Book Review – Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Delirium #2

‘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.’ (Goodreads) (329 pages, 28th february 2012, HarperTeen)

I liked Delirium so much and I decided to marathon the entire series, but I have no idea what this book was. I opened it and the chapters started with Now or Then. She mixed the story of Lena. She alters between the past and the ‘now’ Lena. And I didn’t liked it. I didn’t like it as a sequel to Delirium. It was totally different. I didn’t recognize the Lena I came to know.

But when I put aside the thought that this was a sequel, this book was ok. The story was ok and interesting. But the choice she made by altering the periods in the story, didn’t work for me. Each time it took me out of the story and I had to think back to where we were last time in that period of time and I just thought it was confusing. But still, the story was ok. 

I did see most of the plot points coming, but it didn’t take me out of enjoying this book. It only made me more excited to continue on reading to know what happens next. And of course I saw the ending coming. It was so obvious! But I won’t spoil anyone. I did feel like it was important to end Pandemonium this way. It really gives Lena a difficult choice to face and now I can’t wait to read what Lauren Oliver will do about it in the next book. I did read that Requiem was in a duel point of view so I’m going to have to re-adjust myself to yet another form of telling the story of Lena. I’m curious to know if I’ll like it. 

I gave this book a 3,5 out of 5 stars. And now I’m on to read Requiem…