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Noughts and Crosses #5
Crossfire
Crossfire is the long-awaited new novel in legendary author Malorie Blackman's ground-breaking Noughts & Crosses series - perfect for fans of The Handmaid's Tale and The Power.
Thirty-four years have passed since Sephy Hadley - a Cross - first met Callum McGregor - a nought. Their love was forbidden, powerful - and deadly.
Life is seemingly very different now for noughts and Crosses - including for Sephy and Callum's families. But old wounds from the past are hard to heal, and when you're playing a game as dangerous as they are, it won't be long before someone gets caught in the crossfire.
Praise for Noughts & Crosses:
'The Noughts & Crosses series are still my favourite books of all time and showed me just how amazing story-telling could be' - Stormzy
'The most original book I've ever read' Benjamin Zephaniah
'Blackman "gets" people . . . she "gets" humanity as a whole, too' Guardian
'Powerful' Sunday Times
Thirty-four years have passed since Sephy Hadley - a Cross - first met Callum McGregor - a nought. Their love was forbidden, powerful - and deadly.
Life is seemingly very different now for noughts and Crosses - including for Sephy and Callum's families. But old wounds from the past are hard to heal, and when you're playing a game as dangerous as they are, it won't be long before someone gets caught in the crossfire.
Praise for Noughts & Crosses:
'The Noughts & Crosses series are still my favourite books of all time and showed me just how amazing story-telling could be' - Stormzy
'The most original book I've ever read' Benjamin Zephaniah
'Blackman "gets" people . . . she "gets" humanity as a whole, too' Guardian
'Powerful' Sunday Times
496 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2019
135 people are currently reading
5483 people want to read
About the author
Malorie Blackman
156 books4,523 followersAn award-winning children's author, Malorie Blackman was honoured with an OBE in 2008. Her work has been adapted for TV and stage.
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British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
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More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews
August 3, 2019
This is the fifth addition to the brilliant Noughts and Crosses series by Malorie Blackman, the latest book echoes and reverberates with the chilling and turbulent state of the world today, particularly that of the US, Britain and Europe. We are thrown back into the lives of familiar characters such as the lawyer Callie and the political ascent of the ambitious Tobey Durbridge, and new characters in the shape of the latest generation with the young teens, Libby, with her troubled and impoverished background and the more wealthy Troy, and their conflict ridden history. In a narrative that takes place amidst a background of Brexit, the Windrush scandal, Immigration, the rise of the far right, fake news, and a media that is more interested in churning out opinions rather than reporting real news, and giving equal time and space to opposing views, the story goes back and forth in time to reveal the nature of the relationship that evolves between Libby and Troy and the older Callie and Tobey.
Libby and Troy are forced to put their enmities aside as they find themselves in desperate straits and must work together. Tobey finds himself facing the most serious of charges and wants Callie to defend him in the forthcoming court trial. In a fast paced book with a strong feeling of a thriller, it all culminates in my least favourite way to conclude a novel, with a cliffhanger with so little resolved until the next book comes out. Blackman could not have written a more relevant book, of family, race, class, power, political machinations, and prejudice. There is skilful character development of older characters, and the introduction of great new characters as we await to see how events will unfold in the future. This is an intense, tense, and entertaining read, and a real joy to return to the Nought and Crosses world for the latest engaging installment. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Childrens for an ARC.
Libby and Troy are forced to put their enmities aside as they find themselves in desperate straits and must work together. Tobey finds himself facing the most serious of charges and wants Callie to defend him in the forthcoming court trial. In a fast paced book with a strong feeling of a thriller, it all culminates in my least favourite way to conclude a novel, with a cliffhanger with so little resolved until the next book comes out. Blackman could not have written a more relevant book, of family, race, class, power, political machinations, and prejudice. There is skilful character development of older characters, and the introduction of great new characters as we await to see how events will unfold in the future. This is an intense, tense, and entertaining read, and a real joy to return to the Nought and Crosses world for the latest engaging installment. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Childrens for an ARC.
Want to read
March 25, 2019Not sure how I feel about a fifth book - I thought that even the fourth book was pushing it....
Imma still read it though. Imma still read it.
Imma still read it though. Imma still read it.
October 16, 2020
I felt like I needed to read this as I’ve read the other four books in the series. Although I was not 100% convinced of the plot when reading the description and wondered if a 5th book was needed.
However one thing is for sure, this series definitely pulls you in. With that and the ease of reading the short chapters I was able to finish this book in a few day. I have to admit that I enjoyed being in the world of noughts and crosses once’s again.
I felt a little annoyed that it wasn’t fully finished.. I would have been a lot happier with a conclusion.
However one thing is for sure, this series definitely pulls you in. With that and the ease of reading the short chapters I was able to finish this book in a few day. I have to admit that I enjoyed being in the world of noughts and crosses once’s again.
I felt a little annoyed that it wasn’t fully finished.. I would have been a lot happier with a conclusion.
August 19, 2019
I was excited to read this when it first came out, but once I finished it, I found myself disappointed.
Let me focus on the positive first, the book was gripping and I found myself wanting to read more but I still got bored at times. Sephy's character returned again for another book and I really enjoyed seeing her mature throughout the books. This edition portrays Sephy in her fifties and reading about her growing as a person throughout the series is lovely and give's me nostalgia to when I was reading Noughts and Crosses for the first time. The theme of racism and discrimination is still strong and emulates recent things that have been happening in our world, which was a nice detail.
And now the bad... The writing was okay. Blackman continued to use many metaphors throughout the book which means they lose their affect after a while. The word 'regard' also made more appearances in this series. Furthermore, I was extremely disappointed to find two typos and a metaphor that made absolutely no sense ("the tension could be cut with a cotton bud")
I found myself not liking many of the characters. Troy came off as spoilt, selfish and mean for the first half of the book. Tobey was manipulative and rude to Callie for most of the book, except when he wanted to have sex with her. Callie seemed stubborn and had a disregard for her own safety and her family's safety for most of the book and refuses to do the only thing that would help her situation.
Lastly the book was not finished. It ended with 'To be concluded', which annoyed me, as I read an entire book for nothing, as nothing was resolved. This splitting of the book into two only made me feel more that this was a cashgrab, as well as the fact that is was published 11 years after Double Cross.
Overall, if you loved the Noughts and Crosses series, like me, and you really want to read it, go for it; however, if you've just stubbled across it, I recommend all the books that came before it in the series far more than this. Crossfire could definitely go amiss if you're not as in love with the series as me and other fans.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of the noughts and crosses seriously and I highly recommend the first 4 books; however, Crossfirejust was not at the same calibre. I don't doubt the Blackman is a competent writer and I've loved many of her books but this book has just disappointed me.
Let me focus on the positive first, the book was gripping and I found myself wanting to read more but I still got bored at times. Sephy's character returned again for another book and I really enjoyed seeing her mature throughout the books. This edition portrays Sephy in her fifties and reading about her growing as a person throughout the series is lovely and give's me nostalgia to when I was reading Noughts and Crosses for the first time. The theme of racism and discrimination is still strong and emulates recent things that have been happening in our world, which was a nice detail.
And now the bad... The writing was okay. Blackman continued to use many metaphors throughout the book which means they lose their affect after a while. The word 'regard' also made more appearances in this series. Furthermore, I was extremely disappointed to find two typos and a metaphor that made absolutely no sense ("the tension could be cut with a cotton bud")
I found myself not liking many of the characters. Troy came off as spoilt, selfish and mean for the first half of the book. Tobey was manipulative and rude to Callie for most of the book, except when he wanted to have sex with her. Callie seemed stubborn and had a disregard for her own safety and her family's safety for most of the book and refuses to do the only thing that would help her situation.
Lastly the book was not finished. It ended with 'To be concluded', which annoyed me, as I read an entire book for nothing, as nothing was resolved. This splitting of the book into two only made me feel more that this was a cashgrab, as well as the fact that is was published 11 years after Double Cross.
Overall, if you loved the Noughts and Crosses series, like me, and you really want to read it, go for it; however, if you've just stubbled across it, I recommend all the books that came before it in the series far more than this. Crossfire could definitely go amiss if you're not as in love with the series as me and other fans.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of the noughts and crosses seriously and I highly recommend the first 4 books; however, Crossfirejust was not at the same calibre. I don't doubt the Blackman is a competent writer and I've loved many of her books but this book has just disappointed me.
August 30, 2020
Note: I read this for the YA Book Prize 2020 (I'm one of the judges, hooray!).
August 10, 2019
Great book but loses several stars for not being finished
August 24, 2019
outstanding
rtf
(A WARNING: BEWARE OF CLIFFHANGERS)
As a reader I usually take away something from books I love: sometimes it is the amazing use of language, other times its characters so vivid you want to become their friends, love stories so encompassing you want to marry them (ah!) or a message so resonating that you squeal in recognition: yes this! This is how I feel too.
The Nought and Crosses saga (which I think we can totally go there now with three generations of both) is one of those stories that has all of the above and more.
From the very first book - which enthralled me completely - this series has been a mirror image of the screwed up times we live in, a political stand against racism and supremacy politics but also a harrowing love story (Callum, any one?), of mistakes made and acknowledged, of families and friendships.
Moreover as this is a British book it has none of the sugar coating a similar usian book may have: its dystopia is a broken mirror of how society is now. Blackman doesn't even have to take it to extremes - all she has to do is use the language currently seen in newspapers and sound bites all around us.
In this 5th installment Sephy is in her 50s, Callie Rose in her 30s and there's a new generation in Troy and Libby. The plot of which I'll not talk as you do not want any spoilers here is set against the dreary background of escalating polarised political views and happenings firmly based on the rise of b*xit and t8mp and the decline of the media. The scathing portrayal of both is chilling in its closeness to reality: the language is abrasive and the plot strident against the background of the current(book) Zafrikan society. There's hope and menace, layers and layers of intrigue that seem to spiral down and backwards towards the event of the very first book. It is in a nutshell an outstanding result.
I am not sure that there's anybody left who has not read this series but if you haven't I urge all and sundry to do so. I am going to leave a couple of quotes here just to wet your appetites as I plead with all to check Malorie Blackman's world out.
" Politics is important. You're never too young to understand that. Politics is power. Politics is life "
" Politics gets nastier and more vicious with each passing year. It's not a parade of ideals or ethics any more. It's about celebrity, false promises and image. "
" Most of the media in Albion stopped reporting the news years ago. Now it's opinions and sound bites taken from social media.
rtf
(A WARNING: BEWARE OF CLIFFHANGERS)
As a reader I usually take away something from books I love: sometimes it is the amazing use of language, other times its characters so vivid you want to become their friends, love stories so encompassing you want to marry them (ah!) or a message so resonating that you squeal in recognition: yes this! This is how I feel too.
The Nought and Crosses saga (which I think we can totally go there now with three generations of both) is one of those stories that has all of the above and more.
From the very first book - which enthralled me completely - this series has been a mirror image of the screwed up times we live in, a political stand against racism and supremacy politics but also a harrowing love story (Callum, any one?), of mistakes made and acknowledged, of families and friendships.
Moreover as this is a British book it has none of the sugar coating a similar usian book may have: its dystopia is a broken mirror of how society is now. Blackman doesn't even have to take it to extremes - all she has to do is use the language currently seen in newspapers and sound bites all around us.
In this 5th installment Sephy is in her 50s, Callie Rose in her 30s and there's a new generation in Troy and Libby. The plot of which I'll not talk as you do not want any spoilers here is set against the dreary background of escalating polarised political views and happenings firmly based on the rise of b*xit and t8mp and the decline of the media. The scathing portrayal of both is chilling in its closeness to reality: the language is abrasive and the plot strident against the background of the current(book) Zafrikan society. There's hope and menace, layers and layers of intrigue that seem to spiral down and backwards towards the event of the very first book. It is in a nutshell an outstanding result.
I am not sure that there's anybody left who has not read this series but if you haven't I urge all and sundry to do so. I am going to leave a couple of quotes here just to wet your appetites as I plead with all to check Malorie Blackman's world out.
" Politics is important. You're never too young to understand that. Politics is power. Politics is life "
" Politics gets nastier and more vicious with each passing year. It's not a parade of ideals or ethics any more. It's about celebrity, false promises and image. "
" Most of the media in Albion stopped reporting the news years ago. Now it's opinions and sound bites taken from social media.
February 24, 2020
Noughts & Crosses is one of my favourite books from when I was a teenager, and I enjoyed the whole series, so I really wanted to enjoy this...but it did not match up. The writing felt repetitive and contrived, there are barely any likeable characters left, and the lack of any conclusion left me feeling cold. Most of all, while I still love the concept of this world, Crossfire is so overstuffed with dramatic events it leaves no room for the emotional, character-driven moments that made the first book so good.
