Cels Reviews: Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

“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.”

Lena barely made it across the wall into the wilds with her life and the journey has cost her more than she ever imagined. Now finding herself clawing her way back from the depths of despair, shaking off the lies she has been taught all her life and regaining her strength, Lena tries to push the memories of Alex and her life before far away. Finding a place among a rag-tag group of resisters, Lena learns that life as an Invalid is a constant fight for survival and as the war against those who support the cure heats up Lena finds herself smack bang on the front line. Can love really conquer all or are the “cured” right after all?

Pandemonium is the thrilling sequel to Delirium and once again Oliver has surpassed all expectations. A sizzling mix of forbidden romance, revolutionary tactics and the harrowing fight for survival, Pandemonium will sweep you away on a journey that will stay with you long after the last page has been turned.

As much as I enjoyed the character of Lena in Delirium, I must say in Pandemonium she absolutely blew me away. Even though the circumstances that have caused her personal growth have been harrowing enough to witness as a bystander, let alone experience them one on one, Lena has emerged like a phoenix from the ashes with a passion, strength and moral conviction that is a pleasure to behold.

Of course being set in a world where love is illegal and after the heart-shattering ending of Delirium, I expected a new leading man to appear and tug at our heart strings but I must admit I was worried that I would find my loyalties divided. Needless to say I worried over nothing; Oliver is well versed in the surprising twist and those of us who fell for Alex as well as Lena can stay true to his memory and find more than enough room in our heart for another. The characterisation is a joy to behold and the amazing new cast of characters added a wonderful new dimension to the plight. As for the ending … well prepare for your heart to leap out of your throat and to be on tenterhooks waiting for Requiem.

This is a world where you will find your feelings and convictions tested over and over, and a protagonist who will teach us all just what love is. Yet again Oliver had knocked me for six with another powerhouse of a must read.

Pandemonium-Lauren Oliver

Released: Feb 28 2012

Hodder and Stoughton

375 Pages

ISBN:978-1-444-72293-2