What do you think?
Rate this book
Noughts and Crosses #3
Checkmate
'The Noughts & Crosses series are still my favourite books of all time and showed me just how amazing story-telling could be' STORMZY
'I grew up reading her. It was one of the few books about black people, so I felt seen.' CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS
'The most original book I've ever read' BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH
"Malorie Blackman is absolutely amazing ... [Noughts & Crosses] really spoke to me, especially as a woman of dual heritage." ZAWE ASHTON
_____
My name is Callie Rose.
My mum is a Cross - one of the so-called ruling elite.
My dad was a Nought. My dad was a murderer. My dad was a terrorist.
These facts are the only things that are mine and real. So I don't mind so much that I'm leaving it all behind. There's nothing here worth holding onto.
Sixteen years have passed since Sephy Hadley first met Callum McGregor - and the hate that divided them turned to hope. But the world hasn't changed quickly enough for their daughter, Callie Rose.
Growing up dual heritage in a world where bitter prejudice divides Noughts and Crosses has meant she's an outsider wherever she turns.
Enter Jude McGregor. Jude teaches Callie about her real family history, and the more she learns the more he persuades her where her loyalties really lie.
But soon Callie is caught in a trap she can't get out of - one which will have deadly consequences.
Voted as one of the UK's best-loved books, Malorie Blackman's Noughts & Crosses series is a seminal piece of YA fiction; a true modern classic.
'I grew up reading her. It was one of the few books about black people, so I felt seen.' CANDICE CARTY-WILLIAMS
'The most original book I've ever read' BENJAMIN ZEPHANIAH
"Malorie Blackman is absolutely amazing ... [Noughts & Crosses] really spoke to me, especially as a woman of dual heritage." ZAWE ASHTON
_____
My name is Callie Rose.
My mum is a Cross - one of the so-called ruling elite.
My dad was a Nought. My dad was a murderer. My dad was a terrorist.
These facts are the only things that are mine and real. So I don't mind so much that I'm leaving it all behind. There's nothing here worth holding onto.
Sixteen years have passed since Sephy Hadley first met Callum McGregor - and the hate that divided them turned to hope. But the world hasn't changed quickly enough for their daughter, Callie Rose.
Growing up dual heritage in a world where bitter prejudice divides Noughts and Crosses has meant she's an outsider wherever she turns.
Enter Jude McGregor. Jude teaches Callie about her real family history, and the more she learns the more he persuades her where her loyalties really lie.
But soon Callie is caught in a trap she can't get out of - one which will have deadly consequences.
Voted as one of the UK's best-loved books, Malorie Blackman's Noughts & Crosses series is a seminal piece of YA fiction; a true modern classic.
528 pages, Paperback
First published June 30, 2005
About the author
Malorie Blackman
139 books4,254 followersAn award-winning children's author, Malorie Blackman was honoured with an OBE in 2008. Her work has been adapted for TV and stage.
More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box
More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 682 reviews
August 19, 2016
Malorie Blackman delivers again with her third instalment in The Noughts and Crosses series.The story is told through the past and present where we get a glimpse into Callie's Roses upbringing and how Sephy struggles to tell her about her father.
The story is yet again fantastic and I loved every narrative and each character as they draw you in, in their own way and every narrative is intriguing.I loved the fact that Malorie Blackman allowed us to witness Callie Rose growing up as it gave me insight into her character and her struggles in the unjust world,replicating our own.
I only rated this book four and the others five as I just personally found the others more exciting and entertaining and this book dragged on a little, but this book was still great as a whole.The ending again was upsetting and a surprise but was delivered excellently with great writing.
The story is yet again fantastic and I loved every narrative and each character as they draw you in, in their own way and every narrative is intriguing.I loved the fact that Malorie Blackman allowed us to witness Callie Rose growing up as it gave me insight into her character and her struggles in the unjust world,replicating our own.
I only rated this book four and the others five as I just personally found the others more exciting and entertaining and this book dragged on a little, but this book was still great as a whole.The ending again was upsetting and a surprise but was delivered excellently with great writing.
March 24, 2012
Malorie Blackman broke my heart with the first book of this series and only now, has she tried to mend it. This is a remarkable story. The turmoil - emotional, physical, mental, and social - is overwhelming. Its like standing on a log in the water, constantly being tipped over here and there, your arms flailing about, never knowing when you'll finally lose your balance and plunge into the depths below. Sephy, Callie Rose, Meggie, all these people take so many punches I can't understand how they're still upright.
My favourite thing about Blackman's writing is her characterization. We've been with Sephy for three books now, and we've seen her grow from a carefree child, to a bitter teenager, to a dissipated woman; she's so clear on the pages its impressive. We know why she's affectionately distant with her daughter, we know why she's suddenly cold towards Callum's mother, why she's suddenly in the good with her own mother, Jasmine. Sephy's development is so linear with the books, its like we know her for real. Sephy is a solid image that stays in our memory when not engrossed within the folds of their lives, and one that we immediately recognize as soon as we do return. That's an achievement in my opinion. We come across many characters, most of them disappearing into faint blurs as soon as we close the pages shut, but Blackman does not let her characters slip through our readers' hands - she makes sure of that.
Thanks to her writing, we can see and feel the connections between these women. We see Sephy in Callie Rose, we see Jasmine in Sephy. More than just another commentary on racism (a good one at that), this is also a story about women...women who have to pick up the pieces of their broken lives, women who have had very little power to act and affect, women who have had very little say and contribution in the outcomes, their voices echoing in the hollowness of deaf ears either because they are not the right color, not the right age, not the right gender. Women who have lost so, so much and have been beaten down to their absolute lowest, who have been left with nothing to hold onto but their pride and stubborn will, sometimes their anger and resentment, sometimes love, sometimes desperation, sometimes pure determined conviction...it knocks the breathe out of you once you're able to have a full grasp of what it must be like for these people. I tell you, these are women who have been left with nothing but each other...which they come to find is enough. Eventually.
They are victims, yes, but Blackman does not serve us characters that deserve or need only sympathy. They are flawed. Sephy chooses to take what has been done her and bury herself in the darkness. She turns her rage and sadness and bottles them up, occasionally patching cracks throughout the years. She has made herself alone, and numb. So different to the girl we first met. We get mad at her because we know she knows what she's doing is destructive; that she should go over to her daughter and hug her, tell her all the things we read her saying in her head but never has the courage to say out loud. Meggie, who has lost her entire family, should not have bribed and threatened Sephy and Callie Rose into staying with her. Jasmine should not be so methodical. Callie Rose, so blind, so disillusioned. We have reasons to want to shake them and wake them, except that these are incredibly sad people, and we also know why they are the way they are, and we ask ourselves, what would I have done?
But in the end, they pull through. These are strong women, despite being wronged - perhaps, it is even in spite of being wronged. They have strength they've kept hidden from their oppressors (who take all forms, from husband to son, from the public to one's self), and we see them reaching the end of their patience, moved by urgent events, to finally unleash their wrath. We see what they're capable of and we're in awe. Another extraordinary thing about them is that they might argue that what they've at last resolved to do isn't bravery at all. And in a way, it isn't. Jasmine and Meggie shake, cower, doubt and fear every step of their path. Jasmine and Meggie might rationalize and say its out of necessity, that it is for the greater good. But it would be a lie. Because they do not, for one second, choose willingly what they're called to do. They accept, that is all. They are required to make the deepest, greatest sacrifice and its one of those moments I think we'll never fully understand unless we're one day asked to do the same. Blackman gives us a lot to swallow, and it doesn't go down smoothly.
This isn't a review is it? More like a rant of the opposite kind. I love these books and I'm angry I didn't have time to write a review immediately after reading as that's when I have most to say. But days have gone and most of what I wanted to write has gone with them. I wouldn't have been able to do this justice anyway, so perhaps its just as well.
Somethings I will say I didn't enjoy (as much), hence the missing star, is that there were a bit too many p.o.v.s, but again, I didn't hate it. The problem was that I wanted so much of Sephy, of Callie Rose, that when I was taken from them, I was disappointed. But then it was to get to know more about Meggie and Jasmine and I complained no more. This is also a very reflective book; it is marinated in internal monologue. Many, many thoughts are expressed. Now, usually I hate that but it works here because I love the characters. The dialogue was also occasionally cheesy, but digestible.
Remarkable book, let me say again. Remarkable. More people should be reading Blackman's Noughts and Crosses series. I don't know how I'll get my hands on the fourth, but I tell you now, I will.
My favourite thing about Blackman's writing is her characterization. We've been with Sephy for three books now, and we've seen her grow from a carefree child, to a bitter teenager, to a dissipated woman; she's so clear on the pages its impressive. We know why she's affectionately distant with her daughter, we know why she's suddenly cold towards Callum's mother, why she's suddenly in the good with her own mother, Jasmine. Sephy's development is so linear with the books, its like we know her for real. Sephy is a solid image that stays in our memory when not engrossed within the folds of their lives, and one that we immediately recognize as soon as we do return. That's an achievement in my opinion. We come across many characters, most of them disappearing into faint blurs as soon as we close the pages shut, but Blackman does not let her characters slip through our readers' hands - she makes sure of that.
Thanks to her writing, we can see and feel the connections between these women. We see Sephy in Callie Rose, we see Jasmine in Sephy. More than just another commentary on racism (a good one at that), this is also a story about women...women who have to pick up the pieces of their broken lives, women who have had very little power to act and affect, women who have had very little say and contribution in the outcomes, their voices echoing in the hollowness of deaf ears either because they are not the right color, not the right age, not the right gender. Women who have lost so, so much and have been beaten down to their absolute lowest, who have been left with nothing to hold onto but their pride and stubborn will, sometimes their anger and resentment, sometimes love, sometimes desperation, sometimes pure determined conviction...it knocks the breathe out of you once you're able to have a full grasp of what it must be like for these people. I tell you, these are women who have been left with nothing but each other...which they come to find is enough. Eventually.
They are victims, yes, but Blackman does not serve us characters that deserve or need only sympathy. They are flawed. Sephy chooses to take what has been done her and bury herself in the darkness. She turns her rage and sadness and bottles them up, occasionally patching cracks throughout the years. She has made herself alone, and numb. So different to the girl we first met. We get mad at her because we know she knows what she's doing is destructive; that she should go over to her daughter and hug her, tell her all the things we read her saying in her head but never has the courage to say out loud. Meggie, who has lost her entire family, should not have bribed and threatened Sephy and Callie Rose into staying with her. Jasmine should not be so methodical. Callie Rose, so blind, so disillusioned. We have reasons to want to shake them and wake them, except that these are incredibly sad people, and we also know why they are the way they are, and we ask ourselves, what would I have done?
But in the end, they pull through. These are strong women, despite being wronged - perhaps, it is even in spite of being wronged. They have strength they've kept hidden from their oppressors (who take all forms, from husband to son, from the public to one's self), and we see them reaching the end of their patience, moved by urgent events, to finally unleash their wrath. We see what they're capable of and we're in awe. Another extraordinary thing about them is that they might argue that what they've at last resolved to do isn't bravery at all. And in a way, it isn't. Jasmine and Meggie shake, cower, doubt and fear every step of their path. Jasmine and Meggie might rationalize and say its out of necessity, that it is for the greater good. But it would be a lie. Because they do not, for one second, choose willingly what they're called to do. They accept, that is all. They are required to make the deepest, greatest sacrifice and its one of those moments I think we'll never fully understand unless we're one day asked to do the same. Blackman gives us a lot to swallow, and it doesn't go down smoothly.
This isn't a review is it? More like a rant of the opposite kind. I love these books and I'm angry I didn't have time to write a review immediately after reading as that's when I have most to say. But days have gone and most of what I wanted to write has gone with them. I wouldn't have been able to do this justice anyway, so perhaps its just as well.
Somethings I will say I didn't enjoy (as much), hence the missing star, is that there were a bit too many p.o.v.s, but again, I didn't hate it. The problem was that I wanted so much of Sephy, of Callie Rose, that when I was taken from them, I was disappointed. But then it was to get to know more about Meggie and Jasmine and I complained no more. This is also a very reflective book; it is marinated in internal monologue. Many, many thoughts are expressed. Now, usually I hate that but it works here because I love the characters. The dialogue was also occasionally cheesy, but digestible.
Remarkable book, let me say again. Remarkable. More people should be reading Blackman's Noughts and Crosses series. I don't know how I'll get my hands on the fourth, but I tell you now, I will.
April 29, 2021
Read this in like 24 hours.
So action packed.
So intense.
SO good.
So action packed.
So intense.
SO good.
October 22, 2020
Ah, where did this series go so wrong? I just feel like the direction of the story has taken such a sharp turn from Noughts and Crosses, it’s completely not even the same story and I’m so disappointed. It’s lost all of its momentum; I feel like the dystopian and unjust society they live in isn’t even a focal point of the story and has just been pushed aside for some really weak relationships ‘development’. I can’t even begin to express how sad I was reading this book. The series had so much potential but it really should’ve been a standalone, or the first book should’ve been the basis for a more dragged out story. Sigh.
