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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
Woah. Colour me surprised. After the lacklustre plotline of [b:Delirium|11614718|Delirium (Delirium, #1)|Lauren Oliver|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327890411s/11614718.jpg|10342808], I was not expecting how awesome Pandemonium would be. Lena's time in the Wilds has helped her grow into an incredibly strong, smart, and resourceful young woman, a worthy YA heroine that young girls can look up to. She has emerged from the hardships and tragedies she endured as a new person, strengthened mentally, emotionally and physically. She is no longer the meek girl we first met in Delirium.
The plot is split between "then" and "now", chronicling Lena's experiences in the Wilds and her time in New York, as an operative of the Resistance. With the two new settings, the worldbuilding is expanded on, and while I still have many unanswered questions about it, the explanations and details we do get are sufficient enough for me to suspend disbelief and become engrossed in the story.
Unlike the previous book, Pandemonium has far more action, especially as Lena herself becomes a much more active character. The twists and turns of the plot were unpredictable, exciting and engaging, and kept my attention far better than the romance-centric plot of Delirium. Not that there isn't any romance in this book-- Lena gets a new romantic interest, and the romance is pulled off quite well. I found Julian adequate as a love interest (I don't have a particular preference between him and Alex), although as per typical YA books, I do think they fall in love just a little too fast. Plenty of new characters are introduced as well, all Invalids living in the Wilds. I was fascinated by Raven, and enjoyed seeing how her relationship with Lena developed.
I am super excited to read the next book as I cannot predict how the storyline will evolve from here.
The plot is split between "then" and "now", chronicling Lena's experiences in the Wilds and her time in New York, as an operative of the Resistance. With the two new settings, the worldbuilding is expanded on, and while I still have many unanswered questions about it, the explanations and details we do get are sufficient enough for me to suspend disbelief and become engrossed in the story.
Unlike the previous book, Pandemonium has far more action, especially as Lena herself becomes a much more active character. The twists and turns of the plot were unpredictable, exciting and engaging, and kept my attention far better than the romance-centric plot of Delirium. Not that there isn't any romance in this book-- Lena gets a new romantic interest, and the romance is pulled off quite well. I found Julian adequate as a love interest (I don't have a particular preference between him and Alex), although as per typical YA books, I do think they fall in love just a little too fast. Plenty of new characters are introduced as well, all Invalids living in the Wilds. I was fascinated by Raven, and enjoyed seeing how her relationship with Lena developed.
I am super excited to read the next book as I cannot predict how the storyline will evolve from here.
I love Julian so much more than Alex. I need to read the third book.
Lauren Oliver's style of writing is not my favorite. Her voice is not what I really like to read, but her plots are always soooo good, so I keep going back for more.
Lauren Oliver's style of writing is not my favorite. Her voice is not what I really like to read, but her plots are always soooo good, so I keep going back for more.
Ik vond het niet goed. Wat een verschil met het vorige boek! Ik irriteerde mij vreselijk aan het hele Lena/Julian-verhaal. Kom op! Hoe ongeloofwaardig en totaal niet romantisch. Ze kennen elkaar nog niet eens zo lang. Pff, nee, geef mij maar Alex :p.
Ook de schrijfstijl vond ik dit keer enorm vervelend, maar dat lag misschien ook aan de vertaling... Het ene moment staat alles in tegenwoordige tijd, om dan naar verleden tijd over te springen, om een paar pagina's verder weer in tegenwoordige tijd alles te vertellen. Soms komen er ook stukjes waarin heel kort iets wordt geschreven dat in het verleden door een personage is gezegd (meestal Raaf). Het probleem daarbij vond ik dat er totaal geen aanhalingstekens werden gebruikt, of dat er een schuin lettertype werd gebruikt om aan te tonen dat dit ooit in het verleden eens was gezegd. Nu staat alles in een doorlopende tekst, wat het soms erg vreemd en onsamenhangend maakte om te lezen. (Dit kwam misschien ook wel omdat ik het telkens in mijn bed las, wanneer ik al wat moe was, maar dat laten we even terzijde :p).
Hmm, nee. Dit vind ik geen aanrader. Ik hoop uit de grond van mijn hart dat het volgende boek stukken beter gaat zijn...
