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Samara doesn't forget. And she isn't the only one. Safe underground in the city of New Canaan, she lives in a privileged world free from the Forgetting. Yet she wonders if she really is free, with the memories that plague her and secrets that surround her. Samara is determined to unearth the answers, even if she must escape to the old, cursed city of Canaan to find them.

Someone else is on their way to Canaan too . . . a spaceship from Earth is heading toward the planet, like a figment of the city's forgotten past. Beck is traveling with his parents, researchers tasked with finding the abandoned settlement effort. When Beck is stranded without communication, he will find more in Canaan than he was ever trained for. What will happen when worlds and memories, beliefs -- and truths -- collide?

This is a previously published edition of ISBN: 9780545945240.

438 pages, Hardcover

First published October 10, 2017

237 people are currently reading
5004 people want to read

About the author

Sharon Cameron

23 books2,108 followers
Sharon Cameron was awarded the 2009 Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for her debut novel, The Dark Unwinding. When not writing Sharon can be found thumbing dusty tomes, shooting her longbow, or indulging in her lifelong search for secret passages.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews
Profile Image for jv poore.
687 reviews259 followers
February 15, 2024
Hundreds of years ago, a select group—the brightest, some would say “the best”—humans exited Earth to populate a new planet in pursuit of a better life, for the people and even their habitat, this time. Regression would be the new progression, technology would be eliminated, to a certain extent, of course and mankind and mother nature would blissfully coexist. The socio-economic experiment was a success, but eventually the folks of the Canaan Project stopped responding to their counterparts on Earth. The fate of the colony became a constant scientific conundrum.

Both of Beckett’s parents worked tirelessly towards answers. For as long as he could remember his dad spoke passionately of the Canaan Project, ruminating possibilities and fantasizing of finding ruins. Being a curious and intelligent young man, Beckett also studied all available information and developed his own theories and hopes for the lost civilization. So, when their ship (finally) landed, actual exploration imminent, Beckett felt that his father was free to search for artifacts, but he believed in bigger discoveries. Beckett expected a close encounter of the evolved-human kind.

His field-trip-partner/friend-for-years, Jillian, accompanies him to map their routes while he gathers information. As data is submitted and instructions are received, Beckett begins to question the goal of this mission. Certain information has been deliberately withheld as a manipulation maneuver. Beckett does not know who to trust, but he’s sure that he’ll need help to get himself and anyone else that comes along, to safety.

Sometimes, even in fiction, there are lessons to be learned. When an absolutely fantastical tale illuminates misunderstandings and mal intent while highlighting characters filled with only good intentions, that is the true magic of phenomenal sci-fi and Ms. Cameron is quite the conjurer. The Knowing is a companion to Ms. Cameron’s The Forgetting; you can pick it today and dive right in without feeling lost…but you really should check out The Forgetting, too.

This review was written for Buried Under Books by jv poore.
Profile Image for Alyssa.
1,069 reviews855 followers
October 14, 2017
Lovely companion story!

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

The Knowing by Sharon Cameron
Book Two of The Forgetting series
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: October 10, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Samara doesn't forget. And she isn't the only one. Safe underground in the city of New Canaan, she lives in a privileged world free from the Forgetting. Yet she wonders if she really is free, with the memories that plague her and secrets that surround her. Samara is determined to unearth the answers, even if she must escape to the old, cursed city of Canaan to find them.

Someone else is on their way to Canaan too . . . a spaceship from Earth is heading toward the planet, like a figment of the city's forgotten past. Beck is traveling with his parents, researchers tasked with finding the abandoned settlement effort. When Beck is stranded without communication, he will find more in Canaan than he was ever trained for. What will happen when worlds and memories, beliefs -- and truths -- collide?

What I Liked:

The Forgetting was my favorite book of 2016. I thought it was a standalone, and it was a great one. But when I heard that Cameron was writing a companion sequel, I promptly flipped out. I would have been excited about a sequel (though I didn't think The Forgetting needed one), but a companion sequel was even better news. This novel is set many, many years after Nadia and Grey's story in The Forgetting. (I think it's like, one hundred years or so?)

Samara is one of the Knowing, those who cannot forget anything, not even memories from infancy. She lives underground in the city of New Canaan, with the rest of the Knowing. This year is a year of Judgment, which is important to the Knowing. When Samara's best friend is poisoned, Samara must flee for her life. She runs away to the Cursed City, where the old city of Canaan was. But someone else is already there - two someones. Beckett and Jill are the children of two families who have been flying across space from Earth to learn more about the lost city of Canaan. Ships have previously flown to the planet, but the ships never returned. Beckett's parents are interested in studying the culture and remnants, and Jill's parents want to know more about the people. And the Commander has... her own agenda. Beck and Jill weren't supposed to find anything - let alone the Cursed City, and a native. The Knowing are coming for Samara, and those on the Centauri ship are coming for New Canaan. But who will survive?

Like all of Cameron's other heroines, Samara was so unique and likable. She is a quiet thinker, very intelligent and very good at hiding her emotions and burying her feelings. This frustrates Beck, because she isn't always open with her thoughts and feelings. Samara hates Knowing and never forgetting, because her memories can be painful and can cause her to have rare episodes of panic and terror. But Samara is so strong and resilient. Her Knowing makes her powerful and complete, despite its debilitation.

Beck is one of my favorite YA heroes for this year. He is brave and very intelligent as well, and he is so willing to put himself between danger and Samara. It was so wonderful to see a genuinely nice guy as the male protagonist. He is tough and decisive, but he is very compassionate.

Jill is Beck's fellow earthling and explorer. She's kind of annoying but occasionally I appreciated some of her smarter moves. She is sneaky and shifty, someone I never really liked or trusted, but somewhat understood.

There is a lot that happens in this book, but it goes towards Earth people and New Canaan people clashing. Also important is Samara and Beck finding out more about the Knowing and the Forgetting, and why the Knowing exists. This was really interesting to discover, and I was fascinated by how the author tied The Knowing into The Forgetting. There are new physical Grey/Nadia cameos, but they pop up in the story a fair amount, in the second half.

