Messenger by Lois Lowry (2.5 stars)

The Giver quartet continues. This one steps well out of the norms of the previous two books and adds lots of fantasy. People can see the future, the forest comes alive to trap and kill you etc.

By far the strangest thing that happens is that the high technology world of The Giver, the medieval sew-fest of Gathering Blue, and Village (where Jonas ends up) are all linked. As in, they are all within multi-day walking distance and set in the same time period.

This is incredibly jarring. A technology discrepancy between rich and poor is common in the real world, but it seems implausible that the rich from Gathering Blue's medieval society wouldn't have gained more technology via trade or force given how close they are.

This book followed the formula from Gathering Blue: heavy on the symbolism, light on the plot. This time the former is about what we give up in pursuit of material possessions and physical perfection.

At least Trade Mart was an interesting, ominous side-bar. I wish the story had developed more in that direction.

2.5 stars.