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evesn's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
katie_l21's review
5.0
So often sequels are not worth the time to read, but this was great! It takes place 5 years after the first book, The Passage, ends. With t
pretty much the same cast, it was easy to fall back into the story! Can't wait to start book 3!
pretty much the same cast, it was easy to fall back into the story! Can't wait to start book 3!
aminakara's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
stephen_arvidson's review
5.0
Justin Cronin continues to revamp the traditional vampire mythos and defy pretty-boy Twilight antics in this sprawling follow-up to The Passage. Building upon the apocalypse-stricken world of its predecessor with much of the same vitality and promise, The Twelve resumes the dystopian saga without missing a beat. Five years after the devastating Roswell Massacre—alas, not all our beloved heroes lived to talk about it—the hunt for the titular Twelve supervirals persists; however, Peter and the surviving members of the Second Expeditionary find themselves pitted against an Orwellian militaristic colony and a strange cloaked woman who, despite her impeccable features, seems to be in league with the ghoulish virals.
Breadth of characters and sweeping storylines are The Twelve’s principle mainstays. Cronin uses the past to inform the tantalizing mysteries of the present, introducing new characters and reacquainting readers with some long-lost faces from the previous book. Taking center stage are Deputy Director Horace Guilder, a federal bureaucrat afflicted with Lou Gehrig's Disease who struggles to cope with the country falling apart around him; Bernard Kittridge, a wounded ex-military sniper eager to make a final stand as he pops off virals from a fortified high-rise; Lila Kyle, the mentally unstable ex-wife of Brad Wolgast, and Lawrence Grey, a reformed sex-offender now neck-deep in the ill-effects of Project NOAH (the hubristic experiment responsible for the vampire scourge). Stars and fates align, lives overlap, and disparate events converge from all across time, from the onset of the vampyric cataclysm that annihilated mankind in the Year Zero to the central storyline, 97 years later, where valiant insurgence fighters wage war against an immortal force hell-bent on eradicating the last remaining pockets of humanity.
While maps and other extra-textual inserts complement the narrative, the book’s true indulgence lies with its lyrical prose, lovingly rendered and at times hypnotic. Justin Cronin is as much an accomplished wordsmith as he is a master storyteller, painting vivid imagery with mere words and breathing life into an assortment of alphabets. So rich and nuanced is the language that Cronin uses it to his advantage, effortlessly spanning vast landscapes and epochs, evoking both tenderness and loss to the appropriate degree.
Bursting with heart and determination, each of the characters is so complex and richly developed that readers will commit to them in quick succession. Cronin enhances his portraiture of key players: Alicia Donadio, a staunch dagger of virtue who forsakes intimacy in her wrathful pursuit of the Dirty Dozen (the original dracs, that is); Peter Jaxon, the plucky survivor turned hardened soldier perpetually weighed down by his own mounting responsibilities and his burgeoning love for the women around him; and let’s not forget Amy, the world’s oldest pubescent heroine. Sacrifice is the name of the game here as this noble trio is forced to choose between meaningful relationships and humanity’s salvation. Cronin adheres to his narrative structure established in The Passage, rewinding back 100 years to the early days of the viral epidemic before plunging ahead into the now familiar post-apocalyptic era, using these flashbacks of sorts to explore a new set of characters and firmly tie the events of the past with those of the present. Once again, though, Cronin leaves behind the world of Year Zero, unceremoniously dropping handfuls of characters early in the story—such as Danny Chayes, the mentally challenged bus driver, and April the resilient pink-punk chick desperate to save her younger brother from the coming apocalypse. Invested readers will hold out hopes of their return in the eventual third volume, The City of Mirrors.
The pious undertones of Book One grandiloquently break the surface in The Twelve, beginning with a lengthy prologue written in a numbered, pseudo-biblical fashion. Theology and faith are explored to varying extents, particularly from the perspective of Major Greer who unexpectedly reappears after finding God whilst imprisoned for dereliction; even Amy herself is elevated to levels of sainted martyrdom by the time we reach the climax.
Despite struggling in places where The Passage excelled, The Twelve is still exceptionally readable, rewardingly so. Intelligent and beautifully crafted, it’s a quintessential middle book that satisfies its intended role, upping the stakes and bridging the first book with whatever’s coming next. In short, it’s a worthy sequel that’ll have you anxiously awaiting the final installment in the trilogy.
Breadth of characters and sweeping storylines are The Twelve’s principle mainstays. Cronin uses the past to inform the tantalizing mysteries of the present, introducing new characters and reacquainting readers with some long-lost faces from the previous book. Taking center stage are Deputy Director Horace Guilder, a federal bureaucrat afflicted with Lou Gehrig's Disease who struggles to cope with the country falling apart around him; Bernard Kittridge, a wounded ex-military sniper eager to make a final stand as he pops off virals from a fortified high-rise; Lila Kyle, the mentally unstable ex-wife of Brad Wolgast, and Lawrence Grey, a reformed sex-offender now neck-deep in the ill-effects of Project NOAH (the hubristic experiment responsible for the vampire scourge). Stars and fates align, lives overlap, and disparate events converge from all across time, from the onset of the vampyric cataclysm that annihilated mankind in the Year Zero to the central storyline, 97 years later, where valiant insurgence fighters wage war against an immortal force hell-bent on eradicating the last remaining pockets of humanity.
While maps and other extra-textual inserts complement the narrative, the book’s true indulgence lies with its lyrical prose, lovingly rendered and at times hypnotic. Justin Cronin is as much an accomplished wordsmith as he is a master storyteller, painting vivid imagery with mere words and breathing life into an assortment of alphabets. So rich and nuanced is the language that Cronin uses it to his advantage, effortlessly spanning vast landscapes and epochs, evoking both tenderness and loss to the appropriate degree.
Bursting with heart and determination, each of the characters is so complex and richly developed that readers will commit to them in quick succession. Cronin enhances his portraiture of key players: Alicia Donadio, a staunch dagger of virtue who forsakes intimacy in her wrathful pursuit of the Dirty Dozen (the original dracs, that is); Peter Jaxon, the plucky survivor turned hardened soldier perpetually weighed down by his own mounting responsibilities and his burgeoning love for the women around him; and let’s not forget Amy, the world’s oldest pubescent heroine. Sacrifice is the name of the game here as this noble trio is forced to choose between meaningful relationships and humanity’s salvation. Cronin adheres to his narrative structure established in The Passage, rewinding back 100 years to the early days of the viral epidemic before plunging ahead into the now familiar post-apocalyptic era, using these flashbacks of sorts to explore a new set of characters and firmly tie the events of the past with those of the present. Once again, though, Cronin leaves behind the world of Year Zero, unceremoniously dropping handfuls of characters early in the story—such as Danny Chayes, the mentally challenged bus driver, and April the resilient pink-punk chick desperate to save her younger brother from the coming apocalypse. Invested readers will hold out hopes of their return in the eventual third volume, The City of Mirrors.
The pious undertones of Book One grandiloquently break the surface in The Twelve, beginning with a lengthy prologue written in a numbered, pseudo-biblical fashion. Theology and faith are explored to varying extents, particularly from the perspective of Major Greer who unexpectedly reappears after finding God whilst imprisoned for dereliction; even Amy herself is elevated to levels of sainted martyrdom by the time we reach the climax.
Despite struggling in places where The Passage excelled, The Twelve is still exceptionally readable, rewardingly so. Intelligent and beautifully crafted, it’s a quintessential middle book that satisfies its intended role, upping the stakes and bridging the first book with whatever’s coming next. In short, it’s a worthy sequel that’ll have you anxiously awaiting the final installment in the trilogy.
benjclyde's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mellomorissa's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
libraryam's review
5.0
Bone suckin', good!
Fabulous: The narrative, the character development, the descriptive word choices. Great writer; great story.
Only slightly less than fabulous: A few telegraphed bits; a little too tidy here and there.
jbliv's review
5.0
Just as splendid as The Passage, possibly even more so, The Twelve features the same key hallmarks of its prequel, wrapped even more tightly in a crackerjack plot. Otherworldly vampires and the apocalyptic setting are present, but Cronin's focus on the depth of key relationships, and his knack for never really letting a good character go, are what make this so memorable. An indelible theme here is the impact certain others have on your life. Amid the mayhem is a stark tribute to how human togetherness is so much richer than division -- a timely message for us all.