Fallen by Lauren Kate (ARC/Proof) - After the mysterious death of a boy she knew in a fire when they snuck off during a party, Luce is sent to reform school, Sword and Cross, when she can't explain what happened. Trying to come to terms with the death, deal with her guilt, and escape the weird shadows that seem to follow her everywhere isn't easy, especially when all she can think about is Daniel. Absolutely gorgeous, he does his best to hurt her at every turn. Luce can't figure out what his problem is, but nor can she get over her attraction to him. It should be easy when the equally gorgeous Cam is showering her with attention, but she can't shake the feeling that she knows Daniel from somewhere.
What Luce doesn't know is that Daniel holds a secret, one that involves her. If she was to get too close and find out, it could quite literally kill her.
I have one word for you: WOW! This book is absolutely amazing! I can't tell you just how good this book is. I was dying to get to the end and find out just what was happening, and was despairing over my slow reading pace. Seriously, this book is awesome!
The characters in this book are just amazing! Luce is great, but troubled and disturbed. Thinking she's mad because of these shadows that are always there, and trying to figure out how on earth Trevor died. And then she has to deal with the confusing emotions that come with dealing with Daniel and trying to work out what his problem is. Daniel himself is still a bit of a mystery, but amazingly gorgeous. You can't help but feel sorry for him when you find out his story.
Arriana, the girl who takes Luce under her wing when she starts school, is just fantastic! You never know whether to trust her or not as you go through the book, as she's just mental! She's the most quirkiest person I've ever read about and I couldn't help but love her! Penn, another of Luce's good friends at Sword and Cross, is awesome with her easy friendship and accepting Luce straight away, but also with her sneaky ways, reading people's files, and hacking into computers. She's a lovely little spy.
There are so many questions that come up as you read through this book, and you don't really find out any answers until you get to the end. However, this doesn't make the story slow at all. Lauren Kate has a clever knack for keeping you engrossed even when not too much is happening, by having bits of information inserted along the way. It just leads to even more questions, and although you know a few details of the story that Luce doesn't, you're dying to get to the part where Luce does find out, so you can get all these other questions answered and find out why. Really, you can't turn the pages fast enough.
As to the forbidden love, the chemistry, how deep the attraction goes between Luce and Daniel and how quickly, I was kind of thinking "Really? Already?" but saying that, I have reacted that way before when reading other stories. I think I tend to miss tiny little things in the first read through, and when I read through again, everything piles up, and how deeply the main characters feel makes much more sense. So maybe another read through is needed for me. But there is one word to describe it: intense. You could cut the sexual tension between the two of them, and as you're reading, you're just dying for Daniel to stop being a git and just kiss the girl already!
The action in this story is awesome, but there isn't a huge amount of it, because Luce needs to be kept safe, and so is removed fromt he situation. I would have liked a little bit more description; I have a very visual imagination, and so when I read, I see it all, but I had a little trouble picturing "shadow-locusts" - but then again, maybe you can't really picture them, being shadowy. There is a twist you don't expect at all, and are shocked beyond anything. You will be sitting on the edge of your seat, I'm telling you.
An awesome story, but don't expect many of your questions to be answered in this book. There is a kind of cliff hanger, and the end leaves you with even more questions. But as the summery says, Daniel's secret could kill Luce, so instead of a flood of answers, you get a trickle. It is torture, but it's good torture.
It would be very easy to compare Fallen to other books with a similar premise. I urge you not to. Don't pick this book up with any others in mind. Fallen is an amazing book on it's own, and you'll be doing this awesome book a serious injustice if you compare as you go along. Close your mind to any other books, sit back, and just enjoy!
I cannot wait to read the next book in this series, Torment. Seriously, Fallen is unbelievably good, and I may just have to read it again soon. You need this book!
Thank you to Random House for giving me this book to review.
Release Date: 17th December 2009 in UK, 8th December 2009 in US
Publisher: Doubleday (imprint of Random House)
Pre-order on Amazon UK
Pre-order on Amazon US
Lauren Kate on Random House
Fallen Website
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So Many Books, So Little Time
The Story Siren
What a fantastic review! I loved reading it so much - thanks! The book sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteOh, thank you! :) The book is amazing! I hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteGreat review and from the sound of it a great book! Definitely adding to my TBR list (Ah! There it grows again!). The cover is eye-catching and the story is intriguing....the only part that pauses me for a moment is the lack of answers to questions...but there has to be something left unresolved or unanswered to continue a series.
ReplyDeleteIt was such an awesome book! There are quite a few things left unanswered, but I think it just adds to the intrigue of the story. There is a whole lot more to this story than just a love story... we just don't know what it is yet. But it's awesome! I hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review. I'm completely intrigued by this book and so it's good to hear more about it. 17th December feels so far away!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! It is such an awesome book! It is a while away, but stick it on your Christmas wishlist!! :)
ReplyDeletewow this sounds like such a great book! I can't wait until it comes out. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's an awesome book, I hope you enjoy it when it comes out!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure I commented on this! Maybe I'm going mad...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, great review, and I'm glad you enjoyed it so much! I'm going to read it next week :)
Thank you! It was awesome, I so hope you enjoy it! And once you're done, I want to have a chat with you about it!
ReplyDeletei'm salivating for this book! great review! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was awesome!
ReplyDeleteGreat review. I love the cover of the book!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know it was the first book in a serie, i'm going to put it on my wishlist. :)
Thank you! I hope you enjoy it when you read it! Thanks for commenting!
ReplyDeleteHave just discovered your website and have to say, what a great review, I cannot wait to read this book!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Hope you enjoy it!
ReplyDeleteOooh! Sounds interesting! Lovely review as always! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's such a great book!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I cant wait to read Fallen. Soo happy I won it:)
ReplyDelete<3
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it when it gets to you! :)
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