Review: And the Ocean Was Our Sky - Patrick Ness (Illustrated by Rovina Cai)

"Call me Bathsheba"

The whales of Bathsheba's pod live for the hunt. Led by the formidable Captain Alexandra, they fight a never-ending war against men. So it has been, so it shall always be.

Then the whales attack a man ship, and instead of easy prey they find the trail of a myth, a monster, perhaps the devil himself...

With their relentless Captain leading the chase, they embark on the final hunt, one that will forever change the worlds of whales and men.

From the multi-award-winning author of A Monster Calls and the Chaos Walking trilogy comes a haunting tale of power and obsession that turns the story of Moby Dick upside down.

Visit Patrick Ness' website or Rovani Cai's website for more information.

Review:
I've been having a hard time writing this review because And the Ocean Was Our Sky was so different to anything else I've read before. It's been a long time since I read Moby Dick but I was really curious when I found out about this Patrick Ness retelling told from a whale's point of view. This story literally turns the original tale on it's head and features whales that are trained in the art of war and who hunt humans using harpoons.

This story is told by Bathsheba, a young apprentice who became a warrior because of a prophecy. Initially she is excited by the prospect of fighting humans to protect her species but over time she becomes jaded and starts to question whether defending themselves has turned them into monsters too. There were a lot of really interesting themes in this book but you really have to suspend belief when it comes to the plot. I was totally confused about whales travelling with underwater ships and using harpoons (I mean how do they even build ships and what do they make them out of?!) and I think some of the story just flew over the top of my head.

The story is quite dark and disturbing and the gorgeous illustrations by Rovina Cai really helped add to the chilling atmosphere. And the Ocean Was Our Sky is unique and I doubt it's a story that could have been written by anyone other than Patrick Ness, he has a way of turning things on their head unlike any other author I've come across and it's always interesting to see what adventure he'll take us on next!

Here are a few pictures of the book so you can see just how gorgeous the illustrations really are:

Source: Received from Walker Books in exchange for an honest review

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Hardback:

Spotlight: And the Ocean Was Our Sky - Patrick Ness (Illustrated by Rovina Cai)

Today I want to spotlight the most gorgeous book that releases tomorrow in hardback: And the Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness. I was lucky enough to receive a review copy of this one and I can't even tell you how beautiful this hardback is, the illustrations by Rovina Cai are absolutely stunning and I've never read a Patrick Ness story that I didn't love. I'm going to be reading this book very soon so watch out for my review (I'll be sure to include some pics!) but in the meantime I wanted to spotlight it because I really do think everyone should go out and buy a copy immediately!

"Call me Bathsheba"

The whales of Bathsheba's pod live for the hunt. Led by the formidable Captain Alexandra, they fight a never-ending war against men. So it has been, so it shall always be.

Then the whales attack a man ship, and instead of easy prey they find the trail of a myth, a monster, perhaps the devil himself...

With their relentless Captain leading the chase, they embark on the final hunt, one that will forever change the worlds of whales and men.

From the multi-award-winning author of A Monster Calls and the Chaos Walking trilogy comes a haunting tale of power and obsession that turns the story of Moby Dick upside down.

Visit Patrick Ness' website or Rovani Cai's website for more information.

Just take a look at a couple of Rovina Cai's beautiful illustrations (pictures taken from Amazon) and tell me you don't want to read this!

Doesn't it sound wonderful? I just love the idea of seeing Moby Dick through the eyes of the whales and let's face it, only Patrick Ness would come up with something like that!

I thought it would be fun to share this video of Patrick Ness talking about his inspiration for the story with you:



And here's a clip of him reading from the book:



What do you think? If any of you have already read it I'd love to hear what you thought!

Book Trailer: Chaos Walking 10th Anniversary Teaser - Patrick Ness

Have you seen the gorgeous new covers that have been released to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness? I'm a sucker for books with sprayed edges and I love the new black covers, I think they're so striking!

In case you've not read the series yet here's a bit more information:

The Knife of Never Letting Go:

A special anniversary edition, with a striking new cover design, to celebrate 10 years of the Chaos Walking trilogy.

