I think I want to give this only three stars but my love for the first book is too strong. I don't do well with underlying meanings and metaphorical stories. And I honestly don't think the first book, even the second book, focused so strongly on the underlying message behind the entire story and that's why I liked them. The message was there, but it wasn't smashing you in the face like it was in Monsters of Men. I really struggled with the whole "the land", "the sky", "the burden" metaphors, and I still only vaguely feel like I know what that was all about. I also totally did not get the ending. I mean, I got it, but I didn't 'get' it. Also, the entire motivation for Prentiss' actions seems weak, and there are so many more questions I have. Like why did he have this special connection to the world/noise, and how did he get the connection/the ability to control people? Maybe I completely missed it. I think this story was dragged out and about 100 pages too long (possibly feel this way because war/fight scenes are some of my least favorite scenes in media and this entire book was literally a war). All that said, Todd and Viola are still some of my favorite characters in a book series and I really enjoyed Todd's internal struggle of right vs. wrong, trusting the mayor vs. not, seeing the good in people. I've always been a fan of the animals noise and it comes through so well in the audiobooks. Speaking of animals, I have one final question, why does Patrick Ness hate them?!

(R.I.P Acorn)