Crossed... Matched Trilogy #2

I'm lucky enough to have an iPad; this allows me to read more books from my library b/c I am flexible with the format.  I received Crossed relatively quickly b/c I could ready any of the formats the library offered.  Just today I finished reading Crossed by Ally Condie; it is the second in the Matched Trilogy.  I read Matched about a year ago; for a look at my review of it click here.

I would have to say that I liked Matched better than Crossed.  They were "okay" books, but I didn't love them.  I enjoyed reading them, but I am glad I didn't buy them.  Now, apparently I feel differently than others.  When you look online at other reviews of this same book they are much more positive.  I guess I must be super picky with my dystopian books.  I expect a lot from the genre, and this trilogy is just alright in my eyes.  I mostly enjoyed my reading of these two books, but I have not referred my husband to them.  I only have him read the really really good fiction books (Divergent, Hunger Games, etc.); he is normally a non-fiction reader.

When I began reading Crossed I just jumped right in; this was probably not the best move.  This book does not give you a refresher of the previous book; it just jumps right into the story.  It actually took me a few minutes to think back and recall all of what happened at the end of Matched.  I would suggest reading my previous review or another review for a brief refresher before diving into Crossed.  I actually don't mind when a book jumps right into the action; sometimes it is annoying to have a book spend 50 pages or so reviewing the previous book.  However, those review pages are helpful if it has been a while between books.  

Matched, the first book, is all in Cassia's point of view.  However, Crossed is set up a little differently; it alternates point of views from Cassia and Ky.  I didn't mind this, and I actually enjoyed reading where both of them were and what they were doing.  Ky and Cassia are now both in the Outer Provinces.  Ky has been sent there b/c of his status as an Aberration; you learn more about his past during Crossed.  I appreciated that.  Cassia is at a work camp; she is trying to find a way to Ky.

Now, you should stop reading this if you don't want to know anything else about the book.  Just know that all in all I would give this book a 2.5 out of 5.  It had it's slow, dragging moments; I never really got into the feeling of wanting/needing to continue reading it.  That disappointed me a bit.

Ky and Cassia eventually find each other.  They both, at different times, escape an outer province camp into these canyons.  They find each other in the canyons.  I felt the storyline of both Ky and Cassia walking through the canyons dragged on and on and on.  It felt a little bit like the dragging of the forest scene in the 7th Harry Potter book  I guess I'm not a big fan of reading the same thing over and over again; I understand the author wants to share how long and hard the travels are, but there has got to be a better way.  It's way too boring.

So, Ky and Cassia eventually find each other.  They then both end up joining the rebellion.  This book ends with you learning that Cassia is going back to Central as a spy and Ky is sent to another area, Camas.  Early in the book you learn that Xander has a secret.  You never learn his secret, but learn/suspect he is part of the rebellion somehow.

Part of Matched that I wasn't a fan of was Cassia choosing between Ky and Xander.  It seemed too much like Bella choosing between Edward and Jacob in Twilight.  It gets old after a while.  In Crossed, Cassia makes it clear that she chooses Ky, but there is still a part of her that loves Xander.  Sounds a little like Twilight still, huh?  I even saw on the internet a website for "Team Ky or Team Xander."  Now, this sounds WAY to familiar, I'm sure.

I'm not saying the book is bad; Ally Condie did a fairly good job.  She did a good job including poetry and the arts in the this book; it stays consistent with the Trilogy.  I appreciated Condie's consistency in writing.  I just wish her story line didn't drag and have a girl struggle between two boys like Twilight.  Oh well, I guess I can't expect every book to be stellar.


Crossed is a worthy sequel to Matched. but it isn't quite my favorite.  It was worth a library check-out and read, but I am glad I didn't buy the book.  I have to be selective on the books I purchase.  I'm running out of room on my bookshelves.  I'm sure you feel the same way.    

As always, let me know your thoughts odidn the book and/or trilogy.  I love hearing what others think.