charbo_plume's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.5
ottiedottie's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
Such a great follow up. Of course it didn't hit the same emotional beats as TKONLG but it really succeeded in deepening the world building and laying a believable foundation for things that are going to happen in the next book. So excited to pick it up. You wouldn't think so, what with the absolute ocean of dystopians floating around, but it is so hard to find one that is actually half decent much less this great
Such a great follow up. Of course it didn't hit the same emotional beats as TKONLG but it really succeeded in deepening the world building and laying a believable foundation for things that are going to happen in the next book. So excited to pick it up. You wouldn't think so, what with the absolute ocean of dystopians floating around, but it is so hard to find one that is actually half decent much less this great
eltigre's review against another edition
3.0
Nakonec se z toho vyklubalo zabavne a napinave cteni. Ale uprimne furt moc nechapu, co vic na tom ostatni vidi...
kimjamlee's review against another edition
5.0
Initial reaction the moment I finished reading the book: What. WHAT??!
The Ask and the Answer was pretty chill compared to The Knife of Never Letting Go. There wasn't much running. Just a ton of BOOMs and people reading and reacting to Todd's Noise. And Todd and Viola trying to find each other. And lots of trust issues between characters. This book, I think, is more grotesque though. It was also interesting to see Todd and Viola's characters develop throughout the book as they were trained separately by two very different figureheads in the story. It was fascinating to see how these figureheads influenced and shaped Todd and Viola and the choices they made that drove the story.
And I don't know about you but I was very confused with the first half of the book. In a good way, that is.
Did I explain myself well? I don't think so. But things are getting more intense. More thought-provoking. More exhilarating. I am on the edge of my seat.
The Ask and the Answer was pretty chill compared to The Knife of Never Letting Go. There wasn't much running. Just a ton of BOOMs and people reading and reacting to Todd's Noise. And Todd and Viola trying to find each other. And lots of trust issues between characters. This book, I think, is more grotesque though. It was also interesting to see Todd and Viola's characters develop throughout the book as they were trained separately by two very different figureheads in the story. It was fascinating to see how these figureheads influenced and shaped Todd and Viola and the choices they made that drove the story.
And I don't know about you but I was very confused with the first half of the book. In a good way, that is.
Spoiler
Todd and Viola don't know whether they could trust Mayor Prentiss' promises because he sounded so sincere, like he cares for them. And I honestly thought he did. And the tricky thing is, who the hell knew whether or not he was sincere? Because Todd and Viola didn't. As a reader, I didn't because the narration of the story is limited to Todd's and Viola's points of views. And that just screwed me up. And I cursed myself towards the end of the book because OF COURSE MAYOR PRENTISS IS EVIL, STUPID. And I was also starting to root for Davy and then, the Devil takes his life and I'm just heartbroken. So fucking heartbroken. Because all he really wanted was to be loved by his Pa. It was like Manchee all over again. (Except that Manchee wasn't a bully and he didn't like killing people. Unless it was for Todd) Fucking fuck.Did I explain myself well? I don't think so. But things are getting more intense. More thought-provoking. More exhilarating. I am on the edge of my seat.
thiamoorhouse's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
misstessamaye's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars
YO
I WASN'T READY
So wild, so intense, so heart-wrenching, so engaging, so GOOD.
The plot doesn't feel too far fetched even with its originality and its twists. We ask the same questions and feel the same aches as Todd and Viola. Speaking of which, I liked that in this book we get Viola's perspective as well as Todd's. At first I didn't know how I'd feel about it, because the first book worked so well with us only knowing what Todd knows, but I dearly love Viola and the story in this book wouldn't have made sense without her view of it. The character development was so well-crafted; even when they change, it's clear they aren't a different person, just a stronger or weaker self (like). And the new characters didn't feel like random add-ins, they felt interesting and important.
One of the biggest climaxes in the story is a spoiler but I want to talk about it sooo:
I also thought the exploration of the theme "in war, is anyone a good guy?" was well presented and thoughtfully weighed, not with any propaganda but instead with genuine curiosity. Because Todd and Viola are young and in the midst of a situation that teems with that question, their narratives voice a lot of things some might be scared to.
Like the first book, this one does have it's share of graphic scenes (though not without purpose, and maybe not as bad as the first book) and language, if that bothers you. But if you are at all interested in reading them, I really do encourage you to try them out and see if you don't fall for them. They are just so good!
YO
I WASN'T READY
So wild, so intense, so heart-wrenching, so engaging, so GOOD.
The plot doesn't feel too far fetched even with its originality and its twists. We ask the same questions and feel the same aches as Todd and Viola. Speaking of which, I liked that in this book we get Viola's perspective as well as Todd's. At first I didn't know how I'd feel about it, because the first book worked so well with us only knowing what Todd knows, but I dearly love Viola and the story in this book wouldn't have made sense without her view of it. The character development was so well-crafted; even when they change, it's clear they aren't a different person, just a stronger or weaker self (like
Spoiler
freaking Davy! I'm not over it; I hated him in the first book, but by the time he stood up to his evil father in this one I had rooted for his growth and ached over his painOne of the biggest climaxes in the story is a spoiler but I want to talk about it sooo:
Spoiler
"It's not that you should never love something so much it can control you. It's that you need to love something that much so you can never be controlled." The fact that Todd's heart for Viola and how deeply he cares for her was what powered him to fight back against the Mayor was such a beautiful image. I love Todd and Viola's relationship. It isn't even necessarily romantic; they just purely love each other and are committed to each other to the point of ultimate sacrifice, and it's... it's just so good. They fuel each other, and that's something the Mayor couldn't fully understand. "It's not a weakness-- it's your best strength--" I smiled and wanted to cry at the same time. Such a powerful message.I also thought the exploration of the theme "in war, is anyone a good guy?" was well presented and thoughtfully weighed, not with any propaganda but instead with genuine curiosity. Because Todd and Viola are young and in the midst of a situation that teems with that question, their narratives voice a lot of things some might be scared to.
Like the first book, this one does have it's share of graphic scenes (though not without purpose, and maybe not as bad as the first book) and language, if that bothers you. But if you are at all interested in reading them, I really do encourage you to try them out and see if you don't fall for them. They are just so good!
mellomellomello's review against another edition
4.0
I'm so sick of the damn Mayor ....
You'll share my sentiments I'm sure.
Happy Reading.
You'll share my sentiments I'm sure.
Happy Reading.
jamrock's review against another edition
5.0
Solid five stars. Can’t stop to review. On to book three!
freesien's review against another edition
4.0
Es geht super spannend weiter, ich fliege förmlich durch die Bücher dieser Trilogie. Ich kann es kaum erwarten, zu lesen, wie es weitergeht.