Tori's Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Obtained: Publisher / Big Honcho Media
Genre: Young Adult
Series:
1. Hush, Hush (book review)
2. Crescendo
3. Tempest (book review)

Becca's Website
Buy it via the Publisher
Buy it via Amazon

Hardcover - 432 pages
Price: $18.99
ISBN 10: 1416989439
ISBN 13: 978-1416989431
Released: October 19, 2010

Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The farther Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim blood line has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

My Rating:

My Opinion:
I've decided to take a different approach with the start of this review. Instead of summing up all my thoughts, I figured I would give a play-by-play of different sections of the story (or whenever I needed to walk away from this book, which has happened quite a few times, I'm afraid).

If you've read CRESCENDO already, this might make you laugh. Looking back and reading this, I did. If you haven't, please skip down to my consensus so you don't run the risk of any "potential" spoilers.


Walk Away Moment #1 (pg 58 in the ARC)
GR Status Update: "Uh. what?!?!?! Hormones and/or PMS = bad way to make decisions, Nora..."

I cannot believe I just read what I read. Fight #1 in this book made my eye twitch in annoyance. (What? You thought everything was going to be lovey-dovey-unicorns-shitting-out-rainbows now that the two were together? This is a book, for heaven's sake. I didn't spoil anything.)

Nora seemed way too out of character with how she reacted, hence the hormones/PMS comment. That's the only logical explanation for such an illogical argument on her part. I am disappointed in your logic, Nora. Surprised to say this, but, I'm siding with the dudes for this one.

~*~*~*~

Walk Away Moment #2 (pg 110 in the ARC)
GR Status Update: "Nora, you IDIOT! *head desk*

Did I really just read what I thought I read?

Really?

...what?

This doesn't even deserve a comment. I am speechless right now because of how stupid Nora is being. Out of character when compared to HUSH, HUSH Nora. I'm not liking the CRESCENDO Nora so far.

She even admitted to not thinking during that scene... SHUT UP WOMAN.

~*~*~*~

Walk Away Moment #3 (pg 120 in the ARC)

I was wrong, I wasn't emotionally stable enough to continue reading this so soon after WAM #2.

NORA YOU SUCK.

~*~*~*~

Walk Away Moment #4 (pg 262 in the ARC)

I can't handle this emotional roller coaster. I'm going to bed.

~*~*~*~

Walk Away Moment #5 (pg 309 in the ARC)
GR Status Update: I keep flip-flopping between siding with Nora and hating her guts because of how irrational she is.

Day 2 of reading this book. I am so glad my love life is not this dramatic. As for my status, I'm fifty-fifty with Nora. Some moments I forget that she was being dumb and truly feel sorry for her (and I mentally curse Patch for what he's doing). Then I remember that she's the one who started all this drama between the two in the first place... and I don't feel so bad anymore.


Consensus: Nora went from the respectable YA heroine I loved in the first book to someone I wish I could strangle on multiple multiple occasions. Nevertheless, she did have a few redeeming moments after the third time I walked away. Instead of being PATCH PATCH PATCH, there were some moments of clarity when she realized she needed to do something to distract herself. At these points -- though they were few and far in between -- I could relate with Nora. If Becca did not include these snippets of clarity into CRESCENDO, I would have grown way too frustrated with the book and Nora's character.

Vee was a huge improvement. Instead of being somewhat brainless, she was actually quite funny and enjoyable this time around. The scenes she was in were laugh out loud funny. I could just not imagine EVER finding myself in the situations the duo were in.

I felt bad for Nora during her moments with Marcie. That girl is one nasty piece of work. A part of me is convinced that girls like that do not exist in the world. But then another part of me, after listening to all of these bullying suicides, isn't so surprised that someone could be like that. Then there's another part of me that's shocked Nora would even let the snide comments affect her so profoundly.

On the bright side, Patch is still sexy as hell. Totally loved the start of the book with him and his badass self. The middle made me somewhat wary of him... because of the scenes with Marcie. But then end ending... Oh sweet baby Jesus. The ending is was what made this book for me. This had the HUGEST twist ever. I'm still stunned by the sheer brilliance of that twist. Then the scene with the key made my heart melt. Be warned, there is a huge cliffhanger. I kind of screamed after I read the last page/line.

I knocked off half a star because this book was a little too emotional and dramatic for me. Nora seemed way out of character in my eyes, and the beginning was incredibly frustrating for me (as you can see). HIGHLY suggest checking this series out. And I also suggest reading CRESCENDO when you're not particularly... stressed out.