** spoiler alert ** 
 This trilogy is amazing. One of the best things I've ever read and pretty damn relentless - I read the three books in quick succession (I still have the prequel to read, though). 
 It took a little getting used to Todd's voice, but once I had it he was really clear and a fantastic narrator. 
 The first book in the trilogy is all about the journey. It races along and is incredibly intense for a lot of the time. 
 Considering there are so many characters they are incredibly well rounded. Each one becomes quite distinct in their own right. I really loved Todd, Viola and the wonderful Manchee. But I also got incredibly attached to a lot of the people who played a smaller part in the book. 
 Utterly gut-wrenching at times, Patrick Ness does not pull his punches. I love these books all the more for it. But it did mean I bawled my eyes out rather a lot in the course of reading. 
 A brilliant start to a stunning trilogy.