Knife Edge: Book 2

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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. 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. 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. 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! 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

The random POVs from Jasmine and Meggie were exactly that and very random. I didn't feel they were relevant at all.This book is rather downbeat because of the subject matter. Unlike book 1 which had the uplifting and light-hearted parts concerning the love between Sephy and Callum, here it is unrelenting bad news and very grim incidents. I understand that Callum's fate at the end of book 1 set the tone for this one, but the inclusion of a mysterious letter, seemingly written by Callum, in which he tells her that he hates her and was only stringing her along for sex rather besmirched any fond memories of the happier parts of book 1.

MY FEELS OH MY GOSH MY FEELS! This is absolutely the most heart wrenching, gut tearing, depressing novel I have ever been blessed to read! Literally for the first half of the novel I was just sitting here like: But soon Callie is caught in a trap she can’t get out of – one which will have deadly consequences. 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.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 Compared to the first book, Noughts and Crosses, this one was just BORING! Not only that, but what’s up with sudden poetic, lyrical snippets that have been added? It’s airy-fairy nonsense. I highly doubt most readers read lyrics in fiction novels. 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. 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. From Sephy's POV, this book shows us how broken Callum's death left her and how a few well choosen words can have disasterous effects.

The two perspectives each had their own "feel" which made the characters distinctive when reading. It really showed how the characters thought in their own personal ways and because of how it felt different, it made them even more believable. 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.

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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. 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.