Let’s start with the fact that we have just started this book by skipping an entire SIXTEEN years? This is a consistent theme throughout as well, we randomly skips months or years without really any acknowledgement of it and it’s so frustrating. I really wasn’t expecting a series that spanned over 25+ years. Also, the incessant need for side characters. I started reading expecting to just develop with Callum and Sephy but what we’ve ended up with is quite frankly (sorry for being so negative but it must be said) a mess. The characters are all carbon copies of each other anyway with no real personality and the most unnatural manor of speaking to each other I’ve ever come across is bizarre.
There were multiple love triangles in this book for NO REASON. Why is romance just shoved into a story pointlessly? Honestly this series had such potential to be a groundbreaking dystopian masterpiece in the analysis of power play and race in society, and the first book made a good attempt, and from here it’s just unreadable. It just felt like a weird contemporary read with a random suicide-bomber and cancer storyline thrown in for shcok-value. It all felt so cheap and I literally felt nothing for any of these characters.
The plot of this book, because of the format, had no intrigue because we pretty much knew how it was gonna end from the beginning. I hated the constant back and forth throughout time, it was confusing and many of the chapters added nothing. In fact, often he perspective changed just to go over the exact same scene in a different POV? Also, the random addition and sudden storyline where Sephy is a singer and writes music 24/7? What is that about?
I really had high hopes from Malorie Blackman from the first instalment. I was willing to let her off for the second book, assuming it was maybe a filler for better things to come, but I’ve never read such an unsatisfying book series. I don’t even wanna read the last book but guess I’m this far in now I’ll push through the pain.
Sorry for all the negativity, someone else please tell me they’ve read this and thought it was a complete trainwreck and I’m not just miserable?
Let’s start with the fact that we have just started this book by skipping an entire SIXTEEN years? This is a consistent theme throughout as well, we randomly skips months or years without really any acknowledgement of it and it’s so frustrating. I really wasn’t expecting a series that spanned over 25+ years. Also, the incessant need for side characters. I started reading expecting to just develop with Callum and Sephy but what we’ve ended up with is quite frankly (sorry for being so negative but it must be said) a mess. The characters are all carbon copies of each other anyway with no real personality and the most unnatural manor of speaking to each other I’ve ever come across is bizarre.
There were multiple love triangles in this book for NO REASON. Why is romance just shoved into a story pointlessly? Honestly this series had such potential to be a groundbreaking dystopian masterpiece in the analysis of power play and race in society, and the first book made a good attempt, and from here it’s just unreadable. It just felt like a weird contemporary read with a random suicide-bomber and cancer storyline thrown in for shcok-value. It all felt so cheap and I literally felt nothing for any of these characters.
The plot of this book, because of the format, had no intrigue because we pretty much knew how it was gonna end from the beginning. I hated the constant back and forth throughout time, it was confusing and many of the chapters added nothing. In fact, often he perspective changed just to go over the exact same scene in a different POV? Also, the random addition and sudden storyline where Sephy is a singer and writes music 24/7? What is that about?
I really had high hopes from Malorie Blackman from the first instalment. I was willing to let her off for the second book, assuming it was maybe a filler for better things to come, but I’ve never read such an unsatisfying book series. I don’t even wanna read the last book but guess I’m this far in now I’ll push through the pain.
Sorry for all the negativity, someone else please tell me they’ve read this and thought it was a complete trainwreck and I’m not just miserable?
February 16, 2016
finaly rereading after 6 years. Ok of too double cross, but i dont like this one as much as i did the 1 time, it drags a bit and honestly both heroines can be counted as bitches, i mean Saphie was passive agressive most of the book and way too controlling as a mother and she kept hiding important info from her daughter, even, though she knew, that Jude is out for revenge and there, others, that can tell Callie Rose the truth in much less kind words, also when Callie Rose became agressive and found the truth she didnt stop and actually talk too her untill she got Caleb's letter proving, there love was real and untill it was almost too late, so it looked like if she didnt get the letter and hear, that Callie is abought to get killed, she wouldnt have done anything and ther conflict would have grown
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2017
Set in a dystopian 21st century near future British society – the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ award winning series of novels (initially a trilogy, subsequently extended to a quadrilogy) opens following a period of alternative history, a post slavery period where the white population (Noughts) have been enslaved by the ruling black elite. Now post emancipation, it is the non-black population who are distinctly disadvantaged and impoverished in this alternative future society which is ruled and controlled by the dominating blacks (Crosses).
The ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series provides us with an explicit flip and twist on both the history and current political and cultural demographic of British society – where racial politics is turned on its head and power structures are completely reversed.
The fundamental premise underlying this series is a vitally important one – what Malorie Blackman seems to have set out to do, is to robustly challenge (what may be many) readers’ current perceptions, presumptions, assumptions and views on race and (British) society. An attempt to provoke thought and to revisit the absurdities of a society(ies) run along lines on racial disadvantagement and the domination of one ethnic group or groups in society by another controlling ethnic (almost always white) group. The books successfully challenge and encourage particularly the non-black reader to reconsider and think again about being part of and party to, a racially privileged white society – and by extension, to consider the real life alternative in the light of the fictional world that is portrayed here in the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series. Moreover – to consider the possibility of a third way – a society run entirely along non-racially defined power structures.
This is an original, intelligent, perceptive and though-provoking series of books – and whilst squarely aimed at the Young Adult market, it clearly transcends the restrictive boundaries of that genre.
The first installment ‘Noughts & Crosses’ is the strongest of the series, closely followed by the second and third parts of the original trilogy namely ‘Knife Edge’ and ‘Checkmate’. Whilst ‘Double Cross’ is well-written and ostensibly does add value to the series, it does feel ultimately a little superfluous and does not provide the same impact as the preceding three novels.
Moreover, apart from being politically and culturally astute, what makes the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series of books so successful is not merely the originality and the ever-present / underlying theme of racial politics, but the fact that Blackman has created great characters who inhabit great page-turning stories which are both compelling and engaging.
These are increasingly important books to be read by all – particularly in view of the current political climate and the ever more disturbing rise in the so-called ‘alt right’ / white supremacist groups in certain parts of the world.
It is very encouraging that Blackman's series of books has been so successful and is widely read and made available in UK schools – as it quite rightly should continue to be.
Throughout the course of the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series of novels, Malorie Blackman successfully shines a light on the absurdities of racial domination and subjugation of one group by another and the fundamental racist agenda (implicit and explicit, covert and overt – at both personal and societal levels) that underpins and perpetuates this ridiculous cultural dialectic.
In the words of Nelson Mandela (as recently quoted by Barack Obama):
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his religion…”
The ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series provides us with an explicit flip and twist on both the history and current political and cultural demographic of British society – where racial politics is turned on its head and power structures are completely reversed.
