The 5th Wave (5th Wave, #1)

by Rick Yancey

[jnikkir]

You see this book? See it? Take a good look. Because THIS is how you write a book about an alien invasion.
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The 5th Wave is the reason I have a Goodreads shelf called "this-is-how-its-done-folks"

Because, folks - this is how it's done.

I don't even know what to say about this book. I really don't. The 5th Wave is totally different from any YA book I've read, and exactly what I think a SciFi book about an alien invasion should be (at least the ones where the aliens are the bad guys). After reading Gravity and Icons and being disappointed by both (but mostly by Icons), reading The 5th Wave was like... having an author write a story like it was just for me, exactly when I wanted it, and exactly how I wanted it told. This is the book I've been waiting for.

I have never reacted to a book the way I reacted to The 5th Wave. My heart was pounding, adrenaline pumping... I actually forgot to breathe while reading some of the super-suspenseful scenes. Like... I don't even know, guys. This book was intense. It was like I was watching this book on one of those giant IMAX screens, in 3D, where all you can see is the movie, and you feel like you're right in the middle of everything.

A lot of that had to do with Yancey's writing. It flowed perfectly, from the more introspective scenes, to the do-or-die action sequences... I don't know how to describe it - I felt totally connected. The language fit the scenes, gave crystal clear pictures of action and setting without any confusion, and it all just disappeared in favor of the story. Despite the sci-fi plot, that connection I felt is what made this book stand out - it gave it a level of realism that I've rarely felt in fiction, especially sci-fi.

The 5th Wave alternates between a few points of view, but it's Cassie who really drives the book. I immediately connected to her character - this is someone who had a totally normal life, only to have it all brutally ripped away from her at the worst possible time. She's grieving for her family, she's terrified of what her world has become, and she doesn't always make the right choices; but beyond that, she is strong and driven and willing to do whatever is necessary to save her little brother. I loved Cassie.

As for Evan and the romance... That part of the blurb was one reason I initially was interested in this book - I thought the romance would play a bigger part. As great as it was (and it was very good), it wasn't a driving theme in the book, overall. I actually remember getting a fair ways into the book before I realized that nothing "romantic" was happening - and I totally didn't mind. Honestly, the romance could have probably been left out altogether and I would still be flailing over this book. But it did add another great layer to an already amazing plot.

There are other threads of narration interspersed with Cassie's chapters, and while I did find Cassie's to be the strongest, the others are no less engaging. While, at first, it seems like the other characters' stories are fairly unrelated to Cassie's, they slowly but surely start to converge, and this was one of my favorite things about the last few chapters of the book - watching the stories come together. It was so well done, and the time spent following the separate story-threads totally paid off.

This is possibly my favorite book so far this year... maybe. Definitely top-three, at least. With the action and flawless storytelling (imho), I couldn't put it down, and I have to admit to staying up way too late while reading it - I really didn't want it to end (which might be a horrible thing to say, considering the awful things the characters go through, hah). Anyway, I have absolutely no hesitation in saying - if you even remotely think that The 5th Wave sounds like something you might possibly enjoy, GO. BUY. IT. Especially if you, like me, have been waiting for the Perfect-YA-Scifi-with-Aliens book. This is it.
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{ This review can also be found at my blog, There were books involved... }