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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
So after my second attempt to start this book, I finished it. It was fine. Nothing more, nothing less. No fireworks, nothing. But I mean, I kept reading.
adventurous
slow-paced
Re-read January 18, 2024
On this re-read, I decided that this book does not work as the second in a trilogy. It doesn't really further much in the story or the world. There are no real answers on anything. If this was a stand-alone, it would have earned that five stars I originally gave it without question.
This is an extremely introspective book. It's all about the journey and Cassia and Ky working through things. I like following them and seeing them discover things about themselves, each other, the people around them, all of that. But as I said, there are no answers to the big world-building questions. This is fine for a stand-alone, but as the second in a trilogy it's disappointing.
I still really like the book, though. I like the tone and emotion through the story. I like the introspection and the journey. As much as I wish it revealed things, I can't regret reading this.
Original review December 30, 2020
I'm really curious how this book could have not only earned five stars the last time I read it, but also gotten a place on my favorite books list. It wasn't a bad book, but it did feel like a step down from the first one. Much like the first book, not a whole lot happens. It's really just following Cassia and Ky as they make their individual journeys. A lot of the struggle is internal, which I guess is what I liked about it the first time around.
This book suffers from the "liar reveal" plot because Ky keeps things from Cassia for no real reason. The good news is he knows that he's doing it for selfish reasons. I do like how human these characters feel at times. Sometimes it feels like YA protagonists are made a little too perfect or flawless, or are so set on their goals. These guys are a little more uncertain of their paths and question their decisions a bit more. They struggle with their past and who they want to be now in the present.
There's still the strong emphasis on art forms (poetry, dancing, painting, writing, etc) and there's still not a lot revealed about the Society, the Rising, or the Enemy. There's no explanation about what an Abbaration really is, either. This story is just about these two, which I guess isn't terrible but for the second book of the trilogy, it does feel lacking in answers and revelations. It also feels like this deviated from the dystopia theme into more about general stuff like war and how different people are surviving in this world.
I guess if this was a stand-alone I'd be fine with the internal examination of these two characters figuring themselves out while they make this journey, but because it's part of a trilogy it needed more answers and more expansion on the world outside the two of them. There's some of that, but it doesn't feel quite enough.
On this re-read, I decided that this book does not work as the second in a trilogy. It doesn't really further much in the story or the world. There are no real answers on anything. If this was a stand-alone, it would have earned that five stars I originally gave it without question.
This is an extremely introspective book. It's all about the journey and Cassia and Ky working through things. I like following them and seeing them discover things about themselves, each other, the people around them, all of that. But as I said, there are no answers to the big world-building questions. This is fine for a stand-alone, but as the second in a trilogy it's disappointing.
I still really like the book, though. I like the tone and emotion through the story. I like the introspection and the journey. As much as I wish it revealed things, I can't regret reading this.
Original review December 30, 2020
I'm really curious how this book could have not only earned five stars the last time I read it, but also gotten a place on my favorite books list. It wasn't a bad book, but it did feel like a step down from the first one. Much like the first book, not a whole lot happens. It's really just following Cassia and Ky as they make their individual journeys. A lot of the struggle is internal, which I guess is what I liked about it the first time around.
This book suffers from the "liar reveal" plot because Ky keeps things from Cassia for no real reason. The good news is he knows that he's doing it for selfish reasons. I do like how human these characters feel at times. Sometimes it feels like YA protagonists are made a little too perfect or flawless, or are so set on their goals. These guys are a little more uncertain of their paths and question their decisions a bit more. They struggle with their past and who they want to be now in the present.
There's still the strong emphasis on art forms (poetry, dancing, painting, writing, etc) and there's still not a lot revealed about the Society, the Rising, or the Enemy. There's no explanation about what an Abbaration really is, either. This story is just about these two, which I guess isn't terrible but for the second book of the trilogy, it does feel lacking in answers and revelations. It also feels like this deviated from the dystopia theme into more about general stuff like war and how different people are surviving in this world.
I guess if this was a stand-alone I'd be fine with the internal examination of these two characters figuring themselves out while they make this journey, but because it's part of a trilogy it needed more answers and more expansion on the world outside the two of them. There's some of that, but it doesn't feel quite enough.
Started and never finished…
I don’t even know what’s about anymore
I don’t even know what’s about anymore
not sure what to say other than i felt this was too cerebral with a mix of teen love angst... odd combination & struggled at moments but I did finish it as I was hooked overall.
Well written and interesting; a good middle chapter. I enjoyed the back and forth between Ky and Cassia's view points, and feel as if I have a better understanding of who Ky is now. I'm not really sure I like Cassia any more - but maybe that is just because she does not yet know who she is at all.
I look forward to reading the next one. The writing is smooth throughout.
inspiring
mysterious
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Just finished the second book in this mediocre trilogy (yeah im judging). Kinda mad that other reviewers were right about this book. Crossed was basically just a placeholder until what i can assume will be the awesome finale of this trilogy. Hopefully.... Hopefully the nxt book will be a bit better...
