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Book Review: Fallen
Fallen
by
Lauren Kate


Publisher: Ember (September 28, 2010)
Length: Paperback 496 pages
Format: Audio Book
Source: Library2Go
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Series: Yes, Book #1 of 4
Completed: September 2011
Challenges: 2011 Ebook Challenge, Show Me the Free Challenge


Review can also be found on the My Precious blog: thecallawayfam.blogspot.com



Summary:

Lucinda "Luce" Price is an exceptional student at a prestigious school, but she's always felt like she might be crazy. She sees dark shadows, no one else can. When they show up bad things happen. In fact, last time they appeared, Luce's crush ended up murdered. She couldn't remember anything about it. Her parents don't know how to help her. Now, they are forced to send her to a reform boarding school called Sword and Cross.

Upon arrival, Luce feels less than welcome. They confiscate her cell phone, computer and any other means of communicating with the outside world. Luce is utterly distraught, instead of fitting in, because of a cafeteria disaster, she ends up with the nickname of "Meatloaf". Then, everything changes when she sets her eyes on the most beautiful boy she's ever seen in her life. Luce senses a strong connection to this boy. Even more disturbing, she feels like she knows him, but then, to her utter dismay, he turns around and flips her off! Obviously, he wants nothing to do with her, so how come he has such a strong hold of her heart?



Ramblings
BACKGROUND

Lauren Kate currently resides in Laurel Canyon with her husband. Her idea for Fallen stemmed from a line in Genesis about fallen angels loving mortal woman. Once she started writing, it only took her two months to complete this 400+ page novel. Its the first book in a series. The second book is titled Torment and was released in September 2010. It was followed up by Passion in June of 2011. The final installment Rapture is set to be released in June of 2012.

SETTING, PACE AND & STYLE

Fallen is set at Sword and Cross, a reform boarding school in Savanah, Georgia. Taking place in a reform school setting, there are lots of characters to keep track of. Pacing is slow, initially, with little action, lots of dialogue and some descriptions. Mostly, the author is introducing and developing the characters, while laying some slight background information. Though the story does have action, fight scenes and some drama, its doesn't ever really reach more than a moderate pace, at best. Lauren Kate's writing style is easy to read, her characters and dialogues are believable and up to date with current times.

CHARACTERS & PLOT

There are a multitude of characters in this book, most of them mysterious with evil or strange backgrounds. The narrator of Fallen is Lucinda Price or "Luce" for short. A seventeen year old honor student attending Dover High school until she gets yanked because of a crime she may or may not have committed. Sentenced to a reform school for troubled children cholk full of murders, wack-jobs and psycho's Luce feels like a fish out of water.

Then, when all looks hopeless, she encounters Daniel Grigori, a handsome blonde with gray-violet eyes who infatuates her. She swears she knows him from somewhere, but he doesn't seem to have the same feelings. Luce feels a strong pull and sense of mystery to Daniel. He's a very private young man, desiring nothing more than to distance himself from Luce. He's cruel, nasty and ridiculously rude. (It makes me question why, a level headed, honor student, like Luce, would even put up with such treatment.)

So when, Pennyweather Van Syckle-Lockwood, the only normal girl in the entire school, offers to assist Luce in uncovering Daniel's secrets, she jumps at the opportunity and they quickly become great friends. Penn attends Sword and Cross by choice because her father used to be the groundskeeper before he died, not because of a mandate. She has access to school records and tries to uncover more information about the aloof, young Daniel.

Enter, Cameron 'Cam' Briel, the antagonist of the story and Luce’s other romantic interest. Polar opposite of Daniel, Cam is charming, thoughtful and interested in Luce. He goes to great lengths to help Luce feel welcome at Sword and Cross. She's certainly swept off her feet by him, but still can't quite wipe her mind free of Daniel and the feelings they are destined to be together.

Many other key characters are involved in Luce's story, but there are far too many to mention in this review. Plot line in this story is driven by uncovering the mystery behind the Daniel Grigori and discovering the truth about who and what Lucinda Price really is. Everybody seems to be hiding something from Luce. But why?



Recommendation:

Young adult readers who don't mind a slower paced book, with mysterious and dark characters will enjoy this book. Also, anyone who enjoys reading about boarding schools, or angels will find this one captivating. If easily irked by books with loads of unanswered questions, steer clear of this one, or otherwise plan to face frustration. Warning to parents, this book does contain a few disturbing scenes and does have mature themes about death and dying.

PERSONAL NOTE

I'd read more than a handful of negative reviews, so no real high expectations going into this one. Why did I even bother, you ask? For starters, I'm always a sucker for boarding school stories. Plus, I had heard the series just continues to improve with each new book released. Was I disappointed? Nope, I'm glad I took a chance to read Fallen, It was an interesting, exciting read. For me, once again, the element of mystery was the driving force of this novel.

My curiousity was piqued by the main character, Luce. What are the mysterious dark "Shadows" she continues to see throughout the novel? Bad things tend to happen when they appear. Luce landed at Sword and Cross because she potentially murdered her last crush, if this is true, is Luce good or evil? What are the circumstances surrounding this mysterious death, as Luce can't seem to remember any details of that ill fated night. Then, there's Daniel and Cam, who are these guys, and what part do they play in this story or Luce's life? They appear to be polar opposites and mortal enemies, but why? Most importantly, why does Luce feel like she's knows Daniel, even though he swears they have never met? What's his deal and what's he hiding? Did I ever get all these questions answered when I turned the last page -- no. I did get enough of them answered to leave me still curious, but mostly satisfied.

Both the prologue and epilogue in this story are certainly mysterious on their own. Reading them makes me believe there is a whole lot going on I'm not privy too, yet. Finishing this book left me with unanswered questions, but I didn't feel like the ending was what I'd define as a cliffhanger. It did a good job wrapping up the story, but leaves quite the set up for the next novel, which I look forward to reading soon.


RATING �

One ring was deducted for slow pacing and unanswered questions. Many readers might become easily frustrated with never quite getting the burning questions answered quickly. It certainly adds urgency and tension to the novel, which isn't always a bad thing.


My Rating: 4 out of 5 Rings