The Knife of Never Letting Go (Chaos Walking) by Patrick Ness (2014-06-05)

What a refreshing, and fun read! I immediately fell in love with this book from the first sentence and gobbled it up. I immediately had to know what happened in the series, the book was just that good. I will say that book two was only okay, and book three was borderline disappointing, but Walking Chaos? Yea, definitely worth reading!

I really enjoyed this book it was so different then what I was expecting and I wasn't disappointed. This was one of those books book that you couldn't put down when you started reading it. The way that the book ended was so perfect to set up for the second book in the series and I can't wait to read it. I think that anyone what loves dystopian books will love this series, it's a must read.

This book, and the subsequent two books in the Trilogy were well-written and engaging! The story line is excellent for both teen boys and girls, but it isn't for the faint-hearted. It encompasses friendship, pain, terror and loss - over and over again! I would recommend it for anyone (teen or adult) that enjoys picking up a book that demands you read more!

I enjoyed this book and its unusual storyline. I liked that it was set in space. I liked that it was following the first settlers and their struggles. l became very involved with the characters. Not just the main ones but even the supporting characters.

I would suggest this book for anyone that enjoys a good space story with interesting characters and an even better plot!

I loved this book and its sequels completely and totally. Its been about a year since I read them, so I don't feel like I can include lots of details, but I just wanted to add my voice to the chorus of people proclaiming this as a favorite read. I loved how real and flawed the characters were. I loved Todd and Viola and wanted them to succeed so so badly even against impossible odds. The later books show the complexity of a situation where two (three) sides in conflict believe themselves to be correct, and all sides have done both good and evil. I feel this trilogy is so complete and so perfect. Absolutely worth your time, I cannot fathom not loving these books. The 1 and 2 star reviews just baffle me. Happy reading!

I was debating about buying this book about two years ago but that was when I didn't have a kindle before with reduced prices. I bought the book on my kindle and I was surprisingly addicted to it. It had a very interesting concept throughout the whole book and good twists and turns(some of it was pretty predictable though) and I'm waiting for a gift card to the store to buy the next book! I'm a HUGE fan of the hunger games and for all hunger games fans, this is a good book to read after the hunger games

Although I’m an adult, I enjoy dystopian fiction, especially the clever concepts that authors come up with. I always go back and give credit to Lois Lowry, but others since then (notably Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games) have dreamed up some pretty cool stuff.

In this story, readers learn that an about-to-turn-13 years old boy named Todd Hewitt, whose people track years in 13 month increments, is the one last “boy” in a town of men, the females having all died from the effects of a germ released by a species of people (native to the place) known as the Spackle. Everyone can hear each other’s thoughts (as in a recent, really rotten teen book called The Edge of Nowhere and a Fringe episode I just watched), which makes keeping secrets difficult. Todd’s two (adoptive) daddies, who have taken care of him since his mother died many years prior, send him away from Prentisstown to safety with his dog Manchee (my favorite character) during which he encounters a girl named Viola. It seems that a man named Aaron, the town preacher, is always after Todd, but never seems able to kill him. As is typical in this genre, things aren’t as they seem. Although initially he believes that his is the only town, the two escapees (he and the girl) encounter others from neighboring towns as they try to distance themselves from a group of Prentisstown men who pursue them. It wouldn’t be right to say more than that about the plot.

I had mixed feelings about the big denouement, at which point readers finally learn why the book reads so much like one of those horror movies where the bad guy keeps coming back when you think he might (and certainly should) be dead already. As for the cool stuff, I liked: the neat healing-powered bandages, the fact that the girl traveled to the planet in a spaceship whose mission was to colonize it, that even animals’ thoughts can be heard (this is especially neat for dog people) and the campfire box. Additionally, save for all the violence, it was relatively clean (the main swearing that takes place is “effing,” though we all know what that’s meant to represent). Best of the book: Manchee, worst: the fact that I don’t care enough about Todd or Viola want to continue on and learn their fates. Better: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Legend by Marie Lu and The Giver by Lois Lowry.

Like the greatest writers of our age, Ness takes on difficult issues of humanity and relationships that one doesn't really expect to find in young adult literature. But then again, what truly makes it 'young adult'? Having a thirteen year old protagonist? Well, maybe we need to reclassify To Kill A Mockingbird. I can't wait to to get on to book-two!

In our mother-daughter book group, this was a big hit! The book kept the attention of mothers and tween daughters alike. We had one of our best discussions yet about this book too, so that kept the meeting lively. I recommend this book and I'm eager to read the next one in the series (even if it's not assigned by the book group).

