Fallen by Lauren Kate

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: December 8, 2009
Source: Around The World Tours
Language: English
 

Synopsis: 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.

 Lucinda "Luce" Price is sent to the Sword & Cross boarding school after a boy that she liked dies under mysterious circumstances-leaving her as the only eyewitness. Luce can't explain how Trevor died.... just like she can't explain why menacing shadows follow her wherever she goes. At Sword & Cross she feels that life will be bleak and lonely-that is, until she spots Daniel Grigori. Too bad he keeps snubbing her every time she tries to reach out to him. But even though it's obvious Daniel wants nothing to do with her, Luce can't help but feel a flicker of recognition whenever she looks into his eyes. Meanwhile, another boy is doing his best to get Luce's attention: the charming Cam, who doesn't run away every time Luce is near. Although Luce is flattered (and somewhat attracted) to Cam, she can't deny the strange pull Daniel has over her....

After reading so many mixed reviews on Fallen, of course I needed to see why there were so many positive (and negative) things being said about it. Luckily, I ended up enjoying the story. The pace of the novel was slow but it served as a good build-up to the action that the reader is thrown into near the end. It also made Luce's longing for Daniel seem even sharper, drawing more attention to how painstaking it was for Luce whenever Daniel pushed her away. The romantic "triangle" between Cam, Daniel and Luce was well done, giving the reader an excellent glimpse into their personalities; Daniel's icy demeanor was a huge contrast to Cam's open, friendly ways. But as the story progresses, you begin to see the masks slip off for every character, even the secondary ones, and that just added a mysterious, ominous element to the story. I admit, I wasn't sure what to expect when I started Fallen but I ended up being satisfied with what I was given: a good plot, strong characters and a cliffhanger of an ending that has me wanting to know more. There are some questions that aren't explained well enough in this book (like Trevor's mysterious death) but perhaps Lauren Kate will shed further light on them in the sequel; if so, I'll gladly wait for the next book in the series.

Rating: 4.0