The New World by Patrick Ness
Author: Patrick Ness. Website|Twitter
Published: 24 August 2009 (Walker)
Format: E-book
Pages: 25
Amazon: Kindle
Booktrust: PDF
Source: Free Kindle download
Plot Summary (from Amazon):
In this dramatic prequel to the award-winning Chaos Walking Trilogy, author Patrick Ness gives us the story of Viola's journey to the New World. Whether you're new to Chaos Walking or an established fan, this prequel serves as a fascinating introduction to the series that the Sunday Telegraph called "furiously paced, terrifying, exhilarating and heart-breaking."
My Review:
I really enjoyed The Knife of Never Letting Go so when I came across this prequel short story on the Kindle store I had to download it. I'm not usually one for prequels/extras but when they're free I can't really complain! And this one turned out to be really interesting. This short story is told from Viola's point of view, as she and her parents head on their mission to a new planet and a new life.
I think this short story is probably more suited to people who have read The Knife of Never Letting Go, only because that book is written in a very particular style which isn't reflected in this short story. That's because in KoNLG we see the story from Todd's perspective, who has a very unique voice and way of speaking which is reflected in the writing style. This being from Viola's POV it reads like a normal story. If you want to get a sense of the world the trilogy takes place in, though, I'd still recommend it.
From reading KoNLG I knew a bit of Viola's story, but it was great hearing more of her background and getting to see it from her perspective. The story flits between her journey to the new planet, and the months before when she's dreading the prospect. It keeps it pacy and I really liked the way it moved back and forth.
For such a short story there's plenty of action and emotion. It had me completely immersed and reminded me just how powerful Patrick Ness' writing can be. It certianly makes me want to go out and continue the trilogy - something I've been meaning to do for a while!
Rating: 4*
What to read next: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
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