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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
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.
Crossed is the sequel of Matched, where Cassia and Ky try to reunite after he was taken last book. The reason i only gave 2 stars was because it didn’t really give anything. Will still be reading the last book.
When I first started reading this book I couldn't figure out where or what Cassia was doing! I got it mixed up with a different book where the main character actually crosses the border at the end of the first book. OPPS!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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:
Yes
I wrote about Crossed on my blog -
http://804-notassigned.blogspot.com/2011/12/so-nice-so-smart.html
So Nice So Smart
Do you ever read the second book of a set and convince yourself that maybe you’ve forgotten to read a book? Like maybe you’re really reading the third one in the series? I just finished Crossed, the second book in Allie Condor’s Matched trilogy, and I was sure that I had skipped something. It hasn’t been that long since I read the first one, and I usually hold the details of a book for a very long time, but she would talk about something that had happened and I had no memory of what she was talking about. A piece of the book is about taking a pill to forget what has happened in the past and I sort of got paranoid that Condor had implanted one into the book. That way her characters could say, “Oh, yeah, remember how I already told you about this pivotal plot point?” I should have known that anything billing itself from the first moment as a trilogy wasn’t going to solve any giant questions in the second book, but it was a nice fast read. These are the books I’m overjoyed to get from the library for free – You read them in a day and (apparently) forget about them just as fast.
I did the opposite with MaryJanice Davidson’s Undead and Undermined. It’s the latest of the Queen Betsy books, which I love. (Very funny vampire series.) So Davidson starts off the prologue talking about her fans thinking she was crazy after the last book and time travel (Jazz Hands!), but I can’t remember anything too odd about the last book. So I start reading and I have no idea what they are referencing in the book. I decided it was a long whatever you call the prologue thing where the end of the book is at the front and then the rest of the book is how they reached that point. (There’s probably a word for that, huh?) I got about 50 pages in before I gave up and checked on Amazon to find that I had missed a book. I’m the reading genius this week!
Happy New Year! Get ready for the 100 book challenge!
http://804-notassigned.blogspot.com/2011/12/so-nice-so-smart.html
So Nice So Smart
Do you ever read the second book of a set and convince yourself that maybe you’ve forgotten to read a book? Like maybe you’re really reading the third one in the series? I just finished Crossed, the second book in Allie Condor’s Matched trilogy, and I was sure that I had skipped something. It hasn’t been that long since I read the first one, and I usually hold the details of a book for a very long time, but she would talk about something that had happened and I had no memory of what she was talking about. A piece of the book is about taking a pill to forget what has happened in the past and I sort of got paranoid that Condor had implanted one into the book. That way her characters could say, “Oh, yeah, remember how I already told you about this pivotal plot point?” I should have known that anything billing itself from the first moment as a trilogy wasn’t going to solve any giant questions in the second book, but it was a nice fast read. These are the books I’m overjoyed to get from the library for free – You read them in a day and (apparently) forget about them just as fast.
I did the opposite with MaryJanice Davidson’s Undead and Undermined. It’s the latest of the Queen Betsy books, which I love. (Very funny vampire series.) So Davidson starts off the prologue talking about her fans thinking she was crazy after the last book and time travel (Jazz Hands!), but I can’t remember anything too odd about the last book. So I start reading and I have no idea what they are referencing in the book. I decided it was a long whatever you call the prologue thing where the end of the book is at the front and then the rest of the book is how they reached that point. (There’s probably a word for that, huh?) I got about 50 pages in before I gave up and checked on Amazon to find that I had missed a book. I’m the reading genius this week!
Happy New Year! Get ready for the 100 book challenge!
see full review @ Katie's Corner
Even though the review for Matched (the first book in the series) has gone live on my blog in March 2016, in reality, it took me around 4 months to get to the book and actually read it. Not because I wasn't interested in it, it's just that I always find something else to read. I'm serious I have around 10 series that I have to finish and that's only me skimming my library, without getting too deep into it. But enough with my reading problems and let's focus on the book.
If I'm not mistaken the second book is different from the first one in the narration tone. This time we have both Cassia and Ky tell us their stories. I was actually glad for that, it opened up a lot of the characters. And we truly get t know Ky, with his strengths as well as insecurities about himself. And why's that? We get a glimpse into his past as well as see him in different situations. We are bombarded with a lot of information, but not a lot of time to actually sort t out. As the book ends and we have no other choice but to throw ourselves into the last on to get all the answers.
Are you ready to see what is Cassia capable of doing in order to reach the one she loves? But what if while she is on the journey she finds another reason to fight against the society? yes, in every society there's a rebellion, but is this rebellion all that different from the society itself? I'm pretty sure this book was aimed to show us the society from a different angle as well as give us insight into Cassia's, Ky's and even Xander's personalities. it's true Xander doesn't appear all that often, but just the mention of his name gives me some sense of foreboding. And my senses never lie.
Are you ready to test your limits and dive into the unknown? Get a first-hand experience of what it means to be an Aberration and an Anomaly. And lastly will you have enough willpower to join the rebellion, or would you want to live your life like t doesn't affect you? All the roads lead back to the central, just answer the question. Are you brave enough to board the airship?
I hope you'll find some time to read this sequel to Matched trilogy, you might think that it lacked something, but trust me, once you think about it, you'll notice that there was more than enough information and everything was going at the right pace! Enjoy it to your fullest and don't forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos. Don't miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading!
XOXO
Katie
Even though the review for Matched (the first book in the series) has gone live on my blog in March 2016, in reality, it took me around 4 months to get to the book and actually read it. Not because I wasn't interested in it, it's just that I always find something else to read. I'm serious I have around 10 series that I have to finish and that's only me skimming my library, without getting too deep into it. But enough with my reading problems and let's focus on the book.
If I'm not mistaken the second book is different from the first one in the narration tone. This time we have both Cassia and Ky tell us their stories. I was actually glad for that, it opened up a lot of the characters. And we truly get t know Ky, with his strengths as well as insecurities about himself. And why's that? We get a glimpse into his past as well as see him in different situations. We are bombarded with a lot of information, but not a lot of time to actually sort t out. As the book ends and we have no other choice but to throw ourselves into the last on to get all the answers.
Are you ready to see what is Cassia capable of doing in order to reach the one she loves? But what if while she is on the journey she finds another reason to fight against the society? yes, in every society there's a rebellion, but is this rebellion all that different from the society itself? I'm pretty sure this book was aimed to show us the society from a different angle as well as give us insight into Cassia's, Ky's and even Xander's personalities. it's true Xander doesn't appear all that often, but just the mention of his name gives me some sense of foreboding. And my senses never lie.
Are you ready to test your limits and dive into the unknown? Get a first-hand experience of what it means to be an Aberration and an Anomaly. And lastly will you have enough willpower to join the rebellion, or would you want to live your life like t doesn't affect you? All the roads lead back to the central, just answer the question. Are you brave enough to board the airship?
I hope you'll find some time to read this sequel to Matched trilogy, you might think that it lacked something, but trust me, once you think about it, you'll notice that there was more than enough information and everything was going at the right pace! Enjoy it to your fullest and don't forget to share your thoughts below! Stay tuned for more reviews as well as promos. Don't miss your next favourite book or manga! Happy reading!
XOXO
Katie
I don't feel like much happened in this 2nd book. But will finish the series since I already have them.
Curious how things will go after Cassia returns to society..