Friday, August 17, 2012

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Release Date: Out now!

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Pages: 375pgs

The Story

I'm pushing aside

the memory of my nightmare,

pushing aside thoughts of Alex,

pushing aisde thoughts of Hanna

and my old school,

push,

push,

push,

like Raven taught me to do.

The old life is dead.

But the old Lena is dead too.

I buried her.

I left her beyond a fence,

behind a wall of smoke and flame.

Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, 'Delirium'. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.

The Review

PANDEMONIUM is the second installment of Lauren Oliver's Delirium series. For those who have yet to read the first book, this book is set sometime in the distant future, where love is viewed as a disease and all young people are cured for it so they can no longer feel love. However, the last time we saw the main character, Lena, she was on the run after narrowingly escaping her so-called perfect and 'cured' society, and she's now living her life in the wilds. While her mind will never forget a boy named Alex, someone she loved dearly and whom was captured, she is trying her best in surviving the outside world and all sorts of trouble that soon comes her way: New dangers. New rules. New society. New love.

Now I'm happy to say that I was really, really surprised by this sequel. Not only was this book far more enjoyable but it also exceeded my expectations. Delirium, the first book in this YA trilogy series, was an okay read for me but it didn't really offer anything special to me despite its received high praises. But in this sequel's case . . . I'm officially back on board with this series. PANDEMONIUM had everything of a reader's dream - a fast-pacing plot, non-stop action-packed sequences, a few little surprises I didn't see coming, and also some new characters that entertained me at their very best. Sure, the only thing I struggled with was the switching of the past and the present scenes, which wasn't a favourite method of mine, but it was nonetheless thrilling and captured my full attention!

Concerning the characters, I was yet again surprised by the detailed of them and the depth Lauren Oliver pulled them through. Lena was an okay main heroine in the first book, but I wasn't a fan of her. Since then and since reading this sequel, I've completely changed my mind about her. Shocker, I know! Lena this time was much more stronger and she had a much thicker skin when she began fighting for what she truly believed in, and while she continues to miss Alex with all her heart and soul, a love interest from the previous book, she still manages to push through everything and continue living her life the best it can be. For now at least.

The same goes with another introduced character, a boy named Julian, whom is also another possible love interest for Lena's future. For those readers who know me well, I'm not a huge fan of love triangles unless they are written perfectly and in the way I like them to be written. Though in this sequel, I think Lauren Oliver did such a great job in handling this upcoming love triangle ahead of us. For sure, Alex may not be present at all in this book, so it was completely understandable why Julian was introduced to offer some complication and some heartache for our Lena, but while Alex was a great love interest and opened up our Lena to the real world, I still couldn't help myself in adoring Julian despite his own issues he presented to us. By adored, I mean . . . I think I like him even more than our man Alex or rather they are both on the same playing field now and I'm - like right now - struggling whom to like more than the other. Though I have to admit, Julian was really refreshing and I loved how he helped Lena through her grief . . . so of course I couldn't help but love, love, love him! Yes, as you can see, I can't stop gushing about him!!!

Overall, PANDEMONIUM was the redemption of a book series that I was so desperately looking and it was also a sequel worthy of all the high praises it has been given recently. If you weren't a fan of Delirium like I was, than this sequel will most definitely change your mind as soon as you start reading the book and with a shocking cliffhanger being delivered towards the end of the book . . . it will have you gearing up for the final installment, which won't come sooner enough! Argh!!!

The Rating


4 1/2 / 5 stars

23 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you enjoyed this sequel more than its predecessor, Erin! I liked Delirium, but wasn't a fan either, so hopefully I'll enjoy this book more! Wonderful review!(:

    ~Keertana
    Ivy Book Bindings

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    1. Thanks! I too hope you enjoy this sequel. I'm still quite surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

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  2. Nooooo, Erin! Do not give in to Julian's kind-hearted temptation! RESIST! RESIST!

    Sigh. I know it's hard. I couldn't help but be taken by him aswell. Though for now I'm still hoping for a Lena/Alex conclusion... but honestly? I have no effing idea which way Lauren is going to go. Which I both love and hate! I'm so happy to hear this made you a bigger fan of the series. I loved seeing Lena become so much stronger this time around. I'm not sure I can pick a favourite though, I loved both books! SOMEONE GET US REQUIEM NOW, PLEASE?!?!

    Awesome review!

