Review: And The Ocean Was Our Sky by Patrick Ness

An The Ocean Was Our Sky
by Patrick Ness
Published by Walker Books
YA, fantasy, retelling

With harpoons strapped to their backs, the proud whales of Bathsheba's pod live for the hunt, fighting in the ongoing war against the world of men. When they attack a ship bobbing on the surface of the Abyss, they expect to find easy prey. Instead, they find the trail of a myth, a monster, perhaps the devil himself...

As their relentless Captain leads the chase, they embark on a final, vengeful hunt, one that will forever change the worlds of both whales and men.

Patrick Ness is known for being creative, for experimenting in a way others don't.  And The Ocean Was Our Sky has to be most experimental of his works; it's a Moby Dick retelling from the point of view of the whales. It's as odd as it sounds, but somehow Ness made the story of a pod of whales hunting down the legendary devil of Toby Wick deep and profound. It's a brutal and raw look on humanity, but also to the treatment of others, of strangers, no matter of species.

Best part of this short story are the illustrations. Rovina Cai is certainly talented, and the illustrations bring the story alive. Truthfully, I spend more time staring at the illustrations than reading. It's a gorgeous book and I'm definitely giving one star more only for the brilliant illustrations.

4 of 5 stars

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