Book Review: Crossed (Matched #2) by Allie Condie

Summary: 

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.

Release Date: November 1, 2011

Age Group: Young Adult

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile

Source: Review copy from publisher

Review:
I've been looking forward to Crossed since I closed the cover to Matched last year.  It is terrible having to wait so long for the next release in a series when the story is this good!

One of my complaints about Matched was that there was not a lot of action.  It was heavy on the world-building.  I suspected that Crossed would have more action, and I was right.  There was so much going on.  I loved the action, especially after so much build-up in book one.   

My other complaint about Matched was that the story was so similar to Lois Lowry's The Giver.  Those similarities kept me from giving Matched five stars.  Crossed takes things in a different direction, a more unique direction, which I really appreciated.  Some of the things the Society did really stood out for me, especially the parts about the river and the cave.  

The story was a first person narrative, and switched from Ky and Cassia's points of view.  I really enjoy this type of narration.  I love knowing how each character feels about things, and it added a lot to the love story.  Knowing how both Cassia and Ky felt about the same events added some depth to their relationship.

I loved the surprise about Xander.  I did not see that coming, not at all, and it really served to make his character more interesting. 

The main thing that comes to mind when I think of Crossed is how beautifully it is written.  The prose is haunting and lyrical.  It reads like poetry, so full of feeling and depth.  I loved the emphasis on poetry and literature.  I loved that Cassia is a reader, and how she feels about books.  The simplicity of the writing emphasizes the emotions of the characters.  I felt everything the characters were feeling: terror, love, excitement, and most importantly, hope.

There are so many good things I could say about this series.  I would recommend it to anyone!