An intriguing and gripping, if overlong, series opener. 4/5 stars. 
 Imagine a world where all thoughts were audible. What consequences would that have for the individual and society? 
 This is the intriguing premise underlying The Knife of Never Letting Go, an original and sometimes gripping series opener from Patrick Ness. 
 I found the hero, Todd Hewitt, a very convincing 13/14 year old (depending on whether you count his age in Earth years or New World years) and someone the reader can truly root for. I particularly enjoyed his developing relationship with Viola. 
 [SPOILER ALERT] If you're a dog-lover, prepare to have your heart broken. Todd's rather daft, but loyal companion, Manchee, is wonderful (more points to Patrick Ness for depicting the thoughts of a dog so convincingly!) and what happens to him is rather upsetting. 
 The world building is also convincing, although I think the fact that this story is set on another planet is incidental - at heart this is a story about the many difficulties and harsh realities of growing up. 
 It is also a tale of survival against the odds and, viewing the book in this way - as a series of near misses and escapes - it is far too long. At nearly 500 pages, it becomes exhausting in places. Reader fatigue isn't helped by the style at points. For example: 
 Too many 
 Pages written with 
 Only a couple 
 Of words 
 Per line. 
 Could it get 
 Any more 
 Dramatic? 
 Aaron, the main bogeyman, is possibly the most persistent fictional hunter since Javert in Les Mis. I could have done with one or two fewer encounters with him. 
 And after such a tiring read, don't expect to be rewarded by a satisfactory conclusion. The series opener ends on a tremendous downer and cliff-hanger. You have been warned! 
 Having said all that, I don't want to give the impression I didn't like this book, because I did. 
 For my full review, visit my book blog: http://clairehuston.wordpress.com/201...