Fallen: A Review

From Goodreads:

There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce–and goes out of his way to make that very clear–she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Review: (spoiler alert)

A personal note:  Don't read after Hush, Hush.  Expectations may differ.

Luce has been labeled as an arson by her former peers.  After a freak accident that left her former boyfriend dead and her almost burned.  It was deemed best for her that she be best sent to a boarding school.  Turns out the boarding school is not just an ordinary school for ordinary students, it's like a prison for juvenile delinquents disguised as a school.

With the imposing school as background, Luce meets eccentric people who may not be who they claim to be.  And she can't help but notice this guy named Daniel who seemed to be avoiding her when all she wants is to get closer to him. Things are already nasty in Sword & Cross and is about to get nastier the more she gets to know Daniel and the past that entwines their destiny together.

I felt so dragged when I was reading the book.  Maybe I got my hopes up too high especially since I just read Hush, Hush.  So fallen angel fever was on!  It's not that I'm comparing books but I can't help but notice the difference in the two.  That's why I placed my personal note there because I observed that some people who feel the same way I do about Fallen just happen to have read Hush, Hush before Fallen.

There were some typographical errors noticed in the books, maybe later editions can do something about that.  My friend also confided that she thinks there were also some grammatical errors in it, but that's her opinion not mine.

I also felt that some of the characters were not fully given personalities or were kind of "forgettable" in a sense.  Maybe that's what you get when you have so much going on in the story.  I like Daniel but he's just so into Luce that he reminds me of Edward in a sense.  That's why I'm leaning into Cam who's darker and have a bit more personality.

Although my view of Fallen is not that favorable, I'm still looking forward to Torment because I have to give the author credit because writing a first book of a series can be hard.  You have to set the tone of the story, plot, introduce characters and conflicts.  Some writers can be successful with it and others may receive mixed reactions like to this one.  I'm really looking forward to the second book because the plot is promising and although the story can be dragging, it can be engaging as well.

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Hush, Hush: A Review

Hush, Hush
by Becca Fitzpatrick 

from Goodreads:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
 
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

Review:

Suddenly, angels can be sexy. And I’m not talking about the angels of Victoria’s secret.

Say hello to Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. Nora Grey found herself unusually drawn to her new biology partner, Patch, despite all the feelings of danger and mystery around him. She then realized that someone is out there to do her harm. It can be Patch or someone else. But one thing she is sure of: She must find out who it is before it’s too late.

Hush, Hush is a good book to read if you want something light and close to the feeling you had when you read Twilight.  Parts of the story is written sexy and evokes that happy weird feeling. The book is good on its own, you just have to enjoy it and don't be too critical about it. Just enjoy the ride and fall-in-love with a fallen.

Story is not that difficult to read. Mystery-romance is the thing, not a hint of religion or spirituality. I think the author knows teens doesn’t dig those stuff at their age. But perhaps, some readers can get curious on some background story regarding angels.

The characters are teenagers: You can feel the influence of hormones in their personality, and they are in high school. Some can be childish, some can be head-strong, and others some where in between. Kind of make me reminisce about my high school actually.

Patch is no Edward. Aside from the fact that they are from the opposite spectrum of the supernatural world, the former had wings and the latter, well, a “white demon”. Ironically, Patch’s personality is on the borderline of rough and arrogant considering he was an angel. He exudes sexy, which is a description unorthodox to angels. He can be the bad boy that most girls would be attracted to go out with. Fallen angel and all.

All-in-all verdict: If you have free time and just want to read a feel good book, Hush Hush is a very good past time read to keep those vampires and murderers away for a while. Maybe some may even pray for their (guardian) angels too afterwards. I almost did. I just feared that God may smite me.

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