The beginning is slow, but the story in general picks up the pace and is very exciting. Keep going if you get stuck in the first two or three chapters. Once Beck and Samara meet, I was completely dialed in and turning pages.

The romance is very slow-burn and so lovely to watch. Beck slowly gets Samara to trust him, and Samara slowly lets Beck in. They are a good pair, and good for each other. I liked how he took care of her and she took care of him and they took care of each other. I thought the romance was wonderful. Jill has feelings for Beck initially, but this disappears and isn't a love triangle. (Beck has no feelings for Jill, and also when he meets Samara, Jill is sort of no one anymore. And then she meets her own guy).

I loved all of the reveals toward the end of the book. That was a great job by the author, to drop hints along the way and slowly reveal the information. I was dying to know this or that, but didn't skip any part of the story because that was risky! Something important could have been missed. I was riveted until the very end!

The ending is excellent, and actually leaves room for a possibly sequel to this book? A direct sequel, at that. It could end exactly where it is and I wouldn't be mad about it. It was a good ending. But there could be a direct (or even companion) sequel, which would be neat! The author left the ending the tiniest bit open. I wouldn't mind more from this series!

What I Did Not Like:

The only "big" thing that I remember not loving was the slow beginning. It took me a little while to get into the story. I expected to be hooked and immersed, but instead I was somewhat confused and bored. But this only lasted for the first few chapters. As soon as Beckett landed on the planet and started exploring, I started to get more interested.

One could say that there is a bit of an annoying side-romance that could have lead to a love triangle - I didn't think so. Jill is obsessed with Beckett but it was always clear that Beckett wasn't interested in Jill like that. They weren't together in that way - even if Jill wanted them to be. This isn't really a love triangle but it was a little annoying, BUT I also see why the author included Jill's feelings for Beckett and scorn towards Samara. That becomes important.

Would I Recommend It:

If you read The Forgetting, then I definitely recommend this book. It’s a companion sequel so it’s not necessary to read The Forgetting before reading The Knowing. But I highly recommend doing so, because you’ll be amazed when you reach the parts in which the author ties the two stories together. And if you haven’t heard of the series, I recommend it to people who like futuristic science fiction novels that deal with a new planet. Read the books in order if you can! The Forgetting is one of my all-time favorite novels and The Knowing is an awesome follow-up.

Rating:

4 stars. I loved The Knowing and I’m completely satisfied with this companion sequel. I love how it ties in with The Forgetting and how the author dropped easter eggs throughout the story. I still love The Forgetting more, but this book was very good.





Pre-read squees:

UPDATE (June 24, 2017): Y'ALL OMG LOOK WHAT IS IN MY HOUSE ON MY BED IN MY HANDS!!!!!!!!

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THANK YOU, KATIE!!!



UPDATE (February 20, 2017): I've added the synopsis, now that it's on Amazon! YOU CAN PREORDER THIS BOOK NOW!

Amazon


(Sorry guys I'm just really excited) :D :D :D

UPDATE (February 16, 2017): The publication date is official! October 10th is the day.


I AM SO EXCITED I MIGHT DIEEEEEEE!!!!!!

I lost track but I think this is the 5th book I've created on GR?

LOOK AT THIS COVER!!!!!!

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Profile Image for Nastassja.
433 reviews1,264 followers
December 29, 2017

Ladies and Gentlemen, let me present you a story where protagonist fails his mission epically by telling a girl secret information he was trusted with and trained professionally not to divulge after first 10 minutes of their acquaintance with the aforementioned girl.

<...>But it's against the rules to tell you this stuff, so don't say anything in fron of Jill, okay? You'll get me in trouble.


Pratogonist: But... but she has pretty eyes and her hair is so wiiild.

Me:

Okay guys, here's what happened.

I am a fan of Sharon Cameron and I believe I've read all of her books, including The Forgetting, which is the first part of the duology, and The Knowing can be considered a companion novel. So, my expectations were high, I admit, but pardon me if I cannot stand a boy, who makes moon eyes at a girl he just met, especially if there's no chemistry between two characters, and I can't for the love of all chocolate understand why I should sympathize with these people.


The only good thing about this book for me was a mentioning of characters from book 1, and we've got a wider picture of the world and weird stuff going on around.

Thank you for your attention, Ladies and Gentlemen!
*Leaves the stage*

Profile Image for The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo.
2,940 reviews387 followers
July 30, 2021
This is a huge notch above the typical YA Sci-Fi series. The Knowing begins several hundred years after the events in The Forgetting. To be honest, there are several events in the timeline gap that I'm still unclear about, but they didn't ultimately hinder my enjoyment.

The Forgetting was about a small city whose citizens suffered an event every twelve years that caused all but a very few to forget everything about their lives: their name, who their family is, what their role in society is. They each have a book they take with them everywhere, writing the facts they want to know after they Forget. The Knowing is about what happened after part of that society relocated underground - what they've learned and what they've become.

Spoiler alert: they didn't change for the better.

What I love about this series (there may be a third book... the ending left the door open) is that it closely examines memory - exploring how those with evil intent manipulate others by figuring out how to screw with it. The first book was about abusing forgetfulness to attain and hold onto power; this book is about the elitism of those who remember everything and their refusal to share the ability or their knowledge with others. Other novels touch on memory anomalies as a byproduct of a bigger subject or storyline, but it's the core here and I thought about it in ways I never had.

In my review of The Forgetting, I mentioned that a big detraction was the goofy YA romance, and although The Knowing has a romance angle too, it didn't seem nearly as aggravating. I often think publishers want romance to boost interest in books with weak plots - not an issue with this series. The main plot is too good.

I strongly recommend Sharon Cameron's excellent series. If it hadn't been YA, it would have been even better.
Profile Image for Michelle.
661 reviews6 followers
November 18, 2017
DNF at page 167. This one stung because I LOVED "The Forgetting". The narrative was fantastic, the characters were people you wanted to root for, and the battle was something you got emotionally connected to.

This? Oh HELL TO THE NO. I tried epically hard to like it, but I couldn't - the concept of being 400 years later was great, but execution is terrible.

Samara as a character is sort of a terrible narrator and as much as I understand her pain of "knowing" (I think? it's not explained well), you grow frustrated with her inner monologue of "oh, these people don't know?!?!"

Beckett is more likeable but with only half the narrative coming from him and even he gets a little boring at moments where I know I should be invested - I'm out.
Profile Image for CHORNOBROVA KAROOKA.
773 reviews56 followers
March 23, 2025
8/10

Що мені сподобалось?

📓 світ
І те, як гарно події другої книги доповнили події першої.

📜 379 років тому люди покинули Прокляте місто, щоб створити Новий Ханаан, якому кожні 12 років не доводилось би переживати Забуття.
Тільки не все склалось так, як мало б.
Уявіть собі людей, які взагалі не здатні забувати - які пам’ятають кожну мить свого життя, навіть до власного народження. Це люди, які не просто переглядають спогади, як візуальні зображення, вони приречені кожного разу переживати одну і ту ж мить заново, що може стати як благословенням, так і прокляттям.
Вони можуть дослівно переказати інформацію з книги, яку прогортали в дитинстві, та закохуються лише раз, адже переживання спогадів про того, кого любиш, постійно підживлює почуття, і вони не можуть зникнути. Тому у суспільстві тих, хто Знає, всі стосунки - це партнерство за домовленістю, кохання ж - занадто небезпечна річ, адже втративши його, ти ніколи не зможеш відчути щось подібне до когось іншого.

✉️ любовна лінія
Вона була тут далеко не на першому плані, але стосунки Сем і Бека були дуже милими, з повагою до особистого вибору, з розумінням, співчуттям і бажанням врятувати того, кого кохаєш, навіть якщо доведеться ризикувати власним життям.

👉 головні герої
Не ідеальні. Але «живі» - зі своїми недоліками, травмами, принципами та питанням «що мені робити далі?».

Що мені не дуже сподобалось?
✨Так само, як і в першій частині, на початку було нічого не зрозуміло: я декілька разів починала читати, кидала, а потім починала знову.
Багато згадок Знання без пояснення того, що ж стоїть за цим поняттям, дуже гальмувало процес читання, і мені хотілось, щоб авторка пояснила все раніше.
✨Декілька затягнутих моментів, коли дуже хотілось, щоб події розвивались швидше, але, на жаль, динаміки не вистачало.

В цілому, це була хороша книга і дуже хороша дилогія.
Якщо вам подобаються науково-фантастичні книги з любовною лінією, обов’язково прочитайте цю серію.
Profile Image for Vivianne.
526 reviews68 followers
February 5, 2020
Spoiler free mini review

The Forgetting: 4,00 stars
The Knowing: 3.75 stars


I really enjoyed this book. Super enjoyable with very interesting themes. I did think the first book was slightly better but this was also very interesting, especially that earth actually got there.

I was a bit confused about this book because I thought it would just be the sequel of the first book but it’s more of an companion novel. So in the beginning I didn’t really get who was who and what had happened to the world but that changed very fast to a positive.

Like the first book, I once again really enjoyed the themes this book handled. I loved how the world expands in this and how we see what has become of the city and the forgetting about 300 years later. The world is just phenomenal! This was super enjoyable to read. I love the technology and how it was used in this book. I really liked learning about earth and what has happened in the future. This was so believable and absolutely magnificently done. Therefore I did keep wishing for more.

I really liked that we got 2 POV’s, one from the guy from earth and one from New Canaan. I really liked their interaction in the beginning and how they figured each other out slowly and I had to laugh out loud several times. Loved to see the differences between earth and New Canaan and found that very well done in this book.

I loved the writing style, loved the overall plot and how tense it was with super high stakes throughout the whole book. There were enough twists and turns to keep me entertained and on the edge of my seat. I love that it’s a standalone and that you don’t have to read 10 books to get to conclusions. I liked the world and love the cover.

I also really loved that this was on the contrary of the first book in which everyone forgets, here everyone remembers everything. I really liked this fact and how it has come to this through the events of the series.

So why was the first book better?
- I am so tired of reading about characters running around like chickens with their heads cut off in underground passages. Been there done that. Seen this a 1000 times. It doesn’t further the plot, doesn’t develop relationships, doesn’t make the world broader. NO! I don’t want to see this anymore
- The female main character got a bit on my nerves with her whining and complaining. Therefore the characters in the first book were much more likable and fun to read about. I also found the interactions and friendship much more natural in the first book.
- I also found the “bad” characters a bit flat in this, would love to know more about their motivation and their background.
- I had expected more of a connection with the first book.
Profile Image for Lauren.
1,346 reviews366 followers
September 3, 2017
Realllly good. Much like the first one, I was pretty confused at the beginning (and on and off throughout). I like learning about this really insane world and would totally read more books in this companion series. I think Sam and Beck were interesting main characters. I liked that the story felt similar enough to the first book to tie them together but definitely different enough to learn more about Canaan.
Profile Image for Lauren.
1,181 reviews320 followers
October 17, 2017
I enjoyed this companion to THE FORGETTING so much! It was fascinating to get another look at this world from a new perspective (hundreds of years after Nadia and Gray's time). Being one of the Knowing like Samara would be a fascinating and also terrifying experience, I think. And Beckett's experiences discovering an entirely new planet are also well explored.

I didn't like the Jillian aspect to this story and the way it affected the romance, but I agree that once Beckett saw Samara that was it for each of them. I don't know if there will be more books in this world. But I'm happy to leave these characters to be. Sharon Cameron remains one of my favorite authors. I cannot wait to find out what she writes next.
Profile Image for AziaMinor.
683 reviews69 followers
June 6, 2021
Overall Rating : B

"I am one of the Knowing. The privileged. The Special.
What have we done to be punished with this life?"


379 years after the events of The Forgetting, this shows how events can be altered and twisted to fit beliefs and cultures. Even if it started as something completely different.
The sequel wasn't really necessary, and it seemed like there was way to much going on or being unsaid to have an understandable plot. But I did enjoy the characters and their progress and development, with mentions of the first book intertwined. A pretty good combination of fantasy and scifi.

