By Patrick Ness (author) Part of the New World series
"A thrilling and profound sequel to an iconic series."
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Hardback In Stock £16.99 £15.29
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April 2026 Book of the Month
One cannot help but feel a little anxious about a sequel to an iconic award-winning series, but fans of the Chaos Walking trilogy , which won Patrick Ness his first Carnegie medal, need have no fears.
Almost as much time has passed in our world as in New World and fans will be very keen to find out what has happened to Todd and Viola in the intervening years. They are now parents to two boys, Ben and Max, and this story is alternately narrated by them. New World has been transformed for the human settlers, they have found a cure for the Noise and the uneasy peace with the indigenous Land community still holds despite humanity continuing to show their worst side.
Although Todd refused the cure for himself, their boys were given it and Ben lost the power of speech as a result, which will turn out to be deeply significant.
Newcomers to the series also need not worry that they must read the original books first; without wasting any time on a rehash of past events, enough is explained when they need to know it, for this book to stand alone, which is helpful since the book starts with a classic Ness breathtaking opening that propels you immediately into the action. Indeed, it will be very hard to put the book down from that point onwards, with the roar of a huge burning ‘god’ pursuing Max and Ben across their farmland. As the god lunges for them, it falls into the river and vanishes in a cloud of Noise.
There is also a mysterious object in the sky, and hideous Noise- filled nightmares plaguing all the young people, apart from Ben; and the more frequent appearances of these burning figures, who target and snatch both human and Land youngsters, indicates a terrible threat to all the inhabitants of the planet.
Despite the nail-biting tension of the plotting and the prescient political themes, it is the characterisation and the relationships which are the true strength of Ness’s writing. The way in which he so skilfully presents issues such as disability and gender identity as relevant traits of multifaceted, complex and very real characters, rather than as an issue to be artificially woven into a plot, is exemplary.
So, for example, we only gradually realise that Max was adopted and assigned female at birth, despite having Noise, and we have a wonderfully nuanced depiction of a family, where a marriage is under strain and sibling differences threaten the harmony, but unshakeable bonds give them the strength to meet the challenges thrown at them.
Another classic Ness trait is a terrifying cliffhanger ending, so we are all left desperate for the next instalment. A truly superb beginning to an enthralling and deserving sequel to the magnificent science fiction creation that is Chaos Walking.
The first in a new trilogy set in the world of the groundbreaking Chaos Walking series, which has sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide.·Now, almost twenty years on, Patrick Ness makes a momentous return to New World.
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The first in a new trilogy set in the world of the groundbreaking Chaos Walking series, which has sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide. · Now, almost twenty years on, Patrick Ness makes a momentous return to New World.
Something has been spotted in the night sky. Something that's bringing back dreams of Noise, dreams of terror. Brothers Ben and Max have never really gotten on, each being more like one of their parents - Todd and Viola.
But now they will have to come together.
SOMETHING IS COMING.
Blending sci-fi, speculative fiction and adventure with themes of power, division and hope.
Jacketed hardback to feature endpaper illustration by Jim Kay, award-winning artist of A Monster Calls .
"In a world full of Noise, the Chaos Walking trilogy delivered a razor-sharp take on humanity and morality even more relevant now than when it was first published." Neal Shusterman
Patrick Ness is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Chaos Walking trilogy. He is also the author of critically acclaimed novels A Monster Calls, More Than This, Release, The Rest of Us Just Live Here, And the Ocean Was Our Sky and Burn.
Patrick was born on an army base called Fort Belvoir, near Alexandria, Virginia, in the United States. His father was a drill sergeant in the US Army. He lived in Hawaii until he was almost six, spent the ten years after that in suburban Washington state, and then on to Los Angeles, where he studied English Literature at the University of Southern California.
His main job after graduating was as corporate writer at a cable company, writing manuals, form letters and speeches and once even an advertisement for the Gilroy, California Garlic Festival (this is true). If you're American and hated your cable company, he probably wrote you a letter of apology.
He got his first story published in Genre magazine in 1997 and was working on his first novel when he moved to London in 1999. He's lived here ever since. Sometimes he teaches creative writing but mostly he tries to write 1,000 words a day, 'come hell or high water'.
In May 2008, he published The Knife of Never Letting Go , his first book for young adults. It won the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and the Booktrust Teenage Prize and he hasn't looked back since.
Here is an interview with Patrick Ness where he talks about his new book The Rest of Us Just Live Here.
1. He has a tattoo of a rhinoceros. 2. He has run two marathons. 3. He is a certified scuba diver. 4. He wrote a radio comedy about vampires. 5. He has never been to New York City but... 6. He has been to Sydney, Auckland and Tokyo. 7. He got accepted into film school but turned it down to study writing. 8. He was a goth as a teenager (well, as much of a goth as you could be in Tacoma, Washington and still have to go to church every Sunday). 9. He is no longer a goth. 10. Under no circumstances will he eat onions.
Click here to read a Q&A with Patrick Ness
Author photo © Helen Giles
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The first in a new trilogy set in the world of the groundbreaking Chaos Walking series, which has sold over 3.5 million copies worldwide.·Now, almost twenty years on, Patrick Ness makes a momentous return to New World.---Something has been spotted in the night sky. Something that's bringing back dreams of Noise, dreams of terror.
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Piper at the Gates of Dusk and determined it is suitable for children aged 13-18 years old
Piper at the Gates of Dusk features in the following genres: Featured Books for 13+ readers, Featured Books for Young Adults, Books of the Month, Recommendations, Star Books, Adventure Stories, Fantasy / Magical, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational
Paperback, Hardback. £15.29, down from the £16.99 cover price. In Stock.
Piper at the Gates of Dusk was written by Patrick Ness and published by Walker Books Ltd an imprint of Walker Books
Piper at the Gates of Dusk has 348 pages
Yes it is part of New World series
£15.29, reduced from £16.99. In Stock.
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