Title: Fallen Author: Lauren Kate
Genre: Young Adult
Release Date: 12/08/09
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.
Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.
Plot: 3.5 Stars
Many young adult novels involve boarding school or public school, but far fewer deal with reform school in the paranormal part of YA fiction. It really felt like the author did her research when molding her idea of Sword & Cross. The story itself also had many twists and turns I wasn't expecting. It just seemed a little too easy to sneak off or leave campus. It should've been harder since the reform school had a lot of security, but when it furthered the plot, it happened anyway.
Pace: 3 Stars
This is a long book with long chapters. Some points read faster than others, but it still took quite a bit of time to finish. I never wanted to take a break or put it down out of frustration, I just wished I could've flown through it at a faster pace because I enjoyed it. The pace of the first three quarters of the book was very well spread out, but near the end, when about five or six chapters combined to be only about a day's worth of action, it read like it was more than that.
Characters: 3.5 Stars
Although many characters were very well-rounded (Luce, Daniel, Cam, Penn), there were many characters that started out strong and then just kind of disappeared (Molly, Gabbe, Arianne). Especially Arianne. It looked like she was going to be BFFs with Luce, and then about halfway through the book she disappears for a number of chapters and then shows up in the end. She was very goofy and I wish we could've had a little more time with her.
Cover: 3.5 Stars
The cover's colors and atmosphere really lend well to the feel of the story. But I just can't get over the cover model choice. Luce's hair is specifically described as short due to circumstances taking place right before the book started, and yet the cover model has long hair. After finishing the book and finding out certain things from the past, it didn't bother me as much, but I wish the marketing department of publishing houses paid a little more attention because short hair is cute too.
Overall: 3.5 Stars
Disclosure: I bought this book with a giftcard I won through a contest on Nicole Peeler's Blog.
Great review! I posted a review of this myself on Wednesday, though for me the characters were the worst part. But for each their own, I guess! Still very thorough and I enjoyed reading it. :)
ReplyDeleteI just finished reading Fallen this morning. It seems like our feelings on the book are quite similar. Thanks for the review!
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