Review: Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

May 14, 2010 in Children's & Young Adult, Fantasy, Reviews, Science Fiction

Well it worked for the last book…

“That was effing brilliant! (Only I don’t say ‘effing’, do I?)”

Review: Monsters of Men by Patrick NessOMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!

Okay, so I was tempted just to fill this review with the above and be done with it, but whilst it would be accurate, this book (and indeed the series) deserves just a little bit more. Even if it has taken me two weeks distance to be able to put my thoughts in to some coherent sense.

For those who don’t know, Monsters of Men is the third and last book in Patrick Ness’ Chaos Walking trilogy.

Following on again, from yet again jaw-dropping cliff-hanger in the previous book, we’re immediately thrown in to the action, and Todd and Viola attempt to stop a war and curtail the machinations of the two opposing leaders, before the new settlers arrive.

If you haven’t read the series yet a bit of advice:

“If you’re of a nervous disposition, then take appropriate steps before you start reading. If you are not of a nervous disposition. You soon will be…”

This book was one of the most ‘painful’ reading experiences of my life, every turn of the page was accompanied by a flinch, because there was always the risk that something really bad was about to happen, to characters I had grown to love.

To put into context I was more scared going into this book for the survival of Todd and Viola, than I ever was for Harry, Ron or Hermione in Deathly Hallows, and I didn’t trust JKR to let any of them survive… Review: Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

I’m not going to tell you in this review, whether my fears were justified – I wouldn’t want to spoil it for you Review: Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness What I will say though, it was most definitely worth it…

Monsters of Men is an absolutely perfect ending to the series. One which does the series and everything Todd and Viola have been through in the previous two books, justice.

Want to know more? Then check out my reviews of the first two books in the Chaos Walking Trilogy!

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Review: Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness