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3.32 AVERAGE
3.32 AVERAGE
As a whole I really liked this series! I loved the characters and the story! This book was probably my least favorite in the series but it was a good ending for the trilogy!
“You cannot change your journey if you are unwilling to move at all.”
_____
“I realize now how much courage it takes to choose the life you want, whatever that might be.”
_____
“If you let hope inside, it takes you over. It feeds on your insides and uses your bones to climb and grow. Eventually it becomes the thing that is your bones, that holds you together. Holds you up until you don't know how to live without it anymore. To pull it out of you would kill you entirely.”
_____
“In a story, you can turn to the front and begin again and everyone lives once more. That doesn't work in real life.”
_____
“Writing, painting, singing- it cannot stop everything. Cannot halt death in its tracks. But perhaps it can make the pause between death’s footsteps sound and look and feel beautiful, can make the space of waiting a place where you can linger without as much fear. For we are all walking each other to our deaths, and the journey there between footsteps makes up our lives.”
_____
Where to begin? I loved every single page, sentence, and word of this entire series! Simply amazing! Loved loved loved!!
I loved the three POVs in this book with Xander finally getting some time to shine. I loved being able to read from his perspective. I really liked him throughout the entire series and I’m so happy in the end that he got a happy ending (he deserved it)!
As for Cassia and Ky, I absolutely loved them throughout the entire series and I adored their relationship. I liked how neither one was perfect, how they both made mistakes, but ultimately how they owned up to their mistakes and strived to do their best. In the first and second book, their relationship was cute and sweet like a flower, but in the third book, I felt like their relationship finally grew its roots (if you will) and blossomed into something beautiful and lasting. Loved!!
Some of my other favorite characters of the series were Indie, Eli, Lei, Bram, Anna, the Pilot, and Oker. Amazing series!! I would highly recommend it!! (:
_____
“I realize now how much courage it takes to choose the life you want, whatever that might be.”
_____
“If you let hope inside, it takes you over. It feeds on your insides and uses your bones to climb and grow. Eventually it becomes the thing that is your bones, that holds you together. Holds you up until you don't know how to live without it anymore. To pull it out of you would kill you entirely.”
_____
“In a story, you can turn to the front and begin again and everyone lives once more. That doesn't work in real life.”
_____
“Writing, painting, singing- it cannot stop everything. Cannot halt death in its tracks. But perhaps it can make the pause between death’s footsteps sound and look and feel beautiful, can make the space of waiting a place where you can linger without as much fear. For we are all walking each other to our deaths, and the journey there between footsteps makes up our lives.”
_____
Where to begin? I loved every single page, sentence, and word of this entire series! Simply amazing! Loved loved loved!!
I loved the three POVs in this book with Xander finally getting some time to shine. I loved being able to read from his perspective. I really liked him throughout the entire series and I’m so happy in the end that he got a happy ending (he deserved it)!
As for Cassia and Ky, I absolutely loved them throughout the entire series and I adored their relationship. I liked how neither one was perfect, how they both made mistakes, but ultimately how they owned up to their mistakes and strived to do their best. In the first and second book, their relationship was cute and sweet like a flower, but in the third book, I felt like their relationship finally grew its roots (if you will) and blossomed into something beautiful and lasting. Loved!!
Some of my other favorite characters of the series were Indie, Eli, Lei, Bram, Anna, the Pilot, and Oker. Amazing series!! I would highly recommend it!! (:
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is a tentative 4, really more like 3.5 because I do have issues with the author's writing style, still. I actually liked it about the same or a little more than Crossed, and I read this one quicker than the other two. It didn't seem to drag for me like those did, and I did enjoy the concept she presented and how she unfolded the story. I guess my personal issue with these teen triologies I keep reading is the main female character. I just don't connect to her or her love interest and feel like the third wheel is usually the better match (for me, probably, not necessarily the main character, who I would like). That said, while I knew Cassia would end up with Ky and not Xander like I really felt she should, I was nonetheless pleased with how the author wrapped up the love triangle.