Ook de schrijfstijl vond ik dit keer enorm vervelend, maar dat lag misschien ook aan de vertaling... Het ene moment staat alles in tegenwoordige tijd, om dan naar verleden tijd over te springen, om een paar pagina's verder weer in tegenwoordige tijd alles te vertellen. Soms komen er ook stukjes waarin heel kort iets wordt geschreven dat in het verleden door een personage is gezegd (meestal Raaf). Het probleem daarbij vond ik dat er totaal geen aanhalingstekens werden gebruikt, of dat er een schuin lettertype werd gebruikt om aan te tonen dat dit ooit in het verleden eens was gezegd. Nu staat alles in een doorlopende tekst, wat het soms erg vreemd en onsamenhangend maakte om te lezen. (Dit kwam misschien ook wel omdat ik het telkens in mijn bed las, wanneer ik al wat moe was, maar dat laten we even terzijde :p).
Hmm, nee. Dit vind ik geen aanrader. Ik hoop uit de grond van mijn hart dat het volgende boek stukken beter gaat zijn...
PANDEMONIUM might just be one of those rare second books that I find better than the first one. Like DELIRIUM it's a fast read, but thoughtful as well. Lauren Oliver did a great job expanding the world, and I loved that we got to see more sides of it than we did in the first book. It's also has more action (which I like), and it was a very fast-paced read. Even if it ended on a TOTAL CLIFFHANGER (again!) I'm willing to look past that as long as the last book in the trilogy is as beautiful and exciting as the first two. Great read!
SPOILER ALERT! If you haven’t read Delirium yet, Stop! I don’t want to ruin one of my favorite series for you.
Lena Haloway has escaped from Portland into the Wilds with the help of her uncured boyfriend Alex, but at a high cost. Once Lena is over the fence, she turns around to see a bloodied Alex wasn’t able to cross. Heartbroken, she stumbles through the Wilds for one week before she is found by a girl slightly older than her named Raven. Battered and weak, Lena is taken to their small homestead/hideout to regain her strength. She slowly recovers and soon becomes an integral member of their small society. As time goes on, her memories of Alex, Hana and her old life in Portland are replaced by new friendships and survival skills.
As winter approaches, Raven and the others begin their plans to move south before bad weather sets in. Hunter, Tack and a few others scout ahead and bury food along the way before everyone moves south as a group. But before the scouts can return, Lena receives a message from their supports in Portland to run. The bombing begins, not everyone escapes with their life and no one leaves prepared. They struggle with their move south as the snow sets in. Arriving at their last camp without finding Hunter and Tack, Lena and Raven quickly realize something is terribly wrong just before the Scavengers strike.
This is where Ms. Oliver’s telling of Lena’s story begins to get a little confusing at first. Told in alternating chapters if Then (Lena’s time in the Wilds) and Now as Lena’s story continues being undercover in New York City with Raven and Tack. The DFA, Deliria Free America, is holding a major rally in the city before its leader, Thomas Fineman, has his son Julian undergo the cure. For Julian, the procedure may very well be deadly after the numerous surgeries he has endured in his battle with a brain tumor. On the day of the rally, Tack tells Lena to get close to the stage and never let Julian out of her sight. Just as the rally begins, the Scavengers begin their raid. Lena notices some of the bodyguards pull Julian through a back door. Lena decides to follow and quickly realizes she is in trouble when she discovers the bodyguards dead before blacking out. She awakens locked in a room with Julian. During the next two weeks, Lena and Julian bond over their predicament and against all odds, find themselves dependent upon one another.
Once I reached the part in the book where Lena is in the Now with Julian, I was totally sucked in and had a hard time putting the book down. I needed to see where Lena’s journey took her. Who was behind the raid at the DFA rally? What happens between Lena and Julian while they are alone? Who exactly are Raven and Tack and what is their connection? Will Lena ever see Alex or Hana ever again? And whatever happened after her mother escaped from the Crypt?
Needless to say, Lauren Oliver leaves Pandemonium readers with one heck of a cliffhanger to be resolved in the final book of the trilogy, Requiem, out in 2013.
