I'm a big fan of Jasper Fforde so this was definitely on my "long-awaited" list. He has an uncanny ability to make an absolutely horrifying dystopia funny and charming.

Jasper Fforde is a genius and this was so worth the wait!
As we head back to a land where class is determined by color status, we find our heroes desperately trying to navigate the nonsense of bureaucracy as they try to keep out of jail or worse. I love Mr. Fforde’s writing so much. I smile the entire time I read him, and these days, it’s worth infinite stars for that pleasure.
** Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book!”**

This is a good sequel to Shades of Grey. Hopefully we won't have to wait as long for the next book in the series.

I should point out I haven't read the first book, but I didn't think that was too big a problem. Maybe I would have found it quicker to read if I had, I'm not sure.

I have however read other books by the author and I do find the wiring style good and the humour kind of embedded along the way. This book was a little slow for me in places, it kind of takes away the dystopia feel when the pace is slower but I already knew that as it's the authors style.

Not my usual go to, but an enjoyable read. 3.5 stars

It took me some time to get into this new series by Jasper Fforde, but then I really didn't want to leave. Good for the brain to escape into such a different world. Though it does give one pause to think about the world we live in. Chris Harper did a good job narrating!

Sequels that come many, many years after the original tend to not work well for me, and unfortunately this was no exception.

I remember really liking Shades of Grey, and I wonder if some of this is a personal preference issue relating to how my own tastes as a reader have evolved. I struggle a lot now with nonsense stuff and absurdism in literature and particularly with nonsense rules in world building.

It’s not the quality of world building that is the issue here. Fforde remains exceptional at bringing his concepts to life. It’s just not a world I care to spend much time in anymore. Some of that is likely just a me issue, but the plot here also isn’t great, and that didn’t help. It’s a pretty predictable trajectory for this type of pseudo-dystopia, and while that’s not inherently bad, in this instance I found my mind wandering a lot. I just didn’t care about the characters, the fate of this society, or what happened in general.

And that’s a shame because Fforde is still a master of being consistently funny without ever tipping into obnoxiousness, and he’s excellent at bringing his world to life in the most vivid and evocative sense.

So, maybe it’s me? Or maybe the schtick has gotten old? Or maybe it’s a little bit of both.

It’s been years since I read the first book in this series- think I might have actually been in college. If it’s been just as long for you, I would recommend going back and reading the first book before starting this one. I didn’t remember any of it and things would have made more sense faster. It’s the same good Jasper Fforde though.

The long-awaited sequel to Shades of Grey is a witty, satirical story of love and survival full of man-eating trees and snarky prefects.

Brilliantly well written and mind boggling at the same time. Ford is a master of his craft. With this long awaited sequel, he doesn't disappoint with his treatise on society inequalities.

I have been waiting for this book for so long that I was worried I wouldn't want it anymore when it got here. But the world of Chromatacia is just as weird and funny and interesting as ever. I'm glad to have revisited and seen Eddie, Jane, and (surprisingly) Violet through to their conclusion.

I, like many others, have been waiting for this sequel ever since I first read Shades of Grey so many years ago. When I got approved for the ARC I kept reminding myself that I shouldn't place it on such a high pedestal before reading it because what if I don't like it and then I'll be extra disappointed. Well, I'm here to say that I was correct in putting it on a pedestal. Red Side Story was exactly the sequel I wanted and needed. All characters, both reoccurring and new, were interesting in their own ways, and I absolutely loved the shift in attitudes that Violet deMauve and Penny Gamboge had throughout the book. I won't give too many spoilers, but I will say that the final chapter (and especially the final line) made me cry like a baby. I want to know absolutely everything about this world and I hope that Fforde gives us another book in this series (though hopefully we won't have to wait 15 years). If I could give this book 6 stars, I would.

(spoiler-free) After 15 years, Jasper Fforde has released the hotly-anticipated follow up to 2009's "Shades of Grey." Red Side Story picks up almost immediately where its predecessor finished up. The story takes a bit of time to remind readers of the events of the previous book, which can be time-consuming and causes the early sections to lag a bit. Fforde's sense of humor is on display as always and carries through well without diffusing any tension. It's a strong sequel, though personally found that the resolutions to some of the ongoing mysteries to a little disappointing. Not that the choices weren't interesting, but there was something particularly fun and satisfying about some of the more arcane Rules that felt undercut by them having a rational explanation. Fortunately, Fforde sticks the landing by adding more layers and mystery by the end. Much like with the first book, while there is room for a sequel (and an official announcement!), the finale is satisfying and will leave readers with much to ponder going forward.

