Fallen by Lauren Kate
- fiction, paranormal, YA -
reviewed by : Tara SG
borrowed from the library
Book Order (Fallen Series)
- Fallen * * 1/2
- Torment (Sep 2010)
Links
Author’s Website : http://laurenkatebooks.net
Amazon : hardback / paperback / eBook
Add To Your GoodReads TBR list
This book in 6 words:
excess building up to predictable end
Why did I read this? And am I glad I did?
This is another pre-TBR list book, so I’m not sure where I heard about it. I put myself on the wait-list at the library and forgot about it for a while. So I was surprised to go pick up books last week and have this ready for me. After having read some mixed reviews for it, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I’m not sure that I can say I’m glad I read it. I felt like it was soooo slow in the beginning making it hard to appreciate the interesting storyline and dramatic ending. I think (hope) the next book in the series will be better now that all the “mystery” of the plot is out.
Brief Summary
There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.
Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.
(via GoodReads)
Plot/Pacing/Writing Style
The overall plot wasn’t bad at all. It was predictable (but it may have been intentional). That didn’t stop me from reading it to find out if I was correct. However, the pacing wasn’t great. I think this book could have been MUCH shorter and maybe included some of what will be in the next book. It felt like we spent a lot of time hearing about how cute the boys are and not enough action. There was actually little to no action until the end. I did really like the end. Once things fell into place, the story moved along quite well. I’m hoping that carries on into the next book.
Characters
I felt like we didn’t get to know the characters all that well. There was so much mystery about who (or what) everyone was. The guy we want to like keeps being mean and the boy we feel like we should hate seems really nice. This is another part of the book that starts to come together at the end and will hopefully build into the next book.
Recommendations
I think that this would be liked more by younger readers. While I didn’t dislike it, I had no problems putting it down at night. I would recommend holding off reading it until the next book comes out and wait and see what people think about the sequel.
Going Deeper
I wonder if part of why the story seemed so unique or baffled me at some points is because I’m not religious at all. The basis for the story may in fact be widely known and I’m just out of the loop. However, I didn’t feel like this was pushing religion nor bashing it. I was hesitant to start reading books with angels due to my lack of firm religions beliefs, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised with all the angel books I’ve read so far.
Thanks for the honest review. I’ve been wondering about these books. I guess I can rest easy now.
I completely agree that this book could have been way shorter. One thing that bugged me, and that I forgot to include in my review, was that a couple things would happen and then two pages later Luce would reminisce and summarize what just happened. Not only did that drive me nuts (gah!), it added to the slowness of the story. I did really like the end though, and I’m tempted to read the next book when it comes out. We will see, we will see…
@ Missie : Yeah I would definitely wait and see if the next book is any better before you go out and get this :/
@ Alita : I didn’t mention that either, but it was really repetitive. I’m really hoping the next one is better. If she keeps with the pace and action that the end of this one had, it could be really good.
I am not too keen to read this anymore… lol
@ Rachel : As someone who doesn’t read a ton of YA anyway… I’d say read something else and see how the second book turns out :/
Ah, the best thing about this book was how it felt!
The cover was all nice and silky.
@ Christina : HAHAHAHAHAHAHA yes
Did you at least like the end? While I don’t think it made the book “good”, I think it made the second book seem more promising.
I think this book is not my thing, :S I just bought it today like 3 hours ago, and I was so exited it seems like a nice book :S but the cover isn’t what the people read xD my friend read it like 1 month ago and told me it was really good but this just make me remember the series WICKED that they really suck and it was about how the two main character could never be together etc… and the past and their past lives I’m just in the page 252 and I’m really bored… seriously read something else!! like the hunger game or something like that this book is too slow people just lose their time reading it e_e