Book Review: Fallen Series by Lauren Kate
It serves me right. For judging books by its cover. Not satisfied with Fallen by Thomas S, I searched for another angel story to better judge the book. Alas, I fell for the bait and picked up Lauren Kate's Fallen. I can easily claim this to be one of the most frustrating reading time I have spent in so many years. And yet, I read all the three books in the series with patience. Why? I should have quit right? Guess I was testing my breaking point.
So, unlike before, I have to start with what DOESN'T work for this book. Because that better expresses my review.
What Doesn't Work For This Book?
As mentioned above, it was frustrating. A good book keeps a balance between information and suspense. The organized unraveling of a mystery is what keeps the reader going. If the ending or any part of it throws the reader completely off in a bad way, as in the hero turns absolutely nasty for no reason, the reader quits. But what do you do when neither the hero turns nasty nor does he move forward?
This book and the whole series had no such balance. You just keep reading on and on with absolutely no answers. I went on reading in the hope that I would get all my answers in the end. I finished the first book, then second and then third with so many glaring unexplained occurrences in the story! It leaves you so frustrated that you pick up the next book in the hope that it will have the answers! Well, if its a trick to get readers buy the book, then it worked great in my case! ha!
I wonder how the editor or publisher didn't pick these glaring gaps. I can write couple of them here but I don't want to give away the spoilers. I want everyone to go through the pain I went through! (yeah sadist me!)
What Works?
The cover page of course. It is haunting and raises the expectations!
Also in a twisted way, the information withheld in the book always gets the reader to read more in the series. But only for the sake of getting the elusive answers to the irrational rantings of this teenager - not for the beautiful prose or mind-blowing characters.
Verdict
Not recommended if you are short-tempered or have high blood pressure. You might end up almost hurting yourself or some one. Others, read it at your own risk.
hahaha! Your review is cracking me up! I think I could guess at a couple of those gaps! Oh, man, my blood was boiling when I never got the answers I needed. I said in my review, I had a feeling that the whole series was set up in a way that keeps you guessing yet lacks explanations, and your review has confirmed that for me. It's kind of sad because the prologue was amazing.
ReplyDeleteSo, the question is... Will you be reading the fourth book?
P.S. Now I'm feeling kind of challenged to find an angel themed book we might actually like!
ReplyDeleteSurely not all Angels disappoint, right?
Missie - Hahaha...there is no way I am going to spend precious hours of my life on the fourth book! and I doubt there are any angel themed books out there that might catch our fancy - the think the reason is we are too hung up on Vampires (and faeries if I might add!:))
ReplyDeleteYeah, I knew it was a long shot. :P
ReplyDeleteAnd I think you're right. Vampires take up so much of my heart there is little room for anything else, and the faeries have moved it too.
But I won't give up. I might read an Angel book once every two months to see if anything pops up.
Have you read Unearthly? I've heard really good things about that one, but for the life of me, I can't get myself to try it.
Hehe..the idea of men with wings and looking "not" funny is a bit difficult for me to imagine...LOL...but I would definitely check out Unearthly. Thanks for the suggestion! If it is not good, I would warn you! haha...
ReplyDeleteI'm sad the next books weren't to your liking either. I've read a lot of other reviews which said the books got better with each release.
ReplyDeleteWell, the good news is I'm getting mine from the library, so if I don't like them, at least I'm not out any money.
Fallen for me was just all right, I didn't think there was a lot of action. I appreciated the mystery elements, I guess that's what kept me reading.
As for Unearthly, I read it, reviewed it and thought it was awesome. I can't wait until January when I get to find out what the consequences will be for our hero and heroine.
Gina - I agree with you on action and like I said, there is suspense too. I did read lot of good reviews too...Glad you liked it! I am trying to get hold of Unearthly from somewhere. And yes I got more confident of my pick after reading your review on your blog! Thanks for stopping by!
ReplyDeleteHahaha! I loved your review! I haven't read this book, but I think frustrating books are the worst. I don't think you should ever try to frustrate your reader. Sure they might read on to get answers, but even though they read, they're still left with a frustrated taste in their mouths, and that's NEVER good.
ReplyDelete