The first of the Chaos Walking trilogy, it was truly a fantastic read. I have read many of Ness' books and in fact have had this very book signed. It is a marvellous tale which I could quote in my sleep, I know it so well. The world Ness creates is foreign to the extreme, the noise that allows men's thoughts to be heard by all, for example; however, core ideas of family, love and adventure anchor the characters in the familiar.

The Knife of Never Letting Go follows the journey of Todd, thirteen years old, as he becomes a man and realises the hidden responsibilities such a title forces upon him. Horror and disgust of this, and a dawning understanding of the secrets his town has hidden from him, propels him and Viola – the only girl he's ever seen – to run in a desperate attempt to protect one another and to find the truth disguised in the twisted lies of his childhood.

As forces mobilise to stop the pair, the extent of the betrayal becomes ever clearer and Todd Hewitt must understand and make the dangerous decisions that come with growing up on New World. This novel is intelligent, fact paced, nerve-wracking and at times heart-breaking. This is an amazing opening to an unforgettable trilogy.

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