I'm probably not in the intended demographic (not a tween, teen, YA or parent of any of those), but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not just for the adventure, either. I especially liked that the author set up situations where impossible choices must be made, while also teaching about human nature and the ways of the world, unpretty as it can be.

I read this book because a friend recommended it to me. I didn't expect it to be nearly as good as it was, looking at the back of the book and reading the reviews on here. It has solid characters and nice character development (particularly Todd's character development), and villains that actually creeped me out, which is very rare in a YA series. This is a great read as far as dystopian fiction goes, especially in the YA genre, which is bogged down with frustrating reads such as The Forest of Hands and Teeth and an abundance of romance-centered novels (the Matched series, for example). For those who prefer an action series with serious and dark themes to an emotionally-charged love story, this is the book for you.

This is sometimes considered too violent or too mature for the YA genre because of all the violence and the adult themes, but that may just be the reason that young adults should read it. The premise of the story is that a boy is coming into adulthood (in a dystopian society where all men can hear each other's thoughts and the women have all died) and must learn what it means to be a man. As such, there are a lot of hard lessons and mature themes that the boy has to face. It wouldn't be as strong a story if it were toned down for children, and it wouldn't make a statement. This book is meaningful. It expresses the journey from boyhood to manhood quite well, even though the setting is much different from today's world. It's all presented in a package that feels like you're really in the story, with colloquial language and plenty of grammar and spelling errors that one would expect from a relatively uneducated boy.

This book really drew me in. After reading the first couple of chapters, I was ambivalent, but I just kept getting more and more hooked as the book went on, and I love the whole series. I highly recommend it.

I was yearning for something different than the usual romance novel so I tried this book based on dome of the reviews stating it was one of the best books. I am just not sure if I like it or not....Will I read the next one, probably not. It is different, that's for sure.

As an adult I sometimes find YA dystopian fiction to be tough to get through, simply because the main characters seem to run everything and I can't help thinking (as an adult)--where are the adults?? I know, I know- that is the whole point and the target audience isn't some mid-40s adult, it's adolescents who want to feel empowered. But it is refreshing to read a book where the main character doesn't act like a mini-adult, they act like a teenager. They get mad, they swear (and then point it out), they say" it's not fair!" (ok, I totally remember feeling THAT when I was 13-14-15).
I really liked the main character Todd, and to not have to deal with a romantic subplot (sorry, never been my type of reading material!). The book is more action than inner emotion, and some events hit you like a sledgehammer. Without spoiling anything-- this ends on a cliffhanger. Do NOT pick this book up unless you can either: A. walk away without knowing the resolution or B. commit to reading the series

Very good book! My Advanced English teacher recommended this book for me and it was riveting, suspenseful, and made me stay up late at night. I for one am also not a book reader. I rather be doing other activities such as playing outside or playing video games or something but this book was great! It looks exactly as the pictures show and was in great condition when I received it.

Predictable, depressing, with an unlikable main character. Overly hyped. Would not recommend, will not continue with the series. It was so easy to figure out what was going to happen, and the main character was extremely unlikable.

Thoughtful. Original. Explores concepts of sin, societal standing, power, arrogance, corruption, love, loyalty, honesty, self truths, compassion, risk, hope. Great story. Can't wait to read more books of his!

Picked up this book, because I heard it was turning into a movie! I thought it was so different then other syfy books and was super intriguing right from the get go. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys a good read :)

I was becoming so tired of fiding mistakes in books. Grammar and so on. This book is flawless. Yes, Patrick Ness finds a "new" way of having his characters express themselves that could be seen as flawed, but I would seriously disagree.
Best Sci-Fi I've ever read, simply wonderfully written.
Warning though, you will not be able to put it down and you will want to read the other two books (that are just as incredible).

Knife is the fantastic start to a truly great story and trilogy of books. Well developed characters, fascinating plot, and even some love interest to whet your appetite; I highly recommend you give this book a shot.

This book is nothing more than animal torture porn. Manchee, the protagonist's talking dog, gets insulted, smacked, kicked, mutilated and finally, fully aware he is being abandoned to die by his owner after risking his life to save him, callously murdered. He was a sweet little character with heart- and the only "human" like character in the story. The author seriously underestimated the dog's value to story, which is pretty dry without him. Ness broke the only rule that matters in storytelling- do whatever you want to the human characters just LEAVE THE DOG ALONE.

Once Manchee had been horribly killed, I flicked over a few chapters but found I didn't care what happened to anyone else.

I truly regret reading this book. I'm a teacher and was thinking of using it as a study novel. I'd sooner use it for toilet paper.

Authors may think it's "modern" to kill off wonderful characters, but this isn't Game Of Thrones- and Patrick Ness sure as hell isn't George RR Martin. He f#@ked up killing Manchee.