The major issue I had with the writing style in this book was the abrupt timeline changes the author would make within a chapter. Since she told each chapter from either Ky's, Cassia's, or Xander's perspective, an abrupt timeline change in the middle would throw me. All of a sudden it was like another day and I was confused until a few pages later she told me it was another day not the same day. Too abrupt for me. I'm still in the moment of the last scene that happened. I need a segue into the next scene. I did like it being told from all 3 perspectives, but often I would forget to look at the chapter heading to see who it was for that chapter and then would have to go back and look because I'd be lost again, my own fault.
I was impressed with the author's use of medicine in the book and Xander's role as a physic (which I kept reading as psychic, LOL). That was the most fascinating to me. My job is in the medical field, so I was familiar with the terminology and it made sense to me, not far-fetched. As the author thanked a pathologist and another doctor in her acknowledgements, she did her research and based her imagined scenario in real science, which I appreciate. If it's too far fetched, it's not believable to me.
Again, I'm not a fan of Ky and Cassia's relationship. I think it just basically boils down to I didn't like either of their personalities, especially Ky's in this book. I liked him better in the first book, he had character in that one in his interactions with the others, but in this one he just had attitude.
I did like how the author tied back in things from the first book and also the second book, like what really happened to Ky's cousin, the Markhams' son. There were a few things left unresolved at the end. Where were Aida, Patrick, and Matthew? What will happen with the residents of the Society/Rising now? Where exactly is the Otherlands? Where exactly is the Society (geographically)? But it was left in a manner that I wasn't left feeling like I had an excessive amount of questions, it was just that there are lots of possibilities for these characters and that they seem to be strong enough to do good things with their opportunities.
An interesting end to the series and (besides my personal issues stylistically), I did enjoy the story and how it was told. I also liked that it's a clean read I wouldn't mind my kids reading. No sex and only one instance of, I believe, "damn."
Content: One swear word but nothing else.
The major issue I had with the writing style in this book was the abrupt timeline changes the author would make within a chapter. Since she told each chapter from either Ky's, Cassia's, or Xander's perspective, an abrupt timeline change in the middle would throw me. All of a sudden it was like another day and I was confused until a few pages later she told me it was another day not the same day. Too abrupt for me. I'm still in the moment of the last scene that happened. I need a segue into the next scene. I did like it being told from all 3 perspectives, but often I would forget to look at the chapter heading to see who it was for that chapter and then would have to go back and look because I'd be lost again, my own fault.
I was impressed with the author's use of medicine in the book and Xander's role as a physic (which I kept reading as psychic, LOL). That was the most fascinating to me. My job is in the medical field, so I was familiar with the terminology and it made sense to me, not far-fetched. As the author thanked a pathologist and another doctor in her acknowledgements, she did her research and based her imagined scenario in real science, which I appreciate. If it's too far fetched, it's not believable to me.
Again, I'm not a fan of Ky and Cassia's relationship. I think it just basically boils down to I didn't like either of their personalities, especially Ky's in this book. I liked him better in the first book, he had character in that one in his interactions with the others, but in this one he just had attitude.
I did like how the author tied back in things from the first book and also the second book, like what really happened to Ky's cousin, the Markhams' son. There were a few things left unresolved at the end. Where were Aida, Patrick, and Matthew? What will happen with the residents of the Society/Rising now? Where exactly is the Otherlands? Where exactly is the Society (geographically)? But it was left in a manner that I wasn't left feeling like I had an excessive amount of questions, it was just that there are lots of possibilities for these characters and that they seem to be strong enough to do good things with their opportunities.
An interesting end to the series and (besides my personal issues stylistically), I did enjoy the story and how it was told. I also liked that it's a clean read I wouldn't mind my kids reading. No sex and only one instance of, I believe, "damn."
Content: One swear word but nothing else.
