PIPER AT THE GATES OF DUSK by Patrick Ness — Review by Stella

​Patrick Ness knows how to start a fire and keep it burning. In his latest foray into the world of Chaos Walking, comes a new trilogy and the next generation. Siblings Max and Ben live in New World, they are both cured of the Noise, although it didn’t quite work out perfectly for Ben, or so he thinks. Their parents are Todd and Viola, our heroes from the first trilogy. There’s a new mayor in town, not quite as evil as Prentiss but with a name like Burly you soon realise he’s no great shakes. The book starts with a roar, the roar of a burning god pursuing Max and Ben across their farmland. The god is huge, a wall of flame, a noise unbearably loud and as the siblings run towards the river they are sure they will be undone. As the god lunges for them, it falls into the water and vanishes. This is not the only strange thing happening. There’s a rock in the sky that’s getting bigger and terrible dreams are creeping into young people’s nights. While the town folk dismiss the burning god as something imagined, the Land are more circumspect. The Sky comes to visit Todd, who still has an uneasy connection with this being who nearly killed him. Yet The Sky and Todd both know they will need to work together to solve the mystery of what the gods are (we soon are confronted by many more) and what they want, and the answer lies in the young people at the heart of this story. While Ben stays in the city with his mother — he’s at school, she’s a councillor and scientist; Max sets out with his father into the Land’s territory to find Max’s grandfather, and to consult the Land who have their own stories to tell about a burning god and a rock in the sky. As more children disappear, tensions mount and accusations fly. Fear and hatred that do nothing to stop the gods storming the city, nor the rock, now believed an alien ship, from getting closer. Can Ben and Max work together or will their differences break them apart? While there are echoes from the ‘Chaos Walking’ books, and similar themes, Piper at the Gates of Dusk is freshly appealing, sliding into new territories and feels like it holds a promise of more to come in the next two books. It moves along at a rollicking place — there’s plenty of action, as well as more contemplative moments engaging you with the teens’ inner concerns and uncertainties. Like their other books, Ness seamlessly weaves in mythology and story, and explores an array of themes — including environment, gender, racism, and misinformation. As the characters battle physically and emotionally, they also confront the question of whether they are able to do what is right over what is easy. (It’s been several years since I read the ‘Chaos Walking’ trilogy, but, good news, you don’t need to read these first, as there are enough pointers to the past history of New World in this volume to cover the ground, if not the detail. This is a new series and can stand on its own.) Another excellent young adults’ novel from Patrick Ness: you will be hooked. Order now, before the April release.