Review: Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie

Cassia is safe and happy with her life. Everything is chosen for her, and all she has to do is follow along. Her "match" is her best friend, and that's great. It all feels right. That is, until she briefly sees that her match could have been someone else. The walls of safety begin to crumble, and the world is a less sure place.

This is part of the new craze of dystopia fiction which was lead by the phenomenon known as The Hunger Games. Cassia's journey from a trusting sheep to someone who questions is nicely documented.

Be warned though that while this book is billed as the new generation of dystopian literature, it is in fact a romance novel seen through what an illicit affair might be in a controlled society. Granted, the worldbuilding of the Society has a certain thoughtfullness to it despite the similarities to other dystopian worlds.

I do think this would have been good as a standalone novel with a semi-open ended ending. It would achieve what a lot of dystopian stuff does, which is a sense of hopefullness but twisted by the Society it has to grow in. This is, however, a trilogy so I would imagine that the author will somehow topple this Society.

The second book in the trilogy is being written. (For a updates to the status of the second book and other books go here.

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