Reached (2012) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 3 stars

“*Sigh* I'm feeling conflicted. There were some things to like in Ally Condie's conclusion to the Matched Trilogy but I think this is my least favorite out of the trilogy. Almost the entire first half of it was SO slow to me, even though when I did get into it I enjoyed what I read - it still was a challenge at times to hold my interest...it's still fitting and beautifully written conclusion to the series. And when the second half does pick up, it was indeed a breeze to read through! It's odd because most people who felt let down by book 2 (which I had enjoyed overall) seem to have loved Reached, so I think it may be one of those times where the expectations I had were just not met.

Reached picks up soon after Crossed leaves off, with Cassia, Ky & Xander dealing with The Rising in their own ways. This books adds Xander as a narrator, much like Crossed added Ky. So the chapters with the original Matched narrator Cassia are now featured every 3 chapter, the other two alternating between Ky & Xander. Now, I'll admit that Cassia & I didn't hit it off right away in Matched. But once she did manage to grow on me, I enjoyed her quite a bit. So I think my biggest let down for Reached is that I don't feel Cassia did much evolving in this one. I was expecting BIG CHANGES all around but honestly, most of it played out in a fizzle. I felt the same lack in Ky, which was always my favorite right from the beginning - but I think he was left worse off in this one. Everything that I loved about him in the first 2 books seemed to be missing in him this time around...and he was reduced to just pinning for Cassia. The addition of Xander as a narrator helped - yes Xander is an easily likeable character but also things felt fresher during his chapters because his POV was a new addition. I wonder if the need to add Xander inadvertently caused the lack in other areas of the story. His chapters some of the best ones because there is more of an evolution with him.

As far as the plot itself, like I alluded to earlier, the first half felt very slow to me. I never had the feeling with the previous two books but I know a lot of readers did. When I was able to read for longer periods of time, I did eventually get into the story, but it never left me desperately wanting more. There was an awful lot of set up for a conclusion book and for a book dealing with a Rising, it really didn't hold up to other dystopian 'revolutions'. I've always referred to The Matched series as dystopian-light but again my expectations when I think of a revolt did not match what we got. The second half really picked up and if the entire book had read that way, I wouldn't be conflicted at all! I read much quicker and felt compelled to keep reading. There was much more going on, the tension was higher & there was finally some fuel to 'The Rising'. I felt that at this point each POV featured had something fresh & new to offer and I was glad for it. In the end though, I was somewhat satisfied with how things wrapped up...even though the lackluster start lingered in my mind.

I guess looking back at the series as a whole that Reached is a fitting conclusion to the series. A dyspopian-light trilogy deserves a ''light'' revolution & ending. This may simply be a case of me outgrowing the series as a whole...who knows? If I was rating Reached based on the first half only, or if this was a stand-alone it would get 2-stars- 2.5-stars . As a conclusion to the Matched Trilogy and because of the improved second half, it gets 3-stars.”

• Rated 4 stars

“Better than book two. It meandered a bit, but was a satisfying read overall. ”

• Rated 0 stars

“In the very last book of the trilogy Matched, there is a plague sent across The Society. The people of the rising are immune to this awful plague, but the people of the Society are not. When the Society lost control of the Plague, they knew they would have to call in the Rising for help. Xander works as a medic, while Ky flies in airships bringing the cure to the different Provinces. Cassia is far away from her family, but soon attempts to find them when the Plague mutates and no one is safe. ”

• Rated 2 stars

“When I love a book I rush through it. When I don't like a book I struggle to read it. This book was a struggle. It did not feel like the third book in a trilogy. It felt like it was something completely different, just with characters with the same names. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“Fantastic!!!”

• Rated 3 stars

“My review is sort of positive and negative for Ally Condie's book. Before you read on, please be aware of the SPOILERS ahead, and I advise you do not read on if you have not completed the book.


Where do I start? Things felt a little... rushed to me. Too much had to be explained in the course of 600-some odd pages. I feel like the Rising rose to power too quickly, it all happened too fast.
Now, that said, with the pacing of the book I did like how the Plague was done, at least somewhat. The spread of the disease was believably fast, and the mutation is also believable to have seen coming. What I don't get from the book is a sense of closure. Towards the end (the last 200 pages or so) we see that Matthew Markham went out to the Otherlands with other Anomalies and Aberrations. Well, that rose questions for me. What are the Otherlands? Did he survive? And on top of that, where did Ky's aunt and uncle go? Did they flee, or are they dead? Did the Society get put back into place, or the Rising, or did Anna win the vote in the last chapter?

I think the end of the book, overall, left too much unsaid. However, it was a fairly good book, but I don't think I would read it again. Perhaps if there's a sequel trilogy that explains more, maybe I'll give it another chance...”

• Rated 4 stars

“Reached wraps up the Matched series and while I enjoyed this book I didn't love it as much as I had hoped I would. After following Cassia, Ky and Xander in the other two books I just was wanting more. They are all three fighting for what they believe in their own way and none of them are together. They are spread out and are not even sure they are on the same side. You do get to find out tons more about the Society and even the Rising. It does leave you wondering sometimes just which one is good and which is the bad. Both you find have good and bad qualities to them. A new danger arises during this time and you have to wonder if they will have enough time to save the people they care about. It is hard to do a review for this book and give no spoilers for the other two so it will be a short review.

I did enjoy getting to really see inside Xander's head in this book. I really think I enjoy him better than Ky. He does everything he can to help people even when someone is trying to hold him back. Cassie I am in between feelings about her as this series ends. She seemed in a way to be more on the outside of the Rising doing the small things that yes they do matter but it still keeps her from being in much danger. She does find out more about her and her families past that make some sense. Ky for some reason I did not care for in this book. I don't really know what it was but he put me off him in the book.

If you love a dystopian book I would recommend this series. It is good and very original in thought. The ending does wrap up nicely just wasn't my favorite ending.
”

• Rated 5 stars

“This series just gets better and better! A romance, drama, and diotopia all in one, Ally Condie paints the pictures into your head.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Now back in The Society, Cassia works as a double agent for The Rising, Xander continues in his medic role (also a double agent), and Ky openly flies missions for The Rising. Xander still has feelings for Cassia, but she only has eyes for Ky.

Read the rest of my review at: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/2013/04/07/reached-ally-condie/”

• Rated 4 stars

“It was really good. I'm glad I decided to read Matched and then continued with the rest of the trilogy. It's a dystopian thematic, but the main point is not on the fight against the ones who pull the strings, it's on the main characters and their development throughout the trilogy - overcoming their fears, becoming confident, finding themselves and their place in life. The Pilot, The Poet and The Physic - they all had a huge part in changing everything, making things better for themselves and people around them, but their biggest success wasn't destroying the Society and being the part of the rebellion, it was growing up, becoming who they're supposed to be and finding their right path, without damaging others. It's something to look up to.

All characters are so good and have their own backgrounds and I felt connected with each one of them and cared somehow about them and now I feel bad because so many of them didn't succeed and didn't reach their ultimate goals. But they did what they thought was right and didn't betray themselves. All things to look up to.
A good read.”