The fundamental premise underlying this series is a vitally important one – what Malorie Blackman seems to have set out to do, is to robustly challenge (what may be many) readers’ current perceptions, presumptions, assumptions and views on race and (British) society. An attempt to provoke thought and to revisit the absurdities of a society(ies) run along lines on racial disadvantagement and the domination of one ethnic group or groups in society by another controlling ethnic (almost always white) group. The books successfully challenge and encourage particularly the non-black reader to reconsider and think again about being part of and party to, a racially privileged white society – and by extension, to consider the real life alternative in the light of the fictional world that is portrayed here in the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series. Moreover – to consider the possibility of a third way – a society run entirely along non-racially defined power structures.
This is an original, intelligent, perceptive and though-provoking series of books – and whilst squarely aimed at the Young Adult market, it clearly transcends the restrictive boundaries of that genre.
The first installment ‘Noughts & Crosses’ is the strongest of the series, closely followed by the second and third parts of the original trilogy namely ‘Knife Edge’ and ‘Checkmate’. Whilst ‘Double Cross’ is well-written and ostensibly does add value to the series, it does feel ultimately a little superfluous and does not provide the same impact as the preceding three novels.
Moreover, apart from being politically and culturally astute, what makes the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series of books so successful is not merely the originality and the ever-present / underlying theme of racial politics, but the fact that Blackman has created great characters who inhabit great page-turning stories which are both compelling and engaging.
These are increasingly important books to be read by all – particularly in view of the current political climate and the ever more disturbing rise in the so-called ‘alt right’ / white supremacist groups in certain parts of the world.
It is very encouraging that Blackman's series of books has been so successful and is widely read and made available in UK schools – as it quite rightly should continue to be.
Throughout the course of the ‘Noughts & Crosses’ series of novels, Malorie Blackman successfully shines a light on the absurdities of racial domination and subjugation of one group by another and the fundamental racist agenda (implicit and explicit, covert and overt – at both personal and societal levels) that underpins and perpetuates this ridiculous cultural dialectic.
In the words of Nelson Mandela (as recently quoted by Barack Obama):
“No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin or his background or his religion…”
June 19, 2016
I loved this book, it was brilliant! The third book in the Noughts and Crosses quartet definitely lived up to the first two books and in some ways surpassed them.
SPOILERS AHEAD
.
.
.
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ UP UNTIL THIS POINT (including this book), YOU WILL BE SPOILED
Okay so I'm quite confused with that ending; are Jude & Jasmine dead? Did she set the bomb off? I don't know. There's another book and the blurb for that book also confuses me (I highly recommend not reading the blurb for 'Doublecross').
I found it really sad towards the middle where Callie's thoughts and feelings regarding Callum began to get really negative since we know Callum and all the information Callie received was based on lies and it was just really sad to read. Similarly it was so cute at the beginning when Callie was like seven or so and she had such a positive outlook on the world and believed positive things about Callum.
It makes perfect sense to me that Sephy would treat her daughter in such a way to keep her independent and 'make her stronger'. Especially because of the incident at the end of 'Knife Edge' when Sephy hugged baby Callie so tightly that she stopped breathing. However by keeping her at arms length Sephy fractured their relationship really badly.
Most of Meggie's actions and such in this book just spelt desperation to me. Meggie obviously has lost most of her family members and was holding onto Callie & Sephy by a thread.
Although I don't think Jude's actions are justified as there is nothing in the world that justifies terrorism, I find it really unfortunate that he ended up in his current position due to such strong injustices in his from such a young age. His whole hatred towards the way things were stemmed from him not being able to continue getting his education after getting a glimpse of it and loving it more than anything while he had it. It's like if you deny a human his basic human rights, how can you expect him to have any humanity left? It makes sense now as well of the little bits of Jude's resentment towards Callum in the first book for taking school for granted. I really wished Jude would be redeemed in some tiny form at least... I suppose he was slightly in the sense that he finally realised that Cara Imega was his ultimate love, despite being a cross. He realised that he could and in fact did love a cross for who she was and her being a cross didn't contribute to her personally. It's what's inside that matters as some clever person once said.
CALLUM'S REAL LETTER WAS THE CUTEST THING! I knew for obvious reasons that the content of the first one was lies. I grew so attached to Callum's character in the first book just to have him ripped out from under us but when his real letter was revealed, to see it written under Callum's perspective as a header, two books later following his death was so hearbreaking but beautiful at the same time! All the feels.
I am really intrigued to see where the next and final book will go.
SPOILERS AHEAD
.
.
.
IF YOU HAVEN'T READ UP UNTIL THIS POINT (including this book), YOU WILL BE SPOILED
Okay so I'm quite confused with that ending; are Jude & Jasmine dead? Did she set the bomb off? I don't know. There's another book and the blurb for that book also confuses me (I highly recommend not reading the blurb for 'Doublecross').
I found it really sad towards the middle where Callie's thoughts and feelings regarding Callum began to get really negative since we know Callum and all the information Callie received was based on lies and it was just really sad to read. Similarly it was so cute at the beginning when Callie was like seven or so and she had such a positive outlook on the world and believed positive things about Callum.
It makes perfect sense to me that Sephy would treat her daughter in such a way to keep her independent and 'make her stronger'. Especially because of the incident at the end of 'Knife Edge' when Sephy hugged baby Callie so tightly that she stopped breathing. However by keeping her at arms length Sephy fractured their relationship really badly.
Most of Meggie's actions and such in this book just spelt desperation to me. Meggie obviously has lost most of her family members and was holding onto Callie & Sephy by a thread.
Although I don't think Jude's actions are justified as there is nothing in the world that justifies terrorism, I find it really unfortunate that he ended up in his current position due to such strong injustices in his from such a young age. His whole hatred towards the way things were stemmed from him not being able to continue getting his education after getting a glimpse of it and loving it more than anything while he had it. It's like if you deny a human his basic human rights, how can you expect him to have any humanity left? It makes sense now as well of the little bits of Jude's resentment towards Callum in the first book for taking school for granted. I really wished Jude would be redeemed in some tiny form at least... I suppose he was slightly in the sense that he finally realised that Cara Imega was his ultimate love, despite being a cross. He realised that he could and in fact did love a cross for who she was and her being a cross didn't contribute to her personally. It's what's inside that matters as some clever person once said.
CALLUM'S REAL LETTER WAS THE CUTEST THING! I knew for obvious reasons that the content of the first one was lies. I grew so attached to Callum's character in the first book just to have him ripped out from under us but when his real letter was revealed, to see it written under Callum's perspective as a header, two books later following his death was so hearbreaking but beautiful at the same time! All the feels.
