Atlantia by Ally Condie

Genres: Young Adult, Sci-fi, Dystopian, Paranormal, Romance
Publication Date: October 28th 2014
POV: Female - First-person, Present tense
My Rating: 3 out of 5

_______________

Can you hear Atlantia breathing?

For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamt of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all her plans for the future are thwarted when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected decision, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long hidden—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the complex system constructed to govern the divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.

_______________

Due to this being set in Atlantis I thought that it would be a fantasy, or a historical set in the times of ancient Greece. But it is not Atlantis, it is Atlantia. It is set in a post-apocalyptic world, where the world Above is poisoned so people moved Below the water.

This is the story of Rio, who dreams of seeing above, and her journey to see her sister again, and to discover the secrets of her world and Above, and what really happened. I read this because I loved Matched so much. And although the writing style is pretty much the same, the characters did not engage me as well. And there was very little romance. Although True helped her along the way, the real struggle was for Rio to find her sister. It had nothing to do with finding a way to be with True. He was a companion and a comfort during her journey, but not a central part of it.

The world of Atlantia was pretty unique and I wish it had focused more on the mythology and history of their world. I would have liked to learn more about the sirens and the gods and the other gifts that some people had. And about the other cities. It could have been much more interesting if it delved deeper I think. The story was not enough to really grab me. It focused too much on Rio's single-minded need to go Above. I felt no connection to her as a heroine. There was really nothing special about any of the characters.

The story was concluded at the end, and although authors can always find an excuse to come back and expand a story if they decide to later, I hope this remains a standalone story. I don't feel the need to come back to this world. We could always see how Rio and Bay are doing later, and how their worlds are faring, how things have changed, but I believe everything will turn out for the best.

“Everyone dies. The don't all have the chance to see what they wanted most. At least I've seen the Above. At least I've known True.”

Crossed by Ally Condie (Matched #2)

Genres: Young Adult, Sci-fi, Dystopian, Adventure,

Romance
Publication Date: November 11th 2011
POV: Alternating - First-person, Past tense

My Rating: 3 out of 5

_______________

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.

_______________

I didnt like this quite as much as the first one, but I still really liked it. Ally Condie's writing style is beautiful. But I think it took too long to get Ky and Cassia back together. Some of the time spent in the carving could have been taken out and they could have found each other sooner. I think that would have been better. I liked the new characters Eli and Vick, but not Indie. Too bad she is the only one of the three who is still with them in the end. Something about her really bugs me. She seems selfish.

But what I really didnt like was the ending. At the end of Matched they were separated, which seemed inevitable, and I knew it would lead to much more of the story. I knew they would fight for each and find each other again and it would make the story better. But then, after everything they went through, especially Cassia, they get separated again. But I dont see the separation as really having that purpose anymore. Now its just pissing me off. Especially since the cause of this whole chain of events was that Ky and Cassia didnt want to let the Society tell them who they could be with. So they join the Rising, who does the same thing! Why would they want to join a movement that won't let them be together? Especially Ky, since he didnt want to join in the first place. He only did it to be with Cassia, which he doesnt get to do. I would have been super pissed if I were him. He seems suspicious, which is good. But he should be raging.

I also wish we could have found out who Cassia was going to meet in the end. Ky or Xander. I want it to be Ky but it is probably Xander. I have a feeling that the last book is going to take the love triangle into full swing. To give Cassia the chance to fully explore both options before choosing Ky. :P Cant wait for Reached. It better have a happy ending!

“Love has different shades. Like the way I loved Cassia when I thought she'd never love me. The way I loved her on the Hill. The way I love her now that she came into the canyon for me. It's different. Deeper. I thought I loved her and wanted her before, but as we walk through the canyon together I realize this could be more than a new shade. A whole new color.”