Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium (Delirium Trilogy, #2)

by Lauren Oliver

Love, the deadliest of all deadly things.
It kills you when you have it.
And when you don't.

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.

Pandemonium is a poignant, explosive, recklessly romantic and utterly heartbreaking novel. Like Delirium, the first in the compelling trilogy, it will take you to the very edge. That's all you need to know. We'll let Lena do the rest of the talking . . .

Reviewed by Kelsenator on

4 of 5 stars

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Originally posted on my blog Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf

When I first started this book, I was a bit confused. The chapters are increments of “now” and “then”. Then being just after she escaped at the end of the first book, and Now which tells of her living as a hidden Invalid in society. After a few chapters though, you catch on quickly, and I started to really like that format for telling the story.

I found that at the end of most of the chapters there would be almost mini-cliffhangers, then it would go to the other type of chapter instead of continue. It was a great way to get me hooked with what was currently happening and what happened before to get Lena in the current position.

For the Then, we find out how she survives in the Wilds, who she meets and how she starts to change. To become stronger, both physically and mentally, and deal with the fact that Alex is presumed dead and she will never see him again. It’s hard for her, but she has to do it.

The Now scenes, she is living in another city, pretending to be a regular student, who’s involved with the DFA (delirium free America) while she helps her group keep an eye on things. During a rally, there is an attack, and she gets kidnapped and locked in a room with Julian (who you will learn about in the book), and she doesn’t know how they will escape. But something else seems to be bothering her, and there are too many coincidences for her not to worry.

I really did enjoy this book, the first one was still my favourite, but this one did not disappoint. I’m really excited to see what happens in the next one, especially after that ending! I wasn’t expecting that last part at all.

Recommended for Dystopian fans!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 27 June, 2012: Finished reading
  • 27 June, 2012: Reviewed