February 2, 2022
At the time of reading, 'Double Cross' (Noughts & Crosses book 4) was billed as being the conclusion of the series, yet here we are with a further two books, this one and 'Endgame', which are basically two parts of the same book.
The action has moved on a couple of decades from Book 4 - Tobey is about to be elected as the first Nought Prime Minister but is forced to approach former girlfriend Callie, now a prominent lawyer, to defend him in a murder trial - but somebody wants to tip the scales of justice through kidnap and extortion....
Another great read in this series but a bit annoying to be left on a cliffhanger and having now to get the next book pretty quick! - 9/10.
The action has moved on a couple of decades from Book 4 - Tobey is about to be elected as the first Nought Prime Minister but is forced to approach former girlfriend Callie, now a prominent lawyer, to defend him in a murder trial - but somebody wants to tip the scales of justice through kidnap and extortion....
Another great read in this series but a bit annoying to be left on a cliffhanger and having now to get the next book pretty quick! - 9/10.
Read
November 3, 2019Sad to say it’s a DNF for me. Made it to page 137 and I’m just not interested or invested in the characters or the story...I know she felt she wanted to write another book coz of the political climate but I just don’t think it was necessary to continue to Noughts and Crosses series...
Also I heard this book ends on a cliffhanger so there’ll be more to come.
I’m looking forward to the TV show tho..that better be good!
Try it for yourself but I guess it just wasn’t for me 😔
Also I heard this book ends on a cliffhanger so there’ll be more to come.
I’m looking forward to the TV show tho..that better be good!
Try it for yourself but I guess it just wasn’t for me 😔
August 26, 2019
Years have passed since the love between Sephy - a Cross - and Callum - a Nought - destroyed their world and changed their families and society forever. Society appears to be very different now. For the first time ever, a Nought Prime Minister - Tobey Durbridge - is in power. Race and class don't divide people anymore. But things are never really that easy. Because Tobey's just been framed for murder, and the only way to free himself is to turn to his oldest friend - Callie-Rose. Their families divisions run deep, and when two young people are kidnapped, their lives and everything they've fought for are put in the firing line.
I was ridiculously excited to read this. Nought & Crosses is possibly my favourite series from when I was younger, it is certainly the one that I remember the most and I could not wait to see how Blackman updates it.
So why the three stars? Well I found it all a bit confusing, there is a family tree at the beginning which was inordinately helpful, so helpful that I was having to flick to it for pretty much every page for the first half of the book. I do not know what it was but I could not get into my head who was who and it really dampened my enjoyment. In the second half I did have it in my head but it was a bit late then.
The other aspect that caused a problem was the timeline, Blackman jumps all over the place with the timeline, ordinarily not a problem, I enjoy timeline changes but again I found it confusing. The way it was executed was not that clear and once again I grew frustrated at not being certain what was happening.
The actual plot is okay, a bit slow and really not helped by the confusing timeline issues. It did pick up towards the end and Blackman leaves this on a massive cliff-hanger that will have me reaching for the conclusion, yes I will still read the next instalment.
On a positive note I did enjoy being back in the world of Noughts & Crosses, learning about what has happened to the characters and seeing how things have changed in their world. If only this was not so confusing then I could have enjoyed it more.
I was ridiculously excited to read this. Nought & Crosses is possibly my favourite series from when I was younger, it is certainly the one that I remember the most and I could not wait to see how Blackman updates it.
So why the three stars? Well I found it all a bit confusing, there is a family tree at the beginning which was inordinately helpful, so helpful that I was having to flick to it for pretty much every page for the first half of the book. I do not know what it was but I could not get into my head who was who and it really dampened my enjoyment. In the second half I did have it in my head but it was a bit late then.
The other aspect that caused a problem was the timeline, Blackman jumps all over the place with the timeline, ordinarily not a problem, I enjoy timeline changes but again I found it confusing. The way it was executed was not that clear and once again I grew frustrated at not being certain what was happening.
The actual plot is okay, a bit slow and really not helped by the confusing timeline issues. It did pick up towards the end and Blackman leaves this on a massive cliff-hanger that will have me reaching for the conclusion, yes I will still read the next instalment.
On a positive note I did enjoy being back in the world of Noughts & Crosses, learning about what has happened to the characters and seeing how things have changed in their world. If only this was not so confusing then I could have enjoyed it more.
November 4, 2021
Hmmm, I’m not sure if it’s just me or not but I really struggled with the multiple POV’s and timelines and found it very confusing in places.
An ok plot (albeit a little slow) but the cliffhanger ending really annoyed me… just felt like half a book, a set up for the next one. Which was disappointing.
Wanted a little more character development, I struggled to feel connected to them at all.
An ok plot (albeit a little slow) but the cliffhanger ending really annoyed me… just felt like half a book, a set up for the next one. Which was disappointing.
Wanted a little more character development, I struggled to feel connected to them at all.
October 18, 2021
Book 339
3.5 ✨
3.5 ✨
August 25, 2025
Page turner 10000% .
For me, the storyline got a little lost with so many characters introduced, but... the last 1/4, could. not. put. it. down.
For me, the storyline got a little lost with so many characters introduced, but... the last 1/4, could. not. put. it. down.
September 2, 2019
I still recall the excitement I felt when I first picked up Noughts and Crosses. Five books in, some familiar faces, and it still had me gripped. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this before publication.
Crossfire focuses on some pretty hard-hitting events while also allowing us to get a little closer to our characters.
We have Callie, now 30, a lawyer preparing to be a judge. She still regrets her behaviour as a teenager when she let jealousy get the better of her. Her feelings for her boyfriend Tobey were complicated, but even more so now. Tobey is about to become the first Nought Prime Minister, but he is accused of murdering a well-known businessman thought to have underground links. He wants Callie to represent him.
Tied into this story are the characters of Libby and Troy. Libby has lived her life surrounded by hatred and contempt. She gets some rather unexpected news, but isn’t prepared for what that brings. Troy is Callie’s much younger brother. His family links also place him in danger. When the two students are kidnapped we can’t help but wonder how much family ties will bind people to a decision.
Set against a background of rising racist behaviour, we get a stark reflection of contemporary society. As always, this series tells some unpalatable truths.
Crossfire focuses on some pretty hard-hitting events while also allowing us to get a little closer to our characters.
We have Callie, now 30, a lawyer preparing to be a judge. She still regrets her behaviour as a teenager when she let jealousy get the better of her. Her feelings for her boyfriend Tobey were complicated, but even more so now. Tobey is about to become the first Nought Prime Minister, but he is accused of murdering a well-known businessman thought to have underground links. He wants Callie to represent him.
Tied into this story are the characters of Libby and Troy. Libby has lived her life surrounded by hatred and contempt. She gets some rather unexpected news, but isn’t prepared for what that brings. Troy is Callie’s much younger brother. His family links also place him in danger. When the two students are kidnapped we can’t help but wonder how much family ties will bind people to a decision.
Set against a background of rising racist behaviour, we get a stark reflection of contemporary society. As always, this series tells some unpalatable truths.
November 5, 2019
Noughts & Crosses remains one of my favourite Young Adult series of novels of all time, and I think Malorie Blackman is one of our most needed voices in teenage fiction in Britain. So I was beyond excited when it was announced she was revisiting the quartet with a new novel.
But this did not meet my admittedly high expectations. The story focuses on Troy, Sephy's son and Callie-Rose's half-brother and Libby, Troy's much-loathed classmate who was bought up in poverty. However, when the two find themselves kidnapped they are forced to put aside their dislike for one another and work out what this may have to do with Callie-Rose (a high-flying lawyer) and Tobey (currently in line to be the first ever Nought Prime Minister).
It felt a little bit like a repetition of the set-up of earlier novels, and the younger character voices didn't quite work for me. However, this may be because I am reading this as a 26-year-old. I found the storyline involving Tobey and the older characters far more interesting, and I felt that Blackman's prose picked up in those sections too. As always though, I did like Blackman's social commentary, and I still think the world she has created is one that really should be read by young people.
My main problem with Crossfire is that it seems to be half a book. It may well be worth waiting for the sixth instalment before picking this up.
