The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking, #1) in Addicted to YA

Feb 17, 2014 Danielle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014-read, ya-books, 2014-feb-read, ya-books-read-in-2014

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 3.5- 4 stars

I wasn't sure what to rate this book so I just gave it an inbetween rating. I did like the book, and found that while reading that I was flying through it because the pacing was pretty good there weren't many long drawn out sequences, which was good, so I could get through this book pretty quickly considering the size. And I liked all of the action and the mystery behind it all as well, and I was trying to figure out what the heck was going on in this world along with Todd and Viola 3.5- 4 stars

I wasn't sure what to rate this book so I just gave it an inbetween rating. I did like the book, and found that while reading that I was flying through it because the pacing was pretty good there weren't many long drawn out sequences, which was good, so I could get through this book pretty quickly considering the size. And I liked all of the action and the mystery behind it all as well, and I was trying to figure out what the heck was going on in this world along with Todd and Viola because it was a messed up place or a messed up planet I should say so I enjoyed that aspect as well. I was definitely drawn in to the plot that kept wanting to go on and keep going until everything came to light and everything made sense. A few surprises were thrown in as well, which was another good thing and something I enjoyed. At times I was at the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen in the next part (since the book was broken up into six parts) and not wanting to put the book down because I needed to know where it was going next. I was definitely intrigued by it all and the plot.

Now did I love the book like other people did? No. And even though it was an enjoyable read, I would say I'd love book or that it was one of my favorite books of all time. Partially the reason being that some of it was just horrific and disturbing, which I am sure was Patrick Ness's point plus to arouse strong emotional reactions out of people of how wrong this world really was, and I didn't enjoy that aspect very much especially how the dog, Machee, was treated throughout the book and what wound up happen to him. Wasn't happy about that, but then again I am animal lover so any time there is mistreatment of an animal I am immediately turned off and my heartbreak for that animal whether it be fiction or reality. So that was one reason I didn't love the book with that probably the main reason. Just the whole concept of how boys became men disturbing me very much, which again was the point of the whole thing, but it just kind of took me aback for a second.

I think to going into this book I really had no idea what it was about except there was the place where the main character lived where all the women were dead while the men survived and the men could hear each others thoughts then this girl popped up out of nowhere and Todd discovered he couldn't hear her thoughts and found it very refreshing. So that was really all I knew about it aside from many people rave about this trilogy and really like it so I decided to give it a try. I was under the impression this was a dystopian, which it was, but I had no idea that there was a sci-fi element as well that seemed to be set in the future and on a different planet, which they refer to as the New World. And I had no idea or would have even guessed that they were on a different planet looking to colonize it after I assume earth was going to pot. It just took me aback for a second, but it was a nice surprise, and it added another intriguing element to the story especially when Viola pulled out all these gadgets here and there that would do could stuff like heal wounds or the fire in the box kind of thing. But after learning that there were spaceships and this was another planet then my mind kind of had to shift my thinking it what I thought this actually was going to be about. It was interesting though.

At first I wasn't thrilled with the book and that was the only time a felt it was tad slow, but I know that was just part of the set portion of the book before it really took off, and I wasn't so happy with the character of Todd. In fact I thought he was jerk especially how he treated Manchee in the beginning like he was a nuisance and a bother and just very impatient with the dog, I get he didn't want it, but still. He even kicked or slapped it a few times throughout the book, which was a no-no in my eyes like I said above. So I didn't have the most favorable opinion of him. Also it took me awhile to get used to how he spoke because the way it was written many words were misspelled or certain words were right, but that was due to the fact he was that he couldn't read or write. He was never taught. Where he grew up all his life, schooling was not allowed. Books weren't allowed and considered illegal as well as someone teaching someone to read and write. So Todd had no formal education and it was shown in how the story was written since it was in his point of view. So I had to get used to that as well as just his personality, which was a little gruff at times, though under the circumstance who could blame him because he grew up in a rough world where everyone could hear his thoughts plus the town wasn't the richest around plus the holy man in town would beat people while he was preaching to them. Talk about a tough life? But even having understanding all that I still wasn't thrilled with him or the beginning as well and I almost put it down and didn't get why people were so consumed with this series, which felt like a big mess. But then I began to warm up to the plot and to Todd around the time that Viola came out the scene. Then my opinion shifted in his favor because he was so kind towards a scared Viola, who wouldn't even speak that was how frightened she was. There were time later on that I wasn't happy about him or thought he was being a little too harsh to Viola at times, but for the most part I saw what a good guy he was and that he truly was a man whether he was 13 or not, that was what his world stated that 13 boys were men. He really came to care for Viola especially at the end where his feeling were pretty apparent and he just wanted to protect her, and proved that many times throughout the book, and I just thought was really sweet and well done.

