The Knife of Never Letting Go Review

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

Title: The Knife of Never Letting Go

Author: Patrick Ness

Series: Chaos Walking #1

Publisher: Walker

Publication Date: May 5, 2008

Genre: Science Fiction; Futuristic; Dystopia; Fiction; Young Adult

Pages: 479

Format: Hardcover

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Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.

But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought? 

I used to wonder what it would be like to read minds. After reading this book, I’ve decided it wouldn’t be so great.

Todd is the last of the boys. He can read minds, just like everyone else in Prentisstown. Men, dogs, cows, everything. He has no say in what he hears, and he has no say in what other people hear. There are neither secrets nor privacy. Some men break under the constant pressure of the Noise, and some hide underneath alcohol and its effects. Some embrace the Noise, while others hone it like a weapon that needs to be finely sharpened. The Mayor is one of the people that believe the Noise is a gift that is yet to be used to its full potential. He believes the Noise enables the mind to be a vehicle of power and control. When Todd escapes the oppressive Mayor and his town, he runs into a girl and is shocked to discover he hears nothing. The girl has no Noise. The shocking discovery is the start of many more findings that will not only change Prentisstown, but Todd’s entire world as he knows it.

After reading his novel, A Monster Calls (review here), Patrick Ness became one of my idols. I absolutely adored his book, and I immediately wanted to read every book that he had ever written. When I learned about the existence of this series, it soon became number one on my to-read list.

This book is not only a narrative of this unusual story. It is the embodiment of the voice of a boy who struggles to understand not only his own thoughts but everyone else’s thoughts as well. While the Noise is a seriously awful thing, whenever I read about it, I can’t help but think about How the Grinch Stole Christmas. How does it go?

“And then! Oh, the noise! Oh the Noise! Noise! Noise! Noise! That’s one thing he hated! The NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!”

Although I think the Grinch was talking about a different kind of Noise, and the Whos are infinitely happier than the citizens of Prentisstown, I still think that the message is the same. Noise = Bad.  

Ness creates a captivating story by using both the words themselves and how the words look on the page to tell his story. He uses different fonts, carefully placed punctuation, and even the white space on a page to create both art and a story. It is intriguing and mysterious and very hard to look away from.

Fair warning: You have to be a very strong person to resist the sequel. If you pick up the first book, in all likelihood, you’ll end up with reading the whole series, one after another.

Patrick Ness, once again, deserves five stars for his ingenuity, creativity, and expert skill at language. Reading more of his work is at the top of my list. 

The Ask and the Answer

Holiday Reads: Perfect Books to Snuggle Up With By The Fire

Hot cocoa? Check. Fire crackling in the fireplace? Check. Book? No? Don't panic. Here are six fabulous book ideas for the holidays.

6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern- Christmas and the holidays are known for being nothing less than extremely magical. The Night Circus, one of my all-time favorites, is spell-binding. Whenever someone asks me for a book recommendation, I immediately point them in the direction of this book. Detailing the hypnotic journey of two magicians that must compete against one another in a competition that speaks of a tragic fate, The Night Circus will captivate you with its incredible language and tumultuous love affairs. It is a perfect choice for dark, romantic nights during the holidays.  

5. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell- Everyone knows that the holidays are not just about gifts (even though I'll be the first to admit that I love the presents). They are about love and family and giving as well as receiving. Fangirl, written by Rainbow Rowell, one of the best authors I've ever read, is a perfect representation of a girl who finds the meaning of family and love. While this book is not a "Christmas" or "holiday" themed book, it is perfect for exploring what it really means to be a family. Rowell, whose Eleanor & Park captured my heart within the first few pages, is fantastic at grasping the concept of heart-breakingly beautiful love. If it is on your Christmas wishlist to read an adorable novel that describes one girl's difficult coming-of-age journey, read Fangirl. It'll warm your insides almost as well as a big cup of good hot cocoa. 

