Book Review: Pandemonium

Pandemonium
(Delirium #2)
Published by: HarperCollins
Publication Date: February 28, 2012
Length: 384 pages
Purchase it at Amazon or Indie Bound
Source: ARC Provided by Publisher
Audience: Young Adult

My Thoughts:
W.O.W. I fell in love with the story in Delirium. The whole idea of a world where love is considered a deadly, contagious disease, where a society has found a cure for love in all of it's forms, and to feel love makes you an outcast, an invalid. I was fascinated by the idea, by the world created and also by the Wilds, where the Invalids, those not cured, lived in camps outside of the country's borders and were slowly forming a rebellion. In Delirium, I fell in love with Lena and Alex, and my heart was broken at the end when they were separated. I had no idea what to expect from Pandemonium, but there was no doubt in my mind that it would be amazing.


Pandemonium begins as Lena makes it across the border into the Wilds.  Alex, of course, has been shot and surrounded, assumed dead, on the other side. Lena is heart broken, scared, and soon sick. She must survive alone as she searches for a camp. She is rescued just after she passes out, finally giving up, and we are introduced to what becomes her new family, the residents of the homestead that takes Lena in. Lena soon learns that the Wilds aren't the romantic place she visited with Alex just weeks before. Life in the Wilds is hard, and the residents face challenges unimaginable to Lena.

The resistance is also building, growing, thriving. Pandemonium switches from "Then" (Lena's introduction to live in the Wilds, her self-discover and growth, her re-birth) to "Now", where Lena has an active role in the resistance. I know for some readers, the switch with each chapter, from Then to Now was confusing, but I loved it. Loved, loved, loved it. I absolutely adored being able to watch Lena's re-birth and learn about the Wilds with her while also watching the resistance from an insider's point of view.

Lauren Oliver builds characters as masterfully as she builds worlds and stories. We are introduced to Lena's new family in the homestead, Raven, Tack, Hunter, Blue, and through the resistance we meet Julian. I missed Hanah and Alex, but I have to admit that I loved the new cast of characters even more. Except Alex; I missed Alex horribly I loved how Lena thought of Alex in almost every move she made. It was hard for me to accept a new love interest for Lena, even though I knew it was bound to happen.

Pandemonium was amazing, a page-turner from beginning to end. I was absolutely absorbed in the story and the characters; I could not put it down. Because of the way Delirium ends, I prepared myself for a cliff hanger at the end of Pandemonium. However, NOTHING prepared me for the way this book ended. My final words to Lauren Oliver - REALLY?!? You're going to leave us like that...until 2013?!? Nooooo!!!!!!!! My final words to friends who haven't picked up this series yet - Go get it NOW! This is a story that you don't want to miss. Trust me on this one. Have I let you down yet? ;)



Summary from Amazon:
I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare, 
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana 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.

Comments

  1. Awesome, Tevya! I can't wait to read this, too!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh my goodness! I can't wait to read this! And 2013? Really? Noooo! Haha great review :)
    Katie @ Magic is in Words

    ReplyDelete
  3. So glad you loved it, as I love both books too!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I agree about the ending -- crazy! It's a little hard to imagine this whole world where love is a disease, but so fascinating to think about at the same time!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I did enjoy this one, but I found it to be a bit predictable. I do love Oliver's writing style, so I'm for sure reading book 3!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love this series so much- the idea is perfect, and I was so glad Pandemonium lived up to the first one :D

    ReplyDelete
  7. The plot is so fast! And the characters are well done:))

    Lovely review:)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I knooooow, that final cliffhanger, jesus christ!!!
    I too loved the "then" and "now" chapters, Lauren made the transition between them really well. The first chapters broke my heart though :(

    Great review. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love, love, love Lauren Oliver's books.. This one had me up in the wee hours of the morning.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I just finished Delirium and I'm not sure if I can handle another cliff hanger! Another love interest? That kind of makes me sad too. Maybe I need to wait awhile before I read Pandemonium.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yeah, so I am not going to even think about reading this series until the final one is out. I think I will just. However I do want to read something of hers. I think it is just something that I have to do.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I cannot believe that this has been out for almost a year and I haven't picked it up. Loved Delirium...thanks for the nudge.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I completely agree with everything you've said! Lauren Oliver is an incredible character and world builder, and the ending was HORRRRRIBLLLE! D:

    ReplyDelete
  14. I loved Delirium and have been wanting to read Pandemonium for quite some time now! I knew that there was chance Lena would start to move on (she is a teenager, afterall), but I have a theory on what the cliffhanger is about and it will both make me happy and frustrated if I am right!

    ReplyDelete
  15. It is indeed a good plot, where love is a disease. I'm curious on how the author did the world building since love is human nature and I don't think it can be eliminated.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

We love your comments!