Finished the "Matched" series by Ally Condie this morning,
recommended by my good friend Rachael!
Quickie Amazon Summary: Cassia has always trusted the
Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to
believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony,
Cassia knows he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash
for an instant before the screen fades to black. The Society tells her it's a
glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's
destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as
they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility
and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only
life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.
Maybe this
is just a phase I’m going through, I’m sorry, guys. This is another dystopian
future series. Bear with me; this is the last one for the foreseeable future.
If you’re
into the dystopian future novels though, there are a plethora of plots
available, ranging from murder-y bloodbaths between children (Hunger Games) to worldwide
experimental societies (Divergent) to colossal, killer mazes trapping teenagers
(Maze Runner). But they all have one thing in common: questions, questions, and
more questions. This particular series goes the way of an epidemic, but it
doesn’t begin that way. And that’s the saving grace of this series.
The first
novel, Matched, focuses much more on the developing love triangle between
Cassia, Xander, and the moody, mysterious Ky. It builds some serious tension
between the three, and early on it’s clear that they’ll be fighting for Cassia’s
heart the remainder of the series. This may seem a bit corny, but don’t be
disheartened. The author, Ally Condie, does a fantastic job of focusing more on
the ever evolving storyline, particularly each of the character’s roles in the
oncoming crapstorm epidemic. Her depiction of Ky’s past throughout the series,
and the setting up of Xander’s future as a healer were flawless and constantly
kept me interested. I ripped through this series crazy fast, which is saying something
for me, being the agonizingly slow reader that I am.
This was a
very colorful and illustrative depiction of the human condition. While it was
essentially a dystopian future novel, it’s spotlight is instead shone on the
concept of having a calling and where love lies when all the odds are against
you. I hope to see this as a film adaptation one day, if it’s handled by the
right people. A really great read with an unexpected ending. Thought I had it
figured out, but nope! The plot was thorough and didn't miss a beat.
Rating: 8/10
Quote: “Growing apart doesn't change the fact that for a
long time we grew side by side; our roots will always be tangled. I'm glad for
that.”
Purchase here and donate to a charity of your choice using
Amazon Smile! I choose the The Foundation to Decrease Worldsuck!
Next novel: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by
Ransom Riggs
Lates,
Tyler
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