Books: Disappointing Sequel

Cassia has escaped to the Outer Provinces to find Ky. She teams with Indie, a secretive and resourceful female, and together they navigate the Carving, search for Ky, the Rising, and its mysterious Pilot. Ky also escapes to the Carving with the help of others, but he knows more about the Rising and Pilot than he's willing to share.

Cassia and Ky soon find each other, but Ky's secrets about the Rising and Xander, as well as Indie's interference, nearly tear them apart. Will joining the Rising save or destroy them?

I did not enjoy this book as well as Matched. The story moved slowly, added little, and was altogether ho-hum. Xander's secret, Ky's secrets, Indie's secrets, the Society's secrets, the secret Rising - too many secrets, not enough heart and momentum.

What connection I felt with Cassia, Ky, and Xander in Matched did not exist for Crossed. The principal characters are less likable and interesting in this second installment, despite all their secrets and revelations. Part of me still wants to read Reached and finish the trilogy, but I'm not sure I should.

Books: Reading Plan

There's not a lot of room in our new apartment, so we've decided to place all of our books and large bookshelves in storage. We're going to make the most of the base library instead. As a family we're only allowed to check out ten books at a time, so we'll be visiting the library a lot.

I've decided to read all of the library's young adult and intermediate fiction, which is a few hundred books (to be read in three years). I've only just begun, but here's what I've read so far:

I really enjoyed Condie and Clare's books, and I'm anxious to read the rest of both series. Then again, I like dystopian and steampunk fiction (Clockwork Angel isn't strictly steampunk, but it does have some of its elements). Unfortunately, the base library doesn't have the other books. It does, however, have Clare's entire Mortal Instruments Series. I'll check those out next.

I wasn't as impressed with Marked. The character relationships didn't feel authentic. I'm not emotionally invested in any character, so I have little interest in continuing the series at present. But I'll try again later.

I think my reading plan is a good one, and I'll continue to post my progress here.