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Profile Image for Karen’s Library.
1,294 reviews203 followers
May 22, 2018
I thought The Forgetting was a great original dystopian story, but wow, The Knowing was even better!! This companion book actually takes place in the same world but with a new cast of characters. I can't go into too much detail about who they are without giving away spoilers.

I can say that in The Knowing, Earth sends a ship to Canaan to see what happened to the original lost colonists. Beckett is the young man from earth who is exploring when he comes across Samara, one of the Knowing.

From there on out, I had no idea what would happen next. The premise of the story is very unique and I loved it! There were so many great twists and turns that kept me enthralled throughout. Nicely done, Sharon Cameron!
Profile Image for Faith.
175 reviews
March 8, 2024
The “post-reading-a-wonderful-book depression” is real. My main symptom is never wanting the story to end while feeling satisfied with how it did. This was a perfect sequel to The Forgetting. The romance was just as swoon worthy and the plot just as unique. The story begins a long time after book one with totally new characters. For the best reading experience, read the first one, give it some time to become “history”, then read book 2.
Profile Image for Aj Sterkel.
875 reviews33 followers
July 16, 2019
It’s rare that the second book in a series is better than the first, but I liked this novel even more than The Forgetting! It’s such a unique dystopia. This book takes place several centuries after the first and follows a different set of characters. I loved seeing how the world had changed in that time. I also loved the characters! Unlike in the first book, Beck and Samara have tons of personality. It was helpful to get the perspective of an Earthling and of a Canaan native. I felt like I understood the world better than I did in the first book because of the two points-of-view. I still had a bunch of “Why?” questions, though. A few of them were answered. Most weren’t. Parts of the book just left me confused.
Profile Image for starryeyedjen.
1,768 reviews1,264 followers
November 14, 2017
I loved The Forgetting. Like, FIVE STAR loved it. It was so unique and Sharon Cameron is kind of brilliant and it was just so good. So, my expectations for the companion novel were pretty high. Where The Forgetting focused on a civilization that forgot who they were every 12 years, The Knowing takes place centuries later and features a people who cannot forget. They even remember being in the womb. It was quite the opposite story in a lot of ways...but also kind of not. I liked the parallels and what realizations they led to. And I liked the characters for the most part. But this sequel of sorts was just missing that certain something that would have made me love it as much as the previous installment.
Profile Image for Carina Olsen.
843 reviews158 followers
July 14, 2017
I have been so excited to read this book for ages now. Because I loved The Forgetting so much. I'm still a bit sad that this wasn't a direct sequel, aw. Instead it was a companion book, set around four hundred years in the future. I had hoped to love this just as much as I loved the first one. But oh, I did not. And I feel so sad.

Don't know where to begin. There were parts of this book that I enjoyed a lot. I loved how it was set in the same place as book one. With a lot of the same things, even though this is far in the future. But there were also a lot of things I didn't like about this book. Aw. Because of that, this ended up as a three star for me.

Which makes me incredibly sad. Because I really hoped and thought that I would love this book to pieces. Hmph. And I am heartbroken that I didn't. I am not sure how it was possible that this book was so very different from the first one. I just re-read The Forgetting. And I loved it beyond words. It was so beautiful. Yet the moment I started this companion book, I noticed a ton of differences. The writing was different too. I never fully connected with any of the characters. And that was so disappointing. Ugh. I'm not sure why it was so much different from the first book. But it was. This book is told from two point of views. Samara and Beckett. A chapter each. This change I did like, though, so yay. Mostly loved these two characters too. More on that shortly.

But this book wasn't all bad. Three stars is still good. I will be talking more about some things that I didn't like soon, aw, but will mention first some more things that I did enjoy. Because for the most part I did like this book. I just wanted so much more from it. Anyway. I adore this world the most. So interesting to read more about this whole place, and how it has changed these past years. And get to read more about the Forgetting trees too, and how people are still affected by all of this. I loved that. A lot of it was so exciting.

But, well. The biggest reason for why I didn't love this book was the chapters written from Samara. I really did like getting to know her. She was amazing to read about, and I found her to be pretty adorable. And I wanted to know more personal things about her. Hmph. But, yeah. The way the book was written from her point of view was so annoying. Because Samara is different. She's a Knowing. And so she Knows almost everything. And that word is with a big letter all the time and so often. It got to be too much. Aw.

But I will say that it was interesting to get to know about these new types of people. To read about all the things that Samara had to relive in her head, like she just learned and watched it all for the first time. It was a bit heartbreaking, yet I didn't care too much, aw. But it was interesting to read about, even so. To learn why only some people were Knowing. And how they were thought to be special because of this. Even though a lot of those like this ended up killing themselves. It was a bit brutal. Yet fascinating too.

This book tells the story of Samara and Beckett. Beckett just arrived to this planet from Earth. He and his parents are looking for evidence of what happened to the first people that got sent to this planet, many years earlier. And so Beckett and another girl his age, Jillian, have left their spaceship to look for clues. And, yeah. I had so many issues with Jillian. Which was depressing. She and Beck was supposed to be a couple, but he felt nothing for her. Yet she is a bit jealous and bitter and mean through this whole book.

There were some characters in this book that I just felt had no purpose. Jillian was one of those. She was there just to annoy me. Hmph. Sure, I guess she was important, but I did not like her. No love triangle, not really, just annoying for me. Hmph. Oh, and another boy that was in love with Samara. Sigh. No feelings from her, but he was a creep, and that annoyed me too. No drama like that in The Forgetting. Aw. I feel a bit sad that this book wasn't as perfect, and that I didn't enjoy it as much as I loved the first book. Sniffs.

I'm not sure what I wish to share about The Knowing. I enjoyed parts of the plot a lot. I did like reading about Beckett and Samara. I liked reading about their romance. But I also felt like this book was so much lesser that The Forgetting. And that makes me sad. I really enjoyed the peeks at the past, but those were few. And not what I really wanted. Aw. I hope there will be short stories, one day, about what happened with Nadia and Gray. I want that. I want that very, very much. Because I missed them like crazy in this.

