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simonrtaylor's review against another edition
4.0
Checkmate begins sixteen years after Knife Edge concluded, with two colossal showdowns taking place. From that point, the book splits into threads – one continuing the showdowns until the book’s climax and the other recounting the intervening sixteen years to demonstrate how they came to be.
The concept works really well. The breakdown of Sephy and Callie-Rose’s relationship, and Jasmine’s increasing desperation, are believably depicted, and each time stream adds a layer of detail to the other. We hear the familiar narrative voice of Blackman through her various narrators (this time including Sephy, Callie-Rose, Jasmine, Meggie, Jude and – in a brief cameo – Callum), but with the added dual timeline twist. It’s a good time to shake things up as we reach the third major volume (fourth overall if you include An Eye for an Eye) and the format change is refreshing. The passing time is marked by giving Callie-Rose’s age before each of her narrative turns from childhood through to sixteen, which is appropriate given her central role in proceedings and makes the timeline easy to follow.
Callie-Rose integrates quickly into the cast and easily becomes a prominent figure. She finds her own voice and is a different lead character from Sephy. It helps that everyone else is somehow acting or reacting to her – Sephy in reacting to their relationship, Meggie in trying to preserve her place in her life, Jude in trying to corrupt her. By the end of the book, it seems that she has always been involved in the series. We see an interesting difference in society from when Sephy was her age some twenty years before; we see for the first time how a mixed race person fits into the dystopia; and most interestingly we understand how Callie-Rose’s impression of Callum is substantially different from the reader’s.
The reader finds themselves rooting for events, people and relationships and Blackman does enjoy teasing us before switching timestream on us now and again.
Checkmate was originally written to be the last instalment, and it would have been a fitting (if surprising) conclusion. It will be very interesting to see where the writer chooses to go from here.
The concept works really well. The breakdown of Sephy and Callie-Rose’s relationship, and Jasmine’s increasing desperation, are believably depicted, and each time stream adds a layer of detail to the other. We hear the familiar narrative voice of Blackman through her various narrators (this time including Sephy, Callie-Rose, Jasmine, Meggie, Jude and – in a brief cameo – Callum), but with the added dual timeline twist. It’s a good time to shake things up as we reach the third major volume (fourth overall if you include An Eye for an Eye) and the format change is refreshing. The passing time is marked by giving Callie-Rose’s age before each of her narrative turns from childhood through to sixteen, which is appropriate given her central role in proceedings and makes the timeline easy to follow.
Callie-Rose integrates quickly into the cast and easily becomes a prominent figure. She finds her own voice and is a different lead character from Sephy. It helps that everyone else is somehow acting or reacting to her – Sephy in reacting to their relationship, Meggie in trying to preserve her place in her life, Jude in trying to corrupt her. By the end of the book, it seems that she has always been involved in the series. We see an interesting difference in society from when Sephy was her age some twenty years before; we see for the first time how a mixed race person fits into the dystopia; and most interestingly we understand how Callie-Rose’s impression of Callum is substantially different from the reader’s.
The reader finds themselves rooting for events, people and relationships and Blackman does enjoy teasing us before switching timestream on us now and again.
Checkmate was originally written to be the last instalment, and it would have been a fitting (if surprising) conclusion. It will be very interesting to see where the writer chooses to go from here.
chezleyrose's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
bookedandwatched's review against another edition
4.0
Book 3 in the original trilogy. The focus of this instalment is Callie Rose. We get to see her now she is 16 and how her life has turned out and what a wayward 16 year old is going through as an impact of her parents lives and choices.
The women in this series really are the backbone and heart of it. Their connections create the world and tell the story in all its mess and glory.
There are certain scenes in this book which I think would play better visually than as an audiobook, which is how I consumed them.
Overall a good book and a great way to close out the original trilogy.
The women in this series really are the backbone and heart of it. Their connections create the world and tell the story in all its mess and glory.
There are certain scenes in this book which I think would play better visually than as an audiobook, which is how I consumed them.
Overall a good book and a great way to close out the original trilogy.
kkaste's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
elleneam's review against another edition
5.0
This book follows Callie Rose as she grows up. You see as her feelings for her dad change as she discovers more about him. This book is a search for truth and hope.
nikexistiertnik's review against another edition
the first two books already didn't meet my expectations, and i can't bring myself to keep reading the series atm.
love the concept (as much as you can love stories about oppression), but i'm not keen on the execution.
maybe i'll come back to it one day.
love the concept (as much as you can love stories about oppression), but i'm not keen on the execution.
maybe i'll come back to it one day.
lottiehardy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
barbelizabeth's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
bexcody's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
_ells_19_'s review against another edition
4.0
It took me an unusually long time to get into this book but that was my problem. It is so masterfully told and definitely a beautiful addition to the series!
You will laugh and cry and enjoy every minute
You will laugh and cry and enjoy every minute