The Messenger Reviews

Dystopians hit it big in the Young Adult world, and I have to say that this is one of my favorites. It is in no way perfect, but despite all its flaws, I loved it. I found the plot well constructed, entertaining, and unique. Cassia was likable, as was Ky, and her friend Xander. This book also had some psychological elements to it that come in at the end, which I found a nice touch. Just a warning though, it does contain a love triangle, and I know very well that those can get old if you've read a lot of books with them.
My one major complaint is the romance. It wasn't poorly written. I liked Ky. Ordinarily, there wouldn't be anything wrong with it, but the problem surfaces when Xander enters the picture. Ky on his own might be a great guy, but the problem is that I found Xander far better. Ky is nice, but Xander is nicer. Ky is smart, but Xander is even smarter. Ky is sweet, but Xander is sweeter. I could go on for ages. Xander is quite possibly perfect, and while Ky is good enough, he just doesn't measure up in my opinion. For me, Xander completely overshadowed Ky. Now I know that you can't control love, but really, Xander is the far better choice here, and I can't begin to understand why she chose Ky. I know the book was supposed to be about rebellion and not accepting the system, but I felt like Cassia loved the idea of not buying into the system and falling in love with a rebel and an outcast more than she actually loved Ky. At one point she even asks "Is falling in love with someone's story the same thing as falling in love with the person himself?" I could go on about this for hours, but I will spare you from that rant.
Other than that detail (which I wouldn't say ruined the book, or even really hindered it too much), I really liked this book. I loved the world that Mrs. Condie created, and found myself caring about the characters (yes, even Ky) a good deal. Cassia was a pretty good role model, and I liked how she was kind of in between being completely dependent upon guys and not needing them at all.She didn't do everything on her own, guys helped her out sometimes, but she didn't need them to do everything for her either. I found her a bit more realistic than the Dystopian heroines who would just throw themselves into danger without having to think about it. She had to think about things, and try to figure out what she was supposed to do. She didn't jump into the rebellion right away, she had to think about it.
This book wasn't perfect, none of them are, but it was an exceptionally good read none the less. I found it very whimsical, but it was also serious at the same time. It's perfect for reading on the beach, or really anywhere. If you like books like Delirium, I would definitely check this book out as well. 
Four Point Five out of Five Stars