OMG loved it! There was alot of suspense, and the new characters were great! didn't like how indie died, but really happy that Xander and Nea got together in the end. Funny how she was Vicks love. SOOOO happy that Ky and Cassia got together in the end!!
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
When a book is written in first person, I really prefer just one narrator. I can handle 2, but 3? Ugh. Is that ever really necessary? Maybe here because the weird triangle is so well established, but still once you move past 2 narrators, it should be a book rule that it's written in third person.
Anyhow, the story. There was a lot I didn't like. This book frustrated me to a weird degree. First there was that our three narrators were split up almost the entire time. I hate it when love stories do that. The whole "we're apart now so we can be together later" thing is BS. Why the hell do they trust a rebellion that is just like the Society? There is way too much in the field of blind devotion. And there are so many questions left unanswered. You really don't know what's going to happen after the last page. Is it too much to ask that a series feels finished when it is over?
Even with my frustrations, I did like the book. Xander's story felt finished; he got the ending that I wanted for him. I really do like that the guy who doesn't get the girl is legit and nice and smart. He didn't betray her and in other circumstances, they could have been happy together. That the way it happens in life and I am glad Allie didn't make Xander a bad guy so Cassia would have a clear choice. It should be murky and part of you should wonder what it would have been like if you had chosen the other path.
Anyhow, the story. There was a lot I didn't like. This book frustrated me to a weird degree. First there was that our three narrators were split up almost the entire time. I hate it when love stories do that. The whole "we're apart now so we can be together later" thing is BS. Why the hell do they trust a rebellion that is just like the Society? There is way too much in the field of blind devotion. And there are so many questions left unanswered. You really don't know what's going to happen after the last page. Is it too much to ask that a series feels finished when it is over?
Even with my frustrations, I did like the book. Xander's story felt finished; he got the ending that I wanted for him. I really do like that the guy who doesn't get the girl is legit and nice and smart. He didn't betray her and in other circumstances, they could have been happy together. That the way it happens in life and I am glad Allie didn't make Xander a bad guy so Cassia would have a clear choice. It should be murky and part of you should wonder what it would have been like if you had chosen the other path.
I love when the final book in a series is the best one, and that's what happened here.
The three narrations (Cassia, Xander, and Ky) all wove together seamlessly, and each character's voice is strong enough that you don't get confused about who is narrating at any point.
Mostly though, I like how Condie wrapped everything up. She answered questions I didn't even know I had, tying together pieces from the first two books. I was also happy with the way she resolved the love triangle- the book was about so much more than that, but of course it was still an underlying part of the story. Without giving anything away, although, I think it's obvious from the start who Cassia's going to end up with.. I like how she gives the other guy a story other than "being in love with her" and doesn't just ship him off and call that his ending. (cough, cough [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)|Suzanne Collins|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337857402s/2767052.jpg|2792775]).
All in all, a wonderful end to this trilogy.
The three narrations (Cassia, Xander, and Ky) all wove together seamlessly, and each character's voice is strong enough that you don't get confused about who is narrating at any point.
Mostly though, I like how Condie wrapped everything up. She answered questions I didn't even know I had, tying together pieces from the first two books. I was also happy with the way she resolved the love triangle- the book was about so much more than that, but of course it was still an underlying part of the story. Without giving anything away, although, I think it's obvious from the start who Cassia's going to end up with.. I like how she gives the other guy a story other than "being in love with her" and doesn't just ship him off and call that his ending. (cough, cough [b:The Hunger Games|2767052|The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)|Suzanne Collins|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337857402s/2767052.jpg|2792775]).
All in all, a wonderful end to this trilogy.
Extremely boring final book in a series where it's predecessors where much more interesting. Would not recommend this series to any adult YA lovers due to this fact. I absolutely did not care about what happened to these characters by the end of this book, I just wanted it to end. It's a shame this book is lackluster because I really did enjoy the first two.