Actually I really liked the whole development of Todd and Viola's relationship. Now this book was no way a romance or filled with romance, but there were touches of things here and there to show where their relationship will be heading in the next two books. Though this book did come to show much they cared for one another and wanted to protect each other and just how they stuck together during these horrible circumstances. It was nice to see. A little light in the dark. But like I said I liked how Patrick Ness developed it and made it a gradual thing of growing their relationship throughout the novel. At first it was rocky. She hit him in the head with a branch when he was trying to help her, but that was because she was scared, and even still he was willing to protect her from Aaron when he came to take/attack her and brought on his journey out of Prentisstown and to the outside world. She didn't trust him right away. One because he was stranger and two because she was on a new planet and she had no idea who she could or couldn't trust. She even didn't talk for probably the first third of the book, which made him think she couldn't hear him or could talk or his thoughts, which she could, and she was just doing that to protect herself. But once she saw she could trust him then she began speaking and letting him in, and Patrick Ness just did great job in showing and just how their relationship changes along the way. Because even though they do disagree in some parts of the book, they know that they can count on each other and trust one another because they had no one else. And they were it for each other. Feeling were becoming involved as well near the end, which he/she haven't put into words yet, but I could feel it and see where this was all headed. With the ending making that most apparent and what they both do for each other during that time showing that feelings were there. It was kind of heartbreaking to watch especially at the very end, which was a surprising cliffhanger that had my mouth dropping a little especially since I though I was going it to the downswing not thrown a big bomb in my face where it left the ending very cliffhangery, and I could just feel the sadness and desperation coming off poor Todd, who just felt like everything was falling apart around him when he thought like I was things were going to get better not go back to a low. I just feel it right my heart and was just right there with Todd in the moment that made me feel so much for him. It punched me in the gut so I can imagine what it did to him. It just was one of those scenes and a hell of ending. But I am curious to see how their relationship plays out and how it changes in the next couple of novels because I really enjoyed watching their friendship develop and now kind of start going into a new territory of something deeper. That was a strength in this book. I wasn't expecting their to be a lot of relationship development, but there was, which good and very believable and enjoyable aspect of this story. Because really they only have each other for most of the book and stick together for most of it with Todd determined to protect her about half way through and onwards while in the beginning he wasn't so thrilled at having her along and ready to dump her. But like I said Patrick Ness did very well in developing that relationship and gradually moving along as they moved along their journey together.

The story was very action packed and didn't really stop for a second following Todd and Viola on their journey running from this army and the mayor who wanted Todd back for their own evil purposes. It would have happened when Todd turned 13 and became a man, but the men he considered his fathers Cillian and Ben didn't want that to happen to Todd so they told him to run away. And after that it was a crazy nonstop journey with the army and mayor on Viola and Todd's tail all the way throughout, making it very suspenseful and exciting in a twisted way. It was an adrenaline rush for sure because I wondered if they were going to get caught because they almost do several times or were the army going to find them this placed or that place. And also just wondering what the heck was going on and why Todd was so important for their plans that they needed to capture him. So it was just this crazy ride throughout where I didn't know what to believe and what not to believe. And also Todd was struggling with what to believe now especially since he was lied to all his life so who could he really trust? But it got my heart pounding especially when the army or Aaron found them or were just really close to them so it made me wonder would they escape or not or just how they were going to get out of it.

I wondered where this was all going and where it was leading up to. I know their purpose for most of the book was to get to Haven, which was said to be able to protect Viola and Todd because they had arm forces plus they had communication devices, which Viola needed to warn the people who were set to settle on the planet since her and her parents weren't sent down there on a scout mission, but her parents were dead so now she needed to do that as well as warn the new settlers of this crazy Mayor and army that wanted to take over the planet, plus it was said that Haven had the cure for the Noise (which was the ability to read another persons thoughts with women being immune to it while the men were subject to it), which Todd was told that was a germ released in the air by the aliens known as Spackle who were going to war with the humans and used that as a weapon. And really there was this whole war, Todd was told, between the aliens and humans and the humans came on top while the Speckles were all wiped out and none existed anymore (or so he was told). Poor Speckles, you'll know why I said that if you read the book and see this one scene then you'll get why say that. So Haven goal basically for everyone with that place supposedly holding all the answers and protection. So it was a race to Haven. And I wondered if they would even get there in this book or if they would get there in the next. I didn't know where this was heading or where the ending would end up. And as a commented above it was a shocking cliffhanger that I had no clue was coming. But I can see where it would be set up for the next two books, which I am kind of scared to read now because I think I know where it's heading and it scares me that this is going to change Todd too much and make him a different and unlikable person. It was awhile for me to warm up to him here so I can just imagine where he'll end up in the next novels. Anyway I just wasn't expecting it to end like that, and definitely not on a cliffhanger. I don't know how I was expecting to end, but this wasn't it and it's kind still flooring me to be honest, and I really don't know what else I have to say that I didn't already say. Just not expecting the ending I got. Not that it was good or bad just different. It was emotional as well.

