Cassia & Ky (3) - Reached by Ally Condie
And, last but not least, part 3 of the Cassia & Ky-Series: Reached (in German Die Ankunft, in French Conquise). I read it in German where it had 594 pages. Originally published 2012.
Cassia works in the system for the rebels. Ky is a pilot. Xander is a doctor who works for the rebels. No one knows what the other is doing. Writing letters doesn't only cost much, it's also dangerous. Very dangerous. But when a crucial illness spreads and gets out of control, when the healing potion doesn't work anymore, the trio is needed in one place... And get an ultimatum: Either they find a remedy and do it fast, or they die. A difficult task – and it doesn't get any easier when the pressure increases, one of them collapses and the mission is sabotaged...
This part was, in one word: wow. I know this isn't really an adjective, but it fits very well. The story is breathtakingly tense, full of twists and surprises. You'll probably want to cry at least once while reading this. The characters' developments are realistic and very well done.
Spoiler:
To start with the ending: I LOVE it! It's so open, basically anything can happen here: Because they achieved what they wanted, a choice. If we'd know what the outcome was, the whole purpose of the trilogy would have been lost. This way, it's clear what the characters fought for.
But the best thing is Bram's development. Most of you will probably ask (especially if you haven't read the book for some time) who the hell this Bram is. He's Cassia's little brother, and, well, it's just gorgeous! Usually, only the main characters and the ones directly around them develop. Here, Bram – who basically wasn't mentioned since the end of Matched (Die Ankunft) – doesn't only change, he becomes a hero! He has a personality and what he did for his parents, all alone by himself? Wow. Just wow.
I love Ally Condie for these two aspects of the final. That she just lets every character go his/her own way, no matter what the plot line would suggest.
What really impressed me as well was the way the illness was shown.
Spoiler:
How Ky's chapters grew shorter and shorter, the increase of blank space to show how much he struggled to think? Yeah. That's... that's just awesome.
Indie's death as well: it's beautifully done, but so sad! I really wanted to cry when I read this.
Well, know, to get back to the main characters. Poor Xander. Just... poor Xander! Seriously, he's in the worst position of all. And he's such a good person, he's so altruistic. Giving, always giving everything of himself to others – which is a really unhealthy attitude, by the way, especially because he doesn't want anything in return. All noble, but you can't live like this is the long run, you really can't it kills you.
As for Cassia, I like how she goes around her restrictions. And Ky, well, he's more or less absent for half of the book. But he still has his moments.
Okay, I conclude that this is one of the best endings I have ever read. Sound contend, round characters... This final is a stylistic master piece.
In brief:
I give it full five stars, for characters, plot, ideas, style and the last one for how the non-protagonists develop.
Prequel: