The second book in Condie’s Matched trilogy picks up quickly with Ky burying a body as part of his work as a decoy in the Outer Provinces. Technically, burying the bodies of his fellow decoys are not part of the job description, Officials couldn’t care less about the bodies as long as their jackets and boots can be reused for others, more efficient that way. But that is the kind of guy, Ky is. Refreshingly, Condie takes the time to flesh out Ky in this novel so he’s not just a brooding love interest with a good heart and mysterious past.

But don’t worry, we also spend time with Cassia. After months of working in the Farmlands, she finally has the opportunity to make a run for it to find Ky.

In the twisting canyons of the Outer Provinces and the Carving, their two POVs intertwine from following each other to finding a cause bigger than their own, the Rising. But the question Ky still holds out is whether the Rising can be trusted? Sure, they may be against the Society but their tactics and their civilization disturbingly mimic the other’s, but he doesn’t think he can bring Cassia away from the fervor she has to change lives.

Ky really shines in this book because again, it’s a rare glimpse into the love interest where these books tend to focus on the girl’s feelings, making the men feel a bit one dimensional and stale.

Here, readers more about Ky’s past and how his father wholeheartedly threw himself into helping the Rising and attempting to become a Pilot (one of the many local leaders that help form the resistance). His father’s enthusiasm came at the cost of his own life and the lives of the whole village, the day the enemy came and thus has scarred Ky. He saw how the Rising didn’t come to help survivors anymore than the Society.

But it’s more than a distrust of establishment, but grappling with complex feelings of anger and guilt towards his father’s blind will to change the world and Ky’s own choice not to do anything to help after his parents died that haunts him. Thus motivating most of his actions from going on the run to trying to hide mentions of the Rising’s existance because he knows Cassia will want to follow and he doesn’t think he could follow her on that path, knowing its cost.

Readers see a bigger rift between the two here. Ky has seen things, he knows the costs of resistance while Cassia is a bit more sheltered and optimistic. That coupled with how Cassia is aware of how he keeps things at a distance from her, hiding things, he won’t reveal his full self. She knows knowledge is power but is hurt that he doesn’t trust her enough to do so.

Cassia has several things to deal with too. Not the past but the future and what she’s willing to sacrifice to get to Ky, and then whether she’s willing to join the Rising so everyone in the Society can have a choice. Additionally, she’s struggling with the almost ingrained trust in Society, unable to believe the true reason for the blue tablets nor the casual murders of Abberations and the possibility they may be losing the war against the enemy.

Alongside such interesting internal battles and couple conflict, the lovers don’t exist in a vacum. They gather their own allies, young Eli that reminds them of Bram, reserved Vick, and mysterious Indie who holds her true intentions close to her chest. I loved the suspense Condie inserts in questioning who to trust, individually and societally and continues its themes of the power of choice and freedom.

She also inserts more lore into this book, describing the history of the Society’s formation and change, the distinct way of life of the farmers, the Rising, and different provinces, once more making it a real-lived in world. Her descriptions continue to evoke emotion and imagery just as she intended in expounding on the importance of art even if its’ just decoration. She notes that the landscape that Cassia, Ky and the others cross are based on the canyons in northern Utah and it is just amazing to read. Unfathomable in forcing you to confront the wide expanse and magnificence of nature which only makes the Society’s attempt of control of it more insideous.

As for where Xander is in all of this? He’s approaching his permenant job placement in another province as a medic, but he holds a secret that ties the trio together once more and promises to add more conflict to Cassia and Ky’s romance with his love for Cassia who still loves him in a different way. But if she finds out Ky’s secrets, she may choose another path towards Xander. At least that’s what Ky fears.

Who knows, but I can’t wait to find out and what will ultimately happen to the Society when the youth rise up. Until then.