ARC Review: Crossed by Ally Condie
Author: Ally Condie
Book: Crossed
Release: November 1, 2011
Series: Matched Trilogy 2
Source: Book Expo America
Purchase: Barnes & Noble –The hotly awaited second book in the dystopian Matched trilogy
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.
This was one of those boos I was eagerly anticipating. I really enjoyed Condie’s first book in the series and once I had finished it all I could think about for a few weeks was the second book in the series CROSSED. By May, the wait was finally over. Thanks to Book Expo America I had in my possesion an beautiful ARC copy of CROSSED. With all the incredible books that I got from BEA, this was the first one I read.
CROSSED has a totally different tone than MATCHED. It is told in split Point’s of view between Cassia and Ky.
Cassia has run off to find Ky and is living among the abberations working for the society in an attempt to find Ky–though once she finds him she is unsure of what will happen next. Hiding a few treasure in secret like Ky’s compass that Xander retrieved for her and a handful of blue pills that the society says are to replace the need for water, Cassia bides her time for the chance to make a run for it. All that matters to her is finding him, but her goal begins to shift once she realizes that she could join a rebellion and over throw the society once and for all.
Ky is a living in a work camp digging graves for the dead and fighting the resistance on behalf of the society. As one of the oldest boys there he and another young man reluctantly become the main figures of leadership in their group. It is here that Ky unknowingly opens up by reciting one of the poems over the graves every time they bury one of the fallen.
For Tho’ from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face,
When I have crossed the bar.
For some reason this poem resonates with many of the abberations and it is in this poem that the clues to the story are laid. For many on the outside of the Society the Pilot is a symbol of freedom from oppression. By saying this poem out loud Ky is giving hope to all the boys around him, but Ky cares little about helping them…his only concern is escaping to find Cassia.
New characters are introduced and they add depth and new dimensions to the story and new developments and revelations are made that cast an entirely different light on the plot. I found my ideas and thoughts on certain characters changing through out the course of reading. The characters are well layered and I am positive that none of them have reached their full potential. Xander in particular is one that I found my heart opening up to more, and watching how Cassia grow as she begins to fully understand things going on around her and seeing her love of the written word was most excellent. CROSSED is deeper than the previous installment and the poetry that Condie has placed at the soul of the book is beautiful and thought provoking.
I will say that this was a slower read than MATCHED and in ways it needed to be read slowly in order for the information to be savored and allowed to fully sink in. I think that CROSSED is a more mature book and possibly better suited for older young adults as I am not certain every 13 year old will appreciate the poetry and lyrical writing style displayed in this book.
Despite the slower pace and the fact that it took me a little while to get into the different POV’s, CROSSED left me curious about what is to come in the series though this go around my enthusiasm for book 3 will definitely be toned down.
I can’t WAIT to read this book! I loved Matched and know this one will be just as good!
I can’t wait for this books to be released. I absolutley loved Matched!!!
I’m halfway through Matched and I’m already hooked. Would really like to read the next one … :)
I would so love a copy of this book. I really loved the first one and can’t wait to find out what happends next.
This is a series I have been wanting to read…I absolutely love the covers!
Thanks for the chance!
mmafsmith at gmail dot com
I love this series! I can’t wait to read Crossed, especially after that cliffhanger in Matched! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
This book looks really good. Definitely adding to my wish list. Thanks for the giveaway.
OMG I’ve been anticipating this so much!! I cannot wait for it’s release, you’re so lucky!! Thanks!
I can’t wait to read this book! Thank you for the giveaway! :)
I’ve been waiting for this release and would love to win a copy! Thanks!
Awesome I can’t wait for this book. Got to say I love the cover it’s so pretty. :D
Crossed is definitely on my must read list. Can’t wait to read it.
Lovely review and can’t wait for this book to come out. Love this series.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Can’t wait to read Crossed.
What an awesome giveaway! Please count me in. Thank you!
nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com
Lovely review for this lovely book!
This was a great review :) I can’t wait to read the book.
I wanna win!
I can’t wait to read Crossed! I won’t lie though, I totally skipped the review…I really don’t want to know anything before I read this book! I want to be surprised. :D lol
Thanks for the chance to win a copy! :D
I’ve read Matched and really loved it. Can’t wait to read Crossed! I love these unique covers with the bubble. First on Matched you see Cassia trapped in a bubble and now you see her starting to break out of it.
angeldream3[AT]gmail[DOT]com
OHMYGOSH I WANT THIS BOOK SO BAD!!!!! I CRIED SO HARD AT THE END OF MATCHED!!!!! D’;
i want to read it so bad! loved Matched
Great giveaway!! I’m really looking forward to reading Crossed!! Loved the first book!
I loved Matched. Really want to read Crossed.
I’ve been dying to read Crossed since I finished Matched. I want to know what happens next. Thanks for this awesome giveaway!
I’m dying to read Crossed! Every time I see the cover, a review, or even a mention of it, I get so excited. I enjoyed reading your thoughts. Thank you so much for the giveaway!
I’m glad Crossed left you ultimately satisfied – I can’t wait to see what I think about it.
thanks for the giveaway ! i would love to read this book !
