Knife Edge: Book 2

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Then there was that whole Jude P.O.V and ohmygosh I don't even know what to express in words of what I feel for Jude. There was so so so much potential for him to live a good life if he could just let go of all that rage and hate that was accumulating inside of him. And Cara ohmygosh for heavens sake my heart just sank at that point like she was the one who could make a difference. She was the change. How could Jude be so delusional I just wanted to scream out to the world and rip my hair at that part. That being said I truly believe Sephy should've let him die but, I can understand why she didnt Everything about our lives, the style of clothes we were, even down to the food we eat, it’s all dictated by Cross aesthetic, by the way Crosses see the world.”

because this book is perfect! There was nothing I could fault and it's definitely the best book I've read in a long time. I know a lot of people say this isn't as good as the first, but I adored it and actually thought that it was maybe better because of the further development of the characters and the plot; I was hooked! Sephy felt completely different in this story and I guess that aligns with all she'd been through in book one. She was struggling to get with the mothering plan and all I can say is thank goodness for Meggy. I really came to dislike Sephy in this one.Sixteen years have passed since Sephy Hadley first met Callum McGregor. For Callie Rose, growing up mixed race in a world where bitter prejudice divides Noughts and Crosses has meant she’s an outsider wherever she turns. The Noughts & Crosses series are still my favourite books of all time and showed me just how amazing story-telling could be' STORMZY Sephy is a Cross: she lives a life of privilege and power. But she's lonely, and burns with injustice at the world she sees around her. and it really did seem like he was falling in love with her, but I suppose their ship name can only be 'Titanic'. Je vais la faire en français. Je n'aurais jamais assez de mots en anglais pour exprimer tout ce que j'ai ressenti. C'était tellement violent, bouleversant, et j'en reste sur le cul.

I also found some minor points a bit irritating: perhaps because of the book's age-group audience, but things that seemed really obvious to me are spelled out, such as Sephy and her sister reiterating to each other that the baby is Callie Rose, Meggie's granddaughter - as if they wouldn't know that. There are a few places like that where there is unnecessary info dumping though fortunately not in big chunks, just sentences thrown in which seem totally unnecessary. As with the first book, there is a rather bitty structure where short section follows short section, each in an alternating viewpoint. This time, the switching is mainly between Sephy, the young Cross woman who was pregnant at the end of book 1, and Jude, the brother of Callum, the baby's now deceased father. Unlike book 1 there are a few sections in minor viewpoints, that of Sephy's mother and Jude/Callum's mother. I feel kind of guilty for not reading this series until now, when the first book was published about twenty years ago. But it's probably better that I'm reading it now, when I'm more aware of the real world to appreciate the world-building's subversions, demonstrated in the music scenes and discussions here in KNIFE EDGE.

The book also introduces some very interesting new themes and some that are quite grown up including mental illness, grief and post-natal depression. Sephy’s involvement in the band in particular I also liked as it introduces comments on the music industry, including racism and how image plays a large part of success.

First off I really did enjoy this beautiful masterpiece its filled with sorrow, hate, passion, revenge, depression, pain, rage, second chances, love and so so so much more. There was so many different things going on this novel at once I don't even know where to begin. Can I just give a hand to Sephys mom though like ohmygosh all the awards to you. I seriously admired her and if anything good that came out of this novel it was her. Sephy... all I can say is Sephy is not the same little naive girl who thought she and Callum could be friends without a second glance. 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 other thread in the book is Jude's life on the run and his mission to avenge himself on the Nought who is deputy of the terrorist network - a man he believes has been betraying agents and betrayed his group at the end of book 1. He also, due to his rabid hatred of all Crosses, finds himself engaged in more and more extreme behaviour, with a harrowing scene about halfway through the book concerning a Cross woman with whom he forms a relationship, meaning to steal from her, and for whom he starts to have feelings - which he cannot accept and which lead to tragedy. The book spirals down into a darkness, which includes a depression that by the end has swallowed up Sephy with seemingly further tragic results. This sequel also introduced newspaper clippings before reach section which did not add to the story, but seemed to be purely for world-building in a world that we are already familiar with because we read the first book! AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY VISION STARTED TO GET BLURRY AND THE GATEWAY OF TEARS JUST FLOODED OUT AND NO MATTER HOW MUCH I TRIED- I COULDN'T STOP THEM! SERIOUSLY , THIS BOOK WAS THE DEATH OF ME I JUST SAT IN MY ROOM AT 4:30 IN THE MORNING WITH A BOX OF TISSUES AND UGLY CRYING AND NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP. HANDS DOWN, THIS IS THE ONLY BOOK IN MY LIFE WHERE I WASN'T JUST CRYING BUT, FULL ON SOBBING WITH TISSUES.First and foremost, I still stand by the fact that the political themes in this book are brilliant and well executed. The entire idea for the series is amazing and I love the dystopian aspect too. I think it’s a very thought-provoking and bold series for young adults, and is rally daring in the dark topics it puts forward. I love the idea of the books, the execution just falls short repeatedly which makes me sad.