Review: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium

Author: Lauren Oliver
Series: Delirium, Book Two
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Format: Hardcover, 375 pages
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Source:  Personal Library, Bought

Synopsis from Goodreads:

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.

My Review:

This book wasn't filled with passion like the first book, but focused more on Lena's growth as she acclimates herself to her new life as an Invalid in the Wilds. Lauren Oliver switches throughout the book from when she first escaped Portland to roughly six months later where Lena is a full-fledged member of the Resistance. I really enjoyed this. It was different than anything I have ever read and it really helped me see just how far Lena has come.

There was a lot of action and we got to see a much better picture of how big the Resistance is and what their goals are, though Oliver doesn't give too much away, leaving us in suspense for the third and final book. We learn more about the Invalids: how they live, where they get supplies, etc. I think that Lena truly learns to appreciate love and all the emotions that the cure strips away in this book. She becomes part of a family who cares about each other and loves one another, something she has never known.

Raven helps Lena grow and discover who she is in this book. She is the leader of their little group and acts as a mother/sister/friend to Lena throughout. She mentors her and helps her through the toughest loss Lena has had to face since she was little and sitting at her mother's funeral.

Julian is another new character that we are introduced to. He is the son of the leader of the DFA, Deliria-Free America. Julian is someone who doesn't seem quite satisfied with life within the confines of the "protected" cities. He becomes close to Lena who opens his eyes to a world where love is allowed and shows him how beautiful it can be. I like Julian, really, I did, but he just wasn't Alex. It made me happy to see Lena moving on, but also sad because I love Alex and just wished things could be different.

Overall, I thought this book was good. While not my favorite book I have ever read, it definitely kept me entertained and turning the pages. I missed Alex and Hana horribly in this book, but loved how much action was packed into it. Learning about the Resistance was exciting and I have many questions that I am dying to get answered. There were two MAJOR twists in this book that I did not see coming at all and of course, they occurred at the end, leaving me dying to read the final book in the trilogy, Requiem. Happy reading all!

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