I do think you should all read this book, though. Yet only if you have read The Forgetting. Because while this isn't a direct sequel, only a companion, it do take place in the same place, same world, same type of plot. And it would be much easier to understand things if you have read The Forgetting first. Plus, that book was awesome. I'm sorry that I didn't love this book more. Aw. But yeah, it just wasn't fully for me. But so curious to know what others will think. Thank you so so much sweet person for this precious ARC.

---

This review was first posted on my blog, Carina's Books, here: http://carinabooks.blogspot.no/2017/0...
Profile Image for Nicole M. Hewitt.
Author 1 book354 followers
October 18, 2017
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

Oh. My. Goodness. Do I love these books! If you haven’t read my gushing review of The Forgetting, you should go read it. And then come back here and find out why this second book was just as good. The Knowing is a companion to the first book and takes place a few hundred years in the future—so, by this point, Nadia and Gray’s story is ancient history. (If you go in expecting to see more of them, you’ll be disappointed, so I want to set your expectations accordingly. But we do still get a few little reminders of their story.)

What Fed My Addiction:

An exploration of memory.
So, just like the first book, this book explores how memories shape our lives, but it comes at the subject from a completely opposite angle. Hundreds of years after the events of The Forgetting, we find that Canaan’s society has completely changed and there is a whole new memory anomaly that seems to have replaced the Forgetting. Now, there is a portion of society who remembers everything—every moment of their lives. In fact, they literally can’t forget. Sounds great, right? Except… not so much.

Samara’s struggle with her memories.
So, the Knowing (as they call those who don’t forget) have to rely on caching their memories—basically compartmentalizing them and pushing them out of conscious thought unless they’re specifically called to mind. Otherwise, those memories will overtake you. Samara isn’t so great at caching. She’s often thrust headlong into a painful memory at very inconvenient moments. And she doesn’t just remember them, it’s like she’s living them again. Unfortunately, Sam has many painful moments to relive. Her one most desperate wish is to cure herself of Knowing. She sees it as a burden, not a gift.

Beckett.
Beckett is excited to come to Canaan to explore a dead civilization. He wants to discover history. He never expects to be a part of it. So when his story collides with Sam’s he’s more than a little shocked—and he does it all wrong. Everything he knows he shouldn’t do—he just can’t help himself. I loved Beck. I loved the fact that he was so sure of himself in some areas and so utterly and completely unsure of himself in others. I loved that he had principles and values but that he knew that he didn’t necessarily have all the answers.

Discoveries.
Throughout the book, we learn how Canaan got from where it was in the first book to the current civilization, 400 years later. How did the Knowing come about? Is the Forgetting still a thing? How did their society become so divided? How many of Canaan’s myths were real? We don’t get answers quickly or all at once, but I think I preferred that way. I enjoyed the mysteries as they unraveled!

What Left Me Hungry for More:

Bit confusing at first.
When you first jump into the book, prepare to be a little confused. The society is much different than you might expect based on The Forgetting (which makes sense, since there’s been a 400 year time jump), and it will take some time to figure out what the heck’s going on. All I can say is, sit back and enjoy the ride!

The Knowing takes the concept of The Forgetting and flips it on its ear. Prepare to be led through a twisting maze of history and deception. Oh, and Cameron gives us plenty of fodder for future companions—little hints that could easily lead to future stories (but don’t leave us with loose ends). I’m hoping she writes more!!! I give this one 5/5 Stars, and the series stays firmly in my All-Time Favorites list!



***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via ALA Annual in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
Profile Image for Daryna.
65 reviews4 followers
August 14, 2024
"Це жахливо, коли приходить любов не до тієї людини. Але ще страшніше, коли жінка, кохання до якої ти не забудеш ніколи... є злом"

Жанр:
🌘роментезі
🌘антиутопія
🌘наукова фантастика

Рівень spicy: no smut

Сиквел, який можна читати окремо!

Тропи:
🌒від незнайомців до кохання
🌒сильна головна героїня
🌒словберн

Фентезійна складова:
🌊існування привілейованого суспільства, яке ніколи нічого не забуває (буквально; вони можуть відтворити в пам'яті будь-який момент свого життя так, ніби вмикають його на якомусь програвачі; також їхня пам'ять буквально фотографічна — їм достатньо один раз подивитися на сторінку, щоб запам'ятати все написане на ній)

Дійові особи:
🌙Семере — головна героїня, яка ніколи не забувала; вона пам'ятає кожну дрібницю зі свого минулого; і це минуле переслідує її, адже воно сповнене смертей, втрат і жорстокості;
🌙Бекет — головний герой, який прибуває із Землі з місією довідатися все про жителів Ханаану;
🌙Джилліан — "подружка" Бекета, яка працює разом із ним, а ще має стати його дружиною колись у майбутньому, бо так вирішили їхні батьки (тож частково тут можна було б приписати троп "шлюб за домовленістю", але я вирішила, що це було б не надто доречно, але не скажу чому, щоб не спойлерити))
🌙Реддікс — хлопець, з яким має побратися Семере, щоб Рада пробачила її родину (о, ще один "шлюб за домовленістю", так; але знову ж таки не вважаю за потрібне додавати його до тропів))

За вайбом схоже на:
🪐підліткові антиутопії (Голодні ігри, Дивергент, Деліріум, Той, що біжить лабіринтом, Темні уми, Перезавантаження та Знищ мене)

Тип оповіді: почергово від Семере або від Бекета

🩵Сюжет🩵
Зав'язка сюжету починається зі знайомства з Семере, яка пробирається до підземель, де живуть "ті, що мають Знання". Вона робить це таємно не тому, що не належить до цієї общини, а тому, що їй заборонено спілкуватися з жителями Позамежжя (тобто тими, хто що дванадцять років забувають). Однак у Семере є найкраща подруга, Ніта, яка живе у Позамежжі. А ще ця подруга — її служниця. Тож, Семере іноді допомагає її родині й іншим жителям Позамежжя: лікує їх, приносить харчі і тд. Звісно ж, усе це заборонено.
І от одного дня Ніта приносить обід для Семере, а та вирішує поділитися ним із Нітою (як і робить зазвичай). Та не встигає Ніта дожувати, як починає задихатися і битися в конвульсіях. Їжа була отруєна. І, на щастя, Семере не встигла її скуштувати. Однак її найкраща подруга приречена на смерть, адже ліків проти отрути не існує. А якщо хтось довідається про те, що Семере віддавала свою їжу служниці, то всю її родину та саму Семере стратять. Тому дівчині доводиться прийняти складне рішення — задушити Ні��у, щоб виставити все так, ніби та померла від цього, а не від отрути.
Вбивши свою найкращу подругу, Семере розуміє, що ці спогади переслідуватимуть її до кінця життя, адже вона нічого не забуває. Тож їй доведеться проживати їх мільйон разів (буквально), щоразу відчуваючи ті ж самі емоцій, що й уперше. Але вона чула про існування загадкового міста, де панує хвороба — Забуття. А Семере відчайдушно прагне забути. Крім того, вона розуміє, що отрута в їжі призначалася для неї, отже хтось у Раді бажає її смерті.
У ту ж мить вона вирішує втікати з рідного міста і віднайти Забуття. А Рада тим часом наступає їй на п'яти...

З іншого боку у нас є Бекет — землянин, який прибув з однією метою: дослідити поселення Ханаан і з'ясувати, що сталося з його мешканцями. Проблема полягає лиш у тому, що їхній космічний корабель (хай який наворочений новітніми технологіями) не бачить жодних ознак життя на цій планеті. Вони вже майже зневірилися і хотіли повертатися з порожніми руками, коли раптом потрапляють у так звану "сліпу зону", де зв'язок із кораблем зникає. Відрізані від командування, Бекет і Джил (його напарниця) опиняються в невідомому місті, яке здається давно покинутим. Але це чи не єдині ознаки того, що тут все ж хтось жив, тому вони вирішують дослідити це місце як слід, перш ніж повертатися на корабель.

Тільки трапляється зовсім не так, як вони планували. Бекет підвертає ногу, а ще з'являється ця дивна незнайомка, яка зве себе Семере й постійно діймає Бекета і Джил питаннями, чи вони "забули".

Коли Семере розуміє, що зустріла землян, існування яких вважали вигадкою, вона розуміє, що може обміняти їхні життя на власне. Їй просто треба привести їх у своє місто і віддати Раді, вимагаючи помилування собі й своїй родині.
У Бекета інший план: добратися до міста Семере і повідомити командуванню, що вони знайшли іншопланетну цивілізацію, щоб ті могли дослідити їх як слід.

Тож Бекет із Джил слідують за Семере, переслідуючи власні цілі, й навіть не здогадуючись, що та веде їх у пастку, з якої їм не вдасться повернутися живими.


Насправді це доволі стислий переказ зав'язки, бо паралельно там трапляється ще безліч речей, але я не стану їх переказувати, бо тоді цей відгук затягнеться надто сильно 🥲
Тож перейдімо до моїх вражень.
Ця частина сподобалася мені менше, ніж Забуття, але я не можу назвати її нудною. Мабуть, я просто очікувала дечого іншого. Також зауважу, що тут більший акцент на фантастичній сюжетній лінії, ніж на любовній. В якийсь момент я навіть почала сумніватися, що тут буде любовна лінія, але тут просто шалено довгий словберн, тож треба набратися терпіння.
Кохання у цій книжці трепетне і ніжне. За ним приємно спостерігати. Головні герої дуже обережні зі своїми почуттями. Можливо, тому мені часом не вистачало іскри між ними. Але на колір і смак, як-то кажуть...
Приємно порадували відсилки до попередньої частини. Наприклад, деякі деталі й роздуми перегукуються та протиставляються. А ще для мене була очевидна паралель між початками історій Наді та Семере: Надя на початку історії лізе по мотузці, повертаючись з-за стіни, і думає, чи не впіймається вона цього разу; Семере на початку історії також лізе по мотузці, повертаючись із Позамежжя, і теж думає, чи не впіймається. А ще приємно було нарешті дізнатися про Анну, чия історія залишилася нерозказаною у Забутті. Також ми дізнаємося про долю Наді, Ґрея і Дженіві після фіналу Забуття.
Сюжетні повороти подекуди змусили мене сидіти з роззявленою щелепою, але "скляних" моментів у цій частині значно менше, якщо порівнювати з першою.
Перша частина далася мені доволі важко, адже подій багато, а тут ще й два оповідача, які паралельно розповідають про два різних світи: Землю у майбутньому та Новий Ханаан. Але десь у другій половині стає легше стежити за оповіддю, а фінал узагалі пішов як по маслу.

Раджу прочитати тим, кому сподобалося Забуття і в кого залишилися питання після нього.
Profile Image for Angela.
71 reviews90 followers
February 25, 2018
Actual rating: 3.7/5 Stars

Okay, let me just start off by saying how glad I am that Beckette isn’t as dumb as he looks (or sounds); he actually has a some level of common sense (yay!!)... don’t get me wrong, I like him but I just... expected more from a main character.
I was disappointed in this book, or maybe it’s just that I was expecting a lot more because of the first book. I feel like the characters Sam and Beck were very similar to Nadia and Gray (coincidence, I don’t think so).
Other wise, the story/plot was pretty good; we have more world building and character growth from the first book.
Profile Image for Shelley.
5,598 reviews489 followers
March 12, 2018
*Source* Edelweiss
*Genre* Young Adult, Science Fiction
*Rating* 3.5

*Thoughts*

The Knowing, by author Sharon Cameron, is the companion novel to the original The Forgetting. The story actually takes place a hundred years after the original story. It features Samara Archiva and Beckett Rodriguez which means the story alternates between characters. Samara doesn't forget anything, nor does she have to write anything down to remember it like Nadia was told to do. And she isn't the only one. Safe underground in the city of New Canaan, she lives in a privileged world free from the Forgetting.

*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*

http://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/201...

Profile Image for Jasmin.
30 reviews
May 28, 2020
So what’s with sequels being absolutely garbage and ruining the first book that was amazing? Because seriously, I’m really getting sick of it.

My opinion is firm in that I believe the characters make or break the book. If your characters are shit, then I don’t care how good your story is. It’s not good enough. This book was a case where it could have been good, the concept was interesting enough, but the characters, among many other things, ruined it.

Let’s start with Samara. She felt so robotic and childlike. Not childlike in the sense that she was immature, but like she was born yesterday. It was so annoying. In my head, when I think Samara, I imagine a robot with it’s head down, looking up, purple eyes opening and whirring. So yeah, robotic, born yesterday.

Now on to Beckett. Oh how I HATED Beckett. Every single thing about him was so annoying. I wish I could punch him through the page because I honestly would. Imagine being trained for something your ENTIRE life, and then meeting a girl on a planet you don’t know, and telling her everything. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? On top of that, it was so weird to me that he’d be so willing to leave his home that eagerly. Like what? I’d somewhat understand if New Canaan had any sort of appeal, but it didn’t. Other than to study it. But he wants to live there. For no known reason either, but apparently he’s known this since before they even got there. He was annoying, he was cringy, he was poorly written. (And so was Samara.)

Honestly? My favorite characters were Jillian and Nathan. Jillian was probably the only character with any kind of personality out of those main three, which is probably why, despite the fact that she was intended to be an antagonist, she was my favorite and I was rooting for her and her romance with Nathan. The ending that they got was TRASH and I hate this author for it. And what Nathan did was so... ugh. Jill should have changed her mindset for him, not the other way around.

I also don’t really see the problem with bringing these people back to Earth? Despite Commander Faye’s less than noble intentions, I don’t think what she was trying to do was bad. I think they would have a better life on Earth. I mean, here they have an oppressive government and are barely surviving on not enough rations. And Earth needs to be repopulated. It’s a win-win. Why wouldn’t they want to go?

Tell me why Samara and Beckett were acting like taking them back to Earth where they could get a job and sustain themselves was so evil?

The insta love between them was honestly one of the worst cases I have ever read. YA authors seem to think that their books *have* to include a romance. Newsflash : They don’t. If this is what your romance is going to look like, PLEASE JUST DON’T INCLUDE ONE. PLEASE.

And how dumb could Commander Faye be? Falling for what she did? Honestly, you’d think a grown woman who could be genius enough to do what she did wouldn’t be so stupid. But alas, the plot needs to move forward, doesn’t it? Even if half of it doesn’t make any sense.

In The Forgetting, concepts were introduced as if we already knew what they were. They were never explained or elaborated on. It was confusing as hell. This book was only slightly better, because Samara had to explain things to Beckett, and so to the reader. Otherwise, she acted like we came in knowing the ins and outs of this world that she made up and did not explain. What even?

And both books were SO SLOW. So mind-numbingly slow.

In The Forgetting, I excused this because the book was good, the story was interesting, and the characters + the romance were cute.

Here, the book was boring as hell, and not worth reading at all.

I also don’t like the idea that it was set so long after The Forgetting. The end of The Forgetting felt like a happy ending, and society felt improved. I hated how it fell so far back and became horrid again.

Here’s how I would improve this book :

I’d make Jill and Nathan the main characters, because their story was so much more interesting than what we got.
And obviously it would not end the way it did.
I’d also completely scrap the romance between Samara and Beckett. There wasn’t any chemistry there, it was off and weird the entire time, and I hated it. I cringed through the whole thing.
I’d make Beckett less annoying and less of a jerk.
And I would give Samara more personality than a brick wall.

Overall though, I think the problem is Sharon Cameron isn’t very good at characterization, world building, and doesn’t have a good writing style. (The last is my opinion.)

The Forgetting worked because the characters and the story made up for those things. The Knowing didn’t even come close.
Profile Image for Pam C.
1,059 reviews16 followers
October 11, 2017
Sooooo good! Could not put it down.
Profile Image for Kitkat.
426 reviews110 followers
May 18, 2018
I loved the concept of the book because it was the opposite from the first book's concept. In the first book they are trying not to forget but in this book they're trying to forget. Sam gets caught by the Council of looking through the archives and trying to figure out a way so they won't be remembering. Remembering is when they can never forget and they relive through flashes of their memories good or bad. The other main character Beck comes to the planet to find Sam's city for planet Earth. Sam runs to the old city where the Forgotten happened from the first book and she runs into Beck and his bitchy associate Jill. Don't worry you're going to hate Jill. Sam broke his leg climbing rocks to the city and Sam helps mend it. Sam is only a doctor after 3 months because she can remember everything in her lessons and she can look at a book to read later in her memories. She doesn't know that they are from Earth and their mission but they run away before the Council comes. Beck gets a message from his father that shady stuff is happening on the ship and when they give the coordinates of Sam's city only to him than the captain. Jill pretty much whines and acts like a jerk to both of them. They go off and they run into the Council who were chasing them. Beck finds out that Sam was going to hand them over to the Council to save her parents and herself. Beck forgives her and they go off to Sam's family house because Jill got bitten by something she is allergic to. Jill gets better and starts to fall in love with Nathan. Sam and Beck decide to sneak off into the city to find out why she can remember because something must have made her like this. They find nothing but a couple of books and the materials from the lost ship that came here in the past. Also the Council had cameras everywhere following which creeped me out. Beck gets a message from his dad that they were actually here to take the people who remember as slaves back to Earth. Also Jill knew about this the entire time and it made me hate her more but I was not surprised because she is cutthroat. I thought that was really messed up and showed how desperate Earth must be. Sam volunteers herself back for Judgement which she will forget and she finds out her mom is the judge. Sam is forced to drink a drug to make her sleep for 40 days. Beck is then told that Sam's brother was trying to start a rebellion against the Council but Sam's mom kill him. I mean that was freaking crazy! Beck rescues her however the attack from the Earthlings occurs at the same time. Sam's mom and the Captain take Beck and Sam is like hell no! Sam steals one of the vehicles and rolls in like a badass. I cracked up laughing when I saw her say hello. I just loved how they stared at each other and I thought it was adorable. I loved when Sam's father cuts his wife's cheek with the knife when she tries to come near Sam. How he talks about how Sam was experimented on and how he hated her guts for what she did. I loved him so much I was so upset when he died. What Sam's mom didn't know was that they were going to die from the forgetting and how Sam said you condemned yourself was truly beautiful scene. They ride out and they live peacefully on the planet. I really loved the idea that they were tortured by their memories was devastating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Aline.
342 reviews33 followers
January 20, 2018
The Knowing by Sharon Cameron *3.5 stars * 01/19/2018
.
I am fascinated with memories. For a while, like I mentioned on The Forgetting review, I'm looking for a book with a character with unforgettable memory. Forgetting gave me the opposite, people forgot everything all at once every 6 years. But it was very interesting to see how Nadia and Gray searched for a way to Not forget. When I saw the synopsis of The Knowing, I thought I would finally read the book I wanted about people with unforgettable memories, and well, I did, but the book was not even close of what I was hoping . I liked the characters just fine, that was not the problem, but after Nadia and Gray, it is really hard to accept a couple that doesn't bring the same level of relationship, even if it is a companion book, not exactly a sequel following the same characters. The book takes place around 400 years after The Forgetting, and the characters never forget a single thing in their lives. I liked the idea, but even listening, what makes the book faster, it was incredibly slow, at the point that I almost DNF many times , I thought it would never end, but not in a good way. Nothing much happened in 15 hours of audiobook. The action really happened closer the end, and don't expect much of Nadia and Gray. I also found the book confusing and got lost between the main female character and the present. It took me a while to get used to. I liked the end though. Overall 3.5 stars.
Profile Image for Christy.
1,505 reviews293 followers
October 19, 2017
An interesting take on memory and its implications on culture and history. If you love dystopia/sci-fi, this is for you!
Profile Image for Nicole Hathaway.
195 reviews6 followers
April 27, 2020
I'm honestly really disappointed in this book. I really liked the first one but this was just a let down. In reality I'd give this a 2.5. Giving this three stars is being nice.