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    1. I knooooowwww! But I can't help but fall for Julian . . . he's too hard to resist! Too hard!

      I wanted the whole Lena/Alex thing but . . . Julian has appeared and went on to complicate things even more. Sighs. WE SERIOUSLY NEED REQUIEM NOW!

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  3. Ooooh, Erin! I LOVE when a character grows and develops like that, to someone you love! You know, it's a totally lame comparison, but I HATED Mac in Darkfever, but was really surprised at her growth over the series, and how much I liked her. Loving that something like that's happening for you. I STILL need to read this series ♥

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    1. Totally! I love how characters can surprise you, especially the ones where you didn't find them so awesome but then later on you suddenly see the awesomeness that was inside of them all along . . . love those types of characters that change your mind.

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  4. I'm really glad you enjoyed this! I thought it was a great sequel and Lena really came into her own during the story. I quite liked Julian too, but now I'm worried about which boy is going to get his heartbroken in the final book!

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    1. I'm glad I did too! I'm in the same boat as you! I'm worried about who Lena will choose . . . both guys are so good for her!

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  5. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! YOU CAN'T FALL FOR JULIAN TOOOOOO! LISA ALREADY CONVERTED TO TEAM JULIAN, YOU CAN'T DO THAT TOO! Well...I don't think I have the right to say that since I haven't even read this book :S It's just...the first 100 pages bored me to death :S But I can't wait to get to know Julian better! And YAYYYY for Lena being stronger here :) Awesomeeee review Erin! So glad you loved this one:)

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    1. I'm sorry, Shirley. Truly . . . I AM! But I have fallen for him and as much as I love Alex, I think Julian has won my heart. At least for the meantime. haha. We shall see if I am converted too. Sorry to hear you're bored but trust me it does get better after a while. Thanks, Shirley!

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  6. Still have to read the first book, but this sounds so good! Like the sound of the premise and the characters as well. Really great review, Erin!

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  7. I've been too scared to read this because of the love triangle - I was soooo Team Alex in book one, I don't even want to like Julian! I don't want him to be as awesome as you say :P. I mean, the whole reason any of this happens to Lena is because of Alex, and if she falls in love so easily with someone else, it makes the whole of the first book meaningless, in my opinion. But loads of people keep saying they like him and ahh! I'm torn. Really glad you enjoyed the book though. Great review!

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    1. I know how you feel because most of the time love triangles ruin the entire book. But just wait until you meet Julian - Alex is about to have some real competition now. haha. Anyway thanks, Liz!

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  8. I read the author's YA contemporary novel, Before I Fall, and absolutely loved it. :) For some reason though, I haven't read the Delerium series! I know, for shame. ;) I'm so pleased that you enjoyed this, because you definitely convinced me that I must read it ASAP. :) Lovely review, Erin!

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    1. Before I Fall was such a lovely book. It seems like a lot of people still haven't read Delirium yet, but be sure to soon. I might not have LOVED the first book, but this sequel was pretty awesome and changed my overall opinion on the series. Thanks!

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  9. :) I loved Before I fall and found Delirium a so-so book too! I'm so glad the sequel is better then the first!!!!! I really glad Julian was a likable character! Wonderful review Erin! I love your opening line "fire of fierce defiance"! <3

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  10. EEEEEEE! Pandemonium! I read it earlier this year and definitely loved it even though I felt really sad that Alex didn't appear a lot in this book. I might have liked Delirium even more and even though I like Julian, I'm still Team Alex! I love how Lena has developed in this book and how she can stand on her own without Alex's help. AND THE ENDING!!!! I think Lauren loves killing us with her cliffhanger XP I NEED REQUIEM SO BADLY!

    Anyway, awesome review, Erin! ♥ So glad you enjoyed it!

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    1. I SO wanted an Alex appearance, but Julian made up everything again. hehe. I think most people are still Team Alex and I totally am, but I too have fallen into the trap of loving both of the boys. Sighs.

      Thanks Celine!

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  11. Really glad you enjoyed this one. Sadly I didnt. :( I really liked book1 but this one argh! Lol. Didn't like it.

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    1. Sorry to hear that. Hopefully book 3 is better for you!

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  12. Noooo!!! not another cliffhanger, they kill me, I think I might just have to wait til book 3 is closer before I read this one. I actually loved Delirium, hope that means I'm going to love this one too.

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