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A review by amyvl93
Endgame by Malorie Blackman
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Nothing hurts more than giving this rating. The original Noughts & Crosses quartet is one of my all-time favourite series, and blew my young tween mind when I first read them.
Years later, Malorie Blackman revisited the series - adding Crossfire and Endgame to the story, and I really wish they'd been left alone. My feelings on the former was that it felt like half a novel and this also feels the case for this one too. I really feel like they could have been combined and edited into quite a compelling narrative, but split into two they felt like they slightly dragged out character developments and relationships.
Speaking of development and relationships, my main challenge with Endgame is that a lot of the characters behave in a way that feels deeply out of kilter with their personalities that have been established in previous novels. We had whole plot lines opened up which go nowhere, and a redemption arc for certain characters that I really feel were not deserving of them.
I was compelled by the central mystery in this novel, and I enjoyed the way that Blackman wove in real life events into her fictional world and news coverage. However, unless you are a true completist, the original quartet is enough content.
Years later, Malorie Blackman revisited the series - adding Crossfire and Endgame to the story, and I really wish they'd been left alone. My feelings on the former was that it felt like half a novel and this also feels the case for this one too. I really feel like they could have been combined and edited into quite a compelling narrative, but split into two they felt like they slightly dragged out character developments and relationships.
Speaking of development and relationships, my main challenge with Endgame is that a lot of the characters behave in a way that feels deeply out of kilter with their personalities that have been established in previous novels. We had whole plot lines opened up which go nowhere, and a redemption arc for certain characters that I really feel were not deserving of them.
I was compelled by the central mystery in this novel, and I enjoyed the way that Blackman wove in real life events into her fictional world and news coverage. However, unless you are a true completist, the original quartet is enough content.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Racial slurs and Death of parent