Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: October 4th 2011
Source: Borrowed
Format: Audiobook
WHEN SILENCE IS ALL THAT’S LEFT, CAN THE TRUTH FINALLY BE HEARD?
Nora Grey can’t remember the past five months of her life. After the initial shock of waking up in a cemetery and being told that she has been missing for weeks – with no one knowing where she was or who she was with – she tried to get her life back on track. Go to school, hang out with her best friend, Vee, and dodge mom’s creepy new boyfriend.
But there is this voice in the back of her head, an idea that she can almost reach out and touch. Visions of angel wings and unearthly creatures that have nothing to do with the life she knows.
And this unshakable feeling that a part of her is missing.
Then Nora crosses paths with a sexy stranger, whom she feels a mesmerizing connection to. He seems to hold all the answers…and her heart. Every minute she spends with him grows more and more intense until she realizes she could be falling in love. Again.
I actually enjoyed this re-read more than the last one but much less than my first read through. The angst from the sophomore novel is significantly lowered in this third installment, however the stakes have been amped up several hundred notches in its place. The novel begins three to four months after the ending of Crescendo, where we find our beloved main character Nora with no recollection of the past five months (so the first two books memories are literally gone) and news that she has been missing. Attempting a normal life after finding out about her own kidnapping is impossible. Determined for answers, Nora sets out to face her forgotten past once and for all, and find what exactly happened this summer.
“I learned that I was either crazy in love with you, or putting on the best performance of my life.”
To be blatantly honest, I struggled immensely with this book. The amount of lies and betrayal the supporting cast showed Nora after her reappearance was beyond my coping abilities. I wanted to slaughter them. Their refusal to tell the truth to Nora when that is all she has asked for from the start of the book, is flabbergasting and makes me worry what our author thinks a solid family and friendship relationship looks like–because Nora’s mom and Nora’s “best friend”, Vee, ain’t it.
The all around amount use of deception within this novel got repetitive to the point where it felt like Nora was facing the same issue over and over again, and dealing with said issue in the same exact way every single time. The only difference in the scenarios were the page numbers and the time of day. It honestly felt like I was re-reading Crescendo again, by just how much these two books are alike.
“Angel… I don’t think you understand the lengths I would go to if it means keeping you here with me.”
I can say though, my main enjoyment in this novel were the scenes where Patch was involved. He brought out a different side of the story that made it feel like the plot was progressing and not just trudging through repetition city. I was going to rate this book a solid three stars, solely because the ending had me invested and sucked in, however, as I’m writing this review I realized just how much I didn’t like the greater portion of this novel. Because of that, I will be keeping this at a 2 rating.
Buddy Read with Jamsu @ Jamsu Dreams
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: October 23rd 2012
Source: Borrowed
Format: Audiobook
Will love conquer all?
Nora and Patch thought their troubles were behind them. Hank is gone and they should be able to put his ugly vendetta to rest. But in Hank’s absence, Nora has become the unwitting head of the Nephilim and must finish what Hank began. Which ultimately means destroying the fallen angels – destroying Patch.
Nora will never let that happen, so she and Patch make a plan: lead everyone to believe they have broken up, and work the system from the inside. Nora will convince the Nephilim that they are making a mistake in fighting the fallen angels, and Patch will find out everything he can from the opposing side. They will end this war before it can even begin.
But the best-laid plans often go awry. Nora is put through the paces in her new role and finds herself drawn to an addictive power she never anticipated. As the battle lines are drawn, Nora and Patch must confront the differences that have always been between them and either choose to ignore them or let them destroy the love they have always fought for.
“You don’t deserve me,” he agreed. “You deserve better. But you’re stuck with me, and you might as well get over it.”
Well this series re-read has been a time. Finale is the last installment in the Hush, Hush series where we finally get to see the end of the drama that has been brewing since the series’ sophomore novel.
During my initial read of this way back when, I had given this novel a 5/5 with hearts in my eyes and I sang this novels praises from then all the way up until…well this series re-read. To quickly sum up my feelings for this series conclusion: I loved it more than the last two, but didn’t like it as much as the first time I read it.
The characters seemed to continue their mission of annoying the ever living snot out of me as the descended into stagnant and two dimensional characters who were once flourishing. I think the lack of development and the repetitiveness of their actions is the real killer for me in this re-read. The characters went no where in their arc and it felt like Nora–especially–didn’t develop at all during this entire series, but rather continued to make the same choices, actions, and discussion from previous books. Honestly, by 45% I was wondering if I was indeed reading the last book or if I was reading the others again.
There was a theme of constant repetition within the plot that kept sucking me out of the story as it was things we had already been through previously. An example of this can be seen in Nora constantly questioning Patch’s faithfulness and dedication to their relationship/partnership even though we have had four different scenes where we hashed out why he was doing what he was doing and proving countless of times just how dedicated he was to her. Needless to say I wanted to throw the whole thing away.
Supporting character were no longer supporting but stick figures that just so happened to speak. They no longer added to the overall arc of the story nor did they push the plot forward. Its been a little over two days since I finished this and I still don’t know why they were even in the story in the first place.
“But if this choice I have to make comes down to your or me, I choose you. I always have.”
Patch is the only person who has come out of this unscathed and the one character I still adore, as his character still felt alive and real throughout this story. Along with Patch being the gem he is and keeping this entire shit show from being a complete disaster, I do have to commend the action sequences/scenes within this novel as they kept me interested and invested enough that I didn’t DNF the story.
I am honestly disappointed in this series and saddened that this once treasured series is no longer that. I think that is one of the risks we run when decided to buddy read and old favorite–we get a first hand experience of seeing just how much our reading taste has matured/grown and just how far we have come in our reading journey. Unfortunately, I don’t think I will be re-reading this series again, but I am super grateful for the memories that this story gave me both now during my buddy read with the incredible Jamsu, and also when I first devoured this story so many years ago.
Nicola Niemc says
These front covers are so swoon-worthy! 🥰
Kayla @ Books and Blends says
I remember loving this series so much! Book two really worked my nerves though. Patch had too many secrets.
Meeghan reads says
Ooof. I actually read this series earlier this year for the first time… and I DNF’ed it 80 pages before the end of Finale. I just couldn’t take it anymore, and you sum it up perfectly!! It was the same story being rehashed over and over again, with Nora making the same mistakes/choices, and the side characters becoming less and less relevant.
I’ve almost picked it up a couple of times since because I feel like I should just read the last couple of chapters to finish the series, but… I just… don’t care enough to find out how it ends.
I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy your reread as much as you probably wanted to, but I feel your pain at the series.
Sam || Fictionally Sam says
UGH YES! At least you understand my torture! And if you really want to know what happens at the end, hit me up and I can spoil it for you (sidenote: it’s not anything of a spoiler smh).
TheCaffeinatedReader says
I’m definitely afraid to reread any old books I adored because you know, screw time, and I’m sorry this didn’t end up dazzling you again but I am glad you got a chance to reevaluate it!
Sam || Fictionally Sam says
Re-reading oldies is like playing Russian roulette lmao. You never know if you are gonna die inside or not. 😂😂
Isabelle @ BookwyrmBites says
if memory serves, I liked the first book in this series enough to continue but never actually did, and at this point I don’t think I’d like it very much – it’s so fascinating to see how our reading tastes and reactions to a book change over time! and bittersweet, of course, when a series disappoints the way this one sounds like it has 😕
fantastic reviews, as always! I’m sorry this series has lost its shine for you, but I’m glad you can still hold on to fond memories of it 💕