But this did not meet my admittedly high expectations. The story focuses on Troy, Sephy's son and Callie-Rose's half-brother and Libby, Troy's much-loathed classmate who was bought up in poverty. However, when the two find themselves kidnapped they are forced to put aside their dislike for one another and work out what this may have to do with Callie-Rose (a high-flying lawyer) and Tobey (currently in line to be the first ever Nought Prime Minister).
It felt a little bit like a repetition of the set-up of earlier novels, and the younger character voices didn't quite work for me. However, this may be because I am reading this as a 26-year-old. I found the storyline involving Tobey and the older characters far more interesting, and I felt that Blackman's prose picked up in those sections too. As always though, I did like Blackman's social commentary, and I still think the world she has created is one that really should be read by young people.
My main problem with Crossfire is that it seems to be half a book. It may well be worth waiting for the sixth instalment before picking this up.
October 2, 2021
Reread in preparation for Endgame and my original review still stands for the most part.
I was stunned when I found out another Noughts & Crosses book was going to be released. I'd loved the series as a teen but would never have dared to hope that there would be more. Surely, the TV show was exciting enough?
This book didn't disappoint me at all. I had to re-read the whole series first because it's been so long and it really took me back. Reading it as an adult is so different, I understood the books when I was younger but now I'm so much more politically active and I see how society is reflected in every page.
I loved getting to revisit already loved characters and seeing them grown up, but also meeting a group of new characters. The cliffhanger at the end left me screaming, but at least I'm safe in the knowledge that there will be more!
I was stunned when I found out another Noughts & Crosses book was going to be released. I'd loved the series as a teen but would never have dared to hope that there would be more. Surely, the TV show was exciting enough?
This book didn't disappoint me at all. I had to re-read the whole series first because it's been so long and it really took me back. Reading it as an adult is so different, I understood the books when I was younger but now I'm so much more politically active and I see how society is reflected in every page.
I loved getting to revisit already loved characters and seeing them grown up, but also meeting a group of new characters. The cliffhanger at the end left me screaming, but at least I'm safe in the knowledge that there will be more!
January 29, 2020
I read 3/4 of Crossfire and it's been sitting on my bedside table for 5 months since - until I skimmed the last 1/4 just to get it back on my bookshelf and that's only because I hate DNF-ing books. But God was it a dull and tedious read. Truth be told, this series was done with Checkmate. The impact of reverse racism, hatred and bigotry was powerfully told through Sephy and Callum's impossible, tragic love story and the people close to them who were irreparably touched and irrevocably damaged by its consequences. I found that that impact was slowly lost in the books that followed. I will always hold Sephy and Callum close to my heart; there isn't a story quite like Noughts & Crosses out there, nor a love quite as powerful as theirs. But I can't read its continuation when, sadly, it's a disservice to its origins.
January 21, 2020
I remember the first book in this series fondly, and I think that's just something I need to remember, and not expect the other books to live up to that.
July 30, 2023
Can't believe endgame isn't published for another month 😭😭😭 this book was so good but I HATE cliffhangers!!!
June 14, 2022
I really liked this entry in the Noughts & Crosses universe. Once again, Malorie Blackman shows that she becomes a more and more proficient writer with time. I liked the attention to detail of worldbuilding that this book gave, which was in contrast to the previous novel, Double Cross, which felt as if it were set in our world. Details about hairstyles (yes, seriously) and politics really gave this book a firmer foundation of setting than some of the others in this series. However, it almost suffers from the books which came before it. Every major plot point in this book seems in some way a re-hash or else subversion of something done in previous books; from kidnapping to the now/then chapter structure. If I hadn't read the rest of the series, I would have perhaps been more blown away by it all. Unfortunately, the fact that Blackman is doing these types of plots with more prowess as a writer doesn't hide the fact that she is re-using the same ideas over and over. How many kidnappings and shootings can relate back to one "normal" family?? And yes, they are pretty normal now !
Another thing which always leaves me slightly bemused is Blackman's character alterations between books. Someone like Tobey has had a completely different personality from book to book, which is just about explained but still kind of whip-lashy. I know there's a lot of time between each section where he has changed, but it really leaves me feeling like I don't know any of the characters that I thought I knew. That's one way to alienate an audience! Perhaps that's why Libby and Troy (the new characters) now feel like my favourite in the series; they haven't had time to develop into totally different people (yet!). For some this growth is explained better than others; for some the changes feel bizarre. Dan is SMART in this?? Don't blame it all on deus-ex-machina Eva from the world book day novel!! Misty – a side character from previous books – has a whole arc that fails to explain how she was at a private school in the previous two books. In fact, the school is treated like it isn't private in this book, when I'm pretty sure it was fee-paying (for instance, Tobey only originally got in with no fees due to academic scholarship etc etc.)
These character and setting discrepancies, and the fact that the book ends in an “unfinished” state, mean that it's impossible for me to give it five stars. However, I think I was more hooked into this one than any of the others so far, so that balances it out a lot. I also think an actual YA / teen reader would eat this up with relish. I'll go with my weirdly regular 4.25*
Another thing which always leaves me slightly bemused is Blackman's character alterations between books. Someone like Tobey has had a completely different personality from book to book, which is just about explained but still kind of whip-lashy. I know there's a lot of time between each section where he has changed, but it really leaves me feeling like I don't know any of the characters that I thought I knew. That's one way to alienate an audience! Perhaps that's why Libby and Troy (the new characters) now feel like my favourite in the series; they haven't had time to develop into totally different people (yet!). For some this growth is explained better than others; for some the changes feel bizarre. Dan is SMART in this?? Don't blame it all on deus-ex-machina Eva from the world book day novel!! Misty – a side character from previous books – has a whole arc that fails to explain how she was at a private school in the previous two books. In fact, the school is treated like it isn't private in this book, when I'm pretty sure it was fee-paying (for instance, Tobey only originally got in with no fees due to academic scholarship etc etc.)
These character and setting discrepancies, and the fact that the book ends in an “unfinished” state, mean that it's impossible for me to give it five stars. However, I think I was more hooked into this one than any of the others so far, so that balances it out a lot. I also think an actual YA / teen reader would eat this up with relish. I'll go with my weirdly regular 4.25*
August 7, 2019
After reading the original Noughts and Crosses trilogy when I was younger, naturally I was eager to read Crossfire and received it yesterday after I pre-ordered it.
I tore through Crossfire in a few hours. Although many characters from the previous novels play prominent roles, such as Callie Rose, Tobey and Sephy, this novel focuses on a third generation of characters, with the introduction of Troy and Libby, making this very readable to those who either know nothing of the series or have simply forgotten key details, like myself.
With the events of the past few years, Crossfire feels very relevant with many thinly veiled references to things such as the Windrush scandal and the Black Lives Matter movement, although obviously with the roles in reverse. One of my main criticisms is how Noughts and Crosses is routinely marketed as 'dystopian fiction.' For me, Blackman provides an apt social and political critique throughout this series and both the adjectives 'dystopian' and 'fiction' suggest that there is something fantastical or unbelievable about this world she has created. All one has to do is to look in a newspaper or in a history book to see how real the situations Blackman describes are for some marginalised groups in society.
Returning to the novel however, I found it to be a gripping and interesting. For those who have read the earlier books, certain elements of the novel do feel familiar, such as the kidnapping and two characters being stuck in a basement, but that is arguably part of the point that Blackman is trying to make, in that change can be slow.
Finally, the best and worst part of the novel was the cliff-hanger. Just as the novel seems to be working up to a climax, the novel ends. As frustrating as this is, I sincerely hope that the sequel doesn't run out of steam. This would be an injustice to the characters that I have known since I was a child. I do wonder how much further this series can go, but for now, I'll simply wait impatiently for the next novel!
I tore through Crossfire in a few hours. Although many characters from the previous novels play prominent roles, such as Callie Rose, Tobey and Sephy, this novel focuses on a third generation of characters, with the introduction of Troy and Libby, making this very readable to those who either know nothing of the series or have simply forgotten key details, like myself.
With the events of the past few years, Crossfire feels very relevant with many thinly veiled references to things such as the Windrush scandal and the Black Lives Matter movement, although obviously with the roles in reverse. One of my main criticisms is how Noughts and Crosses is routinely marketed as 'dystopian fiction.' For me, Blackman provides an apt social and political critique throughout this series and both the adjectives 'dystopian' and 'fiction' suggest that there is something fantastical or unbelievable about this world she has created. All one has to do is to look in a newspaper or in a history book to see how real the situations Blackman describes are for some marginalised groups in society.
Returning to the novel however, I found it to be a gripping and interesting. For those who have read the earlier books, certain elements of the novel do feel familiar, such as the kidnapping and two characters being stuck in a basement, but that is arguably part of the point that Blackman is trying to make, in that change can be slow.
Finally, the best and worst part of the novel was the cliff-hanger. Just as the novel seems to be working up to a climax, the novel ends. As frustrating as this is, I sincerely hope that the sequel doesn't run out of steam. This would be an injustice to the characters that I have known since I was a child. I do wonder how much further this series can go, but for now, I'll simply wait impatiently for the next novel!
September 28, 2021
Something's different here, and it's not only the new generation of characters.
At first mention of Nought Forever, I figured this was continuing the subversion that is a major part of this series. So NF would be the subversive fictional version of Black Lives Matter?
It is not.
Nought Forever are white supremacists - therefore not just advocating that Nought lives should be valued as much as Cross lives.
So...are Noughts no longer minorities in this series? Is the subversion over, and now just a slightly different version of our real world?
The story was still interesting, but I'm confused about this element.
At first mention of Nought Forever, I figured this was continuing the subversion that is a major part of this series. So NF would be the subversive fictional version of Black Lives Matter?
It is not.
Nought Forever are white supremacists - therefore not just advocating that Nought lives should be valued as much as Cross lives.
So...are Noughts no longer minorities in this series? Is the subversion over, and now just a slightly different version of our real world?
The story was still interesting, but I'm confused about this element.
August 13, 2019
Crossfire is the fifth book in the Noughts and Crosses series. I would recommend reading the other books in the series before this.
Malorie Blacman's alternate society is the most realistic. It is truly eye opening and really makes you sit back and think.
Crossfire is very important and relevant to our current world. Like The Hate U Give it speaks out to it's audience.
I do recommend reading the other books first though. Crossfire ends with a cliffhanger which means Noughts and Crosses is going to continue!
Malorie Blacman's alternate society is the most realistic. It is truly eye opening and really makes you sit back and think.
Crossfire is very important and relevant to our current world. Like The Hate U Give it speaks out to it's audience.
I do recommend reading the other books first though. Crossfire ends with a cliffhanger which means Noughts and Crosses is going to continue!
December 15, 2025
I absolutely love this whole series and this book was no different - however I felt like a 4 star review was more appropriate than a 5 star review due to number of typos throughout the book, and the overuse of "shaka"! I swear every other chapter had "for Shaka's sake" in it, way more than real people say "for God's sake"! Other than these silly little gripes it is still an excellent book!
March 29, 2021
Seemed immaturely written and quite messy. Not as good as the other books
November 12, 2021
Best one yet. The way Malorie weaves through time with her characters is spellbinding. You’ll want to read it all one gulp.
January 27, 2023
Wat een boek wat een serie
August 18, 2019
The original Noughts and Crosses series remains one of my favourites and so I was very excited for Crossfire. I raced through it and loved the old characters and new. I’m not entirely sure how I feel about the ending. I was so into the story line and then it felt like it stopped so abruptly. But the good thing is that there is going to be another one! Malorie Blackman is an amazing author and everyone should read her books!
July 26, 2019
I was excited to read this as I've loved all the previous Noughts and Crosses books. It was good to see the return of familiar characters and to get to know new ones. I liked the way that Libby and Troy's situation was set up before going back in flashback to see the build up to that point. This continued with other plot lines, with the history of Tobey and Callie-Rose's relationship being examined, and was an effective device.
I wasn't expecting a cliff-hanger ending and it did leave me feeling somewhat unfulfilled, coming as it did just at the point in the story where I would normally find the plot taking off. Where I would normally be settling in for a race to the conclusion and not wanting to put the book down, instead I found "To be concluded". This means that Crossfire feels very much like back story and build up for the next book. I hope Blackman won't leave us holding on for too long before bringing out the next part as I do now feel invested in these characters and want to know what will happen to them.
I wasn't expecting a cliff-hanger ending and it did leave me feeling somewhat unfulfilled, coming as it did just at the point in the story where I would normally find the plot taking off. Where I would normally be settling in for a race to the conclusion and not wanting to put the book down, instead I found "To be concluded". This means that Crossfire feels very much like back story and build up for the next book. I hope Blackman won't leave us holding on for too long before bringing out the next part as I do now feel invested in these characters and want to know what will happen to them.
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