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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Is this even apart of the same book series??? Its been a few years since I read the first one, but I remember the vibe being soooo different. I really only finished the book because I wanted to see how it ended, and honestly, I don't think I'll even read the last one. Sorry, this book just wasn't for me :/
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Good twists, liked the storyline. I was disappointed with all the swearing that was included in this book. The first one didn't have it.
⭐ 4.75/5
Lauren Oliver does not let up in this second installment of the Delirium series. If Delirium was about awakening and first love, Pandemonium is about survival, transformation, and emotional chaos—which, fittingly, is exactly what the title suggests. Told in a dual timeline structure ("Then" & "Now"), we watch Lena struggle through her grief and loss while becoming the person she needs to be to survive. The pacing is fast, the stakes are high, and the emotions are a whirlwind. And that ending? Pure, evil, genius.
📖 What to Expect:
✔️ A grittier, tougher Lena—growth unlocked
✔️ Life in the Wilds—struggle, survival, and resilience
✔️ More action, less romance-driven plot
✔️ A new love interest (yes, it gets messy)
✔️ A gut-wrenching cliffhanger that will leave you SCREAMING
💡 What I Loved:
🔥 A Stronger, More Complex Lena
- The "Then" timeline follows Lena right after escaping into the Wilds, where we watch her suffer, adapt, and grow stronger.
- She loses everything, but she fights to live, not just for herself but for Alex’s memory.
- The "Now" timeline shows a completely different Lena—one who is hardened, strategic, and willing to play the game to survive.
⏳ The Dual Timeline Was Brilliant (After the Initial Confusion)
- I admit it threw me off at first (Wait, why are we in NYC now? What’s happening?) but once I got used to it, I loved how it built suspense and made the story more layered.
- It forced me to see just how much Lena has changed.
⚔️ Survival in the Wilds—It’s Not Pretty
- No soft, romantic rebellion here—the Wilds are harsh, unrelenting, and deadly.
- The people she meets (Raven, Blue, Tack, Hunter) aren’t welcoming or kind—they’re survivors, and Lena has to prove she can keep up.
- It’s dirty, brutal, and heartbreaking.
📖 The Writing Is So, So Good.
- Lauren Oliver’s prose remains poetic but sharp—less dreamy than Delirium, more raw and urgent.
- I especially loved the descriptions of the Wilds—so atmospheric that I could almost feel the cold and the hunger myself.
💔 The Grief Is Tangible.
- Lena does not just “move on” from Alex. He haunts every moment, and we feel that ache through her thoughts and dreams.
- Her growth comes from pain—she learns to let go without ever forgetting.
💥 ACTION. LOTS OF ACTION.
- If Delirium was slow-paced and poetic, Pandemonium is fast, intense, and dangerous.
- There are kidnappings, underground movements, deadly choices, and fights for survival.
- I was on edge the entire time.
😬 What I Didn’t Love (As Much):
💔 The New Love Interest... I’m Not Sold.
- Okay, let’s talk about Julian. I liked him, but did I need him? No.
- He’s sweet, naïve, and sheltered, which contrasts Lena’s hardened, survivor mentality.
- But… was it necessary? The love triangle setup makes me nervous for book three.
🚨 The Cliffhanger Was CRUEL.
- HOW DARE YOU, LAUREN OLIVER.
- Just when you think you’re safe, the book throws a grenade at your heart and ends.
- If you don’t have Requiem on hand after finishing this, you will suffer.
📌 Favorite Quotes:
📖 "If you take, we will take back. Steal from us, and we will rob you blind. When you squeeze, we will hit. This is the way the world is made now."
📖 "You can’t be happy unless you’re unhappy sometimes."
📖 “You have to learn that sometimes love comes into your life like a crash, like a hurricane, like a tidal wave. It leaves a mess behind, but it's still love. It changes you."
🤔 Final Thoughts: Darker, Grittier, and More Addictive
✔️ If you thought Delirium was slow—THIS is the book you’ve been waiting for.
✔️ If you love dystopian survival stories—this delivers.
✔️ If you hate love triangles—be warned.
✔️ If you love cliffhangers—prepare to SCREAM.
Pandemonium took everything from Delirium and dialed it up to 100—more action, more heartbreak, more danger. It’s a pulse-pounding, high-stakes survival story that left me desperate for book three. While the love triangle setup is a bit frustrating, the overall plot was so gripping that I couldn’t put it down. 💥
Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 6/5 stars oh my goodness
Ok, guys? I'm going to try to give a proper review for this but please allow me to have a proper freak out for a second.
ohmygoodnessohmygoodnessohmygoshohmygoshwhawhawhawhawhataahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Ok. I think I'm done. This review will not be long.
I thought I loved Delirium (and trust me, I still do) But WOW OH MY GOODNESS Pandemonium was good. GOOD. AWESOME. WOW. Umm, Lauren Oliver still had her beautiful way of writing and there are so many surprises and wows and I don't what, so that you will constantly be glued (GLUED I TELL YOU) to the book. The story alternated between then (immediately after the Alex incident) and now (when Lena joins the Resistance). You are able to see Lena deal with her grief about Alex and become a different, stronger person. And the new characters...well, in short, they are perfect (perfect for the story that is) and will make you feel like you just don't know what to do. Also, there is a really bad cliffhanger at the end. Like, the I-knew-there-was-a-reason-that-I-waited-until-the-new-year-to-read-this-book kind of cliffhanger. I think I really need Reqiuem right now.
That is all. This is probably the reason why I shouldn't write a review right after I read a book, so I'm sorry if it wasn't very helpful.
Genre: Dystopian
Rating: 6/5 stars oh my goodness
Ok, guys? I'm going to try to give a proper review for this but please allow me to have a proper freak out for a second.
ohmygoodnessohmygoodnessohmygoshohmygoshwhawhawhawhawhataahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Ok. I think I'm done. This review will not be long.
I thought I loved Delirium (and trust me, I still do) But WOW OH MY GOODNESS Pandemonium was good. GOOD. AWESOME. WOW. Umm, Lauren Oliver still had her beautiful way of writing and there are so many surprises and wows and I don't what, so that you will constantly be glued (GLUED I TELL YOU) to the book. The story alternated between then (immediately after the Alex incident) and now (when Lena joins the Resistance). You are able to see Lena deal with her grief about Alex and become a different, stronger person. And the new characters...well, in short, they are perfect (perfect for the story that is) and will make you feel like you just don't know what to do. Also, there is a really bad cliffhanger at the end. Like, the I-knew-there-was-a-reason-that-I-waited-until-the-new-year-to-read-this-book kind of cliffhanger. I think I really need Reqiuem right now.
That is all. This is probably the reason why I shouldn't write a review right after I read a book, so I'm sorry if it wasn't very helpful.
Book 2 is just as amazing as book 1 I really enjoy this book and anyone who wants a fun YA Dystopian this is for you
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated