viola and Todd. Their world is very different to that in the first trilogy: Noise has been 'cured', the Spackle are now known as 'the Land' (except by rude racists), the colony is thriving. But then a burning god comes out of the woods, and the children of the colony start having nightmares, and there's something in the sky which might be an alien spaceship.
Ness explores gender with considerably more nuance than before: there's a trans character, and a range of reactions to that character from 'are you sure? is it just a phase?' to all-out transphobia with a religious flavour. There's also more about the natives, the Land: and, this being Ness who does not pull his punches, there are some truly harrowing scenes. Ness riffs on the legend of the Pied Piper -- who stole all the children save one from Hamelin, leaving one boy behind -- and the ways in which stories shape, and are shaped by, the societies in which they evolve.
I really liked Ben and Max, and wanted to howl at the cliffhanger ending. The political elements (a mayor elected by dubious means, who lies and scapegoats and distracts people from the truth) were a little too relevant to be comfortable. And grown-up Todd and Viola are flawed and human, but devoted to their family. I'm very much looking forward to the next in this new trilogy.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance review copy, in exchange for this full honest review. UK Publication Date is 7th April 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It's been so long since I read the Chaos Walking series I was concerned I would not be able to delve back into the world of Todd, Viola and the Noise, but it's like putting back on a comfortable old, dystopian, bleak, tragic slipper.
Time has moved on and this story follows Todd and Viola's children Max and Ben. There's a Noise 'cure' so the men are no longer set apart from the women and the human settlers have built their own city and have a good system going, despite the horrendous community leaders, the new Mayor, Burly and the most punchable person I've encountered in recent fiction, Margery Wingard. The plot is relatively simple, there seems to be an external threat coming that might threaten humans and Spackle (or The Land as they are properly addressed).
The invasion is coming from the stars, but mysterious giant god like creatures are appearing at random, creating chaos and destructions.
It's tense and there are quests filled with danger and scary creatures, but this book also has a lot to say, about communication, self worth, identity and most obviously, loss. Ness deftly weaves disability, sexual and gender identity through his characters so they're not extra 'things' shoehorned into the plot. Instead they're relevant traits making characters more multi-faceted rather than single issue, and inegrated, instead of hamfistedly 'represented'.
It's definitely a Book 1 in a series, as I got to 82% and there was NO WAY this was going to be resolved.
Ness is gifted at capturing characters spirits and making them real and entertaining, but he also mercilessly puts us through the wringer of horrifying losses. Cheers for that Mr Ness.
A cracking return to the beloved Chaos Walking world, full of big ideas and big emotions.
Time has moved on and this story follows Todd and Viola's children Max and Ben. There's a Noise 'cure' so the men are no longer set apart from the women and the human settlers have built their own city and have a good system going, despite the horrendous community leaders, the new Mayor, Burly and the most punchable person I've encountered in recent fiction, Margery Wingard. The plot is relatively simple, there seems to be an external threat coming that might threaten humans and Spackle (or The Land as they are properly addressed).
The invasion is coming from the stars, but mysterious giant god like creatures are appearing at random, creating chaos and destructions.
It's tense and there are quests filled with danger and scary creatures, but this book also has a lot to say, about communication, self worth, identity and most obviously, loss. Ness deftly weaves disability, sexual and gender identity through his characters so they're not extra 'things' shoehorned into the plot. Instead they're relevant traits making characters more multi-faceted rather than single issue, and inegrated, instead of hamfistedly 'represented'.
It's definitely a Book 1 in a series, as I got to 82% and there was NO WAY this was going to be resolved.
Ness is gifted at capturing characters spirits and making them real and entertaining, but he also mercilessly puts us through the wringer of horrifying losses. Cheers for that Mr Ness.
A cracking return to the beloved Chaos Walking world, full of big ideas and big emotions.
Read
March 21, 2026ARC Review
Dual POV
TW: Swearing
Thank you Walker Books for sending me a copy of this ARC to read.
Initially I struggled to get into the story as there was a lot of referencing to the original trilogy - I would recommend picking up it up before diving into this book as this is the next generation in the timeline.
Page 186 is where it picked up for me and I couldn't put it down.
There was a good representation of how humans (no matter where we go) seem to think we're the superior intelligence to those who are native of the world/land that we try to create a new home on - this made me think of how indigenous Australian peoples have had the same treatment since the first settlers arrived in Australia. They are the people who know this land & we should work with them not turn them into someone we can blame when things we do not understand start happening.
Piper at the Gates of Dusk
Something has been spotted in the night sky.
Something that’s bringing back dreams of Noise, dreams of terror. Brothers Ben and Max have never really gotten on, each being more like one of their parents – Todd and Viola.
But it's time for them to come together. Because one by one, kids are beginning to disappear.
SOMETHING IS COMING.
As power seeks to divide communities, secrets unwind and hope is tested, will the brothers be able to put their differences aside - or will this quest tear their already fragile bond apart for good?
Out April 2026
Dual POV
TW: Swearing
Thank you Walker Books for sending me a copy of this ARC to read.
Initially I struggled to get into the story as there was a lot of referencing to the original trilogy - I would recommend picking up it up before diving into this book as this is the next generation in the timeline.
Page 186 is where it picked up for me and I couldn't put it down.
There was a good representation of how humans (no matter where we go) seem to think we're the superior intelligence to those who are native of the world/land that we try to create a new home on - this made me think of how indigenous Australian peoples have had the same treatment since the first settlers arrived in Australia. They are the people who know this land & we should work with them not turn them into someone we can blame when things we do not understand start happening.
Piper at the Gates of Dusk
Something has been spotted in the night sky.
Something that’s bringing back dreams of Noise, dreams of terror. Brothers Ben and Max have never really gotten on, each being more like one of their parents – Todd and Viola.
But it's time for them to come together. Because one by one, kids are beginning to disappear.
SOMETHING IS COMING.
As power seeks to divide communities, secrets unwind and hope is tested, will the brothers be able to put their differences aside - or will this quest tear their already fragile bond apart for good?
Out April 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Patrick Ness returns to the New World of the Chaos Walking books in the first of a new trilogy, and very welcome it is. Viola and Todd are among the humans trying to make a life on this planet after Earth self-destructed, although peaceful co-existence with the native majority known as the Land (formerly the Spackle) is constantly threatened. Their sons, Ben and Max, and most of the population have taken what was believed to be a cure for the Noise, where a person’s thoughts and feelings are played out loud- until a giant, screaming, skinless “god” comes crashing through the woods, on fire, destroying everything in his way, before crashing into the river and disappearing to the sound of Noise below. Vivid, visceral and tense, the terrifying new threat unfolds in a fast-paced, action-packed narrative, and like the first trilogy big issues are covered- gender and sexuality, treatment of those who are different, prejudice and power. There are many parallels with the world today- a leader, the mayor, who shifts blame for what goes wrong onto a different “race,” religious extremism, tendency towards war and seeing anyone different as inferior or dangerous. The Land, who are shown to be vastly superior to the humans in their way of life, are a close community who respect each other and the natural world, but are ridiculed and treated as dangerous by most of the human population. This book, while absorbing and thought-provoking, cannot by its nature as a sequel quite recapture the freshness and creativity of the first trilogy, but the new developments and skill of the writing make it a must for fans of the original, and will hopefully bring in some new readers to discover this powerful universe- and wipe out the memory of the dreadful film made of the first novel.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The YA legacy sequel trend continues with one of my favourite trilogies of all time and results are...mixed!?
As much as Patrick Ness has clearly come back to New World with fascinating new ideas and a desire to reapproach questions of diversity in this speculative setting, he hasn't really brought any electrically-alive characters or tense moral dilemmas to replace what was so brilliant about his original trilogy. In the absence of seemingly insurmountable tyrants or genuinely uncomfortable character moments there's a softer, more sanitised energy to the whole affair - even as the action remains perilous and merciless. After leaving Young Adult Fiction to write his Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody series, it seems some of that Middle Fiction series' warmth has rubbed off on Ness and now mars his return to a sequel series that you'd expect to cater to an older, returning audience. Granted, Ness's imagination remains peerless, building a mystery that feels leagues beyond the sci-fi scope of his original stories, drawing together dreams, strange asteroids, centuries-old myths and most daring of all, inexplicable burning gods. The result is thrilling and fascinating in many parts and leaves me cautiously excited for the next books - I just wished I cared as much about Ness's new characters as I do about his new ideas.
7/10
As much as Patrick Ness has clearly come back to New World with fascinating new ideas and a desire to reapproach questions of diversity in this speculative setting, he hasn't really brought any electrically-alive characters or tense moral dilemmas to replace what was so brilliant about his original trilogy. In the absence of seemingly insurmountable tyrants or genuinely uncomfortable character moments there's a softer, more sanitised energy to the whole affair - even as the action remains perilous and merciless. After leaving Young Adult Fiction to write his Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody series, it seems some of that Middle Fiction series' warmth has rubbed off on Ness and now mars his return to a sequel series that you'd expect to cater to an older, returning audience. Granted, Ness's imagination remains peerless, building a mystery that feels leagues beyond the sci-fi scope of his original stories, drawing together dreams, strange asteroids, centuries-old myths and most daring of all, inexplicable burning gods. The result is thrilling and fascinating in many parts and leaves me cautiously excited for the next books - I just wished I cared as much about Ness's new characters as I do about his new ideas.
7/10
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Piper at the Gates of Dusk is an atmospheric, character‑driven return to New World that blends mystery, emotion, and big thematic questions. Ness’s strongest work here is in the characters—Max and Ben feel vivid and fully realized, and the family and friendship dynamics give the story real emotional weight. Their relationships are meaningful, messy, and often in conflict, which makes the stakes hit harder as the unknown begins to close in.
There’s a lot of deliberate mystery in this book, and while that adds tension, I sometimes felt like I was missing pieces—especially around Todd and Viola’s past. It left me intrigued enough to want to read the Chaos Walking trilogy, but also occasionally confused in the moment. The tone felt young at first, but once I settled into the intended audience, it became clear how well the book handles themes like identity, communication, prejudice, and belonging in a way that’s accessible without being simplified.
Overall, it’s eerie, heartfelt, and full of promise for what comes next.
Highly recommend the audiobook. Really brings the story and characters to life.
Thank you NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the arc.
There’s a lot of deliberate mystery in this book, and while that adds tension, I sometimes felt like I was missing pieces—especially around Todd and Viola’s past. It left me intrigued enough to want to read the Chaos Walking trilogy, but also occasionally confused in the moment. The tone felt young at first, but once I settled into the intended audience, it became clear how well the book handles themes like identity, communication, prejudice, and belonging in a way that’s accessible without being simplified.
Overall, it’s eerie, heartfelt, and full of promise for what comes next.
Highly recommend the audiobook. Really brings the story and characters to life.
Thank you NetGalley and Bolinda Audio for the arc.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I hadn’t read the original trilogy before picking up this book and I still had a great time! There are enough hints to previous lore that I’m now pretty curious to go back and read Chaos Walking, but I jumped right in with
few problems. I liked the prominent representation of disability and being trans, as well as the commentary on misinformation and the human tendency to try to find scapegoats in uncontrollable situations. I also really liked the framing myth of the Piper within the text—I’m a sucker for anything with that kind of fairytale feeling. The Noise is a really cool magic system that was well-utilized, and the humans’ problematic relationship with the Land was explored especially well. I just wish there had been a bit more resolution/payoff in this installment—but I’m excited to see where this series goes next!
I received an ARC of this book at Emerald City Comic Con—my thanks to the publishers!
few problems. I liked the prominent representation of disability and being trans, as well as the commentary on misinformation and the human tendency to try to find scapegoats in uncontrollable situations. I also really liked the framing myth of the Piper within the text—I’m a sucker for anything with that kind of fairytale feeling. The Noise is a really cool magic system that was well-utilized, and the humans’ problematic relationship with the Land was explored especially well. I just wish there had been a bit more resolution/payoff in this installment—but I’m excited to see where this series goes next!
I received an ARC of this book at Emerald City Comic Con—my thanks to the publishers!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I enjoyed this book as... We're back in a familiar world (chaos walking) and Ness' imagery and mannerisms with writing are incredibly powerful. He truely encapsulates the raw emotions of what it is to be human. Being back in New World and seeing Todd and Violia all grown up is bittersweet.
Brothers Ben and Max face a mysterious entity, which cause children to go missing. The land bring a story from long ago where history is beginning to repeat itself. They along with the natives of the land must figure out what theses entities are and how to stop them before they all children disappear and history repeats itself.
If you read the chaos walking series you're absolutely going to love returning back to this world. Ness truely encapsulates the raw emotions of what it is to be human. AND IT CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE (but I definitely recommend the chaos walking series first)
Brothers Ben and Max face a mysterious entity, which cause children to go missing. The land bring a story from long ago where history is beginning to repeat itself. They along with the natives of the land must figure out what theses entities are and how to stop them before they all children disappear and history repeats itself.
If you read the chaos walking series you're absolutely going to love returning back to this world. Ness truely encapsulates the raw emotions of what it is to be human. AND IT CAN BE READ AS A STANDALONE (but I definitely recommend the chaos walking series first)
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
In a world where human settlers have pushed aside and mainly harmed the indigenous Land, Ben and Max and their parents are exceptions. Dad’s thoughts, the Noise, help him communicate with the Land and their grandfather mainly lives with the Land, earning distrust from the rest of the settlers. Ben and Max have significant differences from the rest of the settlers as well, so much of their lives have been lived out of town. When a mysterious object appears in the sky and huge, fiery beings appear to kidnap children, who can stop them? Ben and Max and their families are determined to try. Vivid characters, full of big ideas, intriguing metaphor, and lovely writing. Short chapters keep the reader turning pages. This companion to the Chaos Walking series can stand alone, but it’s never a waste of time to read more of Ness’s work! EARC from Edelweiss.
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