I would just love to read CROSSED Thank you.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book.
I liked your review. I would love to read this book.
Thanks for the giveaway :)
I’ve been wanting to read this series and I, too, love the covers. Books written in the style of the various characters’ POV’s is a trademark of one of my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult.
I would love, love to win Crossed! Thanks for the giveaway!
kcallegan(at)wilcoindustrial(dot)com
I LOVED Matched and can’t wait to read Crossed. It sounds so good! I don’t mind slow-paced books. Sometimes it takes one to get the point across. Thanks for the fabulous review. I’m even more eager to read Crossed :D
I read Matched back when it was released and am eagerly awaiting Crossed.
Thanks for the chance!
amanda(at)lettersinsideout(dot)com
I can’t wait to read this!
Matched was amazing and I can’t wait to read Crossed!
Thanks for the lovely giveaway C:
This looks very awesome!
Thanks for the giveaway! I loved Matched & can’t wait to read this one!
Thanks for the giveaway!!! I love this series.
I am SO psyched to read this book! I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I win a copy:)
jwitt33 at live dot com
I am eagerly awaiting the publication of CROSSED and would love to receive an arc to put up on my book blog. I love Ally Condie and I thoroughly enjoyed Matched. I hope I win!
Great review. I’m so excited for when I’ll be able to read Crossed. Thanks for the giveaway. :)
I’m really looking forward to read Crossed!!
I read Matched in couple hours and just LOVED it!!
Thank you so much for the review and the giveaway!
I’m looking for to Crossed release date, I honestly can’t wait to read what happens next. And if she ends up fighting back, or just going back to how it was with her bff =\
Thanks for hosting this giveaway!!
SpadesHighReads
http://SpadesHighReads.com
I can’t wait to read this! Thanks for the giveaway!
I was so bummed that I wasn’t able to snag a copy at Comic Con this weekend. Fingers crossed I get lucky this time! :)
Thanks for the giveaway!
Loved Matched and cannot wait for Crossed! Thanks for doing the giveaway!
This sounds great! The cover is fantastic and can’t wait to read what happens next. :)
Loved Matched ~ cant wait to see what is going to happen between Xander vs Ky :)Team Xander!!
I read Matched and I can’t wait for Crossed to come out! I’m excited to find out that the POVs are split! I didn’t know that! It’s going to be fun seeing Ky’s POV!
I haven’t read Matched because of the mixed reviews I saw. But I plan to find out myself how the book goes. I’m actually waiting to get a copy of crossed so I can start reading Matched. It is better to start the book with the next book ready. This series is pretty interesting afterall I love dystopia so I need to read this series.
I enjoyed Matched and am looking forward to reading Crossed! Great review!
Thanks so much for this giveaway!
Baggins
bookishbaggins(at)gmail(dot)com
I’m so excited for Crossed! the end of Matched was just gripping I wanted the next one already!
Crossed sounds really good! I can’t wait for its release!
Ahhh!! I love reading ARC reviews of Crossed. I’m very excited to get my hands on this novel!
Thanks!
Andrea
@adawnn1
I absolutely love MATCHED! (I even have 2 copies of it…)
Can’t wait to read CROSSED!
I’ll keep my fingers CROSSED!
I’ve not read this series yet but hope to do so soon.
Thanks for the giveaway. =)
claroxide AT yahoo DOT co DOT in
Excited about this one– thanks for the review and giveaway!
I’d like to get this one. I’ve heard good things about the first.
Hi, I’m a new follower :)
I can’t wait to read this, it sounds so good!!
Thanks for the giveaway :D
Would love to win this! :)
leebee19(at)gmail(dot)com
Looking forward to reading this one!
Thanks so much for the giveaway! I’m looking forward to reading this book. :D
This book looks great and would love to win. this is a new author for me and would love to read this book. thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win.
I absolutely LOVED matched. I can’t wait for crossed! Thank you for the giveaway!!
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Thank you so much for the chance to win Crossed! This is my most highly anticipated read for the year. Dystopian is my favorite genre! :D
Twitter handle: @ReadersInk
I am so excited for this, Matched was great.
thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com
Can’t wait to read this book! I loved Matched. Thanks for the chance =D
What a great giveaway thank you so much! Can’t wait to read this thanks for the chance!
tishajean@ charter.net
I loved Matched!!!! Sooooooo badly want to read Crossed…!!! Love the books and Ally Condie!!
I cannot wait to get my hands on this book!!
This is one of those books I have been WAITING for to come out! You are the first blog I have seen review it. Thank you!
I want to read this SO BAD! I absolutely LOVED Matched!!!
I loved Matched so I can’t wait for Crossed!!!!
Thanks for this giveaway!
I loved Matched and I really want to read this book!
Team Ky :)
I almost thought Matched was too slow, so that Crossed is even slower was not what I wanted to hear, but I’m still very excited to read it.
Enjoyed the first one and would love to read the next.
Reading this post made me want my own copu even more
:-)
THanks for this giveaway! I really can’t wait to read this book! You don’t understand the pain…. IT HURTS! I need this please!