Reviews with content warning for Physical abuse - The Ask and the Answer

Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness

13 reviews

mailenlovesreading's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

OMG. This book was SO much better than the first. The character development of literally EVERYONE was INSANE.

Fun drinking game: take a shot everytime you see the word boom.

———

Firstly, Mayor/President Prentiss is such a good villain that I honestly love his character. He is so manipulative and intelligent and a horrible person

(the torture and imprisonment and genocide he inflicted was insane)

but that made him such a good character.

Coming up with The Ask in retribution to The Answer was kinda ironically funny (let’s admit it), but also I’m not forgetting the evilness that stemmed from that. He was just such a powerful villain.

I mean, silencing his Noise from others hearing it without the help of the cure, using Noise as a weapon, and being able to mind control others, is just insane.

His whole attempted “I hope you can see me as your father one day” thing was WEIRD but along with manipulating Todd and Viola and using them against each other, it was purposeful and wow.

I’m gushing over him but he was just such a good villain!!!

I mean, he even killed his own son. wtf. Poor Davy :(

———

Poor Davy. If you told me in the last book that I would feel bad for him, I’d never in a million years believe it.

I loved the enemies-to-friends with Davy and Todd, and Davy’s character arc was the saddest yet.

All Davy wanted was his dad’s approval and love, but all his dad cared about was getting Todd on his side as his “son”. But Davy, despite resenting Todd for this, he still loved Todd because he was the only friend he had. AW.

——
The only thing in his Noise is me holding a gun on him.

His only friend holding a gun on him.

“I gave you yer book. I gave you back yer book.”
——

AND THEN HE DIES. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? And it’s brushed over too. I don’t often feel bad when characters die but this one got me, even though I saw it coming.

He was just a sad and lonely boy that only wanted someone to love him. 😭😭😭😭

———

Moving on, sadly, to the Spackle. I was very interested in seeing how that aspect progressed,

so it was tragic when they were massacred. I knew it was the Mayor’s doing, another intelligent move on his part to make it look like the Answer was at fault.

I’m so excited that they are coming back, albeit as an enemy army led by 1017 that no doubt hates Todd, but I am looking forward to some resolution with that hopefully. Even though it’s a bit worrisome for Todd and Viola that they now have three enemy fronts to fight against.

———

Finally, Todd and Viola.

They went so far on opposite sides that I never thought they’d be able to get back to each other. Especially as Todd spiralled further into the control (and his depression, aw).

Their relationship is very sweet and they deserve peace together once this is over.

——
Oh, good girl.
My Noise swells with pride.
That’s my girl.

Oh!! Hands up if you blushed…. 🙋‍♀️
——

Butttt, they are only 14(ish)!!!! Which is crazy to me how these fully-grown adults (Mistress Coyle and Mayor Prentiss) are obsessed with them and their potential power/threat.

They are just kids :(

———

I loved this book, I was thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading it, looking forward to the next time I’d pick it up.

Patrick Ness has created and developed these characters and the plot so well and cleverly. The character development arcs go crazy.

Can’t wait to read the next book!!

Content Warnings

leiaheenan's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

“We are the choices we make.”

If you thought the first book in the series was good, just wait for this one. I’ll admit, I was a bit frustrated with the slow start, but once the pace picked up, it never stopped. There were other details I think that were unnecessary and oddly placed

such as Davey’s death. I really think that there was an incredible opportunity to see their friendship develop more, and his death wasn’t given the space it deserved because so much else was happening at the same time.

. The way that manipulation is written in this book is absolutely phenomenal, and really illustrates the actual process and thought behind the manipulation. Overall, just a great read, and I cannot wait to read the final book of the trilogy.

Content Warnings

abigailhaagen's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense medium-paced

4.0

This book was very good, but not as good as the first, in my opinion. Character voice/prose wasn't as strong, and some decisions felt out of character. However, the plot kept me engaged, and I absolutely loved the exploration of grey morals throughout the book.

Content Warnings

daringreader13's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious relaxing tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

shaunaxx's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Content Warnings

teri_b's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

It took me more than two years to read the second book of this trilogy. Sometimes things cannot be forced. And I am glad that I waited as this book is even more harrowing then the first one.

It is one masterful example of how no one really wins when there is a war and that no one can escape the ethical questions and who we want or believe to be and who we come out to be in situations of extreme pressure and need.

The book comes with all possible trigger warnings and if anyone feels like they have had enough, then let it be, stop reading and read something enjoyable.

The one question that I found raising whilst reading this book is, if it is really necessary to depict evil as it is on these pages in all its gruesomeness and all its destructive power, or if this is just another means for the evil itself to perpetuate itself and be kept alive.

The rendition of the narrator of the audiobook was fantastic and if anyone has issues with the grammar of the written book I would highly recommend to check out the audiobook as there any spelling issues drop away, even though, I think this is one of the few series that has as its main character someone who is illiterate.

Content Warnings