The Ask and the Answer

A stand-out new edition of the award-winning second novel in the globally bestselling Chaos Walking trilogy.

Fleeing before a relentless army, Todd and Viola once again face their worst enemy, Mayor Prentiss. Immediately imprisoned and separated from Viola, Todd is forced to learn the ways of the Mayor's new order. And then, one day, the bombs begin to explode...

To celebrate the upcoming release of Piper at the Gates of Dusk, a new novel in the iconic world of Chaos Walking, in April 2026, this new edition features a fresh jacket, sprayed edges and an additional short story: The Wide, Wide Sea, which introduces new characters and perspectives to the trilogy.

Winner of the Costa Book Award.

"Ness doesn’t just tell stories – he illuminates the human heart." – Cassandra Clare

"A masterpiece of speculative fiction" – Neal Shusterman

"A touchstone for powerful young adult literature. Inventive, gut-wrenching, and all-consuming, this is an unforgettable coming-of-age reading experience.” – Chloe Gong

“An epic journey through both a science-fiction world of extraordinary imagination and an emotional landscape of gripping intensity.” – Adrian Tchaikovsky

“Intelligent, compelling and utterly devastating, Chaos Walking is one of the seminal YA series of this century.” – Juno Dawson