Thursday, 15 March 2012

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver **Review**


Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Series: Delirium #2
Pages: 329
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Release date: 1st March 2012
Buy: Book Depository | Amazon UK | Amazon US | Waterstones
Thank you to Hodder for my review copy

Goodreads synopsis:
This synopsis contains a spoiler
If you have not yet read Delirium, but still plan to read it, then don't read this synopsis.
The review is spoiler free if you've read Delirium.

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.


What a fantastic second instalment to the Delirium trilogy! I'd been looking forward to reading this one for so long that I could barely contain my excitement when it finally arrived!
The end of Delirium was such a cliffhanger, and there are so many new, and previously unanswered questions spinning around, that I couldn't wait to read more about Lena's world.
Pandemonium definitely doesn't disappoint.

I suppose the first thing I'll mention is the chapter structure. It's split between 'then' chapters, from Lena's first few months in the wilds, and the 'now' chapters that will eventually lead up to the end of the book, and lead into the final book in the trilogy. This structure paints a really broad picture of Lena's story since we last saw her.
Not only do we get to see how she adapted to her new life in the wilds, but we also get to see how the resistance develops, and what Lena's part in that is. It makes the novel so much more dynamic and gives it much more depth.

I also really loved being able to watch Lena's character develop. She becomes more hardened, but that's because she has to. But even though she's living with people with a very different mindset to the 'valids' and 'zombies' on the other side of the fence, and their ideas are more appealing, she still has her own mind, and eventually knows what she wants (or so she thinks...). It's always good to see that a character is well-developed enough, to be able to change and evolve as their situation alters. It makes the character more real.

I love the direction that the end of the novel has taken the series, ready for the final instalment. However, it was left on such a monumental cliffhanger, that it's going to be difficult to wait a whole year to find out what happens next. There is going to need to be some major distraction involved here!
If you loved Delirium, then I've no doubt that you'll also love this. And if you haven't yet read Delirium - what are you doing?! Get a copy and read it now! It needs to be read!
I recommend this to all lovers of YA fiction, dystopian fiction (and to a certain extent, lovers of Fantasy), but really I would urge anyone to give it a go - it's a really unique series, that's definitely worth the read!



29 comments:

kimba88 said...

YAY..i loved it too..so glad you enjoyed it..even with the dang cliffhanger ending that we all love to hate..can't wait for book three :)

Book Passion for Life said...

Great review Dani - I really didn't like this one. I rated it a 1 there were so many things I just couldn't get pass and it left me really angry. Roll on book three so we can find out what happens. ~ Donna

Kat Balcombe said...

I just finished Delirium last night and it reminded me how much I hate cliffhangers! Argh!

So what did I do? Yeah, I picked up Pandemonium and started reading right away. Sucker for punishment, much!

Great review, I hope I like Pandemonium as much as you did :)

Veronika said...

This book is absulutely amazing!!! I finished reding it not that long ago, and enjoyed it so much! I think it was ever better than the first book! Bt I have to say...I almost died at the end!!! xDD I hate that I have to wait such a lond time for the third book to come out!

franchie15 said...

Great review. :> I just finished this yesterday. And oh my goodness. It broke my heart. I really love Alex!

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

Thanks for reminding me why I wanted to read this. Need to dig it out.

kristiana said...

i enjoying your review. this book is one of my wishlist book. my friend recommended delirium to me, thanks to her ^^

florentine said...

I enjoyed reading Delirium.. now, I know one thing, I mUST READ THIS BOOK SERIES..
thanks for amazing review

Stephanie Verhaegen said...

Awesome review! I've been delaying to buy Pandemonium for a little while now, mostly because there are so many other great books coming out soon and I can't afford them àll. But I really have to get this one soon. Really soon. I never really liked Lena in Delirium but I loved the story. I'm glad she seems to get a little toughter in this one. :)

Blacky said...

Pandemonium definitely is a must read!After reading Delirium i counted the days until Pandemonium release,and all i can say is that i really like it.

Awesome review!

Rica said...

i love before i fall and i'm currently reading delirium.. i'm sue i will love the 2nd book :)

AmelArmeliana said...

I became a fan of Lauren Oliver since I was reading Before I Fall. It's a great book. Delirium is great also, and I really really want to read Pandemonium. Reading your review it looks like the story getting interesting. Can't wait to read.
Thanks for the review. It's a great one :)

Imel Cullen said...

great review, I love delirium but I haven't read yet Pandemonium, and this review make me really want to read pandemonium >_<

aldelei89 said...

another cliffhanger? great review! i've read delirium a few weeks back and it was great. and your review surely made me want to splurge on another book! :))

Stephanie said...

I loved Delirium and then read this one and loved it too! I also loved seeing Lena's character develop and strengthen. And I can't wait for the third book!!!

Filia Oktarina said...

great review. I haven't read this series, but it look interesting. I will add in my wish list:)

Rose Pryimak said...

What a great review! I have yet to read the series myself but it's definitely on my TBR list!!

Liz said...

Thank you for your thoughts on this one. I haven't read either of these yet as I am undecided (still) and other reads keep coming up instead but also I prefer to err on the side of "wait til the sequel is out." You have persuaded me to wait a little longer as cliffhangers do my head in :-)

Dian Aesha said...

nice riview...putting it in my TBR,,,you make me cant wait to reading this book..

thanks

Jolene and Family said...

Ahhh, cliffhangers!! :) I just got my hands on the first book and cannot wait to get started. Thanks for the great review

lexiechan said...

I love Pandemonium! I have the book signed by Lauren Oliver when she went here in the Philippines last month! :)

Aliaa El-Nashar said...

I am seriously dying to read this book! *_*

glass said...

I wanted to pull my hair out because of the ending. I liked this book much more than first one.

Beth said...

Amazing review! :) I loved this book too!! ;) I'm so glad you enjoyed it-I NEED TO READ THE THIRD BOOK!! ;-)
Happy reading!
Beth xx

Aly said...

I loved Pandemonium, but I guessed what was going to happen by the end. But when it did happen, I was still totally shocked : )

Aly
My Heart Hearts Books

May said...

I absolutely loved this book. It had just the right amount of action and the ending was...OMG! I loved it. Great review :)

Tara said...

I think this is exactly how I felt with this book - definitely a lot better than Delirium in my opinion :) Great review :)

evitam said...

can't wait to read delirium and this one! they sound great!

Marlene Detierro said...

I loved this book so much, I couldn't put it down. Great review, it's true, this book is definitely as emotional as the first one! I definitely like the new covers they have for this series!

Marlene Detierro (Fishing Lodge Alaska )

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