Knife Edge: Book 2

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The random POVs from Jasmine and Meggie were exactly that and very random. I didn't feel they were relevant at all. Me reading Callums letter but times 1200 ... I'm not even joking i think i died a little at this part because even though we knew it was not true it was just the most gruesome and cruel letter I have ever read Unlike the first novel I hadn’t read this one at school so this is my first time reading this novel. Note this review does contain spoilers for the first novel and short story in the series. This book was amazing! For those who have read Noughts and Crosses and decided not to continue on with the series, I completely understand why (plot-wise) but also because Noughts and Crosses has such a good and full story arc that it works 100% fine as a stand alone novel. I myself was considering leaving it at that because I loved that book and it felt very complete so I wasn't really sure if I was going to read this book. I am so glad that I did. The side characters are well developed which immediately told me that this book would deserve a very high rating.

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. Loved the rainbow colour thing going on at the beginning of each section - this was a very clever idea which was seamlessly woven into the book with great intentions.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.

I find it so sad how negative things are for Sephy in this book as she was introduced as such a positive character in the first book to her negative counterpart, Callum. I read this book in one sitting and honestly, still don’t know whether I’m liking the series or not – my feelings are so conflicted in regard to several aspects. 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. In this paragraph Jude talks about the beauty industry of this society and how even the underwear in shops is designed for Cross women and their naturally curvaceous figure. Or how Nought women get implants to make their lips fuller or spend longer in sunbeds to make themselves darker.The chapter style in this book was an improvement on the first, the chapters were longer which made the story feel less disjointed. I’m annoyed that there were more than two points of view though, I just feel it’s unnecessary and adds nothing at all to the story. I will say I loved being in Jude’s head for this one though – it was wild. Also, little is left to the readers. Things are stated so obviously with no opportunity to read between the lines for ourselves and infer from the text – many things really didn’t need to be stated but were which grated on me after a while. Then - in spite of a world that is fiercely against them - these star-crossed lovers choose each other.

I reviewed Noughts & Crosses at the start of this year and I’ll link the review at the end of this post. And if you haven’t read the first book, please don’t read this review. It will be completely filled with spoilers from book one and book two in all honesty. It’s the only way to review this book properly. This was not on the same level as ‘Noughts and Crosses’. The writing was good, but the story felt lost for me. It wasn’t the same. And while I get that we’re dealing with the aftermath of the conclusion of book one, I feel that this doesn’t do it justice. I found myself dragging myself through the book, when with the predecessor I was racing through the book, praying that it wouldn’t end.Meanwhile, Jude is in hiding following the kidnapping attempt which went awry. Sephy recognized one of the men in the Liberation Militia as working for her father, Andrew Dawn and now Jude is looking for a way to get him found out and avenge his brother. He befriends a Cross salon owner, Cara Imega with the aim of trying to gain access to her money but as his violent and hateful nature takes over, what will be the consequences and what difficult decision will Sephy have to make?