I am really intrigued to see where the next and final book will go.
December 24, 2019
Book 3 in the dystopian series in which a 360 degree turnaround focuses light from a different angle on racism, with the setting an alternative history in which Crosses, black people, have always been the dominant civilising force, with white people as former slaves only emancipated fifty years before the timeline of the story. Noughts, as they are known, face the sort of racism that in real life is directed against black people, including the abusive term 'blanker', and massive discrimination in education, employment and all other important areas of life.
This book continues with the structure of alternating viewpoints, this time with Sephy and her daughter Callie Rose as the main ones, although it doesn't come across as quite as bitty as before perhaps because the alternative viewpoints of Jasmine, Sephy's mother, Meggie, mother of Callum (deceased father of Sephy's child) and Jude, the embittered surviving child of Meggie, are much more "meaty" and central to the book than in the last one.
There is quite a bit of dotting about in the timeline, indicated with statements such as 'Callie Rose is seven', and we gradually see how the child develops from a happy trusting child who has been taught to love the father she has never known, without being told what really happened to him, into a disillusioned, confused and embittered teenager who is vulnerable to being groomed by Jude on behalf of the organisation for which he works.
We also see how Sephy contributes to Callie Rose's development in a negative way by being too afraid to tell her the truth and also holding back from showing her real affection because of the incident in the previous book where she endangered her baby's life by hugging her too tightly (an effect of an extreme form of post natal depression exacerbated by the prejudice to which she was subjected as the mother of a mixed-race child).
I found this volume more interesting and with a slightly more hopeful note than the very dark previous book in the series. However it was held back from a full 5 stars because of a couple of points. Firstly, I wasn't totally convinced that Callie would be so 'broken' by the revelations to which Jude subjects her that she is prepared to blow herself up, and secondly I didn't find it convincing that Callum would have sent the second letter to Sephy: the one she received in the previous book and which contributed massively to her mental health issues. There are better ways to tell someone they should get on with their life rather than to pretend everything between them was just down to him using her to help the resistance. The story does also start to drag a little before the final build-up. So I would award this a 4-star rating.
This book continues with the structure of alternating viewpoints, this time with Sephy and her daughter Callie Rose as the main ones, although it doesn't come across as quite as bitty as before perhaps because the alternative viewpoints of Jasmine, Sephy's mother, Meggie, mother of Callum (deceased father of Sephy's child) and Jude, the embittered surviving child of Meggie, are much more "meaty" and central to the book than in the last one.
There is quite a bit of dotting about in the timeline, indicated with statements such as 'Callie Rose is seven', and we gradually see how the child develops from a happy trusting child who has been taught to love the father she has never known, without being told what really happened to him, into a disillusioned, confused and embittered teenager who is vulnerable to being groomed by Jude on behalf of the organisation for which he works.
We also see how Sephy contributes to Callie Rose's development in a negative way by being too afraid to tell her the truth and also holding back from showing her real affection because of the incident in the previous book where she endangered her baby's life by hugging her too tightly (an effect of an extreme form of post natal depression exacerbated by the prejudice to which she was subjected as the mother of a mixed-race child).
I found this volume more interesting and with a slightly more hopeful note than the very dark previous book in the series. However it was held back from a full 5 stars because of a couple of points. Firstly, I wasn't totally convinced that Callie would be so 'broken' by the revelations to which Jude subjects her that she is prepared to blow herself up, and secondly I didn't find it convincing that Callum would have sent the second letter to Sephy: the one she received in the previous book and which contributed massively to her mental health issues. There are better ways to tell someone they should get on with their life rather than to pretend everything between them was just down to him using her to help the resistance. The story does also start to drag a little before the final build-up. So I would award this a 4-star rating.
April 20, 2019
Thoughts to come
May 5, 2021
Book 132 of 2021
4.5 ✨
My favorite of the series so far. I hated most of the characters at one point or the other, and I guess that's what made it so amazing.
4.5 ✨
My favorite of the series so far. I hated most of the characters at one point or the other, and I guess that's what made it so amazing.
April 18, 2009
This book seemed vaguely familiar when I read it? But if I have read it before, I'd completely forgotten everything that happened in it. Which says volumes about how thrilling a story it was...
Anyway. I liked Callie Rose, which surprised me since she's an Angsty, Troubled Teen. But she actually had proper issues to angst about. (I couldn't believe what an awful mother Sephy turned out to be. It was pretty uncomfortable reading all those childhood stories.) I didn't really understand why Callie was going to go ahead with the suicide bomb though? I mean, when she first discovers the truth about her dad and she's furiously angry with her mother, yeah, I can see her joining the L.M. But killing herself? The fact that she was so unhappy and torn about whether she should go ahead with it was surely a clue that she wasn't committed? There didn't seem to be any motivation for her actions.
The writing was as awful as it was in the last three books in this series. I suppose Malorie Blackman thinks all the similes are original, but they're annoying as hell. I could accept the younger characters coming up with them (Sephy and Callum in Noughts and Crosses, Callie Rose in this book) but EVERYONE does it ALL THE TIME. Meggie, Jasmine, and Sephy are all too old to say things like, "My jaw sagged like a leaf of limp lettuce!"
The dialogue tended towards sappy a lot of the time. In real life people simply don't sit around philosophising and having long conversations where they manage to say NOTHING AT ALL in several hours. The bits with Sephy and Callie in the cellar were so drawn out.
The switching point of view got a bit ridiculous what with changing practically every page. It seemed like Malorie Blackman wanted to write every character's reaction from their own point of view, before switching back to the other character to see how they'd taken this reaction... I'm not an idiot, thanks; I didn't need that much internal monologuing to figure out how characters would feel. Show not tell, etc.
As for the message that "We should be with the people we love!" PLEASE tell me that wasn't supposed to refer to Sonny and Tobey. :| I didn't like that Lucas's sudden conversion was entirely explained by, "Oh, he was just quoting his dad, that wasn't what he REALLY thought." But I did like Lucas and Callie together. Likewise, I thought that Nathan and Sephy made a good couple. Tobey seemed rather... special... and Sonny was just pathetic and inherently unlikeable.
Anyway. I liked Callie Rose, which surprised me since she's an Angsty, Troubled Teen. But she actually had proper issues to angst about. (I couldn't believe what an awful mother Sephy turned out to be. It was pretty uncomfortable reading all those childhood stories.) I didn't really understand why Callie was going to go ahead with the suicide bomb though? I mean, when she first discovers the truth about her dad and she's furiously angry with her mother, yeah, I can see her joining the L.M. But killing herself? The fact that she was so unhappy and torn about whether she should go ahead with it was surely a clue that she wasn't committed? There didn't seem to be any motivation for her actions.
