Matched Trilogy By: Ally Condie Review
Genre
- Young Adult
- Dystopian Fiction
- Romance
Books in Order
- Matched (Published 2010)
- Crossed (Published 2011)
- Reached (Published 2012)
Table of Contents
Individual Reviews
Matched
Summary
Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one… until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow- between perfection and passion.
From Book
Individual Review
Matched is written from Cassia’s (main character) point of view. She is definitely in a love triangle and has that rebellion side to her. The book takes a little bit to jump-start, but once it does, it really takes off. How the “Society” runs everyone’s lives is really interesting from the beginning. Cassia’s rebellious acts will keep you on your toes, wondering if she is going to get caught, and her love triangle will have you routing for your favorite guy. Matched as an individual book, I give 3 / 5 stars just because of how long it takes to get going.
Crossed
Summary
Chasing down an uncertain future, Cassia makes her way to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky – taken by the Society to his sure death – only to find that he has escaped into the majestic, but treacherous, canyons. On this wild frontier are glimmers of a different life and the enthralling promise of rebellion. But even as Cassia sacrifices everything to reunite with Ky, ingenious surprises from Xander may change the game once again.
From Book
Individual Review
Crossed is written from both Ky and Cassia’s points of view. It definitely keeps you saying, “You’re so close,” in regards to them reuniting and staying alive. I like the new characters that enter the story. Cassia’s determination is very inspiring. I definitely had a harder time putting this one down compared to the first book. The only dislike is that I would have liked to hear more from Xander since this book mostly focuses on Cassia and Ky. It really digs deeper into the “Society” and its secrets. Crossed as an individual book, I would give 3.5 / 5 stars.
Reached
Summary
After leaving Society and desperately searching for the Rising – and each other – Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again: Cassia has been assigned to work for the Rising from within Society, while Ky has been stationed outside its borders. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again.
Kindle Summary
Individual Review
Reached is written from Cassia, Ky, and Xander’s point of view. I enjoyed hearing all the character’s points of view, all though I felt like it was a little harder to keep up, you are jumping around between three different people. I really enjoyed this book, and it has a leave-you-wondering ending…. that’s all I can say without spoiling it for you. I didn’t like how fast the characters seemed to jump from the “Society” to the rule of the “Rising.” Reached as an individual book, I give 3.5 / 5 stars.
Trilogy as a Whole
Was I jumping to the next book?
Yes, when the first book took off, I couldn’t put it down. When I finished Matched, I started Crossed the next day. When it came to reading Reached, I was again jumping to read it. Every book definitely left you hanging to know what happens next, and the next book would pick up right where the last one had left off.
Dislikes
One thing I didn’t like reading as an adult, is it’s wrote for a younger reader, that isn’t anything bad, just flew through them in like two and a half days (while doing all my SAHM duties). Another thing I didn’t like was how fast the characters jumped to trust the “Rising,” although, in the end, I liked how it turned out.
Overall Review
Overall, the Matched Trilogy is a good story, especially when it’s all put together. It left me wanting more in the end, but let me use my imagination on what happened to the characters at the end. When I got halfway through Matched, I couldn’t put them down until I finished them all. The “Society” and the “Rising’s” dynamics had my interest in how they operated and undermined each other, and also how they seemed similar in some ways.
Stars
I would give 4 / 5 stars to The Matched Trilogy as a whole.
Recommended Reader
I would recommend this book to the middle/high school-age girl, one who would really relate to Cassia’s rebellious tendencies. While at the same time would really enjoy the love triangle that carried through the book. If you are interested in reading the Matched Trilogy, click here for a paperback set and click here for the Kindle version.