Another review....a better review....coming tomorrow :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, here comes my awesome review. I don't mean to sound egotistical but i just wanted to get you ready. Alrighty. You know, for the most part, second books fail when compared to the first book in the trilogy. But, like I said earlier, Matched wasn't all that good so that rule pattern should be irrelevant. However, like with so many other qualities of this book, it continues to defy certain literary stereotypes. And not necessarily in a good way.
So, we find Cassia (I'm starting to hate her name. At first it was cute but then it started reminding me of like a made up version of the electronic company : 'Casio') and Ky separated from each other. Boo Hoo. Cassia is like a field worker or something in one province and Ky digs things up or something in another. One day, after trading Ky's compass to one of those trader people, Cassia ends up getting on an airship to the province Ky has just escaped from. Cassia (stalker) with the help of this girl named Indie and that one boy, trail, stalk really, Ky and his friends across the valley. Cassia is kind of looking for the rising too. Ky, on the other hand, pretty much hates the rising because of what it did to his parents or whatever. And you know...it's conflicting.
Heads up: the Rising is basically this rebellion against the oh so evil Society.
I'm not sure if saying that Cassia and Ky found each other would be considered a spoiler...Oops. Well since i already said it I guess it's too late. It doesn't really matter anyway. The whole darn story is about this little journey Cassia, Ky, Indie and Eli make to find the goshdarn rising or whatever. Throughout my reading of this book, I kept wanting something more to happen. Some kind of disaster. The Society finding them. Something! .
But what did I get...? A few kisses here, a few tears there, some threats blah blah. Most of the story was explanatory, talking about the past because there was nothing going on in the actual present (and when I say the past, I mostly mean the pastpast. As in, when they were little and all. If they had talked about the recent past more, I may have given this book four stars). Even the fact that the POV switched between Ky and Cassia didn't help. Cassia's POV was annoying and Ky was always telling some nostalgic story. Ugh. It was so irritating. Oh, and i know that this is mostly my fault, but I couldn't even remember what really happened in the first book. I know that the second book in a trilogy isn't really suppose to explain anything that happened in the previous novel, but for the first half of the book, I felt lost. I couldn't remember how anyone had gotten where they were. The only thing I could truly remember was Xander, Bram and the poems and all. I kept getting Matched mixed up with Delirium by Lauren Oliver.
My bad.
So in short, after reading the second book in this sorry trilogy (well, at least compared to other futuristic trilogies I've read. Which isn't saying much. If I wasn't so biased I might actually like this trilogy more) I'm not all that eager to read the final book. Oh, I'll read it! But you won't see me running to any bookshelves for it. That's just how it has to be.
Another review....a better review....coming tomorrow :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, here comes my awesome review. I don't mean to sound egotistical but i just wanted to get you ready. Alrighty. You know, for the most part, second books fail when compared to the first book in the trilogy. But, like I said earlier, Matched wasn't all that good so that rule pattern should be irrelevant. However, like with so many other qualities of this book, it continues to defy certain literary stereotypes. And not necessarily in a good way.
So, we find Cassia (I'm starting to hate her name. At first it was cute but then it started reminding me of like a made up version of the electronic company : 'Casio') and Ky separated from each other. Boo Hoo. Cassia is like a field worker or something in one province and Ky digs things up or something in another. One day, after trading Ky's compass to one of those trader people, Cassia ends up getting on an airship to the province Ky has just escaped from. Cassia (stalker) with the help of this girl named Indie and that one boy, trail, stalk really, Ky and his friends across the valley. Cassia is kind of looking for the rising too. Ky, on the other hand, pretty much hates the rising because of what it did to his parents or whatever. And you know...it's conflicting.
Heads up: the Rising is basically this rebellion against the oh so evil Society.
I'm not sure if saying that Cassia and Ky found each other would be considered a spoiler...Oops. Well since i already said it I guess it's too late. It doesn't really matter anyway. The whole darn story is about this little journey Cassia, Ky, Indie and Eli make to find the goshdarn rising or whatever. Throughout my reading of this book, I kept wanting something more to happen. Some kind of disaster. The Society finding them. Something! .
But what did I get...? A few kisses here, a few tears there, some threats blah blah. Most of the story was explanatory, talking about the past because there was nothing going on in the actual present (and when I say the past, I mostly mean the pastpast. As in, when they were little and all. If they had talked about the recent past more, I may have given this book four stars). Even the fact that the POV switched between Ky and Cassia didn't help. Cassia's POV was annoying and Ky was always telling some nostalgic story. Ugh. It was so irritating. Oh, and i know that this is mostly my fault, but I couldn't even remember what really happened in the first book. I know that the second book in a trilogy isn't really suppose to explain anything that happened in the previous novel, but for the first half of the book, I felt lost. I couldn't remember how anyone had gotten where they were. The only thing I could truly remember was Xander, Bram and the poems and all. I kept getting Matched mixed up with Delirium by Lauren Oliver.
My bad.
So in short, after reading the second book in this sorry trilogy (well, at least compared to other futuristic trilogies I've read. Which isn't saying much. If I wasn't so biased I might actually like this trilogy more) I'm not all that eager to read the final book. Oh, I'll read it! But you won't see me running to any bookshelves for it. That's just how it has to be.