The writing was as awful as it was in the last three books in this series. I suppose Malorie Blackman thinks all the similes are original, but they're annoying as hell. I could accept the younger characters coming up with them (Sephy and Callum in Noughts and Crosses, Callie Rose in this book) but EVERYONE does it ALL THE TIME. Meggie, Jasmine, and Sephy are all too old to say things like, "My jaw sagged like a leaf of limp lettuce!"
The dialogue tended towards sappy a lot of the time. In real life people simply don't sit around philosophising and having long conversations where they manage to say NOTHING AT ALL in several hours. The bits with Sephy and Callie in the cellar were so drawn out.
The switching point of view got a bit ridiculous what with changing practically every page. It seemed like Malorie Blackman wanted to write every character's reaction from their own point of view, before switching back to the other character to see how they'd taken this reaction... I'm not an idiot, thanks; I didn't need that much internal monologuing to figure out how characters would feel. Show not tell, etc.
As for the message that "We should be with the people we love!" PLEASE tell me that wasn't supposed to refer to Sonny and Tobey. :| I didn't like that Lucas's sudden conversion was entirely explained by, "Oh, he was just quoting his dad, that wasn't what he REALLY thought." But I did like Lucas and Callie together. Likewise, I thought that Nathan and Sephy made a good couple. Tobey seemed rather... special... and Sonny was just pathetic and inherently unlikeable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2023
This series is drastically deteriorating. It's not that the story is that bad - on the contrary the story and the layout of jumping through the timeline kept me intrigued - but that I really did not like the writing.
Exhibit A - Some examples of similes used were 'my heart dropped like a fossilised poo' and 'a heart as soft as yoghurt'. Please?
Exhibit B - Putting speech in capital letters is cheating. It's text speak. There's a reason adverbs were invented.
Exhibit C - If you're going to write a book in first person jumping around characters, they need to have an individual voice. They all sound so logical and perfect, especially Sephy's 'mother' voice. She sounds like a generic maternal character who would get about 5 speech lines in a book; she's meant to be the main character.
Also, all the little sub-plots like Sephy's relationships were boring and stupid. However, this book's appeal comes from it's main story, but about 200 pages could have been easily dropped.
If you've read the first 2, read it. Might as well. It's quick and easy. If you haven't read the first two, read Noughts and Crosses, and stop there.
Exhibit A - Some examples of similes used were 'my heart dropped like a fossilised poo' and 'a heart as soft as yoghurt'. Please?
Exhibit B - Putting speech in capital letters is cheating. It's text speak. There's a reason adverbs were invented.
Exhibit C - If you're going to write a book in first person jumping around characters, they need to have an individual voice. They all sound so logical and perfect, especially Sephy's 'mother' voice. She sounds like a generic maternal character who would get about 5 speech lines in a book; she's meant to be the main character.
Also, all the little sub-plots like Sephy's relationships were boring and stupid. However, this book's appeal comes from it's main story, but about 200 pages could have been easily dropped.
If you've read the first 2, read it. Might as well. It's quick and easy. If you haven't read the first two, read Noughts and Crosses, and stop there.
December 5, 2017
Wow. This book was mind blowing! So many twists and turns and I cannot wait to start reading the final book of this amazing series 😍
I love the characterisation of Jasmine and how we get to see her side in this book and I also like the progression we see of Callie Rose.
Just amazing
I love the characterisation of Jasmine and how we get to see her side in this book and I also like the progression we see of Callie Rose.
Just amazing
August 29, 2019
The different timelines sometimes confused me but other than that I liked it. Even though there are more books in the series I felt like I'm kinda happy with the ending so right now I don't think I will continue the series.
July 4, 2021
I have never been so satisfied with a book.. it is absolutely amazing and I recommend it to literally anyone (above 13)... anyway GO READ IT NOWWW
May 15, 2022
I enjoyed this book. You can clearly see how Malorie Blackman has progressed as an author throughout this series; structurally, Checkmate is by far superior to the others in the series. Its plot weaves throughout the entire book rather than jumping from here to there like in the first book, or only really kicking off halfway through in the second book. The introduction of timeline jumps assists this and adds to the sense of dramatic tension as we watch Callie Rose grow up. The side characters are far more fleshed-out in this instalment too, and have their own moments to shine – although Callie-Rose's “female best friends” are still little more than cardboard cutouts. Nonetheless, it was great to see Meggie and Jasmine becoming more central in this book, with purpose too.
Unfortunately, a side effect of this fleshing-out of characters and structure means that the book is still slower-paced than the superior original of the series. Not only this, but it doesn't have the vast and powerful dramatic worldbuilding of its predecessors to fall back on; by now we know the drill, and also bigotry has improved somewhat since Noughts and Crosses through the passage of time. Obviously it still stands as an original and thought-provoking concept, but perhaps not in the startling way that N&C managed.
However, this is a useful tale about radicalisation and grooming. I feel like maybe if more children read this series, they might understand how to be more aware of potential groomers in their own lives and be able to protect themselves accordingly. That might be a reach, but an awareness is better than nothing. In addition, I still wonder if this series should be mandatory for law enforcement or anyone in a position of power to read. Or even parents; to them, though, maybe it just becomes another “love conquers all”-type tale. Either way, important moral lessons can be digested from this content.
The most important part of this book to me was actually the author's note at the beginning of my edition, explaining that this – ironically and significantly – was due for publication on 7/7/2005, the day many of us remember as the London bombings. It really provides food for thought, especially with the context that Blackman was told that a book about a teenager being trained to become a suicide bomber was unsuitable for a YA novel. Many cases of radicalisation occur within teen years so I would beg to differ; forewarned is forearmed.
4.25* because while the book was excellent, it wasn't always enjoyable - the pacing was only bearable because I read the book in a couple of long sittings; I'm also not convinced I'm a fan of Blackman's writing style – she may have been a YA trailblazer but that doesn't stop her writing from succumbing to the pitfalls of YA cliché. Nonetheless, still a very good read.
Unfortunately, a side effect of this fleshing-out of characters and structure means that the book is still slower-paced than the superior original of the series. Not only this, but it doesn't have the vast and powerful dramatic worldbuilding of its predecessors to fall back on; by now we know the drill, and also bigotry has improved somewhat since Noughts and Crosses through the passage of time. Obviously it still stands as an original and thought-provoking concept, but perhaps not in the startling way that N&C managed.
However, this is a useful tale about radicalisation and grooming. I feel like maybe if more children read this series, they might understand how to be more aware of potential groomers in their own lives and be able to protect themselves accordingly. That might be a reach, but an awareness is better than nothing. In addition, I still wonder if this series should be mandatory for law enforcement or anyone in a position of power to read. Or even parents; to them, though, maybe it just becomes another “love conquers all”-type tale. Either way, important moral lessons can be digested from this content.
