Fallen (Fallen #1) by Lauren Kate - Review

I have read so many reviews for Fallen, it's one of those books, I think you either really love, or one you don't like at all. The reviews, were one reason it took me so long to pick up Fallen, though I have had it, since it came out...

Last night I picked it up, I wanted a love story – and I remembered the reviews saying this was in essence a love story...I did not read the synopsis – I took the jacked off the book...one review I recalled reading mentioned that she felt like she learned to much from the jacket – so I willed myself not to look.

I am kinda glad I did – though it does not give the full story, that's to masterfully done with in the prose inside the book – it does, I think give enough away to take some of the mystery away. As such, read the below synopsis via goodreads at your own risk:

There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce--and goes out of his way to make that very clear--she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret . . . even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, Fallen is a page turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

Some of the other reviews I had read, stated that Fallen is really REALLY slow.

I have to honestly agree, it's slow – it's not an action packed thrill ride, that when you sit down, you really have no chance to even catch your breath. Fallen, introduces us to Luce, her day to day life, how she's feeling, what she's doing, how sometimes, honestly all she's doing is going though the motions. I LOVED this about Fallen. I mean honestly, how often do you pick up a book and start reading – then after only 1 or 2 chapters, the action begins and your kind of left saying – WAIT! I need MORE information!

With Fallen, I never once felt like I was being left behind, within the pages. Never once did Luce make a decision or a choice I felt was weird or out of place. I felt really connected to her, though – I know nothing about being “dumped” into a reform school, I felt like I did. Though I know nothing of what a reform school might look like (or at least what Sword & Cross) would look like, I did after reading Fallen. I did not feel like I was missing out on something, because it lacked “action” - at least at the beginning.

In other reviews, people compared this book to the Twilight series...

I have to honestly agree again, not because Fallen reminded me at all, of Twilight – the story's are so completely different – though there is, a love triangle of sorts, the reason it reminded me of Twilight, was the way it drew me in, from the very first page, I was hooked – just like I remember being the first time I picked up Twilight..Lauren Kate, is a masterful story teller, I loved how she drew me into the pages of Fallen, to where I never wanted to leave – it's only been with a handful of books that I have been so draw in, so taken with the story that I did not want to put the book down, not to answer a question from a beloved child of mine, or even to eat! This book for me, was that kind of book!

I was drawn into the pages, into Luce's life, into Daniel's life...I did not want the book to end...it's an ending that left me wanting – WANTING more...more Luce, more Daniel...it's an ending that left me wanting to turn back to the very first page, and read the book again. It's an ending that left me in tears, though I can't tell you why, I can only say, read the book!

Bottom Line – if you like paranormal, romance – then you should ignore everything you have read about Fallen, and read it for yourself. For me, it was an amazingly beautiful book, that I felt privileged just to read. I give this book a 5++ Mushrooms, this was one of the best books I have read so far this year, with out a doubt! I can NOT wait for Torment to come out, September seems like it's right around the corner but when your waiting for a sequel to a book like this one, it's an eternity!

Fallen (Fallen #1)
Written by: Lauren Kate
452 Pages
Published: December 8, 2009
Publisher: Delacorte Press
 
P.S. It's now several days since I read this one, and 2 books later - and I am still thinking about Daniel, it's a rare book that can lead you to be thinking about it, dreaming about it DAYS after it's finished and put on the shelves.