House of C&J

December 11, 2011 

9:50 AM

In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

 

The second book of the 'Matched Trilogy' takes us on a new journey with Cassia and Ky: the distance they are willing to cross to find each other and what draws the line that even their love won't allow them to cross.

Alternately written in Cassia and Ky's perspective, the book lets its readers into the private thoughts of Cassia and Ky. The second installment finally gives its readers a glimpse of who Ky really is: his family history, his thoughts on the rebellion, his real feelings for Cassia and even his fears and insecurities. For Cassia, we can finally see (and she finally discovered as well) how strong and determined she is, in finding love and in finding the light.

'Crossed' might not be the action-packed novel that many have thought it would be, but in its own right, it is a beautifully written book. The writing is astounding - in a way even poetic. You can feel the love, sadness, yearning and struggles of the characters - but not in an overwhelming amount. The dosage is just enough for readers to feel and to understand - even just a bit of an understanding of their past, present and their choice of future.

Ally Condie makes the story more interesting by introducing new characters, new terrains and new territories that show what the society is, what it is not and what it can be.

Crossed by Ally Condie is a must-read, definitely a whole lot better than the first book.   It will be a year-long torture waiting for the final installment of the Matched Trilogy. Can't wait!

Here's our latest  recommended book: Matched by Ally Condie

To those who have read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, this book might have a familiar ring to it. It's set on utopian society but behind its mask of perfection, optimization and satisfaction, the government has absolute control over the community and its citizens. However, a brewing rebellion will about to change that. Matched promises action, mystery and romance with its main protagonists try to change the society.

The first installment in the Matched Trilogy by Ally Condie is quite lacking in action and excitement as compared to The Hunger Games. It's not as enthralling and exciting as Hunger Games or Catching Fire that you wouldn't think of putting down the book, but it is quite intriguing that you want to read and understand more what kind of society the characters live in: so much like our world, but somehow very different. It gives us an alternative world where food are rationed and customized to suit each citizen's health requirement, where song and book lists are cut to a 100 in number and where strangers are matched "to provide the healthiest possible future citizens".

Cassia Reyes might not be the most interesting character, but you will love the mystery behind Ky's identity and the almost perfect Xander. The other characters including Cassia's parents and grandfather also add color to the storyline as we see different personalities and how they live and cope with the rules of The Society and how, in their own ways, exercise their own rights by doing little rebellions to The Society.

Over-all, the central story is interesting, the characters are intriguing, though the pacing might be a little slow as many parts are dedicated to creating a picture of the kind of society they live in. Matched by Ally Condie  is still a must-read, especially as the next installment promises more action, more drama, more twists and more answers that beget more questions. These will all be in the next book, Crossed out this November 2011.