The most important part of this book to me was actually the author's note at the beginning of my edition, explaining that this – ironically and significantly – was due for publication on 7/7/2005, the day many of us remember as the London bombings. It really provides food for thought, especially with the context that Blackman was told that a book about a teenager being trained to become a suicide bomber was unsuitable for a YA novel. Many cases of radicalisation occur within teen years so I would beg to differ; forewarned is forearmed.
4.25* because while the book was excellent, it wasn't always enjoyable - the pacing was only bearable because I read the book in a couple of long sittings; I'm also not convinced I'm a fan of Blackman's writing style – she may have been a YA trailblazer but that doesn't stop her writing from succumbing to the pitfalls of YA cliché. Nonetheless, still a very good read.
February 7, 2017
Checkmate is the third book in the fabulous Noughts & Crosses series by a woman I've come to think of as a YA genius - Malorie Blackman. I am going to try and write this review as spoiler free as I can for anybody who hasn't started the series yet but it gets harder with each successive book in the series. I heartily recommend anyone who is interested in dystopian fiction, prejudice and racial tension to read these books and discover the magic of them for yourself.
Our main character from the first book, Sephy is back and she has had a daughter, Callie Rose whom she is raising by herself with the help of her mother and Callie's father's mother. Callie is growing up in tough times where black people (known as Crosses) are the "superior" race and whites (known as Noughts) are treated with scorn and derision. Callie's problem is that she has a Cross mother and a Nought father, so in effect is mixed race and suffers terrible prejudice from both sides of the divide. Checkmate is Callie's coming of age story as she grows up in a hostile world, tries to connect with her often emotionally distant mother and finds out things about her family that may have been better left hidden and may have dangerous consequences.
To be perfectly honest, this book did not have as much of an effect on me as the previous two books in the series, Noughts & Crosses and Knife Edge, Apart from the ending that is, which is quite literally explosive and incredibly tense, paving the way for a potentially devastating final book in the series. I loved Callie Rose as a character and could see a lot of her mother in her young self but found myself becoming quite frustrated with Sephy at times as her wariness around her daughter was truly heart-breaking to read. I loved the way that this novel was told from the perspective of multiple characters once again, this is one of my favourite ways to read as I feel it gives you a much deeper insight into the mind of certain characters, especially ones where you can't quite accept their motives. Say no more....apart from please start this series if you haven't already and let me know what you think!
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
Our main character from the first book, Sephy is back and she has had a daughter, Callie Rose whom she is raising by herself with the help of her mother and Callie's father's mother. Callie is growing up in tough times where black people (known as Crosses) are the "superior" race and whites (known as Noughts) are treated with scorn and derision. Callie's problem is that she has a Cross mother and a Nought father, so in effect is mixed race and suffers terrible prejudice from both sides of the divide. Checkmate is Callie's coming of age story as she grows up in a hostile world, tries to connect with her often emotionally distant mother and finds out things about her family that may have been better left hidden and may have dangerous consequences.
To be perfectly honest, this book did not have as much of an effect on me as the previous two books in the series, Noughts & Crosses and Knife Edge, Apart from the ending that is, which is quite literally explosive and incredibly tense, paving the way for a potentially devastating final book in the series. I loved Callie Rose as a character and could see a lot of her mother in her young self but found myself becoming quite frustrated with Sephy at times as her wariness around her daughter was truly heart-breaking to read. I loved the way that this novel was told from the perspective of multiple characters once again, this is one of my favourite ways to read as I feel it gives you a much deeper insight into the mind of certain characters, especially ones where you can't quite accept their motives. Say no more....apart from please start this series if you haven't already and let me know what you think!
For my full review and many more, please visit my blog at http://www.bibliobeth.com
April 3, 2022
okay this was a step up. this book is the third in the series and was way better than the second one. the relationships in this one are so deep and you get to see the story from so many different angles when your in each pov of different characters
March 13, 2015
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again, it’s so hard to review books in a series. I’m not one for spoilers, so I try to really make it obvious if there’s going to be a spoiler. The trouble with this series is that it’s so damn good I want to speak about it, but I would HATE to spoil it for others. So, as per usual with this series, I’m going to be wonderfully vague. (I apologise!)
Checkmate is the third book in the Noughts and Crosses series. It follows Sephy and Callum’s daughter, Callie Rose, as she grows up and learns about her past. Callie Rose meets her Uncle Jude who is still bad news although Callie Rose isn’t aware of this yet… It is narrated in a similar manner albeit with different characters as the rest of the series. Alternating chapters are narrated by different characters. It still works for me. I love reading from different points of views. It keeps it fresh and exciting.
I really liked how Malorie Blackman explored the difficulty individuals can have growing up as mixed race. The prejudice that is explored in the previous books continues to be identified. I particularly like how it was portrayed with Callie Rose who was experiencing prejudice from both sides, making her feel very confused about her place in the world. Alongside the family secrets, Callie Rose is an incredibly confused character who doesn’t make the best decisions.
I don’t think this book had as much of an emotional impact on me as Noughts and Crosses and Knife Edge did, but it is still a powerful read which answers questions. I’m reading Double Cross very soon and I’m excited to see how it is all brought together.
Checkmate is the third book in the Noughts and Crosses series. It follows Sephy and Callum’s daughter, Callie Rose, as she grows up and learns about her past. Callie Rose meets her Uncle Jude who is still bad news although Callie Rose isn’t aware of this yet… It is narrated in a similar manner albeit with different characters as the rest of the series. Alternating chapters are narrated by different characters. It still works for me. I love reading from different points of views. It keeps it fresh and exciting.
I really liked how Malorie Blackman explored the difficulty individuals can have growing up as mixed race. The prejudice that is explored in the previous books continues to be identified. I particularly like how it was portrayed with Callie Rose who was experiencing prejudice from both sides, making her feel very confused about her place in the world. Alongside the family secrets, Callie Rose is an incredibly confused character who doesn’t make the best decisions.
I don’t think this book had as much of an emotional impact on me as Noughts and Crosses and Knife Edge did, but it is still a powerful read which answers questions. I’m reading Double Cross very soon and I’m excited to see how it is all brought together.
August 18, 2019
I am unsure if I really buy this - you told me a lie so I will kill myself and others with a bomb... I get what Malorie tried here with the build-up and the backstory of Jude influencing. But Jude is also a character I don't really buy. He is such a diabolical a*** who seems to not have one hair of humanity in him. Most evil characters have at least some sort of believable trait. But nothing Jude does or believes makes sense or is even the slightest relatable. He is just an a***...I don't know I am missing some development, but then again Callie Rose's development went too far. So either nothing is moving, or it's over the top. There is no in-between. But hey Jasmine has become a person I highly respect, whereas in the first books she got highly on my nerves.
