Book Review: Pandemonium And Requiem By Lauren Oliver

Time for the review of the last two books from June's reading list. June has really flown by and I'm quite surprised I got through all of the books to be honest.
Here is the reading list for June if you missed it: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/june-reading-list.html

As these two books are the last two in the Delirium trilogy, I decided to review them together. (Please note there may be little spoilers but I will try to keep them vague!)

This is my review of Pandemonium and Requiem by Lauren Oliver

 

The blurb from the back cover

 

Pandemonium - Pandemonium is a poignant, explosive, recklessly romantic and utterly heart breaking novel. Like Delirium, the first in the compelling trilogy, it will take you to the very edge. That’s all you need to know. We’ll let Lena do the rest of the talking…

 

Requiem - Lena can build the walls but what if there's no one left to take them down? The powerful, heart breaking conclusion to one of the most eagerly awaited, talked about series is here.

 

My thoughts on the books

 

I started Pandemonium still in emotional turmoil from the ending to Delirium. The turmoil didn't end there. Lena faces a lot of challenges both physical and emotional in Pandemonium and you can't help going along for the ride. LO continues to deliver real characters, and a fast paced story. I was left reeling at the end yet again!

Requiem didn't start how I imagined it would. It is a heart wrenching read from start to end as we reach the end of Lena's story. I like the way in this book, LO adds in the element of telling a secondary story in the voice of a character who has been cured. Cue a lot of shocking revelations! 

 

Conclusion and Rating

 

Although I thoroughly enjoyed all three of the books, I was left a little disappointed in the over all ending. I get the impression LO was trying to illustrate that when you choose a life of love, you choose a life of uncertainty, and that there truly isn't an ending, only a new beginning. However, as a reader I felt a little cheated in that I felt the story didn't really end, LO just stopped writing it. 

Overall, I would give the trilogy 4/5 - it could easily have been a 5 if the ending had been better.

 

Have you read the trilogy? What do you think - did you like the overall ending?

 

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Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

As you might remember, as part of the month's Fictional Fun theme, I posted my reading list for June with the intention of reviewing the books as I went. If you missed the post, you can read it here: http://myrandommusings.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/june-reading-list.html

This is my review of Delirium, by Lauren Oliver

 

The blurb from the back cover

 

There was a time when love was the most important thing in the world. People would go to the end of the Earth to find it. They would tell lies for it. Even kill for it.

Then, at last, they found the cure.

Now, everything is different. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Haloway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable and happy.

But then, with only ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable…

My thoughts on the book

I'm still reeling from this book! It was fantastic, and I really enjoyed it. Lauren Oliver is a fantastic writer, and she brings the characters to life in a way that makes you feel like you know them.

The book is set in the future where love is believed to be a disease, and science has found the cure. While this sounds a bit far fetched, when you read the book, it doesn't seem that way. I could actually imagine the government trying this one. The cure doesn't just stop you loving. Without love, there is no hate either, just indifference.

Everything is mapped out for you based on the test results you receive. Although this might sounds unthinkable, the book is set in a time when the characters can't remember a time when love wasn't viewed as a disease and their perspectives on this is fantastic.

 

Conclusion and rating

This is a very intelligently written book that will make you think. The characters are very relatable and I truly cared what happened to them, which to me is a sign of a good book. 5/5

 

Have you read this? What did you think?

 

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My Top 4 YA Fiction Trilogies

Originally, I thought I would hate YA fiction. I imagined it all to be sparkly vampires, and cheesy romance. As more and more people talked about it, I decided to give it a go - that many people can't be wrong, right? In this case - right!
YA fiction has certainly outgrown where it was when I was a teenager and the section consisted of Sweet Valley High, Point Horror and The Babysitters Club to name a few. Now the books are a bit more edgy. Generally they have a futuristic utopian feel to them, but the characters are more realistic, and more relatable and the stories are a little edgier.
I'm so glad I decided to give it a go. If you've never tried it and are looking for somewhere to start, or if you have tried it and are wondering what to read next, here are my four favourite YA trilogies so far:

 

1. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

 

2. The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth

3. The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner

(Although originally a trilogy, there is now a fourth Maze Runner book - a prequel to the series. I believe there is also a book set for release next year that details a time between the prequel and the first book of the trilogy.)

4. The Delirium Series by Lauren Oliver

(I haven't actually finished this whole series yet, but it is fantastic so far!)

 

 

I'm always looking for recommendation, so if you know of any good YA fiction, please let me know in the comments section!

 

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June Reading List

 

 

My June Reading list

 

 

 



1. The Boy In The Attic by David Malone.

This one is a true crime book. Whilst not technically fiction, I love true crime books, and it is a book, so it is to be included.

 

 

2. The Delirium trilogy by Lauren Oliver

I've got a massive thing for YA, and was looking for some new YA books to read. I asked for a recommendation, and I got this one from the brilliant Amy from the Apparently Awkward blog, which you can check out here: http://apparentlyawkward.blogspot.co.uk/. I've yet to try any Lauren Oliver books, and I'm looking forward to them a lot!

 

 

3. The Ritual by Adam Nevill

This one isn't in the picture as I got it after the picture was taken. Sounds quite spooky and I love a spooky book!

 

 

 

 

Granted, it's not a very long list, but bearing in mind the Delirium trilogy is 3 books (duh, obviously!) I think it's a reasonable target for a month! Keep checking in for my reviews of the books.

 

Which books are on your June reading list?

 

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