Book Review: The Knife of Never Letting Go

TITLE: The Knife of Never Letting Go
Book 1 in the Chaos Walking series
AUTHOR: Patrick Ness
PUBLISHED: 2008
CATEGORY: Young adult
GENRE: dystopian/science fiction, adventure
PREMISE: Todd has lived in Prentisstown, a town made up solely of men his whole life. But a month before he turns thirteen his life and world changes forever.
MY REVIEW: Practically the only real problem is a matter of taste. Simply put, this book will not appeal to everyone because of it's dark nature. If you want happy romantic books...I'd go elsewhere. Plus Todd is bit hard to relate too at times.
But if you're willing to give it a chance, this book is a wild ride from beginning to end. Definitely one of the more unique ideas I've come across in YA in awhile. Yes, it is violent and very dark but it's like Girl With a Dragon Tattoo where the violence is used as commentary on humanity. True I did have issues with the writing style at times because it would be frusterating at some points. Particularly when Todd would learn something through noise and we wouldn't, but as it was all revealed at the end it's a small frustration worth it in the end when you do find out because boy is it a doozy.
Considering the massive evil cliffhanger at the end I will most definitely be reading the next book. It's just a matter of when I'll get to it.
WHO SHOULD READ: Science fiction fans, dystopian fans, Lord of the Flies fans
MY RATING: Four out of Five knives