This is the fourth book in a series of six, and before you read this book, you must start with the first book and read them in order. I read the first book, NOUGHTS AND CROSSES, in October 2006, long before I began this blog. It was a gripping and mesmerizing book, which should be required reading for all students. Then I read AN EYE FOR AN EYE, a much shorter novella, and KNIFE EDGE, both in May 2011. As I started the second book, I had to look up a synopsis of the first book to familiarize myself with the story. As with the first book, I loved the second and third books.
I definitely should not have waited so long to read CHECKMATE. I often had to pause and remember what had happened in previous books in order to not be confused. And while I liked the book, I did not love it as much as the previous books, but I think if I'd read it while the others were still fresh in my mind I would have gotten a lot more out of it.
This books takes us through Callie Rose's life from age seven to age sixteen. As in the previous books, the short chapters are all told in first person, alternating between characters - Callie Rose, her mother, Sephy, her grandmothers, Jasmine and Meggie, and her father's brother, Jude. In the early years, all Callie Rose knows about her father is that he was a gardener and died in a car accident while her mum was pregnant with her. But as she grows older, and particularly after Jude first makes contact with her, she begins to learn more about who her father really was, and finds herself drawn into the Liberation Militia and training to be a soldier under her uncle's command.
I think my biggest issue was that I found Sephy to now be a very unsympathetic character. She loves her daughter, but she cannot bring herself to show her daughter real affection. For example:
I was about to give Callie a hug, but I caught myself in time. I gave her a pat on the head and a kiss on the forehead instead.
'Mum, I'm not a dog who just retrieved a bone, thank you very much," Callie complained. (pg 237)
And she constantly thinks to herself that now is the time to tell her daughter the truth about her father, and then she lets the moment pass and doesn't do so. Of course, she has her reasons for both of these issues, misguided though they may be, but for most of the book I was angry and disappointed at her.
The last third of the book took me back into that mesmerized didn't want to put it down state, but for a 500 page book it took a while to get that drawn in.
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 18, 2013
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Top reviews from other countries
Oft
Perfect for our young teenager (male)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 18, 2017
Perfect for our young teenager (male)
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 18, 2017
I don't usually get much feedback from teenage member of the family apart from whether he is enjoying a book and it seems this set has been thoroughly enjoyed. Reading at the same time as school set Literature books, I guess it's a welcome change to have leisure reading time...I can remember appreciating this too... and I have noticed the set of 3 books by Malorie Blackman have been read into the late night, another good sign. I attach a list of some of the other books that have been enjoyed by young teenager.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 18, 2017
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Sky Hyne
Not the book cover you think....
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 24, 2020Bella
Different cover to advertised. Everything else good service
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 5, 2020
Different cover to advertised. Everything else good service
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 5, 2020
I was disappointed when I received this as I had purposefully selected the black (with colour) front cover so it matched the rest of my series. What I did in fact receive was the new cover which matches crossfire.Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 5, 2020
Fast delivery. Brand new book. No other issues.
If you’re not bothered for the front cover then it’s perfect and a cheap price.
Just disappointed as I specifically ordered the black and colour copy as advertised.
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D. Williams
Couldn't wait to read this
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 22, 2013
