The Ask and the Answer

The book I will be review for this week is.. Wait. Aren't I forgetting something. Hmmm. Oooh yes. Christmas. Merry Christmas eve everyone. I guess you suppose this review is going to be all Christmassy and Merry, full of candy canes and sleigh bells. Well I’m afraid it wouldn't fit with the book I’m reviewing this week. Which is full of loss, torture, action, suspense and murders most foul. If you like you can go and find a happy review of ‘The night before Christmas’, or something along those lines, But if you are intrigued by what I have told you I recommended you stick around.

Wow. I must say I was very dramatic in writing that opening. Very well lets get on with the book, those who have stayed to read. The book I have review this week is “The Ask and the Answer”, The second book from the Chaos Walking trilogy written by Patrick Ness. I enjoyed this book very much, more then the first. So I must say they are getting better and better. This one had way more  suspense than the last and I think that’s why I enjoyed it much more. The fact that I couldn't put it down because something was always happening, there was never one dull second. Never.

Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd has carried a desperately wounded Viola right into the hands of their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss.
Immediately separated from Viola and imprisoned, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor’s new order.
But what secrets are hiding just outside of town? And where is Viola? Is she even alive? And who are the mysterious Answer?
And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode…

Of coarse you can’t tell but while I wrote that I was remembering everything that resulted in all things said up above. While answering the questions in my head as well. I would love to tell you everything that happened, all the amazing fights and horrible gruesome deaths, to the mind manipulation and betrayal. But I’ll hold it in, Believe me I’m trying my best not to rune it for the people who want to read it, really I am.

Now for something I haven’t done in a review in a while, My favorite character. I have to say it’s Viola. When reviewing the first book I didn't have a favorite  because they were all so different and interesting in there own ways, But I have to change that now. Viola has changed the most within the two books, I know most people would say it was Todd but I have to disagree. Her personality and feeling have grown a lot. She goes from being a non-speaking shy girl, to a strong leader full of confidence and is not scared to speak her mind. She has some fierce anger inside too, will never give in to the enemy and do what’s right.

Also the relationship between Todd and Viola has grown some what, but that is all I’ll say.

“How do you know yer alive if you don’t hurt?”

“Yer the only friend I got, pigpiss… Ain’t that the biggest tragedy you ever heard?”

“She tried to kill you, Viola. She tried to blow you up… You don’t owe her nothing,’ he says.
But I feel his arms on me and I’m realizing things don’t seem so impossible anymore. I feel Todd touching me and there’s anger rising in my gut but it’s not at him and I grunt and I pull myself up again, leaning on him to keep me there as I stand. ‘I do own her,’ I say. ‘I owe her the look on her face when she sees me alive.”

“Or perhaps we should just ask Todd.”
I pound the glass right at his face. He doesn’t even flinch.
And then she says, “Todd would never tell you. Never.”
And the Mayor just looks at me.
And he smiles.”

“You won’t,” says the Mayor, smiling again. “Everyone knows you aren’t a killer, Todd.”
He pushes Viola forward again-
She calls out from the pain of it-
Viola. I think-
Viola-
I grit my teeth and raise the rifle-
I cock it-
And I say what’s true-
“I would kill to save her,” I say.”

“As to how you’ll help me,” he says. “Well, we have met the Answer, have we not?”
He turns back to look at us, his eyes glinting. “It’s time for them to meet the Ask.”

I have to say the last quote there would have to be my favorite of all. I always try to look out for when they bring the title into the book, explaining why it is called what it is.

I would give this book five out of five stars and would recommend it to thirteens and up. It is an amazing book as I have said many times in this review you must be sick of it, But it really is. I think it will be very hard for you to find a better book to read with the qualities I have said.

Again, Merry Christmas eve. I hope you get lots of books for Christmas, I sure hope I do. Now I’m off to watch my favorite Christmas movie, ‘The Nightmare before Christmas’.