It’s here. It’s finally here. Monsters of Men, the third and final book in the amazing Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness has arrived, and it doesn’t disappoint for a second. Following on from the events in The Ask and the Answer, Monsters is a gripping read that sees Todd and Viola forced into a war they never wanted.

The alien Spackle have amassed an army and launched an attack on the already warring factions of New Prentisstown. Adding to the confusion is the arrival of a scoutship full of new settlers who bring with them powerful weapons. The ensuing battle is a bloody one, and both sides quickly learn the high cost of war. In the meantime, Todd and Viola do their best to bring about peace, but peace is hard to come by when everyone around them seems set on war.

This amazing book never takes the easy route. Ness never flinches away from how horrific war is, and how frustratingly slow progress can be. Monsters is so intense that you won’t be able to put down until you’ve finished it at three in the morning. It races along in a way that will have you completely involved, just like its two predecessors. But if you’ve read those, you probably won’t need this review. You’ll already know there’s a great read in store for you. And if you haven’t read The Knife of Never Letting Go or The Ask and the Answer, read them now. Then read Monsters of Men. It will be the best thing you’ve read in a long time.