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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
I was underwhelmed by the first book in this series, but I thought it had potential, so I decided to give book 2 a shot. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll give book 3 a chance. I want to give it a 1.5 star rating, but that's not an option, and I just can't bring myself to bump it up to a 2.
Spoiler
Seriously, nothing happens in this book. Nothing. They wander through a cavern for pretty much the whole thing. No big revelations, no big climactic moments, just wandering around mooning over each other. Gah.
Unfortunately, as is sometimes the case for middle books in a trilogy, this one feels more like a bridge than a stand-alone. Condie is very good at striking an emotional resonance in her techie dystopian settings and that hasn't changed, but the reader still can't shake that "en route" feeling in this one. In this sequel to Matched, Cassia is on a quest to find Ky, and stumbles across hints of an underground resistance movement instead. In the meantime, Ky is hoping to find Cassia but because of his family history, is trying to distance himself from the very movement that's attracting her. With both Cassia and Ky thrust out into the unforgiving world of work details outside the Society boundaries, the plot becomes almost more about survival than intrigue and suspense. Cassia also takes a backseat in a way.
The chapters alternate between her point of view and Ky's, but Ky's experiences are the ones that seem the most compelling. Cassia's parts are overshadowed by the introduction of a new character, even fiercer and bolder than Cassia herself was at the end of the first book, and the heroine we thought we knew seems a little bit naive, wishy-washy, and passive in comparison. Even the cover of the book seems to hint at this---even as she's breaking through the bubble, she's in a weird, awkward, almost guarded posture (head down, foot perched very tentatively outside, on tiptoe). It's a mixed message that feels less satisfying than the one in Matched as we watched her wake up, take action and reinvent herself--it feels a little bit like taking a step back. The conclusion is bound to have some surprises in store, considering there are this many questions left out there.
The chapters alternate between her point of view and Ky's, but Ky's experiences are the ones that seem the most compelling. Cassia's parts are overshadowed by the introduction of a new character, even fiercer and bolder than Cassia herself was at the end of the first book, and the heroine we thought we knew seems a little bit naive, wishy-washy, and passive in comparison. Even the cover of the book seems to hint at this---even as she's breaking through the bubble, she's in a weird, awkward, almost guarded posture (head down, foot perched very tentatively outside, on tiptoe). It's a mixed message that feels less satisfying than the one in Matched as we watched her wake up, take action and reinvent herself--it feels a little bit like taking a step back. The conclusion is bound to have some surprises in store, considering there are this many questions left out there.
Although this did follow in the footsteps of Matched (obviously) I can say that I enjoyed this one just a bit more.
I enjoyed the fact that they were wandering around in the Carvings, and that they had to actually survive (although only against the elements since there didn't seem to ever be anyone actually chasing them, as much as they claimed there was) instead of just doing a lot of wondering about what to do next.
Of course I found the whole, I-have-a-secret-about-Xander-that-I-won't-tell-anyone-but-only-keep-alluding-to, annoying and that Indie was super sketchy and sneaky started to get on my nerves after the airship incident.
Also -
So, basically, I liked that there was a travelling/surviving element to this one even though the end just brought us all the way back to the first book, which kind of seemed pointless.
I enjoyed the fact that they were wandering around in the Carvings, and that they had to actually survive (although only against the elements since there didn't seem to ever be anyone actually chasing them, as much as they claimed there was) instead of just doing a lot of wondering about what to do next.
Of course I found the whole, I-have-a-secret-about-Xander-that-I-won't-tell-anyone-but-only-keep-alluding-to
Spoiler
Because apparently Xander being a part of the Rising for like, two months, is a seriously important plot point and may make Cassia fall for him instead of Ky right?Also -
Spoiler
Seriously? It just HAPPENED to be that the one airship that Cassia managed to sneak on was the FIRST one that was taking the first set of girls EVER out to the border and it magically landed on the same village that Ky had JUST been moved to? Seriously? That's a little too much for me. OH! And that in the Carving, which I was led to believe was insanely huge and confusing and difficult to survive, that they were able to find each other after only a few days of aimless wandering? Really?So, basically, I liked that there was a travelling/surviving element to this one even though the end just brought us all the way back to the first book, which kind of seemed pointless.
I tried to read this i really did....omg i made to 200 pages......i was so bored....i couldnt do it.
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The Accidental Reader Book Reviews
Personally, I wasn't so impressed with this one. And that's why it was so hard to rate this book. I didn't know if it deserves two stars or three but in the end i decided with three so the following reasons.
It's not an amazing book lets be clear about that. It is more like a cliche boy loves girl , girl loves boy, they risk everything for each other and one of them ends up doing something he considers wrong just to please the other person.
I expected this book to be a little more adventurous than the first one but in the end it was blant and boring. It was really really really predictable and for not even a second I didn;t doubt my guesses...and in the end I was right. But the writing was really good and although I wanted to drown myself, I continued reading because at some point I felt something for the main protagonists of the book. It was not strong but it was there so I finished the book.
As with all the young adult books , this one is not an exception of the rule , it follows the pattern of every second book - the couple loses each other and they both begin a journey of finding each other and themselves. Lame but what can we do.
The characters were okay and the descriptions were really good too but the plot needed a little more adventure and action and also the characters needed stronger targets. Stronger motivations for doing what they were doing.
Other than these I don;t have anything else to say about this book. It wasn't exciting and I expected a little bit more than that.
Personally, I wasn't so impressed with this one. And that's why it was so hard to rate this book. I didn't know if it deserves two stars or three but in the end i decided with three so the following reasons.
It's not an amazing book lets be clear about that. It is more like a cliche boy loves girl , girl loves boy, they risk everything for each other and one of them ends up doing something he considers wrong just to please the other person.
I expected this book to be a little more adventurous than the first one but in the end it was blant and boring. It was really really really predictable and for not even a second I didn;t doubt my guesses...and in the end I was right. But the writing was really good and although I wanted to drown myself, I continued reading because at some point I felt something for the main protagonists of the book. It was not strong but it was there so I finished the book.
As with all the young adult books , this one is not an exception of the rule , it follows the pattern of every second book - the couple loses each other and they both begin a journey of finding each other and themselves. Lame but what can we do.
The characters were okay and the descriptions were really good too but the plot needed a little more adventure and action and also the characters needed stronger targets. Stronger motivations for doing what they were doing.
Other than these I don;t have anything else to say about this book. It wasn't exciting and I expected a little bit more than that.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Mass/school shootings, War, Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Police brutality, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Deportation
Minor: Slavery, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Abandonment
Crossed by Ally Connie is a Kindle book I began reading in early June. Full steam ahead with the dystopia triangle that is Cassia/Ky/Xander.
After the intensive character building and myth developing that is Matched, this second book is really about the journey and self analysis that a first person character goes through. There's also a lot going on that reminds me of the plight on Zion and the concept of The One in the Matrix series, so we'll see what happens with Book 3.
After the intensive character building and myth developing that is Matched, this second book is really about the journey and self analysis that a first person character goes through. There's also a lot going on that reminds me of the plight on Zion and the concept of The One in the Matrix series, so we'll see what happens with Book 3.
The downfall of this novel was the author's inability to switch effectively between two first-person narrative voices. Any suspense that might have been built was inevitably lost as the reader tried to figure out who the hell was speaking. If Condie had a decent editor, they might have at least printed the alternating narrative voices in different fonts. But alas, by the time you figured out who was talking this time - Ky or Cassia - you really didn't care anymore. I skimmed the last 50 pages because I was so over it.
One star.
One star.