4. Just One Day by Gayle Forman- What other novel is more perfect for Christmas time than a book that describes one day that changes the rest of your life forever? After all, Christmas is actually one small, short day out of a whole year, and it still makes a huge impact on our lives. As one can see from Gayle Forman's Just One Day, one 24 hour time span is as long as it takes to make your life an upside-down, ruined mess. Just One Day chronicles the one day of Allyson Healey's life that she decided to say yes to something out-of-this-world crazy and how it affected the rest of the years to come. Willem, the catalyst of Allyson's one-day adventure, took her on a journey that she will never forget, or even recover from. Will Allyson ever regain the sense of control that she lost along with Willem that one day? Will Allyson ever become who she was with Willem again? Just One Day is a must-read for all lovers of short romances and the magic of chance. This book was made for reading in the merry air of the holidays. 

3. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan- A romantic story bound within the pages of a red moleskin. Lily has left a book of dares waiting for just the right person to find and undertake them. This book is about a simple romantic journey between two people and the kismet that has brought them together. Set in snowy New York, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares is the product of Levithan's and Cohn's genius and is perfect of reading while the snow drifts softly outside. Curl up and get lost in this story that will have you wishing for a magical Christmas this year. 

2. Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle- A New York Times bestseller, this book is good no matter what season it is, but it is especially good during the time of year that it was meant to be read and enjoyed. I read this book based on a friend's recommendation, and I haven't looked back since. This book is filled with mushy romances, cute little pigs, and a plethora of snow. Each unique story is interconnected with another. I absolutely loved Green's holiday story. Read it and decide which lovely short story is your favorite. This book makes an excellent gift for yourself during the holidays. 

1. My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories edited by Stephanie Perkins- I've saved the best for last. If you don't read any other books on this list, read this one. It was made to read during the holidays. New Year's, Christmas, Yule, anything you can possibly imagine celebrating during the winter season. I absolutely adored this book. It was pretty much the cutest thing I've read in a really long time. Most of the authors I had read before, and I really loved how I could go and read more of their work, even if it was only ten pages or so. An excellent early Christmas present. The authors include: Holly Black, Ally Carter, Matt de la Pena, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Stephanie Perkins, Rainbow Rowell, Laini Taylor, and Kiersten White. If that isn't an all-star cast, I don't know what is. And, if you'll notice, some of the authors are on this very list. There's Levithan, Rowell (who, honestly, wrote my favorite story in the whole anthology), and Forman. All the stories are unique, yet cute and romantic. P.S. All the people on the cover correspond to a story. So adorable!

Those are the five-star books that I think are perfect for reading while the biting cold blows past outside and the Christmas tree twinkles. May your holidays be merry and bright!

Ruin and Rising Review

Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Ruin and Rising

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Series: Grisha #3

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Publication Date: June 17, 2014

Genre: Fiction; Fantasy; Romance; Young Adult

Pages: 417

Format: Hardback

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The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.

Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.

Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.

Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for.

Let’s get one thing straight: The Darkling literally rules the world. No matter how hard I try, I cannot let go of him. Even when the author makes him obviously evil, I can’t let him go. This book wasn’t as bad as the previous ones, and I actually did have a bit of closure. That is until the very end. No spoilers, I promise, but it was really bad.

Alina is tired of sitting around and waiting for the revolution to arrive. Stowed away from the rest of the world, Alina and her friends decide to break free from the oppressively protective Apparat and defy the Darkling once and for all. As Alina and Mal begin their search for the last remaining amplifier, they will discover secrets about the Darkling and themselves that will reshape their destiny to save Ravka. Alina could lose everything she loves–is Ravka’s future really worth it?

Mal is not bad. He is just not as good as the Darkling. He doesn’t even come close to the magnanimous awesomeness of the Darkling. He’s sweet. I guess. And, okay, he’s a little heroic. And he’s not hella-crazy like the Darkling. Okay, fine, Mal is obviously the better, nicer choice. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it. What can I say? Bardugo did a little too well in crafting a swoon-worthy Darkling prince in the first book. There really is no recovery from it. Does Darkling rehabilitation exist? Because I think I need to attend a session.

Alina was not as strong a female character in this book as she was in the previous two, which really was a shame. I mean, the finale is where it all counts doesn’t it? The finale should be filled with kick-ass, go-get-‘em characters, but, to be honest, I didn’t see as much of that as I would’ve liked. I wanted Alina to be at her strongest. I wanted to see the change in her from Book 1 to Book 3. The search for that transformation was as fruitless as Mal and Alina’s mission for the Morozova amplifiers. It simply, in my opinion, did not exist.

There were some really good moments also. All the scenes with Nikolai Lantsov were fantastic moments for example. It is such a shame was happened to him (again, no spoilers. It’s just…well…yeah. It was bad.), and honestly, I was more emotionally invested in Nikolai than I was in Alina, Mal, and the whole gang combined. Although, the Darkling still rules all. It goes: 1) Darkling 2) Nikolai and 3) Alina, Mal, and everyone else ever mentioned in the book. Can’t you tell I have my priorities in order? And, for future reference Bardugo, when you have made a character as amazing and wonderful as Nikolai Lantsov, you don’t go and just do what you did to him. You’ll save your readers a lot of heartache. 

This book was a solid four. Not quite a five, but not so bad as to be a three. Just a four. Which is considerably better than some of the books out there. Overall, it is worth the time and effort and a recommendable ending to one of my favorite book series. 

Lynburn Legacy #2: Untold Review

Untold by Sarah Rees Brennan

Title: Untold

Author: Sarah Rees Brennan

Series: The Lynburn Legacy #2

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: September 24, 2013

Genre: Romance; Gothic; Fiction; Fantasy; Supernatural; Young Adult

Pages: 367

Format: Hardback
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On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

A darkly humorous take on Gothic romance, Sarah Rees Brennan's Lynburn Legacy weaves together the tale of a heroine desperate to protect those she loves, two boys hoping to be saved, and the magical forces that will shape their destiny. 

Just a piece of advice: when you finish a book that ends in a soul-crushing cliffhanger, do not–do not–read a sneak peak (specifically this sneak peak) posted by the author. It will destroy you. Just patiently wait for the whole book to be available for your reading pleasures. It will save you so much pain.

Kami Glass, aspiring reporter and journalist, will stop at nothing to uncover the secrets of the Lynburns. Now that she has discovered magic and unleashed a villain that has promised to plague the town, she must choose to fight or surrender. Kami must protect her family, the town, and the two boys that have so suddenly come into her life. A journalist’s work is never done. After breaking free of the bond that has held her and Jared together since childhood, Kami has the power to choose between the two beautiful Lynburn boys. Can Kami find love and save Sorry-in-the-Vale from magical destructive ruin?

Like almost every sequel ever written, I liked the first book more than the second. But I also loved the second. If I were to plot my love of these two books on the graph, there would be an almost unintelligible downward slope between Book 1 and Book 2. Just barely less than the first, but still less. The first book had an element of suspense that the sequel did not seem capable of grasping. Also, Jared’s attitude made me very angry.

Jared is a jerk. I mean really, how can he be that horrible and that perfect all at the same time? Brennan is mean that way, I guess. Ash is just plain boring. The only good guy in this book is good ol’ Rusty. Ahh, Rusty. Who can escape your impish whims and childish charms? You really are the best guy out of all of them.

Kami has to be one of the best female heroines I’ve read in a long time. Strong, capable, independent, brave, funny, smart. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be Kami Glass? Now, if she could just get a handle on her romantic situation, then she would be unstoppable. And her friend, Angela, is just as perfect as ever. She perfectly complements Kami’s character and personality. Her cynicism is such a vital part to the life of the story. Brennan forges her characters with incredible expertise. So much work goes into their personalities, everything else is almost left out. If the plot was worked on as much as the characters, it would bring this whole series to an extraordinary new level.

As to be expected, this book ended in a horrible, good-for-nothing cliff hanger. Brennan works real magic into her books, and I can’t wait for what she’ll do in the third and final installment of the Lynburn Legacy.

Unmade