Lena Haloway has escaped from Portland into the Wilds with the help of her uncured boyfriend Alex, but at a high cost. Once Lena is over the fence, she turns around to see a bloodied Alex wasn’t able to cross. Heartbroken, she stumbles through the Wilds for one week before she is found by a girl slightly older than her named Raven. Battered and weak, Lena is taken to their small homestead/hideout to regain her strength. She slowly recovers and soon becomes an integral member of their small society. As time goes on, her memories of Alex, Hana and her old life in Portland are replaced by new friendships and survival skills.
As winter approaches, Raven and the others begin their plans to move south before bad weather sets in. Hunter, Tack and a few others scout ahead and bury food along the way before everyone moves south as a group. But before the scouts can return, Lena receives a message from their supports in Portland to run. The bombing begins, not everyone escapes with their life and no one leaves prepared. They struggle with their move south as the snow sets in. Arriving at their last camp without finding Hunter and Tack, Lena and Raven quickly realize something is terribly wrong just before the Scavengers strike.
This is where Ms. Oliver’s telling of Lena’s story begins to get a little confusing at first. Told in alternating chapters if Then (Lena’s time in the Wilds) and Now as Lena’s story continues being undercover in New York City with Raven and Tack. The DFA, Deliria Free America, is holding a major rally in the city before its leader, Thomas Fineman, has his son Julian undergo the cure. For Julian, the procedure may very well be deadly after the numerous surgeries he has endured in his battle with a brain tumor. On the day of the rally, Tack tells Lena to get close to the stage and never let Julian out of her sight. Just as the rally begins, the Scavengers begin their raid. Lena notices some of the bodyguards pull Julian through a back door. Lena decides to follow and quickly realizes she is in trouble when she discovers the bodyguards dead before blacking out. She awakens locked in a room with Julian. During the next two weeks, Lena and Julian bond over their predicament and against all odds, find themselves dependent upon one another.
Once I reached the part in the book where Lena is in the Now with Julian, I was totally sucked in and had a hard time putting the book down. I needed to see where Lena’s journey took her. Who was behind the raid at the DFA rally? What happens between Lena and Julian while they are alone? Who exactly are Raven and Tack and what is their connection? Will Lena ever see Alex or Hana ever again? And whatever happened after her mother escaped from the Crypt?
Needless to say, Lauren Oliver leaves Pandemonium readers with one heck of a cliffhanger to be resolved in the final book of the trilogy, Requiem, out in 2013.
I got used to the then and now, but overall I just want to happy with this book. I'll read the next one because the story is interesting...didn't like the ending, but knew it was coming.
If you've read Delirium (I'm assuming you have, if you're reading this), you must read Pandemonium. It's ten times better and Lena isn't as annoying ;)
Really the only thing I didn't like was how forced the relationship between Julian and Lena felt. It was just... so predictable. I mean, it was a cute relationship, like, I love Julian, but he's basically only in the book to make Lena take her mind off of Alex and probably eventually make him (Alex) jealous. Let's just see what happens in Requiem.
I do really want to see what ends up going down in the final book.
Really the only thing I didn't like was how forced the relationship between Julian and Lena felt. It was just... so predictable. I mean, it was a cute relationship, like, I love Julian, but he's basically only in the book to make Lena take her mind off of Alex and probably eventually make him (Alex) jealous. Let's just see what happens in Requiem.
I do really want to see what ends up going down in the final book.
I picked this book up from the library because I had read the first one. It was only after I got it home that I realized I rated the first one a 2! I had every intention of walking that little book back into the library unread. I really hate wasting good reading time on books I do not really enjoy. However, I ended up spending a day sick in bed with NOTHING to read. So, I pick up Pandemonium. And I liked it. I don’t know if it was because my expectations were so low or if I was just in a funny mood, but I sincerely enjoyed the book. The pace seemed to move quickly, there was a good flow to the book, and I enjoyed many of the characters. I do have to admit that I wasn’t a huge fan of the “Then” and “Now” format. It didn’t drive me insane, but it did bug me a little bit. I was very happy that towards the end of the book the “Then’s” disappeared without fanfare. I would have given this book a fairly solid 4 stars, however, I am taking one off for language. So, overall, I really enjoyed Pandemonium and will now read the next book. 3 Stars.
This one I struggled to follow a lot more than the first. I almost gave up a few times but wanted to know where it was going. Much better read than listen.