Red Side Story is the second (and probably last?) novel in the Shades of Grey series by Jasper Fforde.
Finished on: 24.4.2024
[Here’s my review of Shades of Grey.]

Content Note: dubious consent

Plot:
Eddie and Jane only barely came out alive of their last attempt to question the history and state of Chromatacia. In fact, they are not out of the woods yet: over their heads hangs a trial for murder that might well end with their own death. Meanwhile Eddie was forced into a marriage with Violet DeMauve as a way to increase their red sight, and that Violet hasn’t conceived yet is the only thing buying them some time. Maybe they can use that time to find a way out.

Red Side Story is the long anticipated sequel to Shades of Grey, and it has been worth the wait. Fforde answers all questions and ties up loose ends here in his usual creative, witty way that makes Red Side Story a whole lot of fun.

Originally, Fforde had planned a trilogy in the Shades of Grey series, but with the long time it took him to finish this one, I assume that he will leave it at a duology. Especially since the ending here really is an ending, explaining everything that you had to wonder about since Shades of Grey. Of course, you can always find ways to continue a story, but I don’t think it is at all necessary here.

Having established his world and its rules in Shades of Grey, Red Side Story is much more plot-driven than the former which does the book well. It is still full of ideas and connects things in ways I wouldn’t have thought of probably ever, but there is much more drive here and less explanation. In the end, I’d say, that makes Red Side Story the better novel of the two.

The dynamic between Eddie and Jane remains unchanged, with her being the full-out revolutionary and he just along for the ride. While that is often the dynamic, especially in older works of dystopian literature, it is rarely made so obvious as it is here, and I loved the transparency here. I also enjoyed the supporting cast of characters, most of which aren’t particularly likable but definitely fun to read about.

As usual for Fforde, beneath the weird and creative is a serious political core and an incisive criticism of totalitarianism. Given the way governments all over the world, but especially in Europe have been inching (or even jumping) towards fascism lately, we can never have enough of that.

Summarizing: excellent sequel.