xdarlene's review against another edition
5.0
I read this 10 years ago and I remember loving it and I gave it 5 stars. Now 10 years later, I still like it. But the oh-my-god-Im-loving-this-so-much feeling has definitely changed. Which might mostly be due to the fact I’m older.
Having that said, it will always be one of my favourite stories and it also reminded me to read Unforgiven as I still hasn’t read it after all these years. And maybe re-read the other books as well just for the sake of it.
Having that said, it will always be one of my favourite stories and it also reminded me to read Unforgiven as I still hasn’t read it after all these years. And maybe re-read the other books as well just for the sake of it.
emoirano's review against another edition
3.0
Best book i have ever read (though i haven't read that many-just like 2/week). It is unforgetable. Although the beginnging is slow and just slightley boring, the climax added such a huge punch to the book it was impossible not to reread it.
fallen_for_books30's review against another edition
4.0
I found it litle similar to The Immortal series by Alyson Neol! but overall a good book .. loved how the characters developed , fell in love, the friendship.. the suspence and all...
deanmon's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
gswain's review against another edition
3.0
Not the best writing or plot but I got sucked in and it reminded me of the books I read as a teen.
asma_aj's review against another edition
2.0
After a mysterious incident ends with the death of a classmate, Lucinda Price is sentenced to attend school at Sword & Cross, a reform school. Away from her family and only best friend, Luce has to adapt to her new, and rather bleak environment. But then she meets Daniel, mysterious, attractive, and elusive to Luce's advances. Luce is sure she's met Daniel before, but isn't sure how or where. She is sure, however, that he has a secret that concerns her, and she'll do anything to find out what it is.
When I started reading this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. From the first few pages, I thought that it would make a decent read, because the writing was decent, and the initial description of the school was impressive. But then, the romance was introduced, and that was when everything went down hill. Luce's forever and endless tag of war between 2 guys was excruciating to get through. Kate has so many chances to fill the pages with the mystery surrounding the characters, but no. I had to read how Luce can't choose between 2 guys through senseless debating on her part. I'm sorry, but if someone I find attractive flips me off on the first day, I'd return the favor and hate his very existence.
Needless to say, Luce's behavior and choices did nothing to make me sympathize and like her. It's not that the characters have to be realistic, but I really can't see any human being act that way. Kate seem's to take advantage of Luce's passivity to decide what happens to her next, I just couldn't connect. The other characters were actually fun to read about, that is whenever they actually appeared (they mysteriously appear and disappear for no reason as well, and they were especially absent during the "romance" part"). All this sort of diminished the presence of the other characters, which was so sad, because I really liked them!
Even though the story sort of went back on track in the last 100 pages, I STILL don't know what's going on! This book could have been so good if only it actually had some substance of a story. Why create a main character and have them sit out of several important events? I just.. I don't get it.
When I started reading this book, I wasn't sure what to expect. From the first few pages, I thought that it would make a decent read, because the writing was decent, and the initial description of the school was impressive. But then, the romance was introduced, and that was when everything went down hill. Luce's forever and endless tag of war between 2 guys was excruciating to get through. Kate has so many chances to fill the pages with the mystery surrounding the characters, but no. I had to read how Luce can't choose between 2 guys through senseless debating on her part. I'm sorry, but if someone I find attractive flips me off on the first day, I'd return the favor and hate his very existence.
Needless to say, Luce's behavior and choices did nothing to make me sympathize and like her. It's not that the characters have to be realistic, but I really can't see any human being act that way. Kate seem's to take advantage of Luce's passivity to decide what happens to her next, I just couldn't connect. The other characters were actually fun to read about, that is whenever they actually appeared (they mysteriously appear and disappear for no reason as well, and they were especially absent during the "romance" part"). All this sort of diminished the presence of the other characters, which was so sad, because I really liked them!
Even though the story sort of went back on track in the last 100 pages, I STILL don't know what's going on! This book could have been so good if only it actually had some substance of a story. Why create a main character and have them sit out of several important events? I just.. I don't get it.
carteremma's review against another edition
4.0
There is something about angels which has always fascinated me. I like the thought of angels being strong and powerful and not always good. Also the wings! Bearing this in mind I was very excited to get stuck into Fallen. Very quickly I felt that Lauren Kate had created a world for me to escape to and feel welcome in. The story seemed to take me by the hand and run along with me not allowing me to rest until I had come to the end.
I think what I like best about this was the likability of the main protagonist Luce. You felt you could understand her confusion as for most of the novel she is in the dark regarding the truth. For me this allowed me to accept whenever she complained or resented about being stuck in a reform school, I know I would be an absolute nightmare to be around in that situation. I also liked most of the other characters in the book, especially her close friends Penn and Arriane. My main complaint would have to be with Daniel, one of the hot, hot love interests. The difficulty I had relating to him was that I did not understand him enough for him to become a real rounded character in my head. I am hoping that the rest of the series of books will help to rectify this issue.
I enjoy most books based around the supernatural and for me Fallen did not disappoint. I am looking forward to the next rainy day for me to curl up and devour Torment, the second novel in this series of 4.
I think what I like best about this was the likability of the main protagonist Luce. You felt you could understand her confusion as for most of the novel she is in the dark regarding the truth. For me this allowed me to accept whenever she complained or resented about being stuck in a reform school, I know I would be an absolute nightmare to be around in that situation. I also liked most of the other characters in the book, especially her close friends Penn and Arriane. My main complaint would have to be with Daniel, one of the hot, hot love interests. The difficulty I had relating to him was that I did not understand him enough for him to become a real rounded character in my head. I am hoping that the rest of the series of books will help to rectify this issue.
I enjoy most books based around the supernatural and for me Fallen did not disappoint. I am looking forward to the next rainy day for me to curl up and devour Torment, the second novel in this series of 4.
fictionalkate's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book because it had been recommended to me by a friend. And to be honest, I was a little disappointed. I wasn’t sure if that’s because I always have high expectations of book when they’ve been recommended to me or because for the majority of time that I was reading this novel I had the oddest sensation of deja vu.
This novel opens with Luce Price starting at a new school – a school for social misfits who are one step away from juvenile detention. But the students at this school aren’t just socially maladjustment – they’re harbouring a secret. When Luce finds herself inexplicably attracted to the mysterious Daniel, she goes out of her way to find out just what it is about him that calls out to her. Why does she feel like she’s known him her whole life when she’s only just laid eyes on him for the first time. And why does he see to have such an attitude towards her when they’ve never met before?
Ringing any bells for anyone else?
The particulars may be slightly different but a lot of this novel was almost straight out of the YA teenage paranormal romance hand book.
I feel like if I had read this book earlier and been slightly less jaded regarding the genre then I would have enjoyed the journey a lot more.
Luce was a fairly selfish main character – selfish in actions and in thoughts. She is at the Sword and Cross because she has an incident a few months ago when the boy she was dating ended up dying tragically. And whilst she still thinks about the fire that took his life, she’s very quick to dismiss it from her thoughts before moving on too much more important topics like Daniel. And why Daniel doesn’t like her. And why she really thinks she has some sort of connection with Daniel.
I’m not a Daniel fan.
The best part of this novel was the supporting cast – Molly, Arianne, Gabbe, Cam and Penn. I would have loved to have gotten to see more of them. They’re quirky characters who are more than just the boy they’re attracted to. I would have loved to have seen their back stories and learnt more about them.
Towards the end this story does pick up its pace and becomes a novel that was new and exciting to me. There is more to this story than meets the eye at first but there’s a lot to get though before you get to see the action and drama that exists beyond Luce’s little bubble.
This is one of those books that I recommend borrowing – either from a friend or the library – before buying it for yourself. I can see that it’s going to be one that people either love or hate with not so much middle ground. It is the first in the series and there is a lot of groundwork to be laid for the future novels. I’ve read the next two in the series (Torment and Passion) and I enjoyed them both a lot more than I liked this first instalment.
Whilst there was a lot I didn’t enjoy about this novel I understand that it was necessary in order to build up for the next books in the Fallen series.
This novel opens with Luce Price starting at a new school – a school for social misfits who are one step away from juvenile detention. But the students at this school aren’t just socially maladjustment – they’re harbouring a secret. When Luce finds herself inexplicably attracted to the mysterious Daniel, she goes out of her way to find out just what it is about him that calls out to her. Why does she feel like she’s known him her whole life when she’s only just laid eyes on him for the first time. And why does he see to have such an attitude towards her when they’ve never met before?
Ringing any bells for anyone else?
The particulars may be slightly different but a lot of this novel was almost straight out of the YA teenage paranormal romance hand book.
I feel like if I had read this book earlier and been slightly less jaded regarding the genre then I would have enjoyed the journey a lot more.
Luce was a fairly selfish main character – selfish in actions and in thoughts. She is at the Sword and Cross because she has an incident a few months ago when the boy she was dating ended up dying tragically. And whilst she still thinks about the fire that took his life, she’s very quick to dismiss it from her thoughts before moving on too much more important topics like Daniel. And why Daniel doesn’t like her. And why she really thinks she has some sort of connection with Daniel.
I’m not a Daniel fan.
The best part of this novel was the supporting cast – Molly, Arianne, Gabbe, Cam and Penn. I would have loved to have gotten to see more of them. They’re quirky characters who are more than just the boy they’re attracted to. I would have loved to have seen their back stories and learnt more about them.
Towards the end this story does pick up its pace and becomes a novel that was new and exciting to me. There is more to this story than meets the eye at first but there’s a lot to get though before you get to see the action and drama that exists beyond Luce’s little bubble.
This is one of those books that I recommend borrowing – either from a friend or the library – before buying it for yourself. I can see that it’s going to be one that people either love or hate with not so much middle ground. It is the first in the series and there is a lot of groundwork to be laid for the future novels. I’ve read the next two in the series (Torment and Passion) and I enjoyed them both a lot more than I liked this first instalment.
Whilst there was a lot I didn’t enjoy about this novel I understand that it was necessary in order to build up for the next books in the Fallen series.