Book Review: More Than This by Patrick Ness

An absolute mindfuck of a read, but worth every instance of 'what the fuck' I thought along the way. This book was recommended by Seattle's newest independent bookstore, Oh Hello Again. To be honest, if I hadn't had so much success with my first recommendation from them, I probably never would have picked up this book.

Seth dies. Plain and simple. A suicide attempt that was successful, he drowns in ice-cold lake water alone, scared, and regretting his decision. When he wakes up, naked, alone, bruised, thirsty, and exhausted, he's shocked.

As he begins to navigate the new strange place, which he recognizes as his childhood home, he begins to unravel the mystery of his past, his new 'afterlife', and the new creatures that are trying to kill him, he meets two friends along the way.

I really can't say much more without giving away too many twists and spoilers, but man, this one kept me on my toes the entire time. Is it reality? Is he dreaming? Is Seth secretly in a coma and making up all of this as a way to make sense of his life? Has he suffered from brain damage? Is he in purgatory?

In the end, none of the questions are really answered. There are a couple of times in the book that Seth goes 'well, if this were a dream, x would happen' and it DOES. Is it a lucky guess? Is he making this up as he goes? Even though we never really know the truth, it doesn't matter. The point of the book is to make you think about your reality, and gosh, does it ever work.

The only! only negative thing I can say is it's not a series, which makes me sad, but I also think it stands alone perfectly fine, too.

"People ask for what they need in different ways. Sometimes for not even asking for it at

all."

Just read it, dammit!!