Knife Edge

I just finished this in a day after having last read it years ago when it first came out. It isn't as good as the first or last book in my opinion but it's important for the trilogy.

As a book in its own right, I'm impressed with how well Malorie Blackman manages to convey the feelings of Sephy and Jude. I really feel like I can empathise with the characters and it's extremely moving.

I read this straight after re-reading the first in the trilogy, "Noughts & Crosses", and I found that that helped the understanding and enjoyment of "Knife Edge". I'm not sure why but I just remember not enjoying it as much the first time I read it. It might be because there's not much of a main plot in "Knife Edge".

I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed "Noughts & Crosses".

Brilliant (2/2 people found this helpful)

Many people say that this book isn't as good as the first one, and I agree it isn't, but still, this book is a truly amazing read. This sequel concentrates more on character developement, rather then storylines and twists, but I quite enjoyed this technique. The story telling method is the same as lost time and not only varies between the main characters (Sephy and Jude), but moved onto to less important characters like Meggie and Jasmine, which is very effective at showing how they feel about Jude and Sephy.

Not only does this book show the struggle that sephy suffers as a single black woman with a mix raced baby, but it also high lights the hardship that young parents go through. I found this book just as emotional as the last, especially for Sephy, who is struggling to sort her life out after the events from the last book. I felt great sympathy for her throughout the book and felt as desperate as Meggie to help her.

Although Sephy's the main character in this book, I found Jude's character devlopement to be more interesting. I found that I was able to feel for a character I had disliked and hated through Noughts and Crosses. Jude goes through alot in this book and after all his actions the reader is left feeling disappointed that he can't change his views. This books again brings up themes of racism, prejudism and class. Malorie writes this book amazingly and somehow manages to make you love and hate Sephy and Jude at the same time. Although the book does seem to be considerably empty without Callum, but that's the way it's supposed to feel.

A definete read for anyone who enjoyed the first book and is interested to see how Sephy and Jude will cope after the loss of Callum.

Not as good as 'Noughts and Crosses' (5/5 people found this helpful)

This was the sequel to 'Noughts and Crosses', but it was a different type of book; less of an adventure story / page turner, and more of a study in relationships.

Unfortunately we lost one of the best characters in the previous book, and although Jude and Sephy are interesting, it wasn't quite the same without Callum. I also felt there wasn't much interaction between the two, their lives run parallel in time, but they don't meet up until near the end. The tension of Jude trying to seek revenge on Sephy doesn't really build either.

All in all a bit disappointing after 'Noughts and Crosses', lets hope the final book in the trilogy, 'Checkmate' lives up to the standard of the first.

Powerful sequel (2/2 people found this helpful)

In the sequel to the excellent Noughts and Crosses, Knife Edge follows the lives of the second class citizen, Nought Jude, and his life after the tragic events of his family that he now has to live with. Likewise for Sephy, a Cross who has to deal with many problems, her main priority her new born baby Callie-Rose.

It's another fantastic novel from Blackman who delivers an in-depth emotional spin on racism, parenting and social problems. Its detailed, it's realistic, it's powerful it's simply a great sequel. However the reason Noughts and Crosses worked so well was because of the great relationship between the two central characters Callum and Sephy, plot twists and a focused but only occasionally powerful focus on racism.

Knife edge differs with, in my view, a too much focus upon the issue of racism. I admire Blackman's writing style to get her main point across but the constant `she is a Cross' `he is a nought' appears as if the author of Pig Heart Boy is trying just a little too hard. Its minimal criticism but it at times was stressed too much and it is remarkable to see the division in this world.

Having the story told from Jude and Sephy's point of view worked well. In comparison to the award winning first book, Knife Edge is told from a Nought and from a Cross point of view which allows audiences to interpret the opinions from people on both sides of society. The division in this world made by Blackman is fantastic. It's emotional and emphasises that certain things such as discrimination are wrong in society.

Sephy's parenting is very interesting to read. As a young woman it certainly was breathtaking to see her contend with her baby of a mixed race, trying to raise her in a devised world of Noughts and Crosses. The emotional struggle is sensational reading.

Jude's life is also emotional, which is somewhat ironic considering his type of character.

The story isn't a patch on the first with fewer twists and an over the top focus on racism. However it's always an emotional audience capturing drama with emotion and desperation from the very first page, it's a sensational book with one of the most powerful attention grabbing endings I have ever read.

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Just as good as the first! (6/6 people found this helpful)

The second installment in the Noughts and Crosses trilogy was definately as good as the first.

I loved every minute of it because of the adventure and the struggles and the emotions of the characters.

This book deals with life after Callumn's death and how everyone is dealing with it. Malorie Blackman is especially good at conveying the charcter's emotions to the reader and she makes the book seem so real and believable.

This book is definately a must have if you have already read the first book - Noughts and Crosses. If you haven't read the first book then I suggest you do so and if you like it get this one because its just as good and in some places, I feel, even better.

Malorie Blackman

Reader Reviews:

Brilliant (1/1 people found this helpful)

Brilliant (2/2 people found this helpful)

Not as good as 'Noughts and Crosses' (5/5 people found this helpful)

Powerful sequel (2/2 people found this helpful)

Just as good as the first! (6/6 people found this helpful)

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