What else can I say? It was more violent and gory than I was expecting, which made me cringe at some points especially the scenes involving Aaron. What a psychopathy he was? I mean he and Todd get into some brutal bloody battles that made me wonder how they even survived some their encounters because they were so gruesome and gory. And Patrick Ness didn't shy away from the details. Oh no. He got right into the nitty gritty, and that wasn't the only times that it was bloody and gory. There were other moments with other characters that just were so cruel and brutal that it was hard to read sometimes. That was why I was glad for some of the lighter moments between Viola and Todd, needing that to balance it all out, and there were other non-gory moments like when Todd figured out the truth or when Viola read his mother's book to him, which was very touching and a sweet moment. The point was this book wasn't for the faint of heart and can get a little gruesome at times so be prepared if you read this book because there will be lots of blood spilled along the way. I was kind of surprise how much gore was in this considering that it is a YA book then again I was also surprised by the amount of violence, which this one has it too, and gore that was in the Hunger Games when I first read it and couldn't believe that was a YA so I guess you consider them similar wise on violence and gorewise. But the description were pretty graphic, and that was another reason I didn't overly love this book.

This book really didn't stop and it really did suck me into it where I couldn't put it down at times. There were parts, but at the end of the parts there was a subtle cliffhanger there so I would want to go read the next chapter then I found myself reading the next part then the next part and so on. So be forewarned this book was hard to put down at times and just propelling forward. Like I said there was just so much action and suspense going on that it really kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It went by fast though. I didn't fee dragged for overly long. There was a little bit here and there, but for the most part it just kept on going. There were just so many scenes of confrontations and where Viola and Todd would give Aaron or the army the slip so they could make it to Haven. But also Viola and Todd could see what the army could do and how they could murder person after person without any remorse with the intents and purpose of getting Todd back so they could turn him into a man. Boys who grew up in Prentisstown had to do one thing to make them men then once they did they were considered men. Todd was the last boy in town and the town was waiting for him to turn elusive 13 then they would have reached their goal and could move on to the next stage of their plan, but plans got ruined when Ben and Cillain made him run so this couldn't happen to him. And there was more going on as well as well as set up for the sequels, but that was the basic idea of the story. It was a survival story then anything else. And it was exciting and intriguing even if the subject matter wasn't and was kind of horrifying. I'm kind surprised that I even liked it, but I did. It did draw me in. And I flew through it. Though some of the scenes were very hard to witness especially with the dog. That killed more than anything. I can't even think about it too much or I'll just start getting upset again.

Oh I know who I didn't talk about. Viola. I really liked her and thought she was a good match for Todd on this journey. She didn't take any guff from him, when she started speaking to him that was, and his moral compass along the way, trying to point out to him what was right and what was wrong. And just get him to question what he was taught all of his life. Viola was such a rich character that showed many layers to her that made her all the more real. At first she was scared and standoffish, showing her vulnerability, yet at the same time she showed her quick wits and smarts by helping Todd like with the fire and the food from her crashed spaceship where her parents were killed, leaving her alone in this New World and dealing with all the newness of it. She showed her strength during entire difficult journey and was willing to follow and help Todd along the way. She vowed to stick with him and did just that showing her loyalty. They worked together really well, and though at times they didn't always agree or they had little scuffles here and there they always came back together trusting one another and looking for one another and just protecting one another. And they worked really well. And she was understanding and kind towards Todd even in the most difficult of circumstances. They had that kind of connection. I liked her a lot. And I felt for her because she went through a lot like the loss of her parents and being attacked Aaron and going on this crazy journey with Todd and just knowing enough that she could trust him not to hurt her. Even though she experienced pain and vulnerability during this time, she was never whiny or complaining she always urged herself to push through and finish this journey along with Todd, and I really respect and like that about her. I'll be curious to see how she develops in the next couple books.

Overall I did enjoy this book. It kept my attention. It was fast paced. Full of suspense and mystery with plenty of set up for the sequels. There are many open plot lines for sure and I could see where it could possible go. And with that cliffhanger. Wow! I can just imagine what's going to happen, and it's not going to be good. It kind of scares me then again I'm really intrigued by it the same time because I want to see what happens and where the story goes from here. Hopefully book two doesn't cliffhanger as well because I don't have possession of that one from the library while I have book two in my possession. Hopefully that won't be the case though. I'm curious to see what happens to Todd and Viola. Will be separated? I hope not, but I can see it happening especially because I fear what Todd is going to be made to do and put through. It's not going to be pleasant ride. So, I want to find out and see where the next one goes. Hopefully its as fast paced, suspenseful, action packed, and exciting like this one was then I should get through it with no problems. And hopefully the good guys will win in the end, but probably won't find that out till book three. But again I did enjoy this book not my favorite book of all time, but definitely was worth a read and see what people were talking about. ...more

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Apr 01, 2012 Thom Watson rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, children-ya, speculative-fiction

OK, so my two-star rating probably isn't very fair. The book and the author probably deserve better, and most raters here and on Amazon certainly seem to think so.

The story in some ways is quite gripping and certainly original. The storytelling is better than average even if the writing style -- mimicking the rural folksy dialect, complete with lots of misspellings and "ain't"s, of the people in Todd's village -- becomes quite grating. And the constant use of "effing" instead of the actual word ...more

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