Prentisstown isn’t like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts in a constant, overwhelming Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secrets. Then Todd Hewitt unexpectedly stumbles on a spot of complete silence. Which is impossible. And now he’s going to have to run…

The Ask and the Answer:

A special anniversary edition, with a striking new cover design, to celebrate 10 years of the Chaos Walking trilogy.

Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd and Viola once again face their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately imprisoned and separated from Viola, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode... This new edition marks the 10th anniversary of the Chaos Walking trilogy, soon to be a major motion picture starring Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley.

Monsters of Men:

A special anniversary edition, with a striking new cover design, to celebrate 10 years of the Chaos Walking trilogy.

Three armies march on New Prentisstown. The New World is at war. Todd and Viola are caught in the middle, with no chance of escape. How can they hope to stop the fighting? How can there ever be peace when they’re so hopelessly outnumbered? And if war makes monsters of men, what terrible choices await? This new edition marks the 10th anniversary of the award-winning modern classic, soon to be a major motion picture starring Tom Holland and Daisy Ridley.

Check out the 10th Anniversary Teaser Trailer:



I already have the white covers but I really think I might have to upgrade to shiny new black copies (oh the perils of being a bookworm LOL).

I read The Knife of Never Letting Go back in 2013 (you can read my review here) but for some completely incomprehensible reason I never finished out the trilogy. I'm so excited that they're making a movie though so I really do want to read the entire trilogy at some point this year so I'm ready for it!

Who has already read this series? If you have please leave me a link to your reviews in the comments, I'd love to read them! Anyone planning on buying the new covers? Who else is getting excited about the movie?

Book Trailer: Release - Patrick Ness

I've been browsing YouTube book trailers recently & I thought it would be fun to start highlighting some of the books that I really want to read but haven't quite got around to yet. Some of these have been on my to read pile for months (or even years!) but these trailers make me want to read them ASAP.

I love Patrick Ness, he writes incredible stories and he's a huge part of the UKYA community so I've met him a few times at events now but I'm ridiculously behind when it comes to reading his books. I REALLY need to do something about that because I have so many of them on my to read pile & after watching these videos about his most recent book Release I think I might have to go out and buy this one too!

The most personal and tender novel yet from Patrick Ness, the twice Carnegie Medal-winning author of A Monster Calls.

Inspired by Mrs Dalloway and Judy Blume's Forever, Release is one day in the life of Adam Thorn, 17. It's a big day. Things go wrong. It's intense, and all the while, weirdness approaches...

Adam Thorn is having what will turn out to be the most unsettling, difficult day of his life, with relationships fracturing, a harrowing incident at work, and a showdown between this gay teen and his preacher father that changes everything. It's a day of confrontation, running, sex, love, heartbreak, and maybe, just maybe, hope. He won't come out of it unchanged. And all the while, lurking at the edges of the story, something extraordinary and unsettling is on a collision course.




Release Book Trailer:



Patrick Ness talks about Release:



Patrick Ness reads from Release:

Movie Trailer: A Monster Calls - Patrick Ness

I have to confess that Patrick Ness' novel A Monster Calls (which was based on an idea by the late Siobhan Dowd) has been on my to read pile for a few years now, it's one of those books that I've heard amazing things about but because I know it's going to break my heart I keep putting off reading it.

Unless you've been living under a rock you'll already know that the book is currently being turned into a movie and when I was at Walker's blogger party a few weeks ago they showed us the trailer and it looks like it's going to be fantastic. I really NEED to read this book so I can watch the movie when it comes out!

Just check out this trailer & tell me you don't feel the same:



Doesn't it look fantastic? The movie is out in America on the 21st of October but according to IDMb we're going to have to wait until January 2017 to see it on screens in the UK. I'm kind of gutted that they're making us wait so long for it but I'll have absolutely no excuse for not reading the book before it releases!

Just in case you're like me and haven't actually read the book yet I thought I'd include the blurb below for you. I have the illustrated version (which has some absolutely stunning artwork from Jim Kay, the same man who is in the process of creating the illustrated editions of the Harry Potter series).

The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do. But it isn't the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming... The monster in his back garden, though, this monster is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth.