I will stick with the story for now, and hope that we moved past this hate stuff and can get into what makes this story so unique: the story about division.
I will stick with the story for now, and hope that we moved past this hate stuff and can get into what makes this story so unique: the story about division.
May 14, 2009
Like Mother, like daughter.
A girl at my college, who's favourite books are this series like they are mine, said that Sephy was like Jasmine in Checkmate. In Noughts and Crosses, Jasmine did care for Minerva and Sephy but it didn't seem like she did because she was always drunk. In Checkmate when the book was from Sephy's POV we could see that she did actually care for Callie Rose but it was so obvious from Callie's POV that it didn't feel like Sephy did. So Sephy became a lot like Jasmine.
However, I did have some sympathy for Sephy, as Checkmate really showed how broken Callum's death had left her. The sort of broken no-one could really fix.
An fantastic book 3 to the Noughts and Crosses series
A girl at my college, who's favourite books are this series like they are mine, said that Sephy was like Jasmine in Checkmate. In Noughts and Crosses, Jasmine did care for Minerva and Sephy but it didn't seem like she did because she was always drunk. In Checkmate when the book was from Sephy's POV we could see that she did actually care for Callie Rose but it was so obvious from Callie's POV that it didn't feel like Sephy did. So Sephy became a lot like Jasmine.
However, I did have some sympathy for Sephy, as Checkmate really showed how broken Callum's death had left her. The sort of broken no-one could really fix.
An fantastic book 3 to the Noughts and Crosses series
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2016
Such a gripping tale, I literally couldn't put this down. Told mostly in flashbacks it tells the story of how Callum and Sephy's daughter Callie Rose learns the truth about her heritage and how that's used to manipulate her. This is a book and a series full of incredibly uncomfortable truths told in a compelling way, it should be on every school curriculum.
January 25, 2010
I really loved the other 2 hoping that this one is just as good.
Ive only been reading it for 2days and nearly at the end! I just cant put it down once I have started to read it, it is amazing. Im so glad that I allready have the next one waiting in my 2be read pile.
Ive only been reading it for 2days and nearly at the end! I just cant put it down once I have started to read it, it is amazing. Im so glad that I allready have the next one waiting in my 2be read pile.
July 20, 2022
Preciso de respostas 😭 preciso que a editora traduza o próximo volume asap.
Como é que não há mais gente a ler estes livros? Que história maravilhosa, intensa, viciante! Faz-nos sentir todas as emoções e mais algumas desde o início ao fim!
Como é que não há mais gente a ler estes livros? Que história maravilhosa, intensa, viciante! Faz-nos sentir todas as emoções e mais algumas desde o início ao fim!
April 5, 2020
Couldn’t put it down 👌🏽another excellent book can’t wait to read book 4
October 23, 2020
4.5 stars!
Wow, this book was incredible. It focuses on Callie Rose, the daughter of Sephy and Callum, and we get the perspectives of so many different characters who we’ve seen before. Before starting the novel, I read Malorie Blackman’s statement in the beginning about how people had said that it was wrong for her to write about a young girl being groomed to be a suicide bomber. I agree with Malorie, it wasn’t wrong, it’s important and these narratives need to be told.
Jude, Callum’s brother and Callie Rose’s uncle, was even less sympathetic as a character in this one than in Knife Edge, the second in the series. You really got to see how life had turned him into someone cruel, cold and calculating. He had risen to power in the Liberation Militia, but had never truly learned to love or to find the hope bad light in life.
I loved the exploration of the mother/ daughter relationships, both with Callie Rose and Sephy, and with Sephy and her mother. It showed how vital female relationships are. This book was emotional and made me cry a few times. It was heavy but engaging and fast paced. I truly loved this reading experience and am really looking forward to the next in the series.
Wow, this book was incredible. It focuses on Callie Rose, the daughter of Sephy and Callum, and we get the perspectives of so many different characters who we’ve seen before. Before starting the novel, I read Malorie Blackman’s statement in the beginning about how people had said that it was wrong for her to write about a young girl being groomed to be a suicide bomber. I agree with Malorie, it wasn’t wrong, it’s important and these narratives need to be told.
Jude, Callum’s brother and Callie Rose’s uncle, was even less sympathetic as a character in this one than in Knife Edge, the second in the series. You really got to see how life had turned him into someone cruel, cold and calculating. He had risen to power in the Liberation Militia, but had never truly learned to love or to find the hope bad light in life.
I loved the exploration of the mother/ daughter relationships, both with Callie Rose and Sephy, and with Sephy and her mother. It showed how vital female relationships are. This book was emotional and made me cry a few times. It was heavy but engaging and fast paced. I truly loved this reading experience and am really looking forward to the next in the series.
June 1, 2021
B-
Ça a été difficile de reprendre la lecture de cette saga, je m'attendais au pire. Ça a été presque ça.
Le début est d'abord très dur assimilé puis il monte la tension au max. Ensuite on retourne dans une ambiance des plus choupinou avant de monter petit à petit dans la colère face aux dialogues des personnes et à la machinerie qui se met en place. La conclusion est le MEILLEUR du livre, c'est ce qu'on voulait, on l'a eu. Merci ! La note était entre C+ et B-. Comme j'ai été satisfait par la fin, j'ai noté au plus haut 👍.
Ça a été difficile de reprendre la lecture de cette saga, je m'attendais au pire. Ça a été presque ça.
Le début est d'abord très dur assimilé puis il monte la tension au max. Ensuite on retourne dans une ambiance des plus choupinou avant de monter petit à petit dans la colère face aux dialogues des personnes et à la machinerie qui se met en place. La conclusion est le MEILLEUR du livre, c'est ce qu'on voulait, on l'a eu. Merci ! La note était entre C+ et B-. Comme j'ai été satisfait par la fin, j'ai noté au plus haut 👍.
June 29, 2020
I felt so many emotions reading this book! And the character development in this book was perfection. I can’t think of one single thing this book is missing because it has everything you would want in a book. I was a bit skeptical because I didn’t really enjoy the last book as much but WOW this book was good. I 10000% would recommend. I feel as if this series is so underrated and more people should be reading this!!!
February 7, 2022
I read this alongside watching the BBC adaptation (which is primarily based on the first book) but I loved both full review to come.
February 5, 2022
i absolutely love this book. it was a bit confusing as the author was mixing the stories but a great ending but still many questions but oh well on to the next book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 682 reviews