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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
DNF @ 17%
Realized I really did not care to continue with this series when MC decided to throw out the love word about a person she got the tiniest glimpse of and doesn’t actually know. I was already annoyed with the lack of LI building and this one word just erased any attempt to move past that.
Realized I really did not care to continue with this series when MC decided to throw out the love word about a person she got the tiniest glimpse of and doesn’t actually know. I was already annoyed with the lack of LI building and this one word just erased any attempt to move past that.
Star crossed lovers was annoying. Felt like there were more important matters (surviving) to be focused on.
Was a good read with the POV switching through the books. I liked the additional characters
Was a good read with the POV switching through the books. I liked the additional characters
I wasn’t super excited about the first in the series, Matched, but after a year or so since reading, and hearing raving reviews, I decided to give the 2nd in the series, Crossed, a try. After all, I was already familiar with the characters, and slightly invested in the story.
It wasn’t terrible. It was about the same: medium good. It has the same annoying yet expected YA tropes that you love to hate and hate to love, but it lacks the much needled twist, that little extra oomph. For a dystopic genre, it barely touches on the science part of the sci-fi and the oppressive government/the Society part of the dys-society, but focuses instead on Cassia’s passion for Ky interrupted by her confused feelings about Xander. It’s a tired story woven into a contrived background. If you came for the PG middle-school love triangle, stick around. Otherwise, maybe pass? As a kid-at-heart and lover of the YA genre for decades into adulthood, I’m finding more and more the genre to disappoint. Maybe I’m just getting old and jaded?
It wasn’t terrible. It was about the same: medium good. It has the same annoying yet expected YA tropes that you love to hate and hate to love, but it lacks the much needled twist, that little extra oomph. For a dystopic genre, it barely touches on the science part of the sci-fi and the oppressive government/the Society part of the dys-society, but focuses instead on Cassia’s passion for Ky interrupted by her confused feelings about Xander. It’s a tired story woven into a contrived background. If you came for the PG middle-school love triangle, stick around. Otherwise, maybe pass? As a kid-at-heart and lover of the YA genre for decades into adulthood, I’m finding more and more the genre to disappoint. Maybe I’m just getting old and jaded?
Liked it, but a lot of set up for the breaking between her and Ky
Eh, felt very filler to me. I also thought Xander would be in the book more
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I realized part way through that is read it before. Nut since I had no recollection, I read it again. It was not nearly as good as Matched. I hope #3 is better....
After Matched, which I had quibbles with but enjoyed, Crossed came as something of a disappointment. Oh, sure, I tore through it in about 4 hours -- and with a bad head cold at that. However, if I hadn't already been invested in Cassia's story from reading Matched, I'm not sure that Crossed would have kept my interest up.
The problem with Crossed? It suffers from a problem common enough in the second book of a trilogy, but more so than any other #2 in a series I've ever read. Crossed is very transparently a bridge from Matched to the finale of the series. I will give Condie that some important events happen, and some important information is disclosed. But that could have been accomplished in half the word count, if not less. The rest is padding. There are meaningless digressions that aren't detailed enough to feel like worldbuilding and aren't significant enough to feel plot-important. I have to wonder whether Condie realized there was a certain irony and symbolism in having her characters spend all their time traveling in a book that exists just to move us from one place to another.
The digressions are enjoyable, in nicely rendered prose, and the book kept my interest. But it was in no way satisfying to read. One feels as though Cassia had her big moment of growth in Matched, and Crossed doesn't change her very much. Some of the conflict feels manufactured, but at the same time, there is interpersonal conflict left mostly unexplored.
I have a feeling that when I get my hands on the final book of the trilogy, I will feel that Matched should have been two longer books.
The problem with Crossed? It suffers from a problem common enough in the second book of a trilogy, but more so than any other #2 in a series I've ever read. Crossed is very transparently a bridge from Matched to the finale of the series. I will give Condie that some important events happen, and some important information is disclosed. But that could have been accomplished in half the word count, if not less. The rest is padding. There are meaningless digressions that aren't detailed enough to feel like worldbuilding and aren't significant enough to feel plot-important. I have to wonder whether Condie realized there was a certain irony and symbolism in having her characters spend all their time traveling in a book that exists just to move us from one place to another.
The digressions are enjoyable, in nicely rendered prose, and the book kept my interest. But it was in no way satisfying to read. One feels as though Cassia had her big moment of growth in Matched, and Crossed doesn't change her very much. Some of the conflict feels manufactured, but at the same time, there is interpersonal conflict left mostly unexplored.
I have a feeling that when I get my hands on the final book of the trilogy, I will feel that Matched should have been two longer books.