First off, I know this is a companion novel, but there wasn't really a point to the story. I never really understood what was going on. The new society was extremely confusing, not to mention what commander Faye's plans were. I didn't understand the plot either. Not to mention more than half the book was three people just talking in a cave. It was boring.

My friend is going to hate me for saying this, but I didn't see any chemistry in the romance. I just really don't understand it. They barely knew each other. it wasn't that romantic either.

The whole mess with Jillian was also kind of dumb. i didn't understand what she was doing. She also wasn't a very likable character.

Overall I really didn't like this story. It could have been really good but just wasn't. If the book was evenly written out, maybe I would have liked it a bit more. But instead it was all exposition and then a smack of thriller towards the end. And it wasn't a very good thriller either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Elisa .
1,509 reviews27 followers
February 20, 2020
I enjoyed it, it was stressful. The characters are typical human/teens who ignore all their training within a few minutes of real world interaction...but, it was fun with a lot of action. The point of view changes chapter by chapter, so you are in the minds of the two main characters. I really loved the first book, this is an interesting companion.
Profile Image for Sabrina.
1,616 reviews35 followers
January 28, 2018
379 years ago, the people of Canaan left their white city to build New Canaan and get away from the Forgetting. But though Samara and the rest of the Knowing cannot forget anything at all, most of their history is lost, or hidden from them. She is convinced that in Canaan there is a way to Forget, so that she and others don't have to live with the memories that could drive them insane.
Beckett is also looking for Canaan, but he has come all the way from Earth, travelling with his crew mates for many years to find out what happened to this lost Earth colony.
Profile Image for Jaymie.
722 reviews2 followers
March 28, 2019
Kind of fun to read and a unique idea just like the first book. Some confusing aspects but overall kept my attention.
Profile Image for Elizabeth "Liza".
536 reviews97 followers
October 10, 2017
4.5 Stars!

Review and current giveaway (ends 10/22/17): Quite the Novel Idea

Review
Well, that was awesome! I LOVED The Forgetting and I LOVED The Knowing! Oh, you want details, do you? Okay, okay, here we go:

The Knowing starts almost 400 years after the ending of The Forgetting. I don’t want to spoil the first book for you, so read my review if you want to know more about it. Anyway, the Knowing are descendants of the city of Canaan that live underground and do not forget. Ever. It’s amazing, they have photographic memories, can tell time, temperature, take measurements, and do not forget, faces, words, or feelings. It’s a horrible way of living and the suicide rate it’s quite high. The Knowing Council is cruel and unforgiving; the rules very strict. The people from Outside serve the Knowing and do most things for them while receiving very little.

Samara is a physician by trade, but practices very little since the Knowing do not get sick. She befriends Nita, who lives on the Outside and they are like sisters. Sam starts going Outside and sharing knowledge with them, all things that are forbidden to do. Sam is good, gentle, has a need to help others, but she’s also tortured by her memories and cannot repressed them all the time as she should. I felt so bad for her. She’s looking for a cure for the Knowing, to make people forget.

Beck is an alien from Earth (think about that for a second 🙂 ) and together with Jill, he’s exploring and mapping the planet, part of an expedition. When they loose communication they happen to find the lost city of Canaan at the same time that the runaway Sam does. A lot of other events are taking place at the same time and has them and Jill running form the Council. They eventually find a common goal and of course, love.

I loved their relationship. It was fast, but not that fast since they didn’t trust each other at the beginning. They learn to love and support each other and what that means in a new planet with different cultures and levels of technology. Yay for diversity! Beck’s dad is Hispanic and his mom is Chinese and Sam seems to be from Hindu dependence (she has darker skin and big hazel eyes).

There is a big host of characters in the book. From Sam’s unloving parents, to her misguided prospective partner Reddix, Nita’s big family, including Grandpapa Cyrus. The characterization was so good.

The writing is amazing ans is the world building. We follow on what happened in The Forgetting with an incredible twist and just keeps getting more comboluted page by page. This is a sci-fi story with the feeling of a dystopian or even a fantasy mixed in. SO good!

Overall, I really enjoyed The Knowing, almost as much as I did the first book. The ending is similar to book one and it makes me wonder if we should expect more in the series. I wish there was more 🙂
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