A brilliant conclusion to a wonderful story. Dystopian fantasy, the metaphors for the class system shed light on the abuses of those in power and encourage the reader to turn a discerning look on how we regard societal echelons. Characters are drawn brilliantly, and the book is layered with compelling arcs and growth. I only wish it was part of a trilogy, but I am so glad to have the conclusion to this story after so many years.

I got a free ARC from Netgalley.

This book was classic Fforde, and almost worth the (very, excruciatingly long) wait. Eddie Russett and Jane Brunswick are about to be on trial for murder, with a seemingly predetermined outcome that will send them to the Green Room, where they will die by the green hue on the walls.

As always, there’s a lot of wordplay and literary references, and the satire of our own government and society is alarming.

I love the rarity of spoons, and randomly, the ease with which the Chromatacians’ ears come off. Strongly recommend.

I really loved this sequel to Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde. This is definitely a case of needing to read the first book to understand this one. This world is so intriguing, with people separated by the colors that they can see, living in a sort of Soviet-style society in which rules that don't make much sense are to be followed and no one is to question anything, except of course, our main characters, who set out to find out what is beyond and behind all the nonsense that is their lives. Fforde creates nuanced subtle characters who seem very real and very human, and at the same time, the world and situations in which the characters find themselves is so absurd, it is extremely funny as well as poignant.
This is a masterful social commentary as well as a very engaging read. I highly recommend this and all of Fforde's work.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for his ARC!

I've been waiting for this book for a long, long time, so my expectations were pretty high. I'm happy to report that it's as good as I was hoping it would be. Fforde takes his premise of a world where everyone is organized according to the colour they are able to see and both expands the lore and deepens the connection we feel for these characters. The first book, Shades of Grey, is quite opaque in the sense that there aren't many areas of straight exposition, we learn how the world works along with our protagonist, Eddie Russet. The same is true here, as the broader world is explored and we get to learn more about not only the Rules, but also what might lie beyond the border of Chromatacia.
I won't give any spoilers here, but if you enjoyed any of Fforde's other books, this one is definitely for you. I would say it will be quite helpful to read the first book before starting this one, though.

14 Freaking Years!!! FOURTEEN!! That's how long I waited for this book. I loved Shades of Grey, but being a 50+ year old, I couldn't remember sh*t from the first book. So off I trot, to dust off my original copy of Shades to refresh the ole memory as to what the heck was going on. During this second read, I struggled a bit to understand a few things. Seeing as it's been FOURTEEN years since it was written I don't remember if I had the same nagging questions once I finished Shades...thankfully Red Side Story was just what I needed. I love Fforde's wit and satire and this book was *chef's kiss*. It was so great to revisit this world and finally find out what happened!

I am often wary of sequels that come too long after the original as they can feel thinner somehow and less connected to the source. That said. I, like many others, have been waiting for 15 years for a sequel to “Shades of Grey”. Fforde does not disappoint. “Red Side Story” is a welcome and worthy follow up. Picking up where Shades left off, it follows Eddie Russet, Jane Grey, and the residents of East Carmine through the strange and wonderful world of Chromatica. It is a world full of humor, danger, and the ever present Rules. Fforde brings us back into that world seamlessly, even after so much time. I loved reading “Red Side Story” and sincerely hope——please Mr. Fforde!!!!—that we don’t need to wait another 15 years for the conclusion.

Eddie and Jane discover even more corruption within (and without) their society. To find answers, they need to visit the upcoming Jollity Fair, if only they can survive that long.

I enjoyed this satisfying sequel. We do learn a bit about the true nature of Chromatacia. Is it the far future history of Oz? Is this story the book version of "The Lego Movie"? Whenever I thought I had a handle on it, a new detail would disrupt my latest theory. At least I was right about the swans.

Fun and clever, this was an exciting read. I do wish it wasn't such a long time since I'd read Shades of Grey, though - it took me the first half of the book to get caught up on all the intricacies of the plot.
The writing style is full of a Wodehousian charm, but I do find that kind of 'what ho' character a bit lacking in emotional depth, which kept me from relating to the story on a deeper level. As a piece of social commentary, it is very satisfying, though.