Costa Award winner Patrick Ness spins a tale from the final idea of much-loved Carnegie Medal winner Siobhan Dowd, whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself. Darkly mischievous and painfully funny, A Monster Calls is an extraordinarily moving novel of coming to terms with loss from two of our finest writers for young adults.

Visit Patrick Ness' website for more information

Have you read A Monster Calls? If so I'd love to know what you thought of it! Are you as excited about the movie as I am?

Review: The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness

Todd Hewitt is the last boy in Prentisstown.

But Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in a constant, overwhelming, never-ending Noise. There is no privacy. There are no secrets.

Or are there?

Just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd unexpectedly stumbles upon a spot of complete silence.

Which is impossible.

Prentisstown has been lying to him.

And now he's going to have to run . . .

Chaos Walking Trilogy:
The New World (Free Short Story)
The Knife of Never Letting Go
The Ask and the Answer
The Wide Wide Sea (Free Short Story)
Monsters of Men
Snowscape (Free Short Story)

Visit Patrick Ness' website for more information.

Review:
The Knife of Never Letting Go is one of those books that I was embarrassed to admit I'd never read, its a book that has been recommended to me time and time again and is incredibly popular with all the other YA bloggers I know. I've actually had the book on my to read pile for a few years now but I was kind of intimidated to start it, you know how it can be with those books that everyone loves where you're afraid that you'll be the only person not to like it? That's exactly how I felt about this one but I thought it was about time I pushed past the nerves and gave it a try. I'm glad I did because I now know what all the fuss is about and I can see why everyone raves so much about this series.

I'll admit that it took me a couple of chapters to get used to the writing style, Todd has a distinctive voice and that is shown partly through misspellings and strange word usage. That is something that would normally drive me insane but that actually felt right in this instance and it just added more colour to the story. Todd is a great main character, a young boy of not quite 13 he is on the cusp of adulthood and he is eager to be seen as a man rather than as a child. He lives in Prentisstown, a town with only mail inhabitants where everyone can hear each other's thoughts in a constant "Noise" that is enough to drive you insane. Even the animals speak although they don't always have a great deal to say! I can't even begin to imagine living in that kind of chaos, I have enough trouble turning off my own thoughts sometimes let alone trying to shut out everyone else's!

The story starts with Todd walking in the swamp with his dog Manchee, it's a pretty normal day until he stumbles across an area of complete and utter silence. Todd has never encountered anything like it but he instinctively knows that it is dangerous and something he must keep secret. From that moment on Todd's life is turned upside down and he will realise that everything he has ever been told about the "Noise" and where it came from is a lie. Todd is forced to run from his family and his home but he has no idea if he will ever be able to find a safe place to stay. The Knife of Never Letting Go is a coming of age story, one that is going to push Todd to his very limits and then shove him even further. There were times when I absolutely hated some of the things that he did but even when it was hard to watch his actions I could always completely understand what had brought him to that point. He does a lot of growing up throughout the book as he learns the truth about his past and I think he is growing into an admirable young man.

I don't want to say too much about any other characters because it would be too easy to give spoilers but I will tell you that I think Manchee was my favourite. It was just so funny to listen to his thoughts and I swear if dogs could actually talk they would sound just like him. As well as adding humour to what at times was quite a dark story Manchee was a much needed friend and companion for Todd. There was so much loyalty between them and even though Manchee irritated Todd at times you could tell that deep down they loved each other.

The Knife of Never Letting Go isn't always an easy book to read, I went through a whole range of emotions from anger and disgust all the way through to love and heartbreak, but it is a book that will keep you hooked from the very beginning. My one main complaint is that I still don't understand why everyone from Prentisstown was so desperate to catch Todd and bring him back, we were given an explanation but even now it doesn't make much sense to me. I also found the continual reappearance of a particular character was just odd and completely unbelievable - I can't see how he would have survived so much. In spite of that I still really enjoyed the story and I'm just glad that I already own the rest of the trilogy because there is no way I'd want to wait a year for the next book after that cliffhanger ending! If like me you're one of the few people who is still new to this series then I'd definitely recommend it to fans of YA dystopian stories.

Source: Purchased

Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.

Paperback / Kindle: