Reached by Ally Condie

Reached by Ally Condie - The Third and Final Instalment in the Matched Series

This novel, like its predecessors, is set at the heart ofdystopian revolution, gripping the reader into a world that is not toodissimilar to their own. Condie’s trilogy comes to a stimulating, moving andpenetrating finale that will leave you in a sense of awe by the time you turnthe final page.

In this third instalment, we see the story told from theperspective of the three main characters: Cassia, Ky and Xander. Cassia herselfhas been torn away from her two friends, working for the Rising from theSociety’s Central, sorting information routinely before happening upon a sortthat will indicate the beginning of the Rising. Ky, Cassia’s unlikely lover,finds himself flying air ships for the Rising, without passion or commitment,only the thought of reaching Cassia again coupled with his love for hisenthusiastic friend, Indie, keep him under regulation. Xander, the third pointin the unconventional love-triangle, is an important medical Official integrateddeep within the Society, giving secret immunisations to new born children toprotect their memories from the Society’s red tablet. These three characterseach have a story of their own, but they are entwined together, no matter howfar apart they may seem.

Our protagonists have to work together with each other, oldfriends and complete strangers to save everyone from a fatal mutated Plague. Asyou watch the story progress, you’ll be ravaged with a range of emotions: sheerjoy to utter despair, thought-provoking surprise to calming realisation. To anyonewho hasn’t read the series, go out, right now, and read them all! You’ll fallin love with Condie’s writing style and the depth of the characters that sheportrays so well. To those of you who have read the first two, you won’t bedisappointed by this exciting finale as it doesn’t leave any loose threads andall your questions will be answered.

I give it a Classic rating, as this tale of the rise andfall of society is reminiscent of the structure George Orwell highlights in hisdystopian cornerstone 1984.       

Buy the Paperback here or buy the Kindle version here

Review By Lauren Goodfellow